Bassets and Blackmail Read online

  About the Book

  Will this mystery game be murder?

  Peaceful Dreams B&B is hosting a murder mystery game to celebrate its grand opening. Local sleuth Clarissa Hayes and her loyal Saint Bernard, Paw, have joined in the entertainment.

  All is fun and games until one of the guests is found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs. Was it an accident? Or murder? Did the victim share a secret past with one of the guests or the B&B owners?

  It's up to Clarissa and Paw to trail the clues to find out the truth. Along the way they're joined by a bevy of friends, both human and animal, including a black cat who is embroiled in a mystery of his own.

  Will peaceful dreams reign or will the killer unleash nightmares for all?

  A Dog Detective News

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  Visit Sandra Baublitz on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

  BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

  SHORT STORIES:

  The Mystery of the Blue Dolphins

  The Mystery of Aunt Carol’s Disappearance

  The Mystery of the Body in the Shed

  The Mystery of the Missing Bear

  The Mystery of the Missing Actor

  A Dog Detective Short Story Collection (1-5)

  NOVELS:

  Mastiffs, Mystery, and Murder

  Bassets and Blackmail

  A Dog Detective Series

  Sandra Baublitz

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  FBI Anti-Piracy Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, and people are the imagination of the author and fictitious. Any resemblance to actual people (living or dead), places, or names/businesses is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

  BASSETS AND BLACKMAIL

  ISBN: 978-1720505228

  Copyright © 2018 Sandra Baublitz

  Author website: www.sandrabaublitz.com

  Cover art by SwoonWorthy Book Covers

  www.bookcover-designs.blogspot.com

  V1

  Created with Vellum

  Acknowledgments

  The author wishes to thank her wonderful cover designer Sherry Soule of Swoonworthy Book Covers and her fantastic beta readers: Anne, Babs, Dena, Jane, Jeannie, Kristin, Mary, and Sandy.

  And a special thank you to Nancy Bober, audiobook narrator extraordinaire.

  For Paw’s fans.

  Contents

  Cast of Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Review Request

  About the Author

  Other Books by Sandra Baublitz

  “Dog Detective Rule #2: Don’t be too proud to accept assistance from your friends – even if they are a cat.”

  - The Dog Detective

  Cast of Characters

  Clarissa Hayes – Freelance writer and amateur sleuth. Owner of Paw. Bruce’s girlfriend. She’s acting in the mystery game. Will she stumble onto another murder investigation?

  Paudius Pernivious (aka Paw) – Clarissa’s Saint Bernard. Mischievous, loyal, and lovable. Will he sniff out the clues to a crime?

  Bruce Sever — Clarissa’s private detective boyfriend. He’s once again drawn into a mystery.

  Shelbee Van Vight – One of Clarissa’s best friends. Animal-lover and respected pet-sitter. Owner of Samuel and Bitsy. She’s assisting Robert and Jac in preparing the mystery game. Helps Clarissa in her sleuthing.

  Samuel – Shelbee’s mastiff. He’s best friends with Paw. He’s helped Paw solve a previous mystery.

  Bitsy – Shelbee’s Pomeranian. Rescued in one of Clarissa’s previous murder investigations. Paw doesn’t trust Pomeranians, so they have a strained relationship.

  Jacqueline (Jac) Weldon – One of Clarissa’s best friends. She’s playing in the murder mystery game and has assisted Clarissa in her prior mysteries. She’s close friends with the Innsmans.

  Robert Roberts – Local actor and friends with Clarissa, Shelbee, and Jac. He’s playing the main role in the mystery game. Owner of Kathleen and Pedro.

  Kathleen – Robert’s gray-and-black-striped cat. Friends with Paw.

  Pedro – Robert’s parrot. He loves to talk.

  William Innsman – Husband of Patricia Innsman. Co-owner and innkeeper of Peaceful Dreams Bed and Breakfast. Owner of Henry. What dark secrets are in his past?

  Patricia Innsman – Wife of William Innsman. Co-owner and innkeeper of Peaceful Dreams. Owner of Henry. What will she do to protect her husband?

  Henry – Basset hound puppy who has diabetes. Owned by William and Patricia Innsman. Friends with Paw and the other animals. What will his excellent nose sniff out?

  Rascal – Cat. Henry’s best friend. Owned by William and Patricia. Gets along with other animals.

  Harry – Chief of police of Tranquil Valley. Uncle to Clarissa. Tough and often grumpy but has a heart of gold. Wants Clarissa to avoid crime but respects her insights.

  Alma – Harry’s wife and former secretary.

  Hal McFarlane – Coroner/medical examiner. Good friends with Harry.

