Daisy McDare and the Deadly Legal Affair (5 page)

What an ominous answer.  Daisy couldn’t help but notice the conversation had taken quite a turn.  She realized she didn’t know much about Angela.  Daisy decided to proceed with caution. 

“What kind of enemies?” Daisy asked. 

“Come on, look around that office.  Or his wife even.  The fact is, Max Cash was scummy even for a lawyer,” Angela said. 

“Did he make an enemy out of you?”

Angela got defensive.  “I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Daisy’s instincts had done her well in the past.  Sometimes she felt like she’d been born with a built in lie detector.  It was all about the eyes.  People with secrets had shifty eyes.  They hated holding eye contact.  Because subconsciously they knew their eyes said more than their mouth ever could. 

When Daisy looked into Angela’s eyes, she didn’t see them twitch like she was guilty.  When it came to murdering Max Cash, Daisy had no doubt in her mind that Angela didn’t do it.  Still, Daisy could see that Angela was hiding something.  She just had no idea what it was. 

“I didn’t say you did.  It’s just a really shocking time and there’s a lot going on.  I’m just trying make sense of it,” Daisy replied. 

“I can’t pretend I liked the man, because I didn’t.  But the fact is, murder is wrong.  ‘Thou shalt not kill’.  It’s right there in the good book.  And the Bible has gotten me through a lot of hard times.  I don’t know where I and my youngest son would be without it.”

“Whatever gets you through the day,” Daisy said. 

What was amazing to Daisy was that no one seemed able to compliment Max Cash, even in death.  Usually people could find something half decent to say about unsavory characters when they met their maker.  Not this time.  They weren’t even willing to make up a lie about the guy.  That said a lot about Max Cash’s legacy and the enemies he made. 

Angela clearly had some sort of run in with Max in the past that she didn’t wish to revisit.  It wasn’t Daisy’s place to make her talk about it either. 

That wouldn’t stop Daisy from being thirsty for answers.  She’d just have to sit on her curiosity for the time being, especially considering Angela seemed antsy to skedaddle. 

“Anyway, I should really be going.  It has been a long night and I need to check up on my son,” Angela said.   

“I understand.  I’ll see you later then,” Daisy replied. 

Chapter Seven

After such a stressful morning, a run to Sweet Tooth was in order.  Daisy’s friend Samantha greeted her with a smile, not realizing what sad news she had to share.  When Daisy told her what was going on, Samantha could barely believe it.   

“I still can’t believe there’s been a murder in Cozy Creek,” Samantha said. 

“I know.  It still blows my mind too,” Daisy replied. 

“Who do you think did it?” Samantha wondered. 

“Ask the police.”

“Oh come on.  Tell me you aren’t curious.”

“Of course I am.  The problem is, there’s actually too many suspects.  It’s hard to pick just one.”

Granny Annie then jumped into the conversation.  “I’ll tell you who did it.  It was the butler.”

Daisy and Samantha both turned to Granny Annie with furrowed brows. 

“What?” Samantha replied. 

“I’ve been reading a lot of mysteries lately, and the murderer is always the butler,” Granny Annie explained.

“Granny, this is a real murder, not a book,” Samantha said. 

“Hey, I was just trying to help.  Watch out for those butlers—or maids for that matter.  They always have shifty eyes in murder mysteries,” Granny Annie replied. 

Daisy smiled.  “Sometimes they have them in real life too.”

“A-ha.  I’m onto something.  I just know it.  Then again, sometimes their eyes are just shifty because they’ve been stealing from their employer, not because they are a murderer,” Granny said. 

“Can we get back to reality?” Samantha asked. 

“How about just getting back to my snicker doodles?  I hope your mouth is ready to water, because this batch is going to be delicious,” Granny Annie said. 

Daisy licked her lips.  “I can’t wait.”

Granny Annie then moved back to the oven. 

Samantha meanwhile was busy mulling the situation over. 

“Do you have any idea who could have done it?” Samantha asked. 

“I told you.  The problem isn’t finding one suspect.  It’s narrowing down the seven suspects I can think of in my head,” Daisy said. 

