Read 5 Conditioner and a Corpse Online
Authors: Cindy Bell
5 Conditioner and a Corpse (10 page)
“
Bekki,” Nick called out from outside the broken window. “Unlock the door, I can't get it open,” he said quickly. Bekki sighed with relief and headed for the door. As she walked past Jeff he reached for her ankle, but she easily evaded his grasp. She had to struggle to unlock the door, it was still sticking, but when she did, Nick pushed inside followed by several uniformed officers.
“
Are you okay?” he asked her with urgency in his voice. “Are you hurt?”
“
No,” Bekki shook her head quickly. “Not really,” she tried to keep her breaths shallow and held out the gun by the butt of it. “Just get this thing out of my hands, will you?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with a hint of hope.
“
You're amazing!” he exclaimed with a slight chuckle and took the gun from her.
She glanced over her shoulder to see Jeff subdued on the floor. It looked like he had only been hit in the shoulder, but the way he was writhing and moaning, Bekki could tell that he was in a lot of pain. She felt a little guilty for feeling happy about that, but all she could think of was
Jasmine's murder.
“
I had no idea if you could hear me or not,” Bekki said with a sigh of relief as she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “I didn't even know if you had answered.”
“
You have your mom to thank for that,” Nick replied. “But I'm afraid,” he paused as the paramedics moved past him to tend to Jeff's shoulder. “I might have gotten you into a little trouble with her. Apparently, I was supposed to be helping you close up the salon. When she called me to check, I told her I hadn't heard from you. When I hung up the phone, it rang right away, and it was you. I heard you talking in the background. I've recorded the entire conversation, so we have Jeff's confession.”
“
That's great,” Bekki said as she wiped a hand across her forehead and tried to clear her mind. “I hope he never gets to walk the streets again.”
“
The judge will make sure of that,” Nick said with a solid nod. His gaze shifted past Bekki to Jeff who was now handcuffed to a gurney. “With his confession there's no way he's going to wiggle out of this one.”
“
Bekki, Bekki, are you okay?” Morris called out as he jogged up to the salon. “I'm so sorry, I went to check on Sammy, because she said Nick was on his way, I'm so sorry!”
“
Don't be,” Bekki assured him. “It's okay Morris, everything's fine.”
Morris felt relieved
and then bear hugged her, which caused Bekki to cry out in pain.
“
You're not okay,” Nick accused and then noticed the deep, dusky bruise on the side of her head. He noticed the way she was carrying herself slightly tilted to the side. He reached for her shirt and began to tug it upward.
“
Don't,” she winced as even the slight movement of the shirt shot a new wave of pain through her.
“
Bekki, we have to get you some medical attention,” Nick insisted as he waved to the paramedics who were nearby.
When the paramedics inspected the large bruise on her side they confirmed that it was
likely a broken rib.
“
Let's get you to the hospital for some scans,” one suggested.
“
No,” Bekki shook her head and held tightly to Nick's hand. “I just want to go home.”
“
Bekki,” Nick warned with a sigh. “Remember that time you fell off the dock?” he asked her. “You hit your head on the side of it and got tangled up with the cooler underneath. You wouldn't let any of us tell your parents.”
“
But you did anyway,” Bekki reminded him with a subtle glare.
“
And?” Nick asked one brow raised.
“
And it turned out I had a concussion…” Bekki began to say but her eyes were widening with every word she spoke. “That's it Nick!” she suddenly announced, and then winced at taking too big a breath. “I know where the drugs are, I know where they are!”
“
What?” Nick narrowed his eyes. “One of the men we arrested admitted he was part of a drug running scheme with Barnes, but without having the actual drugs we can't trace them to the actual dealer.”
“
Nick,” she met his eyes with a slow smile. “I want to see the stars.”
He hesitated and glanced at the paramedic who only shrugged.
“I'll go to the hospital and get checked out,” Bekki promised. “But first take me to the water, to the dock, okay?”
“
Okay,” Nick sighed and gave her a confused look. She knew he had no idea what she was up to, but she was touched that he would agree to it anyway.
He drove them down to the water. As he helped her out of the car she leaned heavily on his arm. The beauty of the place struck her, the combination of the early evening starlight, the subtle lap of the water, and the quiet creak of the old slab of wood rocking back and forth.
“In the cooler,” she whispered.
“
Do you think that's still there?” Nick asked with surprise.
“
Just look,” Bekki murmured. “I used to tell Jasmine about this place. The time we spent here together. If she wanted to hide the drugs, this is the place she might have thought of.”
“
Maybe she just tossed them out, or flushed them,” Nick pointed out as he walked towards the edge of the water.
“
No,” Bekki shook her head. “She was going to turn them in. She was a good person Nick, and she never would have been a willing part of any of this.”
Nick tugged the cooler out from under the dock. When he opened it up he shook his head with surprise.
“It's here,” he called out to Bekki. “It's here!” He pulled out his phone and called in the find. As he walked back to Bekki she admired his moonlight streaked hair, and the way his lips seemed to anticipate their kiss before he even offered it. It was soft, as if he was afraid to hurt her, but full of reverence.
“
Let me take you to the hospital,” he murmured.
“
Yes,” Bekki nodded as he kissed her lightly on the forehead.
***
After spending a few hours being carted from scan to scan Bekki was released from hospital with the orders to rest. Bekki actually liked the idea. She wanted nothing more than her very soft bed, and Nick's very warm body next to hers. He helped her inside the house.
“
Let me get you something to eat,” he offered as he headed for the kitchen.
“
No,” Bekki shook her head as she headed for the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. He followed after her to make sure she was comfortable.
“
Want me to get you some extra pillows?” he suggested.
“
No,” Bekki shook her head again and stared up at him with appreciation. “Just lay with me,” she pleaded. He smiled a little and kicked off his shoes. As he climbed into bed beside her he was careful not to jostle the mattress too much. When the warmth of his body curled around hers, Bekki could breathe easier.
“
I'm so glad you're here,” she murmured as she began to drift off to sleep.
“
I'm here,” he replied with affection. “I always will be.”
The End
More Cozy Mysteries by Cindy Bell
Bekki
the Beautician Cozy Mysteries
Hairpin, Hair Dryer and Homicide
Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mysteries
