Sneak Thief (A Dog Park Mystery) Read Online Free Page A

quality was fine as well, capturing her breathy moans and his grunts.
    â€œYou make me crazy,” the unknown Lothario rasped, “making me work so hard to get you alone.”
    â€œThat’s how I like my men,” Desiree gasped, “sweaty … and crazy.”
    The Watcher clicked the mouse, freezing the wrestling match. He swiveled away from the monitor and tapped angrily on the armrest. The guy’s hands looked like he hauled hay bales. And talk about no finesse!
    Is that what she wants?
    He should trash the file. Watching the video was making him nuts. But how could he not look? He scrubbed at his face with his hand and kicked at the floor, slewing the chair back to face the screen. A jab at the trackpad set the figures back in motion. Elbow on armrest, The Watcher propped his chin with his fist and glared, wishing death to his rival and aching for Desiree.
    The loathsome Lothario wrestled Desiree’s bra off, then levered himself off the bed and unbuckled his belt. Desiree moved towards the spy cam—had she realized she was being videoed? As she leaned over, her necklace swung out towards the clock, obscuring the lens. When it passed by, Desiree had blurred into a white mass filling the screen. He heard the sound of a drawer opening, then the white mass receded and morphed into his Venus again. She held a small packet out to her date. “You’ll need this,” she said, honey in her voice. “I’d love to put it on you.”
    He took it, snorted, and tossed it aside. Then he unzipped his pants.
    Desiree reached out and zipped them back up, and pointed to the floor. “Pick it up, jerk-face.” No longer cajoling, her tone warned that honey would no longer be part of the equation if he didn’t comply. Not Venus. Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war in her lioness form. Her arms crossed, barring her chest from further exploration.
    â€œAh, man, you can’t be serious?”
    â€œAs a heart attack.”
    â€œI don’t take showers with a raincoat on, and I don’t do rubbers.”
    â€œWell, then. Looks like I don’t do you.”
    The Watcher snorted. Things hadn’t gone so well after all.
    â€œYou don’t mean it,” Loathsome said, disbelieving.
    â€œOkay, you don’t have to use a condom.”
    â€œThat’s better.” Loathsome leered and leaned forward.
    â€œYou can leave.”
    He stood there. “Hey, I deserve a little something.”
    â€œNow!” She grabbed up a pillow and flung it in his face, then shoved his chest. Loathsome stumbled back. She scooped a shoe up off the floor and hurled it at his head.
    The Watcher pumped his fist. “Yes! Atta girl! Woo hoo!” He spun around in his chair, laughing, then leaned forward, to watch Loathsome’s degrading departure.
    â€œBitch!” Loathsome spat over his shoulder.
    â€œYou’d better believe it, asshole!” Desiree yelled.
    Julia, disturbed by the commotion, started howling.
    The Watcher cheerfully bayed with her as Desiree flung her necklace at the slamming door.

4
    Tuesday, April 29
    L ia was letting Honey and Chewy out of the back of her Volvo when Desiree pulled up in a neon green Honda. A Beagle with huge, gorgeous eyes stood in Desiree’s lap and propped her paws on the half-opened window, head hanging out, quivering with excitement.
    â€œHey, you made it!” Lia called out.
    Desiree opened the driver’s door and Julia exploded off her lap and proceeded to run figure eights in the parking lot.
    â€œJulia! Come back here! Oh, she drives me insane.”
    â€œThe park will be good for her. She'll run some of that energy out,” Lia said.
    â€œYou don’t know the half of it.” Desiree trotted after Julia, who stayed ten feet in front of her and headed for Westwood-Northern Boulevard.
    â€œHold up, I know this game,” Lia yelled. “Come back this way.”
    â€œBut she’ll run