Lia Farrell - Mae December 02 - Two Dogs Lie Sleeping (9 page)

J
uly pressed the end call button on her cellphone and smacked it down on the granite counter in her kitchen. She heard Fred coming through the front door.

“July, what the hell is going on?” He blew into the kitchen and set his briefcase down. His normally smooth, white
-blond hair was standing on end and his shirt was soaked with sweat. “Did you just let these people ransack our home?”

July looked around. There were dark marks from where the techs had dusted for prints. The red-haired deputy was in her pantry, looking behind the cereal boxes. Two other officers were pulling dishware out from her china cabinet.

She glared at her husband of twelve years. “They had a warrant; I didn’t just
let
them in. And it’s your fault they’re here!”

Fred’s blue eyes widened and a vein in his temple stood out against his fair skin. “How is this possibly my fault?”

“Because you came home early from California to spy on me. Now they’ve asked me for the clothes you wore home from the conference. They’re looking for blood stains. Fred, you’re a suspect in a murder case.” July was almost screaming now. Somewhere inside of her, the walls were breaking. The three people from the sheriff’s office were staring at her and so was Fred. She didn’t care. “Mind your own damn business,” she snapped at them. “Hurry up and get out of my house.”

Whirling, she ran down the hall to the master bedroom. Fred was right on her heels.

“We’re not done yet,” Fred started to say.

She slammed the door in his face and locked it. “Oh yes we are
,” she yelled through the door. “I can’t take your jealousy and suspicions anymore.” She sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. The doorknob rattled. “Just go away, Fred.”

There was a short silence. “Where are the kids?” he asked. “I don’t want them to see this—us fighting, our house torn up. Me locked out of our room
.” His voice was high and tense.

“The kids are fine, Fred. Olivia is with my mother and the boys are going home with a friend after sports camp today. When Ben’s goons are gone, we’ll be alone.”

“They’re not goons; they’re just doing their jobs. Be reasonable, July. Unlock this door so we can talk. July, did you hear me?”

Fred’s volume was
rising again. July stood up, pulled a suitcase out from under their bed, and began filling it with shorts, swimsuits, and T-shirts. “I’m going to the lake house,” she yelled over her shoulder. “I need a break.”

“What about our kids?” Fred was shouting now. “You know I have to work.”

July swept her makeup and bathroom supplies into a small tote. Carrying her suitcase and pulling the tote-strap over her shoulder, she opened the bedroom door and walked past her startled husband.

“I’ll figure something out for the kids—and the dogs, and the plants—like I always do. The housekeeper will be here in the morning. Get your own damn dinner.”

Fred shook his head. “Don’t go, honey. I’m sorry.” He reached out to her, but she backed away.

“Don’t touch me right now. I’m going to fall apart if you do. Please, just let me go.” She had tears in her eyes.

Fred’s face crumpled. Without another word, he walked into their bedroom and went to the window, where he stood with his back to her, staring out at the yard.

July went back into
the kitchen.

“Can I take these bags, or do you need to search them? What was your name again?” she asked the red-headed deputy.

“Phelps, Ma’am. Deputy George Phelps. Are those items from your bedroom and bathroom?”

“Yes.”

“You can take them. We searched those rooms already.”

“Thank you, Deputy. You can let Mr. Powell know when you’re finished.”

She went out to the garage and loaded her bags into the car. She opened the side door out to the backyard and called the dogs. “Soot, Ricky, come here.”

The two
porgi puppies came tearing around the corner. She led them into the garage and picked them up, putting both of them in the backseat. Going back into the kitchen, she grabbed their leashes, dog food, and beds. Deputy Phelps was holding her purse in one freckled hand.

“Can I have my purse?” July asked, glaring at him.

The chubby deputy blushed. “Yes, of course, Mrs. Powell. Do you need some help carrying all that?”

“No. Just set my purse on top of this dog bed and hand me the keys from that hook over there. Wait, I need my cellphone, too. And my charger. Never mind, I’ll make another trip.”

