Dog Days Murderous Nights: Winnona Peaks Mysteries Book 1 by Emily Page Read Free Book Online Page A

other guest from the hotel. They seemed to be quite chummy over there, too. What goes on at that bed and breakfast?  No wonder J.W. didn’t think he had a chance with her.  That muscle-bound jerk said he was just recently back to town. With those two up there, she thought Mr. Muscles could be a ringer spying on the talent here for the upcoming, “Heart of Hartford” show.  No wonder J.W. was whispering to Ms. Roberts and showing her those pictures on his camera. What was he going to say about Mable?  Her only prayer was that she wasn’t going to be a judge for Mable’s class of dog in a later round. 
    “Don’t you worry about a thing, Mable.” Nori cooed at Mable as she put some finishing touches on her coat before her appearance in the ring. “That silly beagle won’t steal your limelight for long.” All Nori could do was stand by and watch.  “Oh, she did it again.  Look, Mable, the hostel owner is pointing at Snoopy’s Tempting Delight on the stand.  And her!  Taking photos of that stupid dog!  The other guest!  She’s a photographer here?  This is a downright conspiracy.  She didn’t say that last night when we all were being interrogated by that awful police woman after J.W. was hauled away.  What a terrible night.  Oh!  Look, Mable!  Her shirt says she works for Canine Philosophy!  But why is she taking that picture?  J.W. told me that he just sold the rights to the shots of the beagle he took last week?  What is she doing now?  That’s kind of crass to be stealing J.W.’s thunder when his body isn’t quite cold yet.  Mable, I know I was so rude to him, but—“
    “Ladies and Gentleman,” the announcer boomed across the arena.  “We must sadly announce that one of our judges suddenly passed away, last night.  Some of you judges may have seen his assistant, Hailey, has been picking up some of the slack for all of us.  We are all so grateful for her hard work, here today, at such a difficult time.  It also makes sense why J.W. chose her.  Say hello to the youngest executive director of the Augustine Canine Foundation.  It is J.W. Augustine’s non-profit that promotes the health and well-being of dogs around the world.”  There was faint applause as a small spotlight displayed Hailey at the head table. The announcer continued.  “J.W. has had such a huge impact on our judging community.  His memory will live on through Hailey.  So right before we move to the next class, we’d like to have a moment of silence to honor his memory.”
    “Oh, Mable, I just can’t do this.  I don’t care if we lose the kennel.  There has to be another way than going through this humiliation.”  Nori took the moment of silence as her cue to exit the arena.  Christy just happened to catch a flash of red and gold out of the corner of her eye with a little white dog scampering at her heels.  Christy bumped Gregory’s shoulder and quietly pointed as they both watched a sliver of light come into the area from the exit door where Nori was scooping up Mable before leaving the building.
    Christy and Gregory followed right after the moment of silence ended.  Nori hadn’t thought it all the way through because she exited the back of the building where a chain-link fence prevented anyone from entering without a key to the gate.  It also prevented anyone from leaving.  Nori was desperate.  It was hard to breathe. “Oh, Mable, this day just can’t get any worse.”  It was also the area where employees were allowed to smoke so she swept the cigarette butts off onto the ground, sat down and proceeded to cry.  Mable tried to lick the chin of her master to make her feel better.  “Oh, no, you don’t want Mummy’s make-up on your fur.  The last thing we need today is to be disqualified for using a foreign substance on your coat to make you glisten.  No, you just have to show them you are better than the beagle!”
    Christy and Gregory walked through the exit door to find Nori