Dr. Susan McKinney did not like dogs. Smelly dirty things, the silly things were always getting underfoot. It was a close-kept secret since not liking dogs was seen by some as the equivalent of pro kicking babies. Susan was thinking of this as her potential host Minerva Ross Petersen’s dog click clacked towards her. The glossy mop of waves sniffed her heeled shoes throughly.

To conduct any form of investigation in Newport Rhode Island especially among the Talented Tenth, amateur detective Susan knew she had to go to Minevera. And that’s why early this morning Susan was in her nicest dress and gloves with a carnation in her lapel waiting in Minerva’s gracious parlor. She’d given Minerva’s servant her calling card and waited with her trembling tiny dog.

Mrs. Minerva Ross Petersen was the social secretary for the African Women Benevolence League. Black or white, the ladies’ clubs met first and foremost to create positive change. Yet women are social creatures. Outside of saving the world there was another world for the educated Black ladies of Newport. Minerva in her role at the African Women Benevolence Society was the queen of the teas and gossip and right marriages among the best families, Among Black society Minerva knew where the bodies were buried. Susan needed to charm this prickly hydra to get the answer to the story behind the headlines. Susan shifted in the high back chair. The dog growled.

Fixing an eye on the creature, Susan clutched her purse tighter. Caramel brown, it was well groomed long-haired chihuahua. She knew the breed was aggressive and territorial but always loved one person fiercely. Here and there, gray hairs poked from its shaking stick limbs. It wore a pristine red ribbon and reeked of tooth decay.

Impulsively susan thrusted her hand down to the growling dog’s face. The dog flinched. Yelping it scampered from the formal parlor. The maid returned with a silver tray of tea things. The dog nipped at servant’s heel as it ran from the room. Accustomed to such outrages the servant girl barely stumbled but didn’t spill a drop of EarlGrey tea.

“Are you all right dear?”

“Yes, ma’am, don’t worry about me, ma’am. Missus Petersen will be with you shortly,” the maid said pouring the tea.

Susan didn’t like dogs but she was never cruel to them. She wondered what kind of woman she was meeting. With her first sip she formed a clear picture of Minerva and a plan to pump her for information.

Flawlessly coiffed and outfitted Minerva swanned into her parlor. Susan plastered on an innocent wide eyed expression.

“Oh Mrs. Petersen you are so gracious to make time for a stranger. We are considering relocating to Rhode Island and my dear late friend Maria said don’t make a move without talking to you,” susan said with puppy dog eyes