4 Arch Enemy of Murder (22 page)

“There in a minute,” Lacy said. The door closed on her grandparents, and she was alone with Jason.

“Applesauce muffins?” he repeated.

“It was all I could think of,” she said.

He laughed and advanced on her again. She held up both hands to ward him off. “You stay over there. Don’t touch me. My legs are just now beginning to cooperate and function again. I’m like one of those baby zebras trying to learn to walk before it gets picked off by a hyena. Stay over there, I mean it.”

“I’ll leave you alone now on one condition,” he said.

“What?” She took an experimental step away from the wall.

“We talk more about those applesauce muffins again later. They sound delightful.”

Lacy groaned. “Please tell me I didn’t just make ‘applesauce muffins’ a code word for all perpetuity,” Lacy said.

“I’m afraid so,” Jason said. He forced a grave tone and put his arm around her as he led her back to the party.

“Are you going to write about this in your diary?” she asked.

“You’re cute, Red,” he said. “You’re very, very cute.”

There was a live band. Lacy recognized Michael on guitar and guessed the other people must have been the friends he was referring to. Riley breezed up to them, smiling. “People are waiting for you to dance,” she hissed.

“Why? It’s not like this is my wedding,” Lacy said.

“It’s your party. Jason, help me out here for once and do something with her,” Riley begged. She waved her hand at Lacy to indicate her hopelessness.

“This is awkward,” Lacy said as Jason took her hand and led her to the dance floor. “Everyone is staring at us.”

“I will never understand how your brain works,” Jason said. “Everyone here is looking at you because you’re the most beautiful woman in the room, and yet you still think you’re that chunky kid who fell down the steps at prom.”

“You knew about that?” Lacy asked. She had fallen in the hallway of the banquet room. She sprained her ankle and spent the remainder of the dance sitting at her table alone.

“Everyone knew about that. It was very sad. And funny. But mostly sad. I almost asked you to dance.”

“You did not.”

“I thought about almost asking you to dance, but I was easily distracted back then, and there was a game on TV in the kitchen of the banquet hall.”

Other people started to ease onto the dance floor, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Jason shook his head. “If you had any idea the way people perceived you, then you wouldn’t worry so much about being the center of attention. Then again, I’m sort of thankful for your cluelessness. Otherwise, what would you be doing with me?”

“Now who’s the one with perception issues? You’re
the
Jason Cantor.”

“That’s right; I am
the
Jason Cantor who is taking you home tonight.”

“We’re having dessert with Riley and my grandparents,” she said.

“Does any event in your family not end in food?”

“There was once when we had the stomach flu that no one ate for a whole day. Then Grandma dragged herself to the kitchen and made chicken soup and banana bread.”

They danced another song in cozy silence, pausing when Tosh approached. Jason tried to ignore him, but Tosh wasn’t deterred.

“Did you want something?” Jason asked at last.

“Just wondering if you’re going to monopolize the guest of honor all night,” Tosh said.

Jason released Lacy and handed her off to Tosh. “I think I’ll visit the snack bar, see if I can grab some applesauce muffins for later.”

“What’s he talking about?” Tosh asked.

Lacy shrugged.

“He’s so weird,” Tosh said. “I don’t get the attraction, but whatever. How is the lady of the hour?”

“Overwhelmed by the adulation. I’ve never considered this my project alone. So many people have helped, but I’m the one that’s getting all the attention. It’s embarrassing.”

“People like to attach a face to a movement. You’re the face of downtown revitalization. People are excited for the first time in a long time, and they have you to thank for that. You should be proud; I know I am.”

“Am I blushing?”

“Yes, and it’s charming.”

“What have you been doing all night?”

“Mingling. Most of the church is here, so I’m definitely on duty. I danced a couple of times.”

“With parishioners?”

“No, with people less than fifty years older than me. Shocker, I know, but the upside of all your hard work is that there are more people our age here.”

“Did you dance with Cindy?”

“Yes.”

“She’s nice, huh?”

He smiled. “We’ve had this conversation before. She’s very nice. I also danced with your sister. She’s not so nice, but a really good dancer.”

“Where is she?” Lacy asked. “She keeps popping in and disappearing again.”

“Believe it or not, I think she’s working. Every time I see her, she seems to be making someone do her bidding. People respond to her in a terrified kind of way. She’s definitely Mr. Middleton’s grandchild.”

“I suppose I owe her some kind words,” Lacy said. “This party is exactly what I didn’t know I wanted. That’s really annoying, you know? It’s hard to hold onto my resentment when she’s doing something nice.”

“I know,” Tosh said. He gave her shoulder a sympathetic pat. “It’s really hard to have a family who cares about you.”

She poked his chest. “I’m not immune to your oh-so-subtle chastisement.”

“I’m teasing you. I know she’d been driving you crazy. I think there’s some good buried beneath there, though.”

Lacy was so shocked she stopped dancing and stared at him. “You like Riley.”

“What? No way, I like to see the good in everyone. That’s all.”

“Tosh, I’ve seen enough men fall for my sister to know the signs. You like her.”

