The Silence of the Chihuahuas by Waverly Curtis Read Free Book Online Page A

minute for his meaning to sink in. “Are you saying he doesn’t talk? You said you heard him talk when we were at the ranch in Roslyn.”
    â€œI thought I heard him talk.”
    â€œSo now you don’t believe me!” I got up, grabbed my plate, took it into the kitchen. “You’re just like all the others. You think I’m crazy!”
    â€œI didn’t say that,” said Felix, getting up and coming after me. “Look, babe, there are a million reasons why he might have stopped talking.”
    â€œNow you’re trying to humor me.”
    â€œNot at all,” he told me. “Dogs are a lot like little kids. Pepe might just be acting out.”
    â€œAbout what?” I filled the sink with soapy water.
    â€œWho knows? Could be anything. Maybe you’ve changed his food. Maybe he’s upset about a favorite toy.”
    â€œI’ve been giving him the same food all along. And he’s got his TV and iPad.” I peeked around the corner at him. He was still hunched over the iPad, Fuzzy at his side.
    â€œMaybe you’ve hurt his feelings somehow.”
    â€œI don’t know how.” I thought for a minute. “Well, I do tell him to be quiet a lot, especially when he tells some of his outlandish stories.”
    â€œThat could be it,” Felix said, but he didn’t sound convinced.
    â€œWhat can I do, Felix?” I went back into the dining room and closed up the pizza box. There were still a few pieces left.
    Felix followed me back into the kitchen. “I think I know how to help.”
    â€œReally?” I slid the pizza box into the bottom of my refrigerator.
    â€œYes, I know an amazing pet therapist in Laguna Beach. Her name is Caro Lamont. And she’s coming up here for the audition for—” Felix broke off.
    â€œAudition for what?” I asked.
    â€œOh, we can talk about it later,” Felix said.
    â€œNo, really, come on. What?”
    â€œWell, it just doesn’t seem like the right time to talk about it.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œWell, you’re so stressed by this situation with Pepe. But I think Caro might be able to help you with him. She’s really good.”
    â€œBut you said she’s in Laguna Beach . . .”
    â€œShe’s coming to Seattle this weekend.” He seemed sheepish.
    â€œWhat for?” I knew something was up by the way he was acting.
    â€œShe’s the consultant for a new reality TV show that your friend Rebecca Tyler is producing.”
    Rebecca Tyler is not really my friend. In fact, I suspected her of murder for the first few days I knew her. Once we got it all straightened out, she invited me and Pepe to participate in her reality TV show, Dancing with Dogs . The first season hasn’t aired yet, but I hear the networks think it has a lot of promise.
    â€œWhat new reality TV show? And why would Rebecca be in Seattle?” The last I heard she was still down in LA working on the first season of Dancing with Dogs .
    â€œIt’s called Pet Intervention ,” said Felix. He actually seemed to blush a little. “They need an expert who can work with a lot of different kinds of animals that have behavior problems. And Caro recommended me.” Felix has a background in working with animals in the film industry. He started his career working with big cats, until an accident on a set shattered his confidence. I sometimes wondered if he felt his current situation as a dog trainer in Seattle was a bit of a comedown.
    â€œYou’d be perfect for that!” I said. “That’s such great news.”
    â€œWell, yes,” he said, waving away my excitement with one hand. “I’m just one of many auditioning for the show. But if I got it, well . . .” His voice trailed off again.
    â€œWell, what?”
    â€œWell, I’d probably have to move to L.A. That’s where they’re filming.”
    â€œOh.” That could be a