Blood Bond by Sophie Littlefield Page A

decide to settle. Meet with their corporate guys, work out a settlement, everybody’s happy, right? So a week later the guy that runs the franchise, he was on duty the night the woman went down, they find him in the back alley with his legs broken. Know who did it?”
    Marva shook her head, fascinated despite herself.
    â€œThe victim’s mother-in-law.” Aidan sat back in his chair, arms across his chest. “And you know why?”
    â€œI can’t even imagine, Aidan—”
    â€œBecause her son bought those tits for that woman, for her fortieth birthday. They cost a bundle, so the old lady hired a guy from church to come around and settle up.”
    Marva waited, not sure what to make of the story.
    â€œDon’t you see? You never know what’s going to set people off. And in the end, it’s rarely what you think it will be. I could tell you dozens of stories like that, Marva, but the point is that there’s no telling who’s been after Gail all these years.”
    â€œBut we have to find out. Even if it’s just to put her mind at ease.”
    â€œTo put your mind at ease,” Aidan corrected her, his voice sharp. “Or mine. Come on, be honest, by next week Gail’s going to be on to the next thing. The next fund-raiser or dinner party—”
    Or affair, Marva couldn’t help thinking, studying Aidan through narrowed eyes. She guessed the thought hadn’t escaped his mind, either.
    â€œâ€”and it’ll be over for her until next year.”
    â€œBut maybe we could let the police know anyway,” she said. “Tell them everyone who might have, you know, a grudge against Gail. In case there’s a danger of something else happening.”
    Irritation flashed across Aidan’s face and was gone. “If you go to the police, tell them this whole story about something that happened all those years ago, it’s going to just bring more chaos and intrusion into Gail’s life. Into everyone’s life. Questions no one is going to want to answer.”
    â€œBut if it means preventing something else—”
    Aidan held up his palms. “Marva, look at it this way. If we ask them to look into the political angle, there will be protection, for the house, the kids, Gail. No one, crazy or otherwise, is going to come back while the cops are hanging around. Don’t you see that?”
    Marva considered. She supposed there was a chance it might be true. If it was someone motivated by politics, or even someone with a grudge against Bryce personally, when they realized they had killed someone they were bound to be terrified to return, knowing they could face a murder charge.
    â€œMaybe,” she said in a small voice.
    Aidan stood, flicking out the creases in his pants with a practiced gesture. “You and me,” he said, offering his hand, helping Marva to her feet. “Off to save the day again. Right? Just like old times.”
    Marva held on; how many times had she turned to Aidan for strength? She picked up her purse from the credenza, and glanced around the tidy, anonymous office one more time.
    â€œJust like old times,” she echoed.
    Â 

CHAPTER SIX
    JOE ARRIVED FOR HIS interview early, to see if Gail’s husband was easily unsettled. But when he was shown into the room, he came face-to-face with Bryce Engler, man about town, California-style: even today, when presumably he wouldn’t be going to work, the man was wearing slate-colored trousers and a sport coat, his smooth yellow shirt open a couple of buttons to reveal a few strands of silvery chest hair.
    â€œI’m sorry to take your time today, Mr. Engler.”
    Joe gestured to a chair, and the men took their seats across the interview table from one another. Engler crossed one leg on the other knee; he wore argyle socks and shoes that probably cost more than a car payment.
    â€œI trust my wife explained that we don’t really know the