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  Hairpin, Hair Dryer and Homicide

  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

  Bekki was frantically running around the salon searching for specific items to toss into the large bag she was carrying. Under her breath she was listing the things that she needed, but she kept spotting extras that would be good to take with her. She hadn’t been so nervous about doing a hair and makeup job in ages.

  “Breathe, Bekki,” Sammy laughed as she watched her scuttling about the salon. Bekki's long, dark hair was flowing around her shoulders, and her dark blue eyes were focused as they searched through each of the styling stations for the items she needed. “It's going to be fine.”

  “If I don't hurry I might be late,” Bekki lamented as she snatched up a tube of lipstick in the perfect rose-plum shade. The rose kept it from being too dark, but the plum would give it the dramatic effect she was hoping for.

  “The show won't go on without you,” Sammy promised her with a light laugh. “Besides, you have plenty of time to get there.”

  Bekki nodded, but she was too distracted to really hear what Sammy was saying.

  “And the other day I put a fish-scented perfume on, and it smelled delicious,” Sammy continued to prattle on, knowing full well that Bekki wasn't listening. “I don't know why I got so many strange looks from the people at the grocery store.”

  “What?” Bekki glanced up with surprise as Sammy's words finally caught up with her. “Why would you wear fish-scented perfume? Do they even make that?” she laughed as she realized that Sammy was teasing her. “All right, enough,” she sighed as she shook her head. “I know I'm acting crazy. I just can't believe I get to do this today.”

  “Are you excited?” Sammy asked as Bekki finished packing up the last of the items she was taking with her to the auditorium.

  “Of course I am,” Bekki grinned and winked lightly at her best friend. “I might even get to see him face to face, wouldn't that be amazing?”

  “Yes! Bryan the Brilliant, live in the flesh!” Sammy gasped out with a squeal that was usually reserved for teenage girls. “I can't wait to see what you do with Emma's hair and makeup though. She always looks so gorgeous, and I'm sure that when you're done with her she will look more amazing than ever.”

  “Thanks,” Bekki smiled at Sammy's confidence, but she wasn't feeling quite as certain. It had been a long time since she had worked on some of the rich and famous in New York City, so it was a little nerve wracking to be working on someone like Emma Quinn. Emma was the assistant to a very famous magician and escape artist who was coming to the sleepy, little town of Harroway to put on a show. It was unusual to begin with for Bryan Masters to put on a show in such a small town, but it was even more surprising that his agent had called to ask if Bekki would be willing to do his assistant's hair and makeup before the show. The agent explained on the phone that Bryan liked to use local talent when he was in small towns, and that he had heard rave reviews about her when he called around town.

  Bekki was so excited she thought she would burst. She had been carefully selecting hairpieces and hairstyles to accentuate Emma's petite frame and her large, almond eyes. Her hair was a milky blonde and so long that it fell nearly to her ankles. It was a real honor for Bekki to work on such a beautiful head of hair and she was looking forward to it. As she was gathering the last of her items she glanced up at her favorite hair dryer.

  “Wish I could take you,” she said sadly to the hair dryer.

  “Oh, don't worry, I'll take good care of it,” Sammy grinned playfully. They had a favorite hair dryer in the salon. In fact it was such a favorite that they would constantly steal it from one another and it would be impossible to find when they went looking for it. One day Bekki put her foot down and decided to mount it to the wall so that they would always know where it was. They still both used it, but they didn't have to go searching for it. Bekki pouted and added one of the other hair dryers to her bag.

  “You have to get me an autograph,” Sammy gushed as she helped Bekki carry everything to her car.

  “I can do better than that,” Bekki grinned and reached into her purse. She pulled out a ticket and handed it to Sammy. “Sorry, I meant to give it to you earlier. They gave me three tickets. One is for you, one is for me, and one is for…”

  “Nick,” Sammy grinned as she knew her guess would be correct.

  “Yes, Nick,” Bekki smiled. She couldn't wait to see him, just the thought of Nick made her giddy. It was ridiculous, she knew, because she had just kissed him goodbye earlier that morning before she left the house, but she still looked forward to seeing him every chance she got. She and Nick had been dating for a while, and had considered moving in together. They were getting more used to the idea, but Bekki had pointed out that she'd rather save it until after they were married. She loved the idea of that special moment when they both arrived home from the wedding, or honeymoon, and realized that everything now belonged to them as a couple. It was a bit old fashioned, she knew, but it was her romantic side, and something she had dreamed of for a long time. Even though they didn't officially live together they might as well have. They were always at each others’ houses or waiting for their work days to be finished so they could meet for dinner, or a walk through the park. Bekki tried to focus her attention on the job at hand, as she had become lost in her fantasies of Nick.

  “Be there by six,” she reminded Sammy before heading to her car and driving off down the road. She was buzzing with excitement by the time she arrived at the auditorium. It was usually used for musical acts and plays, but Bryan had chosen it himself. He was traveling through Harroway to his next big show, and didn't see any reason not to put on a one night only show for the locals.

