Santa Sleuth Read Online Free

what occurred to change the man’s behavior, but he began drinking heavily, and the more he drank the more violent he became.”
    What Salinger was saying seemed to fit what little I knew about Jason from my prior conversations with Kelly.
    “Did Tyson think any of the guys Jason fought with held a grudge against him?”
    “He didn’t know for certain, but he didn’t think so. Overland was fired quite a while ago and Gallagher didn’t seem to think that any of his guys stayed in contact with him, though he didn’t know that for a fact. Gallagher is getting me the contact information for his employees and I plan to interview each of them individually.”
    I closed my eyes and listened to the beep-beep of the heart monitor. This whole thing seemed so surreal. I kept hoping to wake up to find it was all a dream, but I knew it wasn’t.
    “Do we have anything else to go on?” I hoped.
    “’Fraid not. It looks like you and I are starting from scratch on this one.”
     

Chapter 3
    Wednesday, December 16
     
     
    “I didn’t expect to see you here today,” Jeremy Fisher, my assistant at Zoe’s Zoo, the wild and domestic animal rescue and rehabilitation shelter we run, said as I walked through the front door with Charlie on my heels.
    “I’m feeling a lot better and I needed to get out of the house. Everyone has been coddling me since I’ve been home and I needed a break.”
    “You do look better,” Jeremy commented.
    I touched my hand to the bandage that still covered the cut on my head. “The headache is gone and I’m pretty much back to my old self except for this gash on my head. How do you think I’d look with bangs?”
    Jeremy frowned.
    “Yeah, that’s what I thought. I just figured if I could cover it up everyone would stop babying me.”
    “Maybe a hat.” Jeremy placed a Santa hat on my head, which covered my entire forehead.
    “A hat it is. Thanks for the suggestion.”
    “Actually, I’m glad you’re here. Mrs. Vine’s kindergarten class is coming for a tour this morning. Tiffany is off this week and it really would be helpful to have someone cover the desk while I take the kids around.”
    “No problem. I’ll be happy to. It’s always so much fun when the kids from the elementary school come by. Be sure to show them the hibernating cubs and don’t forget to mention the mountain lions we set free in the fall. Oh, and the raccoons are always a hit with the younger kids and don’t forget the kittens. Everyone loves kittens.”
    “Do you want to do the tour?” Jeremy asked.
    “No, you can do it. I just want to be sure the wild and domestic sides of the operation are covered equally. Oh, and be sure to talk about being a responsible pet owner by spaying or neutering your pet. I realize they’re only five, but it’s never too early to start educating Ashton Falls’ future animal owners.”
    “Will do.” Jeremy grinned.
    “Do we have any new residents since I was in last week?”
    “A litter of puppies,” Jeremy answered. “Five-week-old golden retriever puppies.”
    “Five weeks? That’s pretty young for the pups to be without their mama.”
    “I agree, but they can eat from a dish and I’ve been supplementing their meals with puppy formula. I had Scott take a look at them and he thinks they’ll be fine.” Scott Walden was our veterinarian.
    “Why did the owner of the mama dog bring them in so early?” I asked.
    “Her husband got a job in Kentucky and the family had to move without a lot of notice. The woman didn’t want to drag a litter of puppies across the country.”
    I supposed that made sense. And five weeks wasn’t that young. I was sure they’d be fine. If we could find homes willing to supplement the puppy food with formula we could begin adopting them out before Christmas.
    “Why don’t you call Matthew Baldwin?” I suggested. “I know his golden passed a month or so ago and he would be knowledgeable and responsible enough to take care of a five-week-old