Last Resort of Murder (A Lacy Steele Mystery Book 9) (10 page)

“Hey, Bede, maybe you guys could
take it easy on Riley. She hasn’t been having the easiest time since the baby
came.”

“Lacy, your little sister is a
self-centered, spoiled, shallow, mean-hearted girl child. How she duped my
idiot little brother into marrying her, I’ll never know. Whatever we’re dishing
out is only exactly what she deserves.”

“Maybe Riley’s had some issues, but
those were in her past. She’s been trying hard to grow up since marrying and
having the baby.”

“You sound like Tosh.”

“Maybe because we’re both right.”

“Maybe because you’re both
softhearted imbeciles,” Bede said. Still, she took a breath and squared her
impressively wide shoulders. “I’ll tell you what, I will keep an open mind, and
if she’s changed as much as you say, then we might consider giving her a pass.
But if she sticks one toe out of line, we’ll make her wish she had never sunk
her perfectly manicured little claws into my brother or his inheritance.”

“Sounds fair,” Lacy said. Meanwhile
she wondered how to warn Riley not to act like herself around Tosh’s family.
Maybe it was a good thing Jason wasn’t close to his family. Relationships were
hard enough without all the added in-law baggage. Then she realized that she
came attached with enough family baggage for the both of them.
Poor Jason.
If he thought it was bad
being the boyfriend, wait until he became legally bound to the Steeles and
their issues.
If,
Lacy mentally
corrected herself.
If
he became
legally bound to the Steeles. They had a long way to go until they reached that
point, and though he didn’t seem like a runner, looks could be deceiving.

Lacy was ready for bed. The day had
been long and full. Along with being exhausted, her muscles had reached their
limit of endurance. The lack of food was wearing on her. More than anything she
wanted to have a short goodnight conversation with Jason and go to bed. But
Jason was playing basketball with the other guys. Disappointed, Lacy decided to
skip the goodnight and go straight to bed.

On her way to her room, she saw
Snaps at the coffee bar and veered to say hello. She had meant to spend more
time catching up with him this weekend. They had been pals back in the days
when they were both misfits. Seeing him gave her a warm nostalgic feeling,
reminiscent of when her biggest worry was missing a dance step in show choir or
accidentally tossing her retainer in the trashcan.

“Are you working?” she asked as she
sneaked up beside him.

He jumped, but smiled when he saw
her. “Guilty. I come here to get away from it all, and then end up bringing it
all with me. I guess it distracts me from thinking about Jill, though. Have you
heard anything about that? Did they arrest anyone yet? Have a seat.”

Lacy sat down, glad for the chance
to get off her quivering legs. “No. I spent the day talking to people, trying
to piece together if anyone had motive.”

“And?”

“And everyone had motive. Everyone
agrees that the person with the most motive was Sven, but I can’t believe he
did it. He’s such a teddy bear.”

“Really? He’s such a jock. He
strikes me as one of those guys who used to stuff guys like me in my tuba case
in high school.”

“I don’t think so. I think he was
someone like us who got buff later to prove himself.”

“What makes you think that? The
lisp?”

“The lisp and a general insecure
vibe.”

“Insecurity can make people do
crazy things,” Snaps said.

“I know, but I don’t see it in this
case. There were too many other people who had it in for Jill. So many that I’m
undoubtedly spinning my wheels here, but I feel a little like Sven is being
railroaded, and I have to do something to help.”

“Is there anything I can do to
help?”

“Not unless you can think of anyone
else who might have had means or motive to kill Jill,” Lacy said.

He squinted as he thought. “I think
she was seeing someone. Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t friends who talked about
stuff, but she made a couple of references to a guy.”

“Did she say who?”

“No, but I know he worked for the
resort because she talked about having lunch with him one day. And once I saw
some guy talking to her before one of our sessions.”

“What did he look like?”

“Blond, young, good looking. I’ve
seen him working the desk a few times.”

“Derek?” Lacy’s heart beat faster.
It was the second time someone had mentioned him in connection with Jill.

He shrugged. “I really don’t know.
Sorry. You’re right, though, Jill’s enemy list was a mile long.”

