14 Hair Brained

by Nancy J. Cohen

  “Hold on; I have one more question. After everyone left, did Rissa hang out in the parking lot? She’s the redhead in the group.”

  Teri’s eyebrows lifted. “Well, now that you mention it, I did see something odd. A homeless guy wandered over to her, and she was kind enough to give him some money.”

  “Did you actually see cash exchange hands?”

  “No, I just assumed—”

  “Can you describe this fellow? Had you seen him around here before?”

  “I’d have called the cops if I had. We don’t allow panhandlers on the premises. This person wore a hoodie, so I didn’t get a good look at him. After their encounter, the lady got into her car and the man went away. I’ve never seen him again.”

  Teri scurried off before Marla could ask more. She lingered by the sales counter until the shopkeeper came over. Tempted by the glistening sweets in the display case, she bought a selection of dark chocolate-covered marzipan, pistachio ginger bark that Dalton might like, and chocolate-covered orange peels. Maybe she’d get some health benefits from her purchase. On the way out, she stuffed a catalog into her shopping bag. Custom-made pieces could be cute for holiday business gifts.

  So what had she learned? Marla reviewed their conversation as she walked outside to her car. Rissa had encountered a vagrant in the parking lot. Their meet-up sounded similar to the other occasions.

  Edie had argued with another tea circle lady whom Marla hadn’t met yet.

  Tally had discovered an old letter belonging to her mother in one of her cookbooks. Why would this particular find have rattled her friend? So her mom had an admirer. The woman had probably dated lots of guys before she’d met Tally’s father.

  Curious to learn more, Marla determined to make another visit to her friend’s house to look for this letter.

  She crossed the pavement toward her Camry, so deep in thought that she didn’t pay attention to her surroundings. A sudden roar made her lift her head.

  She gasped as a car barreled straight toward her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Marla leapt to the side, crashed against a parked sedan, and slid to the asphalt. With a squeal of tires, the car sped away. She glimpsed a flash of silver and the back end of an SUV.

  Shaking from head to foot, she rolled to her knees and managed to stand. It wouldn’t be smart to wait around in case the driver returned to make another pass at her. She had no doubt this had been a deliberate attempt to injure her, or worse.

  She brushed off her pants, grabbed her purse from the ground, and hobbled to her car.

  Safely locked inside, she examined herself for damage. Her wrists throbbed, having taken the brunt of impact. They didn’t appear to be broken, thank goodness. And her hip felt bruised but nothing more. She’d been lucky.

  She sat immobile, her heart racing like a squirrel on steroids. Get a grip, Marla. You’re okay. This proves you’re on the right track if you’ve riled someone enough to take a potshot at you.

  She was lucky it hadn’t been a shot for real. Both Louise and Ryan had been killed by a bullet. She’d lost her sense of caution. This brought it back home to her.

  Her fingers trembling, she called Dalton on her cell phone. “Someone tried to run me down in a parking lot,” she told him, her voice weak. “They drove a silver SUV.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m outside the chocolate factory where Tally’s group of friends had met. I must have been tailed from one of my earlier stops.”

  “Are you okay?” he asked in his detective’s tone.

  “Yes, I’m all right. I’ll pick Luke up early and go home. I’ve finished most of what I had to do today.” She’d meant to make another visit to Tally’s house to search through her cookbooks, but it would have to wait for another time.

  “Do you need me to come and get you?”

  “No, I can drive. And before you ask, I didn’t get a plate number.”

  “Your well-being is more important. I want you off the case. It’s getting too dangerous.”

  “Are you serious? We need to talk about who I might have spooked.”

  “We’ll compare notes later. Send me a text when you get home. And watch your back.”

  She hung up, tucked the cell inside her handbag, and turned on the ignition. Dalton was right. They could discuss things that evening. For now, safety took precedence.

