I Shall Not Want by Debbie Viguié Read Free Book Online Page B

was treated like a queen.
    “What if there is a simpler answer to this riddle?” she asked as Vince led the dog out.
    “How do you mean?” Mark asked.
    “Joseph, those aren’t by any chance real diamonds on Clarice’s collar, are they?”
    Joseph smiled. “Yes, they are. Why do you ask?”
    “Because in my book that’s a much more likely cause of murder than bloodlines,” Mark said, coming fully alert. “Does anyone else know the stones are real?”
    “Probably about a dozen people,” Joseph guessed.
    “What about the puppies?” Cindy asked.
    “They all have collars that look like hers, but the stones are only crystal.”
    “What if the killer didn’t know that? What if he thought the puppies were wearing diamond collars too?”
    “That could lead to all sorts of unpleasantness,” Mark said.
    “But why not just grab the collars and leave the puppies?” Cindy asked.
    “To divert suspicion, probably,” Mark said.
    “And why not take Clarice or her collar?” Cindy pressed.
    “I’m guessing he tried and got mauled for his effort,” Mark answered.
    “That would certainly explain the blood,” Joseph said with a sigh.
    “So we’re looking for someone who knew that one of the dog collars, at least, had diamonds,” Cindy said.
    “ I’m looking for,” Mark said, standing abruptly. “ You need to go home.”

    Mark headed outside for some fresh air. Jewel thief? It didn’t make sense. Something about the whole thing felt wrong somehow.
    “What is it?” Paul asked as he walked up to him.
    “This whole thing stinks.”
    “Yeah, I have to agree with you there. So what do you think is really going on?”
    “I don’t know; I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
    “Don’t you mean your paw?” Paul joked.
    Mark grimaced.

5
    I T WAS EARLY S UNDAY MORNING WHEN M ARK SHOWED UP AT THE H UMANE Society. He recognized the woman working the desk from the charity event.
    “Officer, is there something I can do for you?” she said, clearly puzzled at seeing him in T-shirt and jeans. He spent so much time in a suit that the casual clothes felt a bit odd to him too. But he had promised his wife she’d have the entire day, and he intended to keep that promise.
    “I wanted to know if all of the dogs from the charity event were adopted.”
    “We brought seven of them back here, but six of them were adopted yesterday, I believe.”
    “The one that’s left, is there any chance it’s a beagle?” he asked, trying not to hope too much.
    A grin spread across her face. “Every chance. Buster is still here and looking for a good home. Do you have any suggestions?”
    He smiled. “Actually, I do.”
    “Why don’t we go see him and make sure he’s the one you’re interested in?” she said, moving from behind the counter to lead him down a hallway.
    He followed her and soon found himself in a room with large dog pens that each had small outdoor runs. There were a dozen dogs present, and in the last pen was Buster, the beagle he had been eyeing at the event.
    He knelt down in front of the cage, and the dog threw himself against the bars, licking at Mark’s hand.
    “He’s perfect,” Mark said. “I’ll take him.”
    “I’m so glad. He’s a really great little dog. Beagles have a lot of energy, and the family that originally owned him just couldn’t handle it.”
    “We shouldn’t have any problem with that.”
    “All right, let’s go fill out the paperwork.”
    Thirty minutes later Mark pulled up outside his house. Buster barked excitedly as Mark carried his crate up to the front door.
    “You’re going to blow the surprise,” Mark said.
    He walked into the house, put down the crate, and opened it. Buster bounded out with another joyous bark.
    “Mark, is that you?” his wife, Traci, called from the back.
    “Yes.”
    “Do you hear barking?” she asked.
    “What?”
    She appeared in the hallway, blonde hair up in a ponytail. “I said—” She stopped with a squeal as she saw Buster. She