14 Hair Brained

by Nancy J. Cohen

  Darryl gave her an inquiring glance. “Did you get what you needed?”

  “Oh, yes. I’ll be discussing these policies with my husband. We’ll be in touch.”

  Outside, Marla paused on the walkway to retrieve her sunglasses and car keys. Jeri stood off to the side, talking in an urgent tone.

  “I don’t care what it takes or how much it’ll cost. I want Cassie to see a specialist. There has to be something else they can do. I won’t allow my child to suffer this way.”

  Marla, tempted to linger, sensed Darryl’s gaze glaring at her through the window. She stepped onto the asphalt, but not before startling Jeri. The older woman gave her a frightened glance and then walked farther along the sidewalk to complete her conversation.

  Marla moved on to her next errand, while considering what she’d learned. It appeared that each one of Ken’s employees had a reason to need extra income. How far would they go to get it?

  Chapter Seven

  Tally’s boutique was located in a modest shopping strip anchored by a popular home goods store. As Marla approached Dressed to Kill from the parking lot, she wondered what to say to the staff. They might be angry she hadn’t called sooner, but she’d wanted to wait until Sergeant Mallory had notified them about Tally’s accident.

  Marla stepped inside the air-cooled interior, recognizing Stacy Maria Scranton standing by the cash register. Tally had recently appointed the fortyish woman as manager. At Marla’s entrance, Stacy put down the papers in her hand and walked over to give Marla a quick embrace.

  “Hey, Marla. I was wondering when you were going to stop by.”

  “Sorry it’s taken me so long, but I’ve had to deal with caring for Luke.”

  “How is the baby?” Stacy stepped back to regard her with sad hazel eyes. The older woman wore her autumn red hair in a short layered cut that complemented her facial structure.

  “I’ve enrolled Luke in day care so I can go to work.” Marla hoped he was doing okay. She resisted the urge to call and check up on him.

  “Tally had mentioned enrolling him when she returned to the shop. Have you spoken to the doctors about her condition?”

  “Yes, I have.” Marla filled Stacy in on Tally’s medical progress.

  The two of them appeared to be alone. Racks of clothing filled the store along with shoes and accessories. Marla bought new outfits here each season to support her friend. Otherwise, she shopped in less expensive places. How many employees worked there in total? And why hadn’t she asked Tally for those details before?

  Maybe it was because she did most of the talking when they were together. Tally was an excellent sounding board for her crime-solving escapades. Marla had never considered that meant Tally listened more than she spoke. If Marla had been a proper friend, then perhaps Tally would have confided in her.

  “Who notified you about the accident?” she asked Stacy. “Was it Sergeant Mallory?”

  “That’s right. He came by in person. We were shocked to hear Tally and Ken had been hurt in a car wreck. With a new baby at home, Tally often didn’t check in for days at a time.”

  “Ken was more than hurt. He didn’t survive,” Marla pointed out.

  “It’s so horrible. I can’t believe he was killed.” Stacy covered her face with her hands.

  “What else did Mallory say?”

  It took the shopkeeper a moment to respond. She lifted her head, her eyes moist. “He asked us questions about Tally’s recent activities. I can’t imagine why, since Ken drove the car that night.”

  “As lead investigator, Detective Mallory has to cover all the angles. Dalton and I have been overwhelmed since this went down, but that’s no excuse for my neglect.”

  “Tally is a close friend of yours. I can understand your shock at the terrible news,” Stacy said in a soft tone meant to convey sympathy.

  “That’s putting it mildly. Dalton and I have taken on roles we’d never expected to play. Dalton is Ken’s executor, and I’m Luke’s guardian. Phil—he’s Ken’s brother—flew into town for the burial, but he left soon afterward. He wants nothing to do with his nephew’s care.”

  “That’s a shame.” Stacy went behind the cash register counter and sank into a folding chair. She gazed at Marla with a despondent air. “So what happens to us? Will Tally be capable of taking charge again? We’ve all been managing as best we can under the circumstances.”

