Lie Down With Dogs: A Laurel Highlands Mystery

Chapter One

Assistant public defender Sally Castle looked at her boss and put her hands on her hips. Ciara Delmonico’s business barely makes a profit. She covers her bills, but she has a minuscule bank account balance. Because of that, she doesn’t qualify for representation? She can’t afford a private defense attorney, Bryan. The cost will bankrupt her.

Bryan Gerrity, the Fayette County Public Defender, removed his glasses and polished the lenses with a soft cloth. Sally, we’ve been through this before. I don’t make the rules. I only enforce them. Mrs. Delmonico has a job and money in the bank—

Neither of which give her an exorbitant amount of cash.

Regardless, both are sufficient to disqualify her. Bryan replaced his glasses. We seem to be having this conversation more frequently. A couple months ago it was that woman from Somerset County. Last month it was those teenagers arrested for shoplifting. Who were caught on CCTV, I might add.

Sally’s response was swift. Black teenagers who were getting a lot more hassle than white kids arrested for the same offense.

Bryan held up his hands. That’s not my point.

Then what is your point?

I believe you got both parties legal representation with your friend, Ms. Dunphy.

I did. And Kim had been incredibly reluctant to take both cases, as none of the defendants could afford the kind of fees she wanted to charge. Sally had guilted her friend into accepting them. She couldn’t do that forever.

Bryan steepled his fingers and stared.

What?

He didn’t speak for a long minute, and when he did, the words came reluctantly. Sally, what’s changed with you?

What do you mean?

When you came here five years ago—

Four.

Bryan sighed. All right, four years ago, you were eager to help people. You knew how things worked, what the rules were, and you accepted them. Most importantly, you understood that we can’t help everybody. That’s not our job.

Sally didn’t like where she thought Bryan was heading. My motivation is still to assist people, Bryan. You know, make sure everybody’s rights under the law are protected, guilty or innocent.

I’m not denying that. He sat forward. But in the past year, especially over the past few months, you’ve gotten…well, reckless isn’t exactly the word, but I can’t think of a better one.

Excuse me?

You push the edges. You handed off that case in July to Ms. Dunphy, yet you stayed involved.

She shook her head. At the client’s request.

Tell me you weren’t secretly happy about it. He leaned back. You and I have had more arguments over potential cases in the last four months than we ever have. I’ve always given you a long rope, but Sally, this has got to stop.

The words were out of her mouth before she could think. I quit.

Bryan paused and blinked. Excuse me?

I can’t do this anymore, Bryan. The logical part of her brain shrieked at her to stop talking and take it back, say she’d misspoken, but she didn’t. The words tumbled out of her mouth, despite her better judgment telling her to shut up, but the more she spoke, the more the speech felt right. It’s not…how do I put this? It’s not the job. Doing the job, I mean. The mechanics or dealing with low-income clients. Even the repeat offenders.

Is it me?

You? Oh God, Bryan, definitely not. Sally leaned on the chair in front of the desk. You’re the best boss I’ve ever had. I mean that. It’s more… She paused, searching for words. I’m tired of the rules telling me who I can and cannot represent. They stick me with people like Ethan Haverton and keep me from deserving people like Ciara Delmonico.

Haverton did wind up getting his just desserts.

Sally waved off the words. You know what I mean. Bryan, if I stay, I wind up calling Mrs. Delmonico and telling her ‘Sorry, you’ll have to bankrupt yourself for a decent attorney or settle for a second-rater because your job disqualifies you.’ If I go…

You don’t have to make that phone call. Bryan rubbed his face. I can’t talk you out of it?

No.

When are you leaving?

I kind of want to go now. Before common sense asserts itself and talks me out of it.

I don’t know, Sally. It’s a hasty decision. Definitely out of character for you.

Please don’t do this. I know it’s not normal for me, for how I make decisions. But if I take time to think, I’ll let you talk me out of it. Or worse, I’ll talk myself out of it. I need to rip off the Band-Aid, so to speak.

He looked at her. You have any vacation remaining?

About two weeks’ worth.

He stood and gathered some papers from his desk. Take the two weeks. Think about it and take your time. Make sure you know what you’re doing. Leave your office, all your stuff. I won’t make any moves. If at the end of the two weeks you change your mind, let me know, and you can come back, no questions asked.

