By the Book (A Gracie Andersen Mystery 2) Read Online Free

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    Gracie saw Cheryl’s small Honda Civic pull into the freshly plowed parking area. She was a godsend after the debacle of student help last summer. A divorced mother of a teenage daughter, she loved dogs and had made herself indispensable within a week. She was also Milky Way’s creative force, always coming up with a marketing idea or a new service. Doggy Day Camp was on the schedule for summer. It was a combination of obedience training and socialization for puppies, three to nine months old. Gracie had a feeling it would be a hit like Cheryl’s homemade dog treats were last fall. They had sold buckets of them over Christmas.
    The smell of strong coffee trailed out to the reception area, and Cheryl sniffed appreciatively when she came through the door.
    “Jim’s making the coffee today, right?” Cheryl laughed.
    “Right. You can always tell.” Gracie grinned. She smoothed her long curly red hair back against the nape of her neck and slipped an elastic band over the thick mass.
    “It has real body to it, that’s for sure.”
    “Are you complaining?” Jim stuck his head around the corner.
    “No way. It’ll keep me going all day.” Cheryl flashed Jim a grateful smile and headed for the office to hang up her navy pea coat. She pulled the warm, thick fisherman’s knit hat from her head and hung it on the next hook. Melting snow dripped steadily off the coats into a small puddle on the boot tray below.
    “Did I hear Tom say the fire chief was coming today?” Cheryl grabbed a mug from the rack by the coffeemaker.
    “Yes, and it’s quite a story. I’ll fill everybody in.” Gracie plunked down into her desk chair and shared her fiery adventures of the previous night.
     
    By afternoon the snow slowed. Jim didn’t have to plow again before closing time. The sky was threatening with more dark clouds in the north and to the west. Gracie toyed with the thought of sending everyone home early to get ahead of any storm. She was still studying the sky when a Wyoming County Sheriff’s cruiser drove into the parking lot.
    “Hey, Cheryl, the sheriff’s department is here. I’m going up to the house.” Gracie pulled her parka on and found her gloves in the deep pockets.
    “Sure thing. We’ve got it under control,” Cheryl called back from the grooming room winking at Marian, who smiled knowingly.
    Max and Sable were in the middle of a deluxe beauty treatment with Marian and Cheryl. The big dogs had warmed up immediately to the women’s relaxed and confident manner. Gracie was sure they’d feel like new dogs before the treatment was over. She wasn’t so sure about their mistress. Terry had made a couple of phone calls after the fire chief’s visit. She’d been stoic about the loss of her property, a little too stoic, Gracie thought. I sure wouldn’t be so calm about losing practically everything to fire and smoke. An emotional meltdown was inevitable, but maybe the librarian was still in shock. Gracie didn’t want to rush to judgment about a stranger’s mental health. She was just finally getting her own balanced.
    Deputy Marc Stevens got out of the cruiser. Gracie was more than glad to see him. Marc had saved her life last summer, and they now had an understanding. The “status” as Facebook would say, was complicated.
    “Find out anything about the fire, Marc?”
    “Looks like Dan has it wrapped up. Everyone is pretty sure it was a faulty space heater and not arson. The wiring was old, so likely it was a combination of the heater and wiring. What a tough break for her though. She’s supposed to start work this week and loses everything in a fire. She says she doesn’t have any family or other connections around here either.” The handsome deputy zipped up the heavy gray uniform jacket against the cold.
    “I know. I’ve got a call into the church for some help for her. She lost all of her clothes, furniture, and some kitchen stuff. I think Gloria Minders is hunting down a couple of rental