The Mutt and the Matchmaker: A Matchmaker Mystery Novella by JB Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

from. “And have you made progress with Calamity?”
    “I'm getting there,” Jane murmured, thinking of Tom.

 
     

Chapter 9
     
    Tom frowned at his cellphone before raising it to his ear. “You do know that I have other things to do, don’t you, Danny?”
    His younger brother’s voice was tight with tension. “I know.”
    Tom imagined the pained expression on his little brother’s face.
    “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, Tommy,” he said quietly.
    Tom felt a twinge of guilt. The youngest of four boys, Danny had always struggled to keep up with the others and rarely asked for a helping hand, even when he could use one.  It wasn’t his fault that whatever was going on threatened to derail Tom’s love life plans.
    Tom shook his head. Before he’d met Jane Bly, he’d convinced himself love was out of the cards for him forever, but now… “What do you need?”
    “Surveillance.”
    “When?”
    “Tonight. As soon as you can get there. I’ll pay you.”
    “Are we talking the brotherly rate or will I get official payment?”
    Danny worked as an investigator for a major insurance company.
    “That’ll depend on how my case turns out,” Danny admitted.
    “So this is an off-the-clock job?”
    “For now.”
    Tom shook his head. His workaholic brother had a penchant for long hours and little pay. “Tell me again why you won’t come work for me?”
    “Because you spilled my invisible ink,” Danny replied automatically, bringing up a childhood grievance. “So will you do it, jerkoff?”
    “Yeah,” Tom replied regretfully, knowing he’d have to cancel his dinner with Jane. Still, it wouldn’t be a total waste if he could solve the burglaries case. If the other pet sitter had told him about her suspicions regarding Jane, he had no doubt she’d spread the word to others. “But I need a favor in return.”
    “Name it,” his brother agreed quickly.
    “I need someone to run a license plate for me.”
    “Done.”
    After rattling off the plate of neighborhood handyman, Graham, and getting the specifics of where and whom Danny needed staked out, Tom had the unpleasant task of cancelling his date.
     

     
    Jane heard the phone ringing while she was in the shower, but since she trying to rid herself of the odor of cat urine, she didn’t answer. Finally convinced she’d eliminated the evidence of her run-in with the Lanler’s crotchety cat, she climbed out of the steaming shower, pulled on her robe, and listened to the message.
    “Hi, Jane, it’s Tom.”
    She smiled at the sound of his voice.
    “I’m sorry, but I’m going to need to reschedule our date.”
    Her smile fell. A heavy weight pressed on her chest. He’d decided dating her wasn’t worth it.
    “My brother’s in a jam and I promised I’d helped him.”
    The pressure around her chest eased and she sucked in a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a rejection of her after all. How could she fault a guy for wanting to help his family?
    “I’ll call you soon.”
    “Okay,” she murmured as though he could hear her.
    “Bye.”
    The message ended.
    She stared at her reflection in the fogged-up mirror. “Don’t get your hopes up about this guy.”
    But the warning she was issuing to herself came too late.
    She definitely had a spring in her step the next day as she walked Spot, a Dalmatian with a proclivity for finding every fire hydrant on their journey. She even waved at Dianne when they passed each other on opposite sides of the street. The other woman didn’t acknowledge her.
    Then she spotted the postal carrier, Javier, on his rounds. He was delivering a package to the young family who lived in the house that had the biggest swingset in the neighborhood. While Spot sniffed a particularly interesting section of grass, Jane watched the mailman, wondering if he was a suspect in the burglaries. After all, he knew everyone’s schedules and no one would think twice about him toting around a bulging bag on his back. He could break in,