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fault.”
    Dickce exchanged an uneasy glance with An’gel. If Sondra wasn’t lying about being used to driving in high heels, what had caused her brakes to fail?

CHAPTER 5
    A n’gel stepped closer to examine the damage while she considered the implications of the failed brakes. Despite Sondra’s claim that she was used to driving in high heels, An’gel still thought driver error could have caused the accident.
    Sondra had hit the live oak with the right front side of the car, smashing the headlight and crumpling the fender. An’gel marveled that the girl hadn’t been hurt, but then she saw that the airbag had deployed.
    “Get that thing away from me. I don’t want hair all over me.”
    An’gel turned to see Sondra flapping her hands at Peanut. The Labradoodle was sniffing around her but shied away from the unfriendly hands.
    “Calm down,” Benjy said sharply. “Peanut doesn’t shed.Your stupid dress is safe.” He pulled the dog away from Sondra.
    An’gel had learned from Benjy that, depending on genetics, Labradoodles might not shed. Happily for her, Peanut was in that category.
    “That’s what you say.” Sondra tossed her head. “I’d better not find a single dog hair on my dress, or you’ll have to pay to have it cleaned.” She paused for a breath and stared hard at Benjy. “Just who the heck are you anyway? You’re trespassing on private property, you know.”
    “I’m not trespassing.” Benjy stared right back at Sondra. “I’m a guest, along with Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce.”
    Sondra grimaced. “Oh, you’re their ward .”
    An’gel marveled at how the girl managed to inject that one word with such venom.
    “Yes, he is our ward, and your grandmother invited him.” An’gel spoke tersely. She was relieved that the girl appeared unharmed, but An’gel was annoyed with her behavior. “Tell us how the accident happened.”
    Sondra responded to the tone of authority, though sullenly. “I was on my way into town, and I was coming down the driveway.”
    “Way too fast,” Benjy said in an undertone, but An’gel heard him.
    Sondra appeared not to have heard as she continued, “I saw these two”—she indicated Benjy and Peanut with a dismissive gesture—“and I thought they were trespassers. When I hit the brakes so I could stop and tell them to get off our property, nothing happened.” She shrugged. “I guess I panicked and drove into the tree. That was the only way to stop the car.”
    An’gel exchanged another uneasy glance with Dickce. This was definitely odd. She was thankful, however, that Sondra had been close to home when the accident happened. Had she been on the highway and driving faster when she needed to stop, she could have been badly injured, if not killed.
    “Let’s get you up to the house,” Dickce said briskly, taking Sondra’s arm. “We need to make sure you weren’t hurt. You may feel all right now, but later on you might not.”
    To An’gel’s surprise, Sondra let Dickce lead her toward Willowbank. An’gel remained behind a moment with Benjy and Peanut.
    When the others were out of earshot, Benjy said, “Don’t you think it’s weird about the brakes? A brand-new car like that, shouldn’t happen. But maybe she’s just a lousy driver.”
    An’gel said, her tone grim, “I’m going to talk to Sondra’s mother. Sondra might be a bad driver. I certainly wouldn’t drive in heels like that.” She paused for a breath. “That car needs to be examined by an expert, however. If Sondra wasn’t at fault, I’m worried someone tampered with the brakes, hoping for a bad accident.”
    “That’s sick.” Benjy shook his head. “Why would someone want to hurt her?” Peanut woofed, and An’gel thought how interesting it was that the dog always seemed to understand when Benjy was feeling tense or upset about something.
    “Exactly what I want to know, although I’m hoping it was simply bad driving.” An’gel paused for a moment, deciding what to do.