time since arriving in Phoenix, all the anguish of the last week rising inside her and exploding outward. She clung to the warmth of their shared embrace even after they began their descent from Camelback Mountain.
28
“Larry’s going to live,” Gretchen said when she hung up the phone, incredulous that anyone could survive that fall. “His back is broken, but he was conscious, and he confessed. They released Nacho this morning.”
Gretchen sat at the kitchen table with her mother and Nina. Dogs and cats scampered underfoot.
Caroline clamped her hand to her chest. “You can’t imagine how frightened I was when I saw Larry’s car parked next to the trailhead. I knew he killed Martha, and I was afraid of what I would find up there. I never dreamed it was you.” She cupped Gretchen’s hands in her own.
“You saved my life,” Gretchen admitted. “I don’t know why I missed his car when I started the climb. I must have run right past it.”
“You wanted so badly to believe that you were on your way to meet your mother,” Nina said. “You weren’t thinking about anything else.”
Gretchen agreed. “I’m glad the police released Nacho. They could have charged him with obstruction.”
Caroline took a sip of tea. “When I asked him to stall for time, I didn’t expect him to take such a drastic step. But that’s Nacho . . .” Her voice trailed off.
Gretchen frowned. “Why did Martha have a note asking you to hide her French fashion doll if you already had the doll?”
“I wondered about that also,” Caroline said. “Martha left the doll in my workshop, and I think after she left, she must have realized that she forgot to leave the note. She ran into Larry on her way back, and he chased her up the trail, so she never had the chance to return and leave the note.”
“What about Joseph?” Gretchen said. “Why did he lie about the Kewpie?”
“I think he was simply afraid of involvement,” Caroline said. “He didn’t want his name added to the list of suspects.”
“Poor Julia,” Nina said. “She didn’t know a thing about it. I don’t know how she’ll run the shop with Larry in prison.”
“Julia’s tough,” Caroline said. “And the club members will help her through it.”
Nina chuckled. “Daisy almost fainted when she heard that she slept through all the excitement.”
Gretchen frowned in thought. “How did you get past the police at the airport? According to Matt Albright, officers were waiting for you.”
Caroline smiled. “I expected a welcoming committee, and I really didn’t want to explain from a jail cell so . . . let’s just say that Larry isn’t the only one who knows how to throw together a disguise. If Bonnie’s son hadn’t spent so much time drinking lemonade with you, he wouldn’t have been late, and he certainly would have recognized me the moment he saw me. I managed to scoot right past those other officers.”
“I think he likes you,” Nina said.
Nimrod gave a little yip from his poodle purse on the doorknob.
“Look who’s awake,” Nina exclaimed. “He needs a home, Gretchen. His family is still away, and they’ve decided a dog is too much commitment, since they travel extensively. They asked me to find him a good home.” Nina stared at Gretchen with pleading eyes.
Gretchen slid a peek at Nimrod, and his ears perked forward. Wobbles sat contentedly under Nimrod and purse, watching over Tutu and Enrico.
Gretchen, amazed that she would even consider owning a purse dog, grinned at Nina. She pushed back her chair and lifted the curly black teacup poodle from his traveling home. “Okay,” she said. “If Wobbles says he approves.”
Wobbles, reserved with his comments, looked on.
“He said yes,” Nina said. “I heard him through a special energy field.”
Caroline laughed, a deep, throaty roar. “It’s good to be home.”
“I have a new helper,” Nina said. “Daisy’s interested in learning to train purse dogs. You’re right, Gretchen, she’s a natural.”
Caroline laughed again. “Things have changed so much in one week. Gretchen’s here, we have a new houseguest in the spare bedroom, and the house is full of pet life.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” Gretchen said, realizing what an imposition she must be.
“Not at all. I didn’t know how lonely I’ve been until I saw the house brimming with activity.” She glanced at Gretchen. “Why don’t you stay? We can clear out the cabana for you. I have more repair work than I can keep up with, and you’re looking