“Can you think of a blonde who might have had a key to the house? Or someone that SueEllen knew well enough to buzz in on her intercom?”

“Well, there’s Larkspur, of course. But she was out in Santa Monica.”

“So she says.”

“And there’s Ginny Pearson.”

“Who’s she?”

“SueEllen’s best friend. They met years ago, handing out prizes on a game show. But she couldn’t have done it. She and SueEllen were very close.”

“Any other blondes?”

She shook her head. “I can’t think of any.”

“What about your father? Any blondes in his life? Other than Larkspur?”

“There’s Denise, the nurse at his office. I think she and Daddy are fooling around.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Nothing, really. Just the way she looks at him. All gooey-eyed.”

Wow. Between SueEllen, Larkspur and Denise, Hal Kingsley had been a mighty busy man. I was surprised he still had enough energy to perform tummy tucks.

“Does your father know you’re here?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“I’d better call and let him know you’re okay.”

“Do you have to?”

“Yes, I have to. He’s probably worried sick.”

But Hal Kingsley didn’t sound worried sick at all. He was his usual undemonstrative self when I told him that Heidi was sitting on my sofa. I had a sneaky suspicion that he didn’t even know she’d been gone. I couldn’t bear the thought of sending Heidi back to such a cold fish, so I asked if she could spend the night.

“I’ll bring her back tomorrow,” I promised.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he said it was fine.

I hung up, wondering what it must be like having a father like Hal. My dad may have been running around with a used toupee on his head, but at least I knew he loved me enough not to toss me over to a virtual stranger in a time of crisis.

“Was Daddy worried?” Heidi asked.

“Very,” I lied. “But he said you could sleep over.”

Heidi sighed.

“Believe it or not,” she said, “this is my first sleepover. I don’t have many friends. Oh, who am I kidding? I don’t have any friends.”

“Well, you have one now,” I said. “Me.”

At which point, Prozac sat up and meowed.

“And Prozac, of course.”

Damn cat hates to give up the limelight for a second.

“How about we get in our pajamas and watch a movie on TV?”

Minutes later, Heidi and I were curled up in bed, Prozac snuggled on Heidi’s chest.

“You sure she’s not bothering you?” I asked.

“No, no,” she said, stroking Prozac lovingly. “She’s a wonderful cat.”

Prozac opened one eye and shot me a look that said, Haha. Fooled another one.

We zapped around and were lucky enough to find one of my all time favorite movies, Roman Holiday, with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Heidi had never seen it and got caught up in it, which was a good thing. She needed all the distraction she could get.