Murder at the Pet Spa Read online

  Murder at the Pet Spa

  A Mandy and Roger Cozy Mystery - Book 3

  Eleanor Kittering

  Copyright © 2018 by Eleanor Kittering

  No part of this book may be copied, reproduced, downloaded, transmitted or shared without the express permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. All situations, characters and dialogues are part of the author's imagination. Although real locations may be referred to, they have no relation to any persons, living or dead and any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

  Thank you for buying this book

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Mandy was being held captive by a murderer. She sat there, wondering how to get free from her situation. She thought to herself:

  “I can't believe I'm sitting here, tied to a chair, when just a few hours ago I was happy and carefree, playing with Roger. I ask myself, how did I get into this situation? The place was creepy and Cynthia looked like she was at the end of her rope. And somewhere close by, death was just biding its time.

  “He thought that killing us would resolve everything. I thought that escaping and taking Cynthia with me would resolve everything. In the end, one of us was going to be very disappointed with the final result.

  “I kept going through my options as to how I could talk him out of this, but I could see it wasn't going to be much use. He was intent on killing us, as though that would make everything nice again.

  “He moved towards Cynthia, since she was the object of his hatred. I continued to try to wriggle out of these ropes. Where is Roger? Other times he was busy shoving his nose where it didn't belong. The one time I really need him he's missing in action.

  “Jill is the only other person that knows I went out. She thought I was happily playing at the park with Roger. So much for the Marines coming to the rescue.

  “As I look at the events that led to this situation, I realize, I should have left things alone, I should have walked away. But my curiosity got the best of me. Curiosity killed the cat, and it might finish me off this time.

  And it all started so innocently a couple of days ago.”

  Chapter One

  Mandy recently received an invitation from the local business bureau to attend a party and networking event for the benefit of local businesses. As a result of having worked with many of these businesses over the years as an astrologer and tarot reader, she was invited to these types of events now and then. She decided to attend this one, since she and Jill, her best friend, were trying to get ideas for a business to invest in. Their first idea was a pet spa. Perhaps ideas for other types of businesses would present themselves, the types of businesses that were within the scope of interests they both had, she thought. Mandy gave Jill a call.

  “Hey Jill, I'm going to the local business bureau party. I thought you'd like to come, maybe we'll get ideas as to what kind of business we may get into in the future and get guidance as to what it actually entails.”

  “That's not such a bad idea Mandy. At the very worst, we'll get free food and drinks. At best, we may even get a lead on a business that appeals to us in the future.”

  “That's what I thought. It can't hurt, and usually they're fun. Why don't you meet me at the mall in front of the pet store in 10 minutes and we'll go?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Mandy had managed to get Roger to do a commercial recently with Loretta Gumble of “Fantastic Pets”. As a result, Roger continued to be a familiar sight on the web and Roger's blog grew with more and more followers. Many people involved in the pet industry were going to be there, so it was important that Roger make an appearance. He was becoming a celebrity in the community. (For those joining us for the first time, Roger is Mandy's pet cat. Roger is really a reincarnated New York City detective from 1947. His guardian angel set up a deal where he returned as a cat and finish out his life. He wound up as Mandy's pet and the rest as they say, is history.)

  “C'mon Roger, we're going to go to a party. I'm sure many people are going to enjoy seeing you again, especially Loretta.”

  Mandy put Roger on the leash and went out to her car. Once in the car, she took off the leash, there was no need for it on account of him being a good pet passenger. She needed the leash on him while walking him because he had a tendency to run after things on a moment's notice.

  Once at the mall, Mandy parked her car, got Roger out and started to look for Jill by the pet store. She stood outside, looking at her cell phone as though something of amazing importance was coming up any second. Jill was a techie, a cell phone expert, a web expert and a videographer to boot. She loved doing things on the internet, with social media and playing with various high tech gadgets. She definitely earned the name tech wizard, in many respects.

  “Hi Jill. Anything good happening on the news?” Mandy said.

  “Nah, just reading an article on creating websites.”

  “I see. Well, I wanted to let you know that Roger's blog has definitely taken off over the last couple of months, thanks to your guidance.” Mandy said.

  “Yes, I check it out from time to time and you're definitely doing the right thing. People love looking at pictures of Roger and that cat commercial definitely helped put him more on the map.” Jill said approvingly.

  They walked towards the place hosting the party for the local business groups. Since the mall business is not what it used to be, there were a couple of vacant spaces in the mall. The business bureau rented these out for one day. The owners of the mall figured better to get some money for the space than no money with a place sitting empty.

  The locale consisted of a one-story building, a large flat space suitable for a retail store. It used to be a discount clothing store before it went out of business. The space had sat empty for a while now.

