Hair Brained

by Nancy J. Cohen

  “We’ll see. Look, the Goodyear blimp is already in the air.”

  “Sunday is primetime for advertisers. A plane pulling an ad is sure to follow.”

  Their attention diverted to the beachgoers and the patrons at open-air cafés across the street. They moved on to safer topics until it was time to return to the marina. They arrived a half-hour early in case Darryl showed up ahead of schedule.

  Their target appeared as they hovered by the rental booth.

  “Hey, guys, what are you doing here?” Darryl gazed at them in surprise. He’d forsworn his business attire for a sport shirt and shorts with boating shoes on his feet. He wore a baseball cap on his gray hair.

  Dalton regarded the blonde in a bikini on the account executive’s arm. “We were hoping to speak to you in private.”

  “Is that so? I’ll do the paperwork for my rental, and then you can have a few. Babe, why don’t you wait on that bench over there? I won’t be long.”

  “We were wondering what you can tell us about Ryan,” Dalton began, when the three of them stood under the shade of a coconut palm on a grassy swale.

  Not far away stood the familiar Bahia Mar resort, its white structure an icon in the area and the mecca for the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. Valet parking at that stellar event cost sixty dollars per day. Was this the crowd Darryl emulated to join?

  Darryl kicked at a pebble on the ground. “Ryan is a good kid. He’s personable with our clients, returns phone calls promptly, and gets the job done. I don’t see him staying in that position for any length of time.”

  “What’s the alternative?” Dalton asked.

  “He’ll jump ship as soon as a better offer comes along.”

  “You don’t think he covets your role or Shawna’s?”

  “We’re not going anywhere, so he’d have to seek a promotion at another place. His position is better suited to someone like Jeri, who’s content to get a salary with benefits and do the job. Ryan is on a career track. He makes no secret about it.”

  “I understand his mother has Alzheimer’s disease. How can he afford to take care of her and own an expensive car?” Marla inquired. “I notice he has the latest tech gadgets, too.”

  “Maybe his old lady has savings? I’ve never asked. As for the car, how do you know he owns it? He could have a lease.”

  “That’s true.” She gave Dalton a thoughtful glance. “We were wondering if Ken found any irregularities among those two. You know, Jeri has an ill daughter. They both have the duty of caring for a loved one.”

  Darryl glowered at her. “Ken wouldn’t tolerate any discrepancies in the books, if that’s what you mean. And they’re not responsible for sales.”

  “No, but aren’t they in charge of billing, policy endorsements, and claims?”

  “So what if they are? Do you have proof there’s something wrong going on? The other detective took Ken’s hard drive. What did he discover from it?”

  “Detective Mallory won’t share those details.” Dalton watched a bird skim the water, dive down, and surface again with prey in its beak. “Ryan said you and Jeri had been having some heated discussions lately. What was that about?”

  Darryl’s face turned the color of a sunburned tourist. “Jeri is a peach. She really needs her job. She’s doing what she has to do for survival.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “One of our clients complained that a couple of endorsements had showed up on her policy that she hadn’t ordered. Ken asked me to look into it. This wasn’t the first such complaint, either. I noticed Jeri was the one in charge of those renewals.”

  “So you’re saying she padded their policies?”

  “Hey, you didn’t hear it from me, man.”

  “Did you confront her about it?”

  “Yes, and she said they’d been genuine mistakes. She’d been distraught over problems at home and had mixed up one client request with another policy holder.”

  “Did you believe her?”

  “Look, I told Ken my findings and left it at that. I like Jeri and advised her to be more diligent in the future.”

  “And Shawna? Ryan saw her arguing with Ken the other day. Ken was waving a printout at her.”

  Marla leaned inward so she could hear more clearly. A constant clatter from creaking boats, noisy tourists, and squawking seagulls sounded in the background.

  Darryl shifted his position so he stood in the shade looking away from the sun. “I told Ken she was stealing my customers. Shawna knows her track record will never equal mine, so she’s tried to boost her sales ratings by calling my clients back before I could get to them. Like, she’ll never be as good as I am.”

