Her arms were loaded down with merchandise.

The surprised look on her face melted when she saw them.

"Oh, hi, you startled me."

Dramatically letting out a breath, she deposited the gay profusion of

bras on the counter.

Graham looked away.

There weren't many places in this store a man could look without

feeling awkward.

Caitlin pushed past him, setting her purse down behind the counter.

"We could say the same thing to you."

It was too early for her to be in the shop.

Kerry liked to sleep in.

There were times in college when Kerry had seemed hermetically sealed

to her pillow.

"What are you doing here?"

Kerry shrugged.

"Well, I didn't think you were coming in today, so I thought I'd get a

jump start on opening up the shop. You know what a slug Eva can be at

times."

Caitlin looked at Kerry gratefully, politely ignoring the comment about Eva.

"Thanks for coming in so early, but I'm here and I intend to stay."

Amusement lifted the corners of her mouth as Kerry looked at Graham.

"Couldn't keep her home, huh? Ever think of tying her up?"

A touch of humor entered his eyes as he glanced at Caitlin.

"The thought crossed my mind."

Graham looked at his watch.

It was almost eight.

"I'm going to make a call."

He was already heading to the back room.

Caitlin followed.

"Jake?"

That was one of the calls he was going to make.

He didn't feel like elaborating.

"Yeah."

Caitlin stood in the doorway, watching as he tapped out the numbers on

the keypad.

"Who stays with him when You're out like this?"

"My mother."

He hit the last two numbers.

"She lives with us now."

When she had first met Graham, his mother lived on the reservation near

the Utah border.

He had come to Phoenix to live with an uncle while he attended high

school, trying to find his place in a predominant white man's world.

"Has she been living with you for a long time?"

The telephone was still ringing.

He wondered where his mother was.

She was an incredibly early riser.

"Since Celia left."

He turned his back to her as he heard the receiver being picked up on

the other end.

"Hello? Jake? Hi, it's Dad."

Feeling as if she was suddenly intruding, Caitlin withdrew.

She released the curtains.

They sashayed across the jamb and sill, settling into place.

When she turned around, her eyes met Kerry's.

Kerry looked as if she was about to burst as she approached her.

"Anything happen last night?"

Caitlin shook her head.

"The killer didn't show up again."

"I'm relieved, but I wasn't talking about the killer."

Kerry looked over her shoulder to the back room.

The low murmur of Graham's voice was barely audible in.