"Hi, Lauren," the detective said. "I was wondering when I'd hear from you next." We chatted for a minute about how he was doing, how I was doing, how Brooke was doinga"and then we got down to the purpose of my call. "I can't tell you much," he said, not surprising me. "But here's some general information." He told me that the detectives on the case were in fact looking at the ex-girlfriend, but she was just a person of interest without being much of a suspect, at least not yet. "That guy Bartt? He was at the shelter when our guys were there asking the volunteers and staff some questions. His att.i.tude sucked, so he was interrogated. He's more than a person of interest, but they're still checking him out."

Good, I thought. And yet . . . well, despite what I'd initially thought of him, I almost felt sorry for Warren Bartt, and how Ideman had apparently strung him along. After all, I could understand how someone would do virtually anything after falling in love with a dog and wanting to adopt it no matter how many hurdles he had to overcome.

I purposely knelt on the floor and hugged Zoey, who nuzzled me. Then I spoke to Antonio again over my cell phone. "Is Ellie Hankley a suspect?"

"The volunteer whose grandfather founded PetForYou? Our guys on the case are aware there was some ill will there. So, yes, she's being considered. But, Lauren, you won't be surprised to know that Ricki's still the most likely suspect. She and Ideman were arguing the day he was killed. You were there. You saw it."

"But I also know Ricki, and so do you. She was angry because Ideman wouldn't commit to a no-kill policy, just gave lip-service to it. I wouldn't kill a human being over that, and neither would she. But I can understand her angera"and maybe even an urge to strangle him."

"Then should I have them put you on their list, too?"

I knew he was joking but said, "Don't you dare!"

"Okay." He paused. "I know that when you get involved in these situations, you worry the case like a hunting dog with a stuffed animal in its mouth, till you kill it. The case, I mean, not any animal, stuffed or not. What's your take on this one so far?"

I smiled. I didn't like getting involved in homicide cases, but I was somewhat glad that this real cop recognized that I'd had a bit of success in determining who actually committed some murders. But of course this was Antonio, my friend and Brooke's significant other.

"Still working on it," I admitted. "But just so you know, I've asked Dante to make a contribution to the shelter to ensure the animals have enough to eat. Apparently it has some money problems."

"Even with its connection to the veterinary clinic? I'm sure the guys on the case are aware of it, but it still sounds strange."

"I agree. A condition of Dante's contributing anything, money or supplies, will be an audit of the books."

"And you'll supply a copy to the authorities." It wasn't a question, nor did it need to be.

"Of course I'll cooperate, and I'm sure Dante will, too."

Chapter 7.

Three more days had pa.s.sed since Dr. Dan Ideman's murder. The media remained full of speculation, but so far there had been no arrests.

I hated that the speculation still focused on Ricki.

The poor girl was on hiatus from her internship, so she spent a bunch of time at HotRescues, volunteering. And that meant she talked a lot with me.

She also helped me bring the animals I'd saved from PetForYou from Carlie's, all with their healthiness confirmed. Even so, they'd remain in quarantine for our standard week.

"This Ivo really is cute," Ricki said. She and I were in the quarantine building, and I'd told her about the rampage his potential adopter, Warren Bartt, had been on. Right now, Ricki sat on the floor of Ivo's kennel and hugged the medium-sized Brittany spaniel mix.

I, in turn, was playing with one of the dogs who was even a little older. Unger was a wirehaired dachshund mix, and he just loved to be cuddled. I had a lot of fun obliging. In a few minutes, we'd each switch, since there were two more dogs from PetForYou who needed attention.

We'd already been in to check on, and play with, the two cats, and Itsy and Bitsy looked fine, too. Those were names given to them at PetForYou. I suspected that the two tortoisesh.e.l.l siblings, who were normal sized kitties, weren't overly fond of their names.

"She is cute," I agreed. "So are the others. I just hope . . ." I let my words trail off. Ricki didn't need to hear me worrying about what would happen with the remaining PetForYou animals now.

"Me, too," she said anyway. I glanced through the chain-link fencing separating us as we played with the dogs. Her tone had suggested that her concern mirrored mine. "And not just about the animals. Lauren, I know you've solved other murders. Do you think you'll figure out who killed Dr. Ideman? Oh, and believe me," she said before I could respond. "In case you have any concerns, no matter what I thought about his policies, or lack thereof, at PetForYou, it honestly wasn't me."

"I know." I wished I didn't sound so grim. "And I did talk with Antonio about possible suspects. I'm not sure who did do it. Not yet."

"But you're not giving up?" she said hopefully.

"No, I'm not giving up."

a a a I'd kept in contact with Ellie Hankley, dangling before her the temptation of a possible donation from Dante if she let me know when her emergency board of directors meeting would occur.

It was now scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

And as the designated representative of HotPets and Dante, I was invited to attend.

Would I get any further insight into Ideman's murder there?

Unlikely. But I also remained concerned about what would happen to PetForYou and all its current inhabitants. That, at least, might approach some kind of resolution at the board meeting.

A decision to join NKLA? We'd see.

The next day, after doing my usual walk-throughs at HotRescues, I sat down and made notes on the computer and prepared the approach I'd take at the meeting.

