Death on a Short Leash Read Online Free Page A

Johanna’s?” Nat asked the girl, picking up one of the cups.
    â€œWe’re friends, yes, but we don’t live in each other’s pockets,” the girl explained. “That’s why I didn’t realize she was missing.” She turned away from Marie, who was now sobbing uncontrollably, and directed her next comment to Nat. “I really thought she’d gone to stay with her mom and dad for a few days.”
    â€œDid anyone else know you had Johanna’s key?” he asked.
    â€œNo. Absolutely not.”
    â€œShe seemed okay last time you saw her?” Maggie asked.
    â€œTired, but that’s par for the course.”
    â€œTired? I didn’t think working in a animal hospital would be that strenuous, especially part-time,” Nat said as he stirred sugar into the tepid coffee and took a sip. He tried not to grimace.
    Laura laughed. “No, but her second job took it out of her.”
    â€œWhat second job?” Maggie asked.
    â€œYou don’t think any of us girls could afford to live in these apartments on one job, do you?”
    â€œThere are other single girls renting here?” Maggie asked as she reached for a cup of coffee and took it to Marie.
    â€œAll but one. The other’s rented to a fella.”
    â€œSingle?” Nat asked.
    Laura laughed. “Yeah. He lives in the place below me. Loves parties and loud music.”
    â€œJohanna never said anything about a second job,” Marie insisted. “Why didn’t she tell us?”
    â€œShe probably didn’t want to worry you,” Laura hedged.
    â€œLots of people have two jobs to make ends meet,” Maggie commented, “but why keep it a secret from her family?”
    â€œAt Pandora’s?”
    â€œPandora’s!” Nat said.
    â€œWhat is this Pandora’s?” Marie demanded, rising from her chair. “What is so bad about this place?”
    â€œIt’s a kind of nightclub,” Nat explained. “She’s probably a waitress there.”
    â€œThen,” Marie said firmly, “we will go there right now and see if they know where she is!”
    â€œUh . . . no,” Laura said hastily. “You can’t do that!”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt’s a private club and . . . it’s not open during the day,” Nat cut in quickly.
    â€œWhat do you mean, private?” Marie asked.
    â€œYou have to be a member to get in,” he explained. Then, picking up the coffee tray, he turned to Laura. “I’ll carry these back for you.”
    â€œThanks,” Laura said, happy to be escaping. “You can hold it while I open my door.”
    â€œOkay,” Nat whispered as soon as they were outside, “is Johanna a stripper?”
    Laura nodded. “You can’t let her mother go there.”
    â€¢ • •
    NAT WAS THANKFUL for the afternoon rush-hour traffic that met them as they made their way back to the office. He could sense the questions that both of the women wanted to ask him about Pandora’s, but made it clear he needed to concentrate on his driving.
    â€œSo how do I get to this nightclub place?” Marie demanded as they rode up in the elevator.
    â€œLet’s talk about it in the office,” Nat replied.
    â€œDid you find our Johanna?” Henny greeted them.
    Marie shook her head. “But we found out that she has a night-time job at some place called Pandora’s, and tonight I will go there and make them say where she is!”
    Nat shook his head. “Pandora’s is not the sort of place you would want to go to, Mrs. Evans,” Nat said.
    â€œWhat do you mean? It can’t be that bad if my Johanna works there.”
    Nat shook his head. “I’ll go there tonight and let you know first thing in the morning what I find out.” He motioned for Henny to get her coat from the rack. “I promise to call you if I find out anything. You’ll be at