Her head hung, and her eyes lacked her typical sparkle. She wasn’t a dog gone wild type. No splashing. No chomping water. She was nothing like Missy, who’d be prancing and eating water as if it were goose pâté on a gourmet dog biscuit.
Truth be told, Fluffy looked a touch embarrassed to be bathing where all the neighbors could see her. And another thing-once wet, she resembled a skinny greyhound.
“Hey Salinas,” I yelled out, “can you ask Malone for a towel?” I looked at my soaked jeans. “Make that two. Oh, and Fluffy’s hair brush.”
He shook his bulbous bald head. “The house is a crime scene.”
I was seriously going to yell the next time someone spoke the words “crime scene.”
“I think it’s obvious what killed Mona, and it wasn’t a dog brush or a couple of towels.”
Officer Salinas puffed out his chest and crossed his arms. “There may have been a robbery. We have to account for everything. I can’t do it.”
Of course he couldn’t. Cops were such pansy rule followers.
I looked over at Grey who was leaning against his favorite toy, his brand new Mercedes SUV. I was disappointed he’d opted out of the Roadster. Grey said he needed something to transport his “art” more than he needed speed. I suggested he get both; he could afford it. He rejected that idea as “too extravagant.”
We lived in Orange County. “Extravagant” was our zip code.
Fluffy shook, sending streams of water everywhere. My anxiety level was at its max. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Grey watched me squeeze water from my t-shirt while he talked on his cell phone. At some point he’d slipped off his suit jacket and had rolled his shirt sleeves to his elbows.
“Grey,” I called out, pointing at Fluffy who looked like a giant wet rat.
He nodded and wrapped up his call, then moved to the back of his car and popped the trunk.
He pulled out a beach blanket and brought it over, covering Fluffy. “I always imagined she was bigger under all that hair.”
Fluffy shivered for a few seconds as she burrowed into the soft flannel material. My heart broke for Grey when I realized the blanket was Colbalt’s, Grey’s foster Weimaraner.
Last month, the Weimaraner rescue agency in LA had found a permanent home for Colbie. Grey had been heartbroken. Both Caro and I had warned him he’d ultimately want to keep the dog, but Grey hadn’t heeded our advice. This was one instance I wish I’d been wrong.
“Who were you talking to?” I asked as I rubbed down Fluffy.
“It’s not important.”
Code for, I can’t tell you.
“Can you believe Malone wouldn’t cough up a measly towel?” I asked, willing to change the subject.
“Heartless,” he deadpanned.
“Did you see that painting in Mona’s room? The one above her bed?”
He nodded. “Thomas Cole. She has, had, a lot of valuable art.”
“If you find something by Cole, I want one.”
“He’s not cheap.” He changed the subject. “Now what?”
I looked at Fluffy-dejected and wet-cocooned in a red plaid blanket. I sighed, thinking of everything I needed to do. “I’ve got to get home to Missy. I called Darby and asked her to stop by the house, but I got her voicemail.”
“I can pick up Missy.”
“Thanks. Because of Malone, we’ve got you-know-who to account for also.” I nodded toward Mona’s pride and joy. “Fluffy’s not so fluffy anymore. Jade offered to make a house call but Malone nixed that idea.”
“I’m sure he did. Drop off Fluffy. While they fix her, we’ll grab a bite from Gina’s.”
My stomach growled thinking about my favorite pizza-pepperoni, meatballs, Italian sausage, and bacon. “The Godfather and Ricotta sticks.”
Grey grabbed my shoulders and kissed me hard on the lips. “It’s a date. I’m glad you called.”
I shrugged, surprised at the sincerity in his voice. “Who else would I call?”
“With you, I never know.” Grey climbed into his SUV and drove off.
I loaded Fluffy and myself into the Jeep. I grabbed a snood from the glove box and pulled it over her head, but it was little protection. I tightened the blanket around her and fastened it with an old plastic hair clip I’d found with the hood.
I called Jade and gave her a heads up that we were on our way. I shot a sideways glance at Her Highness. Her hair was going to be tangled beyond repair. If Jade was smart, she’d call in reinforcements.
As we weaved our way out of the neighborhood, I noticed that other than the police vehicles the streets were empty. It was unusual for this time of evening. I swear I caught a few nosey bodies peeking out their mansion windows with binoculars.
I rolled to a stop at the security gate. The guard who’d waved me in earlier was still manning his station.
“I’m sure you’ve heard about Mona by now,” I said, squeezing the steering wheel. I wasn’t sure what to say.
He nodded.
“I’ve got Fluffy for the night.” I motioned in her direction.
He looked around me. His unibrow rose when he saw Fluffy’s sad hound dog expression on her regal face.
He pushed up his bifocals. “Ms. Michaels would appreciate knowing her Fluffy is with someone who cares so much.”
I wrinkled my nose. I wouldn’t go so far as to categorize myself as someone who cared, but I wasn’t about to argue with him. His eyes were red rimmed, like he’d been crying. No need to add to his distress.
“I’m sure we’ll see each other again.” I waved good-bye and drove off. I glanced in my review mirror and watched as he pulled his cap over his face.
He had to be the only person in town who’d shed a tear for Mona Michaels.
That’s when I thought about Tricia.
I didn’t envy the person who had to tell her that her best friend was not only dead, but murdered.
Chapter Nine
The second I pulled up to the Divine Spa, Jade flew out the front door in her four-inch Christian Louboutin heels and black Gucci pantsuit.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked to hear about Mona. Tell me everything.” Jade clapped her hands together as if summoning Tinkerbelle, which seemed fitting since they had the same hair.
I hopped out of the Jeep, my boots slapping the asphalt. “There’s not much to tell.”
Jade shot me an impatient look. “How did she die?”
I didn’t answer right away, measuring my words. I made my way to the passenger side. I flung the door open and unharnessed Fluffy. “Someone hit her in the head… with Fluffy’s Emmy.”
Jade peered over my shoulder and gasped. “Bloody hell. She looks beastly.”
“I told you she needed a lot of work.”
“Is she wearing a burka?”
I removed the hair clip and tugged off the blanket. Fluffy shivered. I clipped the leash on Fluffy’s collar, and she gingerly jumped on to the sidewalk in one effortless motion. She stood tall and erect, the tip of her tail poised like a telescope. Her version of I-don’t-need-you.
Think again, girl. She looked like she’d rolled in a back alley Dumpster.
Jade pushed the snood off Fluffy’s head. “Why is she wet? Are you a suspect?”
“I wasn’t allowed to use the tub so I took her for a walk in the fountain. No, I’m not a suspect.” Although, Malone hadn’t actually spoken those words out loud. Well, shoot.
“The fountain in the driveway?” Her blond eyebrows disappeared behind her bangs. “You did have a row with Mona not that long ago.”
“So?”
“You tossed her and Tricia out of Bow Wow.”
“That doesn’t mean I killed her.”
“Did you brush her?”
Good grief, it was difficult keeping up with her ping-pong conversation. Hopefully she was talking about Fluffy. “No.”
“Good. You don’t have the proper tools and could have damaged the coat.”
I dragged a hand through my hair and rubbed my head. I had no idea what she was talking about. I owned a bulldog. There wasn’t much to brush. Wet or dry.