Trial By Fire

“You really want me to be down there that long, just to take charge of the media during a death vigil?” Ali asked. “With everything else that’s going on, wouldn’t you be better off with me here?”

“Actually,” he said, “there’s one more thing you might do.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve hammered out an agreement with Do

“Wait a minute,” Ali said. “You just told me that the ATF would be working on identifying the victim. Shouldn’t they be the ones keeping you apprised of everything they’ve learned?”

Sheriff Maxwell gave a mirthless chuckle. “My poor little honey lamb,” he said, shaking his head. “You really are new at all this, and you don’t know how things work.”

“What do you mean?” Ali asked.

“It’s like this,” Maxwell said. “Of course Agent Do

“Understood,” Ali said. “As plain as my woolly little butt.”

Half an hour later, Ali turned off her computer and repacked her briefcase. On the way out, she stopped by the front office to let them know that she would be gone from the office for an unspecified time. Holly Mesina seemed downright thrilled to hear the news.

The only thing she’d like better, Ali thought, was if she’d heard I’d been run over by a bus.

The media folks had disappeared. Now there was plenty of parking on the street, but when Ali made her way back to the Caye

That’s just what I need, Ali thought, a parking ticket.

Except when she plucked the paper off the windshield, it wasn’t a parking ticket at all. It was an unsigned note with a Prescott area phone number. “Please call me,” it read.

Ali got into the driver’s seat, put her briefcase on the floor next to her, and dialed the number in question. “This is Ali Reynolds calling. Who’s ‘me’?” she asked when a woman answered.

The person on the other end of the line hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’m surprised. I didn’t think you’d call me back.”

If you’d said who you were, I might not have, Ali thought.

“You asked me to call,” she said aloud. “Who is this?”

“It’s Sally,” the woman said. “Sally Harrison. I used to be Sally Laird. I was afraid that with everything that’s happened, if I left my name, you wouldn’t return the call.”

“But I am returning it,” Ali pointed out a trifle impatiently. “I’m calling, as you asked. What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to tell you my side.”

If this was going to be a rehash of the union situation, Ali didn’t want to be involved.

“Look,” she said, “I’m working media relations for Sheriff Maxwell. I’m not at all concerned with events that occurred around here before I arrived on the scene. Those things don’t really matter to me, especially not right now. After what happened at Camp Verde last night, I have my hands full.”

“I didn’t do it,” Sally said.

“Didn’t do what?”

“I didn’t take drugs from the evidence room. Ever.”

The fervor in her voice made Ali pause. “Why are you telling me this?” she asked. “I’m a temporary consultant. Shouldn’t you be saying that to someone inside the department?”

Like Internal Affairs, Ali thought. Or maybe a defense attorney?

“Don’t make me laugh,” Sally replied. “I’m off on administrative leave, but that’s only temporary. Once they have a chance, I’m gone. The problem is, I can’t afford to lose this job.”

“As I said,” Ali told her, “this has nothing to do with me.”

“Yes, it does,” Sally insisted. “You’re in the middle.”

Exactly, Ali thought, and I need to stay that way.

“Have you met Devon Ryan yet?” Sally asked.

“I haven’t had the pleasure.”

“He’s good-looking,” Sally said. “He’s smart and fu

“You’re saying someone’s framing you?” Ali asked.

“Yes, and it’s working.”

“Who would be doing that?” Ali wanted to know. “Why?”

“To get rid of me, maybe?” Sally returned. “I can’t let that happen. If I get laid off or fired, we lose our health benefits. Carston works as a bartender. Our health insurance is through my job, not his. He doesn’t have any, and with our daughter…”

She stopped talking abruptly and seemed to be trying to get herself under control.

“What about your daughter?” Ali asked.

“Our youngest daughter,” Sally answered finally. “Bridget. She’s only thirteen, but she was born with a heart defect. She had a dozen different surgeries before her first birthday. We’re on the waiting list for a heart transplant, but if I change insurance carriers, it probably won’t be covered because they’ll call it a preexisting condition. So you can see that I can’t lose this job. Do you understand?”

Ali did understand, but it seemed unlikely she could do anything about it.

“Look,” she said, “I’m on my way out of town right now, and things are really hectic at the moment. I still don’t see why-”

“It’s all about the union,” Sally interrupted. “The old one and the new one. That’s why they’re getting rid of me.”

“I’ve heard a little about this,” Ali admitted, “but it sounds like something you should be taking up with your shop steward so he or she can go to bat for you. What about Devon Ryan? Isn’t he in the same boat?”

Sally laughed outright at that. “Are you kidding?” she asked.

“Why would I be kidding?”

“He’s a guy,” Sally replied. “He’s also a sworn officer. All they have him up for is the conduct charge. If they really gave a damn, they’d be bringing up the names of all the other women he’s screwed around with over the years, but they won’t. He won’t lose his job or his benefits. They probably won’t let him back in Media Relations, but regardless of which union is elected, he’ll be part of it-one of the movers and shakers. I’m staff. I’m expendable, so I’m the one they’re throwing to the wolves.”

Ali glanced at her watch. Sheriff Maxwell had wanted her in Phoenix sooner rather than later.

“Sally,” she said, “I’m really sympathetic about your situation, but I’m in a rush right now. I really don’t see that I can do anything to help.”

“I just need to know that someone there knows the real story, that someone is on my side.”

“What about Holly Mesina?” Ali asked. “I thought she was your friend.”

“So did I,” Sally said bleakly.

She sounded so lost and alone that Ali’s heart went out to her, but she couldn’t delay any longer.

“I’m sorry, Sally,” Ali said. “I really have to go now.” The line went dead. Sally Harrison had already gone.

Ali had pla

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