14 Hair Brained

by Nancy J. Cohen

  “That’s right. Let me know if you see the guy, or if you spot a silver SUV like the one that nearly hit me.”

  “Did you get the make or model?”

  “No, sorry. It all happened too fast.”

  “Good luck, then. This parking lot is filled with silver SUVs. Do you think the hooded person and the driver who nearly hit you are one and the same?”

  Startled, she stared at him. “I suppose it’s possible. The person Rissa met each time was obviously familiar with the stops made by her group.”

  “What about the other car from the accident? Was that an SUV?”

  “No, it’s a sedan. Besides, that vehicle has probably been repainted by now and any damage repaired.”

  “I’d be more concerned about the guy who nearly hit you. How did he know where to go? Were you followed from somewhere else? Or was he watching that particular place, waiting for you to show up there?”

  “If I knew those answers, I could put the pieces of the puzzle together. Please keep an eye out for trouble, that’s all I’m asking.”

  “Consider it done, doll.”

  Ruth brought over her platter of bagels and cream cheese for the day. Marla thanked her, paid the bill, and left. Back at the salon, she got busy with clients and forgot about her concerns until later, when she had a spare moment. Then she took over Robyn’s post at the front desk computer.

  A search for Liam Kelton brought up a number of news interviews and articles relating to his position but offered nothing about his personal life. Next, she put his name plus Sunny Grove into the search window. He’d attended some charity functions there, but again, she didn’t find much on him personally.

  How could she dig deeper into his background? Surely there had to be a connection, but time ran out when her next customer walked in.

  “Robyn, I’m trying to look up someone who lives in Sunny Grove, but I’m not having any success.”

  The receptionist regarded her from behind a pair of black-framed eyeglasses. “Would you like me to have a go at it?”

  “That would be great, thanks. Try querying the Chamber of Commerce. You’d think they would be proud if a state politician had a home there. His name is Liam Kelton.”

  “I’ll get on it right away.”

  Marla left the matter in the woman’s capable hands, sent her client to get shampooed, and headed back to her station. On the way, her cell phone buzzed from inside her pants pocket. She pulled it out and squinted at the caller ID. What did Rissa Kyle want?

  “Hey, Rissa, how’s it going?” she asked the leader of the tea ladies circle.

  “Not well, I’m afraid. Too many of our members can’t make the meeting this week, so we have to cancel. However, I wanted to invite you to a party at my house seven o’clock on Friday night. It’s women only, so come alone unless you want to bring a female friend.”

  “Thanks, it sounds like fun.” Marla was curious to see where the socialite lived.

  Excited by the chance to learn more about the group’s ringleader, she had a hard time returning her focus to work. But once she started on her client, the rest of the day passed in a blur. So did Wednesday. Marla didn’t have time to think about anything else except her daily routine.

  Late on Thursday morning, she arrived at the salon with news trembling on her tongue. She’d been to see the gynecologist and had decided to go off the pill. Now that she was married, she wasn’t comfortable with continued hormones surging through her body. She still grappled with how this decision might impact her future. Her self-doubts about being a mother had been allayed by caring for Luke, but being responsible for her own children was another issue. Was she truly ready for that step?

  She had to tell somebody, so she confided in Nicole when they both had a spare moment between customers. The other stylist’s eyes widened at Marla’s revelation.

  “No way, girlfriend. You’re going au-naturel? There are other means, you know.”

  “Yes, but this is something I want to do. I think.” She leaned against the counter at her station, where Nicole stood by. They spoke in soft tones so no one could overhear.

  “It’s baby Luke, isn’t it? He did this to you.”

  “He’s had an influence, I’ll admit. I’ve seen that I can manage a family and a career.”

  “And you’ve discovered you can be a wonderful mother,” Nicole surmised with a wise nod. She picked a comb off the counter and flicked its tines with a polished fingernail.

  “That, too.”

  “When will you tell Dalton?”

