Page 90 of The Body in the Backyard

“Uh, hi. We’re looking for a…um…missing dog,” Riley announced quickly. She remembered the leash on her shoulder and held it up as proof. Riley heard Josie’s groan at her lackluster performance.

“There are no dogs here,” the maid said with a sniff over the distinct sound of barking. A dachshund and a dog that looked like a mini Ewok trotted into the hallway on the gleaming Italian tile. They stopped halfway, turned around, and, still barking, disappeared into a room.

“I told you to quit barking at the pantry. You’re not getting early treats,” the housekeeper yelled after the dogs.

“What are those?” Josie asked, pointing at the tiny yapping welcome committee.

“Those are what’s commonly referred to as none of your business,” the housekeeper said, making a move to slam the heavy front door in their faces.

Riley decided to borrow from the ol’ Santiago school of charm. “We’re reallysosorry to bother you. But it’s an emergency. Pork Rind is the sweetest dog. He belongs to my aunt who lives just down the road.”

“She’s kind of a horrible snob. You know, one of those vaguely racist old ladies. But she’s on her death bed, so we walk her dog for her,” Jasmine cut in.

“Uh, yes. My aunt is terrible and dying,” Riley agreed. “Anyway, we were playing fetch with him in the yard?—”

“And then explosive gunfire scared him,” Josie added.

“Gunfire?” the housekeeper repeated.

“It was probably just a lawn mower backfiring,” Riley said, elbowing Josie. “It looked like he ran this way. He has to have his dewclaw medicine in the next twenty minutes, or he could get seriously sick.”

“Well, I don’t know what you wantmeto do about it,” the housekeeper huffed.

“We just want your permission to look around the yard. We didn’t want to go traipsing around uninvited. You could come with us.” Riley gave the woman her best puppy dog eyes.

The housekeeper harrumphed and put down the mop. “Fine. But only to make sure you don’t steal anything.”

“Great. Thanks. Also, would you mind if I used the restroom?” Riley said, trying to look full of urine.

“Yes, I would mind. I just cleaned the powder rooms. You’ll just have to hold it,” the housekeeper snapped. She stepped out on the porch and shut the door behind her. “Let’s get this over with.”

Josie and Jasmine sent Riley pointed looks.

“Okay,” Riley said with a fake smile. “Jasmine and I’ll go this way, and you two go that way. We’ll meet in the backyard.”

“Hurry up. I haven’t got all day,” the housekeeper said, stomping off the porch. Josie trailed after her.

Riley and Jasmine pretended to head in the opposite direction, but as soon as the housekeeper was out of sight, Riley raced back to the front door. “Damn it! It must be one of those automatic locks,” she said, trying the knob.

“Want me to break a window?” Jasmine offered.

Riley turned and found her best friend hefting a decorative rock from the flower bed.

“Let’s hang on to that as plan B. We’ll find another way in.”

They jogged off the porch and around the opposite side of the house.

“This place is huge,” Riley said, fighting her way through a thorny bush to test one of the first-floor windows. It was locked.

“Ouch! This tree just pulled my hair,” Jasmine complained, batting at a prickly blue spruce.

“How do we keep ending up in landscaping together?” Riley wondered out loud.

“Some friends do spa days. We do breaking and entering.”

“I wouldn’t say no to a nice manicure next time,” Riley panted as they fought their way along the stone wall.

“Look! A patio,” Jasmine said, pushing her way through a holly bush and pointing at the stone terrace jutting out from the side of the house.