Women Who Love Dogs: A Page-Turning Crime Short Story

By Dayle A. Dermatis

A rapist haunts the beaches of Southern California, but nobody can clearly identify him.

He always looks different, and he always has a different dog.

Then Vanessa's dog, Merlin, provides a crucial clue….

A page-turning crime story from an award-nominated mystery author!

"Women Who Love Dogs" originally appeared in Me Too Short Stories (Level Best Books, 2019).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soul's Road Press
• Release date: Apr 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201464325

Dayle A. Dermatis

Dayle A. Dermatis is the author or coauthor of many novels (including snarky urban fantasies Ghosted and the forthcoming Shaded and Spectered) and more than a hundred short stories in multiple genres, appearing in such venues as Fiction River, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and DAW Books.Called the mastermind behind the Uncollected Anthology project, she also guest edits anthologies for Fiction River, and her own short fiction has been lauded in many year's best anthologies in erotica, mystery, and horror.She lives in a book- and cat-filled historic English-style cottage in the wild greenscapes of the Pacific Northwest. In her spare time she follows Styx around the country and travels the world, which inspires her writing.To find out where she’s wandered off to (and to get free fiction!), check out DayleDermatis.com and sign up for her newsletter or support her on Patreon.* * *I value honest feedback, and would love to hear your opinion in a review, if you’re so inclined, on your favorite book retailer’s site.* * *For more information:www.dayledermatis.com

Book preview

Women Who Love Dogs

WOMEN WHO LOVE DOGS

A Page-Turning Crime Short Story

DAYLE A. DERMATIS

Soul’s Road Press

CONTENTS

About This Book

Women Who Love Dogs

About the Author

Also by Dayle A. Dermatis

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ABOUT THIS BOOK

Arapist haunts the beaches of Southern California, but nobody can clearly identify him.

He always looks different, and he always has a different dog.

Then Vanessa’s dog, Merlin, provides a crucial clue….

A page-turning crime story from an award-nominated mystery author!

Women Who Love Dogs originally appeared in Me Too Short Stories (Level Best Books, 2019).

WOMEN WHO LOVE DOGS

There is nothing better than being greeted by a dog that loves you. They wriggle from shoulder to tail and back again, as if their joy, their adoration for you can’t be contained, as if the uncontrollable motion keeps them from bursting apart in a flurry of fur and pure, trusting devotion.

Vanessa Sheridan buried her face in Merlin’s fur, not caring about the doggy smell or the slight oiliness in his soft fur. Her whole world shrank down to this touch, this moment. He stilled a little, as if realizing she needed to hide her tear-stained face in him, and leaned his solid body gently against her crouched