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Charlotte’s name and address for his report and two days later, when he just happened to be driving by the hotel, had dropped in to let her know the microchipped dog had been reunited with his relieved owner.
    “Did he spend the night at the vet’s?” Charlotte asked.
    Ray shook his head and gave her a sheepish grin. “I think he found my sofa quite comfortable.”
    Charlotte laughed, and after a few minutes of easy conversation, Ray had invited her to meet for a coffee. They’d discovered they shared a love of films, especially 1940s and ’50s noir, and really good coffee.
    Ray had moved to Walkers Ridge from Pennsylvania. He’d applied for the police chief job as a career move, but he was also looking for a fresh start following an amicable divorce. Meeting Charlotte had been an unexpected bonus.
    “Something happened at the hotel today,” Charlotte said, after she’d settled into the chair across from his desk, with Rupert lying at her feet. “It may be nothing, but I thought you should know.” She described finding Lauren barely conscious in her bedroom, how the ambulance had been called, and finished up by telling him that a hospital nurse had told Harvey Jacobs that an overdose of some kind was suspected.
    “Overdose?” Ray asked.
    “They aren’t sure yet what’s wrong with her. Still running tests, apparently. But you know, when I saw her, I wondered if it might be something like that. She was so unresponsive—exactly like what you read about in the papers when someone has overdosed.”
    “Did they say what kind of drug she might have taken?”
    Charlotte shook her head. “If the nurse told him, Harvey didn’t say. I suppose it could be something shetook by mistake, but when you hear ‘drug overdose,’ you tend to think the worst, don’t you?”
    “You do.” He thought for a moment. “Look, just to be on the safe side, I think I’ll take a run over to the hospital and see what’s going on. I’d send Phil, but he’s out on a call. Will you be home later? I’ll phone you.”
    Charlotte gathered up Rupert and stood up. “That would be great. I’d love to know what you find out. If you can tell me, that is.”
    “I’ll tell you what I can,” he replied as he also stood up. “Now, would you two like a ride home? It’s on my way.”
    “No, we’re fine. We want to complete our walk, don’t we, Rupert?” The corgi raised his head slightly when he heard his name. Charlotte smiled at him and then turned to Ray. “Why don’t I pick up a few groceries, and if you don’t have other plans, you could come by later and we can talk over dinner.”
    “Sounds great. I’ll call you and let you know when I’m on my way.”
    Half an hour later, pleasantly out of breath, Charlotte let herself and Rupert into their bungalow, set down her small bag of shopping, peeled off her dog-walking clothes, and headed for the shower. Ten minutes later, wrapped in a fluffy white towel with another one on her head, turban style, she made her way to her bedroom. She chose clean, comfortable pants and a green and white striped Ralph Lauren top that she’d bought on sale at adiscount outlet. She was halfway to the kitchen to begin preparing dinner when her phone rang. It was Ray, telling her he’d be there in about forty-five minutes.
    She put out Rupert’s dinner and then seasoned the chicken breasts and put them in the oven while she prepared potatoes. Ray liked old-fashioned, plain cooking, and although she enjoyed good food, she wasn’t much into cooking anymore. Keeping things simple suited her just fine.
    This bungalow on the grounds of Jacobs Grand Hotel had been her home for the past ten years. It was small, but it suited her perfectly, reminding her of the old tied cottages that used to house workers on great English estates. The only difference was that she paid Harvey Jacobs a fair market-value rent.
    She’d placed her table in front of the sitting-room window, with its beautiful view of the