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Chasing the Husky: A Pet Recovery Center Mystery, #2
Ratings:
280 pages2 hours
Summary
Penny and Holly have opened the Pet Recovery Center to locate lost pets, but when bones are dug up at a Victorian mansion, it’s game on to find a husky who stole a jawbone, that just might help the police to identify the remains.
Sheriff Nathan Bradley is willing to allow, Penny, who he dated in high school to assist on a cold case, on her own time. But it’s proven to be difficult when she slips information to the press that’s he’s not ready to share.
While Penny and Holly search to find out who buried remains on the Gravely’s property, they have yet to find the husky!
It’s a race against the clock as the girls track down the missing husky with the help of Vern the pig. To find the jawbone that was taken from the crime scene in time to catch a killer.
Publisher: Madison JohnsReleased: Aug 1, 2017ISBN: 9781386115007Format: book
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Chasing the Husky - Madison Johns
killer?
1
Penny Clark, where have you been?
Grandmother asked with a shake of her head. Then she waved a stack of notes. "The phone has been ringing off the hook and that partner of yours, Holly, hasn’t even shown up for the
day
yet
."
I sighed. I told you she was having the brakes of the bus looked at today.
"What could possibly be wrong with them, since the bus hardly has any miles
on
it
?"
"Actually, it has quite a few miles. It used to be a
school
bus
."
The Pet Recovery Center had barely been in business for two months and already, the phone was always ringing off the hook. It seemed that everyone in Apple Creek had a pet that had strayed off. And it was up to Holly Ford and myself to track the missing pets down. My divorced grandparents, Emily and Douglas, also helped with the searches occasionally.
After a long pause, I finally said, "I think the bus being looked at has more to do with Jordan Tanner. He’s the new mechanic at the
muffler
shop
."
I don’t really care what the reason is. I told you I would play receptionist, but I’m late for an appointment. Your grandfather is trying to get his license reinstated today.
"And you really think the state of Michigan is ready for him to drive again? He hasn’t even had a car for over ten years, so
why
now
?"
"As you know, he plans to move back out to that cabin of his. I think it would be a good idea if he had a way to come into town on occasion …
Don’t
you
?"
You must mean the rustic cabin that’s on state land. And I had no idea he planned to move out of my house,
I said with a huge smile.
Oh?
Grandmother’s brow shot up. "I had no idea your grandfather is such an inconvenience to you. Of course I imagine you’d like a little privacy when that handsome Nathan Bradley comes
to
call
."
First off, I’m not interested in Nathan, and second, nobody says, ‘come to call,’ anymore.
I just didn’t want to be crass.
She grinned. And you were certainly interested in him back in high school.
"That was
years
ago
."
But didn’t you meet and have coffee with him just the other day?
She handed me the notes. "In my day that would be called
a
date
."
In your day, you’d have planned the wedding. Let’s drop the subject. I have to wade through the notes, remember?
Grandmother threw on a light jacket, covering her gray slacks and button-up shirt, then hurrying out the door. I had to smile since not long ago my grandparents were at each other’s throats. Of course I never expected them to get that close again until I caught them kissing.
The bell over the door jingled and in strode Melody Sims, the bank manager at Second National. Her tan business suit didn’t have a hint of cat hair on it, which was quite the feat since her cat is a
long
hair
.
Melody cleared her throat as she handed me her cat carrier. Hello there, Her Majesty,
I greeted the white Persian through the carrier’s window. My eyes widened slightly at the pink gems on the cat’s collar. I hope those aren’t really diamonds or precious stones.
I laughed.
Oh, of course, I knew I forgot something,
Melody said, detaching the collar as I lifted Her Majesty from the carrier. "I could hardly trust that my collar would still be here when I pick up
my
cat
."
I smiled desperately, trying not to let the woman get to me. Well, collars do fall off,
I said, as I placed the cat carrier on a shelf with a coordinated customer number that matched the one on the carrier. That way nobody would get the wrong carrier. As I’ve found out since I added cat and dog sitting to the array of services we offer, cat people in particular are finicky about their cats and about the carriers that they use to carry their pets. Her Majesty had jungle-print fabric in the bottom of her carrier.
I carried the cat into the cat room, where there were two other felines. One was a rather rambunctious black cat named Sidney and the other was Tiger … a tiger cat, of course. I set Her Majesty up on the cat canopy, since she was on the lazy side and wouldn’t climb on the framework of the cat trees and perches that led to the lookout area. Interestingly enough, only one cat was allowed to go there since he
policed
it
.
I walked from the room once I had assured myself that Sidney and Tiger weren’t up to their antics of attacking Her Majesty.
Then I jumped back as in raced Buster, a dusty brown labradoodle that dragged its disheveled owner behind him. The two disappeared into the dog viewing area. There was a panoramic view behind glass of the fenced-in yard where the dogs exercised and did their business.
How are you today, Sissy?
I asked, as I joined Buster’s master.
Sissy stuttered, "Oh, y-you know, another day as a dog owner. I really should have thought more about what the best breed of dog would be
for
me
."
"I think Buster fits you just right if you ask me. He really
loves
you
."
As if on cue, Buster licked
Sissy’s
face
.
"Oh, you silly dog, you, I
love
you
!"
My heart ached for Sissy. I can’t help rooting for her to find a man who would accept the overzealous dog. One can’t help liking the dog if they are a dog lover.
Sorry I’m late, boss,
Amy said, as she sprinted over to
join
us
.
