threaten his poor mother enough times."
"Gretchen doesn't think Ryan killed Charlie," April said. "She thinks a clown did it."
This was Gretchen's cue. She told the detective about the incident at the parade and her conversation with Ryan Maize in which he described the same clown.
"So," Gretchen said to the detective when she finished,
"what do you think?"
Brandon dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair.
"I really can't discuss the case with you," he said. "I wish I could, but it's against policy. You've all done a great job. You know what I suggest at this point?"
"No, what?" April said.
"I suggest you go home and get back to your normal lives. You've played an important part in the investigation, but now that part is over. Detective Albright and I will take it home from here."
"That's exactly what I said," April chirped, making an effort to push her new, lithe body out of her chair. "Let's go, girls."
"Nina, can I speak to you for a minute?" Brandon asked.
"Alone?"
Gretchen and April filed out.
Nina fluttered out a few minutes later. "He wanted my phone number," she said, glowing like the sun. Through the conference room windows, Gretchen saw Detective Kline talking on a phone. He was all business. She would love to hear what he was saying. And to whom.
* 35 *
To style a tangled mohair wig you need to learn about the hair fashions from your doll's era. Make sure you match the hairstyle to the doll. You can use small permanent wave rollers, hair- dresser's end papers, hair clips, bobby pins, plenty of hairspray, and your imagination. A bit of warning though--of all the wig materials, mohair is the most difficult to work with. First prac- tice on human hair or synthetic wigs. If proper care is taken, your new coiffed style will last another hundred years.
--From World of Dolls by Caroline Birch Early Tuesday morning, Gretchen climbed Camelback Mountain at a brisk speed and stood at the very summit overlooking the awakening city and the rising sun. Back to normal. Back to her life. It felt good.
Today, she would set an original mohair wig in curlers. She reflected back on her first styling effort. She'd rolled all the curls away from the doll's face and had to redo the entire thing. Live and learn.
Learn and live. Isn't that the advice she'd given her friends? But she wasn't going to think about murder today. She'd hike, work in the workshop, and play with Wobbles and Nimrod.
The desert air was fresh and clean at this altitude, and she breathed it in with familiar appreciation. This was her favorite spot, up with the birds at the top of the world. No one else seemed as enthralled with the mountain as Gretchen. A few serious hikers came up this far, but it was a difficult, steep climb. Most people stopped at the enormous boulder just before the most grueling part of the trail began. She saw a few ant-sized people close to the trailhead, but it was still too early for the tourists to be out. Gretchen started down.
Matt Albright was waiting for her at the boulder. He wore cargo shorts, running shoes, a Don't Worry Be Hopi T-shirt, and he was leaning against the rocks watching her descend.
"Don't run away," he said immediately, pushing off from the face of the boulder. "Talk to me."
"I'm not going to run away." Far from it!
"I thought you and I were making progress, then something happened." He took her hand, and she felt tingles up her arm, through her body. "We need to talk about it."
"There's nothing to talk about," Gretchen squeaked. "I was going through some old relationship burnout. I'm better now."
"Nina told me."
"Told you what?"
"That you thought Meg was my date when you saw us together at the rodeo."
Gretchen didn't respond. Good old interfering Nina with her big, blabby mouth. Kindhearted, but way too involved in Gretchen's life.
"Did Detective Kline tell you about the clown?" she asked.
"You're dodging."
Of course I am.
"Well, did he?"
"We've contacted all the local costume shops. None have a clown suit like the one you described."
Gretchen opened her mouth to ask another question, anything to get him off this uncomfortable topic. He cut in.
"Can we start over?" Matt asked. The sun rising as a backdrop lit up the rocks. He squeezed her hand.
"Your pending divorce seems to be going on forever,"
Gretchen said. Finally, it was out in the open. "And your wife is stalking me. This isn't the best time to start something