All the guests filtered into Sergio and Dean’s expansive kitchen and took turns filling their plates with quiche, fruit salad, and some of the pastries Julia had brought. Drinks were refilled and chaos reigned until Evy escaped outside, thankful not to be stuck in the crowded house.
While her shields were holding with the help of her new medication, interior spaces with a lot of people were still the hardest place to be. She couldn’t help but feel the press of thoughts and the energy of so much thinking without getting a fairly intense headache.
Vivian sidled up to her just as she was heading out the door. “Hey, could you take Richard this plate? He’s giving Henry a bottle, so I made him one.”
Evy smiled. “You two have been very cozy the past couple of months.”
Vivian smiled. “It’s good cozy, not smothering cozy.” She glanced out the window. “Richard’s so enthusiastic about all the little parenting things—it’s hard to deny him.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Evy said. “And you can tell that Henry just adores him.”
Richard was an old friend of Dean’s who’d only discovered he was a father when his grown daughter had shown up and made herself known in her late twenties. He’d missed out on all the younger years, so even though he was in his early sixties, he was absolutely thrilled to participate in all the baby chores with Vivian’s new son.
Evy, on the other hand, had spent her childhood taking care of younger siblings and cousins. If she never changed a diaper again, it would be too soon.
She walked out and gave Richard his plate, then sat down, leaving a space for Rafe to join them.
“Vivian said you’re hosting the dog show this year,” Richard said. “I’m neighbors with Bunny Barker, you know.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, her property juts right up to mine along the hills. I’ve had a few poodles in my yard over the years.”
Evy took a bite of quiche. “They seem like nice dogs though.”
“They are, and very well trained. It wasn’t a big deal. I enjoyed the visits, though it annoyed Bunny and Stewart any time the dogs went missing, especially Baron.”
“He’s the champion everyone is talking about winning the dog show, right?”
Richard nodded. “Gorgeous animal but also a beautiful temperament. Bunny breeds him to her female Zara. I think I asked out of curiosity once, and their puppies go for some ridiculous amount like ten thousand dollars apiece. I was floored.”
“Ten thousand for a dog?” Evy nearly choked. “Then again, they put Cartier collars on them, so I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“I just hope he hasn’t wandered too far this time.”
Evy paused, her fork hovering over her plate. “What do you mean? I saw him yesterday morning at the television studio.”
“There were two police cruisers over at the house this morning before we left.” Richard frowned. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but one of them mentioned Baron was missing. Asked me if they could search my garden. I said yes, of course.”
“But you said he does that fairly often? Run away?”
Richard nodded. “Usually only on our street though.”
Vivian came to join them. “Are you talking about Baron going missing?”
Richard nodded. “Evy met Baron at the television station yesterday.”
“He’s so sweet, right?” Vivian set down her plate and reached for Henry, who had finished his bottle. “Baron has that crazy haircut, but you have a feeling he really just wants to roll in the mud.”
Evy shook her head. “If he’s going to compete, they better find him before Tuesday. All the dogs have to be registered by then. Side note: I know way more about dog shows than I ever expected to. Weird, right?”
Richard smiled. “The owners in the show community are very intense.”
“I’m thinking about getting a dog for me and Henry,” Vivian said. “The next time Sergio breeds Cleo and Caesar. I’ve always wanted one, and Sergio’s dogs are so amazing.”
“Golden retrievers are wonderful dogs,” Richard said. “Great with kids.”
Evy couldn’t stop thinking about Baron, that beautiful ink-black poodle with a small fortune fixed around his neck. Had Bunny’s generosity with her dogs made them a target? It was a horrible prospect but all too likely.
“Poor Baron.”
Vivian looked at her. “I’m sure he’ll show up. Everyone in the neighborhood knows him, and he’s so friendly.”
“Unless someone took him,” Richard said. “I’m sure the police have to look into that as well.”
A dog with a half-million Cartier dog collar around his neck? Who would dare steal that?
Only everybody.
“Bunny must be going out of her mind,” Vivian said. “I’ve only talked to her a few times, but every conversation we have is about her dogs. She lives and breathes for them.”
Richard nodded. “She and Stewart had an actual custody fight about Baron and Zara when they split.”
“I heard that.” Evy shook her head. “Let’s hope he shows up soon.”
“Poor Bunny,” Richard said. “She must be worried sick.”
Chapter Three
Evy was sitting in her dressing room, Chip lounging on the couch, when they heard a knock on the door. She looked up from the notebook they’d been using to outline their introductions and commercial breaks.
“Come in!”
Chip sat up and took his feet off the ragged coffee table where he’d propped them. “Hello?”
Evy saw the familiar face of John Marcos, Palm Springs chief of police in her doorway. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
He shrugged and stepped through the door, wearing his typical uniform of khaki pants and a white-collared golf shirt. “I’m a dog lover obviously.”
“Okay…” Evy didn’t believe him for a minute. She viewed cops the way someone born into a borderline criminal clan would. They were to be avoided, distrusted, and evaded, in that order. The fact that she’d helped John Marcos on more than one murder investigation didn’t mean she trusted him, it just meant she distrusted him less than other cops.
Chip stood. “Hello, I’m Chip Dunklin. I’m cohosting with Evy.”
“Yep, you’re on my list.” John took Chip’s offered hand and shook it. “I’m actually here to ask you a few questions. The director lady…” He pointed to his ear. “Or whoever she is—the one with the headphones and like three radios—she told me that you’d be writing with Evy.”
Chip frowned. “Why am I on a list?”
“I need to ask you a few questions about the dog.”
“What dog?”
Evy’s heart sank. “Does this mean Baron was stolen?”
Chip’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God, something happened to Baron?” He looked at John. “What about Zara? Is Zara okay?”
“Zara?” John frowned.
“Bunny’s other poodle,” Evy said. “The white female. She had two show dogs, and they both had those crazy expensive collars on them.”