by Cindy Bell
“Bekki, you're such a sweetheart,” Lacey said. “The truth is, not everyone deserves to be honored.”
Bekki bit her tongue to keep from speaking up about that. She spun Lacey slowly in her chair so that she could see the final outcome of her hairstyle.
“Well?” Bekki asked. Lacey stared critically into the mirror. Bekki held her breath and waited.
“It's just lovely,” Lacey finally said. She smiled with approval at her own reflection. “Here's my card,” Lacey said and handed it to Bekki. Bekki walked over to the front desk and ran her payment through the credit card system. As the receipt was printing out, the door swung open and two customers stepped into the salon. Bekki offered a smile of greeting to them, but it was forced. She had hoped to cancel a few of the appointments to give herself a chance to process what had happened, but she couldn't turn them away now that they had already arrived.
“Just a moment, ladies,” Bekki said. “There are some new magazines in the waiting area.”
“Can I schedule you for your next appointment?” Bekki asked as she walked back over to Lacey with her receipt.
“Sure, in two weeks, please,” Lacey replied. She shot a glance in the direction of the two women that had stepped in. “Linda, Hattie, how are you?” she asked. She held out her hand for her receipt from Bekki, but her gaze remained on the two women in the waiting area.
Linda Lars settled her gaze on Lacey. Her high cheek bones seemed to lift even higher as she scrutinized Lacey.
“I'm just fine, Lacey. Your hair looks beautiful, just further proof that Bekki can work miracles.”
Bekki tensed as she placed the receipt in Lacey's palm. She could see that Linda's compliment was more of an insult. Lacey closed her hand around the receipt. The paper crumpled as Lacey curled her hand into a fist.
“She does have talent,” Lacey said. “I'm just glad that once in a while she has someone worthy of using it on.”
Linda clucked her tongue at Lacey's words.
“Now now, ladies, today is not a day for petty squabbles,” Hattie said. Her shoulders were straight and her lips upturned in a pious smirk. “Think of the tragedy that has unfolded today.”
“Tragedy,” Lacey muttered under her breath.
“You're absolutely right, Hattie,” Linda said. “I'm sorry for my rude behavior.”
“Who are you apologizing to? The dead woman?” Lacey asked snidely. She brushed past Bekki and towards the door. “Good luck with these two, Bekki,” Lacey called back over her shoulder before whisking out of the salon.
“She's so crass,” Linda said. Her lips had pursed into a faint pout.
“She's just grumpy,” Hattie said. “She's still single you know.”
“That doesn't surprise me,” Linda replied. Bekki tucked her copy of the receipt into the drawer beneath the register and then turned to the two women.
“So, what can I do for you two today?” she asked.
“I just need a styling,” Hattie said and fluffed her chin length hair.
“I'd like to try something dramatic, like ringlets,” Linda said and smiled.
“Ringlets would look beautiful,” Bekki assured her. She led the two women towards the styling chairs. “Would you like a shampoo as well?” Bekki offered.
“No way, then our heads will be stuck under those dryers. We want to gab,” Hattie explained. Bekki suspected that the only reason they were in the salon at all was because they had heard about Stella dying. She felt as if they were there only to gawk at the place that Stella had drawn her last breath. Before she could think about it the door swung open again. A young woman stepped inside, Bekki was fairly certain that her name was Nettie. She had been in the salon only once before. Bekki remembered her by her long, chocolate brown braid. She always wore her hair the same way, even if Bekki had just tried out a new style on it.
“Excuse me, Bekki?” Nettie called out. “Do you have any appointments open?”
Bekki considered turning Nettie away, but she hated turning customers away even though she knew that Nettie was probably mainly there to gossip as well.
“Sure, but you'll have to wait about twenty minutes,” Bekki said. She gestured towards the waiting area. “There are some new magazines if you'd like to look through them.”
