4 Arch Enemy of Murder

by Vanessa Gray Bartal

  For the first time since she met him, Joe laughed out loud, and when Lacy started her day, she was smiling, too. The dustup with Riley wasn’t over, but she was sure it had hit a low and could only get better. As usual, she would soon regret her optimism.

  Chapter 11

  On Wednesday, Tosh asked Lacy to search the area near where Jonah Merleputter had been shot. She had hoped that after seeing Pearl’s house, he was more accepting of the situation, especially since Pearl’s new, competent lawyer had taken over and was hard at work on her defense.

  “What do you expect to find?” she asked.

  “The bullet has never been recovered,” Tosh said. “If we could find that, then we could clear her.”

  “Tosh, we don’t even know exactly where he was shot. The police have been over that area with a fine-tooth comb, and they couldn’t find it. What hope do we have?”

  “None, but that’s not why I want to go anyway. I simply want to get a feel for the area to try and figure out what might have happened.”

  “Why do you need me?”

  “Because you know where it is and I don’t want to go alone,” he said.

  Lacy sighed. The grand opening of the Stakely building was in three days. The party of the century was in two. She really did not have time to go on any more fools errands with Tosh.

  “Please,” he added.

  “Fine, but you have to come into the house and pick me up like a normal person. Waiting for your honk makes me feel like you’re driving my getaway car.”

  “Okay, but I can’t be held responsible for whatever I might say to your sister.”

  “No, please don’t trample my sister’s feelings; she’s a delicate flower.”

  “That she is. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

  “Eight?” she exclaimed. “Why so late?”

  “Because I want to go at night.”

  “What do you expect to see at night?”

  “Whatever Jonah might have seen that got him killed.”

  What Jonah saw, Lacy knew, was a large, angry woman with a high-powered rifle, if he saw anything at all. But her grandfather came to her office to discuss one of the many last-minute emergences they had weathered in the rush to finish the project, and she had to go. “We’ll talk more later,” she promised as she hastily hung up and tossed her phone on the desk.

  After they straightened out the correct configuration for the entryway tile, Mr. Middleton sat down. His somber demeanor was of someone about to impart devastating news. “You know your sister is upstairs,” he said.

  “What? What’s she doing upstairs? Is she rifling through my clothes?”

  “Yes, but that’s not why. She’s staging the party up there.”

  “The party is supposed to be downstairs,” Lacy said. “It’s supposed to be an open house for the new stores, a meet and greet with the owners. This is all wrong.” She rested her head on her arm in defeat.

  “I know it’s not what you envisioned, but Riley’s been out of her room all week. She’s been working hard on this party, and I think it’s good for her to have something to sink her teeth into.”

  She’s sinking her teeth into me, she wanted to say, but she refrained. Her grandparents were worried about Riley and her reclusiveness. Was it really such a big deal to let her sister have her way with the party?

  “Plus, we’ve decided to tell her,” he added.

  Lacy looked up. “Tell her what?”

  “About Barbara. Lucinda and I had a long talk. We’re not being fair to either of you by forcing you to keep it a secret, and Riley isn’t as emotionally fragile as Fran.”

  “But Riley will tell Mom as soon as she finds out,” Lacy said. “Are you prepared for that?”

  “We’re prepared for the possibility, but we’re also going to put the case to her, to try and explain why we’ve kept it a secret from your mother all these years. We’re counting on her to do the right thing.”

  “Riley?” Lacy clarified.

  He chuckled. “Your sister might surprise you sometime.”

  “She would have to,” Lacy said. She stood. “I guess I should go see the damage she’s doing to my building before it becomes irreversible.”

  “We’re taking Riley out tomorrow night for supper and we’ll break the news then. Can you come?”

  “I think it would go better if I wasn’t there,” Lacy said. Riley might listen with an open mind if she didn’t have the added tension of Lacy.

  She ran up the stairs to the fourth floor and used her key to open the door. Large swaths of fabric hung from the exposed beams, but before she could take in the scope of the décor, a body descended on her and herded her back through the door.

  “Sorry, love, this area is off limits to you,” Michael said.

  “What are you talking about? Get out of my way,” Lacy tried to ease past him, but he blocked her again.

  “No. I’m under strict orders not to let you through.”

  “Michael, move,” she said.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.

  She rubbed her temples. The man really did give her a headache sometimes. “Would it help to remind you that this is my building?” she asked.

  “Would it help to remind you that you’re uptight?” he asked.

  “When did you become Riley’s lapdog?” she asked.

  “Jealous?” he asked.

  “Suspicious. Have you been meeting with her at night?”

