5 Conditioner and a Corpse (7 page)

Bekki almost jumped out of her skin as a cell phone beeped.
She found it under a chair in the room.  It had probably fallen out of someone’s pocket. It was a different brand to the one Jeff had with him when he came into the salon. Bekki snatched up the phone. When she read the text message she felt her blood run cold.

Did you kill him yet?

Bekki held her breath and quickly put the phone back where she had found it and backed away from it. She realized that Jeff was in more than just a bad and dangerous business deal, it looked like he was having his life threatened. Whether he knew it or not, he might be the next murder victim in Harroway. Bekki hurried to the door of the motel and opened it up ready to run out. Just as she stepped outside the door a shadow fell across the sidewalk. She looked up with a gasp to discover Mr. Parsons standing outside.

“
Did you find your purse?” he asked with a slight frown. “I felt a little bad leaving you here all alone, considering what happened here, so I thought I'd come back and check on you.”

“
Oh uh, turns out he took it with him,” Bekki said with a light laugh. “He just called me on his cell phone to let me know he had it. Sorry for all the trouble.”

“
Sure,” he nodded and smiled. “Just glad that you were able to figure it all out. Do you want me to walk you to your car?” he offered.

“
No thanks Mr. Parsons, I'll be just fine,” Bekki promised him and hoped that he didn't see the ash smudged on her fingertips. As she hurried off down the sidewalk her mind was spinning. Nick had been right when he said that the men Jeff was dealing with were very dangerous. She could only wonder if Jeff knew how dangerous they were. Was it possible she had it wrong all along? Maybe Jeff was the one in danger? She couldn't think straight as she started her car. She was just about to put it into drive when her cell phone rang. She checked the ID to discover it was Nick.

“
Your mom said you're not home,” Nick said urgently. “Are you okay?”

“
Yes,” Bekki said quickly. “Why were you talking to my Mom?”

“
Uh well,” he cleared his throat hesitantly.

“
Nick?” she pressed with a frown as she pulled out of the parking lot.

“
She and I were just discussing the best way to keep you safe,” Nick admitted with a sigh.

“
Nick, I can take care of myself,” Bekki warned him with frustration, but her voice was soft.

“
Just this once Bekki, let us do what we can to help you, okay?” Nick pleaded. “Can I come over?”

Bekki was just pulling into her driveway. She glanced down at her ash covered hands and bit into her bottom lip guiltily. She didn't want to lie to him more than she already had.

“I just need a shower and to head straight to bed,” Bekki explained haltingly. “I just need a night to myself.”

“
Okay, but I'll be home in an hour, so if you want some company, just call me. I love you, Bekki.”

Bekki smiled at his words and hesitated only a moment before she replied.
“I love you too, Nick.”

As she climbed out of her car and headed toward
s the door of her house, she found herself being a little extra cautious. She glanced over her shoulder before unlocking the door. After reading the text message, she presumed that the men with Jeff were just as much killers as she suspected he was. She doubted if Harroway had ever had so many criminals within its town limits before.

Once inside she really did do as she had told Nick
she would. She showered and then curled up in bed. She wanted to rest and clear her mind. She had taken a big risk by going into the motel room, and hadn't found a shred of evidence, but she had found some very good reasons to be a bit more afraid. As she fell asleep that night her mind returned to Jasmine, her eager smile and her playful ways. She was the reason Bekki had taken the risk, and she was more determined than ever to find out the truth.

The next morning when Bekki woke she couldn't ignore the subtle anxiety that was causing her heart to race at any little sound or loud noise. After what she had overheard the night before, she was on edge, but, she was sure that Jeff and his friends would be sticking around until they got what they came for. She had decided that instead of searching for evidence against Jeff, she would try searching for the supplies they were looking for.

She was surprised
and pleased to find Nick waiting for her at the salon with coffee.

“
What are you doing here,” Bekki asked with a smile.

“
I thought I’d bring you and Sammy coffee,” he answered while holding up the coffees.

“
Thanks,” Bekki replied, knowing that he probably wanted to check that she was okay.

Bek
ki had to wiggle the key a bit because the new lock was sticking.  Once inside Nick put the coffee on the table.

“
Any developments?” Bekki asked.

“
No not really,” Nick replied. “Still investigating Jeff.”

“
Good, I want that man, and his accomplices behind bars.”

“
You mean his bodyguards?” Nick prompted and studied her. He could see from the quirk of her lips and the way she avoided his eyes that she was hiding something. “Bekki? Do you know something I don't?”

“
It's just,” Bekki cleared her throat. She wasn't sure how to tell him the truth without revealing her deception. “What if they're not his bodyguards,” she said as casually as she could. “What if he's being threatened by them?”