“Great,” Nettie said. She settled into one of the chairs and grabbed a magazine. Bekki noticed that she didn't open it, she just rested it in her lap. As Bekki was moving between the two women preparing their hair for a quick styling, she noticed that they all seemed to be staring at her. Nettie was staring from the waiting room. Hattie and Linda were staring through the mirror.
“What's going on, ladies?” Bekki finally asked. Their stares were getting unnerving.
“We heard,” Linda confessed as Bekki wound her hair around the curling iron.
“About Mrs. Black?” Bekki asked.
“Yes,” Linda said. “It must have been awful for you to be the one who found her.”
“It was very jarring,” Bekki admitted.
“I'm still having such a hard time believing that it's true,” Linda said.
“It's true,” Bekki grimaced.
“Oh, I know that it is. I just mean, she was tough as nails. She was one of those people that I thought would never die. She's been a terror in our town for decades.”
“A terror?” Bekki repeated. “I think that's a little harsh.”
“I mean it in a good way,” Linda said. Her newly shaped ringlet curls began piling up along her shoulders. “She's always been so strong. She outlived three husbands.”
“Three?” Bekki asked. “I didn't realize there were three.”
“Yes, the first was Jodie's father. The second was some count from some European country, which she felt made her official royalty, and the third was the poor mailman who delivered her mail,” Linda sighed. “She didn't seem like the type of woman who would ever fall in love, but somehow she managed to meet and marry these men.”
“She was a spry woman,” Nettie piped up from the waiting area.
“I can't recall a day that I've known her that she wasn't well,” Hattie agreed.
“I really shouldn't say anything about this, but since it's just us girls,” Nettie smiled as if she was hiding a very juicy tidbit of information.
“Tell,” Hattie demanded.
Linda leaned forward to listen more closely. Bekki narrowly avoiding chopping one of her curls off as she was trimming the ends. She set her jaw and adjusted the angle of the scissors. But her attention was on Nettie, too. Even Bekki had to admit to herself that she was a little curious.
“Well, I work in a doctor's office, the same doctor that has Stella Black as a patient. When he found out about her death he was shocked. He said that she was healthier than he was, and demanded her files to look over,” her eyes sparkled.
“Wow, that's shocking,” Hattie said.
“That her doctor would say that?” Linda asked.
“No, that doctors actually read files,” Hattie winked.
“The point is that the doctor doesn't think she could have died from a heart attack,” Nettie explained. “He was nearly irate when I overheard him on the phone with the medical examiner. He was demanding that they do a more thorough exam.”
“That's a good thing,” Bekki said. “But I can't imagine what else it could have been. I was right here with her. One minute she was talking, the next she was gone.”
All three sets of eyes turned directly on Bekki again. “So, you were alone with her?” Hattie asked.
“Yes,” Bekki replied.
“Did she seem confused? Maybe she had a stroke,” Linda suggested.
“No, she was just as sharp as ever,” Bekki shook her head. “No one could have been more shocked than I was.”
“My cousin's husband had a heart attack out of the blue like that,” Hattie said. “He was a runner, and he kept a healthy diet. One day he just dropped dead. It's sad, but it happens. I don't think we should turn this into more t
han it is.”
“But what if it is more than what it seems?” Linda asked. “What if Stella didn't die of natural causes?”
“Ladies, I think the important thing to remember here is that a woman is dead,” Bekki admonished carefully. “How would you feel if Jodie overheard this speculation?”
“Jodie is a basket case to begin with,” Linda said. She clucked her tongue lightly. “If I drank as much booze as she did I wouldn't be able to walk straight let alone think straight.”
“I didn't realize she had a drinking problem,” Bekki said. “When did that begin?”
“I think it started with her husband,” Hattie said. She lowered her voice sympathetically. “He's always in some bar, and the rumor is he cheats on her with all kinds of women and the latest is he has put them in debt because of a gambling addiction.”
“That might not be true though,” Bekki pointed out. “It is just a rumor.”
