Web of Evil

it booted up, she logged on and went to check out her new mail. Scanning the subject lines, she saw that three of them were addressed to Fred, the guy who had objected to the fact that Ali was divorcing her husband.

Dear Fred,

You are an ignorant asshole. I hope you die.

So much for reasoned discussion. That one was unsigned, and Ali simply deleted it.

Dear Fred,

You sound just like my first husband, and you know what? It's been years now and he still hasn't figured out how come I took the kids and left him. I tried to tell him his actions were pulling us apart, but he didn't want to hear itso he didn't hear it. It was a struggle, but money isn't everything. I know the kids and Itwo daughters and a sonare all better off.

CONNIE IN MI

Dear Fred,

Let no man put asunder? God must have heard what Fang did to Babe, and She smacked him a good one. Maybe She'll smack you, too. Sounds like you deserve it.

CASEY THE OLD BAT

Casey was someone who wrote in often. Usually Ali posted her comments, but this time they were a little too close to the 'hope you die' one. Ali deleted Casey instead. As she was about to move on, a click announced a new e-mail, this one also addressed to Fred. But what caught Ali's attention was the sender's address, sugarloafmama.

Dear Fred,

I agree with you. Marriage vows are sacred, but they need to be kept by both parties involved. It reminds me of that old song, about Frankie and Johnny. 'He was her man but he done her wrong.' All I can say is, good riddance!

SUGARLOAFMAMA

Laughing, Ali posted Edie's comment. Anyone who lived in or around Sedona would know exactly who Sugarloafmama was. And the fact that Edie Larson held some reasonably strong opinions on any given subject, especially her former son-in-law, wouldn't be news, either.

Google sent me here. I thought this was a health care site. If I wanted advice to the lovelorn, I'd go to Dear Abby. You guys should get a life.

That one was unsigned and it went away. After that Ali read a whole series of comments that were essentially notes of condolence to her. One in particular stood out.

Dear Babe,

I understood exactly what you meant when you said you didn't know what to feel and that you couldn't cry. My divorce had been final for only two weeks when my husband committed suicide. He always said he would but I didn't believe him. I needed him out of my life. He was into meth and gambling both, and watching him destroy himself was killing me. But I didn't mean for him to die. For a long time I thought his death was my fault. It took three years of therapy for me to come to terms with what happened.

So please accept my condolences. I'm sure you loved Fang once. According to my therapist, I had to grieve not only for the man who was gone but also for the man who never wasand for the dream I once had about how our life together would be. Grieving for the dream is as hard as grieving for the person. Don't be afraid to seek help if you think you need it. But it's hard work. Harder than anything I've ever done.

I've been a cutloose fan for a long time. Through the months I know you've focused a lot of your anger on Twink even more so than on Fang. I understand that, as far as you're concerned, Twink is 'the other woman,' but I also suspect that she's much younger than you are and not nearly as smart. She isn't going to have the emotional resources you have to deal with this tragedy. Try to remember that her dreams are in ashes today, too, right along with yours.

Since your divorce from Fang wasn't final when his death occurred, I expect that you and Twink will find your lives intertwined in unexpected ways. I hope you can find it in your heart to be kind to her and to her innocent baby as well.

Remember, God will see to it that you reap what you sow.

PHYLLIS IN KNOXVILLE

Ali was in tears by the time she finished reading Phyllis's note. There was so much hard-won wisdom in the words and so much caring that it took Ali's breath away. She posted the note in the comments section and then sent Phyllis a personal response.

Dear Phyllis,

Thank you for writing. Thank you for your kindnessfor knowing what I was feeling and giving me comfort; for giving me much needed guidance when I was in danger of losing my way.

BABE

Several of the other notes were in the same vein. Ali responded to them all, but the one from Phyllis was the only one she posted. That was the one that said it all and said it best. When her cell phone rang a little later, she expected the caller to be one of her parents or maybe even Chris. She didn't expect to hear the voice of Dave HolmanYavapai County homicide detective Dave Holman.

'I just talked to your mom,' Dave said grimly. 'Is it true? Do the cops out in L.A. think you're involved in Paul's murder?'

In the years before Sedona had built its own high school, kids from Sedona had been bused to Mingus Mountain High School in Cottonwood. Dave Holman had been a tall skinny kid a year ahead of Ali in school. After graduation, he had joined the Marines. He went to college later, studying criminal justice. He was both a detective in the sheriff's department and a captain in the Marine Reserves who had served two tours of duty in Iraq. He was also a much valued breakfast regular at Bob and Edie Larson's Sugar Loaf Cafe.

Ali felt an initial stab of resentment that her parents had spilled the beans about what was going on in her life. Then she remembered her blog. Maybe Dave read cutlooseblog.com the same way Ali's mother did. Maybe that was where he was getting his informationeverything but her phone number, that is.

Why was it I wanted to have a blog? Ali asked herself.

'They didn't come right out and say so,' Ali replied. 'Not in so many words.'

'What words?' Dave asked. 'Tell me exactly what was said.'

'They took my statement,' Ali said.

'With your attorney present, this Angel guy?'

Obviously Edie had given Dave a complete briefing on Ali's conversation with her.

'Angeleri,' Ali corrected. 'Victor Angeleri, and yes, he was there.'

'Edie says you told them about driving past the crash site, seeing the emergency vehicles, all that?'

'I had to,' Ali said. 'It's the truth. I could see those lights from miles away. Coming past Palm Springs at that time of night, I couldn't not see them.'

'Great,' Dave muttered. 'What else did they have to say?'

'I don't know. They asked a bunch of questions. I answered them. End of story.'

'What did they say when the interview was over?'

'What do you mean?' Ali asked. 'You mean, like, did they say good-bye?'

'No, I mean like, Don't leave the state without letting us know.''

Ali paused. 'Well, yes,' she said at length. 'I suppose they did mention something to that effect. They told me they'd be pursuing all possible leads but it might be best if I stayed around L.A. for a while. I told them that was fine. That I had planned to be here several more days. They hinted it might take a little longer than that for them to get all their ducks in a row.'

'I'll just bet,' Dave said. 'Well, it doesn't matter. I'm glad your mother is on her way.'

'Mom is coming hereto L.A.?'

'Yes. Edie Larson is riding to the rescue. Didn't she tell you?'

'No,' Ali said. 'As a matter of fact she didn't. I'll call and tell her not to come.'

'That's probably why she didn't mention it to you, and by now it's too late, because she's already on her way. I may show up, too,' Dave added. 'I came to Lake Havasu to see the kids this weekend, which means I'm only four and a half hours away.'

Ali knew that since Dave's ex-wife and her new husband had taken the children and moved to Lake Havasu