I shook my head, slightly amused at his odd reaction. “Nope. Fluffy’s officially a stray.”
He blinked, puzzled. “Fluffy’s not a stray.”
“Okay, she’s been abandoned.” Fluffy casually sauntered over to Don and me. She sniffed Don’s pants and then sneezed twice. She looked up at me and, I swear, if she had an eyebrow, it’d be arched.
Don’s eyes practically popped out of his head.
I really wanted to laugh, but I could see Don was not amused at Fluffy’s antics. “She’s an actor. Those were probably fake sneezes. What can I do for you?”
“I, ah, I stopped by to pick up the towels you said you’d set aside for the ARL.” He hadn’t taken his eyes off Fluffy.
I’d forgotten all about the donation. “I’ve got the box in the backroom. I’ll be right back. Would you keep an eye on the dog? She’s been sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
I was gone about a minute and returned with a large cardboard box filled with linens. “I threw in some sheets and blankets, too.”
“Thanks, Mel. So, what are you going to do with…” He nodded toward Fluffy.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. You want to take her back to the ARL with you?” I teased.
He held up his hands, his clean shaven face pale. “We don’t have room.”
“Since when?”
“Today.” His bald head glistened with beads of sweat.
“Okay, spill it. What’s going on?”
“We really are full. Did you hear about the puppy mill raid? We took in twenty-six dogs a couple of days ago.”
That wasn’t the whole story. I’d never heard Don turn away a dog. “What aren’t you saying?”
He checked his watch, then looked around as if he was about to disclose a national secret. “Mona’s our biggest benefactor. Every year, following the Fur Ball, she makes her largest contribution. If I take Fluffy, it could cost the ARL millions.
He was right. Mona was spiteful enough to punish the ARL because of some perceived slight. “It’s okay, Don. I was just teasing you,” I said. “I’ll take care of Her Highness. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got it all under control.”
Chapter Six
The only thing I had under control was my wardrobe.
I’d left Mona a third voicemail. Still no callback. I’d called Darby, asking her to drop by my place to let Missy out while I dealt with Fluffy. You guessed it-I got her voicemail, too. I left a message and crossed my fingers that she’d hear it sooner rather than later.
I could have picked up Missy myself, but I didn’t want to subject her to a Mona tirade for drooling on the marble foyer. There were some hygiene problems a girl just couldn’t help.
Getting Fluffy into the Jeep was easier in theory than action. She’s one stubborn dog, but we finally came to an understanding.
I pointed the Jeep south on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH to the locals). With the top off, every once in a while I could hear the crashing waves. I lowered the visor, blocking the glare of blushing pink swirls and the blaze of brilliant orange streaking the sky. I sighed in contentment. Another spectacular evening in paradise.
I made my way to the prestigious gated community, Sapphire Bay. Being rich wasn’t enough to live on the other side of the iron gate. You had to be vetted, sponsored and have more money than God.
I rolled to a stop next to the security shack. Mr. Rent-A-Cop stuck his head out the window. He was on the downhill side of middle-aged with a bushy gray mustache. Faded green eyes scrutinized us through his bifocals. He recognized Fluffy right away. I, on the other hand, got a complete once over, including a raised unibrow.
“Name,” he asked, completely unimpressed I had Mona’s dog.
“Melinda Langston.”
He reviewed the clipboard in his hand. Non-residents didn’t just waltz thought the hallowed entrance. Someone had to authorize your visit. I was ninety-nine percent sure I wasn’t on “the list.”
I slid him a beauty queen smile and fibbed like a five-year-old. “Mona had an unexpected emergency and asked me to bring Fluffy home. She assured me she’d let someone know I was coming.”
He tucked his clipboard under his arm. “Sorry.”
I eyed him, considering my next move. “I guess you’re right. I certainly wouldn’t want you to do anything that might get you into trouble.” I put the Jeep in neutral and pulled up the emergency brake. “I’ll just leave Fluffy with you. I’ll let Mona know where to pick her up.”
He grunted. Looking past his skepticism and the community rules, he let us through the gate.
I followed the smattering of wispy palm trees to Mona’s oceanfront mansion. I pulled into the circular drive and parked next to the fountain.
“Let me refresh your memory on the Mel-Rules. I’m the human. No gloating. No dragging. Got it?”
Fluffy pawed at the door and whined.
“Good grief. Let me grab my bag and cell.”
Unlike the dog, I wasn’t in a big hurry. The last person I wanted to see was Mona. If I was lucky, the housekeeper, Camilla, would open the door and take Fluffy off my hands.
I went around to the passenger side and opened the door. I attached the leash to Fluffy’s diamond-studded collar and released her from the safety belt. The second I stepped back, the crazy dog jumped out and dragged me toward the multi-story Mediterranean-style home.
So much for the rules. Fluffy could use a visit from a pet therapist I knew. Once we reached the front door, Fluffy stopped and looked at me expectantly.
“
Cathedral-style bells filled the inside of the house. Okay, it wasn’t really church bells, but it could have been. I looked down at Fluffy, who didn’t seem at all bothered by the flamboyance.
“Really? This is what you come home to every day?”
We waited. No one came.
I rang the bell again.
Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong.
Just shoot me now. Please.
We continued to wait.
Fluffy grew more restless with each passing second, which made me equally antsy. Having the dog was a perfectly legitimate reason to walk inside, but my southern manners dictated I wait for someone to invite me in. Well, that and the security system.
I pounded on the door. Fluffy continued to whine and paw. Still, no one came. Forget manners. Forget the alarm. I tried the door.
Unbelievably, it swung open. And there was no screeching alarm.
“Wow.” I glanced behind me before I took a couple of steps. As soon as my foot hit the marble entryway, Fluffy lunged forward, taking me for another drag. She stopped in the middle of an ornate foyer bigger than my entire living room and kitchen combined.
“Hello? Anyone home?” My voice echoed in the empty silence.
I expected the housekeeper to appear any second. “Camilla? Mona?”
Fluffy strained against the leash as she edged her way toward the stairs. The moment I unhooked her, she charged up the curved oak staircase leading to what I assumed was her wing of the house. I waited for Mona to make her trademark entrance, descending the staircase like a classic Hollywood actress ready for her close-up, but she was a no-show.
Then it hit me, Mona was probably at Bow Wow. Her Jag wasn’t in the drive, although it could be in the garage. It would be just like Mona to come when it was convenient for her.
