Mendoza got home late that night. It had suddenly turned much cooler and up on the hill above Burbank a strong breeze was blowing. It was nearly dark, but he could see the vague white forms of the Five Graces huddled in the pasture. At the house, the garage light was left on for him and he went in the back door, past Cedric slurping water from his bowl in the service porch.
'Well, you are late and all,' said Mairi. 'I kept your dinner warm in the oven-'
'Never mind, I had something downtown.' He went down the hall to the living room. The twins and the baby would be in bed. Alison was reading in her armchair, surrounded by cats. 'Well, querido, you finally remembered you have a home?'
Mendoza bent to kiss her. 'Things should quiet down a little now that the heat wave's ending.' Now they just had the latest homicide and two heists to work, and could hope that not too many new calls would go down. 'You get on with your book, carina. I want to write a letter to Rambeau.'
He went back to the kitchen for a drink first, and El Senor was waiting for him on the counter below the relevant cupboard.
