The Great Shelby Holmes (23 page)

“This floor is for the smaller breeds. What kind of dog is Peaches?” the woman asked Shelby.

“She's a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Do you have any of those here at the moment?”

“We indeed have two King Charles dogs currently boarding with us,” the woman replied as she led us down another hallway with rooms.

Bingo!

Maybe one of the dogs was Daisy? Imagine how foolish Zane would end up feeling when he discovered that he was so close to Daisy when he was in here.

I felt my pulse begin to race as we were led to the first dog, who was called Lucky. While I'd never met Daisy, I knew that she had some brown fur on her face. This dog only had black-and-white fur.

I turned around to where the other King Charles dog was sleeping. All my hope was dashed when I noticed it was an older dog named Buzz. He lifted his head off the pillow he was resting on long enough to consider me, but then went back to sleep.

Daisy wasn't there.

I was waiting for Shelby to put this charade abruptly to an end, but she was on her knees petting Lucky and asking about boarding options.

I zoned out after I heard the woman excitedly describe their doggy pool, which was shaped like a bone.

The dog show was tomorrow. Each time it felt like we had a lead, we always seemed to take a step back.

We were being guided back to the front of the store.
Shelby took a brochure and patiently listened to the woman's final pitch.

“Sounds
wonderful
,” Shelby said in her affected accent. “Daddy's personal attaché will be in touch to reserve a suite soon.”

I was getting ready to head out the door, but Shelby wasn't done yet.

“Do you have any dogs competing in the Manhattan Kennel Club competition tomorrow? I hear that you're the preferred pet store for Daisy from the Upper West Side Lacys.”

Was this something that I was going to have to do? Start referring to myself as John Watson from the Harlem Watsons?

“Oh yes,” the woman chimed in excitedly. “We simply love Tamra and Zareen. It's a shame Daisy has gone missing.” She gestured to the flyer that was up behind the counter.

“Oh, that is horrible!” Shelby held her hand up to her chest, like she was in shock.

Even though I knew Shelby was more than aware of Daisy's predicament, I almost believed how upset she was acting. She really was a good actress (as long as she didn't have to play the role of a friend … or a basketball player).

“And wasn't that Zane Lacy I saw on my way in?” Shelby batted her eyelashes.

The woman returned a blank stare. “I don't believe so. At least I didn't see him.”

I did another sweep of the store. It was an open space and she would've definitely seen him when he was here. There was only one other customer when we walked in, and the guy behind the bakery counter was helping him and his black lab.

She had to have seen Zane.

Why would the woman lie about Zane being there?

Maybe
she
was the one who'd taken Daisy?

(I realized that I was grasping at straws, but time was ticking. The show was tomorrow and we had no other leads.)

She continued, “Then again, I haven't had the privilege of meeting Zane, but I've had the utter delight of getting to know his sisters and their fabulous dogs.”

“Why, thank you so much,” Shelby purred. “I do declare that you've been ever so helpful.”

I didn't think it was possible for me to be more confused than when we left the store. But Shelby was elated.

“Watson!” she exclaimed. “We did it! Or rather, I should say,
I
did it. Oh, Tamra will be so pleased. Now I must determine the best way to do my reveal. I do think a little theatrics would be fun, don't you agree?”

“What?” I scratched my head, hoping that would get some blood flowing, because I had no idea what Shelby was talking about. What did she do? Daisy wasn't there.

“Oh, Watson.” Shelby hit my arm, and it stung. She really was stronger than she looked. “The answer was literally right under your nose.”

It was?

“What did I tell you?” Shelby wagged her finger at me like a teacher scolding a student (which was basically what she was doing). “Don't just
see
? You need to
observe
.”

What had I missed?

CHAPTER

26

I
was
hopeless
.
A
nd
utterly
clueless
.

I kept trying to put all the pieces together, but I couldn't. Shelby, in an attempt to either be as dramatic as possible or make me feel as stupid as possible (it was a toss-up), wouldn't tell me
what
exactly was under my nose.

I saw the two dogs that were Daisy's breed—one was too old, the other the wrong color.

What didn't I see?

“What should we do this weekend?” Mom asked expectantly as she dished out salad for dinner. “We can go downtown and see the Statue of Liberty or go to the Museum of Natural History. The city is ours.”

I felt bad because I should spend Mom's first free day with her, but I'd been given explicit orders from Shelby that I was to report to the dog show with Sir Arthur at precisely nine o'clock tomorrow morning. She even gave me a map and detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to get there
(for which I was grateful but would never tell her that). As much as I was confused about my role in the case, and with Shelby in general, I had to find out who took Daisy.

“I wanted to check out that dog show tomorrow.” I said it so casually, hoping she wouldn't be able to see through it.

“Really? I didn't think you were into dogs.”

“Well, it's something different, and I thought …” I didn't
want to lie to Mom, but I also knew she didn't want me to get involved in Shelby's cases.

“Maybe I should join you?” she offered. When I could only respond by stabbing a piece of kale, she arched her eyebrow. “John?”

“Shelby asked me to help her with Sir Arthur tomorrow. I need to take him to the show.”

“Why?”

If only I knew the answer to that question.

“Does this have to do with a case?” She leaned back in her chair, a serious look on her face.

“No. I don't think so. Maybe.” Although taking Sir Arthur to the dog show was all about the case. Everything about Shelby was about the case. “I guess.”

“What did I say about getting involved in other people's business?”

“I know. It's just that I'm learning a lot from Shelby. You've seen what she does and she's so close to cracking this case. I want to see how it all plays out. Plus, I met Zane and all those other guys I played ball with today through her. So I feel like I owe her this one favor.” I spoke so fast, hoping she wouldn't have a chance to argue.

“Does it really mean that much to you?”

“Yes.” It did. It might have seemed like a silly thing, but I liked doing something so completely different from anything
I'd ever done before. So much had already changed for me. It was nice there was something that hadn't reminded me of how much I'd lost. “All I'm doing is taking Sir Arthur to the hotel. That's it.” At least that was what I thought was it. I had no idea what tomorrow held. And it really excited me. It was a new adventure. “Please.” The desperation in my voice was clear.

Mom studied me for a few more minutes before she finally spoke. “You can go to the dog show tomorrow, on two conditions.”

“Okay,” I replied hesitantly, wondering what her conditions could be.

“One, you have to do the dishes tonight and all next week.” I nodded. I always had to rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher back at our old house, so this wasn't anything different. “And two, you have to spend Sunday with me.”

“Deal!” I replied happily.

Mom laughed while she shook her head. “Please be careful. Shelby may be smart, but I'm not sure if she's a good influence on you.”

Well, I couldn't really argue with her about that. Although I had a feeling if I ever talked to Mom the way Shelby seemed to talk to, oh,
everybody
, she'd quickly straighten me out.

“Oh, and, John,” she said as she took her plate over to the sink. “We don't have a dishwasher in this apartment. Enjoy scrubbing!”

Aw man!
I'd forgotten that. I looked over at the pile of dishes that were waiting for me.

First Shelby, and now my mom. Was there anybody who couldn't outsmart me?

CHAPTER

27

I
f
there
was
one
thing
I
was
good
at
,
it
was
following
instructions
.

Even as far back as kindergarten, I'd been praised for being a good listener and direction follower. Maybe that's from growing up in a military family, where discipline was a daily practice. Every post had different rules, so I'd become accustomed to reading lists and following them to a T.