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  Conditioner and a Corpse

  A Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mystery

  Cindy Bell

  Copyright © 2013 Cindy Bell

  All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

  All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter One

  The salon already had a festive feel even though the holidays were still a couple of months away. Some customers of the salon were discussing their plans for the upcoming season. Bekki enjoyed listening to the prattle, it was something she had missed when she lived in New York City. If there was anything that a small town did right, it was holidays, and Harroway was no exception. The buzzing and planning began long before the stores even had the seasonal decorations up. Bekki smiled to herself as she raked her fingers gently through her mother's hair. Bekki’s mother, Marie, had owned the salon before handing it over to Bekki.

  Today, Bekki was treating her mother to a deep conditioning. The slightly dampened tendrils of her short, wavy, raven hair were silky with the conditioner that coated Bekki's fingertips. The sensation reminded Bekki of how much she loved the special moments she had shared with her mother growing up. Whenever it was time for Bekki's hair to be cut, styled, or they had just had a rough week, her mother would close up the shop, put on the latest pop hit, and condition Bekki's long, dark, wavy hair. Bekki still automatically relaxed when she recalled how it felt to have her mother's fingertips run across her scalp. No matter how busy her mother's life had been with running the salon and taking care of the family home, she always made special time for Bekki. It had meant more to Bekki than any flashy jewelry or exclusive brand name article of clothing ever could. Now she could only hope that the sensation was similar for her mother, as she relaxed in the beautician's chair.

  “How times have changed,” her mother said softly as she stole a glance up at her daughter.

  “Yes, they have,” Bekki smiled a little as she finished smoothing the conditioner through her mother's hair. “Who would've thought this is where we'd be?” she asked softly. She felt an immense wave of gratitude wash over her, for the support and shoulder to cry on her mother had given after her relationship with her cheating ex-boyfriend Trevor, had turned out to be a lie. In those first few weeks when she returned from the big city where she worked as a stylist to the rich and famous, she had been deeply heartbroken, and her mother had been the one to be gentle when needed, and stern when required.

  “I'm so glad,” her mother said in a whisper and then giggled a little. “Is that wrong of me to say?” she asked with a hint of guilt in her voice.

  “Why would it be?” Bekki asked with surprise and coasted a fine toothed comb down through her mother's hair.

  “Well, I know that you had planned your life one way, but it seems to me that things are turning out for the best now. Don't you think?” she asked and the inference she made was clear. Since Bekki had been back in her hometown she had rekindled a high school love affair with Detective Nick Malonie. Despite the fact that she was still a little cautious about getting hurt again and they were at odds at times over where Bekki's amateur sleuthing should end and real police work should begin, he had proven to her time and time again that he was not only trustworthy but absolutely in love with her.

  “You know what Mama?” she whispered right back. “I think you're onto something,” she laughed a little and set the comb down. Now that she had been with a man like Nick who treated her with respect, she couldn't even imagine spending the rest of her life with a man whose first concern was his hair gel. Just as she was about to speak again, the bell over the door of the salon jingled, alerting Bekki to someone stepping inside. Her best friend Sammy was at the reception desk checking out another of their customers, so Bekki left her mother's hair to condition for a moment and wiped her hands on a towel as she headed towards the front. They were busier than ever, and she had several last minute appointments to handle for the day. She just hoped that this wasn't someone else asking to be squeezed in.

  “Hello, hello!” a cheerful voice called out. The woman who stepped inside did so with all the flourish and confidence of a fashion model on the runway. It took Bekki no more than a few seconds to recognize who this woman was.

  “Jasmine?” she gasped with surprise. “What in the world are you doing in Harroway?”

  “Bekki?” Jasmine squealed and set down the large case she was carrying. “I was hoping I'd run into you!” she said with joy and flung her arms open. Bekki embraced her with the same level of enthusiasm, drawing stares of curiosity from Sammy, her mother, and the other customers in the salon. Jasmine was always so warm and full of enthusiasm. You would think that every person she met was her best friend. After they peeled apart from each other Jasmine began to explain.

  “I'm working for that new cosmetics company, Electrify, and they've sent me and several other employees on a trek across the country to market their products,” she smiled. “Of course I couldn't turn down an excuse to see you. I'm so sorry I missed you the last time you were in New York,” she frowned a little.

  “Oh, that's okay,” Bekki shrugged. “But I'm glad I get to see you now. Are you in town for long?”

  “Only the night I'm afraid,” Jasmine replied. “The owner of the company is a real stickler about getting the word out about these gift baskets before the Christmas rush. Would you mind taking a look at some of the new products?” she asked hesitantly. “I mean I don't want you to feel like you have to, even though we did work together for so long, and I held your hair that time Trevor fed you way too many shots…”

  “Jasmine!” Bekki growled and jerked her thumb towards the chair her mother was sitting in. “My mother doesn't need to know about that time,” she whispered.

