Dolly Departed

would bring them back together.

Gretchen put Charlie's penny doll in the top drawer of her worktable, really hoping that the bloody miniature axe she'd seen on the shop floor had nothing to do with the room boxes her mother wanted to restore.

Saturday evening's festivities were in full swing along the streets of Old Scottsdale. Parking was at a premium. Gretchen and Nina found a parking space several blocks from Mini Maize. Gretchen wasn't sure why she found herself drawn back to the shop, but here she was.

'Let's go in this shop,' Nina suggested, 'or this one.'

'Come along,' Gretchen ordered. 'We aren't here to spend money.'

'You lured me with promises of great shopping.'

'After we peek in Mini Maize.'

Nina trailed behind with prancing Tutu. Nimrod rode in Gretchen's purse. He seemed as excited as the children who wore cowboy hats and rode ponies around in circles. Better yet for the tiny pup, everyone who encountered the miniature teacup poodle wanted to cuddle him. Nimrod was his own showstopper. Gretchen felt like his personal bodyguard.

She couldn't pry Nina from the window displays, so she reconciled herself to a slow, halting pace.

'How about this shop,' Nina whined. 'Let's go in. Just this one.'

'After.'

Old Scottsdale was one of Gretchen's favorite places to browse. They strolled past western-style shops filled with Native American pottery and Navajo rugs. Art galleries, antique shops, trading posts, and jewelry stores lined the busy streets.

Gretchen admired a turquoise and silver bracelet in a window. She wished she could afford to buy it, but at the moment, she was saving for her own apartment.

'It's beautiful,' Nina said, stopping to admire the same piece of jewelry. 'Turquoise and silver are the hottest combination this year. Let's go in. You have to try it on.'

'I can't afford to even think about it,' Gretchen said wistfully. Nina groaned and pulled Gretchen's arm. 'Come on. Just try it on.'

'No, once it's on my wrist, I won't be able to take it off.'

Gretchen stood firm.

'Why fight it?' Nina insisted. 'You're saving so you can move out of your mother's home, but Caroline is hardly there since she started her book tours. Stay there as long as you want. Besides, the repair workshop is right there at the house. How much more convenient could it be? You don't want to start commuting to work.'

'She's coming home tomorrow,' Gretchen reminded Nina.

'Because of Charlie. After that, poof, she'll be gone again. Say after me, buy jewelry.'

'I need my own place. Ever since moving across the country, I've lived with my mother. Not that I'm complaining about the circumstances, it just doesn't feel grown-up.'

'You lived by yourself in Boston, and you were horribly lonely.'

'What makes you think that?'

'Psychic analysis.'

Gretchen turned from the tempting bracelet and continued walking in the direction of Charlie's doll shop. Nina and Tutu scurried to catch up.

'I love my work,' Gretchen said, stopping to let a little girl pet Nimrod. 'But I'm new at it. When I agreed to the business arrangement with Mom, I didn't anticipate going it alone. It was supposed to be a partnership. Two of us. Dos. ' She held up two fingers.

The doll restoration business she shared with her mother had taken off, but so had her mother. Once Gretchen had agreed to help with repairs, Caroline had handed most of the real work to her and was now traveling extensively to promote her new doll book, World of Dolls. In her spare time, she hunted for treasures to add to her collection or to sell at the doll shows that Gretchen attended.

Nimrod's most recent admirer gave him a kiss on the top of his head and waved goodbye.

'Caroline is having the time of her life,' Nina said.

'Having you in Phoenix has been so good for her. She can pursue her writing, thanks to you. She needs you as much as you need her.'

Gretchen strode along, considering the years of trouble that had plagued her family: her father's death in a car accident, followed rapidly by her mother's battle with breast cancer. She'd almost lost both of them.

She realized Nina wasn't beside her. She stopped and turned.

'You're walking too fast,' Nina huffed from behind, eyes darting to catch every window display. 'Slow down.

'You're a shopaholic,' Gretchen called out.

Nina glanced into an art gallery. 'Let's go in and check out the paintings.'

'Mini Maize is right here,' Gretchen said, pointing to the next shop.

'I'll be along soon.' Nina darted into the gallery with Tutu at her heels, leaving Gretchen standing alone in front of the doll shop.

Here I am. Now what?

Gretchen peered through the window. A light had been left on over the main counter. She could see the display case lying on the floor. The room boxes and scattered doll furnishings still remained where they had fallen earlier in the day. From her position, she could even see where Charlie Maize's body had been found. Then she saw movement. A woman came out of the back room and approached the counter. With her back to Gretchen, she straightened a stack of magazines on the countertop.

Gretchen tapped on the window to get her attention. The woman's head snapped around. Gretchen motioned to the door. The woman met her there and unlocked it. As she stuck her head out, Gretchen could see the wariness in her eyes. 'The shop is closed.'

'I know. I'm Gretchen Birch. I was here this morning when Charlie's body was discovered. I wanted to come by.' That sounded foolish. Why had she come to the shop?

'I was her best friend,' the woman said without opening the door any wider. 'I'm Britt Gleeland. I made most of the miniature dolls on display in the shop.'

'I'm surprised I haven't met you before.'

'I'm not a member of the Phoenix Dollers.'

Gretchen knew that there were two distinct doll groups: doll collectors and miniaturists. They each had their own clubs and shows, so it wasn't unusual that she hadn't met Charlie's friend before. Of course, there were always crossovers like April, who loved all aspects of the doll world.

'I'm sorry for your loss.' Gretchen said.

'Thank you.' Britt Gleeland had dark hair in a tightly rolled French twist with a fringe of long bangs. She was about forty-five years old and wore a crisp white blouse, dark skirt, and businesslike heels that matched the professional expression on her face.

'Can I come in?' Gretchen asked.

'It's not a good time.'

'I won't keep you long.' Gretchen couldn't believe how quickly the police had wrapped up their work at the shop. How long had it been? Less than twelve hours?

'Very well,' Britt said, reluctantly standing back. Gretchen moved past her and noticed a shopping bag on the floor next to the counter.

'I'm collecting some of my dolls,' Britt said. 'Charlie had them on consignment, so they belong to me. I don't know what's going to happen to the shop now that she's gone, and I was concerned about retrieving them.'

'I hope you left the display pieces.'

'Why?'

'My mother will be restoring the display case and would like everything to be just as it was. Please don't remove anything just yet.'

'I didn't hear anything about that,' Britt said. 'But it doesn't matter. I've only gathered up the dolls that Charlie had on consignment.' Britt squatted and picked up a room box. 'I don't know what I'll do without a best friend. They take years to acquire.' She glanced up, her eyes teary. Acquire? What an odd thing to say. It sounded like she was talking about a doll collection rather than a human relationship.