  Lillian Hardcastle – Elderly neighbor and friend of Clarissa’s. Speaks her mind. Owner of Saber. She has a mystery to solve with Clarissa’s help.

  Saber – Lillian’s black cat. He is as stubborn and grumpy as his owner and finds his own mystery.

  Donna Dayton – Wife of James Dayton. Guest at Peaceful Dreams. She came for a mystery game, but will she find a murder instead? And did she have a past with the dead man?

  James Dayton – Husband of Donna Dayton. Guest at Peaceful Dreams. Drinks too much. He has a confrontation with the man who dies. Did he murder him?

  Madeline Wells – Guest at Peaceful Dreams. Friends with Karen Taylor. She loves to play murder mystery games, but did she murder the dead man?

  Karen Taylor – Guest at Peaceful Dreams. Friends with Madeline Wells. She humors Madeline by playing murder mystery games, but is there another reason she agreed to come to the bed and breakfast?

  Jessica St. Clair – Guest at Peaceful Dreams. Girlfriend to Thomas Cafferty. She claims Thomas was murdered. Was he? And was she responsible?

  Thomas Cafferty – Guest at Peaceful Dreams. Jessica St. Clair is his companion. Irascible and argumentative. Why did he come for a murder mystery game? And who killed him?

  Kara – Young girl who lives in Tranquil Valley. She features in Saber’s mystery.

  Kara's mom – She features in Saber’s mys
tery.

  Dana Harford – What does she know about Saber’s collar?

  Mark Carter – Local newspaper reporter. He asks some pointed questions. Determined to find out information for his news story.

  Officer Steven Heldman – One of Harry’s police officers.

  Officer Banks – Another of Harry’s police officers.

  Officer Rob Barnes – Another of Harry’s police officers.

  Chapter 1

  Clink! Clink!

  William Innsman tapped his spoon against his wine glass and raised it for a toast. “To the very first Peaceful Dreams Murder Mystery Game. May you all find the clues before the murderer finds you.”

  Muted chuckles and murmurs of “Hear! Hear!” issued from the guests seated around the dining table in the Peaceful Dreams Bed and Breakfast.

  Thomas Cafferty scowled at his wine.

  James Dayton took a deep drink and raised his glass in the air, saying, “And to our lovely innkeepers, Patricia and William.”

  Everyone raised their glasses and smiled except for Cafferty.

  William chuckled. “Thank you. As you no doubt know, I always say that with a name like Innsman, I had to become an innkeeper.”

  Many of the guests laughed, while some rolled their eyes.

  Patricia groaned, shaking her head.

  Donna Dayton leaned forward. “William, won't you tell us how you came to find such a lovely old building to refurbish into Peaceful Dreams?”

  William grinned. “I would be delighted. Patricia and I love to hunt for old things to repurpose. We were on our way to a flea market when a truck dumped a load of logs across the road. The police directed us to an alternate route that took us through Tranquil Valley. As we crested the hill outside, I spied this old house. Patricia gasped and ordered me to the side of the road.”

  Patricia huffed, wearing a grin. “I did not. You were pulling over before I opened my mouth.”

  He winked at her. “Yes, dear.” William teased back. “But I can read your mind.”

  Patricia shook her head in good-natured exasperation at her husband of ten years. They were a charming couple in their mid-fifties, having found each other later in life. Love shone through their eyes whenever they looked at each other. William was a tall man, standing over six feet tall, with salt-and-pepper hair and kind gray eyes. Patricia was tall for a woman, with chestnut hair and warm brown eyes. The couple exuded kindness and good humor.

  William explained to Donna, “We took one look at the house and contacted the real estate agent. It was easy to purchase, having sat vacant for several years. Then the refurb work began.”

  He continued to explain, but I tuned out as I had heard the story many times and had even helped with the work on a small scale.

  Instead, I turned to Patricia sitting on my right and asked, “How is Henry?”

  Henry was the Innsman's basset hound. He had the big, sad eyes of the breed and loved attention. Normally he followed either Patricia or William everywhere, but for the dinner party, Patricia sequestered him in the kitchen with the rest of the pets. They included my Saint Bernard, Paw, and my best friend Shelbee's dogs, Samuel, a mastiff, and Bitsy, a Pomeranian. Patricia's cat, Rascal, and Robert's cat, Kathleen, were there too. Robert Roberts, whose name always elicited a laugh, was seated across from me at the dinner table and would be a prominent player in the murder mystery game.

  Patricia smiled. “Henry is doing much better. The vet says his diabetes is under control. She complimented me on how well he's doing.” Her smile faded. “I still can't believe that someone would abandon him because of his health problem. He's only a puppy.”