  “Oh yes, she does,” her mother called out from her chair.

  Jasmine's huge brown eyes widened at Bekki's words. “Oops, sorry,” she giggled. Jasmine's laughter was infectious.

  Bekki winced as another of her last minute appointments walked in.

  “Listen Jasmine, I want to catch up with you so badly, but we are swamped today. Would you come to dinner at my place tonight?” she asked hopefully. “I promise to look at all your products then.”

  “Sure,” Jasmine nodded as she stepped aside to let a few of the women entering the salon walk past. Sammy hurried to seat them.

  “Wow, that is a beautiful shade of lipstick,” Jasmine said with admiration as she stared at a small display of lipstick on the reception desk.

  “Oh, it's a new shade,” Bekki said as she pulled a tube out for her to try. “It's called Crimson Caramel,” she handed Jasmine the tube. When she unscrewed the lid she gaspe
d at the scent that wafted out.

  “Oh, that smells lovely,” Jasmine declared and admired the muted crimson shade spiraled with flecks of gold.

  “It's made by a local woman who's trying out makeup mixed with scents. She uses only pure oils. If you like it, it's yours,” Bekki smiled proudly.

  “Oh no, I couldn't,” Jasmine started to shake her head.

  “Oh, please do,” Bekki insisted. “What better marketing could the creator dream of?” she asked and arched a brow.

  “Good point,” Jasmine grinned.

  “I'll pick you up right after we close, okay?” Bekki asked as Sammy shot her a look to indicate that she was drowning in hair.

  “Sounds perfect. I’m at the Harroway Harbor Motel, in room ten,” Jasmine waved over her shoulder as she left the salon.

  Bekki was overjoyed to see her friend again. They hadn't been especially close, but they had shared a few epic parties, and the time they did spend together had been fun.

  “Sammy you should come to dinner tonight,” Bekki said as she walked back towards her station to finish her mother's hair. “You'd love Jasmine.”

  “Wish I could,” Sammy frowned but her eyes sparkled. “I'm going on a date with Morris tonight.”

  “The rookie?” Marie asked with surprise.

  “Yup,” Sammy laughed and winked lightly at Bekki.

  “That's wonderful!” Bekki said with a wide grin. Sammy had confided in Bekki that she was a bit hesitant about going out with Morris because he was a bit younger than her, but Bekki had told her not to worry about it. If she liked him she should go for it.

  “Hmm, I'm starting to think you both have a thing for men in uniform,” Bekki's mother said with a smile as she stood up from the chair.

  “You're one to talk Mama,” Bekki challenged with a glimmer in her eye. “Didn't Dad work as a mailman when you met him?”

  “I didn't say you didn't get it from me,” her mother grinned and sashayed out the door. Bekki and Sammy shared a good laugh as they worked through the remainder of their clients. Bekki was elated as she checked out the last customer and turned the sign to ‘closed’ on the door. She waved goodnight to Sammy and headed for the Harroway Harbor Motel. It had to be the classiest motel in the town. Even though most people assumed it would be a bit of a dive, the owners were locals, and really did their best to make everyone's stay special, from mints on the pillows to delicious home baked muffins in the morning.

  Bekki spotted Jasmine's car easily because it was the flashiest and newest in the parking lot. As she headed for her hotel room Bekki couldn't wait to spend the evening with her friend. They had met through work, Jasmine used to work for a makeup company and they started seeing each other socially through mutual friends. She had a lot of good friends in Harroway but her New York City friends knew a different side of her, a side that she had happily left behind in New York.

  Bekki knocked lightly on the door of the motel room and was about to call out when the door swung slowly open beneath the force of her knocking. Bekki's heart skipped a beat. She knew Jasmine too well to think that she would ever leave the door unlocked or even slightly open. In New York City the amount of locks and dead bolts on a door had become a bit of a competitive game.

  “Jasmine?” she called out quietly and nudged the door the rest of the way open. Only silence greeted her, an eerie heavy silence that made her steps into the room very hesitant. When she rounded the corner she made a shocking discovery. Jasmine was sprawled across the floor on her back, her wild tight curls spread around her head as beautiful as ever, but her eyes were wide open and staring at the ceiling. In the center of her chest a knife protruded.

  Bekki couldn't breathe. Somewhere beneath the numbness that had overtaken her, she knew she should call for help. But it was hard for her to fathom that her friend, who she had been so excited about seeing just a moment before, now lay lifeless on the floor. Jasmine had been murdered, not in the wild streets of New York City, or on the dangerous highways she had been traveling, but right there in the sleepy little town of Harroway.

  Chapter Two

  When Bekki was finally able to get her hand into her purse to reach for her phone, her heart was racing. She wanted to go to Jasmine, to kneel beside her, even though it was clear the woman was already gone. But she had observed enough of Nick's work to know not to contaminate the crime scene. She called for help, her voice trembling as she spoke.

