Joy in the Journey

by Diane Greenwood Muir

  Lucy came back to the table with their ticket and a takeout box. "Polly, you finished your sandwich. You never do that."

  Polly looked down at her plate in surprise. "I never do that." She swatted at Henry. "Did you finish my sandwich?"

  "Surely you would have noticed if I'd eaten your tenderloin," he said.

  "But I don't remember eating all of it."

  Lucy laughed. "Did he eat your lunch?"

  "Henry?" Polly asked.

  He grinned. "There was that little corner."

  "It was a quarter of the sandwich. And where's all the extra tenderloin that stuck out of the bun?"

  Rubbing his belly, Henry smiled at the two of them. "I didn't have breakfast this morning."

  "That's right, you didn't," Polly said, nodding. "But how did you sneak that thing off my plate?"

  "Your powers of observation are failing you, my dear."

  "She was watching everyone else in the room," Lucy said.

  Henry laughed. "You’re right. Polly, who is sitting behind me and to the left?" He put his hand on her arm. "No, don't turn and look. Just tell me what you know."

  "I think it's Daryl Mendenhall. I don't know who's with him."

  Lucy nodded. "That's exactly right."

  "She's seen every single person come in," Henry said. "It doesn't even occur to her that she knows everything that she’s seen. It's just what she does."

  "Is that bad?" Polly asked with a frown.

  "Not at all. It's actually kind of cool. Like I said, you have amazing powers of observation, except when it comes to me stealing food off your plate."

  "Poor Heath won't get those leftovers," Polly said.

  "Is he still dating Ella Evans?" Lucy asked as she gathered their plates.

  Henry nodded and sat up straight again. He picked up the ticket. "Yeah. I like her. She makes him work hard. That girl is going to strongarm him into good grades, and I approve. Are you ready to head out, Polly?"

  "I'm insisting on ice cream," she said.

  He groaned. "That'll teach me to steal your food."

  CHAPTER TWO

  Every inch of the new business growth on the outskirts of Bellingwood felt strange to Polly. People in town couldn't stop talking about it. Some were furious that things were changing while others were thrilled at what it meant for Bellingwood.

  She was excited about the new opportunities in town, but it still felt strange to see buildings going up where there had once been fields. Oh, sure, there were still farm fields everywhere. The town was woven into the rural landscape of the region. In fact, one backed up to the north side of her property, but still, with this construction the approach to Bellingwood from the west was transformed. This wasn't the end of it either. There was talk about new residential properties, a mix of multi-family and single-family homes, going up on the south side of the highway across from the strip mall and convenience store.

  "I love change," she muttered.

  "What?"

  "I'm reminding myself that I love change."

  Henry peered at her. "I agree, but why are you thinking about change?"

  She gestured at the sparkling new canopy over the gas pumps and the big sign going up right next to the highway. "It makes Bellingwood feel different. No more sleepy little town. This feels like the advent of a snowball roll that we can't stop."

  "You want it to be like it always was?"

  "I know that what I'm saying doesn't make sense. When I moved into town, we started changing things. People didn't like what I did either. I know it will be good for the community. I'm working my way through it."

  "Folks want to pull the ladder in after themselves," he said. "They aren’t fond of having new arrivals upset their status quo. But things can't stay the same and remain healthy. That isn't the way systems work."

  "That's why I'm working through it." Polly chuckled. "Right now, I have to work through it in my mind every time I drive past this place. Someday the corner will be as familiar as driving past Sycamore House. I won't even think about it. We’ll be worrying about new construction somewhere else and will have forgotten that this little bit of change upset our equilibrium."

  "Most people just get mad. They don't spend enough time considering their reaction. I like that about you." Henry drove past the convenience store to the strip mall set in behind it. "Do you want to come inside with me? It's starting to look like a salon."

  "Because you've been in so many?" Polly asked with a laugh.

  "I've been in a few," he replied in protest. "Why are you picking on me?"

