The Dog-Eared Diary E-Book

Diane Wing

• Herausgeber: Modern History Press
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 267

Beschreibung

In this second installment in the series, Chrissy digs up clues to help Autumn solve a historical disappearance and a modern-day murder mystery
Autumn Clarke is getting her life back to normal with the help of her extraordinary shih tzu, Chrissy, when the death of a local philanthropist reveals the man's dark family secrets, as well as unexpected ties to Autumn. When Chrissy discovers a dog-eared diary in the dead man's family home, Autumn discovers that things in the Clarke family are not quite as they seem. Can Autumn interpret the hidden clues in the dog-eared diary to crack the most puzzling disappearance in Knollwood history? Are the recent murders connected to the past? Is Chrissy more insightful than Autumn realized?
"I have fallen in love with Chrissy and Autumn and their continuing journey to health while finding themselves in the middle of a murder mystery adventure. My pre-teen daughter and I enjoyed reading The Dog-Eared Diary and then discussing the clues, plot twists, and characters."
--Antoinette Brickhaus, Maryland
"Through the relationship between Autumn and Chrissy, Wing also shows the importance of therapy animals and how much they can help those who need them. Add a sweet romance to the intrigue of the mystery and you've got a book that you won't want to put down."
--Melissa Alvarez, Intuitive, animal communicator and author of Animal Frequency and Llewellyn's Little Book of Spirit Animals
"Diane Wing has created a wonderfully endearing little character in Chrissy the Shih Tzu. It really shines through that the author is a lover of animals and dogs. I can see these books quickly becoming a cherished addition to the cozy mystery genre."
--J. New, author of The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries

Book #2 in the Chrissy the Shih Tzu Mysteries

Leseprobe

The Dog-Eared Diary

A Chrissy the Shih Tzu Mystery

Diane Wing

Modern History Press Ann Arbor, MI

The Dog-Eared Diary: A Chrissy the Shih Tzu Mystery

Copyright © 2019 by Diane Wing. All Rights Reserved.

Learn more at www.DianeWingAuthor.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Thanks for indulging me in taking artistic license within the fictional town of Knollwood, Pennsylvania.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Wing, Diane, 1959- author.

Title: The dog-eared diary : a Chrissy the Shih Tzu mystery / Diane Wing.

Description: 1st. | Ann Arbor, MI : Modern History Press, [2019] | Series: Chrissy the Shih Tzu mystery; #2 | Summary: “In this 2nd book of the mystery series, Autumn Clarke and her Shih Tzu dog “Chrissy” are compelled to solve a missing persons case that could be the result of foul play”-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019030690 | ISBN 9781615994717 (paperback) | ISBN 9781615994724 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781615994731 (kindle edition)

Subjects: LCSH: Missing persons--Investigation--Fiction. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction. | Suspense fiction.

Classification: LCC PS3623.I652 D64 2019 | DDC 813/.6--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019030690

Published by

Modern History Press

5145 Pontiac Trail

Ann Arbor, MI

www.ModernHistoryPress.com

[email protected]

tollfree 888-761-6268

fax [phone]

Distributed by Ingram Book Group (USA/CAN/AU), Bertram’s Books (UK/EU)

This book is dedicated to my neighbors, who are as dear to me as family.

Books by Diane Wing….

Cozy Mysteries with Chrissy the Shih Tzu

Attorney-at-Paw

The Dog-Eared Diary

Dark Fantasy

Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds

Thorne Manor and other bizarre tales

Trips to the Edge

Non-fiction

The True Nature of Tarot: Your Path to Personal Empowerment

The True Nature of Energy: Transforming Anxiety into Tranquility

The Happiness Perspective: Seeing Your Life Differently

Missing Person Report: Abigail Peabody, Knollwood, PA

Abigail Hempstead Peabody of Knollwood, PA was reported missing by her husband, Horatio Peabody, on August 7th, 1935. She is 5’6” weighing 115 pounds, with dark hair and brown eyes. She was last seen by her husband at the West Chester train station on her way to visit relatives in New York who said she never arrived. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Mrs. Peabody should contact the Knollwood police department immediately.

