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gripped the couch. “Like it was him, in his bedroom. Like it was him that was going to come down the hallway, yelling at me for interrupting him or laughing or…”
    She stopped herself short and sniffled.
    I reached into my shoulder bag and searched for a hankie. I came up with a spit-up rag and decided not to hand it over; instead, I surveyed the room for a box of tissues.
    “They’re here,” Melanie said.
    “Who?” Jill asked.
    Melanie jutted her chin toward the windows. “The cops. Finally. Took them forever.”
    Jill switched her weight from one red Dorothy shoe to the other. She looked as if she were about to speak, but instead moved toward the front door.
    A lanky officer stood on the stoop.
    “Got a call about an interrupted robbery,” he said, matter-of-factly.
    Jill motioned for him to come in. He surveyed the three us, eyes landing on Melanie. He grunted and took out a notebook.
    I took out a notebook of my own. The officer, whose name tag read “Ross,” raised an eyebrow at me. I smiled. He said nothing to me and turned to Melanie.
    “Tell me what happened,” Ross said.
    I heard a car backfire and looked out the window to see Galigani searching for a spot to drop his rusty old car.
    Melanie tentatively touched her split lip. “I came over to pick up my brother’s cat. He was…”
    “He had a hiking accident this morning,” Jill said. “We’ve only just come from the hospital.”
    “So who lives here?” Ross asked.
    “My brother,” Melanie said. “Only…only now…” She teared up and her shoulders began to shake.
    Jill put a hand to Melanie’s shoulder. “Perry lived alone,” she said to the officer. “We dated, but he lived here and I live in Russian Hill, Melanie lives across town, and Kate, well, she’s just here for moral support. She didn’t know Perry at all.”
    The officer frowned, but made a note. “Uh-huh. I’ll need full names and relationships in a sec.”
    Galigani appeared in the open doorway. “Ross. How are you?”
    The officer looked across the room and seemed surprised to see Galigani. “Oh, Albert. What are you doing here?” He glanced at Jill, Melanie and me as if expecting an explanation from us. Melanie and Jill looked equally confused.
    “Galigani’s my partner,” I said.
    “Partner?” Melanie asked.
    “We’re private investigators,” I replied.
    Galigani crossed the room toward Ross and touched his arm. “Perry Welgan is at the M.E.’s office. We may be looking at homicide.”
    “What?” Jill and Melanie said in unison.
    Galigani glared at me and I cringed. I hadn’t exactly mentioned the Medical Examiner’s office to Jill yet, only that I thought she might be in danger.
    “My brother had a hiking accident,” Melanie said, her face looking more swollen than before. “What does his accident…what does it have to do with…homicide?”
    Jill shook her head. “No, no. It’s wasn’t a homicide. He fell.”
    Melanie sank into couch. “Are you saying someone may have killed Perry?”
    “Nobody killed Perry. Who would do that? He was liked by everyone. It was a horrible, tragic accident,” Jill said.
    Galigani bowed his head. “I’m sorry to upset you ladies. I spoke out of turn. Of course, the M.E. won’t know anything for several weeks.”
    Ross nodded solemnly and turned to Melanie. “What can you tell me about the break-in, Miss?”
    Melanie wrung her hands. “I came over to get the cat and there was a man here, in the back. Someone I’ve never seen before. He hit me in the face and knocked me down. Then he ran out.”
    While Melanie spoke, Galigani wandered over to the front door and examined the lock.
    “Can you describe the man?” Ross asked.
    Melanie shrugged. “It happened fast. All I really know is that he was tall.”
    “How tall?” Ross asked. “I’m 6'4". Was he my height?”
    Melanie stood up and compared her height with Ross’. “No. Not that tall.” She pointed to Galigani. “But taller than