  “There's been a murder at the Harroway Harbor Motel, room ten,” Bekki managed to get across. As soon as she knew that the police were on their way she dialed Nick's number. He had understood her wanting to have a girl's night, and had planned to have a marathon of his favorite zombie television show that Bekki could only stomach on occasion.

  “Bekki, are you all right?” he asked, as if he already knew something must be wrong. Bekki couldn't bring herself to speak as the sirens wailed into the parking lot. “Bekki tell me where you are, I'll be right there,” Nick spoke with more urgency. His voice snapped her from the place she had retreated to. The truth was, Bekki was no stranger to death. She always seemed to be stumbling upon a murder mystery. But this wasn't just anyone, this was Jasmine, someone who had held back her hair for her, someone who had laughed until three in the morning with her.

  “Harroway Harbor Motel,” she breathed into the phone. “Get here fast,” she added. She knew she only had moments before she would be escorted out of the room and the entire place would be taped off as a crime scene.

  Bekki forced herself to push past her shock and observe the room. She was trying to memorize everything that she saw. From what she could tell there hadn't been much of a struggle. None of the furniture was overturned. It didn't look as if Jasmine had been trying to get to the door. She also could see that her valuables were left untouched, including the flashy vehicle she had seen outside. It did look as if someone might have been looking for something as the pillows were tossed off the bed, and the drawers were pulled out in the small dresser, but not all of them. In fact, the more she observed the more she began to believe that it was quite possible her arrival at the motel room had scared off whoever the killer was. Her heartbeat quickened as she wondered what would have happened if she had arrived just a little bit earlier. Maybe she could have helped Jasmine, or maybe she would have ended up a victim, too.

  “Bekki, are you okay?” Morris said gently as he walked up behind Bekki. Bekki nodded as she looked at him.

  “I'm okay,” she said breathlessly. Paramedics pushed past her to go through the motions of checking on Jasmine.

  “I'm going to have to ask you to step outside,” he said as politely as he could. Thanks to her relationship with Nick, the majority of the police department knew who Bekki was.

  As soon as Bekki turned towards the door, Nick was walking through it. She collided with his firm chest, and her forehead came to rest on his shoulder automatically. His arms wound around her and held her close as he looked over her shoulder at the crime scene that was unfolding.

  “Bekki, I'm sorry,” he whispered beside her ear, as he had gathered enough information on his way in to know the gist of what had happened, and most importantly who the victim was. He trailed his hand soothingly down through Bekki's loose hair. When she pulled away enough to look up at him, she could see the concern in his eyes.

  “I don't know how this could have happened,” she said quietly. “I just saw her this afternoon.”

  “I know, I know,” Nick said soothingly and tilted his head towards Morris who was talking quietly with the paramedics. It wouldn't be long until time of death was established, but Bekki had already helped him out by narrowing it down to within the past few hours.

  “Let me take you home,” Nick suggested with concern as he continued to keep his arms draped casually around her.

  “No,” Bekki shook her head slowly. “I can drive. I want you here, investigating this,” she said firmly.

  “Bekki,” Nick met her gaze and tried to remain understandi
ng while speaking sternly. “Just go home, no detective work, understand?”

  Bekki managed a meek nod as she stepped out of the motel room. The fresh evening air struck her hard as she walked out into it. It had been a long time since she had noticed the scent the air carried. It had a faint pine tint to it, but it was mostly a combination of all the local flora, and the cars and trucks that passed through.

  “Bekki?” Sammy came running up to her. “Oh no, I hoped it wasn't true,” she gasped out as she threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly. “When Morris said he had to go at dinner, that he had to go because something had happened at the Harroway Harbor, all I could think of was you, and Jasmine,” she frowned as she looked into Bekki's eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “I guess,” Bekki said, her voice barely audible.

  “Oh sweetie, let me take you home,” Sammy said quickly and they walked towards Bekki's car together. Bekki took in the parking lot. She was looking for any strange vehicles. Could the killer still be lurking? Surely it was no one from Harroway. Who would have anything against Jasmine, when this was her first time in town?

  “Keys,” Sammy demanded as she detected the faraway look in Bekki's eyes. Bekki relinquished her keys and slid into the passenger seat. Her mind kept drifting between being on point and observant, to replaying the image of the way she had found Jasmine. She had never done anything to deserve such a horrible death. Bekki knew that if it was left up to Nick, and the rest of the Harroway police force the crime would be thoroughly investigated and eventually solved. But she didn't want to wait for eventually. She wanted it solved immediately.

  “I have two choices,” she said quietly when they pulled off Rose Hill Drive and into the driveway of her house, the same house where she had planned to cook dinner for Jasmine that night.

  “Two choices?” Sammy repeated curiously as she looked over at her friend.