Sally got to her feet. And if I don’t?

Bryan stopped in front of her and shook her hand. Then I wish you all the best.

* * *

Pennsylvania State Trooper Jim Duncan stepped out of the Uniontown barracks into the brilliant September morning sunshine and looked up at a perfect blue sky liberally streaked with white clouds. He noted that the temperature was pleasantly warm, without a trace of humidity. Even nature was striving to make his last day at the barracks pleasant.

Fellow trooper Aislyn McAllister came up beside him. How does it feel? Your last day, I mean.

You make it sound like I’m leaving for good. Duncan adjusted his campaign hat. For the last fourteen years, going to work had meant donning the gray uniform and wide-brimmed hat of the PSP. Would he feel naked without them?

McAllister nudged him. Last day of patrol duty. A free weekend and what, next week you report to Criminal Investigation?

Monday morning, bright and early.

I can’t believe they only gave you the weekend.

It was my idea. Nicols wanted to give me more time, but I’d rather keep working. He wasn’t changing employers, just positions within the same organization. No sense delaying that first day.

Are you ready?

As I’ll ever be. Sally insisted we go shopping. She said I couldn’t wear the same suit and shirt five days a week, so we went to Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago. I should have just given her my sizes and let her shop for me, seeing as she made all the final decisions.

McAllister laughed. Boss, had it been up to you, you would have bought five new white shirts, a black tie, and maybe another gray sports coat. Sally just wants you to look good at the new job. I’m constantly telling Tommy-Boy what he can and cannot wear together.

It would have been faster and nobody would have said a thing, either. But it made Sally happy and saved him the chore of doing it himself, so why fight? Well, you’ll be happy to know that I have all sorts of choices and everything goes with almost everything else. It’s the adult version of those clothes for kids.

You mean Garanimals? My mother loved those. McAllister unlocked the door to a marked Ford Interceptor. Be honest. You gonna miss this? She waved her hand at the parking lot.

Some of it. I’ll miss you, Porter, the others in the barracks. I’ll miss driving around and seeing the county, all of the people. I will not miss shift work or working holidays where you learn exactly how many ways alcohol can screw up a family celebration, like this past Fourth of July. He searched the parking lot for his own car.

Boss. I’m flattered. She batted her eyes and fluttered her hand in front of her face, a mock picture of girlish charm. I bet Sally is happy you’ll be on a more normal schedule.

He barked a laugh. She’s already got my first three weekends scheduled with stuff to do.

McAllister grew serious. We’ll miss you too, Jim. Thanks for everything. I mean it.

Come on, McAllister. Lighten up. He walked backwards to his vehicle and spread his arms. I’m not leaving the county. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet up over a scene sometime.

* * *

Sally returned to her office and collapsed into her chair. She looked around. What am I doing?

In all her life, she’d never made such a rash decision. It wasn’t her style. She weighed the options, wrote lists, gathered opinions from people she trusted, then made a choice. By doing things that way, she knew she wouldn’t make a move she couldn’t live with, or one she’d wind up reversing because she hadn’t taken the time to think it through. But standing in front of Bryan’s desk, it was as if her subconscious, which had been pushing for a change without her even realizing it, had finally asserted itself.

Criminal law was her passion, as it had always been. First on the side of the prosecution, wanting to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth and protect its citizens, then jumping the aisle to make sure every defendant got a fair shake, regardless of income level. That wasn’t the problem.

It was all the rules she had to deal with that made her want to pull her hair out. She’d had plenty of conversations over the last six months with Jim, even with Tanelsa Parson, a fellow assistant public defender, about how unfair it was.

Suddenly, her decision didn’t feel so impetuous.

She gazed around the room. Bryan had said to take the time and not bother packing, but Sally didn’t think she could face it if she had to return to the courthouse to retrieve her belongings. It was better to make a clean break of it now. All she needed was a decent-sized box. She’d ask Doris…no, she wouldn’t. The knowledge that Sally was leaving would break the older woman’s heart. This was something Sally had to do by herself. There wasn’t that much to pack, to be honest. A few pictures, her framed law school diploma.

It’s time to move on to something else. Kim had offered her an opportunity to do just that in July, and Sally had turned it down. She knew if she called her friend, she’d have a new job in a hot minute. But was that really what she wanted? Working for Kim would undoubtedly come with a whole new set of rules.

