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Hopefully, finding lost dogs was not going to be his specialty at Lost and Found.

The gate opened automatically as he headed down the Ngyuen’s drive and he turned into the next drive. This was the Comptons and they’d seemed just as aggravated with Mrs. Dodd as Mrs. Wanton-Klapper. When he pulled up to the gate box, though, there was no answer. It was the middle of the day, so maybe they were at work. Jotting a note on the back of his business card, he left it wedged into a seam of the box. It would be seen as soon as they pulled up. Then he backed out of the drive and headed next door.

Mr. Hoffstetter sounded very old. He answered the gate bell and was reluctant to let him in. Rowdy explained who he was and what he was doing, but the man didn’t budge. He said he hadn’t seen Cookie and that if he had he would have let Mrs. Dodd know. Rowdy left it at that.

His heartbeat picked up a little as he pulled into the Wanton-Klapper’s and rang the gate box. When he explained who he was, the big iron gate swung open, and he drove through. If anyone had seen anything, he would think it would be the Wanton-Klappers on this side of the property or the Kings on the other side.

Rowdy parked in front of the garage in the circular driveway, behind an expensive black SUV. Grabbing his folder, he headed up the front walk. A woman in a uniform answered the door and he wasn’t surprised. From what he’d heard, Mrs. Wanton-Klapper seemed like the type to need domestic help. He smiled at the woman and requested to speak to the owner.

The housekeeper waved him through into the marble foyer.

“If you’ll wait here just a moment.”

Rowdy stood where he was and waited patiently for her to return. After ten minutes of waiting, he sat in the old-looking chair near the door. Still, no one came. He was very aware that this was a power tactic, but all it was doing was pissing him off.

A dark-haired teenager with mussed hair shuffled across the hall down the way, then backed up and looked at the front door where Rowdy was sitting. “Can I help you?” the kid asked.

Rowdy pushed up from the chair, smiling slightly. This girl was not the one he’d come to see, but he would take the opportunity to pick her brain. She looked about sixteen, so, old enough to maybe answer some questions.

“I’m Rowdy West. I’m an investigator with Lost and Found Investigative Service. Do you live here?”

The girl nodded, blinking as she took his business card.

“I’m looking for Mrs. Dodd’s little dog Cookie,” he continued. “Have you seen him?”

If he hadn’t been watching her closely, he might have missed the slight flinch around her eyes. “No, I haven’t seen him. He’s a sweet little dog. I hope she finds him.”

The girl turned and continued on her slipper-scuffing way, but Rowdy was curious enough at her response to follow her into the kitchen. The girl went to the fridge, eyeing him as he stepped into the massive space. She pulled out a container of orange juice. “Want some?” she asked reluctantly.

“Please,” Rowdy said, smiling. He really didn’t, but he wanted to continue talking to her. “What’s your name?”

“Cora,” the girl said. She pulled two glasses from one of the overhead cupboards and splashed juice into the glasses. Then she pushed one across the marble island to him. Rowdy wasn’t very familiar with kids, but he appreciated her reluctant cordiality.

Rowdy picked up the glass and took a big swallow of the juice. “Thank you,” he said. “When’s the last time you saw Cookie?”

Cora glanced back the way she came. “Um, a few days ago. He was chasing a bird in Mrs. Dodd’s back yard.”

“Ah,” Rowdy said. “Is your room on the back? Is that how you saw him?”

Cora nodded slowly and he could tell she didn’t like answering his questions. “I see him bark at the squirrels all the time.”

“Do you have a dog?”

Cora snorted. “No way. Mom would never let me have one.”

“I’m sorry. Dogs are pretty cool animals.”

“Yeah, I know. I like Cookie.” She glanced down the hallway again. “Mom hates him, so don’t be surprised if she kicks you out.”

“Noted. Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt the dog?”

Her big eyes flipped up to him, then away, then very subtly to the hallway. “Um, no.”

Rowdy didn’t like her response and he wished Chad was there to back up his gut instinct. He felt like the girl was hiding something. “Cora, if you know something, it’s very important you let someone know.”

She opened her mouth but didn’t have a chance to say anything.

“Excuse me,” a woman said as she walked into the kitchen. “Who are you?”