Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Johnson (reading diary .TXT) 📗

I sighed through my nose. He had a point.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll try to get us all out.”

I skirted the edge of the lobby, dodging tall cocktail tables and tightly clustered groups of whispering women. Heidi and Will followed close behind as I made my way toward the exit and the two officers posted on each side of it.

As we neared, I recognized them as cops I’d seen on previous cases but didn’t know well. Hopefully, they’d recognize me too. I planned to make something up about being there working the case, and Peter asking me to escort Will and Heidi up to the station.

Of course, my plan would spontaneously combust if either of them bothered to confirm this with Peter or if he’d warned the station about a shifter being in their midst, but it was the only plan I had. And I couldn’t handle the agonizing awkwardness of waiting around with the other pyramid scheme chumps for Peter to interrogate me.

I glanced back and found Heidi and Will crouched behind me. I smirked. “Real subtle, guys.”

They glanced at each other, then straightened. Will adjusted his lab coat. “Sorry if we’re not as experienced at subterfuge as you are.”

Heidi gave me a bashful smile and shrugged. “It just seemed like the time to creep.”

“Well, you two do look like creeps.”

She grinned, then stuck her tongue out at me. I made a face back, then spun around, ready to sneak forward and attempt to woo the cops stationed at the doors. But I stopped dead.

Daisy, Peter’s enormous German shepherd partner, blocked my way.

I startled and slapped a hand to my chest, heart racing with adrenaline. She cocked her head, dark eyes fixed on my face, and whined.

Jolene? What are you doing here? Her eyes narrowed. Did you kill that woman?

I glanced around and found all the women nearest us deep in conversation. I was sure their founder/cult leader dying on stage was going to keep them talking for years. With no one paying me any attention, I chanced speaking dog in public.

I shot Daisy a flat look and let out a few whines. Yeah, Daisy. Totally. I killed that lady.

She looked bored and huffed. Lie. But what’s new from you?

I planted a hand on my hip and let out a quiet woof. If you’ll recall, I was very honest with Peter, and look where it’s gotten me.

Daisy’s gaze dropped to the floor, and her brow furrowed. True.

I crouched down in front of her and let out some whines and barks. Look, Days, we just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You remember Heidi and Will, right?

I gestured to my two friends, who moved forward to stand beside me. Peter had mistakenly brought Daisy to me for help when she’d been cursed on the job. I’d taken them both to Will’s back alley veterinary clinic, where my animal translation skills and Will’s and Heidi’s healing abilities had saved the pup’s life.

Daisy’s big, bushy tail swished back and forth on the ground as she smiled up at my friends.

“Aw.” Heidi bent forward and cooed at her as she scratched behind the dog’s huge pointy ears. “Who’s such a good police dog, huh? You are. Yes, you are, aren’t you?”

Will looked her up and down. “Glad to see a former patient looking so healthy.”

I nodded at the dog and whined. See? They’re good people, and you already know I didn’t kill the lady. Can you just let us slip on out of here without alerting Peter or anyone else? Hm? I flashed my eyes at her. For old times’ sake?

Daisy, who’d been panting up at Heidi with a big, toothy grin, snapped her jaw shut and gave me a flat look. You want to leave? I thought you’d crashed the crime scene to get to my Peter?

I barked out a humorless laugh before regaining my composure. “Woof!” Uh, not so much, Days. You finally got what you wanted, right? I’m staying away from Peter, and you don’t have to work with me. Just let me slip on out of here unnoticed, and we can just—

“Bark!”

I squeezed my eyes shut, wincing as the dog barked and barked, her deep voice cutting through the din in the lobby. Alert! Alert! Peter! Over here! Peter!

So much for slipping out unnoticed.

5

Willing and Able

I peeled my eyes open and glared at the dog.

Really, Daisy? You want to spite me this much, huh?

She let out one more woof, her dark eyes locked on mine, whole body tense. Spiting you is just a bonus. Her brow furrowed. Not talking to you doesn’t seem to be helping Peter, so maybe this will make him better.

I frowned. What did she mean by that? Was Peter unwell?

I didn’t get a chance to ask her. The women around us had already edged away as soon as Daisy started barking her head off, but they parted even more to allow Inspector Bon through, followed by the new Chief McCray and of course—my stomach twisted—Peter. My face grew hot, and I froze. Will grabbed me by the collar of my jacket and hauled me out of my crouch to my feet.

“Keep it together.” He flashed his eyes at me.

I flashed mine back, then adjusted my jacket. Of course I’d keep it together. What did he think I’d do?

“Miss Hartgrave!” Chief McCray brushed past Bon and clapped me on the shoulder—hard.

I inclined my head. “Chief McCray.”

“Ha!” She hooked one thumb through the belt loop of her navy trousers and turned toward Bon and Peter. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise. Running into our resident pet psychic—what are the chances?” The blond narrowed her eyes at me from behind her huge wire-rimmed glasses. “Hey, now. You didn’t get a hint you needed to be here, did you?” She held her middle fingers to her temple.

I gave a dry chuckle. “Heh. No… just here supporting my friend.” I gestured to Heidi and snuck a quick glance at