Family Case of Murder Read Online Free

her throat. “Are you going to have a shower for me for our side of the family? Because Mom can’t do it; that’s tacky. It should be you, don’t you think?”
    “Absolutely,” Lacy said. “I would love to. Are you still into Mariachi music? Because I know of a great band, and I should book them now.”
    “Oh, ha, ha. Funny. Yeah, if you do live music, it’s going to have to be a string quartet, only I’m planning to get one of those for the wedding, so that might be a little redundant. We’ll talk.”
    “Super. I am really exited for that conversation.” The good thing about Riley was that sarcasm was lost on her, freeing Lacy to use it as often as she wished.
    “Good. We’ll talk about it next weekend. And, hey, we’ll find someone for your plus one. Robert has lots of single friends.”
    “What? I said I was bringing someone,” Lacy said.
    “We thought you were kidding. You joke a lot.”
    “Why would I kid about that?” Lacy said.
    “Well, you know. Mom said you’re still really hung up and bitter about the Robert thing. I didn’t think you were seeing anyone.”
    “That doesn’t mean I don’t have friends. I’m bringing a friend.”
    “Who is she?”
    “He, it’s a he. His name is Tosh. He’s the pastor of Grandma’s church.”
    Riley snickered and tried to turn it into a cough. “How old is he?”
    “Twenty eight.” For the second time that morning, Lacy had to grit her teeth to keep from lashing out. Her jaw was really starting to ache.
    “Okay,” Riley said. “I’m sure he’s as cute as any of your other friends ever were, and I’m sure he’s very nice. I look forward to meeting him.”
    “I should go,” Lacy said, hanging up without waiting for Riley’s goodbye. Years of knowing her sister had taught Lacy to read between the lines. She knew what Riley really meant was that she was expecting Tosh to be some sort of super geek, as geeky as all the other guys Lacy had liked before Robert. But Tosh wasn’t a geek. He was sweet and kind and handsome. And loaded. Maybe it was shallow, but she had a sudden and desperate longing for the Underwood family jet.   
    As far as her own inheritance went, being an heiress was no longer a slack job. She rose early and worked on paperwork or met with contractors or renters until late into the evening. Renovating the Stakely building was even vaster than she had originally thought it would be, but it also gave her a purpose, and she liked that.
    Just as she was beginning to get in a groove and make some headway in her never-ending pile of tax documents and legal contracts, her phone rang again. This time she didn’t have to look at the caller ID because Darth Vader’s theme from Star Wars alerted her to the fact that it was her mother. And there was no sense in trying to dodge her call. Lacy had tried and failed before. Her mother would keep calling. And calling. And then she would call Lacy’s grandmother. And Lacy’s friends. One night she had called both Tosh and Jason after Lacy didn’t return her call a second time in a row. Yes, Lacy had definitely learned better than to dodge her mother.
    “Hi, Mom.”
    “I wanted to know what you have on tap for Riley’s shower.”
    “Well, seeing as how I just learned thirty seconds ago that I’m supposed to give her one, I would say it’s pretty much all wrapped up. Just have to decide between these color swatches for the ice sculpture.”
    “Don’t be sarcastic, Lacy. I hope you didn’t take that tone with Riley. She’s been very stressed lately.”
    “Mom, she’s an event planner. She throws parties in the Hamptons and Manhattan for a living. How stressful can it be?”
    “Robert’s family is challenging, and she’s trying to make a good impression.”
    Lacy could empathize with that. Robert’s family was challenging, and trying to make a good impression on them was like trying to figure out what juggling acts might impress a blind man. Lacy was beginning to feel a glimmer