5 Conditioner and a Corpse (4 page)

The next morning
after having cupcakes for breakfast, Sammy went home to get changed for work and Bekki went to open the salon. Bekki slid the key into the lock on the door of the salon without really paying attention to what she was doing. It was simply habit. But when the key met with no resistance she realized that the door was not locked. She glanced down at the handle and the door frame beside it. Both looked as if they had been slightly damaged.

Her heart beat faster as she pushed the door to the salon slowly open and peered inside. The interior was still slightly dark as the morning light had yet to seep through the blinds that covered the large front window, but she could make out things that were out of place. The floor was scattered with debris, and the shelves that held beauty products had been swept clear, all of the contents were strewn across the floor. Bekki was about to take a cautious step inside when she remembered what Nick had said. She kne
w that if he found out she had gone inside without calling him, he would be livid. She pulled out her phone and dialed his number as she hovered just inside the door.

When he answered the phone Bekki spoke calmly.
“Nick, someone has broken into the salon, and the place has been ransacked.”

“
Stay outside,” he said sternly. Bekki took a slight step back so that she was technically outside the salon.

“
Of course,” she replied innocently.

“
I'll be right there,” he assured her.

As Bekki waited for him to arrive she noticed that the cash register was untouched. Whatever
the people who had done this were looking for, it was not cash. In the back of the salon Bekki could see boxes from the storage area ripped open, their contents also spilled all over the floor. It was obvious they were looking for something in particular. She heard Nick's car pull into the parking lot. He jogged towards her and she turned to face him. He met her eyes as if checking to be sure she was unharmed, and then brushed past her.

“
Stay here,” he warned her as he pulled out his service weapon and began to slowly enter the salon. Bekki didn't think anyone was inside, but she was glad that Nick was there to check it out. Once Nick had searched the salon he returned to where Bekki was waiting outside. Police cars were pulling into the parking lot at the same time.

“
Forensics is going to want to take a look at the place,” Nick explained as he holstered his gun. “This must have something to do with the case. It appears that they were looking for something. What do you think it was?” his gaze shifted back and forth, searching her face for any sign of evasion.

Bekki shrugged and lowered her eyes.
“They asked for Jasmine's supplies yesterday. Maybe, they didn't believe me when I told them I didn't have them.”

Nick winced when he heard her words.
“So Randy must still have some guys looking into this even though the two got arrested yesterday and he still thinks that you have the supplies. I should have had a car on the salon all night…” he sighed and then slowly shook his head. “That doesn't matter now. What matters is that we keep you safe.”

“
I am safe, Nick,” Bekki frowned and glared in the direction of the damaged salon

“
I have to clean up the salon,” she started to turn towards the salon to go inside, but Nick caught her by the wrist and tugged her back.

“
First, you have to call your father,” he warned her with a serious look in his eyes. “He was not too happy with me.”

“
What do you mean?” Bekki asked with surprise.

“
I called your mom to let her know what was happening, but your father answered. Let's just say he was a little disappointed that the salon had been broken into, and you were alone when you discovered it,” he winced a little.

“All right, I'll go and see him while forensics do their job. Just text me when the place is clear and I can get in there with a broom,” she insisted.

“
Okay,” he nodded as he held out his arms to embrace her. She happily settled into his warm and protective arms. “But, I am going to lock up with you tonight and I’ll sleep over.”

“
If you insist,” Bekki said with a sheepish smile as she looked up into his eyes. His arms held tightly around her made her feel as if everything was going to be okay.

***

When Bekki arrived at her parents’ home, she discovered the garage door was open. Since her parents had retired and returned from traveling, her father, Robert, had been doing anything he could to keep himself busy. He used to own the local convenience store but he sold that off when Bekki returned to town and took over the salon so he could travel with Marie. Apparently today keeping busy meant rearranging an already perfectly neat garage. He was lifting a large box up onto the top shelf of the garage. Bekki stood near the door and watched as he dusted off his hands and took a deep breath. His shoulders were still broad, and his back still strong, but his breath did not come as easily as it used to. It was hard for Bekki to see, as he had always been a pillar of strength for her.

“
Hi Dad,” she called out softly as she stepped further into the garage.

“
Oh Bekki, good,” he smiled at her and the sparkle in his eyes was the same as it had been since she was a little girl, but it quickly faded as his expression eased into a frown. “We need to talk about what happened at the salon.”

“
Don't worry Dad, I can replace the products and repair the damage,” Bekki shrugged lightly. “It can all be fixed.”

“
I'm not worried about stuff,” he said firmly as he stepped closer to her. “I'm worried about you Bekki. What if you had been there when this happened?”

“
I wasn't,” Bekki replied with confidence.

“
But, what if you were?” he asked her again and gently grasped her arms just beneath her elbows. “I don't want you in the salon by yourself in the evenings anymore. If Sammy can't close with you, then Mom or I will, understand?”

Bekki's heart swelled with the amount of concern he had for her, but she also felt a little
constrained by his words. She had after all lived all on her own in New York City, and she had studied martial arts in order to make sure that she could protect herself no matter what the circumstances.

“
Dad, I'll be fine closing the salon,” Bekki began to insist, but the furrow of his brow and the thin line of his lips indicated he was not going to debate the issue.

