Died Blonde (14 page)

She grinned in response. “Get used to it. The telephone will probably be attached to her ear until she graduates high school.”

“When will you get me my own cell phone?” Brianna whined. “Everyone else has one.”

“Like who?” Marla retorted, recognizing the manipulative tactic as one she’d employed.

“Come on, Marla. Daddy got you a cell phone for your birthday so he could reach you easily.”

“You don’t go out on your own,” Vail said, wagging his finger at her. “Enough on this subject. Here, take these salads outside. Did you say hello to Mrs. Shorstein and Mr. Levy?”

Brie jutted her lower lip. “Marla’s mother said I could call her Anita.” A wicked gleam entered her eyes. “Or maybe I should ask if she can be my Bubba. Is that the right Jewish word?”

Marla, taking a sip of wine from the glass she’d poured herself, choked. “Isn’t it a little early for that? And what about your other grandparents? Don’t you ever visit them?”

“My folks live in Maine,” Vail said quietly. “They have a more homogeneous population there than we do in South Florida. I’m afraid their attitude can be rather provincial. Pam’s parents come from Michigan. We haven’t seen them since the funeral.”

“They wanted me to come live with them,” Brianna confessed. “Nana felt Daddy’s job…well, she thought I’d be better off being raised in a more stable environment.”

“Nonsense. Your father loves you, and that’s all that matters.” Obviously, there was considerable tension in the relationship with both families. Thank goodness they lived elsewhere. As another thought surfaced, she gulped her merlot. She’d been so concerned about her own family’s reaction to a mixed marriage that she hadn’t considered Vail’s side. How would his relatives feel about a Jewish bride? For that matter, what denomination of Christian was he? They’d avoided discussing religion because it hadn’t inhibited their relationship. But as they took the next step together, it would play a bigger role.

“Can I help?” Anita said, breaking their tableau. “What an adorable kitchen,” she gushed, entering. “Dalton, dearest, you haven’t given me the grand tour. Why, what quaint wallpaper. I haven’t seen this style since the sixties. Is your house really that old?”

Blood rushed to Marla’s face. Couldn’t Ma be more subtle? “How about if we eat first, and then Dalton can show you around?” she suggested.

“It’s okay,” Vail contradicted, giving her a pointed stare. “You can show Anita and Sam the house while Brie and I set out the food.”

Handing her mother the glass of lemonade, Marla nodded. “I’ll just bring Sam his beer, and then—”

“No, let me.” Vail’s sharp words brought her pause.

“All right,” she agreed slowly. He had something up his sleeve, but she couldn’t imagine what it might be. Retrieving Sam, she began her tour in the living room. By the time they’d done the bedrooms and family room, Vail had laid out the meal.

While they ate, conversation centered on the weather and the vagaries of Florida living. When they needed drink refills, Marla stood, reaching for Sam’s empty bottle and Anita’s glass.

“Leave them,” Vail ordered, standing so abruptly that he nearly knocked his chair back. “I’ll get new ones.” He returned shortly with a new beer bottle and glass of frothy lemonade. After placing them on the table, he topped off Marla’s wine. “How are the steaks?”

“Just right,” Sam said appreciatively while chewing. The old guy seem to be having a jolly good time, judging from the way he was chowing down his food. Maybe he’d just missed home cooking.

Refusing their offer to help clear the table after they’d demolished a key lime pie, Vail directed Brianna to show Anita and Sam his efforts to grow tomatoes on the side of the house. As soon as they disappeared from sight, he charged into the kitchen. Marla had already begun stacking their dishes, but she stopped to stare wide-eyed as he returned with gloved hands to stick the empty beer bottles into separate plastic bags.

“What are you doing?” she hissed, following him back into the kitchen, where he hid the bags under the sink.

He tossed his disposable latex gloves into the trash. “Marla, have you ever thought that Sam had access to a key for the meter room? That he was on the premises the day Carolyn died? And that some of the things he says are contradictory?”

“I don’t believe it.” Tilting her head, she glared at him. “You’ve collected those bottles to check his fingerprints. Is that why you let me invite him? You suspect he may be the murderer?” She’d never heard of anything so insane. Maybe Sam lied a bit about his background, but he was probably just trying to impress her mother.

Vail closed the distance between them, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Look, I know you like the guy, but it isn’t safe to fix your mother up with strangers. You don’t know that much about Sam. I went along with the invitation so I could sound him out.”

