Page 46 of Smoky Mountain K-9

Footsteps approaching drew her attention. The accompanied click-clack of toenails clued her in to who it was a moment before Carter and Maverick appeared in her doorway. Smile blooming, she set the check down and hurried around the front of her desk to drop down in front of the dog. “Hey, buddy.” She buried her fingers in his soft fur and scratched. Maverick’s tongue lolled out, and he tipped his head. “How are you doing?”

“He’s right as rain,” Carter said with a smile. “His stomach is still a little off, but the vet said it’s nothing that won’t correct itself in the next day or so.”

“That’s great.” She leaned in and hugged the dog, then kissed his head. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Maverick pressed his nose to her cheek, then tipped his head into her hand.

Mara laughed and scratched his ears again.

“Who was that woman who just left?”

“Huh?” Mara glanced up, forehead wrinkling as she switched gears. “Blonde? About my height?”

He nodded. “She gave me a look. Stared right at me, like she knew me and disapproved.”

Mara’s frown deepened. “Hmm, strange. Her name’s Constance Miller. She just donated a hundred thousand dollars to the center.”

Carter’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes rounded. “What?”

“I know. Shocked the crap out of me too. She saw the story on the news about the break-in and called yesterday, wanting to meet with me about a possible donation. Today, she told me the money was from her husband’s life insurance. He died several years ago and loved horses. She thought he’d approve of her donating the money to us.”

“Why wouldn’t she keep it?”

Mara shrugged and stood. “She said they hadn’t been married long when he died, and that they didn’t have any kids. I guess she wanted to do something valuable with it instead of just letting it languish in the bank.”

“And she just wrote you a check?”

“Yep.”

“For a hundred grand?”

She nodded.

“Let me see the check.”

Mara turned and took two steps to her desk, leaning over to pick it up. She handed it to him.

Carter turned the paper over in his hands, then held it up to the light. “It looks legit.”

Her lips twitched. “You think too much like a cop all the time. Why can’t she just want to do something good with her money?”

His mouth flattened, and he handed her back the check. “Because people with a hundred thousand dollars to spend don’t just drop out of the sky. You said her name is Constance Miller?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Let me do some digging on her before you cash that. Just in case this is some sort of scam.”

“Why would she give me a check to cash if she was scamming me?”

“If you deposit that and spend it before the bank verifies its validity, you’re on the hook for the money. You’ll see it approved in your bank account long before they actually verify it.”

“Well, that’s just mean. Why would she do something like that?” She propped her hands on her hips and frowned.

“You didn’t see the look she gave me, Mara. I’m telling you, don’t cash that check yet.”

Mara sighed. “Fine.”

“What else did she tell you about herself?”