Read Online 4 Arch Enemy of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal - Free Book Online Page A

hasn’t factored that into more of their analysis. Also, they’re the Pittsburgh Pirates, not the buccaneers. And they’ve had the longest losing streak in history.”
     
    “That’s all about to change. I have a feeling,” Lacy said.
     
    “Your feelings based on food products have never been wrong before,” Tosh said. They shared a smile as they stepped from the car. Behind them, Travis was pale and clammy, and Riley was uncharacteristically quiet. Lacy had the feeling that her sister was studying her interactions with Tosh to better formulate her next attack.
     
    They walked into the restaurant, and Lacy became the one who was speechless because Michael was there, and he was playing violin. He gave her a little salute with his bow and continued playing for the table he was standing next to. She had never heard him play before. She wasn’t a music expert, but to her he sounded amazing. Then again, the violin was such a soulful instrument that even the worst song could sound melodic if played correctly.
     
    “Isn’t that the guy who makes guitars?” Tosh whispered.
     
    Lacy nodded.
     
    “What’s he doing here?”
     
    She shrugged, but she could probably guess. He had said he needed money. The fact that he was playing for tips was a little sad. But just when she began to ponder giving him a break on his first month’s rent, he began to play a lively rendition of “Torn Between Two Lovers,” and sent a wink in Lacy’s direction.
     
    She did her best to ignore him, even when he moved closer and began playing “Secret Lover,” so that more than a few heads turned in their direction.
     
    “I love this guy,” Riley said.
     
    “I don’t,” Tosh said.
     
    “I’m going to kill him,” Lacy said.
     
    “Who is he?” Travis asked. Everyone turned to him in surprise because it was the first words he had uttered in almost a half an hour.
     
    “Just another of the many men in my sister’s fan club,” Riley said. “You’ve certainly cornered the market on lonely small-town losers.” She cast a not-so-subtle look at Tosh.
     
    “Riley, that’s neither true nor nice,” Lacy admonished.
     
    “Really? Because so far I’ve seen exactly four men in this town under the age of eighty, and they’re all lined up at your door, present company excluded, Travis.” She rested her hand on his forearm and gave it a pat. He started at her hand as if he had never seen one before and then looked around for the bathroom.
     
    “I asked her out when she first came back,” he blurted.
     
    “Travis!” Lacy exclaimed. “Not helping.”
     
    “It seemed like a lie not to fess up,” Travis said. He downed a sip of water and used his cloth napkin to dab at his clammy forehead. “Is it hot in here? It’s hot in here, isn’t it?”
     
    “Let’s order,” Tosh said. “Maybe stuffing food in her mouth will work to shut her up,” he added behind his menu.
     
    “That only works on one member of the family,” Riley said. “Breadsticks, Sis?” She passed the basket to Lacy who grabbed a breadstick and took a mouth-stuffing bite.
     
    Tosh gave her a look and shook his head. “What? I’m hungry,” she mumbled around a wad of bread.
     
    “You were born hungry,” Riley said.
     
    “Enough.” Tosh smacked his menu on the table and glared.
     
    “Or what? I’m so tired of all the males of the species leaping to Lacy’s defense. ‘Ooh, I must protect her from big, mean Riley, the witch.’ Did it ever occur to you that there are two sides to our story? That I have as much baggage and anger as she does?”
     
    “No,” Tosh said. “But from the moment I met you, you’ve been giving her a hard time. Maybe when no one is looking, she holds you down and pummels you. I don’t know. All I know is what I’ve seen, and what I’ve seen is you putting her down and being snide. It’s beneath you. Grow up, worry about your own life, and stop comparing yourself to Lacy.”
     
    For a second, Lacy felt