Class Reunion of Murder

by Vanessa Gray Bartal

  “Got it,” he said as they entered the ballroom. The other Jedis were already assembled and paused to look at the newcomers.

  “This is Michael,” Lacy said.

  Carter scowled. “Outsiders aren’t allowed at council meetings.”

  “I’m here at the princess’s invitation,” Michael said. “Are we ignoring our commitment to honor Alderaan now?”

  Carter waved a weary hand toward the chairs and they sat. “Is he for me?” Jody whispered. Lacy wondered why she hadn’t been chosen as Leia. Instead, she was dressed in a plain robe like the other Jedis. In addition to the berobed Jedis, Lacy recognized Luke, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and even Yoda, who was so tiny he was either being played by a child or Chester Campbell.

  “Michael, Jody, Jody, Michael,” Lacy whispered.

  “My lady,” Michael said, kissing the back of Jody’s hand. Either Jody was an excellent actress, or she was already being taken in by Michael’s over-the-top attempt to charm her.

  “Can we get started?” Carter snapped. “We’re already running behind.”

  Lacy quickly pulled out the script he had given her. She, more than anyone else, wanted the “council meeting” to be over before their class reunion started. She hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with Jason about her plans. Luckily for her, he and the other football alumni were celebrating their victory over the high school players.

  “Probably with a whole lot of ice packs and pain relievers,” he had whispered as they parted ways on the field. Lacy figured if the Jedis finished their play quickly, she could change and be back in time for the reunion, and Jason would be none the wiser about her role in the charade. She had already sworn Tosh and Michael to secrecy.

  As she scanned the room, Lacy realized she was the only one with a script. The others were ad libbing because they knew the characters so well. Carter had given her a list of phrases and talking points for whenever anyone addressed her directly. She had hoped they would leave her out of it and pretend she was bun-wearing eye candy, but no such luck. They addressed her often, asking her opinion about republic business. She glanced helplessly and often at her list of talking points. “The time for being diplomatic is over,” was her most-used phrase. Beside her, Michael sat smiling like a kid at the circus. Once when Jody and Carter got in a heated discussion over the fate of the rebel alliance, he leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She repeated it to Carter and won the argument. Carter didn’t like that at all, Lacy could tell, but he still did nothing to intervene.

  The mood of the room began to shift. Lacy checked her watch. Was it almost over? It had to be—the reunion was starting in a half an hour. Someone in the room mentioned Vader, and that was when Lacy realized who was missing. Where was Tosh?

  As if in answer to her question, the door burst open and he entered, dressed head to toe in the creepy black robe with plastic mask. Unlike the other cheap costumes in the room, Tosh’s outfit had probably cost a fortune. It was so authentic that she felt like James Earl Jones was in the room with them when he spoke. He was followed by a handful of plastic white storm troopers, and the room flew into a whirl of activity. Light sabers came out. Plastic hit plastic with an unsatisfying “clack.” Someone switched on an iPod, and the Star Wars theme began to play.

  For a while, Lacy sat still and watched, torn between boredom and embarrassment. They were grown men and women. Should they be swishing glowing plastic and imitating saber noises? Then Michael tossed a saber in her direction.

  “Why are you sitting there? Save the alliance,” he called.

  “You want me to use this?” she said, glancing down at the cheap, plastic sword.

  “Get the princess,” Tosh ordered almost at the same moment. Two storm troopers advanced on her, and the play ceased to feel pretend. All she knew was that two people were coming to take her, and she couldn’t let them. She thwacked them with her sword and ran away. They gave chase and the event became a free-for-all. Soon Lacy was gone, and there was only Leia, daughter of Vader, leader of rebel alliance, and warrior. She was sweaty and exhausted from alternately battling storm troopers and trying to escape them. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun or laughed so much, and then it was over. In all the fun and melee, they lost track of time. The music switched off and the Jedis began to come back to the real world. They were still surrounded by hostiles, only now instead of storm troopers, they were surrounded by their classmates.