Obituary: Horatio Peabody (1878-1957), Knollwood, PA

Wealthy local businessman, Horatio Peabody, died at home on July 13, 1957, after a short hospitalization, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his son, Maynard; daughter-in-law, Jillian Smith Peabody; and grandson, Edgar. He was a respected member of his community and donated 60 acres of land to Knollwood Township to be eternally preserved as a public park and recreation area. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Knollwood at 93 Main Street, July 20, 1957.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Acknowledgements

About the Author

-   1   -

The side of her fist slammed onto the polished desktop, moving the air toward Oxnard Peabody’s face. He detached himself from her toxic energy by wondering why she never spent money on a manicure. Nail polish might ease her nail-biting habit and professional attention could smooth the jagged cuticles made by her relentless oral assault on her fingers.

“You’re keeping something from me, and I want to know what it is!”

“The secrets I keep are for your own good, Beatrice.” Oxnard sighed. His sister tested his patience on a regular basis. He never understood where her anger came from, always bubbling below the surface.

Beatrice folded her arms defiantly, her stance planted, unwilling to yield. Her expensive peach-colored cotton dress hung shapelessly on her lanky figure, with flat brown leather sandals cheapening the look. Oxnard took a deep breath, trying to reclaim the air Beatrice sucked from the room. Suggesting a stylist would send her through the roof. He had learned to divert his attention over the years to her appearance as a stress-management strategy when she was in attack mode.

They had been through all this before. Oxnard knew she was hell-bent on changing everything in her favor and discovering family secrets he promised his father he would keep. Oxnard dug his shiny black wingtips into the worn rug under his desk.

A sinister grin filled Beatrice’s face. “I’m next in line to inherit the stone mansion.”

“The house is not meant for you.”

“Then for who?”

“Be happy with your trust fund and leave the rest to me.”

“You don’t even live there. Why not hand it over while you’re still alive?”

“There is a reason I don’t live there, Beatrice. Besides, Great-Grandfather Horatio left specific stipulations regarding the house.”

Now that it’s yours, you could change that condition.”

His mouth turned down. “Don’t you think I’d want to live in our family’s legacy? And you along with me?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’d kill you in your sleep?” she said with an unnerving smirk.

Even though his sister sounded as if she was teasing him, the thought had gone through his mind as a serious possibility. Oxnard had feared for his life many times after spats during their life under the same roof as children. Battles occurred for a variety of reasons: sibling rivalry, possessiveness over a toy or book, or academic envy, such as on days when their report cards reflected Oxnard’s superiority. All triggered physical confrontations and consequential groundings. Oxnard was a quiet child, preferring books to people. From the day Beatrice appeared, his life had changed and his stress increased.

He struggled to hold his rolling executive chair in place the way he had held his fear around Beatrice. His deepest desire was to get far away from his sister’s fury.

“I certainly hope not.” Oxnard’s voice was steady, but his pulse raced.

Beatrice let out a disbelieving growl. “What’s the reason, then?”

“Father said the house was evil.”

The look on Beatrice’s face told him she was not buying the story.

“Oh, come on, Oxnard. You don’t really believe that, do you? There’s no such thing!”

Oxnard saw Beatrice’s dark brown eyes flash the way they used to just before she sucker-punched him in childhood, and he knew that, in fact, evil did exist.

“He told me to protect you.”

“I don’t need protection, but you do.” Beatrice grimaced.

Oxnard shook his head, suddenly exhausted.

“How many times are we going to have this conversation? Let it go.”

“Not likely.”

Oxnard let out the breath he did not know he was holding.

“Don’t negate the family history. Think about how unlucky Great-Grandmother Abigail was in that house. She was ill before her disappearance. Great -Grandfather Horatio suffered from alcoholism. Grandfather Maynard lived there until Grandmother Jillian had a miscarriage. She refused to live there after that. Once they moved, they were able to have Father. Mother and Father chose not to live there to avoid the dread that surrounds that building and the bad luck that follows.”

“I’ve heard the story before. You know as well as I do it was simple superstition and a series of unfortunate events that could have happened to any alcoholic and his family. The stress could have caused a miscarriage for our grandparents.”

Oxnard sighed, as weary of the repetition as Beatrice. He had hoped the stories would compel her to believe the house was evil. He knew it was not. The only thing malevolent about the house was the heavy energy left by those who lived there. His family members were champions at creating negativity for each other, just as Beatrice did for him.

“I signed over Mother and Father’s house to you and bought one for myself. Isn’t that enough?”

