Three Dog Day (21 page)

“
I really don't know.” Ray looked down at his feet for a moment. “Just sometimes a lot of dogs would go at the same time, not just puppies. I'd come back to work and some of the full grown ones would be gone, too. I asked Mr. Jerrod about it once and he said to mind my own business.”

Mae did not like the sound of that at all. “All right, Ray, thanks. You can go play with the puppies if you want, while I finish eating.”

Ray took his dishes to the sink and disappeared down the hall toward her art studio/puppy holding area. Mae ate the rest of her food. For a voracious teen, soup and a sandwich was a snack, but this was an early dinner for her. Ben wouldn't be over until late tonight, but she planned to share her suspicions with him then. After she ate and took Ray home, she would be hashing out some more wedding details and taking a hot bath—with a nice glass of wine.

It was almost nine that night and Ben had yet to arrive at her house. Mae had already taken her bath and spoken with Tammy's mother, Grace. The catering decisions had been finalized. Mae's sister July had agreed to Olivia being the flower girl—apparently Olivia was already the proud owner of what July described as “the perfect dress”—and they had no family plans that conflicted with the February fourteenth event.

“
I'll try and get a sitter for the boys, and Fred and I will come with Livy,” her sister said. “Unless you want them for ring bearers or ushers or anything?”

“
I think Matthew's going to be the ring bearer, but Nathan and Parker would be great ushers.”

“
As long as they behave themselves,” her sister said doubtfully. “Ask Tammy. If she wants them to do it, I'll put the fear of God into them and we can have a family Valentine's Day celebration.”

The Tater jumped off the couch where she'd been curled up beside Mae and ran to the door. She gave one sharp yap. “I've got to go, July. Ben must be here.”

“
Hello, girls.” Ben came in dressed in jeans and a heavy coat. Slipping it off, he hung it on the stair post and plunked down on the couch beside Mae, giving her a quick kiss.

“
Glad you've got the fire on. It feels great in here.” He leaned back into the cushions with a sigh, turning to look at her. “Are you okay, babe? You seem quiet.”

She told him about her day—test results and having to take Guinness in to be put down, dinner with Ray and her fears that Jerrod had been supplying dogs for illegal purposes, as well as her progress with wedding planning.

Ben listened, and when she was done talking, he moved Tatie from in between them and pulled Mae close. She lay against his chest and felt herself melt into him. The tightness in her throat that had been there ever since Mr. Gunderson's phone call finally eased and she took a deep breath. “Thank you.” She sat up and gave him a smile. “How was your day?”

He frowned and shook his head. “Not great. Matty was a real chore at my parents' tonight. Just tired, maybe, but he was extra picky about dinner and cried about everything. And the DNA results came back from the rag and knife Dory found. It was the murder weapon, and there was DNA from two men—Web Johnston and someone else. We don't have the results on the comparison with Jerrod Clifton yet. If he isn't our guy, I'm at a loss as to where to go next, Mae. Maybe you can help figure out what Clifton was really doing with his dogs, though.”

His blue eyes were dark in the subdued light of her living room and his brown curly hair was ruffled. As usual, he smelled great.

Mae stood up. “I'll look into it. And I know where you need to go next. Will you put Tatie in her crate, please?”

“
Sure. You going to bed?”

She untied her robe and let it slip until it caught on her cast, showing her bare shoulders and chest. “I am. It might be cold up there, though.”

Ben was on his feet and in the kitchen with the little corgi before she could blink. “Don't worry. I'll keep you warm,” he called over his shoulder. “You aren't going to need that robe at all.”

A
s soon as he and Detective Nichols finished questioning Jerrod, Sheriff Bradley had asked Dory to let Mr. Gunderson of the ASPCA know that Mr. Clifton was in custody. He wanted the ASPCA to schedule the hearing on the Clifton puppy mill. Ben had told the staff he suspected Clifton of master-minding the copper theft ring and potentially the murder. If Jerrod were given jail time for animal cruelty, that might provide the sheriff with a chance to collect sufficient evidence for a felony indictment on the other two crimes.

Judge Garrett Sower, an animal lover who had made a specialty of hearing ASPCA cases, moved the case to the front of his calendar. A lucky cancellation on the court docket had given them a January seventeenth date. George and Rob were assigned to bring Jerrod Clifton to the court dressed in an orange suit and cuffs. Dory had arranged it as a nice theatrical touch.

Dory dressed carefully for the hearing, hoping the ASPCA attorney would call her as a witness. The ASPCA attorney, Miss Marina Seng, and Dory had already had several meetings while waiting for Jerrod to turn up. Dory was bringing young Ray with her. The drive to the courtroom would give them a chance to talk. She was concerned about him, knowing it was going to be a tough day for the teenager.

Marina Seng met Dory and Ray Fenton on the courthouse steps and escorted them into a nearby conference room for a briefing. Marina was a young Asian woman with smooth dark hair cut in a bob and beautiful ivory skin. She was dressed in a silver gray suit and a black blouse. Dory looked at her reed-like slimness and compared it to her own, more curvaceous self. More celery sticks were in order.

Miss Seng asked Dory a few last-minute questions, reassured Ray Fenton that he would be safe from reprisals, and took them both into the courtroom. She said she would be leaving it up
to
Judge Sower to determine whether either of them would be called. When they entered the courtroom, the defendant, Jerrod Clifton, was sitting at a table in the front of the room beside his attorney.

“
All rise,” the bailiff said, and everyone stood.

“
This is a hearing on animal cruelty. Mr. Clifton, how do you plead?” the judge said. Jerrod and his attorney, Jim Mitchell, approached the bench.

“
My client pleads not guilty, Your Honor,” Mitchell, a skinny guy with a military style haircut, stated.

