Cruel Intent

But the reality had been far different, more hell than heaven. The meals she had hosted with Paul, the ones where the dishes had been used, hadn’t turned out to be what Ali had hoped for or expected. Yes, Paul Grayson had loved entertaining and had done so lavishly, but there had been an element of one-upmanship in everything he did. Di

On this occasion, an inexpensive and simple meal-reheated deli food-had been served to guests in a mobile home that had once belonged to Aunt Evie, someone Paul, in his arrogance, had summarily dismissed as mere “trailer trash.” Ali found herself smiling at the irony. Paul Grayson’s command-performance entertaining was far in the past, and tonight’s low-key celebration had fulfilled Ali’s long-ago dream of how those lovely but costly dishes would be used.

Ali was drying the last of the plates when she heard the front door open. She peeked around the intervening wall, expecting to see Chris returning. Instead, Dave Holman let himself into the room.

“Sorry,” he apologized. “Chris was outside with Athena. He said I should go on in.”

Dave and Ali’s decision to put their romance on hold while maintaining their friendship had led to a certain amount of confusion on both sides. Glad to see him under any circumstances, Ali put down her dish towel on the counter and hurried over to kiss him hello. He kissed her back with a lot more enthusiasm than mere friendship warranted.

“Sit down,” she said, ushering him over to the leather couch. “Don’t be such a stranger. How are the girls?”

“Great,” Dave said. “Cassie’s the same as she always was-never a bit of trouble. As for Crystal? She’s back to being her old self-going to school, getting good grades, playing goalie on her soccer team. It’s like she’s really turned a corner.”

Months earlier, unhappy that her mother and stepfather had moved away from Sedona, Crystal Holman had staged an adolescent insurrection by getting involved with an online predator. Her rash behavior had come close to being fatal for her and for Ali Reynolds. But Ali wasn’t the least bit surprised to know that Crystal was now happy as a clam. The child was a master manipulator. Risky though it had been, everything she had done had been calculated to bring her back home to her father. And it worked like a charm, Ali thought a little ruefully.

“Glad to hear it,” she said aloud. “So this is work?”

Dave nodded. When the girls had come back to Sedona, Dave had moved out of his bachelor-pad apartment and into a three-bedroom rental near the old downtown business district.

“So who’s looking after them while you’re off on a case?” Ali asked. That had been one of Crystal’s complaints-that cases were more important to her father than family. Ali suspected that was still true.

“Crystal promised she’d see to it that Cassie gets to bed on time,” Dave said. “Believe me, I’m keeping the computer under lock and key these days. The only time Crystal gets to use it is when I’m there to supervise.”

Crystal was an experienced thirteen, and not in a good way. Ali wouldn’t have left her in charge of a younger sibling on a bet, but Dave hadn’t asked for her advice about child care any more than Athena and Chris had asked for wedding advice. With some difficulty, Ali managed to keep her mouth shut.

“Meanwhile, you’re working the Forester homicide?” she asked.

Dave nodded. “That’s why I’m here-to ask you some questions. I really do need to track Bryan’s movements today.”

“Is he under arrest?”

Dave shook his head and pulled out a notebook and pen. “Nothing like that,” he said. “This is all very preliminary. We’re just trying to get the lay of the land. What can you tell me about today? I believe you told me Bryan was at your place most of the day.”

“That’s right,” Ali said. “We had a problem with a building inspector, and Bryan waited around until she showed up.”

“Is he usually at your place all day, every day?” Dave asked.

“No,” Ali answered. “He has multiple jobs and multiple crews-three that I know about for sure.”

“What time did he get arrive today?”

Ali had to think about that. “It must have been close to ten. I really didn’t pay much attention. He’s my general contractor, Dave. He isn’t required to punch a clock. He supervises workers, picks up supplies, and chases after permits. When it comes to work ethic, I’d have to say Bryan Forester is right up there at the top of the list. He puts in some very long days-not unlike a certain homicide detective who shall remain nameless.”

Ali’s gentle jibe produced not so much as a glimmer of a smile from Dave. “And how was he once he got there?” the detective persisted. “Did you notice anything unusual about his demeanor?”

Ali paused before she answered. She didn’t want to point the finger of suspicion in Bryan Forester’s direction, but she felt obliged to tell the truth. “I suppose he seemed out of sorts,” she admitted. “I chalked it up to what was going on with the building inspector. She’s not a very nice person.”

“But Bryan didn’t say anything to you about what might have been bothering him?”

“Not to me, and I doubt he said anything to Leland Brooks, either. If he talked to anyone at all, it would be his workers-his foreman, Billy, in particular. They’ve worked together for years.”

Dave jotted something into his notebook. “Billy?”

“William Barnes.”

“Oh, him,” Dave said. “Can you give me the names of the rest of his crew?”

“Not first and last,” Ali said. “Leland probably keeps track of all that. I know them on sight but mostly by first name only. Ryan and Gary are the ones I remember; they both said they’re pla

“They’re coming to work tomorrow even after what happened today?” Dave asked. “Why would they do that?”

“Loyalty, maybe?” Ali returned. “Bryan strikes me as a nice guy. His workers seem to think the world of him. Maybe they’re just trying to help out. Or maybe they need the money.”

Dave’s grunt of acknowledgment let Ali know that even though he may have heard what she said, he remained skeptical. “I’ll come see the work crew tomorrow,” he said. “Probably fairly early in the morning, unless something else comes up.”

“How are Bryan’s girls doing?” Ali asked. She couldn’t keep from thinking about those two motherless seven-year-olds. And the fact that they were the ones who had discovered their mother’s body on the front porch.

“As well as can be expected,” Bryan replied grimly. “They’re with their father and their grandparents right now. Bryan’s folks came up from Phoenix. From Sun City. They’re all checked in to the Best Western. Bryan and Morgan’s house has been declared a crime scene. So’s their yard. No one’s going back there for the foreseeable future.”

That was what Ali had expected. So much for Edie’s tuna casserole. But remembering what her mother had said about Bryan’s twins, Ali found herself more worried about one of them. What about the quiet one who never allowed foods to mingle on her plate? How would a child like that deal with what must seem like the total a

“They were pretty distraught,” Dave returned. “And understandably so. Deputy Meecham, the DARE officer, is great with kids. She did what she could to help them, but they’ve been severely traumatized. I’m hoping we’ll be able to schedule CHAP interviews for both girls tomorrow.”

“CHAP?” Ali asked, not recognizing the acronym.

“Childhelp Advocacy Professionals,” Dave said. “It’s an outfit out of Flagstaff made up of psychologists and social workers. They do forensic interviews of at-risk children, including children involved as witnesses in homicide investigations.”