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Squatting over a dead body was not Detective Raymond Reed’s ideal lunchtime activity. The coroner estimated time of death as the night before around seven. It was almost one o’clock now. His stomach growled. The glare from the crystal chandelier hung high over the marble tile of Gary Martin’s foyer bothered his eyes and made him cranky. Or maybe it was the fact that there were five officers and medical personnel working the scene and ignoring the little Shih Tzu shivering next to the body.
He stroked the pup’s head before going through the dead man’s pockets. He found gum, a receipt for the gum from a convenience store with a time and date stamp of yesterday evening at five fourteen, and his cell phone. His keys lay on the floor next to him.
Ray handed the phone to the officer closest to him.
“Sergeant, can you please see if you can find next of kin and put me on with them when you do?”
“Sure thing, Detective.”
“Can you also find something to eat and drink for the dog? Maybe distract her with a toy?”
The sergeant nodded and went for the Shih Tzu, who backed up and growled in warning.
“I don’t think she’s interested, Detective.”
Ray went out to his SUV and opened the hatch. His partner, German shepherd dog Ace, jumped out of the back and followed him into the house.
He knelt down next to Ace. “How about helping me with this little one, pal?”
Ace walked over to the Shih Tzu, who looked up at him towering over her. He gave her a little nudge. She held her ground. Ace let out a single bark, and the Shih Tzu stepped away from th