  “Soon enough. I need to let my body adjust. I wouldn’t want to get his hopes up about starting a family, and then nothing happens.”

  “You’re right, it could take a while.”

  “How did Kevin do on his paramedic exam?” Marla asked, to change the subject.

  Nicole put the comb down and grinned at her. “He passed the test. I’m so happy for him. We’re going out to celebrate this weekend.”

  “That’s great. Say hello to him for me.” Marla hoped their relationship would continue to progress.

  Robyn gestured to her from the front desk. Marla strode over, realizing she had a long day ahead. She’d dropped Brianna off at the school bus stop and Luke at day care before her early doctor’s appointment. Thursdays were her late day at work. She’d come in at eleven and wouldn’t leave until eight. Dalton would pick up the kids later, but then he had to go back to the office. Brianna would babysit Luke until Dalton came home for dinner.

  Marla was appreciative of her family’s support. How would Tally manage to raise Luke alone? It seemed an insurmountable task, and yet single mothers did it all the time. They had to rely on their inner strength.

  Shoving aside those pervasive thoughts, Marla approached her receptionist. “Have you discovered anything significant about our Sunny Grove politician?”

  “I found someone who has the resources to help,” Robyn said with an earnest expression. “There’s a business in Sunny Grove called A Friend in Need Agency. It’s run by Keri Armstrong and offers virtual assistant services. They have access to private databases.”

  “So did you hire her to find this guy?”

  “Yes, and she came up with a home address. It’s Liam’s personal residence. Apparently, he’s due in town this weekend for a charity event.”

  “This weekend? I need to talk to him.” She mentally rearranged her plans. Liam might know something about the fraud case and the dead agent in the warehouse, not to mention the letter addressed to Tally’s mother.

  Robyn rolled her eyes and groaned. “Don’t tell me to reschedule your clients again.”

  “I’d leave tomorrow if I could, but I have too many obligations. I could run up there on Saturday morning. When is the charity function?”

  “Saturday night. You’d have enough time to see him.”

  “If not, maybe I can get tickets to the event. Give me the contact info for that agency. I’ll call for an appointment. It’ll take me four hours to drive up there. I could meet them around one-thirty, assuming their office is open on weekends.”

  “You’re not going alone?” Robyn said in an admonishing tone.

  “I might have to bring Luke if Dalton has to work this weekend. Or maybe I can drop him off at Kate’s condo. Delray Beach is on the way.”

  “Why not bring Brianna for company?”

  “She has plans for Saturday.” Normally, Marla would call Tally to accompany her. A pang of longing hit her, stabbing like an open wound.

  “Hey, I’d love to come.” Robyn poked Marla in the side. “Call somebody over from the day spa to man our front desk.”

  Marla gave her a bemused glance. It might be fun to have Robyn’s company. “Okay, you’re on. Meanwhile, you’ll need to notify my customers and reschedule their appointments.”

  The day spa’s receptionist assured Marla that she would cover for Robyn. Marla spent a few minutes touching base with the staff over there. Then she hurried back to the salon for her
next client. Her pulse raced. Surely she was onto something important. She texted Dalton her plans to give him advance notice.

  “Can’t you just talk to the man on your cell phone?” Dalton said, upon calling her back.

  She heard the irritation in his voice. Doubtless he wasn’t pleased by her scheme. “I want to see his face when I mention Tally’s mother and show him the note.”

  “That could be dangerous if he’s involved in Ken’s accident.”

  “Oh, come on. He’s too far removed up the ladder, although I’m hoping he’s heard about the fraud investigation. I think Tally went to see him for personal reasons. She wanted to learn about his relationship to her mother.”

  “Then a trip there is pointless. It wouldn’t help solve any of the homicides.”

  “You’ve always told me to examine all the angles. You never know what might be hiding under a rock, especially one this big.”

  “You may be right, but I don’t like it. Wait until I can go with you.”

  “You’re tied up with Ryan’s case. I’ll be fine. Robyn will be good company.” She hung up, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Would a trip to Sunny Grove be a waste of time? Did it matter if Liam had a relationship with Tally’s mother in the past?