Amy was the girl in charge of looking after the dogs and cats. She was dressed comfortably in jeans and a T-shirt, her blonde hair pulled up into a messy ponytail. While cats were known to be more solitary, dogs needed that human contact. That’s why Amy spent more of her day looking after
the
dogs
.
No problem, I believe Buster is ready to go outside once Sissy leaves.
It’s so hard to leave my baby, but I’m so glad to have a place to leave him where he won’t be lonely,
Sissy said. I better head to work before I’m late again.
When Roger comes in, I'll be leaving,
I explained
to
Amy
.
Hello. Penny,
Holly said, as she strolled into the room and gently gave my arm a pull. I need to talk to you privately.
Can’t you see I’m busy? My grandmother left and I’m waiting for Roger to arrive.
Roger burst inside and hurried behind the counter. "Sorry I’m
late
,
boss
."
It seems like I’ve heard that today already.
Call us if you get into a jam,
Holly said, pushing me out the
front
door
.
Really, Holly?
I gasped.
Sorry, but we have an important matter that needs our attention.
Cat stuck in a tree again?
"Try a pit bull running loose
on
Elm
."
Not Boss again?
We better get there before the cops show up. The cops have a tendency to shoot a pit bull when it comes running at them with teeth bared.
But Boss is such a sweetheart.
Not so sweet when he’s chased all the neighbors inside their homes.
We hurried aboard the Pet Recovery bus, which was painted blue with the name displayed in bright red. It was hard to miss, but that was kind of the idea when Holly and I opened the Pet Recovery Center. We spent the majority of our days chasing down missing pets. Some of them were actually missing, not hiding under their owners’ sofas.
I held on as Holly nearly had me tumbling from my seat. Your driving skills could use some improving.
I thought you wanted to get there before the police arrived.
"I do, but who called and told you
about
Boss
?"
His owner, Debbie Reynolds. You know she has the same name as a famous actress.
There he is,
I pointed out, as Boss chased the mailman into his truck!
Holly slammed on the brakes and I hurried from the bus just as two cop cars skidded to a stop and officers jumped out with guns drawn.
I waved my arms frantically. Don’t shoot!
We’re not planning to shoot you, Penny, but you might want to get back into you bus for safety. We have a killer running loose.
Boss is hardly a killer, and to be perfectly honest, he’s a pit mixed with a boxer.
I suppose I’d miss that detail if he was trying to rip me to shreds.
I swear he won’t do anything like that. Please give me a chance to catch him before you go chasing after him with guns blazing.
I sighed when Sheriff Nathan Bradley’s car
rolled
up
.
Holly grinned. Don’t look now but Mr. Handsome has arrived.
I don’t have time for this right now, Holly,
I warned.
Stand down,
Nathan ordered his deputies.
But there’s a pit bull on the run,
a deputy
alerted
him
.
"Put those guns away before you hurt someone. Penny and Holly will take care of
the
dog
."
It’s only Boss,
I said quickly. We’ll take the bus around the corner. He loves to go for rides. It shouldn’t be too hard to convince him to climb aboard.
Holly and I hurried back in the bus and swerved down Maple Road, where Boss was now, chasing after a man who barely made it to the safety of his car. Boss was circling the car like some kind of crazed and rabid Cujo when the bus stopped and I jumped off, calling out, Boss!
Boss turned in my direction, barking and snarling. Really, Boss? Want to go for a ride, silly boy?
I slapped my thighs. "Let’s go for
a
ride
."
Boss’s mouth hung open and he raced for the bus in excitement, but so did a German Shepherd, Pomeranian, and Boston Terrier!
I hurried back onto the bus, following in the wake of the dogs, and once the door was closed, I collapsed to a seat. "We better take them all for
a
ride
."
Don’t you think the dogs’ owners might think we dognapped them?
Holly asked.
It’s not like we’re not planning to bring them back, Holly.
I wobbled to the back of the bus, eyeing the kennels and wondering if I could get Boss in one. I knew that wasn’t going to happen easily so I offered him a few treats to try to lure him there. He stared at the kennel for a moment and then back at me with those sad eyes of his. From killer to wimp in a matter of minutes.
I hooked a leash on Boss’s collar and phoned his owner, who promised to meet us at
the
park
.
I’m so sorry,
Debbie said when we met up with her. Boss, what are you doing?
Boss continued to hang
his
head
.
"Let’s go home … I mean, for
a
ride
."
Boss chased Debbie outside and climbed into her SUV and off they went down the road. Finally, all I had left to deal with was a German shepherd, a Pomeranian, and a Boston Terrier!
I fed them a few treats and enclosed each of them in a kennel of their own before I slid to a seat at the front of the bus. It’s too early in the day for this much trouble.
"This much exercise, you must mean." Holly laughed.
"Do you have any idea who those other dogs
belong
to
?"
"No, but there is a group of neighbors talking to the cops, as you
can
see
."
"More like issuing complaints
about
Boss
."
Holly and I walked over to Sheriff
Bradley’s
car
.
That dog is a menace, I tell you,
said one woman with a shudder. "He almost
killed
me
!"
It’s a good thing you can run, Letty,
Mrs. Morris said. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move that fast before. You should do that when you mow your lawn, I mean, if you ever do decide to mow
your
lawn
."
Mrs. Morris is the sheriff’s grandmother and on the spunky side. She also has
eight
cats
!
Don’t talk to me like that!
Letty demanded.
Calm yourself, Letty.
Letty’s face contorted. Don’t tell me to calm down, Mrs. Morris.
The dog is back with its owner,
I quickly said to try to appease Letty.
I want to press charges!
Nathan scratched his head. "Look, you weren’t hurt and the dog is now back with its owner. I’m positive
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