Dial C for Chihuahua by Waverly Curtis Read Free Book Online Page A

scene,” Pepe whispered in my ear.
    â€œBesides the man was murdered long before I arrived on the scene.”
    â€œHow do you know that?” Jimmy asked, He looked startled and upset. Maybe he was beginning to realize I was a good detective.
    â€œHow do I know that?” I asked Pepe.
    â€œAre you talking to your dog?” Jimmy asked.
    I gave him a bright smile. “It helps me problem solve,” I said. “You know, talking out loud.”
    Pepe whispered in my ear. “Because of the rigor mortis, the dried blood, the smell!” he shuddered. “ Muy muerto! ”
    â€œLet’s put it this way, he was muy muerto! ” I said to Jimmy.
    Jimmy looked thoughtful. “Perhaps you set this up so you would have an alibi,” he suggested.
    â€œPerhaps you are trying to frame me,” I replied.
    â€œWhy would I do that?” Jimmy G. scratched the back of his head.
    â€œNever mind,” I said. It was hard to believe this man had the brains to come up with such a scheme. Which made me wonder why I worked for him. But then again, apparently I didn’t. “Let’s go talk to Stewart and get this straightened out,” I said.
    Jimmy G. grinned sheepishly. “Stewart definitely wants to see you. Came by this morning to tell me so. But you’ll have to go alone.”
    â€œWhy is that?”
    â€œStewart asked to see you, not Jimmy G. Fine with Jimmy G.”
    â€œWhy is that?”
    â€œStewart’s rude. Bossy. Thinks he knows best. Everything Jimmy G. does is wrong. Jimmy G. can’t do anything right. Just because he’s my older brother . . .” He realized he was babbling and stopped. “Didn’t you say you had an older sister?” It was one of the many odd questions he had asked at my interview.
    â€œYes, I do,” I said. I didn’t want to think about Cheryl right now. She certainly wouldn’t approve of my new job. Or my current predicament. In fact, she never approved of anything I did.
    â€œSo you probably understand,” Jimmy G. said.
    I nodded. An older sibling never loses the desire to boss a younger sibling around. “By the way, there’s a pen under that pile of papers.” I pointed to a stack that was about to slide off the corner of the desk.
    â€œOh, thanks!” Jimmy looked pleased as he located the pen, then puzzled as he stared at it. “Now why did I want that?”
    â€œTo make a note.”
    He frowned. “About what?”
    â€œPortland.”
    â€œWhat about Portland?”
    â€œThat’s where you were when Rebecca Tyler contacted you.”
    â€œOh, yeah!” He grabbed the pen and scribbled a few words on a scrap of paper he tore from a paper bag. “Hey, you’re good. Good observation. Good memory. Good attention to details.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his fingers over his stomach. “Jimmy G. needs a girl Friday.” His voice fell. “My brother stole my last one.” His voice rose again. “She was a real pistol. Took dictation. Rubbed my shoulders. Brought me drinks. Bourbon, straight up, no ice! How about it?”
    â€œNo way,” I said. I had promised myself I would never work as a secretary again after putting my ex-husband through business school. “Anyway, the correct term nowadays is administrative assistant.”
    â€œSo would you be my administrative assistant?” Jimmy G. asked. Was that sarcasm I heard?
    â€œNo,” I said sharply. “I applied for a job as an investigator.”
    â€œOh, yeah,” he said. “And speaking of that, I’ve got something that will be just up your alley. Got a call just this morning from a prospective client. Want to go out on another assignment for Jimmy G.?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said. “I’m still in trouble because of the last assignment you sent me on. Plus I haven’t been paid.”
    â€œHey, no