Beatrice ignored his generosity and challenged Oxnard. “I could make the board of the Peabody Foundation decide.” She shoved her glasses higher on her beaked nose with her middle finger.

“The Peabody Mansion is not part of the Foundation. It is mine. The board has no say in this matter. This discussion is over.” Oxnard’s innards felt like mush. He was ready for Beatrice to leave.

“I disagree. There’s a way around everything, and I’m going to find it.”

“Let’s just get through the day, shall we?” Oxnard was tired by this discussion and by her presence.

A hard knock on the heavy wood-paneled door interrupted the argument. Oxnard was thankful to whoever was on the other side of the door. Beatrice pressed her lips together in frustration.

“Come in!”

Greg Manning, caretaker of Peabody Mansion and manager of the Peabody Festival, packed the doorway with his imposing muscular build and sandy blond hair. Greg had been a trusted member of the Peabody staff for the majority of his thirty-seven years, having started out of high school. Beatrice and Oxnard’s father, Edgar, had hired him for a summer to care for the outside of the mansion. He had never left, and Greg’s duties expanded.

His bold good looks and flirtatious ways made him a legend among the women in town. Oxnard had seen women practically swoon in his presence. At first, Oxnard could not understand why they fell for Greg’s manipulations eighty percent of the time and competed for his attention.

Oxnard’s own neat, book-smart appearance did nothing to win him a wife. Then again, his focus on work and family matters made him withdraw from social gatherings, which did not align with courtship. Charm was not his strong suit. He had reasoned that dependability is a trait women want, but discovered by watching Greg’s amorous ways that flattery and attention worked better.

Beatrice glared at him. Oxnard noticed that Greg’s wink and bright smile did nothing to melt the icy stare.

“Are you coming out soon? The place is getting mobbed and they’re looking for the master of ceremonies to kick things off.”

Oxnard did not enjoy public speaking and his argument with Beatrice did not put him in a social mood. This task would test his acting skills to the breaking point.

“Yes, as soon as we’re finished with our conversation.”

“I think we’re done,” said Beatrice, “for now.”

Beatrice stormed out of the office and slammed the door behind her.

Greg stared after her and then looked at Oxnard, who shrugged. Greg nodded in understanding. He had experienced many fights between the siblings over the years. It was a way of life and a constant source of embarrassment for Oxnard.

“Give me a minute,” said Oxnard.

“OK, boss,” said Greg as he quietly closed the door behind him.

Oxnard stayed in his chair, praying that she would not ruin the annual Peabody Festival in honor of Great-Grandfather Horatio. A slight tremor moved through his body, as it did after each encounter with Beatrice. He wanted to love her, to take care of her, but she made that so very hard.

-   2   -

Autumn Clarke; her Shih tzu, Chrissy; and best friend, Stephanie Douglas, walked through the late-August heat shimmering over the annual Peabody Festival grounds. Packed with locals and visitors alike, the festival was an important part of Knollwood’s economy. The town benefitted from the influx of tourists who patronized the bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and Main Street retailers. The number of vendors and booths at the festival seemed to double over last year, with rows of tents added to the center of the fair grounds and an expanded stage area.

Autumn and Stephanie scanned the schedule of speeches and bands. The map of vendor tables handed to them at the gate helped them strategize to visit as many booths as possible before twilight fell. Once it got dark, the blasts from the fireworks would upset Chrissy and make her whole body tremble. Autumn wanted to be home before that happened.

Autumn watched Chrissy’s tail bounce up and down as her hips swayed side-to-side. Chrissy sniffed the freshly mowed grass and sneezed.

“Bless you, sweetheart,” said Autumn.

Chrissy looked up at Autumn with a glistening nose, wagged her tail, and continued her joyful trot. Autumn watched her, proud that Chrissy had come such a long way in the four months since she’d lost her daddy and Autumn became her pet parent. Chrissy’s resilience inspired Autumn to move past her own grief at the loss of her parents eight months before.

The soaring heat did not seem to bother Chrissy, despite her long, silky hair. The warm breeze cut into the humidity and blew through Chrissy’s bangs. Autumn had the water bottle and portable cup at the ready in case her precious Shih tzu got thirsty

They strolled past lines of eager patrons waiting to cool down at the water ice, lemonade, and ice cream stands. They had started at the row to the right of the entry gate, and were about a quarter of the way through, stomachs growling as lunchtime approached. As if in response to their hunger pains, a bright yellow tent with bold flowing red font advertised Coleman’s Kitchen. Autumn and Stephanie smiled at each other and sped-up the pace. Lisa Coleman greeted them with a big smile and open arms.

