Get Fluffy

on caring for a pampered pooch like Fluffy.

The sun hid behind a handful of clouds, allowing a slight chill to settle in the air. I shivered. I formed an impromptu plan between Beach Street and the police station. If I dropped off Mona’s phone at the front desk, quickly explained about the collar and then left, I’d have some extra time with Mona’s lawyer. I wanted to know how Tova could sue me.

We walked inside the police station, and before the dogs and I had even reached the information counter, we had the attention of both uniformed ladies. One a body builder with a don’t-waste-my-time chip on her shoulder. The other a skinny tomboy with blond curls and a really big gun.

“That’s Mona’s dog,” the one with double D biceps said.

“Yes, it is.”

“You must be Melinda.” She immediately picked up the phone and paged Malone.

I shook my head and waved my hand for her to stop. “No need. I’m not here to see the detective.”

“Doesn’t matter,” the one who couldn’t have weighed more than her gun said. “He wants to see you.”

Great. “I really don’t have a lot of time. I have another appointment. I just wanted to-”

“Ms. Langston.”

I sighed, recognizing the no-nonsense voice in an instant. “Malone.”

He was just as intimidating and good looking away from his crime scene. Today he was wearing jeans, black shirt and leather jacket. He wasn’t my kinda good-looking, but I could certainly see why Caro had found him appealing.

Missy lay down at my feet, drooling on my ballet flats. Fluffy growled. No drool necessary.

“Fluffy, sit.” I liked her for verbalizing how I felt toward Malone.

“Come on back to my office.” Said the spider to the fly.

“I’d rather not. I have another appointment.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t.” He left, expecting us to follow.

He’s a cop. So we did.

We all traipsed down one hall and then another until we finally reached our destination. If his office were a restaurant, it’d be considered a hole in the wall, with seating for two. I’d imagined it much larger.

“Have a seat.”

I chose the tan plastic chair. It was the only choice. I wasn’t kidding about seating for two. “I really do have an appointment.”

“Fluffy looks cleaner,” he commented, keeping his back to us as he closed the door.

“Jade did a great job.” I had that same heart pounding anxiety I felt in the fifth grade when I’d been summoned to the principal’s office for passing notes during US History. Since then I’d had considerable experience under my pageant sash and breathed through it. Breath in. Whoa. Malone had had pastrami for brunch. The smell was unmistakable.

The dogs planted themselves on either side of my feet, like front yard bottlebrush shrubs. Fluffy refused to look in Malone’s direction, and Missy continued to create drool pools.

“It looks like all of you are getting along.” He sat in his chair opposite from me.

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“I’m surprised to see you with Fluffy. I thought you were calling Cliff.”

“I did. He doesn’t want her.”

He pushed a stack of papers to the side of his desk. “That may change.”

“Look, I just stopped by to give you this.” I pulled Mona’s phone from my purse and slid it across his desk.

He didn’t touch it. In fact, he didn’t even look at it. Instead, he watched me with his commanding blue eyes. “What is it?”

“Mona’s cell phone.”

His cheek muscle twitched. “Why do you have it?” Calm male voices weren’t always a good thing.

“When I dropped Fluffy off that night, I’d called Mona wondering where the heck she was. When I heard her phone ringing behind me on the hall table, I picked it up. I must have tossed it into my purse at the same time I put mine away. I just didn’t realize it at the time.”

“When did you realize you had potential evidence in your possession?” His stare was so intense it felt like he was trying to crawl inside my head.

I realized I was gripping the arm of the chair. I exhaled and wiggled my fingers. “Later that night. When it rang.”

“Who was it?”

I could tell from the clenched jaw, I was treading on thin ice. “Tricia Edwards. Mona’s best friend and business partner. She hung up before I answered, which at the time was fine by me. I didn’t want to explain why I was answering Mona’s phone.”

“I see.”

Truth be told, I didn’t want explain why I had answered Mona’s phone right now either. “I’m not sure that was a good thing. If I’d talked to her, she wouldn’t have accosted me this morning.”

“You’ve talked to her?”

I leaned forward, a little more confident on this subject. “About twenty minutes ago. She was upset because I hadn’t told her about Mona’s death. No offense, but isn’t it your responsibility to notify the public? Then she demanded I hand over Fluffy. When I wouldn’t, she threw Cliff under the bus saying he was broke and mad at Mona because she wouldn’t give him more money.”

Malone rubbed his eyes, frustrated. “What is with your family?” he bit out.

“What?”

“Do not play detective.”

“I’m not,” the denial was automatic. This must have been the same lecture he’d given Caro. A fat lot of good that had done him.

“You understand I’m going to verify what you’ve told me?”

“I’m not lying. If I had something to hide do you think I’d have brought it to you?” I made myself return his stare without blinking. But inside I was chanting for him to not ask about Darby.

Not that he had any way of knowing her number was in Mona’s contact list. But he was about to. I prayed he didn’t turn on the phone until after I was long gone and out of earshot.

“It’s possible you erased the call history.” He tapped the desk next to the phone.

“That’s stupid. You’re going to pull her cell records at some point.”

He continued to stare at me with his unreadable face. It was becoming ridiculous. I had the urge to stick out my tongue and make faces just to see if he’d crack a smile.

“Thank you for bring the phone.”

My mama had taught me to be gracious. “You’re welcome. There is one more thing.”

He rubbed his eyes again and muttered something under his breath that sounded like profanity. “What?”

“Officer Salinas mentioned the possibility that Mona had interrupted a robbery.”

“It’s one theory,” he replied, guarded.

“Did you know Fluffy’s collar is made of real diamonds? It’s got to be worth an SUV or two.”

He looked down at Fluffy. She turned her head and tipped her nose in the air, showing him her best profile.

“That’s real?”

“As real as Caro’s hair color.”

His head snapped up, and he pinned me with a look that said I’d broached an off-limits subject. “She wears it all the time?”

I bit the inside of my cheek and fought back a smile. I was pretty sure he wasn’t talking about Caro’s hair. “I’ve never seen her without it.”

“That’s public knowledge?”

“To everyone except the cops.”

His look said, smartass. “Fluffy was with you that night?” was what he actually said.

I couldn’t take it any more. A genuine smile broke out, but I did manage to keep the giggle out of my answer. “Yes.”