Fatal Intent - Jamie Jeffries Page 0,72

the detail that made the connections for her.

Now he was struggling with what to say or ask first. Finally, he held his arms out to her and she rushed into them, daughter comforting father and father soothing daughter. She felt his acceptance of the truth in the shaky but tight hug he gave her. After a few minutes of tears and sighs, she pulled back and really looked at her dad for a change.

I’m too self-absorbed. When did he get this old?

“Dad, would you like me to call someone? Jen or Wanda? Or do you want to start making arrangements? We’ll have a memorial service, won’t we?”

“Yes, I think so. But not until the confirmation. I’d like to keep it quiet until then. I’ll tell Jen. We’d better have Dylan with us when we tell Wanda. Did you know she’s given him medical power of attorney?”

“No, I didn’t. Is she… sicker than I thought?”

“I don’t think she’s in immediate danger, but she’s got to avoid stress. I think this news can wait, don’t you?” Her dad gave her a pleading look and she understood it wasn’t only for Wanda’s sake. He wanted time to absorb it himself.

“Sure, Dad. Do you need me to stay another day? I thought I’d spend the night and then head for Tempe. I’m already late registering.”

“No, that’s fine. Are you and Dylan okay? He told me you were having a bit of a communications issue.”

Dad’s color was already returning, she saw. Alex laughed, and said, “I guess you could call it that. I’ve been avoiding his calls so he couldn’t tell me not to do what I wanted to do.”

“Bad habit, kiddo. Dylan’s got a good head on his shoulders. You might want to listen to him now and then.”

“I know, Dad. He was right, it was dangerous. But without it, we wouldn’t have learned how they sign their attacks, and I wouldn’t know what happened to Mom. It was worth the risk.”

“Only because you’re safe now. If something had happened to you…”

“It didn’t, okay? I’m done with them, and moving away. If I leave them alone from now on, they’ll probably leave me alone, too.” Alex got up and started for the kitchen. “Want me to make some dinner?”

“Wait a minute. You said they sign their attacks? What do you mean?”

Alex clapped her hand over her mouth. “You can’t print that, Dad. It’s something the police had me hold back.”

“Oh. Well, I wasn’t going to print it, unless you’d like to write the story. I guess you can’t tell me, huh?”

“Can’t tell him what?” Rick stood in the doorway. “Sorry to just walk in. I guess you guys didn’t hear me knock.”

“Hi, Rick,” said Alex. “I was just going to fix some dinner. Want to stay?”

“Sure. What can’t you tell him?”

“Hey, I’m right here,” said her dad.

“What can’t she tell you?”

“You’re a persistent bugger, aren’t you?” her dad grumbled.

Alex smiled at Rick and shook her head at her dad. “Yes, I can tell you. I trust you not to let it go any further. The Patriots leave a small P somewhere, carved either into the victim or at the crime scene. When I convinced the police they were behind the attack on Dawn, they went to the place it happened and found the P scratched into the concrete barrier. About the size of a quarter, easy to miss.”

“Why do they do that? Doesn’t it mean they’re more likely to get caught?” Alex’s dad was looking to Rick for the answer.

“We don’t know yet, but it’s been going on since before Harvey Lloyd was convicted. I personally think it’s like counting coup.” Rick grinned as Alex shook her head.

“But the tribes around here don’t do that,” she said.

“The Apache did.” Rick and her dad said it at almost the same time, and Rick added, “Coke.” Then he punched her dad lightly in the arm.

“Jeez, how old are you, twelve?” her dad grumbled, pretending to be hurt and rubbing his arm.

“Well, we don’t know why they do it, but the police are going to interview Harvey Lloyd and see if he’ll tell them. They’re going to tell him there’s a possibility of a new trial because there may be new evidence that will clear him. Maybe it will be enough.”

“Will it really clear him?” Her dad was again addressing Rick.

“Who knows? All they’re going to say is maybe.”

Alex finally escaped into the kitchen and started looking for something that would be quick and serve three. It