“Ladies! Thanks for stopping by!”

“We wouldn’t miss it!” said Autumn and Stephanie in unison as if they planned it. The two women had been best friends since they roomed together at Villanova and often finished each other’s sentences.

Stephanie’s enthusiasm about Lisa’s cooking skills began after tasting her crab quiche at Autumn’s house. It was nice to have a neighbor so accomplished in the culinary arts.

Autumn was proud of Lisa’s decision to pursue a career she loved, especially after the awful experience she had at the law firm she worked for this past spring. She had a couple of years left in her culinary program at The Restaurant School in Philadelphia, but that did not stop her from opening her own restaurant in the meantime. She’d learned to cook from her mother, who passed away from cancer, and found that she was a natural chef. Lisa’s father, Steve Coleman, supported his daughter’s dream. He and Lisa lived a few doors down from Autumn, and Steve was pet parent to Chrissy’s best friend, Mickey the white standard poodle.

“How’s business at the restaurant?” Autumn asked.

“Good. My biggest competition is Patsy’s Deli, but my rotating menu keeps patrons tired of the same old lunch coming in. Patsy’s makes breakfast, too, but I don’t think I’ll move into that. Maybe I’ll start serving dinner or catering at some point, but with school, I just don’t have the time to do anything but lunch.”

They bit into the samples of Lisa’s signature Mediterranean sandwich with lemon hummus, assorted veggies, and feta cheese on naan.

“Mmm,” Autumn groaned, “this is so good.”

Stephanie nodded, her mouth full.

Lisa beamed.

“Do you have a full-size version available?” Stephanie asked, looking around for a table. She spotted one at the corner of Lisa’s tent.

“Yep. What do you want to drink?”

“Water’s fine,” said Autumn. “I’ll take a Mediterranean sandwich, too, please.”

Despite Lisa’s insistence to the contrary, Autumn and Stephanie purchased their lunch. They were all for supporting their friend’s enterprise. Lisa threw a couple of jumbo chocolate chip cookies on the tray as a bonus.

Enjoying the shade under the tent, Chrissy got her bowl of water and a grain-free snack and settled in the cool grass beneath the table. It was the perfect respite before continuing their exploration of the festival offerings. They perused the list of vendors and activities as they ate. A child ran by with his face painted like a tiger.

“I think we can skip the face-painting booth,” said Stephanie with a chuckle.

“Agreed,” said Autumn.

“Hi, Miss Douglas!” a little girl called from a nearby table.

Stephanie taught fifth grade at Knollwood Elementary school and often saw her students out and about.

“Hey, Cindy! Are you having fun?” Stephanie waved to Cindy’s mother sitting next to the child. “Hi, Mrs. Tandy.”

The woman waved, her mouth around a sandwich.

“You have Miss Jenkins for sixth grade, right?”

“Yeah,” Cindy sounded disappointed.

“You’re going to love her. She likes to have fun in her classroom. Plus, you’re a terrific student, so you’ll do great.”

Cindy brightened and then spotted Chrissy. “Can I pet your dog?” Cindy asked with a sparkle in her eyes as she looked at Autumn.

“Sure, she loves the attention. Her name is Chrissy,” Autumn said.

Cindy bent down and reached under the table. Chrissy came out, wagging her tail, to make it easy for the girl to reach her.

“Hi, Chrissy. You’re so soft! Your bow is so pretty.”

Chrissy’s topknot set-off by a pink satin flower clip was a kid pleaser every time. Cindy’s touch was very gentle.

“Hey! She just smiled at me!”

Autumn did not doubt it. Chrissy had an expressive face.

Stephanie saw Mrs. Tandy signaling for Cindy to return to the table.

“I think your mom wants you. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks, OK?” said Stephanie.

Cindy nodded reluctantly, said goodbye to Chrissy, and went back to her lunch.

Brad Hall, another of Autumn’s neighbors, walked by in his park ranger uniform, at the festival in an official capacity. He waved. Autumn knew his wife, Julie, was at the festival, too, operating the bake-sale booth to raise money for school activities.

