Page 28 of So Deadly
“Sahar Mitchell.FormerlyDr.Sahar Mithcell.”
Jessica raised an eyebrow."Should I assume that the former part has something to do with her problem with our victims?"
“It’s a safe assumption,” Faith said.“Dr.Mitchell—back when shewasa doctor—was exposed by none other than Margaret Hayes for selling fake therapy dog licenses for profit.”
Jessica blinked.“Really?”
“Really.It took a while to verify this, but I eventually managed to get access to the court records of the case.Miss Hayes reported Dr.Mitchell for the practice after allegedly researching how to certify a dog as a therapy dog and discovering erroneously that it was as simple as saying you wanted your dog certified and receiving the diploma.”
“And the courts fell for that?I mean, it’s obviously the pot calling the kettle black.”
“More likely than not, the courts had a bigger problem with Dr.Mitchell selling fake licenses than they did with Hayes obtaining one.”
“Hmm.Any idea why Hayes chose to be a hypocrite?”
“No.That’s something we’ll want to follow up on with Dr.Mitchell.”
“Okay.So, what’s the Thomas Webb connection?”
“Well, it looks like Dr.Mitchell named him as an accomplice during interrogation.He denied it, and the case against him was dropped due to lack of evidence.”
“Meanwhile Dr.Mitchell lost her veterinary license.”
“Yep.”
“I can see why she might hold a grudge for that.”
“Exactly.The best part is that Dr.Mitchell recently moved to Newton.About six weeks ago, to be exact.”
Jessica nodded.“That sure doesn’t sound like a coincidence.”
“It could be,” Faith allowed, “but it’s suspicious as hell.”
“Sure is.”Jessica finished the rest of her coffee in two big gulps.She sighed with satisfaction.“Okay.Let’s go talk to her.”She looked Faith up and down.“I’m driving.”
“Fine with me,” Faith said.
***
The former Dr.Sahar Mitchell lived in a condo in Chestnut Hill, a neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts, near Boston College.The majority of the residents—at least the ones Faith could see—were college kids.Most of them rode bicycles, and several of them cast dirty looks at the rental SUV as Jessica parked the car in front of Mitchell’s unit.
“Think it’s the car or the fact that we’re law enforcement?”Jessica asked drily.
“Probably both,” Faith said.“College students still have the luxury of believing the world could be a utopia if only these old fuddy-duddies would just get out of the way.By the time they reach twenty-five, they’ll have acquainted themselves with the fact that life is hard work and utopia is a fever dream concocted by old, tired people with too much time on their hands.”
Jessica looked at her.“You need more coffee.”
“You started it.”
Turk barked, probably to pull his humans’ heads back into the game.They approached the door to Mitchell’s first-floor unit, and Faith heard yapping from behind a low plastic fence.She looked down to see a tiny teacup Yorkshire Terrier, no bigger than a guinea pig, barking at them.Each bark lifted all four paws off the ground, and the effort caused the dog’s hair to stand on end.
Turk looked at the tiny creature incredulously.He looked back at Faith as though to ask,what is that?
“Minnie!”a voice called.“Calm down!It’s just a delivery!”
“Actually, it’s the FBI,” Faith called, “and if you’re Sahar Mitchell, we need to talk to you!”
The door opened, and a slim, athletic woman of around forty poked her head through.She stared at the agents for a moment, then said, “What?”
