Begging for Trouble Read Online Free Page B

hadn’t heard the noise because she’d been too enmeshed in her own nightmare involving bloody scissors and blue-dressed harbingers of death. “I can only imagine the horrific scenes playing over in her mind.”
    Viv hoisted her Valentino rosette bag onto her shoulder and smoothed the lapels of her full-length black leather trench coat. “She’s a dog. Do you really think something like that would bother her?”
    “I can’t believe you just asked me that,” Ellie said, frowning. Viv knew how in tune she was with her charges and she usually put up with Ellie’s views, especially when they were relaxed and having fun. But today was a workday, and Vivian was more professional . . . in every way.
    “Sorry. I’m aware you’re wrapped up in your dogs and their lives, but I’m not. I didn’t mean to sound snotty.”
    “No snot taken,” Ellie said with a smile.
    She could only imagine the contrast they made standing side by side. Vivian was almost six feet tall and model slim. Though also considered tall, Ellie stood about four inches shorter, and even when she had been married and starving herself to stay in a single-digit dress size, she hadn’t been model thin since she was a ten-year-old.
    Today’s temperature was warm, the sky sunny, the morning breeze balmy, and Viv looked as if she was on her way to a Vogue photo shoot. Ellie, of course, wore her usual yellow rain slicker over a nubby yellow and navy sweater, worn jeans, and her most practical hiking boots. If the temperature climbed, she could fold up the slicker and hide it in her Fendi peek-a-boo tote, a Christmas gift from her mother and one of the few designer pieces she owned.
    Standing at the subway entrance, Viv said, “So what’s your plan for the day?”
    “First thing I’ll do after morning walks is find out where Rob is and try to get a visitor’s pass to see him. Then I’ll go home for lunch and take Bitsy out.” And let her know how Rob is doing. “After that, it’s second rounds. If Rob is still in custody, I’ll stop at his apartment and pick up whatever will make her comfortable at our place.”
    “And you’re going to call Dave?”
    “If she’s still acting weird, yes. Why? Were you planning on seeing him tonight?”
    “Not really, but phone me if he agrees to come over and I’ll call in a dinner order for the three of us.” Viv headed down the stairs to her subway. “You can bring the dogs to my place, and Bitsy can have her exam there.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Ellie said, giving her a wave. “I’ll let you know.”
     
    Ellie and Rudy started their morning rounds at the Cranston Arms, and were on the way to collecting their first customer: a rather plump Pug named Sampson, who belonged to Mariette Lowenstein. Ellie had given several potential helpers a tryout at walking the six dogs in this building, but unfortunately, none of them had worked out. She was disappointed that her last assistant, Joy, had quit with no warning, even though she’d been paid a good salary, with bonuses for any extra time she spent lending a hand.
    “Why don’t you call her?” Rudy asked, as he often did when he was in mind-reading mode.
    She and the yorkiepoo were fast approaching their one-year anniversary, so she was getting used to his uncanny ability to sneak into her brain. It happened most often when she was preoccupied or worried.
    “I’ve tried Joy a few times, but she never answers, and she doesn’t call back when I leave a message. I wish I knew what kind of problem she had that forced her to stop working for us.”
    “Keep tryin’. Maybe now that the weather’s gettin’ nicer, she’d be willing to come back.”
    “I guess I’d better hang another round of flyers in the local college bookstores. Those sites brought me the most applicants, even if Joy was the only one who worked out.”
    They arrived at Mariette’s apartment and knocked, though neither of the Lowensteins was usually home at this hour. Ellie used her