“Let’s go find Julie,” suggested Autumn. She moved her finger along the festival map. “Her booth is a few down from this one.”

They did not have to look hard, since Chrissy spotted her friend, Teddy the Yorkshire terrier before Autumn and Stephanie realized they had arrived at the booth. Julie and Brad were Teddy’s pet parents. Chrissy pulled Autumn to where her friend stood, wagging his tail.

“Can I interest you in something to enjoy at home?” Julie smiled at them as she reached down to pet Chrissy. “How are you, little one?”

“I’m running low on snickerdoodles, so how about a small pack of those?” Stephanie dug in her purse for the money.

“I’ll take a pack of chocolate chip cookies and that chocolate coconut Bundt cake.”

Julie raised her eyebrows. “Buying for two, I take it?”

Autumn smiled. “As a matter of fact, yes. Ray has a sweet tooth.”

“That’s why he picked you, isn’t it?” Julie laughed at her own joke. “You’ve gotten quite close over the last few months. You’re the talk of the town.”

“Well, investigating a murder is an intimate affair.”

Autumn and Ray had solved the murder of Chrissy’s original pet parent. Ray and his German Shepherd Dog, Ace, saved Autumn and Chrissy from getting killed themselves. “It’s not every day you find a guy who is protective and understanding of my post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Autumn had lived with PTSD for the eight months since the fatal car accident that killed her parents. She still missed them, but Ray brought his healing love to her rescue, as did Chrissy.

“One day I hope to find someone who loves me as much as Ray loves Autumn,” Stephanie sighed.

“You will,” Autumn said and squeezed Stephanie’s arm.

Packages in hand, they said their goodbyes, after Autumn and Julie set plans to walk the fur babies together the following day. They stopped to play a few games, but did not win anything, laughing at each other’s lack of accuracy at the ring toss and the shooting gallery. Halfway around the fairgrounds, they ran into Steve Coleman and Mickey. Chrissy’s tail went into overdrive as she sniffed Mickey and hopped in greeting.

They walked past the hot dog stand, and Chrissy and Mickey’s noses lifted to take in the aroma of the fragrant meat. Autumn’s friend, Maureen Roberts, a local real estate agent, was taking her turn at the realty booth, surrounded by books filled with photos of available properties. The festival drew out-of-towners looking to relocate or purchase a second home.

Maureen had been friends with Autumn’s mother and offered to sell Autumn’s house when she was ready. Autumn was not sure she would ever be ready to leave the house where she grew up. It held too many memories, which both helped and hurt her progress in therapy. The constant reminder that her parents were gone was difficult, yet the familiar environment provided some solace. Then again, if things kept moving in the right direction with Ray, it could be time to get a place they could call their own. Stella and George Clarke had left everything to Autumn. She owned the house outright, but even if Ray moved in, it might always feel like her house rather than their house.

“I’m ready whenever you are, dear,” said Maureen.

“You’ll be the first one I call.” Autumn smiled at the real estate agent’s persistence. They had had this conversation a few times since Maureen found out about her relationship with Ray.

Autumn moved on with a friendly wave.

Screams came from the Round Up, a cylinder spinning so fast that riders were pinned to the wall. Autumn’s group decided to stay on the ground. Feedback screeched from the loudspeakers, getting everyone’s attention and forcing Chrissy to hide between Autumn’s legs. Autumn lifted her up and hugged her close. Chrissy’s paws sat on Autumn’s shoulders, her furry head snuggled against her face. Autumn kissed her silky ear.

“It’s okay,” she whispered to Chrissy and then to her friends, “she’ll be okay in a minute.”

“Attention everyone! Our host, Oxnard Peabody, is about to take the stage.”

Another screech of feedback exacerbated Chrissy’s trembling. Her usually soft-smelling fur took on a mild pungent odor of fear. Autumn supported her head against her shoulder, bouncing her like a baby.

Autumn tried to distract her. “Look at Mickey! What’s he doing?” but Chrissy only cuddled closer, so she resorted to making kissy sounds on her ear.

“Let’s walk toward the stage. She’ll calm down,” Autumn said.

The group made their way across the grassy midway. Smells of popcorn, hot dogs, and cotton candy wafted on the air. The walking motion seemed to lull Chrissy, and the scented air caught her attention. Autumn felt her relax.

“Ready to walk?”