  "Because I love you." She rubbed her hand up his forearm. "If you don't mind, I'd like to come in. It's always fun to see a shop before it's complete."

  He parked behind the building and, after turning the truck off, flicked keys around on his key ring, then selected one. He grabbed a set of blueprints out of the seat behind them and got out. Polly followed.

  They stepped on boards that had been laid across the mud up to the concrete pad in front of the back door. He unlocked it and flipped on a light switch just inside. "This shouldn't take long. Ben wanted me to look at something along the back wall. He thinks the plumber switched things around."

  "Do you need me to hold the blueprints for you? I can be a useful assistant."

  He grinned. "No. I've got it."

  "I'm going to wander around and see what Mina is doing up front."

  The main part of the salon was nearly finished. Walls separating the large central area were spaced strategically, some floor to ceiling, others only halfway up. Salon styling chairs still wrapped in plastic had been placed in front of stations, though had yet to be set in place. Polly stopped and looked at herself in the mirrors attached to the walls, then shook her head. She needed to make an appointment to see Mina soon. Before they made the move out here, that was for sure; she couldn't wait that long.

  As she wound through spacious room, she took it all in. What fun it would be to have an entirely new place to build out. To design according to specifications you saw only in your mind's eye until they were sketched out and brought to reality. Once Mina and her team of stylists moved in, they would turn this place into their home and make it comfortable for their clients.

  She was so thankful to have found Mina. Spending time in a salon had never been Polly's favorite thing to do. She'd never found one in Boston that had felt right. All she let them do was cut her hair and then she wanted to escape. There were a couple of other stylists in town and Polly had tried them, but when she met Mina at Nan's birthday party last fall, she'd immediately felt comfortable with her.

  Mina was trying to talk Polly into coloring her hair. She refused to tell Rebecca that she was even considering it. The moment those words left her mouth, Rebecca would be relentless, pushing her to leap into the twenty-first century and at least try to look like she wasn't the mother to a horde of children. One of these days she would surprise everyone and come home with wild rainbow colors streaked through her hair. Or, maybe she’d just add some highlights and avoid being ridiculous.

  Oh, what was she saying? The other wasn't ridiculous at all and it would be so much fun. She stopped in front of another mirror and fluffed her hair. What would Henry think? He'd love it. After her last trim, Polly had truly put it all out of her mind, but standing here now, she wanted to call Mina and make the appointment. She took her phone out as she walked toward the big windows in the front of the store.

  A striking black and silver counter had been set in place at the very front to greet customers who walked in. Stacked chairs wrapped in more plastic were waiting to be opened and set out in the small reception area off to the side. Polly stood at the double doors, looking out across the parking lot. As odd as it felt to have these buildings out here, she couldn't wait for landscaping to be done and the bays to be filled.

  She heard Henry's voice and yelled out, "Everything okay?"

  "No," he called back. "Ben was right. I don't want to make this phone call."

&n
bsp; He made these calls every day of the week, but he still didn't enjoy it. Henry was a better manager than Polly. It infuriated her when people refused to do their job to the best of their ability. She couldn't understand why they even bothered if they were going to do something poorly. Fortunately, her team was excellent and dealt with those who would send Polly's blood boiling. Even when she heard about it long after the employee problem had been taken care of, she got angry.

  In Henry's case, his worst problems weren't his employees, though he always had someone to deal with there, too. The biggest issues he had were with his subcontractors. It wasn't as if they didn't know he expected them to do their jobs well, but he was fully aware of the ones who would try to cut corners or refuse to admit when they'd made mistakes. He pushed through it as pragmatically as he handled everything else. She smiled. That included the way he handled her. Man, she was a lucky woman.

  The last thing she wanted to do was bother him while he was talking to one of his sub-contractors, so Polly dawdled in the front area of the salon. She took a different path back, stopping to look at a sticker someone had placed in the bottom corner of one of the mirrors. A small white circle with the words Find Joy in the Journey made her smile. Whether it was one of the stylists or a workman, it was a good thought. She reached out and touched it before walking away. If that could be her motto, she’d live a good life.

