"Well, let's go see who else might fit even better with you."

I nodded at Bev as I started leading the woman through the crowd and along the line of temporary pens. I mouthed the words "Okay" and "Marvin" and nodded toward the Faylers. Bev knew me well enough to understand that I'd approved the adoption. She'd have questions but could notify a staff member to start the paperwork.

"Now, let's see," I said to the lady. "I'm Lauren, by the way."

"I'm Georgia."

"What are you looking for in a dog, Georgia?"

"Tiny," she said. "And cute. Just like the ones in those HotPets Bling ads."

She gestured toward the small digital sign in the HotPets window that looked like a miniature of the large billboards now set up in a lot of areas within L.A. Notwithstanding how controversial these bright, illuminated signs were around here, Dantea"wealthy and smart entrepreneur that he isa"had negotiated the city council's permission to post a lot of them in commercial areas.

The ads also ran on TV, all featuring adorable teacup-sized dogsa"Pomeranians, Pekingese, Maltese, Chihuahuas, and morea"that wore the new, decorative HotPets Bling collars with attractive, unique, and fun designs set into them using rhinestones and other faux jewelsa"all attached, of course, in a way they couldn't be chewed off and swallowed by the animals wearing them. The actual collars were made in all sizes, though, so one could be bought to fit any dog.

Right now, there was a little Yorkie on the ad wearing a bright pink collar inset with designs of dog bones topped with haloes, all in shiny gems. I had to admit the dog and his adornment were extremely cute.

Sure, a lot of other dog collars existed that were decorated in fun ways, including sparkling designs, but these were really special, like everything from HotPets.

The Bling ads had gone viral here, in Southern California. Dante was using this as a test market and so far it had been a huge success. I was delighted for him.

What was less delightful was how the ad campaign had caused a run on teacup-sized dogs. There used to be an overabundance of small dogs in this area, but now they were being adopted from HotRescues almost as soon as we saved them from the high-kill shelters and made them available. The same was true for every other local shelter, even the public ones.

Lots of lives were being saved that way, and I was delighted.

But the popularity of the tiniest dogs made them harder for interested adopters to find. No wonder Georgia had tried to glom immediately on to small min-pin Marvin.

However . . . "Marvin is a cute pup," I told her. "But I'd like to introduce you to someone else." I hurried her toward the far end of the enclosuresa"as fast as possible in this crowd.

Unsurprisingly, one of the volunteers, Ricki, already held the dog I had in mind in her arms, showing her off to a young couple with a child.

Not necessarily a good match anyway, I thought.

"Sorry, Ricki," I said. "I want to introduce Mimi to Georgia." I gestured toward the woman beside me as I took the little Yorkie from Ricki's arms. "Why don't you show Frenchy to these nice people?" That was the French bulldog mixa"small, but not this small, and given up by a household that had kids. Seemed a better fit.

"Mimi?" Georgia said, reaching over to pat the little Yorkie. "Oh, she's perfect! Can I take her home?"

"I'll have a volunteer come here and let you play with her," I said. "Then you can fill out an application. We'll need to check some things out, but if all goes well you may be able to pick Mimi up at HotRescues tomorrow."

Unless someone else with better credentials put in an application on her. In that event, all would not go well for Georgia.

What mattered was the care and future of the dogs.

"That's wonderful!" she said. I showed her to one of the st.u.r.dy card tables we'd brought along to make it easier for people to fill out applications and handed one to Georgia. She started to fill it out immediately.

I was finally able to check on the Faylers' adoption of Marvina"almost complete, fortunately. Because Tom worked for the HotPets empire, I decided to waive the usual nominal fee we charged for adoptions.

"No way!" Naya exclaimed. "Paying that amount is the least we can do. In fact, I'd love to come volunteer at HotRescues someday. Could I do that?"

"Sure." I explained the process, which consisted of an application and a visit to HotRescues for a tour and orientation.

"Great. Tom will do it, too, won't you, dear?"

"Do I have a choice?" Tom said, aiming a fond smile at her.

I checked over their paperwork quickly, accepted their payment via credit card, and then we were done.

I rose and walked to the nearest fenced-in area, where I bent over to pick up Marvin, who was small and warm and lovable. When I put him near my face, he licked my nose. "Gonna miss you, guy, but you're going to have a really great life now."

I a.s.sumed that was true, with obvious pet lovers like the Faylers. But even so, I'd check to be sure.

I clipped one of our standard leashes on the ordinary collar we always provided with adoptions. "Looks like Marvin needs one of the HotPets Bling collars," I said.

"Count on it," Tom responded. "In fact, let's go back to the party.

a a a We pa.s.sed through the large HotPets store, probably one of the best and busiest in the chain. Why not? It was in Beverly Hills.

In moments, we were back in its vast stockroom, where I picked up a flute of champagne from a table near the door.

The place had been reorganized for the party. All the huge crates and other containers holding items sold at the store that weren't on shelves had been stacked along the edges of the room and draped with metallic fabrics to feign elegance.

The center was filled with partygoersa"like me again. Songs with animal themes surrounded us, although the volume on "Hound Dog" and the rest was low enough not to ruin the crowd's ability to chat.

I quickly rejoined the group of friends I'd brought along: Matt Kingston of Los Angeles Animal Services, the really great animal-loving man I'm dating; my good friend, veterinarian Carlie Stellan, who also has a weekly TV show on the Longevity Vision Channel; and her boyfriend Liam Deale, who works at a local TV station.

"How'd it go?" Carlie asked.

"Very well, I'm delighted to say."

"Glad to hear it." Our host, Dante, had joined us.

So did his lady friend Kendra Ballantyne, an attorney and pet-sitter. She wore a lovely sapphire-colored gown, much dressier than I'd ever seen her before. Of course I'd mostly seen her dressed for one or the other of her careers.

