He wasn’t impressed. He’d be a real killjoy at the family reunion. Caro would have appreciated the play on words.
“And that wasn’t part of the normal routine?” he asked.
“Mona’s left her dog with me before, but it wasn’t a weekly event. She did it to annoy me.”
He didn’t say anything. He just stared at the collar. “You might want to consider a replacement and put that in a safe.”
“You don’t want it?”
He looked at me. “Why?”
“As evidence?”
He shook his head. “It’s not evidence. Put it in a safe and get her a real collar.”
“So what did you want?” I asked, suddenly reminded he’d called me into his office and not the other way around.
“You’d left me a voicemail at midnight.”
“Oh. I got a little excited about the collar,” I confessed.
“How is Fluffy doing?” For a second his stony expression relaxed, and I caught a glimpse of sympathy. I wasn’t sure who he felt sorry for, me or the dog.
“Demanding. Does what she wants and bosses Missy around.”
“I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
“I’m sure someone else wants this dog.”
“I need you to keep her until Mona’s attorney gets in touch with her new guardian.”
No, no, no. “When will that happen?”
“Soon.”
I waited for more information, but none came. “Not soon enough,” I said.
“I have complete faith in your abilities to remain the alpha dog, Miss Langston.”
He grabbed a pencil and plastic bag from his desk drawer. He used the pencil to slide the phone into the bag. The realization that I was smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation made my stomach plummet to my toes. How had that happened?
He stood, indicating our time was over. I followed his lead and gathered the dogs. He didn’t ask where my next appointment was, so I didn’t share that I was off to Owen Quinn’s office.
Malone played everything so close to the vest. He made me feel the need to do the same.
“Let’s go, dogs,” I called out.
Fluffy waited for me to leave the room first (surprise) but then cut off Missy (no surprise). Missy, bless her heart, brought up the tail end without complaint.
“I guess I’ll see you around.” I called out over my shoulder.
“Don’t forget. You gave me your word. Stay out of my investigation.” Malone’s booming voice chased us down the hallway.
Finding Mona’s killer was the furthest thing from my mind.
Chapter Fifteen
After the meeting with Mona’s lawyer, I was bursting at the seams. I needed a large chai latte and someone to talk to. Darby agreed to meet at the Koffee Klatch, a cozy local coffee shop with the best cheesecake in town. With its chic atmosphere and big comfy couches, it was the perfect place to bring the dogs and assimilate everything I’d just learned.
And I’d learned a boatload.
Fluffy, Missy and I had arrived before Darby. The deeply rich aroma saturated the air. I inhaled slowly. The smell of coffee was all I liked about the product. It didn’t seem to matter how much I doctored the addicting brew, it always tasted bitter.
Missy devoured the dog treat the barista tossed her. Snob Dog watched hers hit the floor. Never one to pass up a free doggie treat, Missy ate that one, too.
We claimed the purple couch toward the back and waited. Missy sat on my lap and Fluffy sat on the floor next to us in her regal boredom. I don’t think Fluffy cared for the trendy decor.
Darby blew in, a happy smile plastered on her face. Dressed in jeans, green tunic, knit scarf and flats, she waved excitedly when she saw us. She ordered her usual white mocha latte and a pumpkin bar.
Once she had her drink and snack, I motioned her over to where we were camped out.
“I can’t believe you still have Fluffy.” She plopped down across from me, dropping her canvas tote on the floor next to her feet. “So what’s going on? You were talking so fast on the phone I could barely understand you.”
She set her plate on the side table, pried off the lid on her drink and blew on the steaming liquid.
A quiet whirl of laptop computers was the only sound from the shop at the moment. I looked around making sure no one was listening. “I don’t even know where to start. I just came from Owen Quinn’s office.”
“Who?”
“Mona’s lawyer,” I whispered. “Short, dark-haired fast-talker guy.”
Darby leaned in. “Why did you meet with him?” She matched her tone with mine.
“Mona made me Fluffy’s guardian four years ago and never changed her will.”
“What?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“I had the same reaction. What in the world was she thinking?”
Darby stared at me, bewilderment frozen on her face, holding up her latte.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded and took a sip, then immediately cringed. She must have burnt her tongue.
“So you share custody with Cliff?” she asked.
“Apparently, he only had visitation rights.”
“I thought they both owned her? That they had joint custody.”
I sucked down some of my chai before explaining. “I saw the official document. I think they let people believe what they wanted. He doesn’t have any legal claim other than he gets to visit her every Wednesday and every other weekend.”
“Are you dropping off Fluffy in Dana Point?”
I shook my head. “Cliff’s a complete jackass. I called him yesterday. He made it perfectly clear You-Know-Who was my problem now. And get this, he admitted he only fought for Fluffy because it hurt Mona.”
“How selfish.”
“Dysfunctional with a capital D, but not unexpected.” We were quiet for a minute, each lost in our own thoughts.
I stroked Missy who snored delicately on my lap. I tucked a handful of napkins under her mouth to sop up her drool. Eventually, Darby nibbled on her pumpkin bar. I couldn’t get over how an hour long meeting had changed my life so dramatically.
“Are you okay with all this?” I asked.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You didn’t like Mona, and you’re not a big Fluffy fan,” I said. “And until something changes, she’s stuck with us.”
“First of all, no one is a Fluffy fan. Secondly, Mona and I were nothing more than strangers who didn’t get along.” She swallowed the last bite of her dessert and chased it down with some latte.
I waited until she’d finished before I shared the next tidbit of info. “Owen didn’t tell me anything about the estate. But he did tell me how much You-Know-Who is worth.” I nodded toward Fluffy who had finally lay down at our feet and fallen asleep.
Darby followed my gaze. “How much?”
“Just over twenty-five million dollars.”
Her mouth fell open. “She left her money to her dog?”
I shook my head. “That’s