  The interior had been nicely decorated for the occasion. Several tables had been set up with drinks and different types of finger food. Posters hung around the place with positive statements promoting businesses and cooperation among businesses in general.

  All these businesses were part of a county business alliance, each displaying a logo that showed this unity. The event would invite a couple of speakers who engaged in services that benefited the local businesses. As a result, it was a win-win for everyone and everyone got to network in some way or another.

  As Mandy and Jill walked in, they recognized a couple of people. Mandy saw Loretta Gumble.

  “Oh, hi Mandy, I see that you brought that beautiful boy with you.”

  “Hi Loretta. Yes, Roger and me, we're pretty much a team you know. So I take him with me everywhere. How are you doing?” Mandy sincerely asked.

  “Oh, the same as usual. We have our loyal customers and we're always trying to get more people onto our mailing list so that we can continue to expand. It's a lot of promoting the business on the web. The video with Roger did well. I'm certain we'll shoot a
nother one in the future, as soon as our schedule allows.” Loretta explained.

  “Well, whenever you're ready, we are.” Mandy said kiddingly. She knew Loretta didn't have a lot of resources and that first commercial didn't make any money for Mandy, but it did help promote Roger. Besides, she just liked Loretta, she'd work with her again anytime.

  Mandy, Roger and Jill continued to walk around saying hello to various people they recognized. At one point they went over to the table where refreshments were being served and helped themselves to the soft drinks and little sandwiches. They walked away from the table with a little plate of goodies and continued cruising the event, scanning the area for other familiar faces that had attended. At one point, somebody said while passing by:

  “Mandy?”

  Mandy turned around to see who called her name. She looked at the person and she appeared somewhat familiar but she couldn't place her. The woman continued talking.

  “Mandy, it's me, Karen Whitford.” And she smiled as she said this.

  Mandy and Jill both looked astonished and said almost in unison “Oh, hi Karen.”

  They couldn't believe their eyes. Karen Whitford had been a girl they went to high school with. In those days, she always seemed to find a way to get into trouble, and hung out with a group of local punks and Goths. She used to dye her hair jet black and had a weight problem. She never tried to make herself attractive and avoided being social. The woman standing in front of them was a completely different person from the woman they knew, with blonde hair, an amazingly sculpted body, obviously somebody who spent a lot of time at the gym. In addition, she had added some artificial enhancements, which stuck out from her skin-tight garments.

  “It's okay, I always get the same reaction from people who haven't seen me in a long time. But I have truly turned my life around. As you may recall, back in high school I was always getting into trouble. That didn't change much once I left high school. At one point I got in a real rut and I said to myself 'Karen, if you don't get out of this, nobody is going to get you out of this. Your friends are mostly strangers, you're forty pounds overweight, you don't have any real friends and you work at McDonalds.' I continued to feel sorry for myself for a year. One day I ran into one of the old counselors from high school, and she suggested maybe I should think about going to business school, get a trade that would appeal to me and do something about getting a different life style.

  “Well, I had been reading guru books, trying to expand my mind, I didn't know what to do, but when she put it that way, I figured the first thing I should do is get training. That became a real eye opener for me.

  “I started attending a business school. The first thing that struck me about the place was, the people who were my classmates were my age and they too were trying to get their lives together. I wasn't alone, I wasn't the only one that didn't get themselves together earlier in life. My inferiority complexes started to kick in when I saw that the girls there dressed better than me. I never learned how to make myself attractive and I stuck out.

  “However, one of the girls there became my friend. She was a very nice person who took me aside and told me she would teach me everything regarding makeup and clothes and stuff. Others may have been insulted at hearing this, but she did it in such a nice way, that I realized she truly wanted to help me and support me in my personal growth. One of the first times anybody did anything for me or cared about me as a person.

  “Everyday, I looked at myself in the mirror and I didn't like my body. I told myself 'Karen, you're getting the clothes and makeup thing down, but it's not going to go very far with this extra weight. Other people diet and exercise and lose weight, and so can you.' So I went a diet and started going to the gym regularly. Exercise gave me a motivation to get ahead to go forward. After a year, I lost 50 pounds and gained amazing muscle tone. I bought nice clothes, made myself up and felt good about myself for the first time in my life.

  “After I left school, my new look and attitude towards life started to open up doors for me. I got a job managing a company and from there I went onto other jobs. I found that I liked working in business. I like animals as well, so I got a job that dealt with animals. Anyway, that's my story.”

  Mandy said “Wow Karen, that is such an amazing story, I am so happy for you. I truly didn't recognize you.”

  “Yeah, I've come a long way from high school. By the way, allow me to introduce my boyfriend, Allen Gurney.”

  Allen appeared 10 years younger than Karen. He was amazingly physically fit and solidly built with muscle. He shook hands with both Mandy and Jill.

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Said Allen.