Deputy Phelps set her purse down on the counter beside her phone. “Sorry,” he mumbled, and walked into the dining room.

After several more trips in and out of the house, July was ready to go. She pulled out of the driveway and turned in the direction of the lake house, then changed her mind and drove to Mae’s place.
She intended to ask her sister to keep the puppies for a week or so. She would ask her mother to bring the kids to the lake house tomorrow.

M
ae took the Tater outside, with Matthew close behind. She set the puppy down in the soft grass. The Tater sniffed around and then wagged over to Matthew. He started to pick her up.

“Leave her on the ground, please,” Mae said. “She needs a potty break.”

Matthew sat down, and the Tater claimed his lap. “I don’t think she needs to go potty, Miss Mae,” he pointed out. “She just wants to play.”

Mae sighed. “Maybe if you stand up, I can persuade her. Then we can go check on your
mommy, okay?”

He nodded and stood back up.

“Hurry up,” Mae commanded. The Tater looked at her alertly and took care of business. After lavish praise, Mae handed Matthew the dog treat. “Tell her how good she is and then give her the treat.”

“Good Tatie.” The puppy took the treat from Matthew’s chubby little hand. He looked up at Mae, his blue eyes bright. “Can I see my room now?”

“Sure thing, sweetheart. Let’s go get your mom. That way you and she can both see where you’ll be sleeping.”

She picked up the Tater in one hand, held Matthew’s hand with the other, and went back inside.
Seriously, what’s taking Ben so long?

“Katie,” she called out. “Want to come see Matthew’s room?”

“Yes, please,” Katie’s voice came from the kitchen. She joined them in the front hall. Matthew wiggled his hand out of Mae’s grasp and picked up his backpack from the bottom step. Then he went to stand beside his mother.

“It’s up here,” Mae told them. Katie picked up Matthew’s suitcase
, and she and her son started to follow Mae upstairs. Mae heard a car in the driveway and paused. It had to be Ben. Finally
.

“You two go ahead. It’s the second door on the right. I’ll join you in a minute.” When Mae opened the back door, Ben’s truck wasn’t in her driveway. Nor was there a squad car. Instead she was
confronted by the sight of July’s Suburban. Her sister was coming up the steps with two porgi puppies, one black and one red. The pups were leashed, and July was carrying dog beds and a bag of kibble. Mae took a deep breath.

“Hey, July. What’s up?”

Her sister’s eyes were red and the skin of her neck was blotchy.

“Can we come in?” She looked at the Tater, still in Mae’s hand. “Oh, I forgot about your new puppy.”

Mae opened the door all the way and relieved her older sister of the two dog beds. “This is the Tater. Let me help you.”

She pushed Matthew’s car seat out of the way. Carrying the dog beds under one arm
and the Tater wriggling in the other, Mae walked into the kitchen. Popping the Tater into her crate, she asked her sister, “Should I put these two in the laundry room with the other dogs?”

“Yes, please.” July was
avoiding her eyes. “I was hoping you could keep them for me for a week or so.”

Or so? Could this day get any better?

July followed her into the laundry room with Soot and Ricky. The puppies jumped happily on Tallulah, their mother, who was napping in her bed beside the utility sink. Tallulah growled. Mae set the dog beds down on the other side of the room.

“Listen, July, this might not be the best time. Matthew and Katie are upstairs right now and I’m expecting Ben any minute. I’ve got the Tater to potty train and Matthew’s here all weekend.”

“I’m sorry, Mae,” July said. Her face was tight. “I’m going to the lake house. I need a break from Fred.” She was frowning. “If you can’t keep them, I understand. I just don’t have a fenced area for them at the lake. The man who was going to build it can’t get to it until September. He’s all covered up with work this summer.” July leaned against the wall and began to cry.