“Seven?”

Daisy nodded.  “There’s the night maid, who had some kind of bad experience with him in the past that she doesn’t want to talk about.  Max’s wife, who was desperate to get half his money in a divorce that he was about to fight her tooth and nail over.  The receptionist who couldn’t sleep her way to the top and also couldn’t get a pay raise for the life of her.  The ambitious protégé that wanted a partnership but kept getting thwarted in his efforts.  The legal assistant who was having an affair with Max and was upset he wouldn’t leave his wife for her.  The bookkeeper who was in love with the legal assistant but couldn’t seem to win her back because she was in love with Max.  Then paralegal, who was overworked and underappreciated. Then finally, at least one irate client who was livid that he’d need to sell his prized brand new pickup truck to settle his legal fees.”

“Is that all?” Samantha joked. 

“I know, right?  The man sure knew how to make enemies.”

“Those are just the ones you know about too.”

“I’m glad the police will be solving this one.  I just want to get this redecorating job done and get as far away from that office as possible,” Daisy admitted. 

“Still, I’ll be interested to see who did it,” Samantha said. 

“In the meantime, I’m ready for some snicker doodles,” Daisy replied. 

Chapter Eight

With all the drama going on in Daisy’s life, the last thing she needed was to add more.  That meant she couldn’t ever take her Westie Shamus back to their usual dog park again.  Odds were she’d run into her ex again.  That was a mistake she was tired of making. 

As a change of pace, that morning she went clear across town to the Maple Street dog park.  At first she couldn’t believe she was willing to go twenty-five blocks out of her way just to avoid running into her ex. 

That thought faded when she unleashed Shamus in the park and he booked it towards a Corgi puppy across the way.  Daisy ran after Shamus.  Her little scruffy pooch was as friendly as could be, but sometimes that was overwhelming to dogs that didn’t know him. 

The minute Shamus reached the Corgi pup, he sniffed around and gave him a warm greeting.  The little brown Corgi sure was cute.  At a quick glance, Daisy suspected the Corgi was probably two or three months old.  He had one ear pointing up and another folded down.  It was one of the cutest things Daisy had ever seen. 

Luckily, the Corgi liked Shamus.  They started rolling around together having a great time. 

“It looks like Rosie has made a new friend,” the Corgi’s Owner commented. 

Daisy nodded.  “Shamus is the life of the party.”

Daisy had been too busy focusing on the dogs to notice Gavin Watson.  Then she looked up.

Gavin was the kind of man women dreamed about.  He was effortlessly handsome, as witnessed by the fact that he had just thrown on a ball cap and hadn’t even shaved—yet looked as kissable as ever. 

He clearly took good care of himself.  He was probably in an ice hockey league in the winter and a roller hockey league in the summer.  The town, like the rest of Canada, was hockey crazed.  Gavin managed to be muscular, but not too bulky.  He wasn’t like one of those roid-raging maniacs that lived at the gym and went on endlessly about how much they could bench press.  

Gavin flashed Daisy a smile that sent her heart aflutter.  She smiled back and looked into his hazel eyes.  Oh dear. 

Daisy got so caught up in his gaze that it took her a moment to remember that she wasn’t wearing any make up or done more with her hair than quickly run a brush through it.  She wasn’t expecting to meet a hunky guy at the dog park.  Heck, she was just looking for a new place to bring Shamus to. 

The added distance of taking Shamus all across town meant Daisy didn’t have time to do much with herself before leaving the house.  She’d just thrown on some sweats and slapped on a ball cap to keep her hair from frizzing out. 

Now she regretted the decision.  This wasn’t exactly the best look for Gavin to be seeing.  Unfortunately, there was nothing Daisy could do now.  Not that it mattered.  He probably already had a girlfriend.  He wasn’t married though—she saw no wedding band on his finger.

“It’s funny.  Rosie is usually shy around other dogs,” Gavin revealed. 

“I’m sorry Shamus just came barging on over then,” Daisy replied.