  “How did Ken react to your accusation?” Marla asked, picking up the conversational ball.

  “He promised to check into it, but I doubt he bothered. He often overlooked my contributions.”

  “Jeri admired a new bracelet Shawna was wearing the other day. It looked like a David Yurman piece, and those can be expensive. Her husband wouldn’t have given it to her if he’s out of a job.”

  Darryl laughed as though she’d told a joke. “Shawna likes her bling, and Ronnie knows it.”

  “Ron Crawley, the financial planner?” Dalton cut in, his tone sharp.

  “That’s right. Your investigators haven’t learned she’s seeing him on the sly? For shame, Detective.”

  Marla arched her eyebrows. This was news. Did Sergeant Mallory know? And was their affair relevant to the case? Ken wouldn’t have fired her over it, would he?

  “If we want to talk to Shawna, where can we find her? At the nail salon, perhaps?” The ocean breeze blew a strand of hair across her face. She tucked it behind an ear, aware the wind had picked up. A paper advertisement scuttled along the asphalt, ending up splayed against a concrete post.

  “Shawna works out at a gym near where she lives in Pembroke Pines. It’s one of those big chains,” Darryl told her. He glanced at the blonde, tapping her foot with an impatient expression as she waited on the bench. “Sorry, I have to go. Why all the questions, anyway? Shouldn’t the accident investigation be finished by now?”

  “There’s proof another driver forced Ken’s vehicle off the road,” Dalton said, observing the older man’s reaction.

  “What? Who would do such a thing?” Darryl tilted his head, a perplexed look in his eyes. “I don’t understand. First you say Ken got a call from somebody at work when none of us phoned him that night. The investigator checked our alibis and our cell records. Now you’re saying this was a deliberate attempt to harm him? Were you able to trace that call?”

  “Mallory had no luck in that regard. This case is his jurisdiction. We’re merely concerned about our friend Tally.”

  Darryl gripped his arm. “Is she awake yet? We’re all on pins and needles at the agency waiting to see what she’ll do with the place. She should appoint me as manager.”

  Marla’s husband shook him off. “She’s still in a coma. It’s too premature to consider that option.”

  “Let us know the minute she comes around, would you? We’d like to send flowers.”

  “Of course, we will,” Marla said in a soothing tone. “Come on, Dalton. We should go. The man’s date is waiting. Which one of these boats is yours for the day, Darryl?”

  He pointed to a sleek motor vessel. “It looks small but will give us a good ride. Someday, I’m going to own one of these babies.” His gesture encompassed a luxury yacht where a fellow lounged on the rear deck. From the purposeful activity of his friends on board, they were getting ready to cast off.

  It was a beautiful day for cruising, with fluffy white clouds in the sky and a stiff breeze. What a different lifestyle. And it’s so not for me, Marla concluded, switching her purse strap to her other shoulder.

  After saying their farewells, she and Dalton strode toward their car. She inhaled the fresh sea air as her tension ebbed.

  They’d accomplished a lot that day. Would they have time to track Shawna for a last interview?
<
br />   Chapter Eleven

  Dalton looked up Shawna’s home address and all the sports clubs within a five mile radius. They proceeded to visit each one until they found a place where she had a membership. It took a flash of Dalton’s badge to gain the information, but they finally hit gold.

  It being a Sunday, the gym was packed. They’d be lucky to find her there. Starting at the top level, they searched the sea of faces and struck out. They worked their way down, where Dalton spied her among the treadmill tyrants. Shawna wore earbuds hooked to her phone. As she noted their approach, she ripped the buds from her ears and glowered at them.

  “What are you two doing here? Have you come to ruin my day off?”

  Marla issued a friendly smile. “Hello, Shawna. Where’s your family? Is your husband babysitting the kids?”

  “They’re old enough to be home on their own, but yes, he’s there with them. Sunday is homework day, and it’s his turn to help out.”

  “Do you have a minute to talk? I’m sure you remember my husband, Dalton.”

  Shawna skewered him with a glare. “Is this about Ken? If I recall, you’re not officially on the case. That would be the other guy from Davie.”

