The Case of the Jaded Jack Russell Read online

  The Case of the

  Jaded Jack Russell

  A Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mystery

  B.R. Snow

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are either used fictitiously or are the product of the author’s imagination. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written consent of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher are illegal and punishable by law.

  Copyright © 2017 B.R. Snow

  ISBN: 978-1-942691-29-7

  Website: www.brsnow.net/

  Twitter: @BernSnow

  Facebook: facebook.com/bernsnow

  Cover Design: Reggie Cullen

  Cover Photo: James R. Miller

  Other Books by B.R. Snow

  The Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mysteries

  The Case of the Abandoned Aussie

  The Case of the Brokenhearted Bulldog

  The Case of the Caged Cockers

  The Case of the Dapper Dandie Dinmont

  The Case of the Eccentric Elkhound

  The Case of the Faithful Frenchie

  The Case of the Graceful Goldens

  The Case of the Hurricane Hounds

  The Case of the Itinerant Ibizan

  The Whiskey Run Chronicles

  Episode 1 – The Dry Season Approaches

  Episode 2 – Friends and Enemies

  Episode 3 – Let the Games Begin

  Episode 4 – Enter the Revenuer

  Episode 5 – A Changing Landscape

  Episode 6 – Entrepreneurial Spirits

  Episode 7 – All Hands On Deck

  The Whiskey Run Chronicles – The Complete Volume 1

  The Damaged Posse

  American Midnight

  Larrikin Gene

  Sneaker World

  Summerman

  The Duplicates

  Other Books

  Divorce Hotel

  Either Ore

  To Laurie

  Chapter 1

  I pulled to a stop in front of the Chateau Lavalier, lowered the driver side window, and smiled at the uniformed man standing next to the car. He opened the door, held it as a gust of wind threatened to slam it shut, and waited patiently for me to get out.

  “Welcome to the Chateau Lavalier.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to be here. We’ve heard a lot of good things about this hotel.”

  “And all of them are true,” he said with a slight bow. “Are you here for the conference?”

  “The Animal Entrepreneurs Expo,” I said, reaching into the back seat for my bag and groaning when my back protested. “I really need to get to the gym.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Are you okay? It sounded like you might have pulled something. Like the lower half of your body.”

  “Funny. I’m fine,” I said, grimacing as I settled back into the driver seat to wait out the spasm.

  “Maybe you should stretch a bit when you get out. Long car rides can be tough on the back,” he said, still holding the door open, but glancing back at the line of cars that was beginning to form behind mine. Then he looked back to me, still smiling as he drummed his fingers on the door, and said without saying; Lady, please get out of the car.

  I glanced around at the mess Josie and I had made during the two-hour drive then decided it could wait. I climbed out of the car, handed the attendant a five, and he got behind the wheel. He looked around the inside of the vehicle then back at me with a grin.

  “What did you guys do?” he said. “Rob a candy store on the way?”

  “Is being a comedian part of your job description?” I said, making a face at him.

  “No,” he said, laughing. “Consider it a bonus.”

  I arched my back to stretch and glanced at the rear of the vehicle where Josie was supervising the unloading of our luggage. When she was satisfied we had everything, she gave me two thumbs up, and I took a step back and waved as the attendant drove off. I followed Josie and another uniformed man who was pushing a wheeled cart containing our luggage into the lobby. We stepped inside and gazed around at the magnificent entrance. An antique stamped tin ceiling and a polished tile floor dominated the lobby, and it was accented with wood walls and strategically placed windows that put the finishing touch on the look they’d been going for. Chateau indeed. We took a few moments to take it all in then nodded approvingly and followed the wheeled cart to check-in.

  “This place is gorgeous,” Josie said as we passed a sign for the conference.

  “It certainly is,” I said, slowing down to read the sign. “Why don’t we check in, swing by the conference registration area, then head up to the room? I’d like to grab a shower, and then we can figure out our game plan for the rest of the day. It’s nice out, and there’s a lot to see around here.”

  “Sounds good. But maybe we should order room service for lunch,” she said, taking her place in the small line in front of the registration counter. “No sense walking the city on an empty stomach.”

  “Lunch? We just polished off a bag of the bite-sized,” I said, coming to a stop next to her. “Not to mention the doughnuts.”

  “I need protein,” she said, waving to someone she recognized. “There’s Marjorie Steel.”

  I glanced in the direction of the woman who flashed a smile and waved back over her shoulder but continued hurrying down the hall.

  “She runs that big shelter program in Toronto, right?”

  “That’s the one. Nice woman. She’s one of the conference organizers. She sure looks stressed out about something,” Josie said, then grimaced. “You gotta be kidding me.”

  “What is it?”

  Josie nodded at the entrance, and I noticed a man chatting with a small group of people. He was holding one end of a leash that was attached to the collar of a Jack Russell terrier.

  “Joshua Middleton,” I said, shaking my head in disgust. “We should have known he’d be here.”

