Cruel Intent by J. A. Jance Read Free Book Online

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.”
    Ali’s heart gave a lurch. “You’re not saying the two Forester children may have actually seen what happened to their mother?”
    “No,” Dave assured her. “Not as in eyewitnesses, no. The ME’s preliminary report says Morgan Forester died shortly after she put the twins on their school bus this morning. But if there was something going on in the house—if Bryan and Morgan Forester were feuding in some fashion—I’m guessing those girlsknow all about it. That’s one thing I learned from dealing with Crystal this past year. Kids know a lot more about what’s going on with their parents than they’re willing to let on.”
    The door opened, and Chris bounded into the room in a burst of cold air. “Hey, Dave,” Chris said. “Did Mom tell you the good news—that Athena and I are engaged?”
    Grinning, Dave gave Chris a high five. “That’s great,” he said. “Congrats!”
    “We’re having a little get-together at the high school gym tomorrow night before the game,” Chris continued. “You’re welcome to come.”
    “We’ll see,” Dave said. “I’m up to my eyeballs in a case right now.”
    “The Forester murder?” Chris asked.
    Dave sent a questioning look in Ali’s direction.
    “It’s not my fault,” she said. “I didn’t tell him, not one word.”
    “I just heard about it from Athena,” Chris explained. “Mindy, Athena’s roommate, called and told us about it while we were outside. She couldn’t believe it had happened.”
    “Mindy?” Dave asked.
    “Mindy Farber,” Chris answered. “She teaches second grade at the school in the village. Both the Forester girls are in her class.”
    “And the teacher is Athena’s roommate?” Dave asked.
    Chris nodded.
    “I’ll need that phone number, then,” Dave said, “so I can talk to her as well.”
    Chris recited the number, and Dave jotted it down. Watching him, Ali knew it was necessary, knew he was doing his job, but she hated the idea of someone going through those little girls’ lives. Bryan Forester’s daughters had already lost their mother.And if Dave was able to get the goods on their father, they could be destined to lose him as well.
    Chris said good night and headed for his room. Dave turned back to Ali. “Can you think of anything else?” he asked.
    Ali gave him an appraising look. “I like Bryan Forester,” she said. “I’ve been working with him for months now. I’ve never heard him raise his voice on the job. I’ve never heard him swear. He works hard, and he does a good job. I don’t think he’s a killer.”
    Thoughtfully, Dave closed his notebook and dropped it into his pocket. “The problem is,” he said, “most killers don’t wear sandwich boards announcing the fact. And as you and I both know, just because a marriage looks solid to outside observers doesn’t necessarily make it so.”
    “Do you know for sure that the Foresters’ marriage was in trouble?” Ali asked.
    Dave shook his head. “The two of us have been through a lot,” he said, “but I’m sure you can understand that I can’t reveal details of an ongoing investigation—not even to you. I will tell you, though, that some details have come up that give us grounds to be suspicious of Bryan Forester.”
    “Those poor little girls,” Ali murmured.
    “Poor little girls indeed,” Dave agreed. “Their mother was murdered in an act of homicidal violence. This wasn’t random, Ali, it was personal. Morgan Forester’s killer was someone operating in a blind rage. And if Bryan Forester is the perpetrator here—if he’s capable of that kind of violence—I’m honor-bound to see that his daughters don’t fall