The Killing League

58.

Nicole

Nicole threw the tennis ball and watched Salvatore lumber after it. He was never the quickest dog at the dog park, nor was he the fastest, but Nicole always thought Sal was the most focused.

When most people saw the dark form of a Doberman, a brief look of apprehension would cross their face. Not the sheer disgust or fear displayed when people spotted a pit bull. But the bulk, the dark, muscular shape of a Doberman tended to put people on edge.

But Sal was totally keyed on her, Nicole, or the tennis ball.

He was never as happy as when he chased that little yellow sphere.

Nicole’s musings on Salvatore’s personality were interrupted by the vibration of her cell phone. She slipped it from her purse and glanced at the caller i.d. It was Mary Cooper, the private investigator.

“Hello,” Nicole said.

“I have good news and bad news,” the investigator said.

Nicole felt a little piece of glass shard drop into the pit of her stomach.

“The good news is I was able to verify quite a bit of information on your friend, Kurt Wilson.”

The woman paused and Nicole patted Salvatore’s head.

“The good news is, he has no criminal record that I can find. A few parking tickets here or there. He’s been employed by Sterling Pharmaceuticals for twelve years as a manager.”

Sal dropped the tennis ball at her feet. Nicole picked it up and chucked it again. He lumbered after it.

“So what’s the bad news?” Nicole said.

The private investigator told her.

Nicole watched Sal pounce on the ball.

Yes, she thought, letting the private investigator’s news sink in, that would qualify as very bad news.