Mara opened her mouth, but A.J. kept speaking politely, but firmly. “I know some people think that the only reason I’m hanging on is out of the desire to honor my aunt’s wishes, but that’s not true. Well, it’s partly true. I do want to honor her wishes, but even more important to me is what the studio, what rediscovering yoga, has brought to my life. And that journey is something that we’re all sharing at Sacred Balance.”

Lily’s scowling face appeared in A.J.’s mind’s eye. “Well, maybe not all of us, but most of us. We’re all learning together, we’re all growing together, we’re all harvesting Aunt Di’s legacy together. So while my decision may not be the best decision from a business standpoint, I do think it is in keeping with the yoga spirit.”

Mara smiled without warmth. “You can’t say I didn’t try.”

“I would never say that.”

“It’s unfortunate that we find ourselves in the position of business competitors rather than sisters in yoga.”

“I don’t see why we can’t be both.” A.J. picked up her purse. “Thank you for lunch.”

After lunch A.J. stopped by Mr. Meagher’s office for an update.

“A.J., me wee girl,” Mr. Meagher said with every evidence of pleasure, although she couldn’t help but notice that he did look briefly past her to see if Elysia was in the vicinity.

“I just dropped by to see how things are going. Mother is getting pretty frustrated with the lack of information she’s getting from her lawyer.”

“We’re still weeks away from going to trial,” Mr. Meagher pointed out.

“I know. But…”

Mr. Meagher sighed. “Aye, aye. Your mither was never known for her patience. The truth is, there’s little news to share. Right now it’s a matter of evaluating the police investigation and evidence against her. Her defense team is searching for some reason to have the case dismissed.”

“Is that likely?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve looked at the arrest report and the evidence. The police have been meticulous. If anything, Jake erred in not arresting Elysia faster.”

A.J. knew that had been a favor to both her and her mother. She nodded.

“So defense counsel is investigating the facts, questioning prosecution witnesses, and seeking their own witnesses and forensic experts who may be able to supply a different perspective than the prosecution’s. Not the kind of thing Elysia wants to hear, I know.”

The only thing her mother wanted to hear was that all charges had been dropped and the real murderer was in custody. A.J. knew that as well as Mr. Meagher.

“Did you have any luck tracking down Massri’s gambling connections?”

Mr. Meagher had moved to the cockatoo’s cage to feed the bird a cracker through the bars. The white cockatoo watched him with its bright eyes, then took the cracker delicately in its razor-sharp beak. Mr. Meagher was saying, “I did. I’ve explored that avenue, and it’s a dead end. Oh, Massri liked to play the ponies, true enough, but he never failed to honor his gambling debts. No, if his bookie were to send enforcers after anyone it would be whoever killed young Massri.”

Watching him, A.J. once again had that uneasy feeling that perhaps Mr. Meagher was not being completely honest. She was annoyed with herself for entertaining such suspicions, yet they persisted.

“Why do you think Massri was shot in Mother’s yard?” she asked.

Mr. Meagher glanced at her quickly and then away. “Perhaps it was a matter of expediency.”

“But for all the killer knew he was shooting Massri in front of a house full of people. It was Easter morning. Well, late Easter morning-all the more reason to fear a house full of people.”

Mr. Meagher seemed to mull this over as he moved away from the birdcage to his sofa. He scraped the usual pile of newspapers off the cushions to the floor. “Perhaps there was some time factor we’re unaware of. Some reason Massri had to be eliminated right then.”

“The police found an engagement ring in a hollowed chocolate egg.”

Mr. Meagher’s expression was hard to decipher. “I was thinking more in the nature of some vital information he might have revealed.”

“Like what?”

Mr. Meagher shook his head.

“What could Massri have known that would be time-sensitive enough to risk killing him in front of witnesses?”

Unless the killer had known the house would be empty? Was the killer someone who knew what time Elysia’s guests were arriving? Could the killer have possibly known that Elysia had left the house to try and find evaporated milk?

Mr. Meagher seemed to have no answer. He said, “Revenge perhaps?”

“Revenge against Mother?”

“I was thinking Massri, but I suppose the other is possible. I suppose someone might have wanted your mither blamed for the crime.”

That tied all too well into A.J.’s only half-considered theory that Mr. Meagher might have killed Dakarai in such a way as to put Elysia in a situation where she needed his help. It was so… so Machiavellian. But beneath his slightly foolish-seeming demeanor Mr. Meagher was a shrewd and intelligent man.

A.J. said awkwardly, “You’ve known Mother a long time.”

Mr. Meagher’s face softened. “Aye. Since she was sweet seventeen.”

“Do you think-?” She stopped. How on earth could she ask someone like Mr. Meagher if he was a) in love with her mother, b) jealous enough to kill a romantic rival, and c) crazy enough to frame the object of his romantic interest?

“Our theory is that it was another one of his blackmail victims,” she said instead. “Maybe the person just snatched the first opportunity.” Except where did Maddie’s death fit into all that? “Or if Massri was part of a blackmail ring…”

She was thinking aloud now. “Suppose he was sincere about marrying Mother?”

“I can’t see why he wouldn’t be,” Mr. Meagher said gruffly.

“Perhaps someone wanted to punish him for trying to leave the blackmail operation.”

“A ring, is it? Couldn’t Massri have been working on his own?”

“We don’t think so. It seems to be larger scale than that.”

“It’s a wee bit of a severe punishment,” Mr. Meagher pointed out. “And it wouldn’t change the fact that this person or persons would be left shorthanded.”

She thought of the sculptor named Cory who Peggy Graham had been involved with.

“Maybe the killer knew there were plenty more Dakarai Massris where he came from,” she said.

A.J. was reading through her aunt’s manuscript and trying to decide whether she should bother cooking something for dinner or if that evening might be the special night for which she was saving that tub of Oreo ice cream, when a voice echoed from down the hallway.

“Oi!”

A.J. peeled herself off the ceiling. “Mother, what are you doing skulking around here?”

“Skulking? I am not skulking. I come bearing gifts.” Elysia held up a bag of KFC.

A.J. moaned. “I’m not supposed to eat stuff like that.”

“I don’t know why not. You spend your day working out. If anyone deserves to eat like this it’s you.”

Elysia led the way into the kitchen. A.J.-and Monster-followed hopefully.

Before long chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and biscuits and honey had been dished up, mouth-watering aroma filling the air.

“Not that I don’t appreciate this, but why are you here?” A.J. asked, biting into a honey-slathered biscuit.

“I thought it was time to reflect and review.” Elysia shoved a purple legal pad, curling pages covered in scribbles, across the table. “I’ve made a few notes.”

“A few notes? It looks like you’re planning on writing your memoirs.”

“It’s interesting you mention that. I’ve had two offers this week for my life story.”

“Please tell me you’re not…”

“I hardly have the time,” Elysia said. “Perhaps if I wind up nicked, I’ll reconsider.”

A.J. picked up the legal pad, glancing through it. “Unfortunately we have a distinct shortage of suspects.”