  At the next station, she stopped again, puzzled that one of the chairs had been unwrapped. It didn't make sense. If this was the chair, what was wrapped up in plastic on the other side of the aisle?

  Polly moved closer. Maybe they were putting carpet down. That made no sense either. The carpet had all been laid. As she stood over the form on the floor, she closed her eyes, cursing under her breath, while willing this not to be true.

  "Henry?" she yelled, staring at her phone.

  "Just a minute. I'm taking measurements. This thing is totally messed up. I’m going to kill someone."

  That really wasn't what she wanted to hear right now. "Don't talk about killing, please. And don't make me wait. Come here." She was already placing the call.

  Henry walked toward her, frowning. "What's up? I only needed a minute."

  She pointed at the floor, surprised he hadn't seen what was right in front of her.

  "Hello, Polly," Aaron's bright voice said. "It's been such a nice day. Are you about to make it ugly?"

  Henry knelt to look at the man wrapped in plastic. The body was face-up, and though the face was distorted by layers of wrap, it was still defined enough to be identifiable. Henry shuddered, took a low breath, and stood back up. "It's him," he said, exhaling a long breath. "At least that explains it."

  "It's who?" Polly asked. She turned her speaker on and held the phone out.

  "What do you mean, it's who?" Aaron asked her.

  "The body wrapped in plastic at the new salon outside of Bellingwood," Polly responded. "Are you coming to rescue us today or should I expect Tab?"

  "Why do I continue to hope that your phone calls will be pleasant experiences," Aaron said. "Tab is close. She’ll be on her way to you. This is by that new convenience store?"

  "Yeah. We came in the back, but we can open the front door." She looked at Henry for confirmation.

  He nodded.

  "And who does Henry think it is? Tell me it isn't one of his people."

  "My erstwhile supervisor candidate. We were supposed to meet him for lunch so I could introduce him to Polly."

  "Is he from around here?" Aaron asked.

  Henry grimaced. "Lives over west of Ogden. Keenan Baxter."

  "How well do you know him?"

  "I hadn't gotten to know him well, yet," Henry said. "We were supposed to have a final interview today with Polly. His background was good, his references had good things to say about him, and I liked the guy."

  "And you wanted Polly to meet him?"

  Henry smiled at his wife. "She has a good sense for people."

  "That she does," Aaron agreed. "And a terrible predilection for finding the dead ones."

  "At least I'm here this time," Henry said. "I don't have to hear about it secondhand."

  A sharp rap on the glass of the front door made the two of them jump and Polly turned. "Someone's at the door," she said to Aaron. "I'll talk to you later."

  "Thanks for your call," he responded. "You know how much I look forward to receiving them."

  She tried to think of something witty to say back to him, but he was gone.

  Deputy Tab Hudson stood at the front door, her hands on her hips. When she saw Polly through the glass, she gave a little wave. The young woman could look harsh and severe. In fact, the first couple of times Polly met her, she hadn't been impressed, other than that the deputy was efficient at her job. As time passed, they'd gotten to know each other better and had become good friends. Tab moved to Bellingwood from Boone three months ago, leaving the independence of her small apartment behind. She was living with JJ Ryan, the owner of Secret Woods Winery, and the two had discovered that having another human being living in your personal space wasn’t quite as easy as a person might assume.

  Tab wasn't prepared to commit to marriage. She'd gained independence from her family and was hard-pressed to give it up and jump into another one. JJ loved her no matter what and was willing to wait. If she never wanted to be married, he'd stick with her through that, too. He'd finally found the one woman who understood him and he wasn't giving that up.

  She loved him just as much. His easy-going manner and undeniable love for her had broken through Tab's barriers. She told Polly that his next step was getting them a couple of dogs. Tab wanted to wait until it was warmer, especially if they got puppies, so they could be outside while house-breaking the animals. It was only a matter of time.

  Henry started for the lock to flip it open and Tab waved him off.