  Her mind calmed after she’d retrieved Luke. His baby smell permeated the car, and he made cooing noises from the back seat as they drove into her neighborhood. Nobody appeared to be following her, but she’d taken a circuitous route anyway. At the day care center, she’d reiterated her instructions that absolutely no one was to get Luke except her and Dalton, not even their mothers.

  A fierce protective instinct swarmed her as she changed his diaper inside the house. His cute little face gazed up at her, melting her heart and bringing reassurance she hadn’t known she’d needed. She bent to kiss his forehead, savoring his soft flesh and powdery scent. As she straightened, he fixed his innocent blue eyes on her with a smile that made her blink away a swell of moisture.

  “Hey, little guy, we’ll do everything in our power to keep you safe and loved.”

  She and Dalton exchanged news at dinner that night. Brianna sat across from them, an apt expression on her young face. It pained Marla to think the teen would be off to college in a few years. How fast children grew up.

  “I’ll have to make another visit to Tally’s house to look through her cookbooks,” she concluded. “I can’t imagine what the letter might say that upset her.”

  “The lady in the shop told you it was a love letter addressed to Tally’s mother?” Dalton’s forehead creased in thought.

  “Yes, but why should this matter now?”

  “Good question. Guess you’ll have to read the message to see what’s so important.”

  “I can run over there on my way to work tomorrow.” She told him about her other discoveries. “Iris, the fired employee, turns out to be Edie’s sister. I gather this is how Tally learned about the tea circle. Edie must have mentioned it to her.”

  “Who is the Liam fellow that Tally was researching on her work computer?” Brianna cut in, sticking a forkful of shrimp brown rice into her mouth.

  Marla redirected her attention to the teen. “Liam Kelton is head of the state’s Insurance Fraud Division. He could be involved in the investigation affecting Ken, although you’d think the local bureau would be in charge. Liam has political aspirations, from what I’ve read online. He’s vying for the CFO’s seat when there’s a vacancy.”

  “I learned something new today, too.” Dalton took a swallow of water from his glass. “Sergeant Mallory got a report on that oily residue found at both crime scenes. It contains red dye and may have come from the killer’s shoes. He’s asked for further analysis.”

  “That’s weird.” Marla frowned as she remembered something else. “Listen to this. The people at all three stops from the tea circle mentioned some guy Rissa encountered in the parking lot. His description is the same at each place. He looks like a homeless person in a hoodie. Each time, Rissa appears to give him a handout.”

  Dalton’s gaze sharpened. “Did your witnesses see what exchanged hands?”

  “No, but the folks who told me about it assumed Rissa had offered cash.”

  “And she did this willingly?”

  “Nobody said anything about a holdup or a scuffle.”

  “Maybe she’s being blackmailed, and these were payoffs. Have you any idea what prompted someone to come after you in the parking lot?”

  Marla shrugged. “It could be related to anything—the tea ladies, Ken’s investigation, Tally’s research. Oh, I checked the terms of her lease. The landlord does have the right to early termination. What should I do? He wants her decision by the end of this month.”

  “Does she have a choice?” Brianna asked, her ponytail swinging when she tilted her head.

  “Not really. If it were me, I’d relo
cate and take the bonus money.”

  “You might have to make that decision for her,” Dalton said in a somber tone.

  “Tally has to wake up soon. I’d hate to pre-empt a move that goes against her wishes.”

  “Yes, but right now, you have POA. And that means you may have to decide the outcome before the landlord evicts her.”

  “Maybe a miracle will happen before then.” Marla could only pray that would be the case.

  *****

  Tuesday morning, Marla stopped by Tally’s house on her way to the day care center. She didn’t believe in miracles, but rather in arming yourself with knowledge. That way, you could influence change. She hoped to find the letter written to Tally’s mother by a former boyfriend. Perhaps it would hold some clues to current events.

  “Luke, are you sensing you’re home?” she asked the little guy, bending over his stroller where she’d parked it in Tally’s kitchen. She tickled his tiny fingers. He squealed in response, giving her a smile that softened her heart. A strong yearning to cuddle him all day gripped her.