  She shook her head on the way back to her station. Curiosity compelled her to pay this man a visit regardless of the consequences.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Marla went to work on Friday, eager to get through the day and start on her weekend plans. She had her bag packed for an overnighter to Sunny Grove, not wishing to drive four hours and return the same day. Dalton had made her and Robyn a hotel reservation for Saturday night. That way, he’d know where they would be staying. Now it was just a matter of getting past her Friday clients and Rissa’s party that evening.

  At two o’clock, her cell phone rang while she waited for her next client to get shampooed. A glimpse at the screen told her the call came from Ken’s insurance agency. Her stomach clenched. Now what? She remembered with a sense of unreality that it wasn’t Ken’s business anymore. Tally owned the place. And since Marla acted as Tally’s representative, the responsibility fell upon her shoulders.

  “Hi, it’s Darryl. I was hoping to follow up on your interest in a long term care policy. Did you have any further questions for us? I’m sure you and your husband would be easily approved once you turn in your applications.”

  Relief swept over her that nothing disastrous had occurred. “Now that you mention it, I do have a few more questions. We’ve been too busy to give it much thought. I don’t get out of work until five, though. How about if I swing by your office then? Will you still be there?” She had to pick up Luke later, fix dinner, and get ready for Rissa’s shindig.

  “Yes, we don’t close until six.”

  “All right. I won’t take up much of your time.” Marla disconnected, wondering at his call. Was there something else on his mind that he meant to discuss?

  The clock read five-thirty by the time she pulled into the parking lot by the insurance agency. She’d left her jacket at home and shivered outside in the late afternoon air. Goosebumps rose on her flesh until she entered the office.

  Jeri got up to give Marla a quick embrace. The scent of roses accompanied the older woman. “Hello, sugar. It’s good to see you again. Are you here to give us a report on Tally’s condition? Is she awake yet?”

  “Actually, Darryl called me about long term care policies. But Tally is doing much better. Thanks for asking.” From the corner of her eye, Marla noted the other front desk stood empty, cleared of Ryan’s personal effects. She couldn’t understand how the staff could carry on under the circumstances, but like her, they must have clients who depended upon them.

  “And Luke, is he okay?”

  “Luke is a doll. I love taking care of him.”

  “Bless your heart. I can tell you’ll have trouble giving him up when the time comes.”

  “It’ll be difficult, but I’ll be happy when Tally can take him home.”

  Jeri shot a furtive glance toward the inner door. “Any more details on what caused the car accident, or who shot Ryan? I still can’t believe he’s gone, poor guy. I miss his cheerful manner.”

  “Sorry, I’m not allowed to discuss either case.”

  “I’m wondering if Ken was onto something, and then Ryan found out about it. You don’t think—” Loud voices sounded from within. “Good gracious, Shawna and Ronnie are at it again. Those two are like fuel together. They’re combustible if you leave them alone.”

  “Why is that?” Marla wondered what Jeri had been about to say before the interruption but decided to follow this train of thought instead.

  “I’d bet Ronnie wants to break things off, but Shawna won’t let him.”

  “Is that so?” Whatever the reason, the account executive and financial planner must have been having quite a row, because Shawna slammed the door to her office and lowered her voice.

  Darryl appeared in the doorway, a broad grin on his face. “Marla, I’m glad you’re here. Sorry about the ruckus. Shawna and Ronnie are having a minor tiff about a client referral. Jeri, I’ll take it from here.”

  Jeri’s demeanor altered immediately. She bent her head, muttered a platitude, and sank into her desk chair without another word. When had the dynamic between those two changed?

  Darryl led her back to Ken’s domain, which it appeared he’d taken over now that the cops were finished scouring the place. He must have packed Ken’s possessions because they were no longer in evidence. He’d barely waited until the dust had settled over his employer’s demise, Marla thought with a disdainful curl of her lip.

