Part 10 (1/2)
”Thanks for stopping by, Valerie.” I opened the door, letting in the fresh air. ”I'll let you know when your order comes in.”
”I look forward to hearing from you . . . soon.” She breezed through the doorway and outside.
I may have let go of the door just a tad too quickly, tapping Valerie's backside as she walked out. My bad.
I joined Gia and Zippy next to a display of dog breed charms. ”Is this what you're looking for?” I handed her the ball.
She squeezed it a couple of times, then bent down and let Zippy sniff it. He s.n.a.t.c.hed the toy from her hand and ran. She had him on a short leash-he didn't get past the rack of flying discs. Undaunted, he collapsed to his belly and gnawed on the ball. His soft floppy ears got in the way of his ability to grip the toy with his paws.
”Looks like he likes it. Is there anything else you need?” I asked.
She pointed toward the register. ”I love those red sneakers you have in the showcase.”
”Would you like to see them?”
She chewed her perfectly polished nail. ”I really don't have a lot of time,” she hesitated. ”I guess if we're quick.”
Not one to pa.s.s up a sale, I motioned for her to follow me. ”Zippy's fine. Leave him there.”
I pulled out the sneakers from behind the locked case. ”Aren't they adorable? The canvas body is very soft, and the soles are nonslip.”
”I love them.” She didn't bat an eye at the fifty-dollar price tag. She placed them on the counter. ”What about those?” She pointed to a pair of black boots with a zippered front.
I smiled, sensing a large sale within the next couple of minutes. ”These are my favorite. Although confession time, I am partial to motorcycle boots.” I hiked up my jeans and kicked my leg, showing off my own black boots.
Suddenly, Gia had plenty of time to waste. She weaved from one side of the store to the other, her face flush from stacking item after item on the counter for me to ring up. When she wasn't looking I tossed Zippy a couple of treats. He was a very well-behaved pooch.
While Gia shopped I asked, ”You mentioned Zippy has a schedule. I'm curious what type of schedule a dog like him would have? Practice runs? Push-ups?”
”It's important that he practice the fifty-yard dash, keep hydrated, and stick to his feeding schedule, which is twice a day during the off season and three times a day during racing season.” She fingered a sunflower-yellow bathrobe. Meeting her requirements, the robe was tossed on top of the growing pile of merchandise. ”He has a very strict diet. Racing on a full stomach slows him down.”
Oops. I glanced down at Zippy. He hadn't left a crumb of evidence. Good dog. I lifted my finger to my lips, swearing him to secrecy. He shook his head, his ears slapping the sides of his long nose. I guess I was on my own.
Gia's dilated eyes widened as she looked at the stack on the counter. ”I think I got a little carried away.” Her normally commanding voice sounded small and a little unsure.
”Everything is returnable. If you get home and decide you don't like an item or you've changed your mind for any reason, bring it back for a full refund.”
She bit her bottom lip. ”Do you have a shop in Laguna Hills?”
”No.”
She slowly handed me a credit card. I caught a quick look inside her bag. She carried a purple water bottle that looked like the same one I'd seen Richard carrying yesterday. ”Does Zippy only drink bottled water?”
She followed my gaze. Realizing I could see inside her purse, she closed it with a loud snap. ”No, he does not only drink bottled water. It's my vitamin water.”
Yeah, I didn't believe her for a second. She didn't have bloodshot eyes, and she wasn't slurring her words, but there was something about her body language that suggested she was lying. That and the fact that she had completely overreacted to my question.
”Why does Lenny Santucci hate you? You said that at one time he was your number-one fan? What really changed that?”
She stiffened. ”I told you. He's a jealous loser.”
I tapped her credit card on the Formica counter. ”Nope. He hates you and he hated Richard. That's more than jealousy.”
She eyed the card, biting her bottom lip. ”Lenny tried to pa.s.s Pickles off as an offspring of Chip.”
”Chip?”
Her eye-roll was so dramatic her lashes actually stuck together momentarily. For a second, I thought I might have to peel them apart for her. ”Chip Ahoy. He's the ultimate champion. He retired from racing five years ago. Lenny claimed Pickle carried Chip's bloodline. Richard knew he was lying and threatened to discredit him.”
Now that was a motive to hate someone. ”Is Lenny from around here?”
”Up north. Redding or someplace boring like that.”
”Did you see him around the time Richard was shot?”
She sighed. I was clearly wasting her time with all my questions. ”I had more important things on my mind when I was looking for Richard than noticing if Lenny was following me around like a sick puppy. Are you going to ring me up?”
”Sure thing.” I slid her credit card through the reader, expecting an approval.
Denied.
Holy moly. I looked up and plastered a fake smile on my face. ”The machine's been acting funny lately. Let me try this again.”
”Wait. Try this one.” Gia handed me a different piece of plastic. She looked as uncomfortable as I felt.
I rubbed the magnetic strip on my jeans before sliding the card through the machine.
Not only was it denied, but I was also instructed to call the bank.
h.e.l.ls bells.
Chapter Twelve.
GIA AND I STARED at the silver plastic card in my hand. This could play out one of two ways. I call the bank and receive a verbal approval after Gia answers a couple of simple questions. Or I call the bank and the charge is denied. And possibly be asked to confiscate the card. Judging by the way Gia worriedly nibbled on her bottom lip, verbal approval was the unlikely outcome.
She caught my eyes dead-on. Her fake lashes were as thick as Grandma Tillie's fur coat and looked equally as heavy. I knew what she wanted me to do. The tension was broken by a ringing cell phone.
”That's me.” I grabbed the phone and answered without looking to see who was calling.
”h.e.l.lo.” I didn't exactly turn my back on Gia, but I tried to give her some privacy. If she decided to put some, or all, of the merchandise back, I wasn't going to draw attention to it.
”Hi,” Grey's deep voice filled my ear.
My pulse quickened. ”Hi. I, um, didn't realize it was you.” I tucked my hair behind my ear.