  “He’s undoubtedly trying to sell more franchise rights to those monstrosities he likes to call pet stores,” Josie said. “That Jack Russell is the official mascot. Middleton uses him on all the marketing materials and commercials. Cute dog.”

  “Unhappy dog,” I said, watching as the man headed across the lobby literally dragging the dog by the lead. The dog pulled back but couldn’t get traction on the polished tile and ended up sliding along the floor. Undeterred by the dog’s protest, the man kept walking. “This guy markets himself as an animal lover? Unbelievable. Has he always been a total jerk?”

  “Ever since I’ve known him,” Josie said, shaking her head at the scene. “In vet school, he was voted most likely to get bit three years in a row. Oh, good, he didn’t see me.”

  We reached the front of the line and waited until a young woman behind the counter waved at us. We stepped forward, and I grabbed my wallet from my bag.

  “Hi,” the woman said, beaming at us. “Welcome to the Chateau Lavalier.”

  “Hi,” I said, sliding my driver’s license and a credit card toward her. “I’m Suzy Chandler. We have a reservation for two nights. And I requested an early check-in.”

  “Yes, I see that here,” she said, tapping her keyboard. “And you’re here for the conference.”

  “We are,” Josie said, glancing up at the ceiling.“This place is beautiful. Is the stamped tin
the original?”

  “It is. And thank you,” she said, pausing to glance around. “It’s a very special place. Okay, you’re all set. I’ve got you in a two-bedroom suite for two nights.”

  “A suite?” Josie said, frowning at me.

  “I upgraded.”

  “Oh, no. Not the briar patch.”

  “Would you like to hear about a few of the hotel’s amenities?” the woman said. “We have a long list of guest services.”

  “Sure, sure,” I said, nodding as I glanced around.

  “How’s your room service?” Josie said, flipping through a brochure.

  “It’s great. 24 hours round the clock. All day, every day as we like to say.”

  “I’ve heard enough,” Josie said, grinning.

  “You have WIFI available in your room, but we also have a business center should you need it. You’ll find a safe in your room, but we also have safe deposit boxes available down here if you prefer. If you have any questions about what to do when you’re out and about the city, just check with the concierge desk. They’ll be more than happy to help you. Oh, and our fitness center is open 24 hours a day.”

  “Good for the fitness center,” I said.

  Josie snorted.

  “Okay, got it,” the woman behind the counter said, laughing. “But you can get a massage in the spa area.”

  “That might work,” I said, nodding.

  “And, of course, Zultan’s Lounge is a great place for cocktails. It also serves afternoon tea if that sort of thing floats your boat.”

  “It doesn’t even leave the dock,” I said, shaking my head. “Sorry.”

  “I understand,” she said, leaning forward. “I’m not much of a fan either. It’s way too formal for my tastes.”

  “And the sandwiches are always way too small,” Josie said. “Winifred’s is located in the hotel, right?”

  “It is,” the woman said. “It’s a great restaurant.”

  “The chef is a friend of one of our good friends,” I said, then glanced at Josie. “Chef Claire will kill us if we don’t stop by and say hi to him.”

  “It’s already on the list,” Josie said. “Okay, let’s go register and get that out of the way. Thanks so much.”

  “Enjoy your stay,” the woman said, then glanced over at the line. “I can help you right over here, sir.”

  We headed down a long hallway and followed the conference signs until we reached a foyer with several tables in a row organized by sections of the alphabet.

  “Hi,” I said to the woman sitting at the section marked A-D. “Suzy Chandler. And this is Josie Court.”

  “Of course,” she said, smiling up at us. “You’re doing tomorrow’s lunchtime keynote address.”

  “We are,” I said. “How many people have registered?”

  “A little over 600. We’re very happy with the number. Here are your conference badges. And some drink tickets for tonight’s reception.”

  “Thanks. 600 is a great turnout. That’s a lot of animal lovers,” Josie said, nodding as she glanced around. Then she smiled and waved at the woman who was striding toward us. “Hey, Marjorie. It’s so good to see you.”

  They hugged, then Josie glanced at me.

  “I don’t believe you know my business partner, Suzy Chandler.”

  “Only by reputation. It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Marjorie said, shaking my hand. “Thanks so much for coming. And I hate to do this, but I need to ask you a huge favor.”

  “Sure,” Josie said. “What do you need?”

  “I just got a call from Shirley Banford. She was scheduled to do a panel this afternoon, but she had to cancel at the last minute Would it be possible for the two of you to take her place?”

  I glanced at Josie and frowned. Josie gave me a blank stare then spoke to Marjorie.

  “This afternoon. Geez, Marjorie, that doesn’t give us much time to prepare,” Josie said. “What’s the panel topic?”

  “It’s called Cash versus Care: Maintaining the Delicate Balance Between Economic Realities and Compassionate Service in a Rapidly Changing Marketplace.”

  “Catchy title,” Josie deadpanned.

  “Yes, it is a mouthful, isn’t it?” Marjorie said, laughing.