“I can tell you when I was on the golf course last week I overheard her husband asking one of the realtors that play there for a card. He was looking for an apartment,” she shook her head. “Married men don't stay in apartments. I think they're on the verge of a divorce.”
“Oh, how terrible,” Bekki frowned. “She's lost her mother on top of that, she must be having a very hard time.”
“You're right,” Nettie nodded. “It isn't right that we gossip about this. Jodie might not be the daughter of the year but it sounds like she's hit a rough patch.”
“Don't be too sympathetic, ladies,” Linda said with a smirk. “I'm sure Mommy's fortune will soften the rest of her path.”
Bekki pursed her lips to keep from speaking her mind. She knew that a beauty salon was like a church for these women, what was said inside of one was sacred. If they didn't feel comfortable speaking freely, even if Bekki didn't agree with their opinions, they would find another salon to patronize.
“You two are all set,” Bekki said. She spun both of the women around so that they could see every angle of their hair.
“Gorgeous,” Hattie said with approval.
“Good job,” Linda agreed. She tugged at one of her curls and watched it bounce. “It's pretty amazing that you can go through the events of earlier and still do your job, Bekki. I guess the time you spent working in the city really toughened you up.”
“You could say that,” Bekki replied. She didn't agree with Linda, but it wasn’t something worth discussing. She walked with the two women over to the register.
“Give me one minute, Nettie, and I'll be right with you,” Bekki said.
“Thanks,” Nettie said. She finally opened her magazine.
Once she had settled the bill for both Hattie and Linda, Bekki escorted Nettie to the shampooing area. The rest of her afternoon went very swiftly. She had her regular appointments show up and then a few walk-ins. Bekki could tell that most of the people that came in just wanted to talk about what happened. All she kept hearing from everyone was how healthy Stella was, and also how harsh she was.
When it was finally time to close, the quiet in the shop made Bekki uneasy. She had a few minutes to think and that was all it took to remind her of what had happened that morning. Her thoughts returned to Jodie. She decided that she would head over to her house and check on her before it got too late in the day. She left some things to tidy up for the morning and hurried out of the salon.
Chapter Three
As Bekki drove towards Jodie's house she recalled the few times that she had interacted with the woman in the past. Once was at prom, when Jodie had been a chaperone. Everyone was excited to see her as she would be wearing the latest fashion and was sure to have the handsomest date on her arm. Jodie was late, and by the time she showed up most of the dance was over. Bekki remembered the way she teetered on her heels, and had a sleepy look about her. At the time Bekki hadn't really thought about it. But looking back it was clear that Jodie had likely been drunk. She guessed that alcohol had been a problem for Jodie a long time before her marriage.
When Bekki reached Jodie's house, she second guessed her decision. Was it rude of her to just drop in? Would Jodie be even more upset by having someone who was practically a stranger knock on her door?
Bekki sat in her car for a few more moments. She wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing. She decided that paying her respects was the right thing to do. After taking a deep breath Bekki opened the door and stepped out into the driveway. She walked up to Jodie's front door. The house was modest. However, the window treatments and decorations were not. Bekki could tell that they were quite expensive. Jodie might have had to beg her mother for money, but it did seem that she might have received it on occasion. Bekki rang the doorbell and waited. Through the window beside the door she could see that there was a light on in the living room. The door swung open and Jodie looked out at her.
“What?” she asked.
Bekki noticed her speech was a little strange.
“I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss,” Bekki explained. “I was with your mother when she passed.”
“Oh,” Jodie replied. She looked Bekki over from the top of her head down to her feet and back up again. “The hairdresser right?”
“Yes,” Bekki answered. “She had an appointment with me this morning.”
“Did you kill her?” Jodie asked.
“What?” Bekki gasped. Jodie's eyes sparkled with something between amusement and anger. Bekki realized that she had been drinking from the pink in her cheeks and the scent on her breath. “Are you feeling okay, Jodie?” Bekki asked.
“Just tired,” Jodie said. “Come in.” She moved back away from the door so that Bekki could step inside.
