Two Tall Tails by Sofie Kelly Page B

it. I got home to find a police car in the court. Tom and Jason were at the bottom of Angie’s driveway with a uniformed police officer. Tom was talking to the officer, gesturing with one hand. Jason stood there with his hands in his pockets, feet apart. There was something cocky about his stance.
    When Tom noticed me, he beckoned me over. I squared my shoulders and made my way toward the men.
    â€œOfficer Sullivan, this is my neighbor, Sarah Grayson,” Tom said. He held himself stiffly and I noticed he avoided looking at Jason. Instead he fixed his gaze on me. “Sarah, will you please tell the officer about Matilda’s seizure and the ball you took to the vet.”
    My surprise must have shown on my face because Tom added, “Dr. Kessler called me.”
    I turned to the police officer. He looked to be just this side of forty, stocky with hair cropped close to his scalp and kind brown eyes. “Matilda is Tom’s corgi. She had a seizure yesterday. I drove them to the animal hospital. I grabbed the ball she had been playing with and took it with me. I, uh, I thought it had a funny smell.”
    I could feel Jason’s eyes on me, and this time I shifted my gaze and met his full on. If he thought he could intimidate me, he was wasting his time. His expression was appropriately serious, but it seemed to me that there was a hint of a smug smile around his dark eyes.
    â€œWhat did you do with the ball, Ms. Grayson?” Officer Sullivan asked.
    â€œI gave it to one of the veterinarians at the clinic, Abby Davenport. It turned out that there was insecticide on the ball.”
    â€œWhich he put there,” Tom said.
    His voice was calm and steady, which made me nervous.
    â€œI didn’t touch your dog’s ball,” Jason said. “I’m sorry the thing was sick, but I had nothing to do with that.”
    He was good. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have believed him.
    â€œThere’s a bottle of insecticide over in the garage,” Tom said, inclining his head in the direction of Angie’s house. “Molly’s ball is there, too.”
    â€œWho’s Molly?” Officer Sullivan asked, frowning.
    â€œThe little girl across the street,” I said.
    â€œLook,” Jason said, holding out both hands. “The truth is I have no idea what’s in the garage because this is my aunt’s house. I’m just here for a few days to help her once she gets out of the hospital.”
    â€œMr. Harris, how do you know what’s in your neighbor’s garage?” the policeman asked Tom.
    â€œBecause I looked. Because he tried to kill my dog.” He gestured at Jason. “Because he tried to kill Angie. He’s after her money.”
    I caught Tom’s arm. He’d said too much.
    Jason turned to the police officer. “Like I said, this is my aunt’s house. I don’t want to make trouble, but I don’t feel right about people being on her property without permission.” He turned and pointed to the strip of lawn between the two driveways. Several four-by-four cedar posts were stacked on the grass. “I’m about to start on a fence to give my aunt a little more privacy.”
    I tightened my grip on Tom’s arm but the older man didn’t speak. He just continued to glare at Jason and shake his head.
    â€œMr. Harris, I understand you’re upset about your dog,” Officer Sullivan said. “I get that. I have two dogs myself. They get sick and it’s almost like your kid getting sick.”
    He’d fallen for Jason’s act.
    â€œMy two, they get into everything. I have to lock up the trash cans because otherwise they’re rooting around in the garbage.”
    â€œMatilda doesn’t eat garbage,” Tom said through clenched teeth.
    â€œGood for her,” the officer said. “But my point is you don’t know what your dog could’ve eaten that made her sick. You’ll