First things first. Find a cardboard box.

She was busy sorting through the contents of a desk drawer, deciding what to take, when a tap on the doorframe interrupted her.

Knock knock. Tanelsa Parson stood in the doorway, clad in her usual elegant, yet understated, court attire. Tanelsa dressed better than anyone Sally knew. Of course, her wife, Lisa, was a high-end fashion buyer. That helped.

What’s up? Sally swept aside the papers on her desk.

Tanelsa strolled over and leaned on the visitor’s chair. I just got back from a meeting. The whole office is buzzing, and Doris is going through boxes of tissues like we have an unlimited supply. Are you really leaving?

Yes. Sally snapped a rubber band around a collection of her favorite pens, ones she’d brought to the office, and dropped them into the box.

Damn. Tanelsa pulled out the chair and sat. What precipitated this move? It’s awfully rash for you, isn’t it?

Sally told her friend about Ciara Delmonico and the logic behind the decision to leave the public defender’s office. I’m tired of having to tell good, hard-working people I can’t help them because of some stupid rule made up by a bureaucrat who doesn’t understand that just because you have a job doesn’t mean you have money.

You want to make your own rules. But Sally, have you really thought this through?

Well, yes and no.

What’s that supposed to mean?

Exactly what I said. Sally stacked a couple of picture frames to protect the glass. I didn’t plan to come into work today and turn in my two weeks’ notice. But Tanelsa, I’ve been dealing with these thoughts since the spring. You know that; I’ve talked to you about them. Have I made detailed lists and outlined all the possibilities? No. Has the thought been rolling around in my head for a while? Obviously yes. I wouldn’t have told Bryan I was quitting otherwise. I’m not that impulsive.

True. Tanelsa thought a moment. You think private practice will let you pick and choose your clients?

I know it offers more options.

Tanelsa crossed her legs. Even if you do pro bono work, Sally, you need paying clients to keep the lights on. You need to build a client list, too. And rent a space, and market yourself, and—

I know all that. Sally rifled through a stack of legal pads, looking for protected information. Finding none, she put them back in a drawer. I’m not an idiot, Tanelsa. I don’t expect this is going to be easy. I’ve never been afraid of hard work, though.

I never said you were. I’m only trying to make sure you know what you’re getting into. She eyed Sally. You going to call what’s her name? Kim?

Maybe. It would be a logical place to start. Bryan told me to take my remaining two weeks of vacation to think about it and let him know.

Sounds like what Gerrity would do. He’s a fair kind of guy. She stood. If I can help you in any way, even if it’s having you over for dinner because the fridge is looking bare, you have my number. Not that Jim will let you starve, but sometimes you need a little girl time.

Thanks, Tanelsa. I appreciate it.

Tanelsa gave her shoulders a tight squeeze and walked to the door, where she stopped and turned. Just make sure you explore your options, Sally. All your options. Going with your gut isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s hard to build a satisfying life on spur-of-the-moment decisions. Also, remember that sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. I’ll make sure no one poaches your office stuff until you’ve made your final decision.

Sally didn’t say it, but she was pretty sure her mind was made up. Got it.

Tanelsa took another step, stopped, and turned again. Also, remember one more thing.

What?

Tanelsa pointed, her deep-red nail polish gleaming in the light. If you decide to strike out on your own, once you’re up and running, you promised me a partnership.

Chapter Two

Jim stared at Sally as smoke from the grill rose to the early evening sky. You did what?

Sally sat on the back step, absently scratching Rizzo, Jim’s golden retriever, behind his ears. I quit. At least, I think I did.

What does that mean?

Don’t let the meat burn. Sally stood, brushed off the seat of her pants, and went inside. She set about tossing the salad with such vigor that bits of lettuce and carrot flew out onto the counter. A moment later, the door banged, and the sound of a platter against wood reached her ears. The tangy smell of seasoning and wood smoke tickled her nose.

Sally, did you quit or not?

She felt Jim’s presence behind her. I…yeah. She told him about her conversation with Bryan, but didn’t turn around. What if he was looking at her like she was insane?

Jim laid his hands on her shoulders. Stop punishing that salad and look at me. He turned her gently, then tilted her head up so his eyes bored into hers. What brought this on?

