by V. M. Burns
I nodded. “Good point. We need to find out how he was murdered and whether or not a woman could have done it.”
Dixie pointed her fork at me. “You ask your TBI friend how he was strangled.” I started to protest, but she held up her fork. “Hold on. I’m not saying you have to date him, just ask him.” She shook her head. “Although I don’t think he’d mind if you used your womanly ways to get information out of him.”
“My womanly ways? I don’t think I have those anymore.”
“You’ve got them alright; they’re just a little rusty, but we can fix that.” She winked. “But back to business. He’s staying at your house. It’ll be easy for you to talk to him. We need to know if the murderer used their bare hands or if they used something...you know, a...”
“Ligature,” Stephanie added.
Dixie nodded. “A ligature. Then I’ll check with Dr. Morgan at dog-training class on Tuesday to see how much strength it would take and any other medical-type questions we have.”
I nodded. “Okay.” I wrote down our tasks in my notepad. “Now, what about Robert Hansen?”
“I think we need to talk to his mother. I’ve been meaning to call her to talk about the lease and find out how she wants to proceed,” Stephanie said. “I just wanted to give her some time. I mean, she just lost her son, and I’m sure she’s upset right now. This has to be devastating.”
Dixie chewed vigorously and then took a long sip of her martini to wash down the food. “I meant to tell you, but I got distracted by the murder: I saw the obituary in the newspaper. The funeral is Monday. I think we should go. Maybe we can talk to her afterward. At the very least, we can go and pay our respects.”
“And maybe we can see if we recognize anyone at the funeral,” Stephanie said.
“Great, although...” I sighed. “I have to work. I just started this new job. I can’t keep taking off or I’ll be unemployed.”
“Well, let’s see. You can miss work to go to the funeral and track down the real killer and potentially lose your job. Or you can go to work and leave finding the killer up to Detective Lock-Her-Up Lewis and spend the rest of your life in prison for a murder you didn’t commit.” Dixie stared.
“Good point. I’ll call Linda Kay first thing tomorrow.” I chewed on my lip.
“What’s wrong?” Stephanie asked. “I know that look.”
“I just wish we knew more about Robert Hansen and Theodore Livingston.”
Dixie nodded. “For that matter, I wish we knew more about the other people in the subdivision.”
“Write down the names of some of the people. I’ll ask Joe to look them up.” Stephanie took a sip of wine. “Just because he’s not here doesn’t mean he can’t still help.” She gave me a look as though she were studying me.
“What?” I asked.
“Have you ever considered highlights?” She hurried on. “Aunt Dixie’s right, you might need to work on your womanly ways.”
“What do highlights have to do with it? I know I’ve been out of the game a long time, but I don’t remember highlights being a factor.”
“It’s an entirely new game now.” She exchanged a look with Dixie that made me nervous.
Dixie picked up her phone. She swiped a few screens and then pushed an app and put the phone to her ear. “I’m on it.”
I was more puzzled than ever. I sat and listened to one side of Dixie’s conversation, which sounded like she had just made an appointment for something.
She disconnected and smiled. “I pulled a few strings, but she can get us in at four.” She looked at her watch. “So, we’ve got an hour.”
“An hour for what?” I asked.
“I made an appointment for you with my hairstylist.” I started to object, but she held up a hand. “Don’t worry. Just because I like big hair doesn’t mean you have to. Kit is a wizard with dye and highlights.”
Stephanie’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Can she do something about her eyebrows?”
“What’s wrong with my eyebrows?”
“Nothing. They just need a bit of shape and definition.”
Dixie nodded. “I told her we wanted the works, so she’ll take care of her brows, plus we’ll get manicures. She wasn’t sure if we could all get pedicures too, but she’s going to see if they can fit us in.”
“Wait. Hold on. We’re trying to solve a murder...two murders. We don’t have time for manicures and pedicures.” I looked from Stephanie to Dixie. “Besides, what’s wrong with my hair and my eyebrows?”
Stephanie patted my hand. “Mom, there’s nothing wrong...exactly, it’s just that your hair is a bit...dated.”
Dixie leaned forward. “A new hairstyle and highlights will help in the investigation.”
I tilted my head and waited for her to elaborate.
“You catch more bees with honey than you do with vinegar,” she said as though that explained everything.
“What the heck are you talking about?” I slid her martini glass farther away from her.
“What I think Aunt Dixie is trying to say”—Stephanie shot Dixie a glance before continuing—“is we need you to use every weapon at your disposal to get people to talk and share information. Several of those people are men. Men tend to talk to women who look nice.”
“That’s pretty sexist, don’t you think?” Something about the look on her face compelled me to ask. “You don’t mean to tell me you use your looks to get what you want?”
Stephanie shrugged. “Unfortunately, it’s the world we live in.” She took a sip of wine. “I know men think I’m attractive, but I’m also smart. There’s still a perception that pretty women aren’t intelligent. So if they get distracted by my looks, maybe they’ll make a mistake or underestimate me.” She sipped again.
“I feel like you two have set feminism back forty years.” I stared from my daughter to my friend.