  “And you want us to argue the side of compassionate care,” Josie said.

  “I do,” she said. “Now that I think about it, I don’t know why I just didn’t ask you two in the first place. But since you were already doing the keynote, I imagine I didn’t want to burden you.”

  It sounded like Marjorie was talking to herself, and it was obvious she was definitely feeling the stress.

  “I guess we can handle that,” Josie said, glancing at me.

  “Sure, we can talk for hours about that,” I said.

  “Oh, thank you so much,” Marjorie said, relieved. “You’re lifesavers. The panel starts at two, but you’ll need to be there a few minutes early so we can go over the structure and do a soundcheck.”

  “Who’s arguing the economic side?” Josie said.

  “None other than our favorite money-grubber. Joshua Middleton.”

  “You mean we get to smack Joshua around in public?” Josie said, grinning at me.

  “You do,” Marjorie said, laughing. “But try and go easy. He’s underwriting part of the conference.”

  “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that,” Josie said with a frown.

  “What are you gonna do, huh?” Marjorie said. “These things are expensive to put on.”

  “Sure, and you have to balance the economic realities of a rapidly changing marketplace, right?” Josie deadpanned.

  “It’s nice to see you haven’t lost your touch,” Marjorie said, going in for another quick hug. “Thanks again. I really appreciate it. I need to run. Nice meeting you, Suzy. I’ll see you at the panel. And don’t forget tonight’s reception.”

  We waved goodbye then headed for the elevators.

  “There goes our relaxing afternoon, huh?” Josie said, punching the button for our floor.

  “It’s only an hour and a half,” I said, leaning against the side of the elevator as it rose. “I didn’t know you spent three years with Middleton in vet school.”

  “I’ve spent years trying to forget it,” she said.

  “Am I picking up some history between you two?” I said, giving her a coy smile.

  “He wishes,” Josie said, stepping out of the elevator. “But he certainly was persistent.”

  “I see,” I said, following her down the hallway.

  “No, you don’t see anything,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “Because there was never anything to see.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Knock it off.”

  “Somebody’s grumpy. I think I touched a nerve,” I said, laughing, then I flinched when she punched me hard on the arm. “Ow. That hurt.”

  “That’s how you touch a nerve,” she said as she opened the door to the suite. “But thanks, I needed that.”

  We stepped inside the suite and looked around. Our luggage was already neatly stacked along one wall, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the room. A bottle of champagne was chilling in an ice bucket, and an elaborate fruit and cheese platter sat next to it. I kicked off my shoes and glanced out the window at the magnificence of Ottawa, one of my favorite cities. The hotel, a structure that would have been right at home in medieval Europe, was perched on the banks of the Ottawa River and offered a great view of the Rideau Canal and the Parliament buildings. The fall foliage was on full display, and I felt a tinge of regret that we had agreed to do the panel. I would have much preferred to be outside enjoying what was, for mid-October, a gorgeous day.

  “Good call on the upgrade,” Josie said, sampling the cheese plate.

  “Yeah. And check out the view.”

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” she said, eyeing her next selection.

  Chapter 2

  At a quarter to two, we entered a large meeting room and headed for the table tha
t was set on risers at the far end. Two technicians were already waiting for us, and we tossed our bags on the table then stood quietly while the techs attached wireless microphones to the lapels of our blazers.

  “Just say a few words, please. We need to check the levels,” one of the techs said.

  “A few words,” Josie deadpanned.

  “Geez, that’s a good one,” the tech said, shaking his head. “Never heard that one before.”

  “Maybe you’d prefer a joke?” she said, fiddling with her microphone.

  “Sure. I could use a good laugh. And please stop playing with that,” the tech said, glancing at the other tech who was now off to one side of the room behind the soundboard.

  “What does a Dalmatian say when it’s scratching an itch?”

  “Oooh, now that hits the spot,” the tech said, listening carefully.

  “Oh, you’ve heard that one,” Josie said.

  “Yeah. But keep talking,” the tech said, shaking his head. “We’re still getting that hum, Jill.”

  “Where does a Rottweiler sit at the vet’s office?”

  “Anywhere it wants to,” the tech said, then held out his hands and shook his head again. “That’s a bit better, but I still hear it .” He glanced at Josie who was deep in thought. “You giving up already?”

  “I’m no quitter,” she said, laughing. “How about this one? What do you get when you cross a Rottweiler with a mountain lion?”

  “No mail for a month,” the tech said, then nodded. “That’s perfect, Jill.” Then he looked at Josie. “My mother runs an animal shelter, so I doubt if there’s a dog joke I haven’t heard.”

  “Cheater,” Josie said. “Hey, are you Marjorie’s son?”

  “I am. I’m Thomas.”

  “I’m Josie. This is Suzy.”

  “Nice to meet you,” he said, then frowned.

  “Do you work here at the hotel?” Josie said.

  “No, I’m just helping my mom out,” he said. “What the heck is that? Jill, the hum has stopped, but now I’m picking up some sort of crinkling sound.”