When the time came, I left Zoey in Nina's loving care and headed to PetForYou. This time, I didn't enter through the veterinary clinic but from the shelter's own parking lot, directly into the facility. It still hadn't opened for visitations by the general public, which seemed a shame. Everything remained on hold.

That included the lives of the animals who were there. That part made sense. They had to stay alive. I'd make that clear at the meeting, in case there was any doubt.

I hadn't counted the inhabitants, but if necessary I'd make sure that HotRescues took in as many as possible. I'd find shelters for the rest, too.

I felt certain that members of Southern California Rescuers would help. They all belonged to NKLA.

Ellie, dressed in a white PetForYou T-shirt beneath an open frilly blouse and nice slacks, met me in the building that housed the shelter's office. "We don't have a conference room, but the kitchen is large enough, and there's a table there for people to sit around when they're on a breaka"or having a meeting."

She led me out of the office building and to a much nicer looking structure down a path that eventually merged into the kennel area. This building looked like a fairy-tale cottage from the outside, with decorative yellow shutters and a sloping roof covered in fancy red tiles. It wasn't visible from the veterinary clinic below since it was set into the hillside beneath the property's main house.

I didn't understand why it wasn't closer to the metal shed where food was apparently kepta"when there was any. But maybe no animal meals were prepared here, just people lunches.

Inside the kitchen, there were seven chairs around a thick wooden table. Four were occupied, including one by Spencer, Ellie's boyfriend. That was interesting. Was he on the board, too?

The place looked like a regular kitchen, with a counter and pantry cupboards around the perimeter. The refrigerator in one corner appeared to be nearly antique, but who cared, as long as it worked?

Ellie introduced me as Lauren Vancouver, shelter administrator. There was some apparent interest from the other board members, or at least their expressions seemed curious. But when she said I represented Dante DeFrancisco of HotPets, there was a lot of smiling and shifting in their seats. Obviously everyone had heard of Dantea"and, undoubtedly, his wealth.

Then Ellie asked everyone to introduce themselves. The three people I hadn't met were a frowning retired pet store manager named Joe Sargamel; the PetForYou veterinarian who was now in charge of the PetForYou clinic, Dr. Mort Gerald, a middle-aged African American man; anda"very interesting to mea"Janine Norgram, Dan Ideman's ex-girlfriend. She was the woman Warren Bartt had told me about, but he hadn't mentioned she was on the shelter's board of directors. Maybe he didn't know. She was a thirtysomething paralegal, so perhaps she helped to give the board some direction and advice. And presumably their breakup had been somewhat amicable, since she was still around, at least for this purpose.

But maybe I shouldn't be so quick to slough her off as a possible suspect.

Ellie showed me to an empty seat and she sat in another one. She apparently was the board's chairmana"pro tem, at leasta"since she opened the meeting and seemed ready to preside over it.

"Let's start with a moment of silence in memory of our former chairman, Dr. Dan Ideman."

Everyone bowed their heads, including me. But I kept mine at an angle where I could see all the other attendees. Each appeared to take the direction seriouslya"all except the vet's ex, who was doing just as I was.

Our eyes met for an instant. Hers were dark brown and cold. Did that indicate animosity? If so, toward whom? Ideman? Me? Other board members?

I was not the kind of person who jumped to conclusions, but Janine was, at the moment, near the top of my suspect lista"just because of first impressions. And because, as an ex, she presumably would have at least a possible motive. Anger? Revenge? I'd have to find out.

Chapter 8.

The official meeting started then. I wasn't the only nona"board member there. Spencer couldn't vote either, although I heard it confirmed that he, a CPA, provided financial advice to the group.

The first motion was to elect Ellie the ongoing chairman. That pa.s.sed unanimously.

They next discussed other business matters that weren't directly related to care of the animals. I wasn't especially interested, so I tuned them out.

Then Ellie said, "Lauren, I'd like you to talk to us next about Dante DeFrancisco. I gather that he is generously offering to make some kind of contribution to help keep PetForYou going. Is that right? Please tell us more about it."

Everyone smiled, and I even got a smattering of applause. I doubted they'd applaud once I explained the conditions of Dante providing help. I began with saying how impressed I was with the facility, and I'd told Dante that. Smiles widened . . . for now.

"I'm actually not sure how much a.s.sistance Dante will want to provide, but it would help if you'd put together a list of how much food and all you require on a weekly basis. He'll have his people look at it, and then we'll be able to let you know how many weeks' worth he'll be able to contribute from HotPets, and how much in the way of funds he'll provide, too."

"I'll do that," Joe Sargamel said, and the choice made sense since, as a former pet store manager, he'd undoubtedly be able to estimate their needs.

"Great. Now, I'm certain that Dante will want PetForYou to join the NKLA Coalition." In case any of the board members didn't yet know what it was, I explained it. "HotRescues is a proud member," I stated. "I had the impression that PetForYou is pretty much no-kill anywaya""

"Absolutely," said the vet, Dr. Mort Gerald. "I wouldn't have served on the board here if it had been otherwise. Of course, our veterinary practice does sometimes have to put an animal down for health reasons so it doesn't suffer, but that's all."