Why are you grilling me like I was a suspect? I thought you’d understand. He was confused. She could see it in his eyes. But at least he wasn’t looking at her, or talking to her, like she had completely taken leave of her senses.

He pulled her close. Nope, don’t understand at all. Actually, that’s not true. I kind of get it. You’re an idealist. You want to change the world. You can’t do that in a government agency, and that’s what the public defender’s office is. All of that makes sense. He kissed the top of her head. The spur of the moment decision, that’s what baffles me. Not your typical modus operandi, if you catch my drift.

She took a moment to enjoy Jim’s warm, comforting embrace, then pushed away. "I rather surprised myself, to be honest. I was talking to Bryan, and all of a sudden, the words were out of my mouth, and they sounded right. Hell, they felt right, which is more important, I guess. So no, I don’t need two weeks, although I’ll give Bryan the respect of taking them."

You won’t get into trouble?

No. If I leave today, I’d get the money in a lump sum. This way they, don’t owe me anything. She paused. Making up my mind isn’t the problem.

It’s deciding what to do next, Jim said. He released her, picked up the salad bowl, and went to the table.

Precisely. She got two bottles of dressing from the fridge and sat. I mean, I don’t want to give up law and, oh, become a cupcake lady or something.

Well, that’s a start. Jim laid a perfectly cooked Delmonico steak on her plate. I can’t envision you as a cupcake lady anyway.

I don’t want to go back to prosecution. I don’t want to join a big firm, and I don’t want to switch legal fields. I’m not going to join a big personal injury firm, for example.

All good to know. I think I’d have to break it off with you if you became an ambulance chaser.

She swatted his arm. You’re terrible. She took a bite, savoring the flavor and tenderness of the meat. The way I see it, I have two choices. I can join Kim, or I can strike out on my own.

Sounds reasonable.

I don’t know which way to go. And I have to make up my mind quickly.

Jim took a swallow of beer. I was gonna ask about that. How are your finances?

I have some savings, so I’m good for, oh, about a month. I need to let my landlord know if I intend to renew my lease by the end of September.

I thought your lease renews in March?

It does, but I have to give them six-month’s notice of renewal. That’s not the issue.

What is?

When I signed, my income had to be three times the rent. Working in the public defender’s office, it wasn’t a problem, but if I go private, I don’t know how that will work out or if it won’t matter because I’m a current tenant.

I can’t imagine them kicking you out. You’ve never been late on your payments or anything, right?

No, but there was that whole stalker thing last winter. Not like it had been her fault, and Jim had cleaned the door pretty well, but she wouldn’t be surprised if the leasing company used that as an excuse to terminate her contract, especially if she was unemployed at the end of the month.

Jim hesitated, then said, Well, if worse comes to worst, you can always move in with me and Rizzo.

He’d tried to sound casual, but Sally detected the nervousness underlying his words. That’s very sweet, but I wouldn’t want to impose. They’d been together for less than six months, and she’d spent a number of overnights and weekends in Confluence. Moving in, however, was an entirely different level in their relationship. If she told her mother she was moving in with Jim, Louise Castle would be at the printers the next day to get wedding invitations done and setting up appointments to get a dress chosen and fitted. Sally had enough on her plate with her career plans, or lack thereof.

It wouldn’t be an imposition. Hell, Rizzo would adore the extra attention. The dog lifted his head at the mention of his name and thumped his tail on the floor. Stay down, doofus. I’m not talking to you. Anyway,—he turned back to Sally—tell me your thoughts. Maybe talking it out will help put things in order.

This was one of the things Sally liked most about him. He hadn’t reacted to her announcement with panic or outrage that she’d done such a crazy thing. Just a calm acceptance and working on a plan forward. I’m going to enjoy the weekend, she said. You’re taking two days yourself, right?

Yep.

Monday morning, I’ll call Kim. She might not want me anymore.

He grinned. Fat chance. At least, not if she’s smart, and I got the impression stupidity is not one of her failings. She’d be a fool to turn you down, if that’s what you want to do.

I’ll do some research to figure out what my expenses would be if I decided to open my own practice. Office costs, advertising, that sort of thing. I can’t run a law office out of my apartment, that’s for sure.

But you could run it out of here. I wouldn’t mind. He gave her a sideways look.