A wave of guilt struck her. “I suppose you’re going to say I should have minded my own business, as usual. Ma is happy with Roger, and I shouldn’t have let my own dislike of him interfere. Okay, I’ll warn Ma off where Sam is concerned, but he’s probably just a lonely widower looking for companionship.”

She kissed the stern detective on the lips. “You wouldn’t know someone else like that, would you?”

“As long as you’re checking things for prints, add this to your collection.” Marla handed him the plastic bagged envelope from her purse.

Vail’s eyebrows crowded together as he scanned the contents of the note inside. Replacing the paper carefully in the envelope and returning it to the plastic bag, he dropped it under the sink along with the beer bottles. “When did you get this?” he said in a tight voice, facing her.

Marla swallowed. “Earlier this week. I forgot about it until now.” His look of disbelief prompted her to confess. “All right, so I didn’t mention it before because I knew you’d get upset.” Relating the details, she added, “I’ll ask my neighbors if they’ve noticed anyone snooping around.”

“It’s too late now. Your inquiries are making someone nervous. I think you’d be wise to curb your interest in this case and leave it to me.” His expression softened. “I know I asked for your help, but not if it puts you in danger. You don’t owe anything to Carolyn Sutton.”

“According to Wilda, Carolyn wants me to solve her murder. When I do, Carolyn will tell me which one of my relatives needs to see a doctor.”

“Who has to see a doctor?” Anita said, entering the kitchen.

Marla whirled on her. “I don’t know. What about you?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Just a bit tired these days.” Her keen gaze shifted from Marla to Vail. “Marla, would you be a dear and get the sweater from my car? Here’s the key.”

Suspicious of her mother’s sudden request, Marla complied nonetheless. Outdoors, she glanced apprehensively at palm fronds swaying in a stiff breeze. The smell of impending rain tinged the air. Just what they needed, more storms. Puddles still remained from the last cloudburst, meaning the ground was saturated. Even if the approaching hurricane veered out to sea, downpours would fringe its tail, increasing flood conditions.

A white rocket shot past, followed by a golden arrow barking up its own storm. Oh no. She’d left the front door open, and the dogs had escaped. “Spooks!” she yelled, sticking Ma’s keys into her pocket. Running in sandals on a rain-slick street wouldn’t normally be her choice, but she had no alternative as she charged after the moving targets. “Lucky, come here!”

Spooks took the lead, dashing from a fire hydrant to a stop sign and on to a mahogany tree, where he peed against the trunk. Lucky, tail wagging fiercely, bounded up to sniff the poodle’s derriere.

Marla, segueing into stealth mode, advanced steadily. “Spooks, come,” she called in a singsong tone to coax him. “I’ll let you visit Rita when we get home,” she promised.

Spooks lifted his aristocratic snout in her direction. He recognized the name of her neighbor Goat’s black poodle. With a disdainful shake, he dismissed the allure of that promise and charged off across the street to wind in and out of people’s yards. She thought: she had him cornered when he stopped to poop, but Lucky veered in the opposite direction, directly into the path of an oncoming car.

Marla shrieked.

The driver slammed on the brakes, tires squealing.

Lucky scooted past with a few inches to spare.

Her heart racing, Marla turned back to find Spooks missing. The near accident with Vail’s dog had left her knees weak and her body trembling. Why didn’t the man come out to see what was taking her so long? Twirling around, she spotted Spooks by the side of Vail’s house, nibbling on his prize tomatoes.

“Naughty dog,” she scolded, rushing forward with her arms outstretched. Swooping him into her embrace, she grimaced as his wet feet spread dirt and leaves on her clothes. His face, sodden with crushed tomato pulp, glared at hers with puppy-eyed resentment. Holding his squirming, muddy body, she headed for the house. One down, one to go.

She needn’t have worried. Once her playmate was inside, Lucky docilely trotted toward the front door. Shutting them both inside, Marla completed the errand for which she’d paid such a high price. Paw prints marred her shorts, necessitating a trip later on to the cleaners and at least a five-dollar tab.

After a quick trip to the bathroom to scrub the dirt off her skin, Marla hunted for Vail to confess her mishap. No wonder he hadn’t come chasing after her. He sat outside on the patio engaged in an intense discussion with her mother, confirming Marla’s impression that Anita’s demand had been a ploy. Yikes, was Ma asking him what his intentions were? Embarrassment warred with resignation. They might as well let Anita in on their unofficial announcement if she didn’t already know.