“
Why would you think that?” Nick frowned, the corners of his eyes wrinkled as he scrutinized her expression. “He never showed any sign of duress when we questioned him.”

“
Okay,” Bekki nodded a little. “But, it's clear the two bodyguards have connections with some bad people right?”

“
Yes,” Nick agreed. “But it's not unusual for businessmen to hire ex-cons or former gang members to protect them, because they feel it takes a criminal to know a criminal best.”

Bekki shifted uncomfortably and glanced
nervously over her shoulder out the window.

“
Bekki,” Nick murmured from behind her.  Bekki braced herself, expecting a barrage of questions, instead when she turned around his arms were open to her. Bekki settled into the warmth and comfort of his embrace. “Let me take you to dinner tonight,” Nick said as he looked into her deep blue eyes. “Something to take your mind off all of this.”

“
I don't know,” Bekki hesitated. It was hard for her to think of going out for a meal when the crime still wasn't solved. There was so much up in the air, and with her salon being ransacked, and murderers on the loose, she had a lot to worry about.

“
Please,” Nick squeezed her hand gently. “Let me do this for you. Sometimes when things get so tense, you just need a little time away from it all, just a few moments of relaxation. I know you want all of this to be over, but the truth is, the police are working on it. We'll find the truth, we'll find the connection, and we'll put Jeff away. That doesn't mean you and I can't share a nice meal, hmm?”

Bekki studied him for a long moment. She wanted nothing more than to spend the evening with him.

“Okay,” she finally agreed.

“I have to go,” he kissed Bekki lightly on the forehead. “Don't forget about dinner tonight, seven?”

“
Seven is perfect,” she nodded. “But why don't we just have dinner in?” she suggested, recalling how the three men had decided to dine out the night before. She really didn't want to run into them while she was out with Nick.

“
Sounds good,” he nodded. “I'll cook.”

“
Oh, even better!” Bekki smiled and gave him a light peck on the lips. “See you soon.”

“
Mmhm,” he sighed as he reluctantly released her. As Bekki watched Nick walk out the door she saw one of the flashy cars that had been parked at the Harroway Harbor Motel the night before driving down the road past the salon. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched the dark tinted windows glide past. She realized she really was a very easy target. Hopefully, forensics would find some evidence to connect the men to the ransacking of the salon, at least that would get them off the streets.

Just then Sammy walked into the salon.

“Hi,” she said with a smile.

“
Hi Sammy,” Bekki replied. “Nick bought us coffee.”

“
Great thanks,” she said as she grabbed a coffee and went to set up her station.

The rest of the day was busy
which was great because it kept Bekki’s mind off Jasmine’s murder and Jeff.

As Bekki
finished a customer's hair, she pointed out the window at the police car that was rolling past in the parking lot of the salon.

“
Looks like we've got a stalker,” Sammy giggled and waved at Morris as he stepped out of the car. He adjusted his hat and stepped inside the salon.

“
Hey there ladies,” he said awkwardly and nodded. “Just checking in.”

“
We're fine,” Sammy said cheerfully. Her lips were curved in a silly school girl grin that made Bekki smile, too. It was clear that Sammy was pleased as punch that Morris had come to check on her.

“
Well then,” he adjusted his hat again. “I could always stay until closing, if you'd like,” he suggested.

Bekki hid a laugh as she walked her customer to the reception desk and let the two of them have a few moments alone.

“You girls and your police officers,” the woman shook her head. “You know, they're nothing but trouble, always getting themselves in dangerous situations.”

Mrs. Potts was not exactly the friendliest customer they ever had. In fact, she could always find something to be annoyed about.
“What you need is a good honest businessman, like that Jeff Barnes fellow. I had a coffee with him at lunch, and he was asking me all about you,” she laughed a little. “I think he must have a bit of a crush on you, Bekki.”

Bekki arched an eyebrow in response to this.
“What did he ask about me?” she inquired casually.

“
Oh, I told him all about how you grew up here, and he asked if there were any special places that you liked to disappear to when you were a kid. I told him I didn't know too much about that, but there's a place down by the water that all the kids used to haunt on summer nights.”

“
The dock, I remember that,” Bekki said with a fond smile.

“
The dock,” Mrs. Potts snickered. “Nothing more than an old, rotted piece of wood sticking out on the lake.”

“
We used to stash beer, er,” Bekki cleared her throat, “drinks, under there in a cooler. I bet it's still there,” Bekki grinned. But her smile faded as she remembered this was one story she had shared with Jasmine about her childhood in Harroway. When they had been out partying late one night, she had told Jasmine how different it was to be staring at an apartment ceiling instead of being sprawled out on the grass beside the lake staring up at the hundreds of stars.