What had brought this on? She and Jim had never discussed living together. Then again, he was thirty-seven, she was thirty-five. They were too old to bother with an elaborate courtship. He’d done all that with his first wife and it hadn’t mattered in the long run. Maybe this was his way of saying, Let’s get on with it. How would she feel, waking up next to him every day for the rest of her life? Pretty damn good.

She brushed her thoughts aside. One major life decision at a time. I’ll keep it in mind. New topic. She took another bite of steak. Are you ready for Monday? Clothes laid out, all your gear ready, everything in order?

It’s only Friday night, Sally. Aside from my gun and badge, I don’t have any gear. He paused, and wrinkles creased his forehead.

What was he thinking? You want to make a good impression, right?

Yes, mother. His face cleared, and he dodged her playful slap. I will have all my ducks in a row by Sunday night. But first, that empty weekend you mentioned. He stood, pulled her to a standing position, then moved closer. His fingers traced her jawline, and he kissed her, long, slow, sensual. All thoughts of job hunting, leases, and what she was going to do next with her career evaporated, burned away by the warmth of his touch as his hands slid under her shirt. Neither of us has to get up early, he said, voice husky. How about we start by sleeping in?

Oh, Trooper Duncan. She tugged his shirt out of his jeans and trailed her fingers up his back. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of sleeping involved tonight, do you?

Chapter Three

Monday morning, Duncan stepped out of his unmarked Ford sedan into another blaze of September sunshine and adjusted the holster under his armpit. It had been a morning full of jarring notes. Instead of dressing in the gray uniform he’d worn for over a decade, he had slipped on his new suit and shoes. No twenty-five-pound duty belt to wear. He felt physically unbalanced. He’d had to focus on driving to the newly built Troop B headquarters in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, where the Criminal Investigation section was located, instead of the familiar Uniontown barracks. A fresh crop of faces had greeted him, including the Troop B captain, and Lieutenant Leslie Ferguson, a woman in her late forties, her silver-streaked brown hair in a no-nonsense cut, and whose personal energy, direct brown-eyed gaze, and blunt way of speaking belied her short stature. Lt. Ferguson was maybe a couple inches taller than Aislyn McAllister, but her presence seemed to loom over everyone in the division.

The only common characteristic between his old situation and the new one was the coffee. Not horrible, but not up to Duncan’s exacting standards.

Thoughts of Friday night skittered through his mind. He hadn’t let Sally know how shocked he’d been at her decision to leave the PD’s office. No, shocked was the wrong word. He knew, from the way she’d talked since spring, this was coming. He’d expected more notice, that’s all.

He arrived at the crime scene and focused on the task at hand. All Ferguson had said was that it was his partner’s turn to catch a case, and since she was in court, he had to handle it for now. At least it should feel more normal, even if he was dressed like a civilian.

Duncan took a moment to survey the property. The plain box house on the outskirts of Markleysburg needed a fresh coat of paint or a serious power wash. The windows were liberally streaked with dirt and grime. Straggly, overgrown bushes nearly choked off the front entrance. It definitely needed some TLC, but he wouldn’t describe it as ramshackle.

The most notable characteristic of the place had nothing to do with the visual appeal. It was the smell. Sweet and stomach-churning, it promised that whatever was inside was way beyond simply unappealing.

There was a black panel van parked in the garage, which was located slightly behind the house at the end of the drive and leaned to the left, as though shifted off its foundation. A chain-link fence, between five and six feet high, enclosed a patch of yard with grass that had been torn up in chunks. A dog’s water bowl was in the corner, but the animal was nowhere to be seen.

A uniformed trooper came out of the house. Well, I’ll be damned, she said as she took off her campaign hat and ran her hand through her blonde curls.

McAllister. I told you we’d meet up at a scene.

I’m sorry, do I know you? You do sort of look like this guy I used to work with. She cracked a grin and snapped her fingers. Why, it’s Jim Duncan. You clean up pretty good, Boss. Turn around and let me look at you.

Wiseass. But Duncan obliged her with a slow three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn. Am I acceptable?

Whoo-eee. Pinstripes, wingtips, and is that a regimental tie? I’m surprised Sally let you out of her sight looking like that and didn’t drag you off to a fancy dinner up in the ’Burgh instead. McAllister smirked. First day, first body. You don’t waste time, do you? Where’s your partner? I thought you’d have one of those.

She’s tied up, so it’s just me for now. Duncan again