Ding Dong Dead by Deb Baker Page B

desert floor and Matt’s observation that the woman had crawled before collapsing. She’d keep that knowledge to herself.
    “Did she live in Phoenix?” Gretchen asked.
    “I doubt it, or I would have heard.”
    The doorbell at the front of the house rang. Gretchen heard Nimrod, the family gatekeeper, raising the alarm from inside.
    “It’s Matt,” Gretchen said. “Nimrod will shake him down.”
    “We’re around back,” Caroline called out. A minute later Matt unlatched the outer patio door, came through, and placed a bag on the table. Nimrod burst back outside and tried to crawl up his leg. Matt reached down and stroked the little dog, greeted Caroline, then addressed Gretchen.
    “Too lazy to properly greet the man of your dreams,” he said. “I expected you to rush to me.”
    “I’m paralyzed with pleasure,” Gretchen responded. “I can’t move a single muscle.”
    “We’ll have to work on your welcomes.” He kissed her.
    Gretchen loved the casual banter between them. He was a completely different person when he relaxed—fun, witty, sensual.
    She walked into the house and went down the hall to get Daisy, but found her sprawled on the bed, talking on her cell. She refused to budge. “I couldn’t eat a thing,” Daisy said. “I’m too excited.”
    The rest of them dined on Gretchen’s favorite food—green chile stew from Richardson’s Restaurant. While they ate she thought about her plan for their evening mountain hike. She’d packed a light blanket, two wineglasses, candles, and a bottle of champagne. Tonight, she was going to have him all to herself. She had briefly considered faking a twisted ankle at the very height of Camelback to keep him up there. But knowing him, he’d call in a helicopter for a mountain rescue or attempt to carry her down. She’d better stay honest, if she didn’t want him to heft her over his shoulder and find out that she wasn’t a waif like his ex-wife.
    “Let’s go,” Gretchen said when they finished, ready to implement her romantic plan.
    “Gretchen, I’m very sorry, but I can’t,” Matt said. “As much as I want to, I’m working tonight. I was lucky to get away long enough to have dinner with you.”
    Gretchen’s excitement transformed into major disappointment. She couldn’t speak.
    “Was the information I gave you helpful?” Caroline said after glancing at Gretchen and seeing her distress. “Did you locate Allison’s husband?”
    “Very much. At first we couldn’t track him down—they had a home together in LA, but he wasn’t there. Then he came into the station a little while ago to report his wife missing.”
    “Andy couldn’t have taken the news well,” Caroline said. “Those two were inseparable. I’d like to talk to him. Do you know where he’s staying?”
    “With us for the moment.”
    Caroline gasped. “You’re holding him? The man found out moments ago that his wife is dead and you have him in custody?”
    “We have procedures, Caroline. I don’t make up the rules.”
    “I’m going down there immediately.”
    Matt shook his head. “That isn’t possible. But I promise to notify you when he’s released.”
    He had that all-business attitude that Gretchen was learning to recognize. She could almost see his mind working when he said, “According to him, they were vacationing in Phoenix. Yet it took the guy almost twenty-four hours to notify the police that his wife had disappeared. That’s a long time, Caroline.”
    “You can’t possibly suspect Andy?”
    “Everyone is a suspect until we can prove otherwise.” Matt stood up. “It was a pleasure, as always.”
    Gretchen walked with him along the side of the house, steering the conversation away from murder and on to safer ground by relating Nina’s escapade in the haunted museum and her mission to find a ghost’s doll.
    Matt put his hands up and crossed his index fingers as if to ward off evil. “Don’t tell me any more. I’m getting sweaty just hearing about