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

sitting on the smoking bench talking to her dog.  Seeing that she was crying, Christy rushed over to try and offer her a tissue she had from her purse.  “Nori, it’s Christy from Alfie’s—“
    “Oh, sure you are. You’re Christy from Alfie’s and I’m the Maharaja!” she babbled through her tears.  “How do you get off, lying to me about being a judge!” She stood up accusing Gregory.  He was really confused.  Nori lost it and just stood there heaving whole body sobs.  Her typically pristine face was melting into a clown face of streaked mascara. Christy ignored the outburst and tried to get Nori to sit down again, offering her a tissue.  She took the tissue and sat back down. “Oh, I’m sorry.” 
    Christy gently patted her on the shoulder.  “Sorry for what?”
    “I’m just sorry you have to see me like this.  It’s just—J.W.’s death really shook me up.  I must have been the last one to see him alive and I was arguing with him.  He was such a nice man.  I asked him to reconsider Mable to win.  He just smiled at me and offered to take Mable’s picture. He told me that he could put in a good word for me at Canine Philosophy.”
    “He took your picture?  Last night?” Gregory asked.
    “Yes!” she said, taking another tissue from Christy and blowing her nose. “He’d said he’d publicize Mable whether or not she won because he knew how important it was to me.  Now he’s dead.  I’m not sure how I’m going to save my—” Nori stopped short of telling the hostel owner how close to the brink of bankruptcy she was with the kennel.  The thought of losing everything struck her again and she went back to deep sobs.
    Christy sat with her for a few minutes letting her sobs die down.  “Can we call someone to help you?”  Gregory stood there shuffling from foot to foot, looking at the exit door.  Nori shook her head.
    “Oh, no, Dears.  You’ve indulged the tears of an old woman long enough.  Showing dogs will break your heart.  That’s what my mother always said.”
    “Mrs. Deswood, I’m sorry to ask this when you are so upset but how was J.W. dressed when you last saw him?” Gregory asked.
    “What kind of a question is that?  He was wearing the light blue oxford he had on that afternoon.  He told me that he needed to freshen up for dinner and shower.  Don’t worry, Ms. Roberts.  You didn’t have any competition from me with J.W.  He was fully clothed when I left him.  J.W. was a kind man but he always loved the younger ladies at the shows.”  Christy blushed again and she looked down at her hands.  “You don’t think I had anything to do with his death, do you?  That’s absurd.  He was the only person I could turn to.  The competition is fierce and without corporate sponsors it is difficult to survive with the price of feed and veterinarians.”
    “Did he offer you or your kennel any money?”  Gregory asked.
    “I had my dignity.  I wasn’t ready to go begging.”  Nori started to cloud up again.
    “Yes, you do.  You and Mable will be great today.”  Christy stood up and nodded at Gregory that they were leaving.
    Sniffing through her tissue, she said, “Thank you so much.  Please enjoy the rest of the show.”  Christy patted her on the shoulder one last time.
    “We’re so sorry for your loss.”  Christy whispered.

Chapter 12
    Gregory Binks could go his entire life without seeing another dog show.  Well, unless Christy wanted to go.  Still, he was glad that she begged off before the evening round and trophy ceremony.  That would have been unbearable.  He understood that it was nice to have a pet around.  He’d remembered Buck, that Setter mix he had as a kid.  His Dad picked it up one day when he was a puppy from some little kid in front of a grocery store.  He loved that dog.  But what these people did bordered on insane.  Putting bows in a dog’s fur?  He couldn’t believe the money people were dishing out to those