  “Very nice to meet you Allen.” Mandy said. Jill introduced herself afterwards.

  “Hi, I'm Jill, another old friend of Karen's.”

  “Allen, are you in business as well?” Mandy asked.

  “No ma'am, I'm actually in the National Guard.”

  “Oh wow, I've never actually met a Guard member. I've seen them doing some exercises out by the Hudson River.”

  “Yes, we get a chance to do chopper life saving routines out there. Plenty of space on the Hudson.” Allen said.

  “Well, it's very impressive.” Mandy said truthfully.

  “Thank you.” Mandy turned her attention to Karen.

  “So Karen, are you representing your business here? What business are you in these days?”

  “I took a job managing a Pet Spa a couple of towns over. It's great because I love animals and it's a healthy business. I came by to check out if there were any opportunities for either promotion or to network with similar business owners in the pet field.”

  “I've been trying to get my feet wet in the pet business as well. My cat Roger here has become famous for Youtube videos and I managed to do a commercial for a pet company. So, little by little Roger here might start doing more work in the pet business.”

  Karen said “He's a very beautiful cat. And he's so big too.”

  “Yeah, he's a real looker and strong. He's saved my life more than once.” Mandy said.

  “Actually, Jill and I had considered starting a pet spa business. It's more of a 'what if' abstract idea than any concrete plan. We know nothing about it. We were wondering if we could check out what goes on at a pet spa? Cause we truly don't know, and we just want to get an idea of what takes place there.” Mandy continued.

  “Oh yes, by all means. Come on by tomorrow, and I'll give you a tour of the place. It's a very nice place and you can see how we take care of the animals and how many animals we have.” Karen said.

  “That is so nice of you Karen. We'd love to go by and check out the place. What's the name and the address?”

  “It's the 'Pampered Pet Lodge' and it's out by Route 3 on Secaucus way. You can't miss it.”

  “What's a good time to go by?”

  “Come any time after 1PM, I'll be free by then.”

  “We wouldn't miss it for anything.” Mandy said.

  “Thank you Karen, we look forward to seeing the place.” Jill said, adding to the conversation.

  “You know, it's funny. In all the time I've been back, you two are the only ones that I've met from back in high school.” Karen said.

  “Yeah, it's probably because we were the few that stayed behind. But hopefully we'll get to see you more often Karen, take you over to Joanie's.”

  “What's Joanie's?”

  “Just the best coffee shop for 100 miles.” Mandy said kiddingly.

  “Sounds like a great place, I'd love to check it out sometime.”

  “Great. We are eager to visit your place tomorrow.” Mandy continued.

  “Please do come over.” Karen said.

  After that they bid each other goodbye, each continued on their way. Mandy and Jill still could not get over the changes that had happened to Karen.

  As Karen and Allen walked away, Mandy and Jill spoke between themselves.

  “Wow, that was amazing, I mean, you remember Karen back
in high school. The poor thing was a mess, and when you see her now she looks great, is amazingly toned, is successful and completely turned her life around. That's quite an achievement.” Mandy said full of admiration for Karen.

  Jill said “Yes, she certainly has transformed herself completely. I certainly wouldn't have known her if she hadn't introduced herself. I think she might have overdone it with the ta-tas, but other than that, she did a great job with her body.”

  “Well, Allen didn't seem to mind.” Mandy said jokingly.

  “And apparently neither do any of the male participants in today's festivities.”

  Out in the distance, Mandy and Jill could view that Karen had gathered a crowd around her consisting of male admirers. Although it appeared as though she was discussing business, her body language said flirting and posing. It was quite clear that Allen did not approve of this and Karen continued ignoring him. As they walked away from the crowd, they watched as Karen and Allen engaged in a discussion and Allen had a multitude of animated hand movements, pointing at the guys, and looking quite upset. Karen moved to a booth in the middle of the floor and again started to attract another group of males. Although they were too far away to hear her, the way she moved and her gestures, even while standing still, said she was full of herself and loved the attention. Allen walked away this time and stood outside, pacing the sidewalk.

  Jill eventually said “I think since Karen led such a lonely and mixed up life as a teenager, I think she's making up for lost time now and she doesn't hesitate to get as much male attention that she can. It's quite clear she enjoys the guys going crazy for her and she pours it on for them.”

  “Yes, and Allen is quite upset about it. He's a younger guy and they go off the handle easily when other guys are drooling over your girl, and she's encouraging it. Maybe he's just her boy toy?”

  “It's possible. Maybe to make up for lost time, she's over doing it. You have to assume that she does this regularly.” Mandy said.

  “Yes, and all she does is attract the wrong kind of attention. Allen, being a younger guy, would fall for her immediately, but I don't think he signed up to play second fiddle to all the guys that Karen comes across.” Jill said, concerned.