“And the bookend—Jackson picked that up when Nathan dropped it. As you told me, they were all there. Then he buried it. And dug it up later to give it back. Weird.”
“Weird is his middle name,” she said.
“They’ve seen a lot,” I said, shaking my head. “Too much.”
“But you said they’re okay. That’s what makes me think I can move them. Of course, finding the new place and having it renovated will take time. It’ll put off any new construction at our current site for at least a year.”
“But KR Properties has been after the site for two years. One more year won’t matter.”
She nodded. I closed my eyes for what I thought was a couple of seconds.
“Rachel?”
Venus was smiling at me.
“You’ve been asleep. Go home and do it properly.”
I nodded.
“By the way, you know I can’t pay you until I get out of here,” she said.
“That’s what they all say. Hey, I know where to find you.” I flashed her the Kaminsky grin, only slightly drugged and lopsided.
“I hope you will,” she said. “I hope you will find all of us, any chance you get.”
I lifted my broken arm and waved it slightly up and down.
“Be seeing you,” I told her.
On the way home, I pictured the new place—a big cheerful dining room, Cora and Dora bickering by the window, Willy holding a coaster or maybe a T-shirt, Jackson painting, Charlotte drawing, all settled in. I pictured the staircase, too, going up to all their bedrooms, and on the side opposite the railing, a brand-new dirt mark on the freshly painted wall, because Lady was back, and wherever they were, she’d be taking care of them, as nobody but a dog can.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wishes to thank:
Detectives Daniel O’Connell and Bill Golodner of the Sixth Precinct, Greenwich Village;
Temple Grandin, whose remarkable book Thinking in Pictures added greatly to what I had learned doing pet-facilitated therapy with institutionalized autistic people;
Gail Hochman;
Michael Seidman, George Gibson, Chris Carey, Cassie Dendurent, and Krystyna Skalski at Walker & Company;
Julian Allen, who will be sorely missed;
Beth Adelman and Stephen Solomita, friends indeed; and Serge.
With special thanks to my darling husband, Stephen Lennard, hugs for Stephen and Victoria Joubert, an oh, no for Zack, and pats to Dexter and Flash, incomparable wags.
About the Author
A former detective and noted dog trainer, CAROL LEA BENJAMIN is the author of several books on canine behavior and training, as well as eight Rachel Alexander and Dash novels. She was recently honored by the International Association of Canine Professionals with her election to their Hall of Fame. Ms. Benjamin lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, Stephen Lennard, and their dogs, Dexter, Flash, and Peep. You can visit her website at www.CarolLeaBenjamin.com.
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Resounding praise for
CAROL LEA BENJAMIN’s
RACHEL ALEXANDER and DASH
mysteries
“[A] first-rate murder-mystery series.”
Orlando Sentinel
“One of America’s most talented and versatile dog writers…Benjamin’s passion for realism is everywhere…The adventures of private detective Rachel Alexander and her pit bull partner, Dashiell, hooked me.”
“[A] serious approach to the canine crime-writing niche. Benjamin keeps the tail-wagging to a minimum, relying instead on solid private eye basics. Dash…is nevertheless a dependably entertaining companion among murder and mayhem.”
Denver Rocky Mountain News
“Anyone who enjoys dogs and their winsome, wily ways will appreciate Benjamin’s work; other fans will want to read her for the excellent plotting and development of human characters.”
Washington Times
“Her high quality of prose and convincing way with dialogue may surprise and delight first-time readers.”
Chicago Sun-Times
“Don’t hesitate to recommend this series to those who would usually dismiss crime novels with dogs in starring roles.”
Booklist
Books by Carol Lea Benjamin
WITHOUT A WORD
FALL GUY
THE LONG GOOD BOY
THIS DOG FOR HIRE
THE DOG WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
A HELL OF A DOG
THE WRONG DOG
LADY VANISHES
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author?s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
LADY VANISHES. Copyright © 1999 by Carol Lea Benjamin. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
ePub edition May 2007 ISBN 9780061746468
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Contents
CHAPTER 1: We Followed Dash
CHAPTER 2: What Did She Want? I Wondered
CHAPTER 3: Some People Have All the Nerve
CHAPTER 4: You Want To Explain That?
CHAPTER 5: I Left My Number, Just in Case
CHAPTER 6: I Know a Lot of Stuff, He Said
CHAPTER 7: Fax Me, Okay?
CHAPTER 8: How About a Little Trick Today?
CHAPTER 9: He Wants To Run
CHAPTER 10: I’d Never Heard His Voice
CHAPTER 11: I Wanted To Shake Her
CHAPTER 12: All Fall Down
CHAPTER 13: He Didn’t Answer Me
CHAPTER 14: It Was Just an Accident
CHAPTER 16: Don’t Get Me Started, She Said
CHAPTER 17: You Know How Families Are
CHAPTER 18: Maybe Harry Owned a Boat
CHAPTER 19: What Would You Have Us Do?
CHAPTER 20: There Was No One in the Lobby
CHAPTER 21: We Have Witnesses, I Could Tell Him
CHAPTER 22: See Anything You Like? She Asked
CHAPTER 23: What’s This Supposed To Be?
CHAPTER 24: I Brushed Away the Dirt
CHAPTER 25: Come Here, I Said
CHAPTER 26: Lady Vanishes
CHAPTER 27: I Walked Back To Where He Was Standing
CHAPTER 28: I Whispered Her Name
CHAPTER 29: Is This Yours? She Asked
CHAPTER 30: Is That Lady? I Asked Her
CHAPTER 31: I Got Something for You, Kid
CHAPTER 32: They Say It’s Good Luck, He Said
CHAPTER 33: Did It Work? I Asked
CHAPTER 34: Venus Took My Hand
CHAPTER 35: You Need His Keys? I Asked
CHAPTER 36: I Took Out My Cell Phone
CHAPTER 37: It’s All a Terrible Mistake
CHAPTER 38: Be Seeing You, I Told Her
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
About the Author
Resounding praise for CAROL LEA BENJAMIN’s RACHEL ALEXANDER and DASH mysteries
Books by Carol Lea Benjamin
Copyright
About the Publisher