Pretty Poison

Botanical: Primula vulgaris

Family: Primulaceae

Common Name: Cowslip

The goddess Bertha is supposed to entice children into her enchanted halls by offering them beautiful primroses. The mysterious number of primrose petals represents woman. The five petals represent birth, initiation, consummation, repose, and death.

“WHAT DID YOU DO to make him come here? Do you have a secret dog whistle or something?” Jo-Jo’s owner stood over Peggy as the dog joyously licked her.

Paul rushed out of the family room. “What’s going on?”

“I’m here to take my dog back! She can’t keep him. I’ll call the police!”

“I am the police.” Paul fumbled in his pocket for his badge.

Peggy put her hands up on either side of the dog’s head. “It’s okay, boy. You have to get off of me.” The dog finally moved away from her, but her hands came away bloody. “What in the world?”

Both men looked at her as she carefully examined Jo-Jo’s neck. Some kind of spiked collar had dug into the skin, leaving open sores behind. As she ran her hand down his back, she found other abrasions that were new.

“What’s wrong?” Paul asked when he saw her face.

She held up her hands so he could see the blood, then turned on Jo-Jo’s owner. “What did you do to him?”

“I had to make him listen,” he defended. “He’s a damn big dog. He doesn’t listen worth a crap. He broke his collar and ran off. I followed him here. But he’s my dog. I can do what I want with him.”

“That’s not true,” Peggy said. “There are laws against animal cruelty. I’m going to press charges against you for abusing this dog!”

The man grimaced and looked at Paul. “If you’re really a cop, I want to press charges against her first. I don’t know how she did it, but she enticed my dog to come here. She wants to kidnap him. Book her!”

Paul ran his hand around the back of his neck. He was still half asleep. “I’m sorry, sir. There are no laws to cover dog enticement. But from what I saw, she could press charges against you for assault as well as animal cruelty. Your dog wasn’t leashed, and he viciously attacked her when she opened the door. We do have laws for that.”

Peggy smiled at him. That was her son. Then she faced down the other man. “We can solve the whole problem without anyone getting arrested. I’ll give you whatever you paid for the dog. You give me his papers and a sworn affidavit stating that you won’t ever bother him or me again.”

“That’s illegal!” Jo-Jo’s owner turned to Paul. “You heard her. You’re my witness. She’s trying to blackmail me.”

“All I heard was an offer to buy the dog from you,” Paul answered. “If you’re not interested, I’ll get my shoes and jacket. I can take you into the station so she can press charges against you.” Paul walked toward the family room.

“Wait!” The man shuffled his feet, glanced at the dog, and glared at Peggy. “Fine. I paid five hundred dollars for him. I’ve only had him a month. I still have his papers in the car. I’ll take a check. But it better be good!”

Paul smiled at him. “I’ll need to see proof you paid that much for him.”

“Okay, three hundred,” he compromised, “and I have a receipt for it.”

“Then I suggest you get it and his papers and get the hell out of here. I patrol this area. If I see your car anywhere near my mother’s house again, I’ll arrest you for stalking.”

The man slammed the door behind him as he went to get what Paul demanded.

Peggy hugged her son. “You were awesome! I can’t believe you handled that so well.”

“Thanks, Mom. Now I feel like a complete moron. When haven’t I backed you up? All you ever have to do is include me. You just hate asking for my help.” He looked at the dog. “What are you going to do with him now?”

“You aren’t a moron. But I wasn’t sure if you could bend enough to follow my lead. I love you, Paul.” She kissed his cheek. “As for the dog, I guess I’ll have to keep him. But he needs a better name than Jo-Jo.”

“How about Shakespeare? He’s a giant among writers.”

“Good choice. Do you remember how many times I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream to you when you were little?”

“Yeah, I remember. But my favorite was always Mac-beth . All those ghosts and swords.”

She laughed and patted the dog’s head tenderly. “I think Shakespeare suits him. Thank you.” She reached for the phone. “I think I’ll give Steve a call. I hate to leave Shakespeare like this too long. He’s still nothing but skin and bones. An infection might kill him.”

“Steve must really like you if you’re thinking about calling him this early in the morning.” Paul shrugged. “I think I can handle my mother dating after I do a complete background check on the guy.”

“I can handle you dating, too, you know. I think Mai Sato in forensics likes you.”

He frowned. “Don’t go there. Just call your private vet and let me get my shoes on.”