“No, it’s quite alright.  She really seems to like little Shamus.  It’s a relief actually.  She’s had a couple of bad run in’s with male dogs.”

“Haven’t we all?” Daisy joked.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“That’s why God invented chocolate…and wine coolers.”

“On behalf of the male gender, I’d like to apologize for the doggish behavior you’ve apparently been put through,” Gavin said. 

“I didn’t know you were authorized to speak for the whole male gender,” Daisy joked. 

“Strictly in an unofficial capacity of course,” Gavin said, playfully. 

“I have a feeling you should take on a more official role.  A guy like you could give men a good name.”

“That’s very kind of you, but I’m not sure I can live up to that billing,” Gavin laughed. 

“I don’t know.  You look like a good guy from here.”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“Are you telling me I’m wrong?”

Gavin grimaced.  “I don’t know what I’m telling you.  The fact is, it’s just a very confusing time in my life.”

“Uh oh.  Sounds like there’s a story in there,” Daisy said. 

Gavin was quick to change the subject.  “It’s not really dog park material.”

“What is it then—coffee shop material?”

“More like ‘best forgotten’ material.”

“Bad break up, huh?” Daisy asked. 

“Is there such a thing as a good break up?”

“You got me there.  If it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone.”

“Actually, I feel like I am.  That’s the problem.  I’m thirty-three and starting completely from scratch again after six years,” Gavin sighed. 

“At least you didn’t drive to a dog park clear across town just to avoid having to see your ex,” Daisy said. 

“It would be hard to run into my ex.  She ran off to Vancouver to be with some douche hedge fund manager.”

“Ouch.”

“That’s not even the worst part.  Here I am, a private investigator digging up dirt in other people’s lives.  But I didn’t even realize what my fiancé was doing with Douchey McSixPack right under my nose,” Gavin sighed. 

“You sound like you could use some chocolate.”

“A lobotomy would work too,” Gavin joked. 

Daisy laughed. 

“I’m sorry.  Here I am prattling on about my break up with a complete stranger.”

“I’m guilty of that too.  But I’m not a complete stranger—at least not anymore.  I’m Daisy McDare.”

“Daisy.  What a pretty name.”

“You can thank my flower power hippie of a mother for that.  I was about two seconds away from being named Petunia.”

“I’m glad she went with Daisy. It’s a fitting name for a beautiful woman,” Gavin said. 

“Now I know you’re just being nice.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I’m not even wearing makeup.  This ball cap is the only thing keeping you from seeing the battle of the frizz my hair is trying to wage.”

“I think you’re prettier than you give yourself credit for.”

Daisy smiled and blushed.  “Well thank you.”

“By the way, I’m Gavin Watson, and I promise I’m not always such an emotional grease fire.”

“Is that how you always introduce yourself?” she joked.  

“No.  But you had the misfortune of hearing me blather on about my break up, so I felt like that caveat was in order,” he explained. 

“Don’t worry about it.  Everyone knows conversations that take place before seven a.m. don’t count anyway.  We’re all given a mulligan in the morning.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a new rule I just made up, but I like it.”

“Daisy McDare, I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy getting to know you.”

“Does that mean I’ll see you back here tomorrow?” she asked. 

“If you don’t mind driving all the way across town that is,” he said. 

“Of course.  Remember, I have an ex-boyfriend to avoid after all.”

“Right.  Until tomorrow then.”  He flashed her a big grin. 

“Bye.  Good luck putting out that emotional grease fire of yours,” she replied. 

Ugh.  Daisy’s foot in the mouth disease struck at the worst possible time.  What was it about being around an attractive man that turned her into a tongue-twisted twit? 

She was a completely capable woman in all other respects except when it came to being around attractive men.  The only consolation was that both she and Gavin seemed to take turns making fools of themselves. 

He seemed like such a nice guy.  It was a shame his heart had been through the blender of a break up as well.  She had no idea what to expect from future interactions, but Daisy knew she couldn’t wait to run into him again.  She gave him a big smile as she walked with her dog to the car.  Then she tripped over a rock n the ground.  She didn’t turn around, but she was sure he was laughing to himself.