Building Blocks of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal Page B

paused in front of him and poked her finger in his chest, meeting the firm resistance of his vest.
    “We are so not done talking about this,” she hissed.
    “Shocking,” he said in the same dry, grumpy tone he had been using all night.
    Lacy would have said more, but Keegan clamped a hand on her shoulder, tugging her toward his car. “C’mon, Lacy,” he said. “No need to add assaulting an officer to your list of crimes tonight.”
    Still annoyed by Jason’s blasé expression, she wanted to do something, anything to break through his annoyingly cool reserve, so she stuck her tongue out at him. Instead of making him angry, though, it made him laugh.
    “Geez,” he muttered, turning away as he closed and locked the door.
     
     
     

Chapter 9
     
     
    Morning came too early for Lacy. Though Keegan had gotten her home at a reasonable hour—even after repeatedly trying to worm information from her about her relationship with Jason—she still felt like she had just fallen asleep. At first she couldn’t remember why it was important to wake so early, and then she remembered her meeting with Ed McNeil. She jumped out of bed, throwing her hair in a hasty ponytail. If she thought Ed McNeil was bad, he was nothing compared to his roadblock of a secretary. Lacy wanted to make sure and have the meeting over with before Pearl came back from the dentist.
    For that reason, she bypassed breakfast. She would grab something later at the coffeehouse. Maybe the stop-work order would be resolved and she could make a few calls to some roofers to get the ball rolling on her building. Thinking of the calls she needed to make reminded her that she still hadn’t heard from Tosh. She pulled out her phone and pushed the button, not surprised when it once again went to voicemail.
    “Tosh, it’s Lacy, that’s L-A-C-Y. Why do I feel like I’m seeing more of your brother than I’m seeing of you? Whatever the reason, I don’t like it, and I miss you. Please call me back.” She closed her phone, stuffing it back in her pocket with a sigh. Would there ever come a time in her life when there was total peace? When she wasn’t in the midst of chaos?
    Outside, the morning was brisk and Lacy picked up her pace to a trot—not enough to drench her in sweat, but enough to leave her breathless when she arrived in front of Ed McNeil’s office. She bent over, gasping for air.
    “Is that really how you run?”
    Startled, she stood straight and encountered Jason. He was still wearing his uniform, though his face was unshaven and his eyes were bloodshot, not his usual clean-cut appearance by a long shot.
    “Don’t tell me you’re still on duty,” she said. Was he working a double?
    “No, I got off a while ago.” He turned, surveying Ed McNeil’s office again.
    “Jason, what are you doing here?” Lacy asked, laying a hand on his arm.
    He jumped at her gentle touch, turning to look at her again.
    Her heart wrenched as she once again glimpsed his bloodshot eyes. “Did you sleep yesterday before work?”
    He shook his head. “There wasn’t a lot of time after court, and I…just couldn’t.” He would have turned back to study Ed McNeil’s office again, but Lacy caught his attention.
    “Jason, don’t do this. Don’t confront him, or whatever it is you’re thinking about doing. Just go home and get some rest.”
    “That’s probably a good idea,” he said.
    She frowned, disturbed by his vague tone and easy agreement. “You want me to drive you?”
    That brought him out of his stupor enough to laugh. “No.” His smile faded as they studied each other. Lacy moved her hand up to his bicep and gave it a squeeze.
    “I’m worried about you.”
    “I’m fine,” he said, and she wondered if he really believed it. He looked anything but fine; in fact, she had never seen him like this.
    “What are you doing tonight?” she asked.
    “Is this a pickup?” he asked.
    “Depends on the answer,” she said.
    “I’m free,” he