“No, I don’t, Lacy. I told you I’m trying to stay away from the crazy. You’re reading too much into a simple statement.”

“I hope so because I’m telling you, Tosh, do
not
fall for Riley. I’ve watched countless boys and men over the years lose their hearts to her. She’s very good at making people fall in love with her, but not very good at returning the sentiment. Please, please, please watch yourself. Guard your heart. If you want to be attracted to her, then do it from a distance.
Please.
”

He laughed and gave her shoulders a little shake. “Lacy, you’re freaking out over nothing. Seriously, I’ve barely spoken ten words to her since she’s been here, and they’ve all been sarcastic. She’s going away soon. Let’s not panic.”

“I’m keeping an eye on you,” Lacy said. “If I feel that you’re actually falling for Riley, I’m going to hold an intervention. This is your warning.”

“You’ll know if I’m starting to fall for your sister if I do something over-the-top crazy. I’m not interested in her, but you have my permission to intervene if you feel I’m losing my head.” He glanced over her shoulder. “Your tenant is eyeing me for his chance to cut in.”

Lacy clutched at his shirt. “I don’t want to dance with him.”

“I can hear you,” Michael said. “Good thing for you I’m impervious to insults and rejection.”

“I didn’t see you there,” Lacy said.

“It’s the rusty hair—blends into the woodwork.” He held out his hand, and she reluctantly let go of Tosh.

“Why didn’t you want to dance with me?” Michael asked after a few seconds of dancing in silence.

“You try very hard to annoy me.”

“Sometimes I don’t try and it happens anyway. Why is that, do you suppose?”

“My theory is that we both have red hair,” Lacy said.

“That’s the worst theory I’ve ever heard. Besides, your hair is more strawberry blond than red.”

It was nothing less than what she had said, but she was still annoyed over his agreement. “Most people consider it red,” she said.

“Do you want to hear my theory on why I annoy you so?” he asked.

“No,” Lacy said. He smiled, which only served to annoy her more. She decided to disengage and say something nice. “Thank you for all the hard work on the party. It’s really lovely.”

“You’re welcome, but it was fairly self-serving since I’m directly benefiting from all these potential customers. The one who deserves the real thanks is your firebrand little sister. She’s quite sweet underneath all the diva.”

“A popular opinion today,” Lacy said.

“At the very least she knows how to work a room. She’s been schmoozing the bigwigs since they arrived.”

“What bigwigs?” Lacy asked. Michael nodded his head. She turned to see Riley talking to the mayor and city council. Nearby were several more members of “the club,” including Detective Arroyo and Judge Kronk. George, the waiter, was nowhere in sight. Seeing so many wealthy, important people made Lacy realize who was missing.

“Have you seen Joe?”

“I think I saw him skulking somewhere here,” Michael said. “He appears to be keeping close to the exits. Can’t say I blame him.” His eyes drifted over her shoulder again. “Ah, another of your men is queuing up for a chance with you.”

“You make me sound like the prize heifer at the county fair,” Lacy said.

“I do so love those elegant American expressions.” He handed her off to her grandfather.

“You’re certainly the belle of the ball tonight,” he commented.

“Don’t remind me,” Lacy said. “There are still so many people I haven’t talked to, and I really just want to be with the people I love. How bad would it be if we sneaked out of here and went back to Grandma’s?”

“Bad,” he said. “But understandable. Barbara was always such a people person. I guess you got my genes. Try not to become a scary old crank like me, if you can help it.”

“If I became half as wonderful as you, then I couldn’t ask for anything else,” Lacy said.

“Stuff and nonsense,” he said. “What are the chances I could get your grandmother out here?”

“Not good.” Lucinda had never been a dancer, and especially not after her ill-fated dance party when she accidentally got drunk at Christmas.

“Mind if I tell her she has to or it will shame the family honor? I think impinging on her sense of propriety is the only way I’m going to get a dance with my girlfriend,”

“Do whatever works,” Lacy said. She gave him a pat and sent him on his way, but she wasn’t alone for long. Riley sidled up.

“You need to talk to the mayor. If you don’t, it will seem like you don’t like him.”

“I don’t like him,” Lacy said. “He’s a weasel of a man who hired thugs to scare me.”

“Yes, but he’s the
mayor,
and you’re a pivotal figure in the community now. People are watching. Saying hello won’t lower your precious standards.”

“Fine, I’ll say hello. But I am not sucking up to him.”

Riley shrugged but didn’t walk away. Lacy plucked up her courage. “Riley, thanks for the party. It’s really great. Perfect, actually. I know how hard you’ve worked, and I’m really thankful. Really.”

Riley bit her lip and twisted her hands together. For a second, Lacy thought maybe she was touched and fighting tears. As it turned out, she was also gearing herself up to say something. “I need a hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

“What?” Lacy said.

“Don’t make me say it again.”

Lacy pulled her farther off the dance floor to a deserted corner of the room. “Why do you need a hundred and fifty thousand dollars?”

“Debt, obviously. I owe some back rent, some charges on my credit cards, things like that.”