“
You kids always made so much noise,” the woman sighed with distaste. “Anyway, like I said, I think that fellow is sweet on you, and you might want to think about it. A detective will always be a detective, but a businessman might one day be a millionaire,” she added as she paid her bill. Or a murderer, Bekki thought to herself but she bit her tongue. She never felt the need to prove herself to anyone, and was always very respectful to the ladies that frequented the salon, many had been customers before Bekki was even born.

“
I'll take that into consideration Mrs. Potts,” Bekki said with a smile as she handed her the receipt. “Don't forget to come in for a trim.”

“
I won't,” Mrs. Potts smiled and left the salon. Bekki stared after her with a sinking feeling. Jeff was still targeting her. She could only hope that he didn't notice the smudges of ash on the phone or that his closet had been disturbed.

“
Aren't you supposed to be meeting Nick for dinner?” Sammy reminded her as she walked over with Morris on her arm.

“
Sure but not until seven,” Bekki glanced down at her watch and was surprised to see it was already after six. “I guess it's time to close up,” she said.

“
I've got to get back to the station before my shift is over,” Morris explained. “You both be careful and call me if anything strange happens.”

“
We will,” Sammy promised. Then with a pink glow in her cheeks she planted a kiss on his cheek. He was soon blushing too as he waved goodbye and walked out of the salon.

“
Well, isn't that sweet,” Bekki grinned. “Looks like you've got someone to protect you now, too.”

“
It's nice, isn't it?” Sammy said with a slight shrug.

Bekki looked up at the brand new lock on the door, and thought of Nick waiting for her, cooking up something delicious in the kitchen, and then smiled as she nodded.
“Yes, yes it is.”

***

When Bekki arrived at Nick's house for dinner, she could smell the garlic from outside the front door. Her mouth watered as Nick knew that Bekki loved pasta. Bekki was slender, but not because of her diet, she liked to eat. She opened the door and stepped inside to hear a lovely classical tune playing on his stereo system. She followed the delicious aroma of pasta into the kitchen, and when she rounded the corner she was met with a shocking surprise. Nick, in a white apron, was stumbling backwards. The apron was soaked with crimson across his chest.

“
Nick?” Bekki gasped as she rushed into the kitchen. “Are you okay?”

He caught his balance on the kitchen island and sighed as he nodded.
“Had a bit of a spaghetti sauce mishap,” he explained sheepishly. Only then did Bekki notice the sauce splattered on the counter and the bottle laying on the floor of the kitchen. She sighed with relief and helped him to take off the apron. “How do you feel about Alfredo?” he asked with a lopsided grin.

“
Anything will be wonderful,” Bekki said with confidence as she laid her hands gently against his chest and leaned up for a kiss. She felt his muscles relax beneath her hands as the kiss grew sultry and deep. When she pulled away he was smiling dreamily at her.

“
Let me help you clean this up,” Bekki offered as she reached for a roll of paper towels.

“
No way,” he said sternly. “You've done enough cleaning at the salon recently. I'll take care of this, you just take this to the living room and relax,” he poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her.

“
Thanks,” she smiled and carried the wine into the living room. She did feel relaxed being with Nick, she had always felt a sense of safety and comfort with him. A few minutes later he joined her in the living room.

“
Dinner will be ready soon,” he promised as he dropped down onto the couch beside her and draped his arm across her shoulders. “How was work today?” he questioned.

“
It was busy, which was a nice distraction,” she replied.

‘W
hat are you not telling me,” he looked over at her with a sweet smile. Bekki was surprised by this, she didn't think he suspected anything.

“
How did you know?” she frowned.

“
I am a detective after all,” he pointed out, and the smile still played on his lips. “But not tonight. It's just you and me, no badges, okay? I want you to be comfortable, I want you to be able to tell me anything. So tell me,” he met her gaze imploringly.

“
I might have overheard a conversation between Jeff Barnes and his so-called bodyguards,” Bekki explained as she held his gaze.

He continued to stare into her eyes as he replied.
“And how did you hear this conversation?”

“
I might have gone to the motel where he's staying,” she replied nervously.

“
Well,” Nick sighed as he glanced away from her. “I can't say that surprises me,” he said with a light smile when he looked back at her.

“
You're not mad?” she asked.

“
Of course I am but I knew you wouldn't be able to resist looking into it,” he took her hand in his and laid it across his knee. “

“
I was careful,” she promised.

“So what did you find out?” he asked.

“
Well, I think the bodyguards are not so much bodyguards. It's almost as if Jeff is their hostage,” she narrowed her eyes slightly. “They all want the supplies Jasmine had with her.”

“
I will look into it first thing in the morning,” Nick smiled and then stood up from the couch. “I've got to check on the pasta,” he called out and then paused and glanced over his shoulder. “Bekki, I really wish you would stop interfering but thanks for telling me.”