  “You’re correct,” Dalton stated. “But we have news to share. Are you willing to answer some questions in return?”

  “I suppose.” Shawna grabbed a towel and her gym bag and followed them to a quiet corner near the weights section. “So, what’s up?” the slim dark-skinned woman said, while Marla admired her makeup. She did her eyes nicely, and that crimson shade on her lips matched her tank top.

  “We have evidence the car wreck wasn’t an accident. Another vehicle was definitely involved. Do you know anyone with this model?” Dalton showed her a picture on his cell phone.

  Shawna squinted at the photo. “Nope, sorry. Why are you even asking me? Is it because of the alleged phone call from a work colleague that drew Ken out on New Year’s Eve? All of us at the office have denied contacting him that evening. How do you know the babysitter wasn’t lying?”

  “Sergeant Mallory obtained Ken’s cell records from his carrier,” Dalton explained. “He did receive a call that night, but the source couldn’t be traced.”

  Marla cut in, unable to stay quiet for long. “That means the caller could have been anyone. Take Darryl, for instance. He seems eager to be appointed manager. He’s not so desperate that he’d orchestrate an accident to create the opportunity, would he?”

  Shawna stiffened, her scornful glance implying Marla had gone afoul of reason. “Darryl might be ambitious and think the world owes him, but he’s not a bad guy. He lets off steam by spouting his opinions. If he resented Ken for not giving him more credit, he didn’t act on it.”

  “I got the impression Darryl believes you’re stealing his clients. Did he tell Ken? Is that why Ryan noticed you and Ken arguing one day?”

  “Excuse me? You’ve been talking about me behind my back?”

  “We’re interviewing everyone associated with Ken. He was our friend, and we want to know the truth about what happened to him.” Marla tried a different tack. “Jeri said you’d acquired a lovely bracelet recently. Who gave it to you? Was it the agency’s financial planner, by any chance?”

  “How do you know about Ronnie and me?”

  “It’s not much of a secret. Did Ken learn about you guys? Maybe that’s why he was giving you a dressing down. He was warning you to steer clear of workplace romance.”

  Shawna’s mouth formed a pout. “You got me there. I suspect it was Darryl who tattled on me. He may feel I’m stealing his customers, but it isn’t true. I’m following up on leads that he allows to lapse. His head is in the clouds half the time. Or I should say, he’s dreaming about the big-time boat he wants to buy.”

  “How can he expect to afford it? Is he socking away his commissions? It must be easy for him to save money since he’s single.”

  “Huh. He pays alimony to his ex-wife who left him. She got a better lawyer.”

  “Do you know why they split up?”

  Shawna wiped her neck with a towel while a nearby guest grunted on the weight bench. “I can make an educated guess. When Darryl isn’t admiring boats on the Internet, he’s viewing naughty photos. You know what I mean.”

  Ugh, no wonder he and his wife had separated. The woman must have discovered his passion for porn sites. Did Ken catch him at it and threaten to fire him? Or worse, tell the authorities? Would that give Darryl a reason to kill Ken?

  “Did Detective Mallory take a look at anyone’s computer in the office other than Ken’s?” Dalton asked, rubbing his jaw. His face held a thoughtful expression.

  “Not really. Should I have mentioned this stuff to him? I mean, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

  Of course you don’t, Marla thought, because if you rat on your co-workers, they might do the same for you. Oops, they already have.

  Shawna glanced between her and Dalton. “What is it you’re not telling me?”

  “We still have no clue as to why Ken was on that road,” Dalton admitted. “Who might have lured him there?”

  “I’d like to find out as much as you, Detective.”

  The insurance fraud team must be keeping a tight lid on their agent’s death, Marla figured. Dalton hadn’t mentioned it to Ken’s colleagues. Presumably, that would be Sergeant Mallory’s job. But he appeared to be keeping mum on the subject as well. What was really going on? Was this bigger than any of them realized?

