Bet Ralston was flat as a pancake,
the ever-sarcastic Pewter giggled.
He wasnt dead for very long when they found him.
Tucker had heard about the murder, too.
How do you know?
Pewters tail tip waved slightly.
Had his eyes. Wasnt dead long enough for the crows to eat his eyes. Birds consider eyes a great delicacy.
Gross.
Mrs. Murphy, fastidious, moved over to Harrys lap to look out the drivers window at the macadam road, which was unremarkable.
The road had been paved over five times since Ralstons body was discovered.
Pewter saucily remarked,
What do you expect from a creature who eats decayed flesh, a garbage dog?
Someones got to do it.
Tucker defended dogs.
Do you know what the earth would be like without dogs and buzzards? You wouldnt be able to move for all the carcasses.
People have gotten so fat, and there are so many of them that you can hardly move already,
Pewter giggled.
You should talk.
That fast, Pewter shot over the center console to fling herself on the corgi. Hissing and growling filled the vehicle; raindrops pattered on the roof for counterpoint.
What in Gods name has gotten into everybody? Harry put Mrs. Murphy on the passenger seat, got out, and opened the back door to grab Pewter by the scruff of the neck. If theres blood in my new car, there will be hell to pay.
Harry pushed Pewter over the console. The defiant cat, on her hind legs, peered over the passenger seat back to Tucker.
You sit down, Missy, and I mean now! Harry felt some rain slip down behind her collar, as she hadnt flipped up the Barbour collar.
Better do what youre told,
Mrs. Murphy calmly suggested.
Or you wont get supper.
Pewter immediately sat down, face forward.
Harry quickly checked over Tucker, who wasnt bleeding. She then got back behind the wheel and closed the door.
Taking a deep breath, Harry exhorted them, Lets all calm down.
She started the motor. I would like to know who killed Ralston Peavey. Who wouldnt? She started driving, then mumbled, I probably shouldnt have told Terri to get off whatever shes on. If someone is loaded or high, I think it just makes the exchange worse. Bone stupid.
Mom, youre burning more gas,
Tucker called out, ignoring Harrys musing.
She is not,
Pewter happily contradicted the dog.
Is, too. Shell never get the mileage this station wagon is supposed to get, because shes carrying so much weight. You!
The dog laughed triumphantly.
Pewters pupils enlarged, and the fur rose up on her neck and spine. She was ready to fly back over the console.
Mrs. Murphy whispered,
Supper. Dont forget supper.
Pewter, seething, sat down.
Ill get her. Ill get her if its the last thing I do!
Harry knew the cat and dog were continuing to fuss at each other, but to what degree she didnt know.
She said to the three passengers, I dont know if I will ever really understand people. Right now Im having a hard enough time understanding you all.
H
arry had no sooner walked into the house than the rain turned to sleet. She opened the door to the outside for a moment.
Damn.
Getting bigger.
Mrs. Murphy noted that the sleet, which began as a small size, had now graduated to the size of rock salt.
Pewter slipped in to the kitchen through the animal door.
Tucker called after her,
Dont you want to see? If it gets any bigger, it will tear up everything.
Ive seen sleet before,
Pewter called back, as she headed for the crunchy bowl.
So jaded,
Mrs. Murphy said sarcastically.
Stay here, Harry commanded the cat and dog. She ran outside, fired up the Volvo, and drove a hundred yards away to park the car in the equipment shed.
There would be no dents in her brand-new station wagon. Might be dents in her, though. She covered her head and ran, slipping and sliding.
Once on the covered porch, she whipped off her coat, hung it up, and stepped inside the kitchen.
Nasty.
Tucker listened to what sounded like drumming on the roof.
Harry went into the living room, threw some logs on what was left of the fire, then flopped on the sofa.
She picked up
The Progressive Farmer,
leafed through. Put it down. Next she lifted
National Geographic.
It met the same fate. As a last resort, she grabbed the monthly magazine
Virginia Horse.
Slapping it down on the coffee table, she rose and strode into the kitchen. She turned on the stove, setting the stainless-steel teapot on the flame. By the time she poured the water into the Brown Betty and filled it with a lovely orange pekoe, shed flipped through the newspaper on the counter and sorted her mail.
Finally, she couldnt stand it. She picked up the phone and dialed.
Thompson and Watson, answered the light baritone voice.
Garvey, I cant believe you pick up your own phone. Harry was surprised.
Something to do on a rainy day. What can I do for you?
Two things. I noticed those lightweight V-neck sweatersyou know the ones, to the right of the front door when you walk in.
Silk and cashmere. The hand is lovely.
Will you wrap up an extra-large in the baby blue? I want to surprise Fair.
Will do. He didnt mention payment, as Harry had an account, and hed known her all his life.
And one other thing. Youre right next door to Terri. Have you noticed anything weird?
In what way?
Terri.
He cleared his throat. Shes highly strung.
Highly strung? Shes all over the map. I walked in there today, and she cussed me out and threw one of those porcelain guinea hens at me.
Ah. A pause followed. Shes been touchy. On top of everything else, business is slow for all of us.
She cussed you?
No, but she isnt sweetness, beauty, and light.
Harry chuckled. Who is?
You, of course.
Garvey, youre exercising that silver tongue.
Now it was his turn to chuckle. You dont mind.
I dont. She waited a beat. Look, shes never been close to me, nor I to her. We dont really like each other, but we can be civil. Shes never done anything for me to be ugly to heruntil today, anyway.
Let it pass, he advised.
Have you ever noticed unlikely customers going into her shop?
What do you mean by unlikely? He was intrigued.
Not middle- to upper-middle-class ladies. Perhaps young men. Perhaps not well dressed.
Come to think of it, yes. But not hordes. Why?
Im not but so sure she isnt dealing drugs. To me, anyway, her behavior suggests shes on something, legal or illegal. Im not trying to make her look bad. She
looks
bad. And I wont tell Cooper.
I hope youre wrong. Theres so much of that these days.
And its never going to end. Drugs are as American as apple pie, but theres a tax on the apples.
Garvey sighed. I think about that, too. The tremendous loss of taxes, which could do so much good. Be the only positive thing to come out of drugs.