“Again, I just want to say I'm sorry,” Bekki explained. “It must be so hard to lose your mother.”
“If you could call her that,” Jodie said. “Wine?” she offered as she picked up a bottle of red wine.
“Sure,” Bekki said. She didn't really want a glass of wine, but she wanted to keep Jodie company. She sat down on the soft couch. Jodie set another wine glass on the coffee table and began to pour Bekki a generous glass.
“That's plenty,” Bekki said. Jodie continued to fill the glass to the very top.
Jodie set the bottle down and picked up the glass. She turned to hand it to Bekki, but she spun too fast, and all of the wine sloshed out across Bekki's light blue linen pants. She cried out with surprise.
“I'm sorry!” Jodie exclaimed. She swayed on her feet. “I didn't mean to do that. I'm a mess. Let me get you some towels.”
“It's okay,” Bekki said quickly. “I'll take care of it, you just sit down and rest, okay?”
Jodie nodded as she sank down onto the couch. Bekki found some paper towels on the counter in the kitchen. She used a few pieces to soak the excess wine from the material on her pants. As she was tossing them into the trash she noticed an empty bag of candy in the trash. It was the same candy that Stella always had with her. Her eyes misted with tears as she thought of Stella. She stepped back into the living room and found that Jodie had fallen asleep on the couch. Bekki grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over Jodie. She was obviously upset, no matter how she acted. She had lost her mother and though they might have had problems in the past that didn't mean it wasn't still heartbreaking for Jodie.
As Bekki walked back to her car she felt a deep sense of sadness. Only then did she realize she had left Stella's purse at the salon.
“I'll get it tomorrow,” she said to herself. She knew that Nick would be waiting for her at the house. She headed home hoping to be able to relax, but she still felt very uneasy about what happened and how Jodie was handling it.
***
When Bekki stepped into the house the fragrance of herbs and garlic greeted her. She smiled a little at the smell. She was late, but Nick had still cooked dinner for her. Nick stepped out of the kitchen and leaned against the front wall. He was wearing her apron, which made her smile even more.
“
Everything okay?” he asked. He studied her with his brooding gaze. Nick had a way of looking just a little upset even when he wasn't. Maybe it was because as a detective he always had a case on his mind.
“Sorry, I'm late,” Bekki said. She crossed the room towards him.
“What happened to your pants?” he asked and raised an eyebrow. He embraced her warmly. She rested her head against the thick surface of his chest.
“I stopped by Jodie's after work,” she explained. “I just wanted to pay my respects. I thought since I was the last one to see Stella alive, she might want to know what her mother's last moments were like.”
Nick peered down at her curiously. “And?”
“She was a little drunk, which is completely understandable,” Bekki said. “She spilled some wine on my pants.”
“Oh,” he nodded. He smoothed her hair back with the palm of his hand. “Are you holding up okay?”
“I think so,” Bekki nodded. “It just seems like no one is as upset as me. Yes, Stella was a hard woman, but she was still a person, a mother,” she shook her head. “I just don't understand why everyone is acting like her passing is not a great loss.”
“People react to death differently, Bekki,” Nick said. “Give it a few days and I'm sure they'll be planning a memorial service and planting a tree in her honor.”
“It's not funny, Nick,” Bekki said impatiently.
“I'm not trying to be funny,” Nick said. He sighed. “I'm sorry, I'm a little distracted.”
“What's going on?” Bekki asked. She began walking towards the bedroom to change. Nick followed after her as he spoke.
“It’s the Black case,” he said. There was some hesitation in his voice as if he knew that he should not be talking freely about it.
“The Black case?” Bekki asked. She grabbed some pajama pants out of the closet and began to change. “Why would you be investigating a heart attack?”
Nick leaned against the doorway. When he spoke Bekki could hear the concern in his voice.
“The medical examiner found some abnormalities,” he said.
Bekki spun on her heel to face him. “What abnormalities?”