  He shrugged, smiling in the irksome way that told her he was enjoying her interest.

  “Can you retrieve my sister, please?” Lacy asked through gritted teeth. She lowered her hands to massage her aching jaws.

  “As you wish,” he said. “Although I should tell you that I won’t convert to Church of England no matter what you do to me.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m getting into character for the party. Elizabeth and Ireland…now there’s a tumultuous relationship.” He eased through the door, closing it as he disappeared from view.

  Riley appeared a moment later. “Can you make this quick? I’m busy,” were her sister’s opening words.

  “Busy doing what?” Lacy asked.

  “Uh, the party. Are you having a stroke? Because I’m pretty sure we’ve been over this.”

  “The party was supposed to be downstairs,” Lacy said. “That way everyone could see the renovations and get a feel for the new stores.”

  “That’s a terrible space for a party. Where would we put the dance floor?”

  “There’s going to be dancing?” Lacy asked.

  “What’s the point of a party without dancing?” Riley replied.

  Lacy bent over and stuck her head between her legs.

  “What are you doing?” Riley asked.

  “Trying not to hyperventilate.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, Riley, at the most this was supposed to be a simple meet and greet. And that was stretching my abilities. I’m not a mover or a shaker, not comfortable with a lot of strangers, and now suddenly I’m the hostess of Mardis Gras.”

  “That reminds me; we need beads.”

  “Not funny,” Lacy said. “I’m freaking out here.”

  “So what else is new?” Riley said. “Look, would you just trust me? I do happen to know what I’m doing. I was sort of a professional party planner.”

  Lacy looked up. “Was? Aren’t you still?”

  Riley shrugged and looked away. “I can’t go back to New York. Seems like a good time to find something else to do.”

  “Why can’t you go back?” Lacy asked. She stood upright but leaned against the wall for support.

  “You tell me your secrets, and I’ll tell you mine,” Riley challenged.

  “Grandma and Grandpa are going to tell you everything tomorrow night.”

  Riley’s nose wrinkled. “How can you call him that? It feels like a betrayal to our real grandpa. I don’t understand how you of all people can warm up to Mr. Middleton s
o quickly.”

  “He’s really lovable once you get to know him. He’s been like a rock these last few months of transition. And what do you mean ‘you of all people’?”

  “Your relationship skills leave a lot to be desired. Getting close to you is like trying to hug a porcupine.”

  “Not true,” Lacy said.

  Riley quirked an eyebrow. “Seen Jason lately?”

  The dig reminded her that Jason had said the ball was in her court. She would have to do something about that. “What about Tosh? We’re very close,” Lacy said. “He doesn’t think I’m prickly or standoffish.”

  “That’s because he’s so far in the friend zone that he can’t see the light of day,” Riley said.

  “What are you talking about?” Lacy asked.

  “The friend zone—it’s where women put the men they aren’t in love with, but still want to use when there’s no one better around.”

  “That is absolutely not true,” Lacy said. “I don’t use Tosh.”

  “If you say so. He seems pretty pathetic to me. You should cut him loose.”

  “We’re friends, okay? I know that you’ve never been friends with a man in your life, but trust me when I tell you that it’s not only possible, it’s pleasant. Not everything has to be romance.”

  “It’s like you’re reading from the Friend Zone Handbook,” Riley said. She held up her hands before Lacy could argue again. “Forget it. I’m busy. Don’t come back here or Michael will throw you out again.”

  “What’s up with you two?”

  Riley gave her the same secretive smile that Michael had used.

  “He has a motorcycle you know,” Lacy said.

  Riley feigned a gasp. “A motorcycle, you say? Next you’ll tell me that he’s smoked nicotine sticks and tasted that devil’s drink alcohol.”

  “What I meant to say is that Michael has baggage,” Lacy said. “He’s damaged.”

  “Who isn’t?” Riley said. “But he has something no one else in this town does.”

  Lacy didn’t want to ask, but she couldn’t help herself. “What’s that?”

  “A sense of humor,” Riley said. She opened the door and let it close with a bang. As Lacy turned to go down the stairs, she heard the lock turn. Fortunately when she reached the bottom of the stairs, her grandfather sought her out again for another emergency. She spent the rest of the day on the main level dealing with contractors and last-minute concerns.

  By the time she finished, she had been at work almost sixteen hours. The last thing she wanted was to go out with Tosh, but she lacked the heart to back out, especially after all Riley’s talk about keeping him in the friend zone. Had she been using Tosh? She hadn’t meant to. She thought they were best friends on equal footing, but maybe he didn’t see it that way.