“
Every night you were in New York I worried about you, Bekki,” he muttered with concern. “I never thought that when you came back home to Harroway I'd have to be just as worried. But with everything that is going on, it's obvious, you're not safe right now. Once all of this is cleared up everything can go back to normal, but as for now, if I find out you're locking up by yourself, we're going to have a problem young lady, understand?”

Bekki couldn't help but smile a little bit. He hadn't talked to her in such a way since she was a teenager.

“Yes, Dad,” she finally relented. To be honest she wasn't looking forward to being at the salon by herself. The men did look very menacing.

“
And why don't you stay with us for a few days?” her father suggested. “It's obvious that whoever did this to Jasmine is targeting you now. I want to know that you are somewhere I can protect you,” he frowned and she could tell from the tension in his features that it was driving him crazy not to be able to protect her.

“
Well, you'll have to fight Nick for that job,” Bekki laughed a little as she hugged her father tightly. “Nick is going to lock up with me tonight and sleep over.”

Her father nodded a little, though he still looked into her eyes with concern.
“Make sure he does, or come here, okay?”

“
Yes Dad,” Bekki promised and kissed his cheek. “I appreciate you looking out for me, really, I do,” she looked into his eyes and he smiled. She had spent more than one sleepless night in New York City missing the sense of comfort and safety she had felt while living under her parents’ roof. She prided herself on being independent but she had missed her family immensely. Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts.

Bekki glanced down at the text that Nick sent.
“Looks like it's time to clean up the salon,” she said with a smile. “I have to go Dad. But I'll be careful, okay?”

He nodded and hugged her once more.

“How about if I come down there and help you clean up?” he suggested.

“
Dad, I'll be fine,” she promised. “This is my responsibility now, let me take care of it, okay?” she smiled a little as she added. “Besides, this garage is a mess,” she winked playfully at him to let him know she was just joking.

“
Ha ha,” he grinned and then turned back to the stack of boxes he was arranging. As Bekki drove back to the salon her mind was still reeling with thoughts of the supplies, of the menacing men, and especially of Jasmine. She couldn’t get the picture of Jasmine’s corpse out of her mind. When she parked and walked up to the salon there was still a patrol car in the parking lot along with Nick's car. Sammy was waiting for her with Nick at the entrance of the salon.

“
Sammy,” Bekki gave her a quick hug.

“
I can't believe someone did this,” Sammy said with a frown.

“
Forensics is done,” Nick explained as Bekki peeked into the salon, which was now even more of a mess. “I'm going to head back to the station and see if I can turn up any leads from anything that was found. But don't forget…”

“
Wait for you to lock up with me,” Bekki nodded and waved lightly to him.

“
Exactly,” he smiled and kissed her cheek. “Keep an eye on her Sammy, okay?”

“
I'll try,” Sammy agreed with a mischievous grin. “But she's a squirmy one.”

“
Who me?” Bekki sighed. “Why does everyone keep acting like I want to get myself into trouble?”

Sammy and Nick exchanged a long knowing look before they turned back to look at Bekki.

“Just be careful,” Nick said as Bekki laughed quietly.

“
I will, I will. Would you like to inspect the broom before I use it?” she winked at him.

He rolle
d his eyes and waved to her as he walked towards his car. As Sammy and Bekki stepped inside the salon, Bekki was sure the mess was going to take all day to clean up.

“
Let's get started,” she sighed with a shake of her head.

“
Not so fast girls,” her mother called out as she stepped inside with coffee and bagels from Angela's bakery. “No one's getting started on this mess until we've had something to eat. Then we'll get it tidied up.”

“
Mama, really, you don't have to,” Bekki said with a grateful smile as she took the coffee.

“
I want to, Bekki,” her mother sighed as she looked at the mess. “In all the years that I ran this place never once did we get robbed. Your father always worried about it, but I always trusted the people in this town. Isn't it funny how things change with time?” she seemed a little sad as she took a sip of her coffee. “Besides your father was going to start reorganizing the living room furniture again.”

Bekki laughed a little.
“We have to get him a hobby.”

“
Yes, and soon,” her mother grinned.

“
How about golf,” Sammy suggested. “Nick likes to play golf, doesn't he, Bekki?”

“
I can't picture him playing golf,” Bekki's mother said with a slight shake of her head. “But he'd probably do anything to get out of the house.”

“
Nick does like to play golf,” Bekki hesitated. “But I don't know about the two of them hanging out together. I can't get anything past either of them to begin with, if they're working together I'll really be in trouble.”

'I think it's too late for that,
” Sammy laughed as she finished her bagel and picked up one of the brooms. “Let's see if we can make a dent in all of this.”

“
Yes, let's,” Bekki agreed. She was eager to change the subject from her father and boyfriend. Sammy hit a button on the radio they kept behind the reception desk. It wasn't long before all three of them were singing along, adding a bit of levity to the situation. Bekki felt better after a good laugh with them. It wasn't easy to forget what had caused all of this to happen, but it was nice to be reminded that she had so many people who cared about her.

It took several hours for them to get the salon back to the state it had been in before. It wasn't spotless, but it was tidy, and the broken items had been discarded. Each time Bekki picked up a shattered container she thought of the supplies that Jasmine had with her. Why hadn't they been in her motel room? Where had she left them? The police had searched her car before it was towed, and there was no sign of the supplies in the car either. Why would she have gotten rid of them? Was it possible that she had somehow sold them?
Did someone already take them?