  She stood back, fearful of losing focus. Luke had the ability to drag her attention away from everything else. Caring for a baby could do that to you.

  Would Tally really be broken up if she had to relocate her shop? Now that Marla had found a reliable day care center, maybe she’d want to move her store closer to that end of town.

  But never mind that now. Aside from the few cookbooks Tally kept in the pantry, she’d shelved the rest of her collection in the family room. Marla walked over and scanned the volumes with a groan. Tally had dozens of them arranged haphazardly.

  If a letter was stuck between the pages somewhere, it might fall out when Marla shook the book. So she took them out one-by-one, turned the books upside-down, and flitted through the pages.

  She hit pay dirt when she shook a worn Betty Crocker cookbook. A folded paper with browned edges fluttered to the floor. Marla replaced the recipe book in its place after searching for an inscription and finding none. She grabbed the note with eager fingers and smoothed it out on the kitchen table. The message contained a handwritten scrawl.

  To my dearest Lilly,

  Knowing how much you like to cook, I thought this would please you as a parting gift. I’m glad you understand that while I have deep feelings for you, relationships have no place in my life at present. You’ll always have a fond spot in my heart regardless of where the future takes us.

  Love and kisses, Liam

  Marla’s heart skipped a beat. Liam? As in, Liam Kelton? Was it possible Tally had a connection to this man beyond Ken’s insurance fraud case?

  Teri had said the letter led Tally to believe something unnerving. Marla checked the date. It was the year before her friend had been born. When had Tally’s parents married? And wasn’t her father named Rubin?

  Marla didn’t think a continued search would be fruitful. This had to be the letter that upset Tally. Liam worked for the state. That meant he lived in Tallahassee, didn’t it? Or was that merely his governmental residence? Could he own a home elsewhere, like Sunny Grove? Perhaps the discovery of this letter had compelled Tally to visit that town.

  First chance she got, she’d dig further into Liam’s background. Meanwhile, other items took priority.

  She dropped Luke off at day care before heading to the salon. There she prepared for her early morning appointment with Iris Caswell. Tally’s former employee was due to arrive for the free services Marla had promised. Marla itched to question her about Tally’s affairs.

  Iris sauntered in on a pair of heels that must have added three inches to her height. She had highlighted brown hair that needed a trim and a tattoo on her upper arm. A set of beads hung around her neck. They drew attention to her ample bosom under a tube top that she wore along with a pair of distressed jeans.

  Hmm, hadn’t Teri at the chocolate factory mentioned a woman with Iris’s description as joining the tea circle that day? And this woman had been seen arguing with Edie?

  Marla introduced herself and made suggestions for Iris’s unruly hair, including a trim for her split ends. Then she shampooed the woman herself. They were alone in the salon since the place hadn’t officially opened yet. The receptionist would be in at nine.

  She sat Iris at her station and towel-dried her hair. “So tell me about your relationship with Tally,” she began in a noncommittal tone.

  Iris scowled at her. “That witch fired me. What else do you want to know?”

  “How about starting with the truth?” Marla sniffed in the strawberry scent from the shampoo she’d used as she dropped the damp towel on a counter and picked up a comb.

  “Tally didn’t pay enough for me to make ends meet. When I told customers about my problems at home, they felt sorry for me and offered a gratuity for my service. Tally got mad and said I was telling lies to solicit money.”

  “If you weren’t earning enough there, why didn’t you quit and find another job?”

  “Like what, cleaning rich folks’ houses? I don’t have any skills.”

  “Why not acquire a wealthy husband like your sister, Edie? How can she have problems paying for medical care?”

  Iris gave her a startled glance. “Edie has more troubles than you can imagine. She’s in a worse place than I am. I’ve tried to help her.”

  “I’ve met her at the tea circle. Is Edie the one who recruited Tally into the group?”

  “Tally was getting restless staying home with the baby, so Edie told her about this social network she’d joined.”

