Silence Is Golden (A Pet Psychic Mystery No. 3) (7 page)

"Penny for your thoughts," I said.

He threw me a soft smile and moved his hand from the steering wheel to my thigh. "I'm just a little worried about my dad. He hasn't been feeling good and is going in for some heart tests on Monday."

I placed my hand on top of his and squeezed. "I'm sure everything will be fine. Even if they find a problem, medicine really can work miracles these days." I stayed away from the word "magic".

"Yeah." He flipped his hand over and intertwined our fingers. "I'm sure you're right. Guess I feel guilty, too, because I haven't visited him in awhile."

"Can't you get some time off to go see him this week then?"

He shook his head and then shrugged. "Maybe." Steering the sedan into the park, he glanced in the back seat at Goldie stretched out with Gator between her paws. I glanced at her, too. She seemed to have calmed down from the crazy reaction she had to the magick-infused water, thank heavens. "Let's split up. You walk Goldie around and see if anyone recognizes her and approaches you. That's all you do, understand?" I bit my lip and nodded. "Okay. I'll go ask some official questions."

Will now approved of my snooping? My eyebrows raised but I didn't say anything. I wasn't about to spoil the moment.

He parked, lingered over my mouth a bit longer than a "see you later" kiss warranted and told me he'd find me in a bit.

I grinned, all lit up inside from his touch and then tried to keep my mind on the task at hand. "Okay, focus, Darwin."

I lead Goldie into the park to the open soccer field where the AKC All-Breed dog show was rockin' under large white tents. I supposed the first thing I should do is try to find some other golden retrievers in the show. Their owners would most likely have known Victoria. If dog shows were like any other elite activity, it was a small community with lots of gossip. I just had to find the right person and ask the right questions.

As I approached the crowds, I began to feel a bit underdressed in my white cotton sweatsuit. Most of the women wore black skirts, blazers and sensible shoes with very serious expressions. A nod and a smile only got me a nod back.

After making our way past a few of the tents with no golden retrievers prancing around in the show rings, I led Goldie over to the backside of the tents, where tables had been set up and people in aprons were grooming their dogs.

Scanning the area, I finally spotted a few goldens getting their beauty treatment. I moseyed over to a teenager trimming the whiskers off a stunning golden standing on the table.

"That's a beauty of a dog you got there. How do you get her to stand so calm like that?"

The girl glanced my way and smiled down at Goldie. No recognition. She laughed before resuming her delicate procedure. "She's a diva, used to being fussed over. She loves it."

"What girl wouldn't, right?" I laughed. "So, how long have you been showing her?"

"Not long. I'm actually in the Junior Showmanship classes, so I'm the one getting judged, not Princess here." She pointed her comb over to a golden getting groomed three tables down. "Good thing cause that golden over there is Blackbeard's Bountiful Treasure. Impossible to beat right now."

Guess that would be someone I needed to talk to. "Well, good luck to you and Princess."

"Thanks."

I led Goldie over to the dog she had pointed out. "Beautiful golden," I said, standing to the side. "Is he yours?"

The lady in the apron didn't glance up from the dainty foot she was trimming invisible hairs off of. "Nope, I'm just the handler. Bo belongs to Tara Scarpetta." She lowered the dog's paw and rubbed her hand gently along his leg, finally looking up at me, pride evident in her smile. "He's a champion." Then she glanced down at Goldie, her gaze moving to the shaved area exposing her stitches. Her eyes widened. "Oh my god, is that Goldie?"

Bingo. A hit. "Yes."

She fell down in front of the dog, and took her face in her hands. "Oh, you poor thing." She kissed the space between her eyes. Goldie accepted the attention with grace and a few licks of her own. "Terrible, terrible, losing Victoria like that. I'm sure she's traumatized. Goldens are very sensitive creatures. Form strong bonds with their people." She motioned to the shaved area on her side with the stitches. "Is that from the car hitting them?"

"Yeah, doesn't seem to bother her too much. I was told it might hurt her show career, though."

 "Probably would. I mean, even if it's not in the rules, some judges might not be willing to overlook such a big scar."

 I nodded in understanding.
So, whoever killed Victoria also probably ended Goldie's show career? That was convenient.

She sniffed as she gave Goldie one last scratch behind the ears and stood, shaking her head. "Poor thing."

"She seems to be a fighter. Getting better every day." I tried to give her thoughtful sadness the space it deserved, but after a moment of silence, I had to ask the question. "So, you knew Victoria?"

"Well, yeah, everybody on the show circuit did. Victoria and Goldie were a great team, giving Bo here a run for his money."

"I'm kind of new to this whole show world. Can I ask what kind of atmosphere these competitions have? Are they friendly rivalries?"

The woman snorted as she ran a comb through Bo's shiny fur. The dog shifted his curious gaze to me, and I noted the signature sparkle in his eyes.

 "You remember high school? All the gossip, rumors, backstabbing?"

Not really.
I never went to a public school, but to keep her talking I nodded.

"Well, it's like that but with more money, power, politics and teeth. And I'm not talking about the dog's teeth, either."

I crossed my arms. "That doesn't sound very friendly. So, Victoria and Bo's owner—this Tara Scarpetta—they didn't get along?"

She shook her head. "That's an understatement." She glanced around and lowered her voice. "They were always accusing each other of sabotaging the other's wins."

"How would they do that?"

"Well, you didn't hear this from me and no one could prove it, of course, but Bo got really bad diarrhea before his last show at the Boca Kennel Club and Tara swears Victoria poisoned him."

I stared at her. "That can't be true, can it? I mean, Victoria loved dogs, she wouldn't harm one."

