'But. .' He slipped a finger under her chin and waited until she looked at him, until their eyes met, 'if the divorce is final, you give me a chance. Deal?'
He kissed her gently.
'Deal,' she whispered.
Then he left her standing alone halfway up the mountain. The rest of the morning passed in a cloud. Gretchen peered into her completed projects basket and was surprised to find it full. She was operating on automatic drive while her mind replayed the kiss and promise.
She sighed, fully aware that she was behaving like a teenager. It was wonderful to be in love. Or was it lust?
Whatever. It felt great. She wished Matt were here. Then she remembered his doll phobia.
One more reason why this would be a difficult relationship to maintain. Heavy sigh. Gretchen set down the antique German doll she was holding.
Nimrod raced past on his way to the doggie door. The tiny door had been a good investment. It allowed him to decide on his own when he needed to go out. Wobbles uncurled from a position on the edge of the worktable and stretched. A few pats from her, a little purring, and he plopped back down. What a life.
She found Caroline and Daisy on the patio, having iced tea and sandwiches.
'I spent the night, and you didn't even notice,' the homeless woman said. She was scrubbed clean, and her purple dress had been washed. Nimrod was on her lap.
'Sit and have lunch,' her mother offered.
'You should come more often.' Gretchen joined them, pleased that Daisy felt comfortable enough to pop in.
'I hear Ryan's doing well,' Daisy said.
'He's so lucky,' Caroline said.
Gretchen poured a glass of tea. 'Daisy, the other night at the rodeo, a clown told me where to find you.'
Daisy nodded. 'That was Andy. He works for the rodeo every year.'
'Does he own the clown suit?'
'No,' she said. 'They supply it.'
'Ever see a clown with green hair and a bald spot on the crown?'
'I thought you were going to let the police handle Charlie's murder from now on,' her mother complained. 'Let it go.'
Daisy rolled her eyes skyward, thinking. 'Can't say that I have. Why?'
'It's not important,' Gretchen said, catching the fed-up look on her mother's face. She changed the subject. 'Is Nacho back from San Francisco yet?'
'He's home. He didn't like California.' Daisy held up her glass of iced tea. 'Here's to love,' she said, staring knowingly at Gretchen. They toasted.
How did Daisy know? Was it that obvious? Daisy, now that Gretchen thought about it, had her own glow since Nacho was home. The moment was idyllic-perfect weather, basking in the sun with two terrific women, the possibility of a serious relationship with Matt.
Gretchen's cell phone rang when she went to the kitchen for more coffee. 'I think I made a terrible mistake!' Nina shouted on the other end.
'What's up?' Gretchen asked.
'I botched a reading.'
Tarot cards again. 'Did Brandon Kline ask you out yet?' Nina
'Don't patronize me. You have to listen. Are you listening?'
'You're shouting. I don't have a choice.'
'Here it is then. Remember the reading I did for Britt?
Well, I read the cards wrong.'
'How do you know?'
'Because I'm down at Aurora's New Age Shop, and Aurora knows these things. Let me talk. Remember she drew the king of pentacles? And the hanged man fell on the floor? The card with the man hanging from a tree upside down? I thought the hanged man was for April because it fell at her feet, but it was really for Britt.'
Gretchen entered the workshop and gazed out the window at Camelback. Nina really needed male companionship. Someone to take her mind off of auras and palm readings.
'But the hanged man means the reversal of the other cards' meanings. Instead of a person of character and a loyal friend, the opposite is true. Britt is corrupt; she'll use any means to achieve her end. She's ruthless, unfaithful, and extremely dangerous.'
'That's what the cards say?'
'Right. She was capable of killing Charlie.'
What would her aunt come up with next?
'Nina, what kind of concrete evidence is that? The police can't arrest her because the hanged man says so.'
'But we can try to prove she did it.'
'Call Detective Kline and get him onto her.'
'You constantly make fun of me, don't think I don't know it. You have to believe me this time. We can prove it. Then you'll have to give me credit. I'm so tired of being mocked.'
Nina hung up without saying goodbye.
Gretchen went back to work in the doll shop.
36
'Where's Nina?' April asked the next morning. Gretchen was bent over a restringing project in her shop. April had stormed in without knocking.
Gretchen looked up. 'She's mad at me.'
'She isn't home.'
'She's probably shopping.'
'Tutu's there.'
'Sometimes she leaves the princess home. Rare, but not unheard of.'
'I think she's been gone awhile. Tutu has doo-dooed and wee-weed all over the house.'
Gretchen put the doll's arm down. 'How long do you think she's been gone?'
'Judging by the canine evidence? Since at least last night.'
Gretchen felt faint. Something terrible might have happened to her aunt. 'We have to call the hospitals.'
'I'm way ahead of you. Scottsdale Memorial has a Jane Doe admit. I'm headed over to take a look. Want to come along?'
Gretchen shook her head. 'No, we'll be more effective if we split up. I'll try some of her favorite haunts. I'm sure there's a good reason. Maybe she connected with Brandon last night.'
'She would never neglect Tutu.'
April was right. 'Don't tell my mother,' Gretchen warned her. 'Not yet. It will only upset her. But last night Nina called, babbling on about Britt Gleeland's tarot reading and reverse meanings, and that she'd decided Britt might be the murderer.'
'What nonsense! I ought to throw those cards away.'
April rushed out. Gretchen left her project where it was and grabbed her purse. Nimrod looked at her expectantly.
'You're staying home today, bud.'
What could have happened to Nina? Where was she?
Think. Last night she hung up on Gretchen. Was she so angry she had an accident? Maybe. More probable? She had rushed off to prove herself. She certainly had total confidence in the cards. Okay. Work it out. If the clown was the killer, and she was convinced it was, she could eliminate several people. Joseph, Bernard, and Evie couldn't