“Honey, you’ve just got to get over it. It’s not like we’re telling you to seduce anyone. All we’re saying is that when you look nice, people treat you differently. You can use that to your favor.”
“Do it for yourself. You’ve been through a lot over the past year.” Stephanie looked sincere. “Dad leaving you for that bimbo and then being accused of murder are a lot. You should spend some time and energy on yourself.” She smiled.
Stephanie was right. It had been a difficult year. I knew she and Dixie were only concerned about me, and a new hairstyle might make me feel better about myself. I looked at my nails and couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten a manicure. “Okay.”
Dixie’s salon was near the mall, close to the restaurant. After we ate, we headed over.
The salon had a Zen-like décor. There was a fountain in the lobby and soft lighting. Dixie was obviously well-known there.
“Hello, Mrs. Jefferson. Perfect timing.” The receptionist, a thin woman with short pink hair, greeted us.
“Hi, Angel. This is my friend Lilly and her daughter, Stephanie.”
“Nice to meet you.” She smiled. “Kit will be right up. Can I get you a glass of wine?”
“Thank you.” Dixie took a seat, and I followed.
“Things really have changed a lot. I don’t remember being offered wine at the beauty salon.” I sat next to Dixie.
“Gotta love the South, honey. This is how we roll.” She laughed.
Angel returned with a tray and three glasses, which she placed on a small table in front of us. Then she left. When she came back, she had two bottles of wine. She held them up. “White or red?”
“Yes,” Dixie said.
Angel smiled, put both bottles on the tray, then turned and left.
Dixie poured a generous amount of wine into her glass. Stephanie and I followed her lead. Once the wine was poured, we clinked our glasses in a toast.
“To the South.” Stephanie took a sip of win
e.
I took a sip of wine. “Amen.”
Chapter 15
My time at the salon was relaxing, and in spite of my misgivings, I enjoyed myself. It had been a while since I’d pampered myself, and it felt good to sit back and allow someone to cater to me. Kit turned out to be in her late forties. She had white hair, which she wore cut short. Dixie told her to make me look amazing, and she went to work.
They’d had a cancellation, which allowed all three of us to get manicures and pedicures. Between the brow wax, manicures, pedicures, haircut, color, and style, we were at the salon for three hours. However, when I looked in the mirror at the finished results, I barely recognized myself.
“Wow. I can’t believe that’s me.”
“Mom, you look amazing.”
“I feel amazing.” I stared from various angles. “I can’t believe what a difference getting my eyebrows arched has made.”
“It really opens up your eyes and helps define your face,” Kit added.
“You look beautiful.” Dixie smiled.
I hugged her and Stephanie. “Thank you for prodding me into doing this. I feel like I’m making a completely new start in life. I’ve moved to a new city. I feel like I’m not starting over. I’m starting new. Everything is fresh and different.”
Dixie wiped her eyes. “Don’t you dare make me cry.”
I looked down. “Now I feel like I need a whole new wardrobe.”
“Well, we can do that later,” Stephanie said. “I think we need to get back and check on the dogs.”
When we walked in the door, the first thing that met us was the smell. I sniffed and followed my nose inside. “What is that glorious aroma?”
Red was in the kitchen stirring a pot. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m making spaghetti. Cooking helps me think.” He dipped a spoon into the rich tomato sauce and held it up. “Want to taste?”
I leaned in and blew on the bubbling liquid and then tasted it. “Hmmm...that’s delicious.”
He smiled and reached behind and opened the dishwasher door and put the spoon in the tray.
“I’m going to need to work out or I won’t be able to fit into any of my clothes when I get back to Chicago,” Stephanie said.
“Is that a cake?” I looked on the counter.
He shrugged. “I made a carrot cake too.”
“Wow. A man who cooks, bakes, and carries a Glock. If I wasn’t already married, I’d probably throw myself at your feet.” Dixie pulled a piece of bread from a loaf on the counter, stuck it into the sauce, and then popped it in her mouth. She closed her eyes and moaned.
Red stared at Dixie with admiration. “A woman who knows her weapons...impressive.” He reached to the small of his back and retrieved his gun. “Sorry, I forgot to put this away. Joe mentioned you were a bit jumpy about guns.”
I shook my head. “It’s true. I don’t like guns, but I know you’re in law enforcement, just like Joe. So it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded, and he put the gun back and pulled his turtleneck sweater out of his pants and used it to cover the gun. “Better?”
I nodded, although whenever he turned back to the stove, my gaze kept darting to the small of his back.
“You look nice.”
Heat rose up my neck. “Thanks. My daughter and my friend thought I could use a makeover.”
“Well, you look very nice...if you don’t mind me saying.”
I pretended not to notice the looks that were passing between Dixie and Stephanie. “Thank you...um...I better go and let the dogs out.”
I hurried to the bedroom. Both dogs were asleep when I retrieved them from the bedroom. In fact, I had to shake Aggie to wake her up. “Some watch poodle you are.” I scratched Aggie’s ear as I lifted her off the bed, opened the door, and let both her and the golden retriever out onto the deck to take care of business.
