March 17, 2026
Attorney at Paw
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 the body. Ace sat next to her.
Ray patted Ace and his charge on the head and went back to work. There were no apparent bruises or injuries on the body. He looked at the Shih Tzu.
“I wish you could tell me what happened here, little one.” Chrissy stared at him with an intensity that took him off guard.
What Bugs Me When I am Reading – Overused Phrases!
I read three or four books a month. Recently, I’ve notice repeated phrases that have grown tired. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, you may have noticed them in the books you’ve read or have used them in the ones you write. Three of them stand out. Reply to this message and let me know if you feel the same way.
“Her green eyes sparkled.” – Seems like many characters, regardless of their ancestry, have green eyes. The truth is Green eyes are quite rare, found in only about 2% of the global population. They are most commonly seen in people of Northern and Central European descent, particularly in countries like Ireland, Scotland, and Iceland.
“She released a breath she didn’t know she was holding.” We’ve all done this when under stress, yet there are other ways to demonstrate tension and subsequent relief. Maybe, “Her chest relaxed,” or “Her body suddenly felt lighter.” Think about what happens when your body transitions between strain to ease. What alternatives can you come up with?
“A smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.” Experts in micro-expressions clued us in to this. A smile that doesn’t reach the eyes is known as a non-Duchenne smile, involving only the muscles around the mouth and not those around the eyes. This type of smile is often perceived as insincere or forced. One way to imply deception or insincerity can be demonstrated with false compliments in dialogue. Think of the ways a character might behave in a way that would make you suspicious. These phrases tend to create a hiccup in my mind and disrupt the writing voice of the author. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Send me a note to Diane@DianeWingAuthor.com.