  Patricia and William had found Henry, three months old at the time, in a shelter and rescued him days from being put down. Now, six months later and with wonderful care lavished on him by his new family, Henry was a happy puppy. He had been born with diabetes, and his previous owner didn't want the bother of his care. Patricia, however, prepared special meals for him and diligently gave him his prescribed medicines.

  “How are Rascal and Henry getting along?”

  Patricia laughed. “They're best friends now. You'd never have guessed it at first. Rascal hissed and spat when Henry first came here, but now he loves to cuddle with him. Yesterday he groomed Henry.”

  I smiled. “That's wonderful. They're such lovable guys.”

  “So is Paw, Clarissa.”

  “When he's not getting into trouble.”

  Paw is my Saint Bernard, Paudius Pernivious, who loved to dig, hence his nickname, Paw. I loved him dearly. One thing he loved more than digging was investigating mysteries. As did I. We'd both fell into solving crimes through a series of mysteries involving our friends and family.

  Shelbee spoke from across the table. “Clarissa Hayes.”

  I turned, curious why she was using my full name.

  Shelbee was gesturing to me but speaking to the woman on her right.

  I nodded to the woman who was dressed in a light blue pantsuit with a flower in her light brown hair. The woman waved to me.

  Shelbee completed the introduction. “Clarissa, this is Madeline Wells. She and her friend, Karen Taylor, are eager for the mystery to begin.”

  Karen Taylor wore a stylish gray wool suit; her chestnut-streaked hair pulled back low on her neck in a chignon. She nodded to me. “Nice to meet you.”

  “And you both as well. Have either of you participated in a mystery game before?”

  Madeline's smile widened. “Lots of them. We love murder mysteries. Shelbee tells us that you have solved real crimes.”

  I shifted in my seat, self-conscious at the attention. “A few.”

  Shelbee grinned and winked at me. “Clarissa's boyfriend is a detective.”

  Karen and Madeline goggled at me.

  I scowled at Shelbee who continued to grin. “Yes. He is.”

  “She's worked with him on cases,” Shelbee added.

  Both women leaned forward as Madeline said, “That must be exciting.”

  “At times,” I said, not wanting to encourage them.

  Bruce Sever, my detective boyfriend, didn't like to talk about his work since he took client confidentiality seriously. I wished he were here now to deflect the women's interest, but he was out of town visiting friends. Bruce and I had met when I found a dead body in my neighbor's shed.

  Madeline Wells leaned so far forward, she grazed her plate with her chest. “Do you go on stake-outs?”

  Shelbee took pity on me. “She has a time or two, but they're really boring.”

  Thomas Cafferty spoke loudly, cutting through the conversations around the table. “This wine is garbage.”

  His female companion, Jessica, whose last name I hadn’t heard, rolled her eyes at his rude pronouncement. I didn’t know if she was his wife or girlfriend since Cafferty just referred to her as Jessica or honey.

  Various guests gasped or glared at Cafferty. Patricia drew in her breath beside me.

  Not being a wine fan, I had opted for water at dinner, but in my opinion, it was rude to insult your host's selections at a meal.

  We all turned to observe William's reaction. To my surprise, he smiled and dipped his head. “Well...I wouldn't call it garbage, but I admit it isn't the finest wine available since we’re on a budget being a new inn.” He shrugged. “We usually only serve breakfast. To celebrate our first murder mystery, we decided to offer dinner. Wine seemed appropriate under the circumstances. You see when we refurbished this house, we discovered several bottles of wine in the basement.”

  By now, everyone but Cafferty was hanging on William's every word. “Cheap dreck, no doubt.”

  I heard a squeak and turned to see Donna Dayton, who sat on my left, shift in her chair. Jessica, sitting on Cafferty’s right, fiddled with her spoon.

  William shrugged. “Most were except for one special bottle. William paused to build suspense.

  On his right, Robert Roberts was poised on the edge of his seat. No doubt he would be urging Wil
liam to join the theater.

  Jac, beside Robert, leaned forward.

  William bent down next to his chair. I had seen him place a canvas bag next to it when we sat down for the meal. He sat up, lifting a wine bottle onto the table.

  Cafferty sat up, exclaiming, “Impossible!”

  Donna Dayton half stood, saying, “Oh my gosh!”

  I was confused. I turned to Patricia who sat back and gave me a small smile. I knew nothing about wine. I didn't tolerate alcohol well, so I seldom drank it.

  Cafferty huffed. “That can't be real!”

  William smirked. “I assure you this wine is the real thing.”

  Donna's voice squeaked. “That's a Chateau Haut-Brion.”

  “Yes.” William nodded. “An excellent vintage too.”