Hair Brained (The Bad Hair Day Mysteries Book 14)

by Nancy J. Cohen

  Remembering she’d promised to check in with Dalton before leaving the salon, Marla gave him a call once outside. The late-afternoon air chilled her bones. Day turned into night earlier in January, and with the setting sun came cooler temperatures. Glad she’d worn a leather jacket, Marla cradled the phone close to her ear while she headed to her car.

  “Hi, I’m on my way to visit Tally,” she told her husband when he’d answered.

  “I’ll fetch Brie on my way home and will take care of dinner.” His deep voice sounded like soothing music to her ears.

  “Did you visit the scene of the accident?”

  “Yes. That road would be dangerous even in the daytime. It’s a narrow two-lane drive with a canal on one side. Houses border it on the other side, and it leads to some sort of warehouse district that has an easier outlet. It’s not a great part of town.”

  “What on earth would have brought Ken to that area? Do you really think it was work-related on New Year’s Eve? What could be so important?”

  “I have no idea, and neither does Sergeant Mallory, the investigator assigned to the case.”

  “Has he asked Ken’s colleagues about it?”

  “He’s informed them about Ken’s death, but that’s all. I did interview the alleged witness. The guy swears he saw another car cut Ken off and speed away.”

  “Does this man seem reliable? It was New Year’s Eve. He might have been drinking.”

  “He seemed earnest, but people’s memories are never fully accurate.”

  “Is there evidence on the Acura that another car made physical contact?”

  “As I said before, tire tracks confirm the presence of another vehicle. I haven’t been to the yard where Ken’s car was towed. I’ll have to wait until Mallory clears the Acura first. But the vehicles wouldn’t have had to touch for Ken to swerve out of the way.”

  “I imagine his car was totaled. Somebody should notify their insurance company.”

  “I’ll take care of it, unless Sergeant Mallory has already given them a call. He would have obtained that information from Ken’s wallet. Their auto policy might provide medical benefits as well.”

  “What happens to the stuff inside their car?” People kept all sorts of items in their vehicles. Did relatives have to claim these personal possessions after a fatal traffic accident? The notion gave her a shudder.

  “Maybe Phil, as next of kin, can go over to the lot while he’s here. I’ll ask Mallory when I talk to him. I don’t want to pester the guy with too many questions right now.”

  “Has this Sergeant said anything about the possibility of Ken being purposefully forced off the road? Or does he merely consider the accident an unfortunate hit-and-run?”

  “He hasn’t come to any conclusions yet. As a professional courtesy, he’ll keep me informed of any major developments. But we’re also personal friends of the victims, which gives me—”

  “A conflict of interest.” Marla reached her Camry and opened the door. “We’ll talk more at home. Love you.”

  *****

  Not much had changed at the hospital when Marla arrived, frazzled from rush hour traffic and the always-hazardous drive north on I-95. Tally appeared pale against the bedding. Bruises became more evident now that Marla could see past her initial anxiety. Just as well Tally is out of it, Marla thought. She’d be hurting badly if awake.

  After a brief consultation with the nursing staff, Marla took a seat at Tally’s bedside. The respirator hissed, and other machines beeped a steady rhythm. That was good, wasn’t it? Steady was a desirable outcome.

  Holding her friend’s hand, she babbled on about Luke and how Tally would heal with time. Her voice wound down, getting dry and raspy. She blinked rapidly, her eyes moist.

  Please, Tally, be all right. You have to wake up soon.

  Not big on prayers, nonetheless Marla closed her eyes and mumbled a plea to the Lord. “She has a baby boy who needs his mother. Please help her get better and not have any residual brain damage.”

  Tally could wake up with memory loss, tremors, or any number of other ailments. It would be difficult enough for her to deal with Ken’s death. Thankfully, imparting that news was the doctor’s job.

  Marla patted Tally’s limp hand before rising to seek her friend’s nurse. She found the woman wheeling a medicine cart down the aisle.

