One Dog Too Many (A Mae December Mystery) by Lia Farrell Page B

symphony, correct?”
    “Oh, yes, you’re right.”
    “Did your husband wear a suit to the symphony?”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “I assumed so, and that’s why your cleaning lady and the crime scene tech are talking. We need to get his clothing from that night. Again, this is merely to eliminate him from suspicion.”
    “She should be able to get his suit and shirt. I haven’t taken them to the cleaner’s yet.”
    “Thank you.” Wayne heaved an inward sigh of relief.
    “Do you and Mr. Connolly have children?”
    “Yes. We have two children. Our son Clayton is seven and Marie, our daughter, is three.”
    “Who took care of your children the night of March fifteenth?”
    “Nora Takichi sat for us that night.”
    “How did she get home?”
    There was a brief hesitation. “James drove Nora home. Nora had some trouble getting Marie to sleep so she put her down in our bed. I went in and slept with her. James slept in the guestroom after he got back from taking Nora home.”
    “Did your husband change his clothes before taking the babysitter home?”
    She hesitated again. “No, they left right away.”
    Emma returned with the clothing. Wayne thanked Laura Connolly and they departed.
    “I’m going to drive over to see Joe Dennis,” Wayne said. “Are you free to go along? We can get that cheek swab.”
    “That’s fine. I’m pretty much caught up with my lab work at present.”
    “At present.” He grinned at Emma. “But not for long. We’ll have plenty for you to analyze soon.” Emma was dressed casually, in a lab coat over tshirts and jeans. Very cute. Way too young for him though.
    They drove to the address that Dory had given them for Joe Dennis. Joe’s house was on the small side for a family with four kids, Wayne thought. It was a white, ranch-style home with dark red shutters and a three-car garage. Beside the house stood a dog run with a large black lab in it. Nichols rang the doorbell.
    A small-boned redhead with a baby in her arms answered the door. “Yes?”
    “Mrs. Dennis?”
    “That’s me.” She turned to look at a toddler, who was walking determinedly toward a nail polish bottle sitting on the kitchen counter. “Bobby, stop. Leave that alone.”
    “I’m Wayne Nichols, Sheriff Bradley’s Detective and this is Tech Peters. Is your husband home?”
    “Sorry, Detective. He’s on a job site.” She glanced back into the kitchen, took a step away from the door and scooped up the toddler in her other arm. “It’s over on Little Chapel Road, his mother’s place. The fourth house on the right from the River Road end.”
    “Thank you.” They went back to the car.
    “Busy woman,” Wayne said.
    “How many kids do they have?” Emma asked.
    “Four, all under the age of five, I think.”
    They drove in companionable silence to Little Chapel Road and found the property easily. Joe had parked his truck on the gravel verge by the driveway. He was unloading four-by-eight sheets of plywood. Was it Joe’s truck that Mrs. Ryan and Lucy had seen the night Ruby died? Joe looked up as they drove in.
    “Joe Dennis?”
    Joe was on the short side, tan with a wiry build. “Yes.”
    “I’m Wayne Nichols, Sheriff’s Detective. This is Emma Peters. She’s from the lab. I have some questions for you. Can we go inside?”
    Joe nodded and they walked up to the older home. As they passed through the entryway, Wayne noted all of the construction material stacked neatly on the floor in the kitchen. Despite the ongoing remodeling, there wasn’t a speck of sawdust in the room.
    Joe gestured to the kitchen table and they sat down. “Sorry I can’t offer you anything. The water’s turned off.”
    “No problem. We need to get a cheek swab and clarify some information you gave the sheriff. Can we get that now?”
    “Sure.”
    “Open your mouth please, sir,” Emma said.
    Joe did and she expertly obtained a cheek swab and placed it in a labeled envelope.
    “Thank you ,” Emma said.
    “ Joe, I know