  Being kept in the dark didn’t help. Mallory shared some of the details, but not all. And they were merely friends of the victim, now that Ken’s case wasn’t considered accidental. Were they calling it a vehicular homicide, or what?

  “We have to think of Tally and her baby now,” Marla told the other woman. “The agency will be hers when she wakes up. She’ll need to make an informed decision about what to do and who to keep in her employ if she decides to stay on.”

  “And it’s your job to fill her in?” Shawna leaned against a wall and folded her arms, mimicking Dalton’s posture.

  “Her husband was killed. The person involved could still be someone from your office.”

  Shawna shot upright, her expression fierce. “That’s a terrible thing to say. Every office has interpersonal conflicts. It doesn’t mean we’d stoop to murder. You might as well call it by the right term. And why did Tally go with him? She left her baby late at night to run out on New Year’s Eve? They were lucky to get a sitter last-minute on a holiday.”

  “That’s true. Maybe Tally wanted to see where Ken was actually going.”

  “Could he have been having an affair with someone?”

  “If so, why would he allow Tally to accompany him?”

  “Good point. Or maybe you’re looking at everything the wrong way.” Shawna collected the bag she’d dropped on the floor.

  “Meaning what?”

  “Tally wasn’t meant to go with him. She jumped in the car on a whim, from what you’ve told me. Perhaps the phone call was meant to get Ken out of the house, leaving Tally home alone with little Luke.”

  *****

  Could this notion be true? Marla wondered during their drive to the hospital to visit Tally. Could Ken have been lured away on purpose? If so, her friend might be in danger. But who would want to go after her, and why?

  She asked herself these questions again at Tally’s bedside, where Marla combed her friend’s limp blond hair. Dalton had gone to ask the nurses if there had been any more phone calls from strangers inquiring about Tally’s condition.

  Tally appeared peaceful, as though she were merely sleeping. Most of the monitoring equipment had been removed. Now she just had a feeding tube, intravenous line, and catheter. Marla was careful to avoid the healing bruise on Tally’s head. If only her loving care would rouse Tally and bring her back to awareness.

  She placed the comb inside the bedside table drawer and pulled up a chair. “Hey, Tally, it’s me. I’ve fixed your hair, but if you keep on l
ike this, I’ll have to bring in a dry shampoo next time.” Her throat clogged, and she paused to squeeze Tally’s hand. “Luke is doing fine at our house. He’s such a darling. I may not want to give him back.”

  She prattled on, while wondering what Dalton was learning. Did Tally need a guard? Would Mallory even consider their theories?

  It wasn’t her husband’s ballgame, and all they had were suppositions. Hopefully, if Tally was a target, she’d be considered neutralized at this point. Before she woke up, though, Marla had better figure out who might want her out of the way.

  “I think this idea about Tally being a target is a long shot,” Dalton said as they headed home toward Palm Haven. His hands on the wheel, he focused his attention forward on the traffic. The report from the nurse had indicated no further phone calls from strangers.

  “I’ll admit it’s illogical, considering the dead insurance fraud agent at the end of the road. But we shouldn’t overlook the possibility.” Marla wished they didn’t have such serious matters on their minds. She’d rather admire her husband’s tall form and steadfast manner. A warm glow filled her that had less to do with lust and more to do with the sense of strength he gave her.

  He noticed her eyes on him and gave her a reassuring grin. “At least nobody else has been calling about Tally, if you can rely on the nurses. I put a bug in their ears to keep a watch on her and to notify security if anyone unknown approaches her cubicle.”

  “That’s good. I need to speak to those ladies in her tea circle. It’s hard for me to understand why she joined them, other than to make new friends.”

  “Isn’t that reason enough? Maybe she felt the need to break out of her mold and do something different. She doesn’t have to include you in every activity she does.”

  Ouch. That arrow hurt, but he was right. Why should she expect Tally to tell her every detail of her life? It could be that having a baby made her reassess her needs and reach for something new.

  Marla lifted her chin and firmed her resolve. “The members gave me their contact info, so I can arrange to meet them individually. And it may help for me to visit their recent meeting places to see what gossip I can pick up. What angle will you work on?”