  They faced off, the robe-wearing, saber-rattling band kids, and the too-pretty, too-perfect popular group. Kimber entered. She was class president and de facto leader of the reunion, and she didn’t look pleased with her role. She stopped short, scanned the crowd, and very obviously sided with the band group. Jason was next. He stopped short as soon as he entered, scanning. Lacy wasn’t sure if he was checking for trouble or looking for her. She didn’t want him to find either. She eased up her hood, and faded into the background.

  With the arrival of Kimber, the reunion had an official start. She thanked everyone for coming and asked for input on their ten-year reunion, the official event that would arrive in two years.

  “I have input,” Reed said. “I don’t think these freaks should be invited.” He waved to indicate Lacy and her fellow Jedis.

  “Whoa,” Kimber said, putting up her hands. “Everyone is invited to the reunion.”

  “One of them killed Summer and attacked Brady,” Reed said. “Would we even be safe?”

  The door opened again and Riley eased in. She sidled up to Tosh who hadn’t yet noticed her arrival.

  “Hold on,” Jason said. “There is no proof that anyone in this room killed Summer or attacked Brady. If there had been, I would already have arrested that person.”

  “Oh, come on, Jason,” Hillary cajoled. “Why are you taking their side? Everyone knows it was Tony Rico.”

  In the far corner, a potted palm twitched and Lacy caught sight of Tony’s eye peeking out.

  “No, Hillary, everyone does not know that,” Jason said. “There is no proof.”

  “He’s a freak. What more proof do you need?” Hillary said.

  “I need actual proof.” His eyes scanned the room again, a little desperate now. Was he hoping for moral support? Lacy couldn’t deny him that. She eased off her hood and took a step forward. He did a double take and tilted his head, studying her.

  “What about Kimber?” Reed said. “Everyone knows you questioned her.”

  “I questioned her, yes,” Jason said, tearing his eyes away from Lacy with effort. “And you’ll notice I didn’t arrest her.”

  “What did she say? Does she have an alibi?”

  “None of your business,” Jason said.

  “It is our business!” Jill yelled. “Summer and Brady were our friends, they’re part of our group. Is one of us going to be next? Maybe it’ll be you.”

  “It wasn’t one of us,” Carter said. The Jedis gathered behind him in a V-formation, their weapons at the ready.

  The two sides began bickering back and forth. Jason ground his palm into his eye socket. “Shut up!” he roared after a screaming match that resulted in a saber being hurled across the divide. “Everybody take a breath and calm down. There is something I need to say.” Everyone did as he commanded, staring at him with rapt attention. Lacy did the same. Was he going to announce the killer?

  “High school is over,” he said after a dramatic pause. “It doesn’t matter who was a cheerleader, who played football, or who was in the band. It doesn’t matter who was homecoming queen or prom king. It doesn’t matter who we were. All that matters is who we are right now. We’re from the same place. We grew up together. Most of us have known each other all of our lives. Isn’t that enough of a reason to stick together? We are twenty six years old. We’re adults who are capable of being better than this. I’ve spent the last few days rehashing all the misery of adolescence, and I’m done. I want to leave this place and have a quiet evening with my girlfriend.”

  “You
have a girlfriend?” Jillian said.

  “Yes, I do.” He jutted a finger at Lacy. “It’s…Princess Leia? Lacy, why are you dressed like…you know what? I’m going to stop asking questions. Just come over here.”

  Lacy tossed aside her saber and went forward, feeling as if everyone was watching her, which they were. As soon as she was within range, Jason put his arm around her and pulled her close against his side. “If this were still high school, Lacy and I wouldn’t be dating, and I would have missed out on the best thing that’s ever happened to me. None of the stuff from back then matters now. Think about it.”

  No one had time to think about it because someone else burst into the room as soon as he finished speaking.

  “Robert!” Lacy and Riley exclaimed together.

  “Ah, geez, what now?” Jason said.

  “What are you doing here?” Riley said.

  “You stopped taking my calls. I had to see you. Riley, come home. We can work this out,” Robert said. He strode forward and clasped her hand in both of his.