“I suppose. A few people mentioned
that she had hinted about being on to something big, like she thought she would
be moving up from the resort soon. Do you know what that might have been
about?”

“No, but I think Jill’s bravado
covered a lot of insecurity. She liked to talk big, but it never amounted to
much.”

“Maybe everyone in the world is
more insecure than we think,” Lacy said.

“Maybe so. Maybe everyone in high
school felt like the chubby kid with a back brace who cried a lot, regardless
of how they looked or acted on the outside.”

“I know I felt that way, so I’m
going to believe your hypothesis is true. You’ve stumbled onto something big
and are undoubtedly a genius. Maybe you should do one of those
Ted
talks.”

“Who says I haven’t?” Snaps asked.

Lacy laughed. “I’m sorry we never
got to have that meal and catch up.”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

“There’s still time,” Snaps said.
“In fact, I have the perfect proposition for you. I heard a snowy owl was
spotted not too far from here. I’m going to try to get some pictures of it.
Want to join me?”

“That sounds awesome,” Lacy said.

“The only drawback is that you’ll
have to ski to get there.”

She couldn’t help herself; she
physically recoiled from the table.

Snaps chuckled. “It’s a gentle rise
and we can take the ski lift to get there. No more evil tow ropes.”

“Isn’t the ski lift kind of scary?”

“It’s really not. Look at me.” He
held out his hands for her surveyal. “Honestly, if I can do it, you can do it.
Besides, you can’t let it beat you. You’re in the former loser brigade. You’ve
got to show the world what you’re made of, prove your worth, cut your muster.”

“Yes, sir,” she gave him a snappy
little salute. “What exactly are you working on there?”

“New app. When I was in college, I
couldn’t wait to get out and write my own software. Now I write software every
day, and all I want to do is get out and take pictures. Why do you think that
is? Do you think that sort of restlessness means something is wrong with me? Am
I doomed to believe the grass is always greener on the other side of the
mountain?”

“Yes, you’re fundamentally flawed
and there’s no hope for you. Or you’re a normal human being who yearns for
something more.”

“What more do you yearn for, Lacy
Steele?”

“Food. Sven has me on a liquid
diet.”

He had just taken a sip of his
drink, which by the smell she presumed to be more carob concoction, when he
snorted and nearly choked. “Aw, man, you made carob milk come out my nose. That
hasn’t happened to me since….ever. Were you this funny in high school?”

“No, I was much more somber in high
school. I took myself—and everyone else—way too seriously.”

“So what happened?”

“You’re very psychologically
curious today,” she said.

“I work in a dark basement with
five other geeks. When I have contact with humans, I tend to make the most of
it. Carry on.”

“I got away from home and realized
not everyone was watching and critiquing my every move the way my mom did. I
finally started to relax. Then I lost a bunch of weight, let my roommate show
me how to apply makeup and do my hair, and got a boyfriend.”

“The beefy-looking jock?”

“No, that boyfriend was much more
cerebral. He was a mover and shaker wanna be in Manhattan. Anyway, he dumped me
for my sister. I had a bit of a breakdown, quit my job, and moved back home to
live with my grandma.”

Snaps whistled. “You’re damaged. I
like that in a woman.”

“I’m really not. I was for a while,
but a bunch of weird stuff happened. Somehow I picked myself up and got moving
again and that is how Stella got her groove back. The end.”

“Why do I feel like you left a lot
out?” Snaps said.

“Because you’re not a nerd in name
only—you’ve earned it by being smart and bad at sports.”

“Don’t forget good with computers
and able to wield a tuba at a moment’s notice,” he said.

“It’s almost like we’re writing
your dating profile right now,” Lacy said. They had always had a deprecating
sense of humor about their lackluster status in the world.

Jason ambled up beside them and
spoke. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Lacy said. “How was
basketball?”

“Not good. Tosh was on my team.
Needless to say we lost.”

“I’ll see you later, Lacy,” Snaps
said. He gathered up his stuff and took off, not waiting for a reply.

“Was it something I said?” Jason
asked. He slid into the spot Snaps had just vacated.

“’Basketball.’ Never aim sports
talk at a geek. It angers and confuses us.”

“What have you been up to since
supper?” he asked.

