Beware Read Free Page B

low, he dragged her deeper into the undergrowth. When they werewell away from the clearing, he hoisted her over his shoulder and ran.
    Oasis Tribune
    Wednesday, July 16
    GUARD DOG SLAIN
    The dismembered body of Rusty, bartender Red Peterson’s German shepherd, was found yesterday morning inside Hoffman’s Market where the dog had been left, overnight, to guard the store against recurrent vandalism and grocery thefts.
    Says proprietor Elsie Hoffman, who found the slain canine, “I’m just sick about it, just sick. We shouldn’t have left that poor dog in here. I just knew he’d come to no good.” In tears, she added, “That dog was the world to Red.”
    Red Peterson, owner of the dog and bartender at the Golden Oasis, was unavailable for comment.

CHAPTER THREE
    Lacey climbed onto a bar stool. She tapped a cigarette out of its pack, and pressed it between her lips.
    George O’Toole swiveled toward her. His ruddy, broad face crinkled with a smile, and he struck a match.
    “Thank you.”
    “And what’ll it be you’re drinking to night?” he asked, with a lilt Lacey assumed he had picked up from Barry Fitzgerald movies.
    “A little red wine.”
    “A dainty drink for a dainty lady,” he said. He raised a thick, weathered hand and caught the bartender’s eye.
    The bartender was Will Glencoe.
    “A spot of red for the lady, Will. And another Guinness for himself.” The bartender turned away. “You did Red a fine turn, writing up your story the way you did. He was almighty ashamed of the way he carried on about Rusty. I can understand a grown man weeping over the loss of a good dog—done it myself more than once. But it’s a private thing, and a man doesn’t want it blatted about. You did him a fine turn.”
    “He’s right, there,” said Will, setting down the drinks. “Take your average reporter, he’d have a field day. Bunch of blood suckers, that’s what they are.”
    “But not our Lacey. You did yourself proud, young lady.”
    She reached into her purse.
    “You put that away.”
    “Thank you, George.”
    He paid, and Will stepped away to take an order down the bar.
    “Where
is
Red to night?” Lacey asked.
    George narrowed one eye. “Now where would
you
be, if a heartless soandso had done your dog that way?”
    “Elsie’s?”
    He turned his wrist over, and peered at his watch. “She’ll be closing up in ten minutes. Red’s there with his twelve gauge. He’ll be camping there to night, hoping the filthy beggar shows up again. I offered my services—two guns are twice one—but he’s after doing it alone, and I can’t say I blame the man.” George lifted his stein. “ To your health,” he toasted.
    “And yours, George.”
    He winked at her, and drank.
    Lacey sipped her wine. “What’s Red planning to do, shoot the man?”
    “The beggar cut down his dog, Lacey.”
    “I know, I saw it.”
    “And was it as bad as they say?”
    “My God, George. I’ve never seen anything like…” She gagged. Tears filled her eyes.
    “Now, now.” George patted her shoulder.
    She wiped the tears away, and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” She managed a smile. “I don’t normally go around gagging in public. Just thinking about that…” She did it again.
    “Careful there. Say now, do you know how to tell the groom at a Kerryman’s wedding?”
    She shook her head.
    “He’s the one in the pinstriped Wellingtons.”
    She wiped her eyes, and sighed.
    “Feeling better, now? Have another wine, and we’ll talk of other things. I’ve a raft of Kerryman jokes. They’re sure to gladden your heart.”
    “Thanks, George. I really should be going, though.”
    Outside in the warm night air, she felt better. She climbed into her car and rolled down the window. Her hand paused on the ignition. She wanted to go home, take a long bath, and get to bed. But she couldn’t. Maybe it was none of her business. Knowing Red’s plan, though, she wouldn’t feel right if she didn’t at least talk to him,