  “Excuse me,” she called, hustling in that direction. “Has Tally’s brother-in-law been here at all? He arrived in town this morning.” You’d think he would be concerned enough to come visit. Marla would feel better if he made the effort to see Tally in person. It would show he cared about her.

  The nurse’s eyes scrunched, deepening her crow’s feet. “I believe you’re the sole visitor today, although some man phoned to ask about her. He said he was a friend of the family and not a relative. I told him he’d have to call the doctor for information on Mrs. Riggs’ condition.”

  “Oh? You wouldn’t have this guy’s name, would you?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t write it down.”

  Hmm, which friend of Tally would that be? Marla contemplated this question during the drive home. Dalton was the only one who came to mind.

  She parked the car in the garage and emerged into the brightly lit kitchen. Her shoulders slumped with relief as she hung her keys on a hook by the door.

  Dalton, busy at the sink, turned off the faucet. “Here you are. I was getting worried.”

  “Traffic was heavy. It’s always slow this time of day.”

  He dried his hands on a towel and walked over to embrace her. “I don’t like you driving by yourself at night.”

  “I’m fine.” Their unspoken fears about car accidents flickered through her mind. “Where are Brie and Luke?”

  “Brianna is on the phone in her room, and Luke is asleep. I stopped off at the baby store and bought a portable crib, so that’ll help us out.”

  “Good thinking.” She followed him into their makeshift nursery to see for herself. Sure enough, a maple-colored crib stood against the wall in their guest bedroom. Luke lay inside, his eyes closed in repose. He looked so cute in his sleeper outfit that she had to smile. “What’s that thing?” She pointed to the protective padding around the interior.

  “It’s a bumper. We could probably use more sheets since I only bought one set.”

  “You’d better make a list of supplies. I’ll borrow whatever I can get from Tally’s house when I go there next.” Leaving Luke to his slumber, she entered the hallway.

  “I don’t mind buying a few items. You never know,” Dalton said in a playful tone. “We might need to furnish our own nursery someday.”

  “You wish.” She swatted him on the shoulder. He knew her feelings on the topic. And yet this time, the idea gave her an unwanted sense of awe and wonder.

  *****

  Thursday was her late day at work, so Marla strapped Luke into his car seat, stuck the folded stroller into her trunk along with the diaper bag, and hopped in on the driver’s side. She had a whole slate of errands to perform this morning. First on her list was visiting the day care center that Nicole’s friend had recommended.

  Located near Sawgrass Mills Mall, the place was farther west than she might have chosen, but the facility was fairly new and the caretakers seemed to enjoy their jobs. While wheeling Luke around, she got a full tour and watched the staff interact with their small clientele. Security was tight, and video monitors ever present.

  Since they had room for one more infant under six months, Marla showed her power of attorney and signed Luke up for a trial period. She was glad the director agreed to cancel the contract should Tally awaken and prefer to keep Luke at home.

  Would Tally even stay in that house with Ken gone? What kind of life insurance policy did he have? Would it pay off their mortgage? It would be terrible if Tally had to downsize due to lack of funds. Then again, she might choose to move closer to her dress shop or to the day care center.

  These issues would have to be dealt with later,
when her condition improved.

  Marla agreed to bring Luke on Monday for his first day care session. She’d foot the bill for now but hoped Tally would be able to pay her back later. Things could get expensive, between baby care and supplies. No wonder young couples put off having children right away. It wasn’t affordable until they’d built up their income stream. Having grandmothers nearby could serve as an advantage in that regard.

  Outside, Marla pushed the stroller toward her white Camry. The smell of wood smoke rose pleasantly into her nose. Somebody must have a fireplace going in the vicinity. Glad she’d had the smarts earlier to put on a warm sweater, she swung Luke from his stroller to the car seat and fastened him in. Oy, it was a shlep to go anywhere with a child.

  With Luke secured in the rear, she sat in the car with the motor running and dialed Tally’s house number. She’d already checked in with the hospital this morning. Fluctuations in her friend’s blood pressure concerned the nurse, but they’d let her know if anything critical happened. Meanwhile, Marla hoped to catch Phil at the residence.

  He answered on the third ring, his voice wary.