I took a look at myself in the bathroom mirror and couldn’t help smiling. I had been joking at the salon when I mentioned new clothes. However, in the same way old furniture could look dated in a new house, my clothes looked outdated and tired with my new look. I took a quick glance in the walk-in closet under the auspices of finding my black dress for the funeral. Apart from the jeans and a few sweaters, practically everything I owned looked as though it belonged in a different decade.
I was just about to give up when I heard a ruckus. There was barking that was too deep to belong to Aggie and a clatter that indicated the golden had crashed through the dog pen. Next, I heard a door and running on the deck.
I hurried to the living room. Dixie and Stephanie were standing in frozen silence staring at the open door.
“What happened?”
Stephanie dialed her phone.
“We heard a noise, and the dogs went crazy.” Dixie pointed. “Red took off like lightning out the door.”
I walked toward the door.
“He said to call nine-one-one and wait here.”
I looked from Dixie to the back door. “But what about Aggie?”
She looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Are you kidding? Aggie will be fine. She’s the one with the TBI agent with a Glock.” She looked around wildly. “I left my gun in the glove box.” She looked as though she was going to go for it, but then thought better of it and sat down.
We waited for what felt like hours but was only a matter of minutes. Eventually, we heard sirens.
There was a pounding on the front door. I peeked through the peephole and opened it.
A uniformed policeman rushed inside, weapon drawn. Dixie and I pointed out back, and he headed for the door.
Stephanie yelled, “There’s a TBI officer out there in plain clothes with a weapon.”
He nodded and hurried through the door.
Eventually, three other uniformed officers arrived. Finally, Officer Lewis waltzed in. Annoyed didn’t begin to describe the look on his face. “You again?”
Fear for Aggie, who was outside with a potential murderer, regardless of how many armed policemen were there, ignited a fuse.
Anger bubbled up, and I walked up to him. “Look, I’ve had about as much of you as I can take. My six-pound poodle is outside with someone who has probably murdered two people. Not to mention my daughter’s dog and a friend, the TBI agent. I am a woman on the edge, and I’ve had about as much cynicism as I can take.” I could feel the blood rush in my ears, and my heart pounded. “Now, last I knew, my tax dollars were still paying your salary, so unless you’re planning to arrest me, you might want to back off.”
Officer Lewis looked shocked more than angry, but I honestly could have cared less.
Stephanie walked over and put her arms around me. “It’s okay, Mom.”
The anger subsided as quickly as it rose, and I burst into tears.
Officer Lewis might have been a hard-nosed, cynical detective, but he must have realized he’d pushed me a bit too far and hightailed it outside.
After a few moments, Red and two of the uniformed officers came up the stairs and stood on the deck talking. The golden trotted along beside him and sat by his side. I craned my neck, looking for Aggie. After a few seconds, he turned, and our gazes met. That was when he turned his body slightly to the left so I could see Aggie perched on his shoulder like a parrot. She dug her claws into his shirt, and he held her with his right hand while his left still held his gun.
I breathed a sigh of relief and cried again.
Dixie stood close by and patted me on the back. “You should marry that man.”
I pulled myself together and splashed water from the kitchen sink on my face. “I need a drink.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Dixie said. “Make mine a double.”
Stephanie took glasses from the cabinet and placed them on the counter next to my makeshift bar a
rea.
“A double what?” I asked.
“Anything.”
I smiled. At this rate, we were going to be stone-cold drunk by the end of the evening. We’d each had a cocktail at the restaurant and shared two bottles of wine at the salon. However, the shock of recent events had certainly removed any buzz that lingered. I checked my watch. It had been several hours since we’d left the salon; nevertheless, we needed to come up with another way to steady our nerves or we’d all be in Alcoholics Anonymous before the weekend was over.
The house didn’t have a formal dining room, but there was an eat-in area in the kitchen near the back window, where I had a glass-top table and four chairs. I placed a bottle of wine on the table. Dixie and Stephanie sat down, and I grabbed the bread and set the table with four plates.
We sipped wine and waited. The two uniformed officers walked around the house and left. From our positions at the table, we could watch the exchange going on between Red and Officer Lewis, although we couldn’t hear what was said. Even though it was dark, the motion lights on the back deck illuminated the area, so we were able to see clearly.
“Looks like a pretty heated exchange.” Dixie sipped her wine.
Stephanie sipped hers. “Based on the color in Officer Lewis’s cheeks, I’d say he isn’t happy.”
I merely watched in silence. Eventually, they came inside.
“You look comfortable.” Red pulled Aggie off his shoulder and handed her to me.
The golden walked to Stephanie and sat, wagging his tail.
She bent down and hugged him.
I hugged Aggie to my chest and gave her a little squeeze. When I looked down, she had her head resting on my chest, and she looked at me with adoring brown eyes.
“Do you two need a moment?” Red smiled.
Before I could answer, Officer Lewis came in. He nodded to me, glared at Red, and then marched out the front door.
“What’s gotten into him?” Dixie asked.
Red shrugged and struggled to hide a smile. “He just got outplayed, and he’s still smarting a bit.”
Before I could ask for more details, my stomach let out a loud growl. Everyone laughed.