Chrissy lifted her head from Autumn’s shoulder and made a grunting sound. Autumn placed Chrissy on the ground. She shook her luxurious white and charcoal gray coat and took her place beside Mickey, who nuzzled her. Autumn, impressed by Chrissy’s ability to regain her emotional balance, considered her a good example for her own recovery.

People stood behind the already-filled folding chairs. Greg Manning took the stage and tapped the microphone. Autumn checked on Chrissy, but the noise left her unfazed.

“Welcome to the eightieth Peabody Festival, celebrating the founder of this event, Horatio Peabody, and his generous donation of sixty acres of land to our community.”

Greg waited for the applause to die down before continuing.

“Generations of Knollwood residents have enjoyed his legacy, and each year, our beautiful community draws thousands of visitors to Knollwood. We are glad to share this day with residents and visitors alike. Now, I’m honored to introduce Horatio’s great-grandson, Oxnard Peabody.”

The crowd applauded, with locals whistling and yelling Oxnard’s name. The residents appreciated the Peabody family’s generosity over the years and the festival was the most anticipated event for its fun and historical significance.

“Greg gets better looking each time I see him,” said Stephanie.

“Have you ever met him?” Autumn asked.

“No, but I wouldn’t mind. Let’s see if we can bump into him before the day is over.” A mischievous smile adorned Stephanie’s lips as she clapped.

Oxnard waved his hands, encouraging quiet.

“Each year, the Peabody Festival expands to include more visitors and wonderful businesses. Great-Grandfather Horatio, would have been pleased to see how the celebration has grown and how much happiness his contribution to the community has brought to Knollwood. Thousands of feet have walked upon this ground to pay tribute to Horatio Peabody and his dedication to the community. We thank you for that.”

The audience applauded and whistled, making Oxnard smile before raising his hands again to calm down the crowd.

“This year, there is a special surprise that very few people know about. I, Oxnard Peabody, am the featured victim at the dunking booth, wearing everything except my shoes. For the next several hours, you’ll get to try your skill and see if you can soak me as I sacrifice myself for the cause. All proceeds from the dunking booth will go to the care and maintenance of Peabody Park and the Peabody Mansion Museum. We appreciate your support!”

Oxnard exited the stage to wild applause and laughter at the thought of this staid icon of the community being soaked, fully clothed, in the dunking tank. People started moving to get in line to try their hand at toppling him from his perch.

“I don’t plan to participate in the dunking. There’s no joy in seeing someone fall into water, plus I have lousy throwing skills,” said Stephanie.

“I saw Greg walk over near the tent housing Jade’s Jewelry. We can do a little shopping and see if you can get his attention.”

Stephanie sucked in her cheeks and gave Autumn a big-eyed stare.

“What’s the worst that can happen?” Autumn asked, and started walking toward the tent.

“I guess I could use some new jewelry.”

“I have enough jewelry,” said Steve, who tagged along with his dog.

Autumn chuckled. “You sure? How about some embellishment for Mickey?”

Steve smiled. “I’m heading to the hot dog stand. Mickey’s been interested since we got here. I wouldn’t mind one myself. We’ll catch up with you.”

Steve and Mickey headed toward the tantalizing smell of the hot dog vendor.

Autumn, Chrissy, and Stephanie made their way to the jewelry booth. Jade’s had some of the best designer costume and natural stone jewelry and accessories in the area. The booth sparkled with necklaces, rings, earrings, beaded bags, and bracelets.

Jade Fisher, the shop owner, walked through the booth speaking with customers. She wore an extravagant labradorite pendant that practically filled the space created by the scoop neck of her peasant blouse. The iridescent sheen of the stone gave sophistication to her casual look. Her bleached-blonde hair puffed at the top and cascaded over her shoulders. Blue eyes peered out from lush black lashes.

Autumn watched Greg Manning walk to the corner of the tent and capture Jade’s attention away from her customers with a wink and a smile. She beamed back at him and gave a slight nod. His broad shoulders and square jaw bewitched the unattached women in the vicinity, including Stephanie, who let out a little groan.

“Seriously? You’re going to fall for that cheesy come-hither look? Besides, he’s clearly selected his target.”

Stephanie’s raised brows dipped with realization. “Oh.”

“Wait for the right one. Being alone is better than being with the wrong guy. Trust me.”

“Yeah. I need some bling to get over it.”