  She shook him off and plucked it free. “No. I told you I’m married.”

  “It was a mistake that can be easily undone,” Robert said.

  “No, it can’t.”

  “Yes, it can. You were under duress. You could probably get an annulment.”

  “I don’t want an annulment. I’m pregnant,” Riley said.

  “Are you sure it’s his?” Robert asked, and then he was lying on the floor. It happened so quickly, no one saw Tosh’s fist strike.

  “Don’t ever, ever talk to my wife that way again,” Tosh said as he towered over him, his fists still clenched angrily at his side.

  “My nose,” Robert wailed. He grabbed for it and blood began to spurt. “I think you broke my nose.” He scrambled up and away from Tosh and caught sight of Jason. “You’re a cop, arrest him for assault. I want to press charges.”

  “What? What happened?” Jason said. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking. Did anyone see anything?”

  “No, nothing, not a thing,” everyone began to chorus.

  “Tripped, he did,” Yoda added.

  “It seems no one saw what happened,” Jason said. “I could arrest him based on your word, but he’s a respected pastor and you’re a weasel-faced, cheating, lint-licker of a liar.”

  Robert pinched his nose and turned his attention on Lacy. “How about you, Lacy? Have you changed your mind about us? You wanna…”

  That was as far as he got before Jason advanced. “That’s it. Lacy, hold my badge…” There was no need because Robert turned and sprinted from the room, crying like a little girl.

  “And don’t come back,” Riley called.

  “You’re really pregnant?” Tosh said. Unfortunately he hadn’t removed the Darth Vader mask or turned off the voice modulator, so it sounded like James Earl Jones was stunned by impending fatherhood. “I’m going to be a dad?”

  Luke Skywalker put up his hand. “Uh, hello, you’re already a dad.”

  “Dude, not now,” Han Solo said. Chewbacca took Luke’s arm and pulled it back down.

  “Yes,” Riley said. She sounded small and uncertain. “Is that okay?”

  Tosh pushed up his mask. “Okay? Are you crazy? That’s the best news I’ve ever heard.” He pulled her close and kissed her. Everyone cheered and clapped.

  “I guess it’s true what they say about babies bringing people together,” Jason said.

  “Did you call Robert a lint-licker?” Lacy asked.

  “Maybe,” Jason said.

  “You kiss your girlfriend with that mouth?” she asked.

  “As often as she’ll let me,” he said. He kissed her while everyone was distracted by Riley and Tosh.

  “That was a nice speech you made,” Lacy said.

  “If this were a movie, someone would turn on some music, and we would dance, thereby crossing all social barriers, once and for all.”

  “If this were a movie, it would end with a proposal,” she said.

  He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I propose we go running together tomorrow.”

  Lacy had put it off as long as she could. “I will,” she promised.

  “That’s the happiest news I’ve ever heard,” he said.

  “That’s very sad for you,” she said.

  Kimber made her way over to them. “Everyone’s going to Grigsby’s. You guys in?”

  Jason and Lacy looked at each other. “Only if there’s dancing,” Jason said.

  “Preferably some type of choreographed group dance where we use our awesome moves to prove we’ve learned a lesson about not stereotyping each other,” Lacy added.

  “Y’all are weird,” Kimber said, moving away.

  “Do you want to go?” Lacy asked.

  “For a little while. I still have work to do.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “All joking aside, my job’s about to get exponentially harder. All the players in my investigation are going to be spread over the country.”

  “You could sequester everyone at the hotel,” she suggested.

  “On the county’s budget? I don’t think so. Besides, I don’t actually have the power to do that.”

  They walked hand in hand to his car. Once inside, Lacy took off the Jedi robe and shook out her hair. Her phone fell out of her pocket, and she picked it up to look at it. “I missed a call from my grandpa.”

  “He knows you’re undressing in my car and he’s calling to put a stop to it,” Jason said. “I’m surprised he wasn’t here for this weekend. He put in as much work at the school as Mr. Mertz and Coach Wilson.”