She shrugged. "Victoria loved
her
dog. And winning." Then she sighed. "Tara can be a little dramatic, but I don't think she'd say something like that if she didn't believe it was true."

I glanced down at Goldie.
Just how important was winning to Victoria? Important enough to make an enemy out of someone she didn't realize was dangerous?
"Is Tara here today?"

"Yeah, she's around here somewhere."

I reached out and stroked Bo's soft fur. "Thanks for the help and good luck today."

She nodded and gave Goldie one last scratch before her attention was back on Bo.

I circled around the grounds looking for Will. It would probably be a better idea for him to talk to Tara officially, in case she turned out to be a suspect. I didn't want to mess anything up.

Finally spotting him talking to a couple of serious looking men in suits, I stood off to the side and waved to get his attention.

Ending his conversation with handshakes, he walked over. "What's up?"

"I found Victoria's rival. Probably be a good idea to have a chat with her if you can find her here. Apparently, she believes Victoria poisoned her dog, Bo, at a recent show."

He leaned back on his heels and smiled at me. "Good work. What's her name?"

I felt my cheeks warm at his compliment. "Tara Scarpetta."

Tara wasn't hard to find. Seemed everyone knew her. Will approached her as she was heavy in conversation with another woman, her hands on her slender hips, a scowl barely concealed behind dark glasses.

I stayed back with Goldie and watched the dogs prance around the ring in front of us. A playful collie caught my eye and made me smile. I was still close enough to listen in on Will's conversation, though. I wasn't eavesdropping, really. I was just saving him from having to repeat it over again.

He flashed his badge as he approached the women and asked to speak to Tara privately. The woman she was talking to skedaddled, seemingly relieved.

"Will you remove your glasses, please?"

I smiled to myself. Will believed people's eyes were windows to their souls. He said he liked to stare into mine because he could see right into my beautiful soul. I sighed and glanced over at them. Victoria had removed her glasses and now stood glaring at him with her arms crossed over her black blazer.

"What's this about, Detective?" Her voice held more than a hint of irritation.

It didn't seem to faze him. "I'm sure you've heard about Victoria Desoto-Roth's death?"

"Yes, of course."

"What was your relationship with her?"

Her snort of laughter was filled with spite. "We had no relationship, Detective."

"Just a rivalry?"

"We were both competing in the same shows, so yes, a rivalry."

"A friendly one?"

I cut my eyes back their way and saw her move her hands to her hips.

"No. Not a particularly friendly one. What is this about?"

"What kind of car do you drive?"

She took a moment to answer. "A Mercedes."

"Color?"

More hesitation. "Black."

"Where were you last Saturday evening, around six o'clock?"

I watched as she stared into the show ring, her mouth set in a hard line. She turned back to Will. "This is starting to sound like you are accusing me of having something to do with Victoria's death. Are you?"

"Do you have something you'd like to tell me?"

She smiled then, but it wasn't a friendly smile. "If you have any more questions for me, Detective, I'd like my attorney present."

I glanced at Will. He nodded and pulled out a card from his pocket. "Call me to set up an interview this week with your attorney present then, Miss Scarpetta." He didn't say "or else" but his tone implied it nicely. "Have a good day."

He walked over to me. "I think we're done here."

I nodded and began to follow him back to the car. One last glance behind me sent a chill up my spine. Tara still stood in the spot Will left her, her arms crossed and her glare focused on Goldie.

I turned to Will. With the way Tara reacted, it couldn't hurt to ask. "You didn't happen to notice if Tara was wearing perfume, did you? Something that smelled like lilacs?"

He shook his head. "Didn't notice, sorry."

I glanced back one more time. She had her cell phone out, but was still staring at us.

CHAPTER TEN

Just before closing time on Friday, Frankie came in with a box of something trailing a lemon scent. "TGIF, gals!"

"You said it, Frankie." I collapsed in the chair and peeked in the box. Lemon tarts.
Yum.

 
"Anything interesting today?" I asked, taking a sip of tea and smiling at Charlie as she patiently waited on a customer who was explaining he wasn't really yelling, his hearing aids were just on the fritz.

"Naw, same old... oh, wait." Frankie chuckled. "Here's something good in the
Gossip Around Town
section. The St. Pete Paranormal Society says they were conducting an investigation this past week of the
1,000-year-old American Indian burial and temple Mound at Pinellas Point last weekend and caught some light anomalies on film. The next day, neighbors of the Mound reported it had been vandalized, part of it dug up."

"Oh yeah, I met some ladies who live across the street from there and they mentioned that. They also said one of their husbands was conked on the head with a shovel while patrolling the area, trying to stop the vandalism." I thought about Willow and how this story was right up her alley. I still remember the home schooling reports she did on the American Indians, one of her favorite subjects to this day.

"Probably some kids looking for Indian trinkets." Frankie sighed. "No respect now days."

That would make sense, except for the fact it wasn't a kid but an adult that conked the guy on the head with a shovel. Maybe even a woman.
That's it.
I needed to visit this Mound.  It was turning into a hub of activity. Activity that may be connected to Victoria's death.

Frankie snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up as she fished her cell phone out of her bag.  "Hey, I just remembered my masseuse, Veronica, telling me she's a member of this ghost hunting team. I'll call her and get the scoop."

I took the opportunity to finish up some closing-time chores as Frankie chatted. When I returned to the tea table, she was grinning at me mischievously.

"Guess what?"

I was afraid to ask but I knew she'd tell me anyway. "What?"

 "Turns out the St. Pete Paranormal Society is investigating there again tonight to try and capture more evidence on video."