  “The doctors say she has a good chance of recovery. I’m focused on taking care of Luke and maintaining her household affairs for now. Is there anything coming up business-wise that I should be told? I’m also her trustee and have power of attorney.”

  “Yes, there’s the landlord’s request.” Stacy’s crow’s-feet deepened as she frowned.

  “What do you mean?” Marla moved closer to where Stacy sat and leaned against the counter. A pleasant citrus scent drifted into her nose. Tally always said sales improved when a store smelled enticing.

  “Mr. Weaver wants to sell this shopping strip, but Tally is the only lease holder who won’t relocate, even with his incentives. His buyer has given him an ultimatum for getting all the tenants to agree.”

  “So Tally was obstructing the owner’s plans? Could you provide his name and contact info for me? I should probably get in touch with him.”

  Stacy provided the data. “I agree with Tally. Our customers know this locale. Plus, the home goods store is free-standing, and they don’t have to move. We get a lot of walk-in traffic from them that we’d lose if we changed locations.”

  “I’ll talk to the guy and see what other options might be available.” Why had Tally not mentioned this problem? Because Marla had been too busy talking about herself?

  Stacy rose and rounded the counter to face her. “The newspaper report said another car might have been involved in the accident. I’m wondering if someone pushed them off the road on purpose. It just seems so unreasonable for Ken to be driving recklessly with a new baby at home. Consider the landlord issue. And then there’s Iris Caswell. She was quite unhappy when Tally let her go last month.”

  Marla stared at her. Could these theories hold any truth? “Do you know why Tally fired this girl?”

  “Iris had been relating a sob story to customers who felt sorry for her and gave her money. That woman is an out-and-out liar. She’d put Pinocchio to shame.”

  “Does she have any violent tendencies?”

  “We don’t do criminal background checks on our employees, so I wouldn’t know. But Iris is the type to bear a grudge in silence and let it simmer.”

  “Can you look up her phone number for me? I might want to talk to her as well as the landlord.” What if their assumptions had been wrong? Dalton believed Ken’s partner-in-crime might have turned against him and forced his car off the road. But what if Ken hadn’t been the intended victim? That idea brought all sorts of new possibilities to mind.

  “Tell me, did Tally ever mention a ladies’ tea circle to you? I brought her calendar home so I could cancel her upcoming appointments, and I noticed she’d been meeting with this group twice a month.”

  Stacy regarded Marla with a puzzled expression. “She didn’t mention it to me. Maybe it was a recent thing, after she had the baby. You know, it would give her an excuse to get out of the house and chat with other adults. New mothers often feel stressed when they’re confined at home.”

  That could be true. Marla should ask Mrs. Phelps. Tally would have had to hire a babysitter, since these meet-ups took place during the day, unless she’d brought Luke along. And when was the next one scheduled? Marla should go in order to meet the women. It meant adding another chore to her busy to-do list.

  She heaved a weary sigh and then asked one final question. “Did Tally seem agitated or mention anything unusual the last time you spoke?”

  “Sorry, no. She babbled on about the baby. Luke was the most precious thing to her.”

  “Were you aware she’d taken a trip to Sunny Grove recently? I noticed the entry in her appointment boo
k. I’m wondering what that was all about.”

  “It’s news to me. I thought you were close friends with her, Marla. How come you don’t know these things?”

  “It seems we weren’t as close as I’d believed.” She couldn’t keep the regretful note from her voice. “So will you continue to manage the store until Tally is on her feet again? I can help with finances if necessary. I do my own bookkeeping for the salon.”

  “I’ll be fine, but thanks for offering.” Stacy’s gaze turned nostalgic. “I used to manage an office up north back in the day. Working in a dress shop is more fun and far less aggravating. Or at least, it used to be before Tally’s absence.”

  “How many people work here altogether?”

  “There are four of us, plus Tally. We need more staffing in the afternoons and evenings, so the other girls don’t come in until then. I prefer mornings as I’m an early riser, and it’s quieter. I can work on my knitting and watch the game shows.” She pointed to a TV mounted on a wall that was turned on but silent with closed captions.

