Perfect Victim (Nadia Stafford 3.6)

because they're idiotic enough to hint that they're responsible. But they're both blowhards. They don't have the brains to pull this off. Certainly not to build that device."

"Forrest runs an electronics business, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, so the theory is that he had an employee build the bomb, but then I'd expect that guy to blab to someone. No one has. Stanton, on the other hand, is an engineer. Sure, this isn't his exact area of interest, but I can see him making a bomb. Problem is that he's even more full of hot air than Forrest. Stanton's a loser who wants people to think he's a tough guy, and how does he prove it? By whining about his rights . . . his right to take his kids along to his new job, and to hell with his wife's career."

He shook his head. "Both guys are all talk, which is what they're doing now. Talking."

"And Sheila isn't saying anything."

"Because for her, it's not about showing how tough she is. We know she's tough. This is about fixing problems."

"Like getting rid of Victor's new girlfriend, so he'll come back to her."

Howard laughed. "Hell, no. That was totally between Cherise and Sheila. Cherise saw an opportunity in Victor. Nice guy with some money and a wife who's not exactly a sweet-natured cover model. So Cherise swoops in. Only problem? The money isn't Victor's. Sheila is the one with the high-powered job. So Cherise hit Sheila in the only place she's vulnerable: her kids. She pushed Victor to take full custody, which would mean Sheila would pay child support. Sheila doesn't give a shit about the money, but you don't come between a mama bear and her cubs. So she took care of the problem."

"Sounds like you don't blame Sheila too much for that."

Howard made a face and sipped his coffee. "Killing Cherise was wrong. Especially . . . that way." Another face, more serious. "But I don't think Sheila meant to kill her. Did you hear how it happened?"

I did--I looked it up--but I shook my head.

"The IED was in a gift, delivered to the condo Cherise shared with Victor. An anonymous gift, complete with wrapping paper and a bow. Now, anybody in their right mind would call the bomb squad. Cherise wasn't that bright. Still, the experts said it was a miracle the IED went off. Well, I guess miracle is the wrong word, but you know what I mean. The device was flawed."

"You think it was a warning."

He jabbed a finger at me. "Exactly. Sheila was warning her. Instead . . ." He exhaled. "It was bad."

"And then you think Sheila did the same to Charles Atom? Sent a warning that inadvertently killed his daughter?"

"It was the same kind of device. That's the critical part. Whoever built one almost certainly built the other."

After leaving Howard, I met up with Jack and Cypher. We strolled along the marina docks, snaking past tourists waiting for boat trips.

As we walked, Cypher regaled me with the grand tale of taking Mr. Forrest into the forest.

"Jungle," Jack said.

Cypher rolled his eyes. "You have no sense of humor."

"Set that shit-show up, didn't I?"

Cypher laughed at that, a boom of a laugh that startled a nearby plover. "I'm just glad the guy didn't really shit. Did piss his pants, though." He shook his head. "Can't believe he bought the B-movie-mobster routine."

"Usually do," Jack said with a shrug.

I cut in. "So it seems unlikely that Forrest is our guy. Considering how much you were offering--and threatening--he would have agreed if he didn't mind committing murder. How about Stanton?"

"Jack made me skip that performance," Cypher said.

"Required a bit more acting," Jack said.

Cypher glowered. "You implying I couldn't have pulled it off?"

Jack looked at me and continued, "Same end result. Not ruling him out completely. But, yeah. Unlikely. Asshole bragging. Like Forrest. Thought it made him look tough. Call Stanton on it? Backs down fast. Says he has an alibi, too. Sex club."

"A . . ." I began.

"Sex club," Cypher said. "It's a club where people--"