Lacy stared blankly at Gray after he shoved her to the ground. She didn't seem to understand. She attempted to stand, but he straddled her, preventing her escape.

His eyes held no malice. The woman was annoying, but this was just another item on his to-do list:

• Reschedule next week's collaboration meeting.
• Bring flowers to his mother's grave.
• Buy more toilet paper.
• Kill Lacy Knighton.

It was that simple.

"It's a pity you wasted your life on delusions of grandeur," he clucked. "You might have amounted to something otherwise. Sorry, Lacy, but you chose the wrong person to mess with."

Gray felt no remorse. She deserved this. The apology was meaningless; she was too disoriented to comprehend it.

He needed to be quick. He had to clean himself, dispose of the knife, and return to the office before anyone noticed his absence.

A swift slash across her carotid artery ended it. Lacy's head hit the concrete; a horrifying gurgling sound escaped her. His work was done. No one could save her—that artery bleeds out in five minutes.

He examined himself. A few tiny blood drops stained his shirt. Great. He'd have to dispose of that too. At least he owned three identical shirts.

He pocketed his hands, whistling as he walked away from the murder scene. His work here was done.

"'You're welcome, Aaron!'" he thought, a twisted smile playing on his lips.

He wondered how Aaron would react to the news. He'd likely be pleased…unless he suspected Gray's involvement. That couldn't happen.

Walking back to his apartment, near the Appzoid offices, he considered his explanation to the police. After all, he was a frequent contact in Lacy's phone records.

He'd taken her phone and purse. Hopefully, the police would assume it was a mugging. That didn't guarantee his safety; they could obtain her call log from the phone company. It would buy him time, at least.

Back at his apartment, Gray bleached the knife and shirt. He'd discard them in separate trash cans far from his home and office. Queens seemed like a good choice. No one would look for Bronx murder evidence in Queens.

Different police precincts covered those boroughs; even if found, the connection was unlikely. Gray wasn't worried about the police; they were idiots.

No one had linked Alistair Hale to Mary Gray's murder, despite the suspicious monthly deposits he'd sent her. It was remarkably stupid not to investigate a "suicide" victim's finances. Don't most suicides stem from financial woes?

Even if his DNA was found on Lacy, he could claim she'd assaulted him and been ejected from his office. He had witnesses.

He was far more concerned about Aaron's reaction. That's why he'd initially preferred a seemingly untraceable car accident. People die in car accidents daily; it wouldn't be suspicious.

If Aaron suspected him, he wouldn't want Gray near his family. Aaron had morals. Gray couldn't allow that, not now that Aaron was warming up to him.

His biggest worry was their phone conversation weeks ago, where he'd asked if Aaron wanted Lacy gone. Aaron would likely recall that once he learned of her death.

If Lacy cost him Aaron's trust after all his efforts, he'd be furious. Even in death, she caused problems. People like Lacy Knighton shouldn't exist.

Gray disposed of the shirt and knife in separate Queens trash cans, blocks apart, before returning to work. He slipped in through the secret back entrance and resumed reviewing reports as if nothing had happened.

His secretary buzzed him, acting normally, indicating she hadn't tried contacting him. He knew her temper; if she had, she'd be furious now.

Excellent. His alibi was secure.

"What is it, Sharon?" he asked professionally.

"Mr. Meyer, your three o'clock appointment is here."

With today's events, Gray almost forgot his meeting with the head of the staffing agency that supplied most of his intern programmers. As a former programmer, he liked giving newbies a chance.

"Send him in."

He sat primly behind his desk awaiting Charles Bower. He always reminded Gray of a frog, with his wide mouth and shiny bald head. Not everyone could be as handsome as he was.

He offered a charming smile and sent Sharon for coffee. He exchanged pleasantries about Charles' wife and family.

"What about you, Graydon? Family of your own yet?" Charles asked jovially.

Gray shook his head. "No, but I've been enjoying spending time with my younger brother and his family lately."

"I didn't even know you had a brother."

Sharon returned with coffee, shifting the conversation to the meeting's purpose. But Gray couldn't help a wry smile at Charles' statement. No one knew he had a brother.

That wouldn't last long. Once Aaron ousted their father from Hale Investments, Gray would deliver the final blow to Alistair's reputation by revealing his illegitimate child. It would surely bring the proud man to his knees.

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