  “Hi, Phil? This is Marla Vail. I’m Tally’s friend and Dalton’s wife. I was hoping to stop by with Luke to say hello and maybe pick up some more baby supplies.”

  “Sure, I’m not going anywhere.”

  Unfazed by the lack of warmth in his tone, Marla set on the path toward his lodgings. Did Phil even care about his nephew’s welfare? Was he grieving for the loss of his brother? Marla had never met him in person, but Tally had spoken of him in disdainful tones.

  He opened the door, his wheat brown hair ruffled and sticking up in places, his jaw covered by scruffy growth. Phil regarded her with pale blue eyes from behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. He wore a plaid shirt open at the collar, faded jeans, and worn leather loafers.

  “Hi, I’m Marla. It’s nice to finally meet you in person, although I wish the circumstances could be better. I’m sorry for your loss. We’ll all miss Ken a great deal, especially his son.” She indicated the baby, who made a gurgling noise and offered one of his rare smiles.

  Phil’s expression softened. “Come on in. This is the first chance I’ve had to greet my nephew.”

  Marla sat in the living room at his invitation. She didn’t intend to stay too long but wished to break the ice. “Tally mentioned you’re a chemist?”

  He bobbed his head in an affirmative motion. “That’s right. I work at a lab for a pharmaceutical company. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but it pays the bills.”

  Marla rocked the stroller back and forth. “What got you into the field?”

  “I was one of the nerdy kids who liked chemistry in school. Or maybe it was because we had a cool teacher who made things fun. Learning the periodic table was like a game to me.”

  “Ken is … was from Miami. You never had any desire to move back to Florida?”

  He gave a snort of laughter. “Nope. You can keep the heat and humidity. Where I live, it’s less congested. I like the sense of community and the slower pace away from the crowded coastlines. I should have come to see my brother, though. After Dad died, we drifted apart.”

  If Phil had a steady job, what made him such a flake in Tally’s view? From his graying temples, he looked to be in his mid-forties, older than Ken. Was it because he’d never married? Did he drink, gamble, or spend money wastefully? Tally had never pinpointed the reason why she didn’t trust her brother-in-law.

  Regardless, it wasn’t Marla’s role to judge him. She summoned a tactful response.

  “Look, I realize this is difficult for you, especially being from out of town. But if I can help with arrangements—”

  Phil shot to his feet and began pacing. “Thanks, but I’ve already decided to do a private graveside burial, unless my brother left other instructions. I’ve found a place with reasonable rates. You wouldn’t believe how much funeral homes charge these days.”

  “Actually, I would. I’ve researched Pre-Need plans.”

  Phil gave her a glum look. “I’ll get it done as soon as the body is released, but my funds are short. It would help if I could access my brother’s accounts.”

  “Are you listed as signatory? Otherwise, you’ll have to request reimbursement from his estate. Please let us know what arrangements you make. Dalton and I would like to attend the burial. Have you given any thought to a memorial service? Ken’s friends and business associates will want to pay their respects.”

  “Tally can take charge of a service when she’s ready. Or you can hold one for both of them, if she doesn’t make it. From what your husband said, she’s not out of the woods yet.”

  Marla pressed her lips together, dismayed by his casual attitude. She shoved the stroller in his direction. “Would you mind watching Luke while I gather more supplies? Or perhaps you’d rather care for him while you’re in town? It would give you a chance to get to know your nephew.” She had no intention of handing the child over to him but wished to gauge his reaction.

  Phil held up both hands. “Whoa, I don’t think so. I’m not the fatherly type. The kid is all yours.”

  “Fine, then please keep an eye on him for a few minutes.” Without a backward glance, she rose and strode toward the bedroom wing.

  Which space was Phil inhabiting—the master suite or the guest room? Aware that she had mere minutes to poke around, she dipped into the master bedroom. Her gaze roamed to the king-size bed, neatly made up with a colorful comforter in a tropical design.

