Wash, Rinse, Die: Cozy Mystery (The Teasen & Pleasen Hair Salon Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)

by Constance Barker

  As he got in his car, he opened his window and his face wrinkled into a smile. “I could seriously consider coming back for a picnic that didn’t involve a murder.”

  “Of course we’d have to find something else to talk about.”

  “If such a picnic took place, the point, part of it, might be to find out what we might have to talk about besides dead people, and motives and opportunities for murder.”

  I patted his arm. “My schedule is flexible Investigator Woodley and I do like a challenge.”

  He started the car. “I think you do, Miz Jefferies, I really do believe that.” He smiled at me. “And it has been a pleasure. Again.”

  I watched him pull out onto the tree lined street of Knockemstiff and pull away. As he left I felt a twinge of emptiness.

  This was my town and with the murder solved it was quickly slipping back into its quiet, complacent self. The recent murders would quickly become part of the folklore and provide a backdrop for a lot of stories. ‘Oh yeah, that happened about the time Burl tried to murder his missus. What? You didn’t hear about that?’ and on and on.

  With that to look forward to, a picnic, possibly after a blues night at the tavern, and the challenge of getting to know a man who seemed decent but difficult seemed delightful.

  “Fin thinks we should go chase squirrels,” Sarah said as they came out the door of the salon. “Can we go to the park?”

  “Did he say that?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Dogs don’t talk with words — not the way plants do — but he let me know that’s what he wants.”

  I wanted to say something about words and plants, and not confusing intuition with communication, but in the day since she had made me relocate the junipers they already looked happier.

  “Go chase squirrels. You have my blessing.” The park was close and Knockemstiff no longer had a murderer running loose. They didn’t even have to cross a street.

  As I watched them run off I felt an odd contentment. I just hoped they didn’t catch any squirrels. When it came to little Sarah Jameson I was learning not to take much for granted and I didn’t want to have to call Nellie to get Rudy’s Grandaddy's squirrel stew recipe.

  ******

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  Witchy Women of Coven Grove Series

  The Witching on the Wall

  A Witching Well of Magic

  Witching the Night Away

  Witching There’s Another Way

  Teasen & Pleasen Hair Salon Series

  A Hair Raising Blowout

  Caesar’s Creek Series

  A Frozen Scoop of Murder (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book One)

  Death by Chocolate Sundae (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Two)

  Soft Serve Secrets (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Three)

  Ice Cream You Scream (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Four)

  Double Dip Dilemma (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Five)

  Melted Memories (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Six)

  Triple Dip Debacle(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Seven)

  Whipped Wedding Woes(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Eight)

  A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Nine)

  A Drizzle of Deception(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Ten)

  Sweet Home Mystery Series

  Creamed at the Coffee Cabana (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book One)

  A Caffeinated Crunch (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Two)

  A Frothy Fiasco (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Three)

  Punked by the Pumpkin(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Four)

  Peppermint Pandemonium(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Five)

  Expresso Messo(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Six)

  Whispering Pines Mystery Series

  A Sinister Slice of Murder (Whispering Pines Mystery Series Book One)

  Sanctum of Shadows (Whispering Pines Mystery Series Book Two)

  Curse of the Bloodstone Arrow (Whispering Pines Mystery Series Book Three)

  Mad River Mystery Series

  A Wicked Whack

  A Prickly Predicament