Best in Show by Laurien Berenson Read Free Book Online Page B

understatement. Dale Atherton looked damn good. Like a California surfer boy all grown up, he had the sort of natural good looks that those of us in snowy New England—our information supplied by the likes of Baywatch and the Beach Boys—think all Californians can boast of. His rich brown hair was shot through with golden highlights, his skin tanned to an even bronze. It wasn’t a stretch to picture that body in a bathing suit. Maybe even a Speedo.
    â€œDon’t tell me,” I said with a sigh. “He’s probably gay, right?” It wasn’t an uninformed guess; many of the Poodle handlers were.
    â€œDale? No way. He’s as straight as they come. And from what I hear, there are hordes of happy women willing to testify to that fact.”
    â€œHmmm.” I had another look.
    â€œHmmm, nothing. When is Sam arriving?”
    â€œTomorrow,” I said, grinning. “Late.”
    â€œWho’s late?” asked Aunt Peg, coming down the hallway. She stopped beside us and stared into the grooming room. Her hands were on her hips; her face wore a frown. “Don’t tell me someone else is missing.”
    â€œSomeone else?”
    As one, Bertie and I turned to see what she was talking about.
    â€œMy genetics expert for tomorrow’s symposium. The esteemed Doctor Arthur Law. He seems to have disappeared.”

5
    â€œD isappeared? Aunt Peg, what happened?”
    â€œI have no idea.” My aunt sounded suitably miffed. “Isn’t that what I just said?”
    â€œYou mean he’s vanished?” asked Bertie.
    â€œNo, I mean he never arrived at all. Unlike you.” Aunt Peg paused in her tirade to stare at her newest relative. “Am I always the last to know everything? Were we expecting you?”
    â€œNo.” Bertie smiled. “It was a spur-of-the-moment trip.”
    â€œGood for you. Everyone should come to PCA at least once in her lifetime. How’s my nephew?”
    â€œWorking hard.”
    â€œBest thing for him. After you, that is.”
    â€œTime out,” I said. Family harmony was a rare and precious commodity among my relatives. However, that didn’t stop me from trying to steer them both back on topic. “What about Doctor Law? What do you mean he disappeared?”
    â€œOh, good grief, Melanie. There’s no call for melodrama. The man isn’t dead, at least not as far as I know. He’s simply not here. As he ought to be, as he promised to be, months ago when I first contacted him, and then again last week when I called to confirm.
    â€œEverything was supposed to be all set. I had absolutely no notion that it wasn’t until this afternoon when I got the message he’d left at the front desk canceling his appearance. As if genetics experts grow on trees and I could replace him at a moment’s notice. Honestly, some people have no consideration at all. Which brings me to my next problem.” My aunt was now glaring into the grooming room.
    â€œThere’s another?” asked Bertie.
    She was new to the family. She hadn’t been around long enough to know that there was always another problem. Let her ask the questions, I thought. I was content to wait. We’d find out soon enough what Aunt Peg was raging about.
    â€œDamien Bradley!” my aunt snorted.
    There you go.
    â€œDamien Bradley?” Bertie repeated on cue.
    You see? My participation in the conversation would have been entirely superfluous.
    â€œHe’s here.”
    So he was. I peered around the grooming room and saw the handler tucked away in a back corner.
    â€œIs that a bad thing?” asked Bertie.
    â€œIt’s not a good thing. We warned the hotel not to give him a room.”
    â€œHis bad behavior got us kicked out of our last place,” I told Bertie, forestalling what was sure to be her next question. “Maybe he’s not staying here,” I said to Peg. “Maybe he’s just