♫I want it all♫
♫I want it all♫
♫And I want it now♫

♫I'm a dog with a one track mind♫
♫So much to do in one life time♫
♫Not a dog for compromise and wheres and whys and living lies♫
♫So I'm living it all♫
♫And I'm giving it all♫

♫And I want it all!♫

 

High Stakes
Chapter 16

    It turned out that Morgan had been hired on the spot at Miss Steak. She was refusing to speak to me about the investigation.

    "I came in to apply for a job and I ended up working a 10 hour shift. My paws are killing me. I smell like French fries. And some little pup spilled his orange soda on my shirt. We can talk tomorrow," she insisted.

    My curious nature would not allow it. "It can't wait, Morgan. I'm going to be at the restaurant myself tomorrow and I need to be prepared. Please? I'll buy you a rawhide at that little chew bar near your house. One of those big chicken basted knots."

    I could tell she was tempted and finally she agreed to meet me. I arrived early and ordered for both of us. I'm something of a rawhide purist; I like mine plain. I was already at work on my chip when Morgan arrived. She looked exhausted. I pushed her flavored knot over to her as she flopped onto a stool at the bar beside me. "This had better be premium grade," she said, sniffing the chew. "I really need a pick me up."

    "Only the finest for my best junior investigator," I replied, smiling and ignoring her icy glare. "Chew 'em if you got 'em." I held my chip up to toast her. She ignored me and began gnawing on her knot.

    "I'm tired, so I'm only going to tell you this story once, do you hear me? Lyle! Are you listening to me?" she slapped a paw on the bar as she spoke. I had been watching myself in the long mirror behind the bar, studying my chewing muscles as they flexed and relaxed. I snapped back into the conversation and tried to focus on Morgan. I gave her a go-ahead gesture with my paw.

    "You should be really grateful for this information," she began. "Raise grateful. Big raise grateful, actually. I worked my tail off today."

    I craned my neck around to examine her backside. Her tail looked fine to me. I wondered if there would be any truth to the rest of her story. She continued, unaware.

    "Alright, here's the deal. There are just a few waitresses there. I didn't really meet any of the kitchen staff but I guess you'll be able to do that yourself. There seem to be two distinct cliques amongst the waitresses. Miss Matches, Sinty, and Samantha are clearly out of the loop. The other group is the one we need to watch. Sadie, Star and Cassie spend all of their free time whispering in the back room. I tried to get to know them a little but they weren't interested in talking to me beyond introductions. They seem very exclusive. I did hear something that might be important, though. Star and Cassie are meeting a couple of guys tomorrow night to discuss some sort of plan. One of the dogs is named Basil. I couldn't catch the other name. That's about it."

    She had my full attention now. Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. I just wondered how many more it would take before I could see the whole picture. "Tomorrow night?" I confirmed.

    She nodded but said, "Now you have to understand I have no idea what they're meeting about. They could be going to the prom for all I know."

    "Maybe, maybe," I mused, chewing a little. "Coincidences are rarely coincidental, in my experience." Morgan stared at me, apparently digesting this bit of wisdom. "When is your next shift?" I asked.

    She sighed heavily and her shoulders sagged. "Tomorrow afternoon," she said desolately. "I don't know if I can do it. I'll be listing off the specials in my sleep."

    "Oh, what were the specials today?"

    She glared at me and ignored my question. At least I could hear about tomorrow's myself. "Listen, Morgan, I'm going to be in the kitchen tomorrow but you might not recognize me. I'll be Jacques Pate, a French poodle and famous chef, observing Bullet and his sous-chefs." An idea occurred to me and I asked, "Say, you don't happen to know any French, do you?"

    "Don't tell me...please...you didn't," she sputtered.

    "It's no big deal. It's just that the owner speaks a little French and I don't. I figure I'll tell them I prefer to speak English while I'm in America. You know, when in Rome, and all that. Still, it might be handy to throw in a phrase or two. How do I say, 'I am delighted to see your fine establishment' in French?"

    She thought for a moment and then replied, 'Say 'Je suis bete, mais j'ai aussi un coeur d'or.'"

    "Great. Thanks, Morgan. You're the best."

    She must have been getting her second wind, because a little glint had appeared in her eye. "Don't I know it," she murmured.