Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber Read Free Book Online Page B

scratch Bella’s neck. “I’ve missed you two the
    last ten days. I was starting to get worried.”
    “Sorry about that,” George replied. “We’ve been out of town.
    Bella’s tests took three days to come back, so I stayed down south.
    It’s not like I have a phone they can call with the results.”
    I was almost afraid to ask. “What did you find out?”
    “It’s not good. Bella has EPI, which is an autoimmune disease.
    Evidently, she can’t digest food anymore. That’s why she’s always hungry and keeps losing weight no matter how much I feed her.”
    “I’ve never heard of that.”
    43
    “Neither had I. It’s pretty rare, but over half the dogs that get it are German shepherds. That’s what made the vet think of it. He gave me some medicine to mix with her food, and so far it seems
    to help.”
    George’s dismal demeanor confused me. “Well, that’s good,
    right? At least now you know what’s wrong with her, and she’s
    starting to get better.”
    George sighed and absently rubbed Bella’s fur. “I suppose. But
    the medicine’s expensive. The vet gave me a bottle that had been
    donated to the clinic, but it normally costs over $200.”
    No wonder he seemed so sad. George could never afford $200
    medicine. “That is expensive,” I replied. “But we’ll figure out a way to get you a refill if she needs it. Maybe I can host a fundraising event.”
    The grim line of his mouth turned into a sad smile. “That’s
    very kind of you, ma’am, but a bottle only lasts two weeks, and
    Bella will need this medicine for the rest of her life.”
    My heart sank. “The rest of her life?” I could never raise that
    much money.
    “Yes, otherwise she’ll starve. The vet even hinted that I should
    put Bella down, but I couldn’t do that. She’s my life, and she’s so young, you know?” He looked away to hide the tears in his eyes.
    “She’s not even two yet!”
    “Oh, George, I’m so sorry.”
    I moved to hug him, but he turned away and shook off my
    touch. I didn’t know what else to do, so I stood silently with him for several awkward moments. Finally, he wiped his eyes and vigorously shook his head, as if forcing himself back to reality. When he turned back to face me, his heartsick expression had been replaced by one of stubborn determination.
    44
    “Don’t you worry about us, ma’am. I have a plan. Bella needs
    me and I will not let her down. No way.”
    “What are you going to do? Do you think your family will
    help?”
    He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “My family
    isn’t an option. But I’ve been thinking, and someone owes me.
    They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to help.”
    That didn’t sound good. “George, what are you up to?”
    He set his jaw stubbornly. “Don’t worry about it. All I can say
    is, I have plan.”
    Worry nibbled at the lining of my stomach. “How in the world
    can you get an extra $400 a month, George? You can barely buy
    dog food for Bella, much less expensive medicine. You’d have to
    rob liquor stores or sell drugs to get that kind of money.”
    George crossed his arms, frowning. “I told you before,” he said
    through clenched teeth. “I don’t steal, and I don’t do or sell drugs.
    So get off that. Besides, what I do with my life is none of your
    business.”
    He was up to something, and it couldn’t be good. Nibbling
    worry escalated to biting agitation. I knew George wouldn’t like
    what I was about to say, but I said it anyway. “Maybe you could
    find Bella a new home.”
    He didn’t have to reply. His stiffening shoulders told me exactly what he thought of that idea. For a brief moment of sanity, I hesitated, wondering if I should go on. But fear for George drowned
    out all reasonable thought. I knew I might regret it, but I kept talking.
    “I hate to say it, but maybe the vet was right. Maybe you should
    even consider—”
    45
    George’s expression turned from cold anger to retching dis-
    gust, like he’d