  Tally and Ken might have been awake on New Year’s Eve when the phone rang. Had he taken the call here or in the family room while watching TV? She picked up the mobile unit on his nightstand and scrolled through the caller ID. None of the numbers jumped out at her as being familiar, but that didn’t mean anything. The out-of-area calls were likely from telemarketers. If she had more time, she would copy the others, but Phil might wonder what was keeping her.

  Besides, Ken’s call might have come through on his cell phone, not the house line. Either way, Sergeant Mallory would probably be examining his recent call lists.

  She replaced the receiver in its cradle, then surveyed the room. Her glance caught on a crumpled piece of paper in the trash can by Ken’s side of the bed.

  She retrieved the note and squinted at the hand-scrawled words.

  Louise … Melaleuca Lane … Bay 6

  “What are you doing?” Phil snapped. He stood in the doorway, glaring at her with furrowed brows.

  “Um, I needed a pen to write down a list of baby items I’ll be wanting. I found a pen and notepad here on the nightstand.” Marla waved the paper before stuffing it into her skirt pocket. Hopefully, he hadn’t been standing there for too long.

  “The kid fell asleep, so I put him in his crib. I figured he’d be more comfortable there.”

  “I’d imagine so.” Praying the baby would nap for a while, Marla swept her arm in a broad gesture. “It’s hard to believe Ken won’t be coming home. Even if you hadn’t spoken to him in a while, he was still your brother. Is there anything here that you might want? I can tell Tally for you when she’s awake.”

  Phil shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and lumbered into the room. His eyes saddened as he replied. “The only thing that means something to me is the Rolex watch he got from our dad. I’d probably like to have it as a keepsake.”

  “I’ll bet Tally won’t mind, unless she wants it for Luke. I think Ken wore a Citizen watch, so her son could have that one instead.”

  An image of Ken surfaced in her mind as though he were still alive and vibrant. His wheat hair was similar to Phil’s, except for the latter’s side part. The brothers shared the same blue eyes, but Ken’s had a deeper hue. Both of them had tall, lean frames. And Ken dressed better by far, but then he had to present a professional front since he dealt with people all day, while Phil worked in a lab.

  Marla winced as a new thought surfaced. “I wonder what happened to the jewelry they were wearing in the accide
nt. Would the police have their personal items, or the hospital?” Wouldn’t the nurse have handed their belongings over to her and Dalton if the hospital had them? Or were the cops keeping everything as evidence?

  “I have no idea. By any chance, do you have a copy of Ken’s will or know where it’s located?” A pained expression entered Phil’s eyes as he pushed his glasses up at mid-nose level. “I’ve been so busy calling around to various mortuaries that I haven’t given it a thought. I’m not expecting my brother to leave me anything, but it would be nice to know.”

  “I have copies of their documents at home. I’ll take a look.”

  Phil already knew Dalton filled the role as Ken’s executor and successor trustee after Tally. Marla had been Tally’s choice in the event her husband didn’t survive her. They’d both listed Marla as the baby’s guardian.

  Phil moved to the nightstand and picked up a hardcover book Ken must have been reading. “My brother always did like thrillers. I’m into science fiction myself.”

  “Tally will have to sort through everything later,” Marla said, considering the monumental tasks ahead for her friend. “Meanwhile, somebody has to cancel their appointments, pay their bills, and take care of the house. I should take home her calendar and address book, unless she keeps those on her cell phone. Or would you prefer to take charge of this stuff?” She gave Phil a questioning glance.

  The chemist put the book down and faced her. “You’re more familiar with their personal business than I am. I’d appreciate it if you would handle these things.”

  “Would you know if they have a safety deposit box? That could be where they keep their original documents.”

  “I’ve no idea. Check their desk and file cabinet. Honestly, I’m hoping to put my brother to rest and then hop on the next airplane out of here. So I’m grateful for your help.”

  Luke interrupted with a whimper that cascaded into a series of cries. Marla veered into the child’s room, where she sniffed an unpleasant odor. “I believe he needs a diaper change,” she told Phil, who had followed her. “You’d better empty the garbage afterward so the dirty diapers don’t fester in here. We’ll have to find out which days trash pickup comes to this street.”