Fatal Intent - Jamie Jeffries Page 0,36

classes and her finals were done. She was packed and ready to move back home the next day, the Friday before the fourth of July. Perfect timing, since she loved the holiday in Dodge. It was one of the few things she did like about Dodge.

Her dad was happy to have her for the rest of the summer so his other employees could take vacations while she was there to cover for them. She hadn’t decided yet, whether she’d stay at her dad’s house or at Dylan’s. Dylan hadn’t asked, so she wasn’t sure it was what he wanted, but, if they were going to move in together in September, she didn’t see why it would be a big deal.

Early in the morning, she bade her housemates farewell, and made the hour and a half drive to Dodge. Dylan was at work, the boys at a summer day camp program run by the school and her dad would be at work, too. Rather than figure out where to take her things, she drove to the newspaper plant and parked there.

“Dad, I’m here,” she called, as she entered the familiar building. One of the permanent employees was sitting at the reception desk, which had been her place until she left a few months before. And would be again, now. “Hi, Ruth. Is my dad here?”

Ruth smiled at her. “He had to step out for a few, but he said to give you your desk as soon as you wanted it, and he’ll see you for lunch.”

Alex laughed. “He expects me to go right to work, huh?” she said.

“Oh, yes. You’re on duty for the parade tomorrow, and he said you’ll take over the ad calls again,” said Ruth. She looked to be struggling to keep a straight face.

“Great!” said Alex. “My favorite thing.”

“Well, you’re welcome to it. We all hate it.” Ruth waved toward the back of the building, where the other permanent employee and maybe a temp or part-timer were working.

“So do I.”

Ruth gathered her things and got up. “If you, ah, want to just sit here and take calls, I’ve got other stuff I could be doing. Okay, Alex?”

Alex nodded. “That’s fine. Thanks, Ruth.”

Alone in the front office, Alex had a few minutes to kill before the first call came in. As soon as she answered, the person on the other end, one of her regular gossips, recognized her voice. “Alex! I’m glad you’re back dear. Here to stay, now? Are you finished with school?”

“No, Mrs. Green, I’m just back for the rest of the summer. How are you? Have you got a story for me?” After that, the news of her return spread fast enough that answering the phone kept her busy until her dad returned, just before lunchtime.

“Hi, kiddo,” he said, breezing in and kissing her on the cheek. “Ready for some lunch? My treat.”

“Can’t beat that offer,” she said, smiling. “Let me just get someone up here to take the phones and I’m right behind you.”

They both rode in his car, since hers was loaded. The trip to La Paloma was laughable. They could have walked just as quickly, and maybe it would have been just as cool, if he hadn’t been driving only a few minutes before. The air conditioning barely had time to get cool before they were there. With the noonday sun beating down, Alex was glad at least for the shade the car provided. They hurried into the restaurant and the super-cooled air there.

“Why is it so much hotter here than in Casa Grande?” she asked.

“Fewer trees and it may be a few feet lower. But their temperatures usually match ours,” her dad answered.

“Oh, Dad, that was a rhetorical question. It isn’t really. It just feels that way.” Looking at the menu, Alex didn’t see anything she was hungry for. Maybe just a salad and some iced tea.

When they’d ordered, Dad gave her a serious look, and said, “So, kiddo, we need to talk.”

Alex sat a little straighter. Talk?

“I know you’re an adult, and I haven’t objected to your relationship with Dylan. He’s turned out to be a fine young man. I’m not thrilled about what you’re doing, but I recognize I can’t stop you.”

Alex began to fidget. The last thing she wanted to talk about in this building, which seemed to throw echoes even of a quiet whisper into the far corners of the room, was her private life. Her dad noticed.

“This won’t take long. I just want to know whether