factor.”
Sofia handed her a cup of peach tea. “At least the animal didn’t try to rape you. God forbid any woman should have to suffer the fate of my Aunt Bibi. Did I ever tell you about her? She was trapped by a group of Nazis in the forest outside her home in Warsaw. She was a brave woman, but she was no match for that many filthy pigs.”
Selena looked at Peggy. They’d heard the terrible tale of Aunt Bibi at least a hundred times. It was a cautionary tale of the worst thing that could ever happen to a woman. It always ended the same way.
“The best thing to do is carry a knife. Aunt Bibi always carried a knife after that. She said if a drunken man ever tried to have his way with her again, she’d slit his throat. She was a brave woman.”
Peggy was mouthing the last few words with Sofia as the tale finished. She took a sip of her tea and sputtered liquid out as she realized that she’d missed something in her interviews with Mark’s women. Quickly, she took out a small notebook and wrote it down. “Selena, can you close up for me if I’m not back in time? I just remembered something important.”
“Sure.” Selena shrugged. “Where are you going?”
“I have to see a friend about some blood.”
Sofia crossed herself. “God forbid! Peggy Lee, you’re going to get yourself killed if you don’t watch out. I see the evil eye looking down on you.”
Peggy clipped the leash to Shakespeare’s collar. “It better be careful. I have a big dog.”
Sofia crossed herself again and went back to the Kozy Kettle. Selena went to help a woman who wanted to set up a small fountain and pond on the balcony of her condominium.
Peggy walked Shakespeare out of the courtyard, noticing when people made a wide path for him. She yanked on his collar to no avail when he lifted his leg and wet on a large evergreen in a pot. “Bad dog! You shouldn’t go to the bathroom there. Where are your manners?”
She used her cell phone to call a taxi, then sat on a bench outside the courtyard waiting for it. Her whole body thrummed with the excitement of realizing she might have found something the police missed. The only way to know for sure was to talk to Mai. It was too important to trust to a phone call.
But the taxi driver was wary of letting the dog into his car. “I don’t allow animals.”
“We’re not going far. I’ll pay an extra fare for him.”
The man stubbornly refused. “Only those dogs that help blind people.”
She pushed the dog into the back of the cab and followed him slowly, mindful of her injured knee. “Well, this is my Seeing Eye dog.”
“But you’re not blind.”
“Not yet. But I had an aunt who was blind. Who knows when it might happen to me?” She closed the door. The driver shrugged, unable to argue with her logic, and they left the courtyard.
MAI WAS COMING BACK from a meeting when she saw Peggy waiting for her in the lobby of the precinct. “Hey Peggy! This is becoming like your home, too. You’re here almost as much as I am.”
Peggy winced a little as she got to her feet. Her knee got stiff when she sat down for too long.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Mai took her arm. “I heard about what happened to you. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks. Just a little bruised.”
“Is this your dog?” Mai’s eyes grew wide as Shakespeare stretched and got to his feet. “Is this a dog?”
“He’s a Great Dane. His name is Shakespeare.”
“He looks strange. He’s a weird color, isn’t he? And his ears don’t stand up. I thought Scooby-Doo was a Great Dane. He doesn’t look anything like him.”
Peggy smiled. “He’s been abused and neglected. I rescued him. But I think he’ll fill out nicely. I don’t think I have the heart to crop his ears since he’s not a puppy anymore.”
“I think he’s filled out pretty well already, Peggy. But I know you didn’t come here to show me your dog. What can I do for you?”
“If I could have a few moments of your time, something has come to my attention. I need to talk to you about it.”
“It’s about the Warner case, isn’t it?” Mai folded her arms across her chest. “I have some time. Although I don’t know if it will do any good to talk about it.”
“I enjoy talking to you, no matter what. If you don’t mind listening, where’s the harm?”
Mai put her hand on Peggy’s arm. “Let’s go back then. Do you need any help?”
“Thank you. Just a little guidance is fine.”
The sergeant at the desk looked up. “Watch out for that first step going in, Mrs. Lee. Somebody should take care of that bump in the floor before someone gets hurt. Nice dog.”
Peggy sat down in Mai’s crowded office. Shakespeare sat beside her, his head almost level with hers.
“What can I do for you?” Mai asked.
“I’d like to see the tox screen results for Mark Warner.”
Mai looked hesitant. “Peggy, you know I want to help you . . .”
“All right. If you can’t do that, you could look at them and answer a question for me.”
