Decker sat on the corner of her bed. “Yeah, as long as you heard about the car crash, I thought you’d want some follow-up.”

“Thanks for telling me.”

“You’re welcome.” Decker pulled out his notebook. “I’d like to ask you a few questions, then you can go back to sleep.”

“Ask away. I want to help.”

“Describe Marie Bellson for me.”

“Didn’t you meet her, Daddy?”

“I want your description, princess. Tell me about her.”

“Well, physically, she’s tall and thin. Her face is long, with lots of little wrinkles. Like sun wrinkles. Only she wasn’t tan.”

Decker nodded. He had noticed the same thing. “Go on.”

“A normal-size nose. She has this stern expression in her eyes, if you’ll allow me a bit of editorializing.”

Decker smiled. “Did Marie wear any makeup?”

Cindy closed her eyes a moment. “Maybe a spot of blush and lipstick.”

“Any other ornamentation?”

“Like nail polish?”

“Did she wear nail polish?”

“I don’t think so.” Cindy shook her head. “No, I believe her nails were short and unpolished. Utilitarian, no-nonsense hands—except for the ring.”

Bingo! Decker said, “She wore rings?”

“A ring—singular. On her left hand, I think. She used to play with it when she got nervous or agitated. That’s my interpretation. I don’t know for sure if she was nervous or agitated.”

“Play with it?”

“Slip it on and off her finger. She had bony fingers.”

“What did the ring look like?”

Cindy hesitated a moment. “It was like an old-fashioned school ring.”

“A class ring?”

“Exactly. A big, heavy gold thing. I think it had a stone in it.”

“Do you remember what kind of stone?”

“The round kind. Not a cut stone but smooth. There’s a word for it.”

“Cabochon.”

“That’s it.” Cindy stared at her father. “Did you find the ring with the wreckage, Daddy?”

“We found a big gold lump that could have been jewelry—maybe a ring. Nothing conclusive, unfortunately, the gold was melted. But your observation was an interesting one. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Is there anything else I can do to help?”

“No, there really isn’t.”

“Did Marge find out who this Sondra Roberts is?”

“Not yet.”

“Did she try Overeaters Anonymous?”

“She’s waiting for a call back from them.”

“Did you try Alcoholic Anonymous, also?”

“What?”

“For Sondra Roberts? Did you try AA?”

“Why should we try AA?”

“Because people with addictive personalities sometimes have more than one addiction. One Twelve-Step program is like another. Sometimes addicts join more than one program.”

Decker paused. “Where’d you come up with that?”

“Psych one-oh-three.” She grinned at him. “All that money you’re pouring into my education. Maybe you can actually cash in on something.”

Decker rolled his eyes. “Tell me about Psych one-oh-three.”