Pet Palace Series Books 1-6: Pet Palace Cozy Mystery Series

PET PALACE SERIES

PET PALACE

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

BOOKS 1-6

PBODI

99 Cent Press

© Copyright 2018 by PBodi All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

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PET PALACE SERIES

PET PALACE COZY MYSTERY SERIES

BOOKS 1-6

First Printing April 2018

Published by:

99 Cent Press

http://www.99CentPress.com

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Also by PBodi

Fowl Play

No Bones About It

Fishy Business

A Hairy Situation

Dangerous Creatures

A Vacation To Die For

About the Author

Also by PBodi

Also by PBodi

For a list of all Pbodi’s books please visit her website at:

http://www.pbodi.com/p/book-list.html

PET PALACE

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Fowl Play

No Bones About It

Fishy Business

A Hairy Situation

Dangerous Creatures

A Vacation to Die For

Pet Palace Box Set Books 1-3

Pet Palace Box Set Books 4-6

Pet Palace Box Set Books 1-6

MOTHER EARTH’S KITCHEN

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

A Perfect Cup Of Tea

Murder On the Mountain

New Year's Resolution

The Heart Of The Murder

The Luck Of The Irish

A Corpse In The Kitchen

Midsummer Murder

Mother Earth's Kitchen Box Set Books 1-4

Mother Earth's Kitchen Box Set Books 5-7

Mother Earth's Kitchen Box Set Books 1-7

HAPPY BEAR CAFE

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Elected For Murder

Death And Decorations

Resolution for Revenge

To Kill A Rat

Sleeping Dogs Lie

A Bird In The Hand

Picture Perfect

Happy Bear Cafe Box Set Books 1-4

Happy Bear Cafe Box Set Books 5-7

Happy Bear Cafe Box Set Books 1-7

ANGELA CRAWFORD

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Forest For The Trees

Put Your Affairs in Order

A Snake In The Grass

He Loves Me He Loves Me Not

Proof Is In the Printing

Deck The Walls

Angela Crawford Box Set Books 1-3

Angela Crawford Box Set Books 4-6

Angela Crawford Box Set Books 1-6

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Fowl Play

Chapter One

Leah brushed aside several strands of her long brown hair that had worked their way out of her braid and rang up the next customer. The Pet Palace was surprisingly busy for a Friday evening, with folks from all over the small town of Smithton stopping in to grab food and supplies for their pets for the weekend. Apparently the ad she had run in the local paper was working. People were milling through the aisles and loading up their baskets, chatting with neighbors or coworkers as they ran into them, and admiring the new stock of Bettas that had just come in. One of the Conures in the back corner was screeching for his afternoon snack, but the line at the register never seemed to dissipate.

The man who stepped up to the counter next was an uncomfortably familiar face. The hard eyes of Richard Steinbrook glared at her as he placed his merchandise on the counter, his wooly brows hanging over them like poorly groomed caterpillars.

How are you today, Mr. Steinbrook? Leah asked despite the swirl of discomfort in her stomach. He never gave her anything but a hard time. Did you find everything you need?

Mr. Steinbrook snorted. As good as it’s going to get, I suppose. Aren’t you ever going to get any different bird food in? Priscilla is bored with this same old stuff. His jowls flapped like a hound dog’s as he spoke, his caterpillar eyebrows drawing closer and closer together over his disdain.

Leah bit her lip as she entered the price of each item into the cash register. How many times were they going to have this conversation? Have you tried cutting up some fresh fruits and vegetables for her? Most parrots really go crazy over that.

As if I have time for such nonsense. He looked over his shoulder at the other patrons as though expecting backup, but none came.

That’ll be $15.59, please.

Aren’t you going to give me my discount?

Of course. Leah could have smacked herself. Mr. Steinbrook always thought he deserved a discount. It wasn’t because he was a senior citizen, at least not quite. And Leah happily took ten percent off the bill for any veteran, but he wasn’t one of them. No, Mr. Steinbrook felt he deserved a discount simply because he was her landlord. At first, she had tried to reason with him on this. After all, he didn’t give her a discount on her rent simply because he bought his bird’s food from her. But no amount of logic pulled him out of his sour stubbornness, and eventually she gave up. It wasn’t worth the argument.