  He frowned.

  "Fingerprints," she yelled. "How do you think he got inside?"

  He looked at Polly, confused. "I don't know. I didn't even think about that."

  "We came in the back door," Polly called back. "Do you want to drive around? I'm sorry. We touched the door and the light switch. We had no idea."

  Tab nodded. "I'll be right there."

  "Do you really think the murderer would have touched the front doorknob? My guys have been in and out of here. Their fingerprints are all over everything."

  "I don't know," Polly said. She watched Tab back up and drive toward the side of the building. "It's not ours to worry about. Once Tab and her crew get in here, my job is finished. I walk away and answer questions when she asks them."

  "You don't think one of my guys killed him, do you?"

  Raising her eyebrows, Polly nodded. "Yeah. Ben was mad because you planned to hire a new supervisor, so he lured this guy to the salon where he and his team were working, killed him, and wrapped him in plastic from one of the chairs."

  "Do you really think that could have happened?" Henry asked, sucking in air. "That's awful."

  "I'm joking," she said. "You know Ben better than anyone. Do you think he could harm anyone?"

  "Well, no."

  "I'd believe it of Leroy before I did Ben and Leroy is a teddy bear. He’s big and gruff with the heart of puppy dog. You hire nice guys, Henry. I suspect Tab will want to talk to them, especially those who have keys to this place. And besides, Ben isn't dumb enough to commit a murder at a location that's his responsibility."

  "Right now keys to this space are everywhere. We change the locks once the owner takes possession. With all of the subs and other workmen in here, I have no idea how many people have access."

  "Then tell Tab that. While it widens the possible suspect list, it helps for her to know everything."

  "I hate this," he said, frustration filling his voice. "Why is this your lot in life? Why do you have to find bodies at my construction site?"

  "It’s only the second time."

  He frowned. "I still hate it."

  "L
ook at it this way, Henry," Polly said softly. "If this wasn't what I did, anyone could have found that body. We're both certain that Ben couldn't murder anyone, but how hard would it be on him if he found this body tomorrow when he showed up for work? Or what if Mina or one of her girls had walked in and found it. The poor guy was killed. Someone needed to find him. Better that it's me. Right?"

  "I still don't like it. Why here? Why now?"

  She shrugged. He had never been comfortable with her strange talent, and she'd always thought that his biggest reason to be upset about it was because he couldn't be there to support her. But he was here now and as annoyed and frustrated as she'd ever seen him. "Imagine how Mina is going to feel knowing that someone was killed in her salon before she even took possession."

  "Let's hope she isn't superstitious." He took Polly's hand and led her around to the other side of the center wall, away from the body. By the time they reached the back where he'd left his blueprints, Tab was inside and walking toward them.

  "Where is he?" she asked.

  Polly pointed. "Right up here."

  Tab took out a small notepad and pencil. "What did you say his name was?" she asked Henry.

  "Keenan Baxter. I can send you his resume."

  Her eyes lit up. "That would be great. Thank you."

  Henry put the blueprints back down and glanced around. "My tablet's in the truck. I'll get it right over to you."

  Tab nodded and headed forward. "Is this Mina Dendrade's new place?"

  "Yeah. Do you go to her salon?"

  "Nan told me that I should." Tab patted her short dark hair. "I've never done anything other than this. It's easy to take care of."

  "It's cute," Polly said. It crossed her mind that this was an odd time to talk about getting a haircut, but she and Tab had bonded over stranger situations in the past. "Henry's worried that this might have been one of his people."

  "Does he suspect one of them has a motive?"

  "Not at all. You know his people. They're good guys. But Henry can't wrap his head around a murder happening at one of his worksites."

  "His people have keys to the location," Tab said. "It makes sense for him to worry. We'll look into everything, but we aren't going to stir up trouble unless there's something there." She stopped in front of the body, knelt down, then stood back up and looked at the chair across the aisle. "Do you think we'll be fortunate enough to find fingerprints on the plastic?"