Beach Blanket Homicide (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 1)

“I thought you were bringing him back to Susan Van Dyke’s family,” says Lanie.

I fill them in on what happened yesterday, including the fact that Paco was dognapped by Derrick Delgado.

“Wow. That’s crazy. So he needs a permanent home, huh?”

“Babe,” Dharma says firmly like she already knows where this is headed, “we already have four dogs. You promised. Not one more.”

“But—” The look on Dharma’s face stops Lanie mid-sentence. “Dharma is right. It wouldn’t be fair to Paco if we took him. Between our jobs, we barely have time for the four we have.” She reluctantly places Paco down on the floor.

“I understand.” Rats. I was really hoping that Lanie would take him. “Will you be on the lookout for a good family? Someone who’ll really appreciate him? I don’t mind keeping him until you find the right person.”

“Sure thing, Lucy.”

I hate taking medication, but it’s just temporary until Paco finds his forever home. Maybe Dr. Nate can prescribe something that makes me less drowsy than the Benadryl. I make a mental note to call his office to set up an appointment.

I take their orders and pour them coffee, when out of the blue, Paco starts barking like he’s possessed. I’ve never seen him like this before. I’m about to apologize to the next customer in line when I see that it’s Phoebe Van Cleave and her ghost society pals.

Phoebe takes one look at the dog and goes pale.

Ha! I should tell her that I’m on to her. How I know all about how she wanted Cornelius, and that’s she not fooling anybody. Especially not me.

“It’s Cornelius!” Victor crouches down to Paco’s eye level. “What are you doing here?”

Paco keeps barking.

“This is the dog that Abby had with her when she passed,” I say, trying to gauge everyone’s reactions.

No one, not even Gloria seems surprised by this, which is pretty telling.

“Paco,” I say, “stop it. You’re disturbing the customers.”

“Paco?” says Victor.

?

?I’m calling him that, since it’s the name Abby gave him.”

Paco barks one more time for good measure, then lets out a final growl and runs up the stairs back to the apartment. Not that I blame him. If I were him, I’d want to get as far away from Phoebe as I could too. “Sorry, I don’t think he likes you.”

Phoebe sniffs. “I don’t understand. He’s never reacted like this to me before.”

Gloria nods in agreement. “Cornelius, er, that is, Paco and I have done several séances together at Susan’s home, and he’s always been extremely charming. What do you think got into him?”

“Considering that his owner died, then a few days later he was dognapped, and then he was with poor Abby when she passed, I’d say he might have some trauma going on.”

“Dognapped!” Gloria says. “Who on earth would do that?”

The hairs on my neck tingle. Gloria isn’t as shocked by this information as she wants me to think she is.

“Derrick Delgado. He denies it, but there’s a surveillance tape that proves otherwise.”

If I thought Phoebe was pale before, then it’s nothing compared to now. It’s like all the blood has drained from her face. “This is so disturbing,” she murmurs.

Victor tsks. “I’ll say.” He studies me closely. “How have you been, Lucy?”

I mentally sigh because I know what’s coming next. “I haven’t gotten any messages from Abby if that’s what you want to know.”

The three of them exchange a look.