“Its fine, July, don’t worry
. I can keep them.” Mae looked at her sister with alarm. July hadn’t cried in front of her in years. Now, for the second time in three days, her normally self-contained big sister was dissolving in tears. July put the bag of kibble on top of Mae’s dryer, unhooked the leashes from her exuberant young porgis and turned to leave the room.

Ben appeared in the doorway with a quizzical look on his face. “Hey, July. Thought we said ‘no backsies’ when you took these two in the spring.”

“Funny,” July said. She did not sound amused. Two spots of color appeared on her cheeks. “You know what, Ben? I sure would have appreciated a heads-up on the fact that you were sending your people to trash my house today.”

Mae stepped forward, hands on hips. She glared at her boyfriend, who was staring
at her sister. “Hello, Ben. Your son and his mother are upstairs. And I would have appreciated some notice about you having July’s house torn up, too.”

Ben looked at Mae. His face began to flush. “You can’t be serious—either of you
. This is a murder investigation. I don’t let suspects know that we’re going to be showing up with a warrant. That gives them time to hide evidence! I’m not going to compromise an investigation that I’m already getting grief about for my involvement with
your
family.”

Her sister stepped around Ben
as if he wasn’t even there and walked out. In the silence, Mae heard the slam of the door.

“Where’s she going?” Ben asked.

“Is she really a suspect, Ben?”

“No,” Ben admitted. “Her husband might be, though. July’s certainly a witness. She shouldn’t be leaving town.”

“She’s not going very far. You’ll be able to get ahold of her if anything comes up. She’s just going up to their cabin on the lake.”

Katie and Matthew appeared in the laundry room doorway. “Hi
, Daddy! Did you bring us more puppies?”

“Hi
, sport. Miss Mae’s sister just dropped her two off.” Ben patted his son’s head and looked at Katie. “Everything all set for him?”

Katie glanced from Mae to Ben. “Yes. Matty and I just put his things away upstairs. Would you mind putting his car seat into Mae’s car? I really should go.”

“No problem,” Ben said.

Katie quickly walked over to Mae and gave her an unexpected hug. “Thanks for keeping him. Ben can give you my cell number.” She bent to give her son a kiss and a lingering hug. “I love you, Matty. Be good
. I’ll see you in two days.” Nodding at Ben and Mae, she left the room.

Matthew looked up at Mae. “Can I take the puppies up to my room?”

“Sure. The reddish one is Ricky, and Soot is the black one.”

“C’mon
, Wicky. C’mon, Soot!” He ran out, with the puppies close behind.

Ben laughed. “He sure won’t be bored with three puppies to play with. Why did Katie hug you?”

“I’m not sure.”

Ben reached out for her. “I’m the one who should be hugging you.”

“Not now, Ben.” She backed away. “I’m still upset over all of this with my sister. Could you put that car seat in for me before you go?”

“Am I dismissed? Don’t be like that. My job’s on the line here, you know? I was told to limit my investigation—basically, I’ve turned everything over to Wayne—because of our relationship and being close
to your family. If I’d warned Fred or July before their house was searched I’d be in a lot of trouble. Plus, I’ve barely seen Matty, and I have a couple hours free.”

Mae could feel herself softening. “Let’s go check on him, then. I guess we can talk later.”

Matthew, Soot, Ricky, and the Tater were all in a pile on the bed together by the time Ben and Mae got upstairs.

“I guess Matthew figured out the latch on the Tater’s crate,” Mae said. She grinned at Ben and walked over to the bed.

“Stop!” Ben cried. Something warm and wet squished between Mae’s bare toes. She looked down at the puppy poop she was standing in and the three puddles that surrounded her. “Would you grab some paper towels out of the hall bathroom for me, please?” Ben nodded, biting his lip.

Matthew smiled up at her angelically from the pile of puppies. “They all know what hurry up means,” he informed her. “I said ‘Hurry up
,’ then they went potty. I said they were good doggies, and then we played on the bed.”

Mae raised her eyes to heaven, counted to ten in her head, and looked back at Matthew. “Just take them outside next time before you say hurry up, okay?”