Paid in Full by Ann Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

building. Words like ruthless, hated and unethical kept appearing on the screen. She knew, however, that the string of wronged business associates probably would account for a low turnout at the funeral and nothing more. That shortened the list of suspects greatly.
    Ari wasn’t surprised to find an entire Web site devoted to the Phoenix League, especially its hero and star, Michael Thorndike. Convinced that the downtown area could be more than office space, Thorndike had organized a group of business entrepreneurs who shared his vision. At first, everyone scoffed. During the weekdays, high priced attorneys, government employees and curious tourists filled the sidewalks, but sunset signaled the exodus, turning the area into a ghost town. Only the shadows of the homeless and the drug dealers were visible then. The ten square city blocks were the most dangerous and feared at night. It even carried the nickname “The Deuce” since no one made the mistake of coming downtown at night twice.
    Michael Thorndike vowed to change all of that. Amidst the huge glass skyscrapers, he envisioned theaters, sports facilities, shops and more restaurants than the rest of the city combined. With their own financing and some strong-arm tactics, the Phoenix League planted the seeds of urban growth. Others jumped on the bandwagon, the masses of bulldozers appeared and the investors tripled their money in two years. During the process, the homeless and some vintage businesses were unfairly displaced in the name of progress and the greater good.
    From the fifth floor of the library, Ari gazed through the huge glass windows at the League’s results. Sandwiched between the skyscrapers, Banc One Ballpark, America West Arena, and the Herberger Theatre assured Thorndike and company of a profit as throngs of people were lured downtown for sports and culture. At the corner of Fillmore and 7th Street sat the Arizona Center, Phoenix’s only outdoor mall and the home of the Phoenix League. Staring at the chrome and copper tower, Ari gathered her printouts and headed out. She didn’t have an appointment and she didn’t have any idea what she could possibly learn from walking into Thorndike’s office, but she just wanted to be closer to what represented Michael Thorndike, a person she was sure wasn’t entirely depicted in the sanitized news accounts.
     
    She crossed the courtyard that divided the mall from the League’s building, passing a hotdog cart. A short, wiry black man with graying hair held out a foot long dog, complete with chili, relish and onions. Red stitching across the pocket identified the vendor as “Joe,” and his grin was short a few teeth.
    “Care for a Coney?” he offered, his toothless smile expanding.
    Ari paused, her stomach pleading with her to stop for a late afternoon snack but her feet carried her forward. “I’ll be back, Joe. Save one for me.” Joe nodded, still smiling.
    The Phoenix League’s executive suites inhabited the entire top floor. Ari’s loafers sunk into the plush carpet as she stepped out of the elevator and into a small foyer. A long hallway stood between her and the receptionist, every office’s first line of defense.
    The woman didn’t notice Ari, her view obstructed by a large, black wreath on a stand and her hands busily directing the phone traffic. Ari moved in line with the wreath, trying to stay unnoticed for as long as possible. She studied the gallery of photographs along the walls. Many were aerial shots of the buildings financed by the League interspersed with photos of the partners breaking ground and shaking hands with city officials and other business gurus.
    Michael Thorndike was definitely the most attractive of the partners, his winning smile filling the frames. The hall ended and Ari found herself in front of a mammoth cherry wood desk and the young, perky receptionist. Her ruby lips formed a complimentary smile that she undoubtedly dispensed two or three dozen times a day. It was a