  After she took a seat opposite him, Darryl favored her with a Cheshire cat smile. “I appreciate your stopping by. So what questions do you have about the long term care plan?”

  Marla folded her hands in her lap. “I forgot to ask how payment is made. Is it an annual premium or monthly installments?”

  “It’s your choice. You can have automated payments withdrawn from your checking account each month, or you can choose to pay in full once a year.” He lifted a folder and handed it to her. “Here, I’ve taken the liberty of filling in these applications based on the information you gave us at your prior visit. Let’s set a deadline for your decision. The sooner you act, the lower the premiums you’ll lock in. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t need this now. Once you have health issues, it becomes more difficult to get approved, and your payments will be considerably higher.”

  “Thanks, I’ll try to get back to you soon. It’s tough with so much else going on.” Marla placed the folder by her purse.

  Darryl tilted his head to regard her with a gleam of curiosity. “Have you thought about what you’ll do when Ken’s life insurance claim is accepted? Can you deposit a check on Tally’s behalf, or would you prefer a wire transfer?”

  “Actually, I believe Dalton said the money goes into an irrevocable trust. How about if you let me know when the approval goes through? I’ll have to contact Tally’s lawyer to see what we should do at that point.”

  “Okay. How is Tally doing?”

  “Her reflexes are more responsive. I’m hoping she’ll snap her eyes open one day and ask us what’s been going on.”

  “Let’s hope you’re right. What are the chances of her memory returning? Do the doctors have any idea of her mental state?”

  “Not yet. She could have residual damage or none at all. And what isn’t physical could be psychological. She’s lost her husband in a horrific accident. The emotional trauma might add to her impairment.”

  Marla didn’t envy the doctor who had to tell Tally the outcome of the crash. Her friend would be heartbroken she’d missed the funeral, but that part was over. It was time to move on for all of them, including Ryan’s colleagues. They had to be feeling his loss.

  “Keep us updated on her progress, would you? We’re all concerned.” Darryl leaned back, his chair creaking with the movement. The a
roma of wood polish entered her nose. The place was spotless, as though he’d taken extra care to clean the room. Did Darryl already consider it his space?

  Disturbed by his presumption, she gathered her bag and rose. “Thanks for the follow-up call. To be honest, I’d completely forgotten about the LTC policy. But you’re right in that it isn’t something we should put off.” Hopefully, they wouldn’t need it until far into the future. And if she and Dalton applied while still young, their payments would be reasonable.

  Darryl smoothed his receding hairline as he walked her to the door. “How is your husband’s case coming along? Ryan’s loss was a terrible blow to us. Is Detective Vail close to finding the young man’s killer?”

  “He has some leads to follow. I’m not at liberty to discuss them.”

  “We’re hoping to see the perpetrator of this senseless crime put behind bars.” Darryl spoke stiffly, as though it was the proper thing to say, but his tone lacked sincerity.

  “So are we, Darryl.” She strode into the front section, startling Jeri who’d been hovering by a shredder near the door. Marla didn’t recall hearing the machine turn on. Had Jeri been listening to their conversation?

  Marla noticed that the office had become unusually quiet. Shawna was busy at work behind her desk, and Ronnie had vanished. A reflection from a framed picture on the wall showed Shawna’s computer monitor swirling with colorful bubbles from a screen saver. Had she been eavesdropping as well?

  Wishing she were miles from here, she waved at them all and left. Ryan’s spirit haunted the place, as did Ken’s lost soul. Marla would bet something unethical was going on at their agency, and it had cost two good men their lives.

  Hopefully, the politician in Sunny Grove would have some useful information relevant to the case. The sooner she made her visit there, the better.

  Meanwhile, she had Rissa’s party to attend that night. She whisked over to the day care center to collect Luke. Baby care being her first priority, she fed, bathed, and changed him at home in record time. While Brianna and Dalton ate dinner, she showered and donned a black sheath dress. The set of Swarovski jewelry that Dalton had given her for the holidays would complement it perfectly.