Autumn, Chrissy, and Stephanie systematically worked their way around the U-shaped table arrangement to make sure they did not miss anything.

They held up various pieces to judge the flattering quality and gave each other honest opinions. Autumn went for the earthier pieces, with opaque natural stones and fresh-water pearls attracting her attention. Stephanie liked flashier pieces; if it sparkled, it caught her eye.

Autumn spotted some rhinestone hairclips that looked perfect for Chrissy. The furry diva sat still while her mommy held up several designs for her. Autumn put four of them in her mini-shopping basket - two matching pink rhinestone clips for pigtails and one each of yellow and clear rhinestones for topknots.

“You’ll look so pretty.”

Chrissy looked at her and smiled.

“I don’t see Greg,” said Stephanie.

As they made their way to the back of the tent, Autumn heard some noises, but was not sure what they were or where they were coming from.

“Shhh, listen,” said Autumn, her finger to her lips.

Now closer to the back of the tent, she heard two male voices, their tone angry but restrained, their growls muffled by the canvas curtains at the back of the tent.

“You can’t be serious!”

“I’ve smelled it on you before and let it go, but being drunk at an important event is unacceptable. You’re finished.”

“But, I—”

Footsteps stomped away. Autumn looked down and saw Chrissy with her head halfway under the canvas looking at the commotion.

“Chrissy, come here sweetie.”

The shih tzu pulled her head from under the curtain and sat next to Autumn, who crouched down beside her. Autumn whispered in Chrissy’s ear.

“What did you see? Show Mommy.”

A wave of nausea came over Autumn and a vision of wing-tip shoes walking away. The image faded.

“One of the men was Oxnard,” she said to Stephanie.

“How do you know that?”

“I recognized the voice.” Autumn felt bad lying to Stephanie. Even though Stephanie was her best friend and trustworthy, Chrissy’s ability was an odd and unlikely gift that Autumn preferred not to discuss. Maybe at some point in the future she would, but not yet. She was still coming to grips with it herself. Ray was the only other person who knew Chrissy’s secret, out of necessity to solve the last case.

“What about the other one?”

“We saw Greg come this way, so it could have been him. I don’t see him around.”

Autumn heard the disappointment in Stephanie’s voice.

“You may have just dodged a bullet. If he’s an alcoholic, you don’t want to date him no matter how handsome he is.”

“True, but we still don’t know if it was Greg. I’d rather give him the benefit of the doubt.” Stephanie sighed and put a shimmering necklace in her basket.

They stepped over to the checkout area. Jade took each basket in turn.

“Find everything you wanted?” asked Jade.

“Probably more than I wanted,” Autumn said.

“Do you have children? These rhinestone clips are perfect for fine hair.” Jade put them in a little bag.

“Just this one,” Autumn said, and pointed to Chrissy.

Jade bent down to pet her. “They’ll look beautiful on her.”

Chrissy wagged her tail.

Stephanie checked out without engaging in conversation.

They continued walking around the fairgrounds. Nearby, the sound of splashing and laughter rose above the din.

“Someone must have nailed the target and dunked Oxnard. Maybe it will cool him off.”

“I hope so. I teach my students that holding onto anger hurts your heart.”

A few booths down, Barbara McCarthy, owner of Attic Treasures Books, stood behind stacks of antiquarian and used books. Her short, wavy, dirty-blonde hair framed her gold-rimmed glasses, giving her a hip, librarian look. The ruffled, light-green sleeveless top brought out the tones of her hazel eyes.

Early on in their relationship, Autumn and Stephanie bonded over their love of books. They spent hours combing through library sales and used bookshops. Barbara had an extensive collection of out-of-print and hard-to-find volumes. She was also the town historian. The women knew Barbara from their frequent visits to her shop, as most locals did.

“Looking for anything in particular?” Barbara asked, giving a bright smile when she saw Chrissy.

“I’ll know it when I see it,” said Stephanie, already absorbed in the hunt.

“Me, too. We may be here for a while.”

“Can this little girl have a snack?”

Chrissy was on a grain-free diet, including snacks, but Autumn did not like turning away kindhearted folks who wanted to give her a treat. Chrissy usually made the right decision to eat it or not.

“Sure.”

Autumn watched Chrissy politely take the small bone-shaped cookie, hold it in her mouth while Barbara watched, and then place it on the ground as soon as she turned away.