Ding Dong Dead

14

Gretchen watched Matt get out of his car holding a bouquet of flowers. He sprinted into the banquet hall without seeing her approaching from the coffee shop down the street. Some detective, she thought with a smile. Coffee in hand, she perched on the front of his car and waited for him to come back out, not wanting to share him with the others.

The sun still felt like an old friend this early in May, but it would start to sizzle and scorch the desert by June, at the latest.

Julie came rushing along the street, her haphazard updo as messy as ever. She stopped when she saw Gretchen. “What are you doing on top of that car?”

She must look foolish! “It’s Matt’s car. He’s inside. He’ll be right out.”

“Hope I’m not too late.”

“Bonnie’s been working on her lines. You’re fine. Don’t tell Matt I’m out here.”

Julie looked puzzled but willing. “I won’t.” She slipped into the hall.

After several more minutes, Matt came out of the building and was startled to find her lounging on the hood of his car.

“What’s this?” he said, fistful of roses whipped behind his back. “You knew I was taking my life into my hands by going into this building and you didn’t warn me?”

“You mean because of your doll problem?” Gretchen pretended not to notice the flowers. “You must like me a lot to risk the sight of all those Barbie dolls on the stage.”

“I didn’t know the stage setting was in place, or I never would have gone in, even for you.” He offered his free hand in a gallant gesture to help her alight from his vehicle. She accepted. “But I really meant those women. I’m lucky I got out with my clothes still on my body.”

“They are a scary bunch.”

“My mother appeared from a back room just in time to save my clothes, but calling me Matty in front of everyone was thoroughly embarrassing.”

“Yup. She always calls you Matty. And the rest of them are man-starved.”

“One of them pointed a gun at me.”

“Tsk. You poor thing. Want to escape to my secret hideout until we’re sure it’s safe to come out?”

He glanced at the door to the building. “Absolutely.”

“What’s behind your back?”

He presented the roses. A dozen vibrant red roses resting in baby’s breath.

The first time in years that Gretchen had received flowers from a man.

“Please don’t tell me I made you cry.” Matt looked worried.

“No. Thank you. I love them. What’s the occasion?”

“Our four-month anniversary.”

“Oh, okay.” Had it really been four months since his divorce was finalized? Since the day they had met on the mountain, at the halfway point?

“Run,” he said playfully. “Quick! The door is opening. They’re going to get me.”

Gretchen turned to see that no one was following them before they trotted down the street, laughing like kids.

This Great Coffee Place was her favorite coffee shop. A Costa Rican light roast and one of the shop’s scones was a small slice of heaven on earth. Matt ordered a cup of coffee, and Joan, the friendly proprietor, topped off Gretchen’s cup.

“Great flowers,” someone called out.

“You must have said yes,” from someone else.

“Way to go, Gretchen.”

Matt led her to the most private table he could find.

“You know everyone in here,” he commented, taking the bouquet from her and laying it on the side of the table. “Is this where you hang out on a regular basis?”

“It’s comfortable, has positive energy, and is convenient when I can’t stand working with the cast any longer.”

“That bad?”

“Worse.” Gretchen cut a chocolate chip scone in half and nibbled on tiny pieces of it. “What happened with Andy Thomasia?”

“Under investigation, top secret.”

“So he’s the prime suspect?”

“Spouses, lovers, they always start out at the top of my list.”

“Nina thinks you’re dealing with a killer who goes after doll collectors.”

A small smile crept over his lips. He was always greatly amused by her aunt’s unusual take on life. “Nina would think that.”

“Tell me what you’ve found so far.” Gretchen leaned across the table. “That is, unless it isn’t any of my business.”

“I value your opinion mightily.” He leaned in to meet her. He kissed her nose, sending a bolt of electricity through her body. How would she react when they got past a few lip-locks? That unleashed bolt of power might kill her.

Matt sat back. “LAPD is assisting. The victim had a small studio in her Los Angeles home where she made dolls. The artistry of the doll found at the crime scene is consistent with her other works. Did you know that Allison and Andy Thomasia were estranged at the time of her death?”

“No.” Gretchen’s mother would be interested in that bit of news.

“She remained in their LA home. He rented an apartment. Recently, according to him, they were in the process of reconciling. He claims she invited him along to Phoenix. He’d hoped to work things out between them while here.”

“What about the homeless people in the cemetery?”

“No help at all so far.”

“Did you let all of them go?” Gretchen was thinking specifically of Nacho.

“What a mess that was.” Matt studied his coffee cup as though remembering every detail with dread. “Seventeen potential witnesses without a single one of them admitting having heard or seen a thing. No drivers’ licenses, no state ID cards, no other kind of identification on any of them. All we could do was put them through the paces-photographs, fingerprints. We let them go.” He looked up at her. “You know some of those people. Maybe you can get them to talk to you?”

“I tried. I haven’t seen Nacho, but Daisy claims she didn’t see or hear a thing, so they’re sticking with their story. Maybe they’re telling the truth.” A thought occurred to her. “Wait… does this mean you need me?”

“I always need you, baby.”

“I thought I was supposed to mind my own business.”

“I never said that.”

Men!

“You implied it.”

“Ahh, those nasty implications.”

“Tell me again that you need my help.”

“I,” Matt said with a great grin, “need your help. But only this one time.”

Gretchen heard sirens in the distance, not an uncommon sound in one of the most congested cities in the country with a large, aging population. Sirens were as routinely heard as other traffic noises, yet the sound always reminded Gretchen of disaster. The sirens gave her pause to reflect on how lucky she was.

“By the way,” Matt said. “There was a multiple-car accident near Twenty-fourth Street and Camelback. Stay clear of that area for a while.”