Dog-sitting her son’s pooch should be a walk in the park for Marianne Putnam—but then she meets Solomon Ridgedale and his golden retriever, Daisy, who’s as excitable as he is. Daisy needs a dog park, and Solomon tries to recruit Marianne to his campaign to bring one to Serendipity Springs. But his fetching proposal to convert a city-owned field sparks a dogfight at the city council meeting.
Two council members support the funeral home director next door, who says a park will be too noisy. With the proposal’s fate in doubt, the mortician is murdered in his own mortuary. Solomon, worried he’s the chief suspect, appeals to Marianne and her friends to clear his name.
Working with former sheriff Rick Formero in his new private eye enterprise, the eclectic senior sleuths probe city hall politics, hidden agendas and the victim’s well-kept secrets. With every twist in the case, they wonder if they’re barking up the wrong tree. Can Marianne and company dig up the truth before one of them ends up in a coffin, too?
Back Against the Wall
The Mah Jongg Mysteries Book 10
By Barbara Barrett
“So, to address Mr. Kerimides’s concern, putting a dog park next to his building shouldn’t interfere with the peace and quiet sought by the mourners at his services,” Busby said. “So there,” his tone seemed to say.
How fortuitous that the tree-trimming crew had shown up when they did to help Busby and McHugh make their point. Wait—that had been planned. Good thing they couldn’t be heard inside the building. But then, Busby and McHugh wouldn’t have shown the tape if it hadn’t proved their point.
The room had gone quiet following their demonstration.
Brewster and Sheridan stared at their hands for several beats. Then Brewster spoke, his demeanor improving. “Interesting demonstration, gentlemen. But all you’ve proved is that a minor tree-trimming operation couldn’t be heard from the reception area of the building. Not the actual rooms where services are held. You haven’t shown us that a dog park wouldn’t make more noise.”
Busby screwed up his eyes as if trying to make sense of the statement. “Wouldn’t that be a Catch-22 situation? To prove a dog park would make untenable noise for the funeral home would require it be a reality already, and that’s the result we’re discussing today.” He raised his shoulders to supposedly punctuate his point.
“We don’t disagree,” Brewster answered. “But like you two, Councilman Sheridan and I also did some background work.”
This time, Sheridan went to the AV equipment and inserted a flash drive.
The next thing heard was what sounded like a jet plane coming in for a landing, the volume so intense Marianne had to hold her hands over her ears.
The audio lasted only long enough to be irritating.
“That is the sound of the dog park in Shasta, our neighbor not too far from us, recorded last Saturday.” Brewster addressed Busby directly. “That’s what Mr. Kerimides as well as Councilman Sheridan and myself have been worried about. Who could possibly find peace and quiet when faced with that noise?”
Now Solomon was on his feet. “That was only audio, Brewster,” he shouted. “How do we know it was recorded at a dog park?”
Busby joined him. “Even if it is the sound of a dog park, you could have assembled an army of dogs to make it sound worse.”
Solomon wasn’t finished. “We don’t know it was actually a dog park. We didn’t see where the sound was recorded.”
“Don’t insult us,” Brewster replied. “We beat you at your own show.”
While riding on the point he thought he’d made, Brewster moved the question, asking the council to immediately decide whether or not to approve the dog park.
“Not so fast, gentlemen,” Wallace said. “I’m not convinced I know enough about this proposal to vote with any degree of certainty yet. I’m going to table this vote indefinitely until I’m satisfied I know enough.”
“But Avery,” Brewster cried.
“No, Tad. Not today. There’s a lot at stake here. I don’t want to make a precipitous decision.”
When Wallace moved on to the few remaining items on the agenda, Marianne and Beau took their leave.
“A lot of fireworks back there,” Beau said as they left the council chamber.
“I couldn’t agree more. But why? Because it’s a dog park or because there is opposition to the location?” she asked.
“That wasn’t clear to me, either,” Beau replied.
“I attended the council meeting more out of curiosity than to support either the proposal or Solomon. I hadn’t expected to witness such deep acrimony on both sides. For a dog park? I got the sense there was more going on, but I couldn’t figure out what.”
He shot her a concerned look. “Please tell me you’re not getting involved more than you already have. You have more than enough going on in your life at the moment.”
“You’re right, as usual. I’m glad you came with me to the meeting to keep me from getting too involved,” she told him.
***
Marianne was in the kitchen the next day washing up the dinner dishes when her doorbell rang excitedly. She met Beau coming from the den and they both nearly tripped over a barking Mortimer as they went to answer the door.
It was Solomon. At least she thought it was him. The man before them looked like he’d been left out in the rain.
“I need your help!” was the first thing out of his mouth.
“Come in, come in,” Beau replied, pulling their visitor inside.
“Are you okay, Solomon?” Marianne couldn’t help but ask.
“Do I look okay?” he screeched. “I’m the chief suspect in the murder of that funeral home owner.”
Keep up to date on the latest news and releases!
Get the inside scoop on my upcoming projects and giveaways by subscribing to one or both of my newsletters.
