Page 4

CHAPTER 2

I KNEW WHAT to wear. Pushing worry for Martha into the back of my mind, I stripped the dry cleaner’s bag from one of my half dozen pairs of blue trousers. I did the same with a blue striped men’s tailored shirt, and once dressed, stepped into my regulation brown lace-up shoes.

I called Joe’s phone. No answer. Fear was back, morphing into panic. I pressed Redial again. I got his regular upbeat outgoing voicemail message.

I was in the bedroom brushing tangles out of my hair when I heard the front door open and Julie call out, “Daddddddddyyyyy!”

Joe was home, thank God. But Martha wasn’t with him. I came into the kitchen and saw he was scowling as he set a bag of pastries down on the kitchen counter.

“Hon? What’s wrong with Martha?” I asked.

He said, “Don’t know. She just seemed … lethargic. Doc’s going to run some tests on her.”

I sucked in a breath and Joe came over to give me a big hug. “Tests are good. Martha is having a CAT scan … I’ll call Dr. Clayton later.”

Julie reached her arms around her father’s waist and said, “Dogs get CAT scans?”

Joe was beginning to explain when my phone buzzed.

The text from Claire was brief and urgent.

Call me .

I tapped my phone right away and Claire picked up mid-ring.

“Linds. There’s been a murder. You should come before we move … the body.” She yelled away from the phone, “Hey. Step back.” Claire Washburn, San Francisco medical examiner and my BFF, sounded rattled. She came back on the line and told me she was on the path by the Lily Pond in Golden Gate Park, and that I should hurry. What the hell?

“On my way,” I told her. Now that Joe was back home, he could handle getting Julie off to school.

I took my Glock from our gun safe, shrugged on my shoulder holster, and slid the weapon into place. As I was hanging the chain with my badge over my head, Joe called out that he’d brought crullers and had put the coffee on. I called back that I was needed at work.

“Please call me as soon as you know something about our good dog,” I said as I hurried into the kitchen to say good-bye before leaving.

“The tech won’t be in until this afternoon,” Joe pointed out.

I nodded. I kissed my husband, then stooped to kiss our little girl on each cheek, checking for tears shed over Martha. None yet. I squeezed Julie’s shoulders, and she hugged me hard around my neck. I murmured that Martha would be home soon, then stood up and kissed Joe again. I felt two pairs of eyes on me as I made for the door.

I fled down the stairs to the street.