The woman stuck her head out and smiled. “How’s it shakin’, handsome?”

“Can’t complain. I thought I’d leave the unmarked here, and we’d go down together. I’m just waiting for somebody to come here to watch over the area while I’m gone. Shouldn’t be more than five, ten minutes. Photographer and M.E. should be coming momentarily.”

“What’s in this area?”

“Looks like the spot where the car jumped.”

“Mind if I have a peek?”

“Not at all. Just pull up behind the Plymouth, but don’t go over the cliff.”

“Aw gee, Pete. And here I was, thinking of doing some bungee jumping.” She parked the Jeep, slid out of the seat, and gave Decker a big hug. “God, you’re all wet!”

“Forgot my beach towel.” Decker smiled and held her at arm’s length. “How’re you doing, Annie? You look great.”

And she did. She’d cut her hair short and dyed it white-blond. But with her fair skin and green eyes, she had pulled it off without looking silly or, worse, as if she were desperately clinging to youth. Not that age hadn’t presented itself in four years—the crow’s-feet around the eyes, the wrinkles at the mouth. But her overall expression looked happier, more confident, than when he had last worked with her. She wore a thin white cotton blouse tucked into khaki pants. Her feet were bereft of socks, housed solely in sneakers. Around her neck was a camera; on her head was a sun hat. She looked ready for a safari.

She pinched his cheek. “I feel great. You don’t look so bad yourself, kiddo. Although your nose could do with a little schmear of something.”

Decker laughed.

“I see you’ve got a ring on your finger,” Annie said.

“So do you,” Decker said.

“Don’t compare. Mine’s a lot nicer.”

“It’s quite a rock.”

“He’s a wastrel, Pete. When he’s not racing cars, he putters around the family wineries in Napa.”

Decker eyed the stone. “He must be doing all right.”

“Family is loaded with a capital L. First time I ever met them was over dinner last Christmas. It was a very traditional, formal affair with a zillion relatives flown in for the occasion. The table was set for royalty—imported antique china and crystal, and a bank vault’s worth of silver in the form of eating utensils. I was so afraid of using the wrong fork, I lost ten pounds that weekend.”

“You mean you didn’t snarf it through your nose?”

“Glazed ham and mucous, yum, yum.”

Decker groaned.

Annie said, “So it looks like you took the plunge into matrimony?”

“Guess so.”

“You guess?”

Decker chuckled. “Yes, I got married a little over a year ago.”

Annie regarded his face. “You don’t seemed thrilled.”