“I talked to the person who gave me
the massage.”

“To tell her of your intent to sue
for damages?”

“To see if she killed Jill.”

“Lacy.”

“I took Kimber with me,” she said.

“Oh, that’s better then. When
preparing to meet a possible murderer, it’s always better to offer up two
potential victims.”

“I thought so. Anyway, I didn’t
learn much. Everyone hated Jill, blah, blah, blah. So next I went to talk to an
old naked woman.”

“Because…”

“Because that’s what you do when
you’re away from home and looking for adventure, Jason. Also because her name
came up as having a particular problem with Jill.” She stifled a yawn. As much
as she wanted to talk to him, she was nearing the end of her endurance. The day
had been long.

“Anything there?”

“A lot of wrinkles and a
determination to never let anyone see me naked after the age of fifty. Also,
she agreed that—surprise—everyone hated Jill. Although she did give
me a lead on a possible boyfriend.”

“Did you tell Detective Green?”

“Um, no, I was delayed in that by
my conversation with Snaps.”

“Translation: you had no intention
of telling the police.”

“I sort of forgot, but in my
defense, I’m stupid tired. Did you have any luck talking to the detective? Did
you tell him how universally Jill was disliked?”

“He already knew. They’re doing
their own interviews and suspect roundup. I know it’s not what you want to
hear, but he’s not a hotdog intent on steamrolling your friend. He’s being
thorough, and all the evidence is pointing at Sven.”

“In my heart, I know it’s not him.”

“Your heart’s been wrong before.”

“Okay, then in my gut I know it’s
not him. You said a good cop has to know when to listen to his gut, right?”

“Your hearing is extremely
selective, but I love you, so I’m willing to give you a pass,” he said. She
stifled another yawn. “Am I boring you?”

“Yes. I’ve grown weary of your
charming demeanor and gorgeous face. I’ve decided to dump you and go for
someone ugly and boorish.”

“Never thought I would go out with
a woman who used ‘boorish’ in everyday conversation.”

“You should have aimed higher
then,” she said and was unable to stifle the yawn this time. It was
jaw-crackingly large. “I’m so sorry.”

“Let’s get you back to your room,”
Jason said. He put his arm around her and began gently shepherding her toward
her room. She leaned into him a little.

“I feel like I’ve barely seen you
since we got here. What happened to our romantic weekend away?”

“Did you ever notice that something
always happens? Sometimes it feels like someone is plotting our lives and they
have it out for us,” Jason said. “Like we’re monkeys on a string and they’re
jerking us around for their amusement.”

“I’m inclined to blame my mom,”
Lacy said.

“Don’t be so hasty. Frannie and I
have been getting along better lately. I think she’s starting to accept me,”
Jason said.

“She’s always accepted you. It’s me
she’s not sure of.” They reached her room.

“What do you think it would take
for us to be completely alone, no distractions, no family, no work, no
intrusions?” Jason asked.

“A miracle from heaven?” Lacy suggested.

Jason sighed. “I suppose we’ll have
to take what we can get. What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I’m going bird watching with
Snaps.”

“Bird watching. That sounds…old.
See you on the drive home?”

“I’m riding with you, so I’d say
there’s a high likelihood.”

“With the way things are going, you
never know.” He kissed her goodnight and watched her walk into her room. Even
after the door was closed, he remained in the hallway, thinking. What would she
say if she knew what he suspected? The conversation with her father hadn’t
revealed much more than the conversation with Frannie, but it had given him
enough to make him question the truth.

In police work when there were two
suspects, the best strategy was to separate them and see how their stories
matched. They should be similar, but not precise. In Frannie and Clint’s case,
their stories matched so well they sounded rehearsed. Jason checked his watch.
It was late. Too late to call Mr. Middleton and Mrs. Craig? Maybe, but he
needed Mr. Middleton for a sounding board, someone to tell him if his theory
was too far in left field. And he needed Mrs. Craig’s meticulous record keeping
to find the name of Frannie’s camp. Once he had that, it wouldn’t be too hard
to figure out what happened that summer so long ago between Lacy’s parents. The
only question that would remain then was what to do with the information once
he had it.