Home Is Where the Bark Is by Kandy Shepherd Read Free Book Online

eyes. “Watch out, Nick. This is a big job for us. The insurance company wants quick results.”
    Nick ran his hand through his hair. “I know that. And I also know the most corrupt criminals can appear charming and funny, etcetera, etcetera. It’s part of their stock-in-trade. It’s just she . . . I dunno.”
    No way would he admit to his partner the feelings the doggy day-care director aroused in him. How far his imaginings had gotten to him. That, in spite of her height and businesslike manner, she had an air of vulnerability that appealed to every protective instinct he had.
    “Better check her out ASAP, then,” said Adam, putting on his glasses and returning to his screen.
    Nick settled back at his desk. Investigating a suspect wasn’t as easy as it was when he’d had access to the vast FBI network. And the San Francisco Police Department wasn’t known for its happy sharing of information with private investigators.
    But it was amazing what could be found by good old-fashioned investigation and surveillance. And then there was the Internet. Sometimes Googling brought him just what he needed.
    He’d scrolled through the website of Paws-A-While before he’d called to inquire about Bessie. But at that stage he had been anticipating just a routine check and a quick “all clear.”
    Now he Googled the name “Serena Oakley.” Nothing came up except references to the operations of Paws-A-While. That in itself was unusual. There were no pictures of her on the site or elsewhere. That again rang alarm bells. There must have been publicity surrounding the opening of Paws-A-While. Especially with the connection to the millionaire mutt.
    He Googled “Brutus.” Was staggered by the thousands of references to the millionaire mutt and his inheritance.
    He Googled Brutus’s owner, “Maddy Cartwright,” to find a cute redhead who was a celebrity chef and magazine food editor. She also had her own show on lifestyle television promoting her healthy recipes for feeding dogs. Forget the cans and the kibble, her recipes were canine gourmet. Just another aspect of that whacky alternate dog world Nick found himself thrust into.
    There was an item on Maddy Cartwright’s wedding to attorney Tom O’Brien on the website of Annie , the magazine where she was food editor. Even more on the weirdo double wedding with Brutus and Coco.
    Then pay dirt.
    Most of the pictures were of the dogs. Unbelievably, Brutus in a blue bandanna and Coco in a tiny white veil and glittery collar. But standing behind Cartwright in one small picture of the wedding party was a tall, beautiful, dark-haired bridesmaid.
    He zoomed in on the image as tight as he could. It was Serena all right. Smiling that knockout smile. Her hair caught up behind her face but tumbling around her shoulders. Her lips painted a luscious red.
    And she was . . . Well, she was hot. More than hot. Sensational. So lovely that just looking at her made his body react instantly. In a striking, figure-hugging long dress, she fulfilled all the promise of the beauty he had perceived behind her disguise. To his eyes, she outshone the bride.
    “Gotcha,” he said.
    Adam got up from his desk. “What have you found?”
    Nick took a step aside from his desk so his partner could see his computer. Adam peered at the screen. “ That’s the crazy dog woman? You’re sure?”
    “Yes. Or it’s her double.”
    Adam turned to face him. Nick was disconcerted to see the gleam in his eyes. “What did you say her name was?”
    “Serena Oakley.”
    Adam shook his head. “That’s not Serena Oakley. That’s Serena St. James. No wonder you thought you recognized her. For God’s sake, man, Serena St. James.”
    Nick stared at him. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
    “Where have you been? On another planet?” Adam paused. “Oh yeah. Of course you were. Sort of.”
    “You know I was in Australia for two years.”
    His last posting had been to the Australian capital city,