  “What does Edie get out of the meet-ups?”

  “It gives her an excuse to escape from the house. With her husband in the slammer, she has to take care of our ninety-year old mother and her teenage son. She can’t work, not with her health issues. And I don’t have room for mom in my tiny apartment.”

  “Did you tell customers at the dress boutique about these problems and how you wished you could help your sister?”

  “So what if I did?”

  “I could understand your resentment if you felt your compensation was inadequate, but it’s bad for business to hit on customers. Tally was right to object.”

  “She should have given me a raise. I worked hard and took over some of the slack when she got pregnant.”

  “Were you resentful enough to want to get even?” Marla selected a pair of shears. She lifted a section of Iris’s hair with the comb and cut it at an angle, aware that once the blow-dryer started, conversation would be difficult.

  Iris glared at her in the mirror. “Hey, I don’t like Tally, but I wouldn’t hurt her.”

  “Do you know anyone who would?”

  “Where are you going with this, Marla?”

  “Their car crash wasn’t an accident. The police found evidence that another car was involved. Somebody caused Ken to lose control of his vehicle.”

  “Heck, don’t look at me.”

  The bell over the front door jangled as Robyn arrived fifteen minutes early. Marla gave their receptionist a brief wave and got back to work. The air-conditioning kicked in, sending a cool blast her way. Somebody had put it down too low, making her shiver in the draft. Or maybe it was the gloomy clouds outside bringing another cold front that made her feel chilled.

  Marla asked what kind of car Iris drove. It wasn’t a match for the vehicle at the accident scene, nor was it a silver SUV like the one that had nearly run her down.

  “Did Tally mention anything about insurance fraud to you?” she asked the other woman, while snipping her hair with skilled movements.

  “Not while I worked in the dress shop. She worried about Ken, though. He’d been keeping long hours at work.”

  “Tally suspected he might be having an affair, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. How about someone named Liam? Did you ever hear his name?”

  That question produced a frown on Iris’s face. “I did overhear her ranting on the phone in the back room one day. It was right before she made a sudden trip to Sunny Gr
ove. I remember what she said because it was odd: He’ll either help us, or he’ll wish he had done the right thing all those years ago.”

  Marla cut too much off one strand. Oops. Now she’d have to even things out on the other side. She hastened to complete her task, eager to research Liam Kelton again on the computer. He had to be the reason why Tally had gone to Sunny Grove. Had her primary purpose been to seek help with Ken’s insurance fraud problem, or had the visit been related to Lilly’s letter? If Marla had to guess, she’d choose the latter.

  One thing was certain. Marla had to clear her schedule for a trip to Central Florida.

  She didn’t garner any fresh information from Iris. Pleased with how the woman’s hair turned out, she wished her good fortune at her new job. At least Iris would look more professional when she went to work, although her abrasive manner wouldn’t help her cause.

  Marla checked in with their receptionist before dashing over to Bagel Busters to collect their daily order. Arnie Hartman beamed when he saw her walk through the door. The proprietor wore his customary apron over jeans and a tee-shirt. He stepped out from behind the cash register to give her a quick embrace. Business was already booming with the deli’s regulars, mostly senior citizens who awoke early.

  “Hey, Marla. How come you’re picking up the order today?”

  “I wanted to see you, why else? Oy vey, Arnie, you wouldn’t believe my life these days.”

  “Oh yes, I would. I imagine it’s as hectic as ever. How is Tally doing?”

  “Her responses are improving. That’s a good sign.”

  “Glad to hear it. Can you sit a minute?” He signaled to Ruth, a waitress, to man the cashier station.

  Marla checked her watch. “My nine-fifteen will be in soon. I need to get back, but I wanted to fill you in on what’s been happening.”

  “So you’d like for me to keep an eye on the parking lot in case that hooded vagrant shows up in our area,” Arnie said once she’d finished her tale. His dark eyes took her in, as though assessing the toll recent events had taken on her. He’d been a dear friend for years.