Alright, there you go. Have a good weekend.

Mr. Steinbrook snatched his receipt out of Leah’s hand and his bag off the counter and stormed out of the store, the bell over the door ringing merrily despite him. Leah blew out a sigh before turning to the next customer.

Karen, who worked at an attorney’s office across town, stepped up to the counter. Her arms were laden with supplies for her water dragon, including a new bulb for his heat lamp and a powdered protein supplement that Karen would have to sprinkle on the crickets before he ate them. Rough day? she asked.

Leah shrugged. Just a crazy afternoon. I let Katie have the day off since she has some sort of event at her school, and I really didn’t think it would be busy.

Well, that’s not a bad thing! Karen was always so positive. Her short red hair bobbed along enthusiastically as she spoke. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that The Pet Palace is the best place around for all of us crazy pet people.

Leah laughed. I don’t know who you think you’re kidding. This is the only place around for the crazy pet people. But I’ll take the business; no arguments there! So how is Eddie doing? The three foot water dragon was often the talk of the town, especially since Karen liked to take him for walks on a leash during the summertime.

He’s pretty good, but he’s getting too big for his habitat. We’re actually thinking about remodeling the guest bedroom for him, and even building in a water feature. I know that sounds crazy, but he is going to be with us for the next ten to twenty years.

It isn’t crazy at all. A warm feeling crept over Leah, and her face split into a smile. She loved to see people not simply owning their pets but making them a part of the family. Owning a pet store gave her a lot of insight into who those people were. In a small town like Smithton, she knew almost everyone who came into the store. If she didn’t know their names, she knew what kind of pets they owned and what they usually bought for them. There was cranky Mr. Steinbrook, of course, with his parrot Priscilla, and Alice from the library had three cats. John, who owned the office supply store several doors down, had a giant Rottweiler that everyone knew was just a big baby. Sheriff Burt, who always insisted everyone call him by his first name, had several dogs of his own as well as a six foot python.

Folks could have gone to the next town over, which was much larger and had a lot more to offer as far as retail, but it seemed that they were happy to shop here. And Leah was quite happy to have them do so, barely marking her stock above wholesale just so she could see their faces and hear all about how happy their pets were.

So what are you doing tonight? Karen asked. Some of the girls and I were talking about going out for dinner and a few drinks at the Mexican place. You wanna join us?

Leah hesitated as she bagged up Karen’s items. She had been invited to these girls’ nights a few times before, and had only gone once. She ended up having a much better time that she thought she would, but she always felt a little intimidated. Some of the other ladies were far more high maintenance than she could ever be, and she felt mousy in her ponytail and sweatshirt.

Come on, Karen chided. I know that look on your face. Just come with us. It’ll be great.

Leah’s skepticism was no match for Karen’s enthusiasm. Alright, she smiled. I’ll see you there.

An hour later, Leah had closed up the shop. She had balanced out the cash register, given the birds their snacks, and checked all the food and water dishes one last time before flicking out most of the lights. The Pet Palace always had a few lights left on, just so it wouldn’t be completely dark for the animals. She tucked the day’s deposit under her arm and headed out the front door, locking it behind her.

The day was fading in Smithton, the sun sinking slowly behind the large brick facades of the downtown area. Time had worked hard to change the sleepy town, with new traffic lights and a fast food joint plunked incongruously along the main street, but there was much of it that had remained the same for nearly a hundred years. Most of the buildings had been constructed in the first quarter of the twentieth century, and many of them retained the architectural detail that had been so carefully added long ago. The library still sported the original lion statues on either side of its wide marble steps, and the courthouse was so grand it had recently been put on the list of registered historical buildings. Even The Pet Palace had its salute to bygone days with its original tin ceiling. Leah walked the couple of blocks to the bank and then home, feeling comfortable and happy in this safe little town.

Chapter Two

A ny idea what you’re going to order? Alice asked. She perused the menu through her wire framed glasses with utter scrutiny.