  She was in her room when he arrived and knocked on the door. Her grandmother let him in. Lacy could hear her enthusiastic greeting all the way down the hall. Lucinda had definite hopes that Lacy and Tosh would work things out and get together. Soon Riley’s voice, croaky from her afternoon nap, joined the fray. Lacy hurried, not wanting Riley’s poison to infect Tosh so he spent the rest of the evening stewing or moping over whatever she might say to him. She ran into the kitchen wearing one sock and carrying her shoes.

  “Was there a fire in your room?” Riley asked.

  “No, I just…we’re in a hurry,” Lacy said, panting.

  “We are?” Tosh said. Lacy gave him a look. “Yes, we are,” he amended. “Goodbye, Mrs. Craig. Nice to see you.”

  “You too, Pastor,” Lucinda said as she clutched his hand in hers and pumped it a few times. A hearty handshake was as close as she came to gushing.

  “Take care, Pastor Pauper,” Riley said.

  “See you later, Sister Spiteful,” Tosh replied.

  Lacy still didn’t have her sock or shoes on, but she hedged Tosh toward the door while Lucinda bit her lip in dismay, not sure whose side she should take. She needn’t have worried, though, because Riley laughed.

  “Good one. I always heard poor people have a well-developed sense of humor,” she said. That made Tosh laugh because he was anything but poor. He didn’t get a chance to reply because Lacy rushed him outside.

  “Why are you shoving me?” he asked.

  “I’m tired and I want to get this over with so I can go home and sleep.”

  “I suddenly feel all warm and cozy right here,” he said, tapping his heart.

  Lacy stifled everything she wanted to say. Tosh reached out and clasped her arm. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I haven’t slept much lately, I’ve been working a lot, I’m nervous about the opening and the stupid party, and I think I forgot to eat supper for the first time ever.”

  “We don’t have to do this. I shouldn’t have pressured you when you have so much going on,” he said. His tone oozed remorse, adding to her guilt and anxiety. She couldn’t not be there for Tosh just because her life was busy and stressful.

  “It’s fine, really. Maybe it will distract me from everything else.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “We could go back in there, and I could try to be civil to Rosemary’s baby.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “I’m sure. Let’s go.” As if to convince him of her readiness, she hopped into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt.

  He slid behind the wheel and buckled his belt, but he kept shooting her sideways glances as if afraid she might have a breakdown at any moment. “You’ll have to tell me where it is,” he said as they headed out of town.

  “If I can remember,” Lacy muttered. She pressed her face to the window and tried to concentrate. The woods were thick and all looked the same, especially at night. They drove over the same pass a few times until she called for him to stop.

  “Did you remember where you found the car?” Tosh asked.

  “No, but that grass is really trampled and I think there are tire marks. That must be where they parked the cruisers and pulled out the car.”

  “Let’s go,” Tosh said. He pulled out an industrial-sized flashlight.

  “I didn’t know you owned one of those,” Lacy said. He wasn’t handy in any way. She had bought him his first hammer to replace the shoe he had previously used to nail pictures to his walls.

  “That hammer you gave me inspired me to start stockpiling tools and man things,” Tosh said.

  “Like what?” Lacy asked.

  “Saws, screws, screwdrivers, this flashlight, and an air compressor.”

  “You bought an air compressor? What for?”

  “I have no idea, but the guy at the tool store was adamant than I needed one. I didn’t want him to think I was the kind of guy who didn’t know how to use an air compressor.”

  “But you are the type of guy who doesn’t know how to use an air compressor,” she pointed out.

  “He doesn’t have to know that,” Tosh said. “As far as he’s concerned, I’m going to compress all the air in town until it’s nonexistent.”

  “Tell me again how your family owns a gigantic construction firm and yet you know nothing about tools,” she said.

  “Probably in the same way that we can trace our Catholic roots all the way back to the first pope, and yet I’m a protestant.”

  “Rebel,” she accused.

  “You know it,” he agreed. “I’m a pastor who doesn’t know the difference between a nail and screw; I’m practically James Dean.”

  She laughed and a little of the tightness eased from her chest. Despite being exhausted and overwhelmed, she was glad she came. Maybe time with friends was the cure for her almost overwhelming stress level.

  They followed the tracks that led deep into the woods. Lacy couldn’t see a thing, even with Tosh’s powerful flashlight. The night was cloudy and dark, the trees oppressive. “It’s times like these I’m glad we don’t live in bear country,” Lacy said.

  “Stick close to me and I’ll protect you,” Tosh said.

  “With what?” Lacy ask
ed.

  “Prayer? I don’t know, but I’ve always wanted to say that. I guess I could throw myself in front of danger while you try to run away, but I’ve seen you run, so…”