Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Johnson (simple ebook reader .txt) 📕

had to be spelled, eyes tight with worry. “What, uh—what brings you to my office?” His throat bobbed, and he blinked at Peter, a bit more earnestness in his gaze. “Did they get the results back on Pearl’s death?”

Peter nodded. “The vial on Pearl Litt’s body, the one you handed her, contained high levels of poison—the same poison found on her lips.”

Ralph dragged a thick hand down his splotchy face, his thumb and forefinger tracing a circle through the white beard hairs around his mouth. Avery Ann hung her head.

“Who coulda—” Ralph stopped and jerked his head up to look around the room, seeming to suddenly realize what the cadre of cops in his office meant. He pointed a fat finger at Peter and scowled. “Now listen here—I didn’t kill her!” He threw a hand at Daisy. “Why, just ask your lie-sniffing dog, she’ll tell you!”

Daisy’s tail wagged, and her eyes darted up to Peter. Truth.

Peter’s throat bobbed, but his bloodshot eyes stayed hard as he stared Ralph down. “There are ways around Daisy’s powers—we’ll find out how you’re evading the truth. But the evidence is overwhelming—you had means, opportunity, and motive. We’re arresting you for the murder of your wife, Pearl Litt.”

Avery Ann gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. She darted her enormous blue eyes between Ralph and Peter.

“Motive?” Ralph spluttered. “Why would I kill Pearl?”

I leaned into one hip and leveled him a “get real” look. “Uh… to inherit her assets so you were rich and free to be with your mistress.” I flashed my eyes at him, then looked significantly at Avery Ann.

“Ugh, no!” Ralph scrunched up his face, and I experienced a moment of hesitation. “We’re not having an affair. I wouldn’t do that!”

Avery Ann shook her head, her brown waves swishing back and forth over her shoulders, but Daisy let out a whine that turned into a growl. Partial lie.

I could understand Avery Ann being grossed out by the idea of being with Ralph, but the other way around? She was way too cute for that kind of reaction. I doubted this guy would be so troubled by minor scruples, such as being married and older than her by decades, as to find the idea of being with her repugnant.

“My dog says you’re not being truthful.” Peter glared at Ralph, who shrank back, playing with the many gold and silver rings on his stubby fingers.

“Fine.” He ducked his head for a moment. “We’re not having an affair”—he gestured between himself and Avery Ann— “but there may have been others.”

Daisy growled and Ralph huffed. “Fine—there were definitely a lot of others!”

Daisy wagged her tail. Smells like truth.

I smirked—knew it!

“While I appreciate your honesty, the evidence is still stacked against you.” Peter nodded at his fellow officers, and a couple of them marched up to Ralph and snapped enchanted, glowing handcuffs around his wrists. He didn’t struggle—merely choked and let himself be led by the elbow around the desk toward the door.

“But—but I didn’t kill her!” He scowled at Peter. “I want my lawyer.”

Bags hung under Peter’s eyes, and his shoulders slumped. When was the last time the guy had gotten some sleep? He shrugged. “You’ll be allowed to contact your lawyer once you’ve been processed at the station.”

The cops dragged him out the door, and Peter and Daisy moved to follow.

I grabbed Peter’s arm. “Are you so sure that—”

He stared down at my hand, and though my stomach twisted that he’d look at me like that, I released him and let my arm hang at my side. “I’m just saying, Daisy says he’s telling the truth and if—”

Peter cut me off. “Look, Bon’s pressuring me to make an arrest, and it’s usually the husband, right?” He shrugged. “He handed Pearl the vial full of poison and stands to inherit the whole company.”

I nodded, glancing back at Avery Ann before lowering my voice. “I get that, but—isn’t that all kinda obvious?” I raised my brows. “Why would he poison his wife on stage, in front of everyone, and hand her the vial himself?”

Peter gave me a weary look. “I don’t disagree, but—it’s all we’ve got right now.” With that, he turned and followed the other cops out the door. Daisy followed a few steps behind, but Peter, out of it as he was, let the door slam shut behind him in her face. The dog recoiled and turned her wide eyes to me with a yelp.

He forgot me!

20

A New Lead

My first instinct was to tease Daisy, my second was to be a nice person and comfort her, and then finally, I remembered Avery Ann was still in the room and I couldn’t speak dog in front of her. Daisy stayed by the door, her nose to the frosted glass, fogging it up with her breath.

I turned to the young woman who stood with her arms hugged tight around herself, face pinched with worry. Her lower lip trembled. “Ralph’s a good man!”

Daisy briefly turned from the door and bared her teeth—Lie—before pressing her nose against the glass and whining. Peter… Peter….

Oh snakes, this was depressing. I sighed and leveled Avery Ann a sympathetic look.

“Alright, fine.” She shrugged. “He was an okay man.”

I rolled my eyes, out of patience. “Okay enough to cheat on his wife with you, then kill her for the money?”

She stuck out her tongue. “Gag. For the last time, we weren’t having an affair.”

Daisy’s tail wagged without her even looking around. True.

She threw a hand toward the dog, who kept her back to us. “See? That means I’m telling the truth, right?”

I quirked my lips to the side. “I know you’re hiding something; I just don’t know what yet.” I gave her my best tough lawyer look—it’d come in handy back when I was practicing. “But I will find out.

“Oh, fine.” She heaved a great sigh and threw her head back. “He’s my dad, okay?” Her big eyes darted to the door and she lowered her voice. “We hadn’t told