Read Sneak Thief (A Dog Park Mystery) for Free Online Page B

“Looks kind of glum, doesn’t he?”
    â€œI knew I should have locked my car,” Desiree said.
    â€œI wish you would ride with me,” Lia said.
    â€œMe, too, but I can barely make it on time leaving directly from the shop. We’ve got to get this big order out before next week. Things will slack up after that. Maybe then.”
    Terry eyed the little man. “Curious and curiouser.” He rocked the figure back with his index finger, examining the face. “Not much detail. I’m not impressed.”
    â€œIt’s in the posture,” Lia said. “It’s very expressive. I think it’s charming.”
    â€œIf I’m going to have a secret admirer,” Desiree said, “I’d rather have roses. Or jewelry.”
    â€œAh, the avarice of women . . . so like a serpent’s tooth. Wait, wrong quote,” Terry said.
    â€œMaybe art is all he has to give you. Maybe he’s poor,” Lia said.
    â€œYesterday you said he was a stalker, now he’s charming?”
    â€œPeter said you should pay attention to anything weird, but he’s probably harmless. Speaking of weird . . . .” Lia jerked her head in the direction of Avery Simmons, their room leader.
    Despite his affection for Ralph Lauren, Avery would always be an Ichabod Crane of a man, prematurely balding with pasty skin. His features spoke of sensitivity and intelligence, but Lia just knew that inside he was a snotty little brat whose mother had sung lullabies to his superiority when she tucked him in at night. Lia bet she still did.
    He was the sort of man her aunt always pushed on her. "He has a job, and a house, and he has such nice manners. You can tell he's good to his mother. You can't do better than a man who loves his mother."
    Her aunt always said that while pointing out some boring guy who looked at Lia as if she were an exotic jungle beast. Aunt Connie wouldn’t stop there. Next it would be, ”Forget the cop. A man who chases after criminals all the time, it's going rub off on him—I saw that Nicholas Cage movie about that awful lieutenant. He’ll get himself shot, and where does that leave you? That nice tush of his isn't going to last forever.
    â€œArt is no kind of living. You have to think about your future. Four husbands, and your mother never learned to find a nice, stable guy who pays the bills. You want to end up like your mother?” She popped out of the memory and found herself staring at that night’s lentil sprout concoction. She shuddered. No wonder I never talk to my aunt.
    Avery was still talking to Eric. Eric’s head bobbed in response to whatever his supervisor was saying as the pair walked over to their table. Simmons put on a greasy smile and spoke to Desiree’s chest while Eric shrugged an apology for his boss’s boorish behavior.
    â€œMs. . . ah . . . Willis, is it? And Ms. Anderson? Eric here,” he nodded at their team leader, “was just telling me that you’re his most accurate scorers on this project.”
    Desiree looked down, an affectation of modesty. “We try.”
    â€œYou’re doing a great job. We have a tricky project coming up. I hope you plan to stay with us for the next contract?”
    â€œSure, I can always use the money. You coming back, Lia?”
    â€œWouldn’t miss it.”
    â€œGood, good. I’m going to request that you both be in my room again.” He glanced up at the clock. “Looks like time to get back.”
    The two men walked off. Desiree waited until their backs were turned, then shook her hands as if she’d touched something disgusting. “Eeeeeewww.”
    â€œYour not-so-secret admirer?” Terry inquired.
    â€œHa. Ha. You should do stand-up.”
    â€œWe’d better get back,” Lia said, sliding her chair back. “And if Avery is your secret admirer, shoot yourself now.”

5
    Friday, May 2nd
    â€œ Y uck ! Julia, get away