He shrugged a broad shoulder. “To the ARL.”
I shook my head. Wasn’t he listening to me? I had just explained why that wasn’t an option. “They won’t take her. Call if you want, but you’re wasting your time. Trust me, Don Furry was adamant. There’s no room.”
I felt a twinge of pity for Don as I realized he wasn’t going to get his big contribution after all. Maybe they’d get lucky and Mona had named the ARL in her will.
Detective Malone didn’t look too thrilled to be ambushed by my objections. “Don’t move.” He walked away and pulled out his cell phone.
It had taken him a while, maybe thirty minutes, but when he came back he gave me the once over again. The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention. I had a bad feeling. Had he called Don? Surely he confirmed he’d stopped by the boutique.
“Your cousin says you’ll take Fluffy,” he said.
“What?” I sputtered.
He’d obviously known who I was. I could understand why he’d kept that to himself, but why on God’s green earth would Caro throw me under the bus? “I don’t want her.”
Malone looked bored. “I was able to confirm Don Furry was at Bow Wow. As you said, they’re full. That dog would never survive the pound. It’s you or nothing.”
“It’s just for tonight, Mel,” Grey said. He gave me that look I hated. I imagined it was the same one he gave a suspect as he worked them into a confession. I narrowed my eyes and gave it right back.
The missing police officers came trotting down the staircase. “That dog needs drugs. She’s mean.”
Against my will, the image of Mona sprawled on the floor and Fluffy laying beside her popped into my head.
“She’s not mean. She’s protecting her human.” I pointed at Malone. “Tonight only. Tomorrow she goes to the ARL.” I broke away from the Good Ole’ Boys Club and rushed up the stairs, with an audience trailing right behind.
“You can’t go up there,” someone yelled.
“I’ve already been up here.” I pointed out the obvious.
I stopped at the doorway to Fluffy’s room. She was exactly where I’d left her, next to Mona. My heart broke.
She was a dog. How was she ever going to understand she had to bond with someone new?
“This place is a disaster,” Grey said softly.
“Probably a robbery interrupted,” someone muttered.
“Cliff.” I spun around and bumped into Dumbo Cop.
“Who?” the uniforms asked in unison.
“Mona’s ex. Cliff.” I looked past all the police and focused on Grey. “Someone needs to call him. I bet he’ll take Fluffy.” I couldn’t keep the excited desperation out of my voice.
Cliff, the reason I was here in the first place, was suddenly the answer to the dog situation.
“Mona wouldn’t want him to take her dog,” Grey said.
“Legally, Fluffy is half his,” I argued.
“Do you have his number?” Detective Malone asked.
“Not on me. It’s at my shop.” I refused to feel guilty. If Mona hadn’t gone and gotten herself killed, Fluffy wouldn’t have to go to Cliff’s.
Fluffy got up and slowly walked across the room, leaving a trail of dark red paw prints on the hardwood floor. She stood in front of me and nuzzled my hand.
“Melinda. She chooses you.” Grey’s voice wrapped around me and squeezed the part of my heart I’d worked so hard to keep protected.
I didn’t want to deal with this anymore. I didn’t want to do the right thing. I didn’t want to be chosen.
Fluffy rested her head in the palm of my hand, her dark eyes speaking thoughts I didn’t understand. There was that dog language thing again.
I knew, I knew, I’d regret what I was about to do the moment I spoke the words. I pushed out a resigned sigh.
I was taking home a dog I didn’t really like to a dog I loved.
I whirled around, hands on hips, eyes narrowed. Defenses and attitude back in place. “For one night only. Got it? Tomorrow she goes home with Cliff.”
“Fine,” Malone agreed.
Thinking back on it, he didn’t really agree it was just for one night.
“It’s going to be okay.” I patted Fluffy’s head and stroked the few non-sticky parts I could find.
“Oh, girl, there is no way you’re getting into my Jeep covered in blood. We’ve got to call Armando. You need some TLC.”
I looked up and caught my reflection in the antique mirror across the room.
“Holy cow, we both need some TLC.”
Chapter Eight
Malone was more than a little touchy about the number of civilians who’d already tromped through his crime scene. I patiently explained, for the third time, Armando was the only stylist allowed to touch Mona’s dog.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass about Almando. You’re not poking around potential evidence.”
I snickered because I knew he’d gotten the name wrong on purpose. Hanging out with the guy for the last hour, I’d realized he was a lot like Grey.
“You can stand guard. Make sure I don’t touch anything. I only need his phone number.”
“I can arrest you instead.” There was no doubt in his tone. I had crossed the line.
Yup, he was a lot like Grey. Except Grey loved me and overlooked my flaws. Malone, on the other hand, had zero patience for me.
We were at a stubborn impasse. Unfortunately, he had the law on his side. I turned my back on Malone and dug out my cell from the bottom of my black Alexander Wang tote.
I had waited for an hour while Fluffy was “processed” before she was officially released into my care. She wasn’t getting into my Jeep without a shampoo, blow out and a trim to even out the chunk of hair the police had snipped for evidence.
If I couldn’t have Armando, I’d take Jade, the senior stylist at Divine Dog Spa. Everyone, human and animal, loved her. She was presumptuous, bold and one of those rare stylists who actually had great hair. To top it all off, she possessed the most endearing British accent.
It was that adorable accent that disguised her acid tongue. Most people were so enraptured with the tone of her voice they didn’t pay attention to the meaning of her words. It could be minutes, or days, until you realized she’d just verbally spanked you and your dog.
I had Jade’s number in my contacts and quickly reached her.
“I need your help.” I gave the Cliffs Notes version of the current events.
“Mona’s dead?” she squeaked.
I caught my breath as the reality of the situation hit me again. “Yes.”
“I just love a good scandal. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
Her excessive willingness to help wasn’t about her concern for Mona. It was all about getting her hands on Fluffy. And morbid curiosity.
“I’ll tell the security guard-”
Malone walked in front of me and cut me off. “Salinas,” he shouted at the rookie cop guarding the front door. “If one more person shows up uninvited, arrest Ms. Langston on the spot.”
I practically dropped the phone. “What?”
“Get off the phone, or I’ll bag it as evidence.”
Man, Mr. Personality he wasn’t. “Fine. I get it. Jade, I’ll have to bring Fluffy to you.”
I ended the call and shoved my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, feeling somewhat reassured Malone wouldn’t go digging around without a search warrant.
My back was up against the wall. There was no shampoo, no doggie conditioner, no detangler. And no professional on her way.
I’d be damned if I’d let Detective Malone get the best of me.
It seemed my best ideas came from the precipice of desperation. I hunted down Fluffy and coaxed her out of the house. I snapped on her leash and led her to the driveway.
That’s how we ended up in Mona’s fountain.
Girls Gone Wild, doggie style.
“I know this is your first time, but don’t be afraid to splash a little.” I led Fluffy slowly, giving her ample opportunity to roll around and become miraculously clean without having to touch her.