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What if he's back in town to cause trouble?"
    "I really don't think he would have waited this long to come back if he'd had revenge on his mind." Vivien's own anxious uncertainty was painfully clear beneath the surface of her assured words.
    "I was too young to pay attention to the details of the events," Alexa said slowly. "But I do remember that Lloyd was involved in a partnership with Harry Trask and another man."
    "Dean Guthrie."
    "Right. Guthrie. That's the name. He's still around, isn't he?"
    "Yes, of course. I never did care for the man. He drinks too much and he's got a violent temper. I forget how many wives he's had. Three, at least. He divorced the last one a few months ago. Someone said she's a jewelry designer, lives out in Shadow Canyon , I believe."
    "Looking back on it, Mom, do you think there's any chance that Trask was right about his father's death not being an accident?"
    "My God, Alexa, you can't possibly believe that Lloyd would—"
    "No, of course not," Alexa said hastily. "Never in a million years. But what about Guthrie? You just said he drinks too much and he has a temper. Do you think he might have had something to do with Harry Trask's death?"
    "I talked to Lloyd about it at the time," Vivien said quietly. "He has always been convinced that, even though Guthrie has a temper, he's not a killer."
    "Lloyd was always pretty good at figuring out what made people tick," Alexa admitted.
    "You should know," Vivien said gently.
    Alexa recalled how patient and understanding Lloyd had been with her during those tumultuous years after she and Vivien had moved into his home.
    She had fiercely resisted the notion of anyone trying to take her father's place. Lloyd had never tried to do that. She still remembered the conversation she had overheard between her mother and Lloyd shortly after they had married. Vivien had been worried about Alexa's failure to accept her new husband.
    Lloyd had been as steady and calm about Alexa's icy attitude toward him as he was about everything else. "That girl doesn't need another father in her life," he'd said. "She needs a man who can show her that not all men are like her father."
    Somehow in his own quiet, solid, dependable way, he had become very important to her over the years. It was Lloyd who had taught her how to drive, helped her select a college, instructed her in the fundamentals of running her own business.
    Patient, solid, dependable Lloyd. She was surprised by the hot rush of protective loyalty she felt toward him.
    "When it comes to judging people, Lloyd's track record isn't perfect," Alexa said.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Don't you remember? Twelve years ago he said that Trask would not come back."
    "I remember." Vivien paused. "I also recall that you said Trask would return some day."
    "I was right."

5

    Trask stroked the stylized wings of one of the two massive marble condors that guarded the lobby staircase.
    "It looks like something that fell off the top of the Chrysler Building ," he said.
    A pained expression appeared in Edward Vale's eyes. It vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by the serene arrogance of authority.
    "It's considered an excellent example of the Aztec and Mayan influence on the Deco sculptural style."
    "How much did I pay for them?"
    Edward was unable to conceal another wince. "I'd have to check the paperwork, but I believe we purchased the pair of condors for something in the neighborhood of twenty thousand."
    It was Trask's turn to wince. "That's a hell of a neighborhood. Twenty grand? For two marble birds?"
    "We were fortunate to get them," Edward assured him. "They were previously in the hands of a private collector. If it hadn't been for my, uh, contact in the Deco market, I wouldn't have even been aware that they were for sale."
    "Guess I should be grateful that your contact found a couple of condors instead of a pair of pink flamingos."
    Edward cleared his throat. "The sculptures make a brilliant frame for this truly outstanding