Get Fluffy

“Later,” I promised.

“Of course, Sugar.”

Caro’s smug serene smile bugged the crapola out of me. I watched her glide to her seat in the back, all beauty pageant poise and world peace sincerity. Oh, I’d get my brooch back.

“No offense, but that’s one ugly piece of jewelry. Maybe you should just let her have it,” Darby whispered.

“No way.”

We stood at the back of the sanctuary. The interior of the church was gorgeous. Hand-carved wooden pews, a dozen or so arches and stained-glass windows to the right and left, it all lent to the feel of a spiritual journey. But that wasn’t what surprised me.

The service decor was bare. A handful of modest flower arrangements and a couple of potted plants decorated the front. The portrait of Fluffy and Mona that had hung in her bedroom was now propped up next to her empty bronze casket.

It was tasteful. Nowhere near a true representation of Mona’s preference. Who was running the show? Owen? Good thing Mona couldn’t see the backdrop of her last performance.

Tricia brushed past us and down the aisle and toward the front, shoulders thrown back and in a hurry. Cliff Michaels was right behind her and hadn’t bothered to dress up. He looked every bit the tourist in his wrinkled white linen pants and bowling shirt. The gentleman with him was dressed marginally better. His clothes weren’t wrinkled but just as casual. They took the pew behind Tricia.

Darby, Fluffy and I were next.

I could feel all eyes on us. I’m pretty sure the look on my face said don’t-talk-to-me. If a dog could have a look on its face, it was the same. Fluffy was in her element; she was born to be the center of attention.

As we walked past the guests, I realized it was as if anyone who’d ever held a grudge against Mona was gathered in the same place at once.

Jo, Cliff, Darby, Tova, and me. If I were the cops-

Speaking of the Malone. I spotted him sitting discreetly in the back. He’d exchanged his t-shirt for a dress shirt and tie. He’d picked the opposite side of the church as Caro. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught him watching people. Caro included. She was doing a respectable of job of ignoring him. They must have had words.

We sat toward the middle. I made Fluffy sit in the aisle. I wasn’t familiar on the proper protocol for a dog in church, but I bet Fluffy on the furniture was a big no-no.

The service was brief and semi-painless. The only true awkward moment was when the officiator asked if anyone wanted to speak. Tricia was too distraught. She’d made sure everyone saw her tears and heard her whimpers. I quickly realized no one was interested.

Darby looked at me, and I shook my head. Mama said if you didn’t have anything nice to say, keep your trap shut. That’s exactly what I was going to do. I found it interesting no one else had anything nice to say either.

After a minute or two of awkward silence, the service was pronounced over. Thank goodness. Fluffy had a bad case of gas, and I needed some fresh air.

Chapter Eighteen

We dashed outside and found a spot for Fluffy to have some privacy under a jacaranda tree behind the church. I pulled out a Doody Bag from my purse and removed all evidence that she’d ever been there.

“Did you notice Mona’s intimate circle of friends didn’t even look at each other?” Darby sounded as if she had suddenly caught a case of the sniffles.

“We should be thankful. Mean and cunning is a dangerous combination.”

I checked her out surreptitiously under my lashes. Yup, she’d been crying. Kindhearted Darby. It was sweet. I didn’t want to embarrass her, so I ignored it.

We found a Dumpster in the back of the parking lot and tossed our obscenely large Fluffy gift inside. I dug out a bottle of hand sanitizer from my bag and squeezed a dollop into my palm.

I’d been watching for Caro since the end of the service, but she must have escaped out a side door. I hadn’t seen the one other person I needed to set straight either.

“Have you seen Tova?” I asked.

“Not since we left the church,” Darby replied.

We doubled back to the front where a group of phony mourners had amassed.

“Let’s drown our sorrows at the Kitty Cat Club,” someone suggested.

For those not in the know, the Kitty Cat Club was the only bar in Laguna where you could catch a drag show on the weekend. Word on the street was the performance was pretty decent.

I was ready to head back to the Jeep, but Fluffy towed me in Cliff’s direction, who was talking on his cell as he trudged toward the parking lot.

“Really? You want to see him?” Fluffy continued to pull on the leash. “Oh, all right.” I couldn’t believe she missed the jerk.

I turned to tell Darby where we were heading, but she was in a deep conversation with Don Furry. Poor guy was probably still upset about the missing ARL donation.

As we approached Mona’s ex, I could hear his side of the conversation.

“I heard you.” Cliff’s words took on a menacing tone. “I don’t have it right now. She didn’t leave me the damn dog.”

I slowed my steps. Fluffy pulled against the leash to walk faster.

“Once I get my hands on that dog I’ll be able to pay you back.” He shoved his hand in his front pocket.

Of course, now he wanted Fluffy. Because he owed someone money? I’d love to know whom he was talking to.

“I just need a couple more days,” he insisted. He swore and hung up.

He whipped around, anger and fear clearly imprinted on his face.

“Hey, Cliff. Nice ceremony. I hope you don’t mind, Fluffy wanted to say hello,” I pretended, as if I hadn’t overheard his conversation.

Fluffy nuzzled his knee, and Cliff absently patted her head. “I want my dog,” he demanded.

Instinctively, I took a step back. “I don’t think so.”

“I have custody every Wednesday.” He wrapped his fingers around the leash. His greedy gaze landed on Fluffy’s collar.

Uh-oh. “That was days ago. You weren’t interested. Besides, you have visitation, not custody.”

Fluffy tensed and pulled back from his grasp.

Cliff narrowed his black coffee eyes and rubbed his unshaved jaw with his free hand. The little hairs on the back of my neck took notice and warned me to proceed with caution.

I gripped the leash tighter. “I know the truth. As Fluffy’s legal guardian, I was supplied with the facts. The real facts.”

“It doesn’t change that it’s a court order. You have to give me the dog. I have to have the dog,” he slurred. He tugged the leash, and both Fluffy and I jumped. Fluffy yelped as I accidentally stepped on her paw.

“Sorry, girl.”

Malone appeared out of nowhere. “That’s in interesting choice of words, Mr. Michaels. Why do you have to have Fluffy?”

Malone glowered at Cliff’s grip. Mona’s ex let go of the leash. I immediately stepped out of his reach, keeping Fluffy close to my side. My mouth felt like the Texas plains.

Beads of sweat popped out on Cliff’s forehead. “Mona owes me that much. We had an agreement.” His voice rose.

“Sounds like she stiffed you. Some people get desperate when they don’t get what they think they deserve,” I said.

Cliff looked wildly between me and Malone. Fluffy growled. This wasn’t good.

“I’m not desperate,” he shouted. “I just want what’s mine. What Mona promised.”