"Lauren, I'd like you to meet more of my staff." Dante was a good-looking man even when not dressed up in an elegant suit as he was today. His wavy hair was dark and immaculately styled, his expression as pleased as I'd ever seen it as he waved the people accompanying him toward me. "This is the store manager, Marie Ellis, and I think you've already met my new administrative a.s.sistant, Sheila Sheltron."

"Hi, Lauren." Marie was the first to approach. "I'm happy to meet you." Her voice was high but not shrill, and it seemed to peal with sincerity. "I've already met the adorable dogs and cats you have out front for adoption. Thanks so much for bringing them." Her grin was huge and her grip, as we shook hands, was firm and quick. If personality helped to sell pet supplies and food, I wasn't surprised that she ran this huge Beverly Hills store.

"Glad to meet you, too, Marie." I'd held other HotRescues mobile adoptions at HotPet stores, but this was my first one herea"and I had a feeling it wouldn't be the last.

"Hi, Lauren." Sheila moved around Marie to face me. I had met Dante's a.s.sistant before since I visited the HotPets headquarters often to keep Dante updated on how things were going at HotRescues. She'd worked there for a few months now. Sheila was a tall, slim woman. She wore a soft gray dress that looked tailored and professional, but her black stiletto shoes yelled out for attention.

"Hi," I said. "Did you help to arrange this party?" I didn't wait for her proud smile and nod before adding, "I thought so. It's wonderful. And," I said to Dante, "happy birthday to HotPets and many, many more."

He laughed. "You'd better be right. Ah, look who's here."

Tom and Naya joined us. Naya was, unsurprisingly, hugging little Marvin. "He's ours now!" she exclaimed with glee.

"He needs a Bling collar." A guy I didn't know had joined us.

"Of course," Naya said. "Lauren, have you met Chris?"

I hadn't, but I was quickly introduced to Chris Mandrea.

"Are you also with the HotPets Bling subsidiary?" I asked.

"He's not only *with' the company," Naya said. "He's crucial to it. He designs all the collars and other things that will eventually be released and sold."

I was a bit surprised that Naya was the one to sing his praises rather than her husband. Tom was the manager of the new subsidiary, not her. But it was great to see Naya's enthusiasm.

"Yep, I'm the heart of Bling." Chris's grin was imp-like in his long and narrow face. He wore a shining lilac shirt tucked into jeans, which, though not as dressy as what most of us wore, still looked sufficiently partyish.

As Dante went off to play host some more, Kendra at his side, I talked with the Faylers and Chris about HotPets Bling. They were clearly proud of the new productsa"justifiably, it sounded.

But after a few minutes, Tom said, "I think we have to get ready for . . ."

"For the big secret?" Naya asked, holding Marvin against her cheek. The sweet little min-pin licked her nose.

"What secret?" I asked.

"You'll see," Chris said, and the three of them walked off.

I glanced around. My invitees were now off on their own drinking more champagne and eating the hors d'oeuvres displayed on a table in the center of the room. I joined them, still wondering what the big secret was.

I considered mentioning it to my friends, but there wasn't time. Nearly as soon as I rejoined them, Matt handed me another gla.s.s. "The servers said Dante is about to make a presentation and we should all be prepared to celebrate."

I wasn't about to resist more champagne. And my curiosity had definitely been piqued.

Tom Fayler joined Dante in the middle of the crowd, while Naya continued to hold Marvin. "May we have everyone's attention?" Tom called.

Conversations were loud enough that those of us who heard started clapping to encourage silence. Soon, the crowd was quiet.

"I want to thank you all for coming to our celebration," Dante said. "And right now, I want to add to it. We have something special for all the women who are here."

Chris walked up to Dante and Tom holding a large box.

"This is both to add to our celebrationa"and to promote our new venture," Dante said. He gestured first to Kendra. "Got a little present for you." When she joined him, he pulled something out of the box and went behind her. With flair, he put the item around her neck and fastened it.

It was a light blue necklace that resembled a sparkling dog collara"a HotPets Bling collar.

"Thank you," she said. Judging by her conspiratorial grin, she'd known this was coming.

All of Dante's staff helped to distribute the necklaces contained in the box. Since I, too, was wearing blue, I received one identical to Kendra'sa"highly appropriate, I thought, since the knit shirts all HotRescues staff members wore, including me, were also blue. Not that I was likely to wear this around our shelter. At least not all the time.

But I really did like it. It was artificial leather containing faux jewels set in the same designs as those in the smaller Bling dog collarsa"this time several grinning pooches.

Once all the necklaces had been given out, I decided it was time to make a spectacle of myself. I hurried to Dante's side.

"Thank you," I said, loudly enough for the whole crowd to hear. "I'd like to make a toast." I held up my champagne flute and waited while the crowd had time to figure out what I was doing and hold up their own gla.s.ses. "Here's to Dante DeFrancisco, to HotPets, and to HotRescues. And, today especially, here's to HotPets Bling. I hope that the new products do as well on the market as I'm sure we all believe they will. In fact, I wish them all the success and popularity that we can imagine. May HotPets Bling become the best known dog collars in the country!"

Berkley Prime Crime t.i.tles by Linda O. Johnston.

Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries.

SIT, STAY, SLAY.

NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FERRETS.

FINE-FEATHERED DEATH.

MEOW IS FOR MURDER.

THE FRIGHT OF THE IGUANA.

DOUBLE DOG DARE.

NEVER SAY STY.

HOWL DEADLY.

FELINE FATALE.

Pet Rescue Mysteries.

BEAGLEMANIA.

THE MORE THE TERRIER.

HOUNDS ABOUND.

OODLES OF POODLES.

Specials.

NONSTOP SPANIELS.