  “For so long, the school was all he had. Now family comes first. Mom needed him and Grandma; he wanted to be there. Do you mind if I call him?”

  He shook his head and started the car. “Tell him I haven’t touched you, and I was trying to put the clothes back on you. Tell him I don’t even like it when women take their clothes off. Yuck.”

  “Let’s not give him a whole new set of worries about you,” Lacy said. “Hi, Grandpa, it’s Lacy. How’s Florida?”

  “The combination of sweltering heat and old people makes it look like everyone is melting.”

  Lacy chuckled. Jason rested his hand on her leg and gave it a squeeze. “How’s Mom?”

  “Do you want the truth or do you want me to sanitize it as if you’re a still a child?”

  “The child version, please,” she said.

  “Great! Your mom and I are getting along well, and so are she and your father. Your grandmother hasn’t baked once, and everyone has readily accepted Riley’s marriage.” Translation: Mom was being her usual self and Grandma hadn’t left the kitchen. “What are you up to?”

  “Jason and I are on our way to a restaurant.”

  “Tell him to put his hand back on the wheel.”

  “How does he do that?” Jason muttered as he snatched his hand off of her leg.

  “Listen, Grandpa, have you checked the news from here lately?”

  “No,” he said, his tone instantly alert. “What’s wrong?”

  “One of our classmates was killed, Summer Ridgefield.”

  “Oh. How did she die?”

  “She was murdered.”

  “Oh.”

  “You don’t sound surprised,” Lacy said.

  “Sadly, I’m not. Summer was a troubled girl.”

  “How so?” Lacy asked. When he hesitated, she added, “I’m not simply being nosy; Jason has the case, and he’s sort of hit a wall. Anything you could tell him would be extremely helpful.”

  “Summer liked men.”

  “I know. I think she hit on everyone in our class at one point.”

  “No, not boys, Lacy. Men.”

  “Are you trying to tell me she hit on you?”

  His silence spoke volumes.

  Ew, on so many levels. “I wish I could unhear that.”

  “Do you want me to help you forget it?” he asked.

  “More than anything in the world right now,” she
said. She couldn’t reconcile the mental image of Summer with her beloved, elderly grandfather.

  “I made it all up for my vanity,” he lied.

  “I suspected as much,” she said. “Thank you.”

  “I have to go now. Your mother is crying again, tears of joy, I’m sure. Take care.”

  “You, too,” she said.

  “Tell Jason I’ll be checking the hidden cameras I installed in your grandmother’s house as soon as I return home.”

  Jason paled and swerved into the gravel at the side of the road.

  “I’m pretty sure he heard you,” Lacy said. “Good luck with Mom. Better you than me.”

  “Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have agreed with that statement,” he said. “Give my love to Riley.”

  “Will do. Give my love to Grandma.”

  “Will do,” he said.

  She closed her phone and looked at Jason. “Summer hit on my grandpa.”

  He parked the car and sat in silence, thinking for a long time before he finally turned to her. “I need you to do something for me,” he said.

  “What? I’ll do anything,” she promised. “Do you want me to put that information out there and see what comes up? Maybe people know more about Summer than they’re saying.”

  Jason used the back of his hand to dab at his sweaty brow. It was hot out, but he looked more sick than warm. “Jason, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  He rested his hands on her shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh. “This is important, Lacy. Are you listening?”

  “Yes, I’m listening. Please, what do you need me to do?”

  “I need you to call your grandfather back and see if he was kidding about those cameras.”

  Chapter 14

  In the end, there was dancing.

  After Lacy was finally able to convince Jason that her grandfather had been joking about hidden cameras, she coaxed him into the restaurant. There was a moment of awkwardness as they decided where to sit—with her friends or his. Tosh and Riley arrived soon after and saved them the trouble. The two couples got a table together, although they might as well have been by themselves for all the interaction they had with each other. Tosh and Riley were in a baby-induced netherworld. Jason and Lacy sat discussing Jason’s case, wondering who had enough motive to murder Summer and attack Brady.