Sam had occupied himself by quizzing Brianna about her school activities and schedule. Marla had noticed him admiring the teen and couldn’t fault Brianna’s manners in front of company. It made her proud to see how much the girl had mellowed since they’d first met.

“You’ll consider what I’ve said?” Anita asked Vail upon Marla’s approach.

“Definitely,” he replied in a firm tone. His pewter gaze caught Marla, bringing a flush to her face. “We’re talking about you.”

“No kidding.” She tossed the sweater to her mother. “Anything I should know about?”

“I told Ma we were thinking of getting married.”

Ma? Since when did you get so familiar
? “Oh.”

Anita’s eyebrows soared. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word. It’s not official anyway until you get a ring.” Her face broke into a smile. “Just don’t make me wait too long.” Rising, she strode to Marla and hugged her, whispering into her ear, “I want you to be happy.”

Stepping back, Marla regarded her mother warily. “Would it be okay if Dalton and Brianna join us for Rosh Hashanah dinner? It would be a good way for him to meet more of the family.”
And for him to taste our different culture
, she added silently.

Anita’s expression brightened. “Delightful idea. We don’t have a police officer among us,” she told Vail. “You’ll be the first. Our relatives are doctors, accountants, lawyers. As a detective, I bet you’ll get all sorts of interesting questions.”

Now you’re ready to brag about him, when before you told me hooking up with a policeman would lead to heartache
? Marla curbed her sharp retort, addressing Vail instead. “Sorry to tell you this, but the dogs got out and messed up your tomato plants. I’ll pay to replace them if necessary.”

Vail waved the offer away. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Hey, want to catch the weather report?” Sam asked, weaving in their direction. “My place is near a lake, and I may have to secure my boat if the winds get any stronger.”

“You have a boat?” Marla glanced at his arms, which weren’t frail like the typical old man’s but rather sinewy from a lifetime of physical labor. He must have hammered a few nails into those homes he built, she surmised.

“Just an old rowboat,” he stated casually.

“Where do you live? Lakefront property is always more expensive.” She could have bitten her tongue after the words flew out, but Sam didn’t appear perturbed.

He lifted a hand in dismissal. “It’s not one of those artificial lakes. I got a good price for substantial acreage.”

“Is that so? In which development?”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you’d know the name. It’s not in Palm Haven.”

“Marla, can you take me to ballet on Tuesday? Daddy has to work late,” Brianna said from behind.

Marla swung around, annoyed at the interruption just when she was getting Sam to talk. “Your class might be canceled if we have a hurricane warning. Why don’t you call me in the afternoon?”

Sam gave Brianna’s ponytail an affectionate yank. “This one will break a lot of hearts when she gets older. I can see it coming.” He gazed down into the teen’s eyes. “Someone ought to teach her how to behave toward a man.”

“She’s a little too young for that,” Marla said, shouldering him aside and putting her arm around the girl. “Don’t you have homework to finish?”

Brianna pouted. “I have to make a phone call first.”

“Don’t clog the line,” Vail warned her, passing by with an armload full of dirty table linens.

Anita, following on his heels, wagged her finger. “You may want to consider adding a second phone number. When Marla was her age, she talked nonstop. She’d wake up with a hoarse voice every morning.”

“Really?” Vail threw Marla an amused glance.

“Yeah, and now I don’t have time to say two words on the telephone.”

They congregated in the kitchen, while Sam veered into the family room to watch the weather channel. “Ma, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to get you and Sam together. We don’t know enough about him,” Marla cautioned her mother in a low tone. “If you like being with Roger, then I won’t interfere. Your happiness is what’s important.”

Anita kissed her cheek. “Thanks,
bubula
, but I think I can make up my own mind. I like Roger, but it doesn’t hurt to keep my options open. You, on the other hand, will disappoint his son when you announce your engagement. Do it soon, so you don’t keep Barry dangling.”

“I never led him on. He’s just a friend.”

“That’s not the relationship he wants. Heed my advice.”