“
Given the exigencies of the situation and the need to get the animals placed in permanent care, we're hearing this case today. This is not a remand hearing. You may begin, Miss Seng.”

“
I have photographs to show Your Honor,” she said and pulled photos from her briefcase. There was a mild ruckus in the back of the courtroom and the judge banged his gavel. Dory's heart sank. It was her nemesis, Carrie Adams, along with her crew and reporters from other local stations.

“
Quiet in the courtroom, or I'll have the bailiff evict all of you,” Judge Sower said. His brow was deeply furrowed in obvious resentment at the interruption. “Go on, Miss Seng.”

“
On January eighth, the ASPCA conducted a raid of Mr. Clifton's premises and took custody of several female pit bulls, fifteen puppies, and three adult males. All the dogs were thin, some almost skeletal, and as you see from the photos, their cages were filthy. Only one cage had a filled water dispenser. All the food bowls were empty. This is clearly a case of neglect, verging on cruelty. The following witnesses are present and prepared to testify today—Mr. Gunderson of the ASPCA and his assistant Allison Ware, Ms. Dory Clarkson, an investigator from the sheriff's office, and Mr. Ray Fenton, who alerted the authorities to the matter. In addition, we have a veterinarian, Dr. Sheldon Weil, here as an expert witness.”

“
Very good, Miss Seng. You may call your first witness,” the judge said.

“
I call Mr. Lawrence Gunderson, Director of the Nashville ASPCA Office.”

Gunderson came up, was sworn in and took his seat in the box next to the judge.

“
Mr. Gunderson, how long have you worked for the Nashville ASPCA?” Marina asked.

“
Twenty-three years.”

“
Do you consider yourself an expert on telling when an animal is in poor condition?”

“
Certainly.”

“
How would you describe the condition of the dogs on Mr. Clifton's property?”

“
They were weak from dehydration and lack of food, and one female was close to death.”

“
I understand that you went out to the property at the behest of Sheriff Ben Bradley of Rose County, prior to the actual raid. Is that correct?”

“
Yes, the sheriff's office had received a tip about neglected dogs on the Clifton property. I sent two officers to the property the day we were notified. Unfortunately, the ASPCA is not able to take possession of any animals without notice to the owner. If we can't find the owner, we have to wait three days. In this case we couldn't locate him.”

“
When were the photos taken that I presented to the judge?”

“
We took those the day of the raid, January eighth.”

“
Thank you, Mr. Gunderson.”

“
Are there any questions from the defense?” Judge Sower asked.

“
No, sir,” the defense attorney said, after a brief consultation with Clifton.

“
Very well. You may call your next witness, Miss Seng.”

“
The court calls Mr. Ray Fenton,” Miss Seng said, and Ray shuffled forward, looking pale. He glanced quickly at the defendant and then away.

After Ray was sworn in and took his seat, Miss Seng asked, “I understand you had been working for Mr. Clifton part time as an animal care assistant. Is that right?”

“
Yes, ma'am,” Ray said.

“
How long had you worked for him?”

“
For about six months.”

“
During that time, did you notice any occasions when the animals were out of food and water?”

“
Yes, a couple times. I only worked three days a week, after school.” His voice broke. “I felt bad when I couldn't be there because I was worried that the dogs would be out of food.”

“
I understand you were the ‘whistle blower' who reported Mr. Clifton to the sheriff's office, which then contacted the ASPCA. Is that correct?”

“
Yes, ma'am.” Ray seemed to shrink, looking anywhere but at Jerrod Clifton.

“
Thank you, Ray. That will be all for now.” Miss Seng stepped away.

“
Anything from the defense?” the judge asked. The defense attorney said no. “Hearing none, you may return to your seat, young man.”

Ray stepped down, the color returning to his face.

“
I now call Dr. Sheldon Weil to the stand,” Miss Seng said.

Dr. Weil, a tall skinny man with a benign face, rimless glasses, and long thinning hair was sworn in.

“
Dr. Weil, I understand that you are a professor and academic researcher with the University College of Veterinary Medicine, right?”

“
I have been with the vet school for seventeen years,” Dr. Weil stated. “I hold the rank of full professor.”

“
And you have testified before on animal cruelty cases, is that correct?”

“
Many times. Determining the cause, severity and duration of an animal's injuries—as well as the extent to which the animal suffered or experienced pain—are important legal elements of a cruelty case.” He looked straight at Jerrod Clifton.

“
And in your considered opinion was there cruelty in this case?” Attorney Seng asked.

“
Without question. It's critical in these cases to look at the amount of time the animals were left unattended. In this instance, it was clear that no one had been feeding, watering, or cleaning cages for days prior to the ASPCA raid.”

“
So you would not consider this neglect?” Marina Seng probed.

“
No, ma'am. I could tell that the animals had been in a constant state of neglect for quite some time. Being abandoned on top of that raises the situation to cruelty.”

“
Thank you, Dr. Weil,” said the judge. “Anything from the defense?” The defense attorney said no. Dory wondered what he had up his sleeve. “Hearing none, you may step down,” the judge said. “Any more witnesses, Miss Seng?”

“
May it please the court, I'm prepared to call Miss Dory Clarkson from the sheriff's office to the stand.”

“
What will be the nature of Miss Clarkson's testimony?” Judge Sower asked.

“
She was present the day of the raid and found a knife and a bloody rag buried on the premises. Both items are key to an ongoing felony case.”

“
I won't have her testify then. Miss Clarkson's expertise would be in the criminal area.” Dory was peeved that her big moment wasn't going to happen but slightly tickled that the judge said her
expertise
was in the criminal area.

“
Are you finished, Miss Seng?” the judge asked.

“
Yes, Your Honor,” the attorney nodded.