The Fright of the Iguana Read Online Free Page B

them know.”
    Good thing our food was served right then, since I was getting a mite miffed. Why not spread the word right away—and possibly save me a pet-napping?
    Tracy had ordered a pastrami sandwich that looked to die for—and probably did add to unhealthy fats in anybody who dared to ingest it. Tracy’s included, assuming she ate it after her proclaimed reduced appetite. But, boy, did it look good.
    And me? I’d ordered a salad. A very nice-looking one. And tasty. Chinese chicken—yes, at a deli. But it sure didn’t compare with pastrami on rye.
    It also didn’t ease my irritation. I took a forkful of lettuce and chow mein noodles doused in soy dressing and watched Tracy bite into her sandwich. She caught me looking at her and reddened as she chewed. I was certain her embarrassment had little to do with her choice of food.
    Sure enough, when she swallowed she said, “Kendra, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you right away, no matter what the ransom note said. I mean, you’re a lawyer. You could have given me advice on what to do.”
    “I couldn’t represent the club on this. But right now, as a board member, I suggest we call a special meeting.”
    “Great idea. You know we’re all so glad you agreed to be secretary.” She was obviously buttering me up now to try to soothe over this matter that had burned my buns. Of course there’d been lots of arm-twisting to try to get me to take over as vice president when the last one left. We’d compromised on secretary.
    “Sure thing,” I said. “I’d suggest you call the meeting ASAP. That way, you can make sure everyone knows what’s going on, even if we tell the group to keep it low key, not let anyone else in on it or risk further harm to the stolen pets. I’m the third victim in just a few days. Who’s to say there won’t be more? Everyone needs to be warned.”
    “You’re right, Kendra,” Tracy conceded with a deep sigh. “I’ll send out a bigger and better post on the loop. Warn everyone to take special care of all their pet clients because of what’s been going on. Get everyone together tomorrow evening. Is that soon enough?”
    “No, but it’ll have to do.”
     
     
    SO WHAT DID I do then? Undoubtedly something I shouldn’t. But I could hardly sit and twiddle my thumbs while the cops were the only ones trying to find my missing clients.
    I had to return to the office, sure. But I did it by way of the Dorgan home.
    Rather, the Dorgan street. I knew the crime scene folks would be displeased if I did anything to disturb the site where my charges had been, so I instead walked the winding road and knocked on doors.
    And met some irritated, some interested, and some peeved neighbors. They’d been through all this with the cops. And no one, at least none who happened to be home that afternoon, had seen anything helpful.
    I nevertheless passed my business cards around and begged those with whom I spoke to let me know if they thought of anything helpful. Perhaps even before they informed the authorities—or at least I so implied. I didn’t want to be accused of actually obstructing an investigation, even if that was kinda what I was up to.
    I felt scared for the personable Shar-pei, and indignant and unnerved over the disappearance of the iguana.
    And I wasn’t at all certain that the cops would put the manpower into this case necessary to discover the whereabouts of the missing pets. Even when their last name was Dorgan.
    One way or another, I had to find them.
    Fast.

Chapter Three

    WHEN I GOT back on the road, on a continued frantic foray to visit all my remaining pet clients and assure myself of their safety, I finally received the phone call I’d been both awaiting and dreading.
    My cell phone sang its usual song of Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.” The caller ID said it was Jeff. I answered with anticipation, ignoring my swirling nerves.
    “I was glad to get your message, Kendra,” he said in his deepest and sexiest all-masculine