  ***

  Although the auditorium was already pretty crowded, Bekki found Emma waiting for her in the dressing room. She already had her long, blonde hair combed out, but her face was bare of any makeup. When she turned to smile at Bekki, Bekki found herself swept away by her sweet, babyish features. She had never seen a woman who looked more pixiesh. It was a beautiful sight, and Bekki couldn't wait to accentuate that beauty with a few touches of makeup.

  “Hi, you must be Bekki,” Emma said with a smile as she held out a hand to her. Bekki was relieved to see that Emma seemed down to earth. She had worked with celebrities in the past who were very snooty, and barely even tolerated being touched. When she moved away from home and spent a few ye
ars living in New York City she had learned that just because a person was rich or famous that definitely did not dictate whether they were a decent human being.

  “I am,” Bekki replied with warmth in her voice as she gave her hand a light shake. “It's so wonderful to meet you. I'm a big fan,” she admitted and set her bag down on the empty chair beside Emma.

  “Well, thank you,” Emma smiled shyly and chuckled quietly. “But Bryan is the real star,” she added with obvious affection in her voice.

  “Oh trust me, I don't think he'd be anywhere without you,” Bekki laughed lightly and Emma began to laugh, too.

  “Maybe not, we do make a great team,” Emma admitted with a secretive smile.

  “Are you ready to get started?” Bekki asked, knowing that there was only so much time before the show. She was anxious to get just the right look for Emma as it had been an honor to be chosen to do her hair and makeup in the first place.

  “Sure,” Emma nodded, then abruptly her face grew pale. “Actually, could you give me just a moment?” she requested and stood up quickly from the chair.

  “Sure,” Bekki smiled as Emma headed for the bathroom. That smile faded however when she heard Emma being sick in the bathroom. She hoped that she wasn't too ill for the show. Maybe she just had a nervous stomach, Bekki thought. Some stars did have stage fright no matter how many times they went on stage.

  Bekki was looking over the photographs that lined Emma's vanity in an attempt to pretend she didn't notice the retching coming from the next room. She noticed that some of the photographs showed Emma and Bryan together at various shows, while others showed Bryan and another man as well as Emma. Bekki had followed Bryan Masters' career for some time, watching his shows when they were televised, and buying DVDs, but she had never been to a live show. She was very eager to see his death-defying escape in person. When Emma returned from the bathroom she looked even paler. Bekki frowned as she studied her.

  “Are you not feeling well?” Bekki asked as Emma settled down into the chair in front of the vanity.

  “I've got a bit of a stomach bug,” Emma explained with a slow shake of her head, she was careful not to move too quickly. “I guess I'm just a little worried about the show today. Bryan is doing his escape from the water tank today, and that always makes me nervous,” she sighed. “I know he can do it, but just watching him getting locked in there can be frightening.”

  “I imagine it would be,” Bekki began gently combing through Emma's hair. She was hoping the motion would relax her, as Bekki found that when she had someone comb through her hair, it always put her at ease. As the golden locks fell through the teeth of the comb, Bekki was amazed by the fact that Emma's hair wasn't tangled or knotted. She couldn't imagine having hair so long.

  “The water escapes do seem a bit scary. Does Bryan enjoy doing them?” Bekki asked lightly.

  “Yes, they're his favorites,” Emma admitted with a slight roll of her eyes. “And yes, even though we practice it so often, any time he's stuck inside that tank in all of that water, it makes my heart race,” Emma admitted with a shy smile. “Just don't share that with the world. I don't want anyone thinking that I don't have faith in him.”

  “Oh, I won't,” Bekki promised her. “And I can understand that fear,” Bekki added with a nod. “It's scary enough when I'm watching it on television, I'd be worried, too. How would you like to use this in your hair?” Bekki asked and showed her a special hairpiece she had brought along for the show. It was a black hairpin accentuated with silver. Bekki thought it would catch the lights of the stage perfectly and create a sparkle in Emma's hair.

  “That looks perfect,” Emma agreed with a smile. Bekki wound Emma's hair up into a bun using some bobby pins and then added the hairpiece. It looked stunning when Emma tilted her head towards the light.

  “Now let's see about that makeup,” Bekki said with a smile. Emma turned in the chair and Bekki began working on Emma. Emma's cherubic features made it easy to bring out the plump quality of both her lashes and her lips. Just as Bekki was touching up Emma's lipstick, Emma clutched her stomach again.

  “Uh oh,” she breathed out and Bekki moved out of the way just in time to let Emma run to the bathroom. By the time she came back her hairpiece was out, and her hair was loose around her shoulders and back.

  As Bekki helped Emma back to her chair someone knocked on the door. “Five minutes,” a voice called out before the person hurried away.

