Read Random Acts for Free Online Page B

them. George died at the scene of an accident on I–17. My mother passed away in the OR at St. Gregory’s Hospital in Phoenix earlier this morning.”
    â€œHave the next-­of-­kin notifications been done so we can go ahead and run the story?”
    That stopped Joanna cold. Marliss had always purported to be such a great friend of Eleanor’s, but now the truth was out. She didn’t even have the decency to express her condolences. Friendship or not, for her this was now all about the story.
    â€œMy mother’s side of the family may have been notified,” Joanna said. “But I don’t have any idea about George’s. I’d hold off on the story if I were you.”
    â€œBut we have a deadline . . .”
    Joanna cut Marliss off in mid-­objection. “Oops, sorry. I have another call.” The truth was, she did have another call, one with a number she didn’t recognize. Right then, talking to an aluminum siding pitchman was preferable to dealing with Marliss. She switched over to the other line.
    â€œJoanna?”
    â€œYes. Who is this?”
    â€œAli—­Ali Reynolds. I just heard about your folks. One of our employees, Stu Ramey keeps one ear glued to a police scanner day in and day out. When your name was mentioned in regard to a roll-­over that occurred on I–17 last night, Cami, Stu’s assistant, recognized it and called me right away. Is there anything at all I can do to help?”
    Months earlier, Joanna and Ali, a retired television news anchor now living in Sedona who was also a partner in her husband’s cyber security company, High Noon Enterprises, had been thrown together into the investigation of a hijacking operation involving stolen LEGOs. The situation had devolved into a whole series of homicides as the gang of hapless crooks had turned on one another. In the process, Cami had very nearly lost her life when one the hulking thugs had literally yanked her out of a borrowed cop car through an open window.
    â€œI’m surprised my name came up over the radio,” Joanna said. “But yes, the two victims are my mother and stepfather. George Winfield died at the scene. My mother passed away at a hospital in Phoenix earlier this morning.”
    â€œThat’s appalling,” Ali breathed. “You must be in shock. If you’re coming this way for any reason and need a place to stay, please know that you’re welcome to come here.”
    â€œThank you,” Joanna said, “what a generous offer. Butch and I are in Prescott right now awaiting the results of the first autopsy. I doubt my mother’s remains have made it as far as the morgue.”
    â€œDr. Turner is good,” Ali told her without prompting. “He’s a careful guy who’ll do things right.”
    Joanna knew that Ali had worked for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office at one time, so it wasn’t surprising that she would know the ME. Could she maybe also give Joanna the inside scoop on Detective Holman?
    â€œYou wouldn’t happen to know a homicide detective named Dave Holman, would you?”
    Joanna was surprised when Ali laughed aloud. “As a matter of fact, I do. Dave and I were actually an item back in the day, but we both got over it and married other ­people. How do you know Dave Holman?”
    â€œHe just went into the morgue to witness my stepfather’s autopsy.”
    â€œHe’s a homicide detective,” Ali objected. “Why would he be involved in an MVA?”
    â€œBecause it may not have been an accident,” Joanna told her. “I believe it’s possible that George was shot. With all the carnage on the scene, first responders may not have recognized the entry wound for what it was.”
    â€œBut what brought you to that conclusion?” Ali wanted to know.
    â€œBecause of my mother,” Joanna answered. “She came to just as she was being wheeled into the