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    A Holiday Dog Park Death
    A Holiday Dog Park Death
    A Holiday Dog Park Death
    Ebook68 pages1 hour

    A Holiday Dog Park Death

    By Saundra McKee

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    About this ebook

    It is two weeks before Christmas in Greenbanks, PA. The joy of the season comes to an abrupt halt when beloved legislator, Angus Harvey, is found dead at the local dog park. Terry Drake, owner of two rescue dogs, former teacher and part owner of 'Crafts and Joe,' finds herself directly involved in the mystery surrounding her friend's death. The story takes many twist and turns as Terry, with support from her human an canine pals, seeks justice and the truth surrounding the unusual and macabare death. First in the series.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSaundra McKee
    Release dateNov 26, 2013
    ISBN9781311710994
    A Holiday Dog Park Death
    Author

    Saundra McKee

    I am a retired educator. I taught in the public schools for 15 years and at the university level for 22 years. I love to travel the world. I enjoy politics, dogs, mysteries and water sports. I am a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.

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      Book preview

      A Holiday Dog Park Death - Saundra McKee

      A Holiday Dog Park Death by Saundra McKee

      Book One of the Riverfront Dog Park Series

      Smashwords Edition. Copyright 2013. Saundra McKee

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with other people, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are the reader of this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      All characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. While some of the places mentioned actually exist, they are used in an entirely fictional manner.

      Chapter 1

      Monday

      Two weeks before Christmas

      The threat of an imminent snow storm was in the air as I reluctantly headed out of my warm cozy home with my two rescue dogs, Mickey and Maisey. The small mixed breeds jumped with glee knowing that they’d soon be racing around the new dog park. The words dog park literally sent them into a frenzy. They barked and bounced as if they were on Pogo sticks. I didn’t even try to get their new coats on them.

      I couldn’t help but smile as I approached the huge dog park recently built along the picturesque Allegheny River. The efforts many of us had made to acquire grants and clearances had really paid off. Daylight was just beginning to break through the tall evergreens as I opened the chain link fence and sent the two black terrier mixes racing. I think we’re the first ones here today, kids. Your usual pals won’t be here until later, but you’ve got vet appointments at eight. Take a few laps and do some business. Maybe we can come back again when it warms up.

      I tightened my scarf and put on woolen gloves as I watched my two best friends chase each other around the many structures that had been built into the park. There was a small covered bridge, a maze, a ladder like structure, several fire hydrants, and a miniature tugboat along with other objects that both dogs and children found fascinating. I could relax more about their wellbeing in the winter with the fleas and ticks gone and the yucky stuff they too often found to roll in frozen solid.

      As my dogs made their way down to the partially frozen river, I noticed some other movement. A large brown dog was pacing near the water’s edge and whining frantically. When I got closer, I realized it was Rex, Angus Harvey’s three year old lab. Then I spotted what appeared to be a body on the frozen ground. Dear God, I whispered to the cold wind blowing in off the river, please don’t let him be dead. I called my dogs and put them back on their leashes, then hurried down the riverbank toward the water’s edge. I reached down and petted Rex’s head as Mickey and Maisey sniffed their old friend, trying to give some canine comfort. I ordered the well trained dogs to stay as I headed toward the body. With a second thought, I turned back deciding to tie them to a post. The body, with its back facing me, was dressed in a dark blue down parka and red sweat pants. I called out Angus’s name, and there was no answer or movement. As I got closer, I feared that my old friend had suffered a heart attack. Angus was in his mid sixties, overweight and unable to give up his pack a day smoking habit. He ate whatever he wanted and only exercised when walking the dog or playing a round of golf. I prayed it wasn’t too late to save him and tried to recall the steps in CPR from the many classes I’d taken but never put into practice over the years. As I drew nearer I saw that the frozen ground around his body was covered with blood….so much blood. I inched around the body trying not to step in the blood, only to discover that the head had been severed and was missing. I quickly stuffed my gloved hand partly in my mouth so I wouldn’t scream my horror and scare the dogs. For a second I thought maybe it was a homeless stranger and not my friend Angus, but the whines coming from Rex told me that wasn’t true. As calmly as possible, I reached for my cell phone and reported all the necessary details to the 911 operator. With that done, I walked away from the body and the curious dogs, threw up my breakfast and began to shake and cry uncontrollably. I wasn’t good in a crisis and lived a safe life, trying to avoid situations that distressed me. The little holiday spirit I’d managed to muster went flowing down the rushing river like a carelessly tossed plastic bottle.

      Chapter 2

      Within minutes, state police, the county sheriff, EMTs and other first responders arrived. Greenbanks was a small historic town of 10,000 that prided itself on cooperation and respect among various agencies. My family had lived in the area since the Irish potato famine pushed

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