When Leah had arrived, she had been glad to see that Alice was there. Just as anyone would have expected from a librarian, she wasn’t as glitzy and glamorous as some of the other ladies tended to be. In her cardigan and wearing a low bun, she made Leah feel much more at home. I’m really not sure. I’m thinking about the chicken chimichanga, but I get that every time I come here.

Well, then it’s definitely time for something different, Karen remarked, taking a sip of her margarita. We have a little time before we order; not everyone is here yet.

Who are we still waiting on? asked Brandy around a mouthful of tortilla chips. She was a popular insurance agent in town, holding the policies for everyone at the table at the moment. She didn’t have any pets of her own, but she indulged her daughters on whatever caged animals they desired. At Leah’s last count, that included two guinea pigs, a ferret, and a few small green lizards.

Karen cast a guilty glance at her friends. Well, Jenny said she would probably make it.

A collective sigh went around the table. Karen had befriended Jenny about a year ago, and nobody had taken to her very well. She was always full of complaints, either about her crummy jobs or her ex boyfriends or anything else that came across her radar. There was no pleasing Jenny. As far as Leah knew, she didn’t own any pets.

I’m sorry; I know you guys aren’t big fans of hers. But she finally got a temp job doing some housekeeping, and I thought she should have a chance to come celebrate.

Yeah, cause who knows how long it’ll be until she’s fired again, Brandy muttered. Her bright hoop earrings glittered under her ebony hair as she shook her head. I’m sorry, guys, but I’m not going to hide how I feel. That girl can’t keep a job for anything.

She’s just been having a hard time, Karen defended. You know how the economy is these days.

It just means that folks need to try a little bit harder, Alice said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leah eyed the librarian, who never said anything bad about anybody. She cleared her throat, ready to get back to a happier subject. Anyway, I’m sure she’ll be along soon enough. Maybe you should check your phone, Karen. See if she texted you or anything.

Karen dug her cell out of her purse and began clicking the touch screen. No, no text. She continued staring at her phone. Oh, wow.

What is it? Brandy asked.

I just got a notification from my Channel 3 News app. Mr. Steinbrook was just found dead in his apartment.

Leah sat bolt upright in her restaurant chair. That’s impossible! He was just in my store a few hours ago!

Karen shook her head. According to this article, it isn’t just possible, it’s real. Apparently his nephew came over and found him.

But what happened? Alice piped up. Heart attack or something?

It doesn’t say. There’s not much here at all, really. Looks like they’re waiting for results from the coroner’s office.

Who died? came a nasal voice over Leah’s shoulder. Jenny was bustling into the crowded restaurant, pushing her way between tables as though she owned the place. Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and her heavy eyeliner was smudged from a day’s work. She came around the table and plopped down between Karen and Brandy.

Karen leaned over to show Jenny the news article on her phone. It’s Mr. Steinbrook.

Jenny gave the touch screen a cursory glance before picking up her menu instead. No real loss there, she shrugged.

That’s not very nice, Alice whispered.

Oh, stop. It’s nothing but a superstition that you can’t speak ill of the dead. It’s so—old fashioned. She looked over the top of her menu pointedly, and Alice looked down at the tablecloth.

Well, I can’t say he was the nicest guy, but he was a big part of our community, Karen volunteered. I think he owns half the town.

Jenny sneered. Please. He was a horrible old goat, and they probably won’t even try that hard to figure out who killed him. Are we ready to order? ‘Cause I’m starving.

Chapter Three

As Leah drove back across town to her house, she smiled to herself. She had felt so uncertain about this evening, but it had turned out surprisingly well. She had decided to go for the steak fajita, and it had sizzled in her mouth and filled her stomach pleasantly. It was nice to not have to cook a meal for herself, and the strawberry daiquiri had washed it down nicely. She stopped at one to make sure she could drive home, but she still managed to let herself kick back and enjoy idle chitchat with her friends. Even Jenny, after a few drinks, had managed to let go of her nasty attitude. She had actually complimented Alice on her new necklace. The death of Mr. Steinbrook had only cast a shadow over their evening for a short while before thoughts turned to weekend plans, the latest haircuts, and dreams of the future.

Though it was still relatively early for a Friday night, Smithton had rolled up its sidewalks. The iron streetlights glowed pleasantly over the sleepy downtown area as she crossed Main