Class Reunion of Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

in high school, but that was a long time ago.”
    “It’s not high school. I know you—you’re looking for Mr. Darcy. Jason isn’t Mr. Darcy.”
    “Don’t say he’s Wickham, because he’s not,” Lacy warned.
    “No, he’s not Wickham, but thanks for proving my point. Does he even know what Pride and Prejudice is?”
    “Jason is not stupid,” Lacy said. Kimber’s disbelief was making her defensive.
    “Of course he’s not stupid. Not every jock is stupid, but that’s the point: he’s a jock. You’re Elizabeth Bennett and he’s David Beckham. What could you possibly have in common?”
    “There’s a lot more to him than being athletic,” Lacy said.
    “Yes, there’s being gorgeous. I get it, but how far does the physical attraction go?”
    “Surprisingly far,” Lacy said. Her attraction to Jason hadn’t dimmed even slightly.
    “Someday he’s going to be old, and then what? What could you possibly have in common?”
    “Not much,” Lacy conceded.
     
    “Exactly,” Kimber said.
    “But I had everything in common with Tosh, and the sizzle wasn’t there. I don’t know how or why, but Jason and I work.”
    “Who is Tosh?” Kimber said.
    “He’s my brother-in-law, I guess. Did I not tell you Riley was married?”
    “No, you didn’t. Why don’t you start from the last time we saw each other and go day by day?” Kimber suggested.
    “All right. Let’s start with the StakelyBuilding.” She hooked her arm through Kimber’s and led her to her pride and joy, the renovated StakelyBuilding. Joe Anton met them at the door wearing the same black shirt and shiny plastic badge he had been sporting for weeks, ever since Michael hatched the idea to hire him. He’s here every day anyway. Why not give him a job? The suggestion coincided with Jason’s insistence that she beef up security, so Lacy installed a surveillance system in the building and hired Joe to officially oversee it. He was paid for fifteen hours of work, but he spent all day, every day in the building. After being Lacy’s shadow for so long, he tentatively began making himself known to the other tenants who accepted him with open hearts. Now Lacy only saw him in passing as he made his rounds, and she missed him.
    “Kimber, this is Joe, our security guard extraordinaire. How’s everything today, Joe?”
    “Quiet,” Joe said. “The ice cream shop is making caramel today. I told them to save some for you.”
    “Thank you,” Lacy said. “Do you want to come up to my office and have some coffee with us?”
    “No, thanks. My stomach finally stopped burning after last time.”
    “Joe likes to play this little game where he pretends my coffee is terrible,” Lacy explained.
    “Don’t drink it,” Joe warned Kimber before ambling away.
     
    “Is he really a security guard?” Kimber whispered.
    “Sure,” Lacy said.
    “His badge was made of plastic.”
    “The sheriff’s office gives them out to kids. Jason gave me one as a joke. Joe found it in my office and kept it. He never takes it off. I could swear I saw him polishing it the other day.”
    “I’m on weirdness overload,” Kimber said.
    “It’s about to get worse. Here comes Michael.”
    “Lacy, Cindy told me to ask you to have the heating duct between our stores checked. It may be blocked,” he said.
    “Why didn’t Cindy ask me herself?” Lacy said.
     
    “That would have been a bit awkward considering you stole her boyfriend,” Michael said.
    “I did not steal her boyfriend,” Lacy argued. “They weren’t dating. They were just friends. They hadn’t dated for years. For her to send you on an errand so she doesn’t have to talk to me is beyond immature.”
    “I agree totally. Good thing I made it all up. You should check that vent, though. It’s rattling. Who’s your friend?” He turned his attention to Kimber who had probably been the object of his intentions the entire time. He had an uncanny sense about the nearness of beautiful women, like some sort of