When she got home later, Marla remembered Vail’s advice to bow out of Carolyn’s case rather than risk endangering herself. Opening the garage-door entrance to her house, she deactivated the alarm before following Spooks inside. Emptiness yawned before her in contrast to the lively activity at Vail’s place. Rather than appreciating the solitude, she missed Vail’s company. Not his exhortation to absent herself from any further involvement in Carolyn’s affairs, though. She had a few loose ends to tie up on her own.

Monday morning brought nasty weather, so it was just as well she was forced to change her plans. A phone call to Wilda dashed her hopes of visiting the medium that day; Wilda’s machine answered. Nor was Wilda at Hairstyle Heaven. The salon was closed for Labor Day, and Marla didn’t know how else to reach the psychic. What’s more, the holiday prevented her from revisiting Dennis Thomson and the chiropractor as she’d hoped to do. But at least she didn’t have to worry about the hurricane destroying the rest of her workweek. True to the forecasts, a high-pressure ridge turned the maelstrom out to sea, though it left South Florida with outlying patches of storm cells.

A nagging need to do more research on Carolyn’s obsession led Marla to the computer this morning. Fascinated by the subject of Victorian mourning customs, she read how widows from that era had to wear black attire with a “weeping veil” of black crepe during the first, stage, which was one year plus one day. Queen Victoria decreed that only black jewelry could be worn during this deep-grieving period. Popular materials for the jewelry included black enamel, onyx, black glass, vulcanite, and jet, a type of fossilized coal that came from Whitby, England, where it washed up on shore.

In the second mourning period, which lasted for nine months more, widows lifted their veils back over their head. Half-mourning came next for another three to six months, during which women employed more elaborate fabrics as trim for their clothing.

During these second and half-mourning periods, jewelry made from human hair, gold, and guttapercha adorned the ladies. Guttapercha, a natural latex obtained from evergreen trees in Asia, was the first known plastic material ever used for costume jewelry.

Hair art became popular during this time. As far back as the Egyptian age, pharaohs and queens had exchanged balls made from hair as tokens of everlasting love. Now hair became regarded as a symbol of life, and the fashion of incorporating it into jewelry spread throughout Europe. Weaving hair from a loved one into knot designs for a brooch was the most popular practice, but rings, bracelets, earrings, watch fobs, and necklaces with hair all became common during the latter portion of the century. In England, mourning pieces included semiprecious stones in gold settings. Garnets were particularly well regarded. Marla discovered that much of this antique jewelry was selling today for significant prices.

When did Carolyn start collecting the stuff
? Marla wondered.
Did it make her feel more worthy because she owned these valuables? How did she pay for them? From her bingo earnings? Or were they gifts from a lover
?

Frowning over her keyboard, Marla pondered how to find more information. Picking up the phone, she dialed Tally’s number at home. Ken told her Tally was working at the boutique doing inventory. He didn’t sound pleased.

“Any chance of us getting to a bingo game within the next few days?” Marla said after dialing the shop number.

“I’m too swamped,” Tally replied in a weary voice. “I have my new winter line coming in this week. Maybe you’ll stop by and choose some outfits before I put them on the racks.”

Marla tamped down her disappointment; she’d have to visit the casino alone. “Let me know when the clothes arrive. I liked that brick red blazer in your catalog.” She paused. “How are things between you and Ken?”

“So-so. He’s still nagging me to cut my hours. It’s not such a bad idea. I wish I could find decent help to give me some relief.”

“I’m in the same boat. I don’t trust anyone to handle things when I go away for more than a few days.”

“You have Nicole. She does a good job.”

“True, but: I’ve never left her in charge longer than four days, and that’s usually when I’ve gone to a hair show. Gosh, I wonder if Dalton will want to go on a honeymoon. It’s something we haven’t discussed, but then again, he’s always busier than I am.” Too late, she realized she’d let the cat out of the bag. “Whoops, I didn’t say that.”

“You sneak! Has he proposed?” Tally squealed.

“Well, yes, although we’re not telling anyone yet. I mean, I haven’t exactly accepted. We’ve looked for a ring, but, you know, I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing before we make a formal announcement.”

“Marla, I’m so happy for you. Holy smokes, we’ll have to celebrate. I’ll plan a party. This is too exciting.”

“Hey, wait. It’s unofficial, okay?”

“Brianna must be thrilled.”

“We haven’t told her. Look, just keep it to yourself for now, all right? You can tell Ken, but that’s all. In case one of us changes our mind.” She wouldn’t have a chance to back out once her friends and relatives had mentally tied the knot.