The Lord Is My Shepherd (33 page)

Clarice looked at her and gave a slight shake of the head.

“She needed a break so I brought her with me. Seven poodle puppies is enough to drive anyone insane. They're fast and clever. She and I have been chasing them all over the house this morning, trying to get them corralled into one room.”

Cindy laughed out loud at the image, and Joseph grinned.

“Six o'clock, right?” she asked.

“It starts at six. Please tell me you'll be there before that.”

“I'll head straight to your house from work. It should only take me about ten minutes.” “You are an angel,” he said.

“Do you need me to bring anything?”

“Your sense of humor. Without it, this might get really depressing.”

She smiled. “I'll do the best I can.”

He stood abruptly. “That's all anyone can ask of us. Thanks, Cindy.”

“You're welcome.”

He waved to Genie and then left the office.

“You should totally go out with him,” Genie said.

“Not my type.”

“Yes, because tall, dark, and rich is sooo unattractive,” Genie said.

“Why don't you go out with him? You're not seeing anyone right now, are you?”

Genie made a face. The younger woman was once again between boyfriends and didn't like it one bit.

When five o'clock rolled around, Cindy chased everyone out of the office, locked the door, and headed for her car. Ten minutes later she was driving up the hill to Joseph's house. She made it to the designated parking area and wedged her car in between a Humane Society vehicle and a news van.

Joseph directed the chaos from the center of the lawn, with Clarice beside him. Half a dozen large tents had been set up with outdoor lights to illuminate them. Several small paddocks had been created with little portable fences. Inside each, a variety of dogs napped, ate, or played with each other.

When Joseph saw her, he hugged her impulsively. Surprised, Cindy hugged him back but pulled away when she saw a flash go off from someone's camera.

“What do you need?” she asked.

“If you could go inside and tell my assistant, Derek, to bring out Buford Augustus Reginald the Third that would be great.”

“Who?” Cindy asked.

“It's a puppy.”

“Oh, Buford … August—”

Joseph stopped her with a raised hand. “Just ask him to bring out Buff.”

“Okay, I think I can handle that,” Cindy said with a smile. “Any idea where Derek will be?”

“No, I've called his cell twice, but he's not picking up. His car's here, though, and he's not outside, so he must be in the house. Try my office first—second floor, third door on the right.”

“Got it.” Cindy turned and headed for the house.

The massive mansion had been built by Joseph's grandparents. She had been in it only twice before, and that was for church functions. When she entered the foyer, she left the noise of setting-up outside. The house seemed empty.

“Derek!” Cindy shouted. So it wasn't dignified to yell, but it would be a lot faster than searching the house. She listened before heading for the stairs.

“Derek!” she called again as she reached the upstairs landing.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of smashing glass, like someone had dropped a water goblet. She noticed the third door on the left was ajar. She moved toward it.

“Sorry to startle you, Derek,” she said, swinging the door open.

There was no one in the room. “Derek!” she called again.

She saw a cell phone on the desk and wondered if it was Derek's. She had seen Joseph's on his belt, and he had said he'd been trying to call his assistant. She moved toward the desk, picked it up, and then turned. Her shoe crunched on something, and she looked down. Broken glass littered the floor on the left side of the desk, and some shards seemed to have flown several feet in all directions.

Behind the desk, sheers that covered the French doors, leading to a large balcony, fluttered in the breeze, and
she walked around the right of the desk. As soon as she did, she saw him—Derek—lying on his back with blood pooling underneath his head. His eyes were fixed in a death stare at the ceiling. In his fist, he clutched a dog's leash.

Cindy screamed and leaped backward. She dropped the cell phone on the floor, dug through her purse, and found her own cell. She hit the speed-dial button for Detective Mark Walters, the investigating officer on the Passion Week Killer case.

“It's Cindy Preston,” she said as he answered the phone.

“Cindy?” he asked, sounding bewildered. “Why are you calling me?”

“I'm at Joseph's house—the guy who lives on the hill. Someone's been murdered.”

“On my way. I'll call it in. Make sure nobody touches anything.”

“I will,” she promised, and then hung up the phone.

She heard footsteps racing up the stairs and down the hall. “Are you okay?” a familiar voice asked behind her.

She spun around and stared at Jeremiah in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“The charity event. The synagogue is supporting it. What are you doing here?”

“So is First Shepherd. Joseph asked me to come.”

Jeremiah moved slowly into the room, his eyes checking out every inch. “Did you scream?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“It seems you've come to my rescue again,” she said, her voice quivering.

“I don't follow.”

She took a step to the side, and he saw the body. He blinked rapidly several times and then looked at her. “You just found him?”

She nodded.

“You've got to be kidding me.”

She shrugged as tears spilled down her cheeks. “It's anything-can-happen Friday.”

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