  “Oh no, I'll never be ready in time now,” Emma moaned.

  “Don't worry, we'll just do something simple,” Bekki assured her. She quickly combed through Emma's hair, and then tied it up securing it with the hairpin. She touched up her makeup just in time for her to go out on stage.

  “Are you sure you want to do this since you're feeling so ill?” Bekki asked with a frown of concern.

  “I'll be fine,” Emma promised and hurried down the hall towards the stage. Bekki packed up her things and headed for the seat that she knew Sammy and Nick were holding for her.

  Chapter Two

  In the crowded auditorium everyone was chattering with excitement. Bekki took her seat between Nick and Sammy. Nick smiled at her as she sat down.

  “Did you have fun?” he asked in a whisper.

  Bekki nodded, but she couldn't hide the concern in her eyes. She hoped that Emma would be able to make it through the act, as sick as she was. Every seat in the auditorium was filled, mainly with locals from Harroway. They had all shown up to see an amazing display. Bryan the Brilliant had chosen their town to stay in during his travels south. He and his lovely assistant, Emma, were even staying at the Harroway Harbor Motel, even though they could have chosen much more luxurious accommodation just a little further south in the next town.

  Bryan was a handsome man with thick, dark hair and wild, brown eyes. Bekki couldn't help but notice that they seemed to sparkle, even from as far away as the stage. She and Sammy had been giggling like teenagers over their playful crushes on Bryan. He was slender but muscular, and often did his water escapes in nothing but a speedo to prove that he was not hiding anything in his pockets. This made him great fodder for the tabloids, and his picture was often displayed on the front of newspapers and magazines. There were a lot of rumors about him dating random women, celebrities as well as average Janes, but Bekki knew better. As the two stood on stage, she could see the connection between Bryan and Emma.

  “Do you really think he can do this?” Nick asked skeptically as he watched Emma carry the shackles that Bryan would be using in the escape onto the stage. She paused a moment, and Bryan offered her a dramatic embrace, as if he might never see her again. When he pulled away from her, his eyes held intently to hers. Even as Emma began to latch his hands together, then his feet, his eyes remained lovingly on her. When she connected the cuffs on his hands and feet together, Bekki could see that Emma had begun to grow pale once more. She then connected the hoist that would lift Bryan to the top of the tank. Emma took the time to carefully check the locks to be sure that they were secure. Bekki noticed that when she touched Bryan it was more of a caress than just an accidental brush. Bekki smiled with excitement as she glanced over at Nick. He looked very anxious as she gently clasped his hand.

  “He escapes every single time,” she assured him. Nick shifted a little in his chair and stared at the scene unfolding before him. Bekki could tell that his instinct to protect others had his shoulders in a tight knot at the base of his neck. It was where he stored all of his tension. She reached up to gently rub the area, and felt his body begin to relax beneath her fingertips.

  “He'll be fine,” Sammy promised Nick when she noticed how nervous Nick was. “Look, he's not worried,” she pointed out as she giggled at the way that Bryan was winking at the audience. Emma, who was very petite, perhaps barely over five feet, with her blonde hair flowing almost to her ankles, certainly looked the part of an alluring assistant. She wore a black dress that left very little to the imagination and hugged all the right curves
. There were tiny keys and handcuffs all over her outfit, the silver of which caught and reflected the stage lights. Bryan turned towards the audience, and smiled.

  “While I am submerged in the tank, I will need each of you to think positively. I will need you to know that I can get free. Your influence can make the difference,” he insisted, as if he truly believed this. Bekki was sure it was just a ploy to draw his audience into making an emotional investment, but it still worked. She found that her toes were wiggling in her shoes as she anticipated what would happen next.

  On the stage, Bryan turned in a slow circle for one more display of the fact that he could not free himself, nor was he hiding anything.

  “This is impossible,” Nick pointed out with a hint of annoyance. Bekki could tell that he was getting even more anxious.

  “I've seen the act before,” Bekki promised him and gave his hand a light squeeze. “When I lived in New York City he did one of these stunts right in the middle of Times Square on a live TV show. It was frightening when I first saw it, too, but he got out of it just fine.”

  Nick nodded a little, but he didn't look convinced. The long, thick chain that connected Bryan to the hoist began to tighten. As he was lifted into the air, Emma guided him so that he was head down, floating above the stage. Once more Emma checked the locks and made certain that they were secure. The audience could hear a whir as the chain began to be pulled further towards the ceiling. Bryan was slowly lifted higher off the ground as the audience stared, their collective breath held. Bekki was captivated as she watched the man hover in the air, and then rise once more. The tank was clear on all sides, and filled with water. The waterline was approximately a foot below the top of the tank. Soon Bryan was hovering above the tank. He made a big show of drawing some seriously deep breaths. The audience offered cheers of support. Dramatic music began to play with loud drum beats that seemed to be timed with each inch that Bryan descended downward towards the water.