"That's right," said Janine. "That's one of the reasons for confirming Ellie as the chairman of the board, so she could continue running PetForYou in her grandfather's shoes, and what I always heard about him is that he did everything possible to take care of the animals, not kill them."

The others agreed.

"Then none of you agree with Dr. Ideman's position about not joining NKLA?" I had to ask, to see their reactions . . . in the unlikely case that issue had provided a motive for someone here to kill him.

There was some discussion. No, none agreed, and a couple said so vehemently. But I couldn't immediately leap on any of them as the killer because of it.

"Then I'll provide you with information about how to join NKLA," I finally said, practically beaming. I'd feel so much better about how all the animals here were going to be dealt with, whether or not I observed. Then I continued, "The final thing Dante will need to do, to a.s.sist in determining whether he'll be able to provide ongoing help, is to audit the PetForYou financial information over the past . . . say, six months."

This time, they all looked at Spencer, and I glanced in that direction, too. Interesting. He had a deer-in-the-headlights look that disappeared almost immediately. But why?

"Well, sure, if the board agrees," he said. "I can provide a copy of the audit I've started preparing for the transition, after the loss of Dr. Ideman. I could give you a preliminary accounting right away and confirm it in a few days."

He scanned the board members, but the smile on his face looked forced. In fact, I had the impression that the man I'd figured to be maybe late twenties, like his girlfriend Ellie, had suddenly aged by ten or more years. Why?

The obvious answer was that there was something wrong with the PetForYou books, and he knew it. And for him to know ita"did that mean he'd somehow been involved?

And if he'd been involved, did that mean Dr. Ideman had been aware of any discrepancies? If so, that was a fine motive for murder.

Okay, I was really reaching here. Maybe because I didn't want Ricki to be the number one suspect any longer. I'd already mentally leaped on Janine as climbing toward the top of my list. And now, just because the guy seemed nervous, I'd pasted Spencer above her.

I was second-guessing myself a bit now, even as I said, "Thanks. That will be helpful." But I trust my instincts. A lot. And so I also said, "But I know that Dante will want to have his own audit conducted. In facta""

I pulled my phone from my pocket and pushed the b.u.t.ton to call Dante's direct line. He answered immediately.

Smiling from one curious board member's face to the next, I explained to Dante where I was. "Can you tell me who you'll send here, and when, to audit the PetForYou books?"

"Ah," he said into my ear. "Do I detect some suspicion that an audit is more than necessary?"

"Could be," I responded. "So you can send someone right now?"

"Really? That urgent? Well, sure. I'll have to figure out who, but a.s.sume that I'll get someone from our accounting staff who knows what to do there within the next hour."

"Great. Within the hour? Thanks. And I gather that the board is really excited that you're willing to help out." Once again, my gaze darted between the board members, and each, in turn, nodded. I had another thoughta"premature, maybe, but I was about to do a bit of prodding that might wind up being out of line . . . or not. "Oh, and by the way, you've got my friend Antonio's phone number, don't you? He's such an animal lover, and I promised to keep him informed about what's going on here."

"The LAPD detective?" As I'd been throughout this conversation, I was glad no one else could hear what Dante said. "Yes, I know how to contact him. I'll really be interested to hear what's going on there, Lauren."

"I'll bet you will," I agreed.

After I hung up, though, I aimed my eyes toward Spencer. No smile on his face. Apparently Ellie had noticed that, too, since the stare she leveled on her boyfriend was frozen.

His frantic expression told me I was most likely on the right track. Was he making it too easy? Was I jumping to conclusions so fast that I was absolutely wrong about the direction I faced?

I actually hate to second-guess myself but I was doing it again. If it turned out I was wrong, no harm done.

But if I was right . . .

"Er . . . Lauren," Spencer said. "I wish you'd checked with me first. I unfortunately can't stay to wait for Dante's auditor. In fact, I need to leave now."

"I a.s.sume other board members know how to get into the accounting records," I said, not looking at any of them yet. "They're all on computer files here, aren't they?"

"Well, yes, but only Dr. Ideman and I havea"hada"access to them. I helped him keep track of everything."

"Then PetForYou is a client of the accounting firm where you work?" I asked.

I noticed frowns now on the faces of all of the board members. Apparently this was news to them. Or if not, no one was stepping up to take the pressure off Spencer.

"Well, no. I just started helping Dr. Ideman after Ellie introduced me to him and he learned I was a CPA. He asked me some questions, and before I knew it I was helping with all the PetForYou accounting."

He once more attempted an ingenuous smile, but it melted quickly when I said, "Great. Then you probably have some of the answers I'm looking for. I had a guy accost me at HotRescues yesterday who seemed desperate to adopt the spaniel Ivo. He said he'd been talking to Dr. Ideman a lot, contributing quite a bit of money to PetForYou to encourage him to approve the adoption fast, but nothing had happened. I haven't gone over everything yet about the adoption, but I think he'll be able to adopt Ivo from HotRescues now. I'm sure he'll want an accounting of how his contributions were used here. I certainly couldn't tell him, especially after Ellie and you showed me that the shelter's cupboard was bare, so to speak."