  “Please let me know if you have anything to add, and I’ll do the same.” Marla handed over a business card while vowing to interview the rest of the staff another time.

  “We’re worried sick about Tally and would appreciate updates on her condition if possible. I’m glad Luke is in your care. Give him a kiss for me.”

  “I will. And don’t worry too much. Both Luke and Tally are being well cared for, and that’s the best we can do for them at this time.”

  As she drove away, Marla wanted to think over their conversation, but she had too many other errands to do. One item on her list was a stop at the baby store. Supplies might be cheaper at a big chain than where Dalton had been buying them.

  She’d visited the huge emporium a couple of times before to buy gifts for friends. It had been a while, and Marla hesitated inside the place wondering where to go. Row after row of toys, videos, and games dazzled her senses along with bright overhead lights and loud music playing the Star Wars movie theme.

  Weren’t the shelves arranged according to age groups? The colorful items to her left as she moved ahead appeared to be toddler age, too old yet for Luke. On her right, rows of dolls met her gaze. She paused, scanning the Barbie and baby dolls and Disney princesses.

  Memories of her own childhood flooded her. She’d loved to do her dolls’ hair, while her friends had changed their outfits. The clothes were fun, but not as much as creating different hairdos. Even then, she’d shown an interest in styling hair. She’d preferred the bigger dolls to work on, though, not the skinny ones with unrealistic figures. She patrolled down the aisle until she came to a larger set called American Dolls. Now those were more her style.

  She spied a collection of miniature kitchen sets and sped ahead to examine them. What fun. She imagined herself playing with those fake foods and cookware. Toddlers today had so many choices. Another aisle held a display of brightly colored toys with buttons and dials. Some of them taught the alphabet or offered number games.

  These items were way more advanced than anything she’d had as a child. Did anyone even play board games anymore? Computers were part of a kid’s life today from the get-go.

  How did a new mother decide what to buy? Did she consult other new moms, or choose toys based on her own childhood experiences? Certainly Marla would have to get the latest Mr. Potato Head. Who didn’t grow up with that one? She smiled as she envisioned an older Luke playing with the various parts. He’d be a joy to watch as he gurgled with delight and showed off the result of his efforts.

  A deep yearning filled her chest. Someday soon, she’d have to give Luke back to his mother. Would visits to him, or seeing her niece and nephew only on holidays, be enough? Would a life filled with work truly satisfy her?

  She’d always wanted to travel, but wouldn’t sharing those experiences with a family be more meaningful?

  Marla wasn’t ready to answer those questions. Along with the joy came the risk of pain. She didn’t know if she had the strength to overcome that crippling fear.

  Her gaze slid to the boy toys across the aisle. What did Dalton do as a child? Did he like Ninja Turtles or Superman or sports heroes? An image of him sitting cross-legged on the carpet at home and playing with a son came to mind. She clenched her jaw, unwilling to explore those feelings. This wasn’t the right time. But then, when would it be?

  Anyway, she’d come here with a mission. Where were the diapers, formula, and other baby items?

  She had almost decided to leave when she spied car seats and strollers toward the rear. Finally! She searched each aisle until she found the diaper section.

  Shelves full of different brands offered a variety of choices. Now what? Should she stick to the type Tally preferred, or try something more economical? Her eyebrows lifted as she assessed the average price. Forty dollars for a pack of diapers? Ouch. She identified other goods they could use and winced at the cost. Children were an expensive proposition.

  You raised them, loved them, gave them everything they needed, and then they left in the end. If you were lucky, they stayed in contact and maybe came home for the holidays.

  But wasn’t that the point? You wanted them to become self-reliant adults. This cycle had been repeating itself since the early days of humanity. But what heartache accompanied the innate drive to see life continue?

  These days, traffic accidents took more lives of young people than the rampant infections of years past. Dalton worried every time Brianna got behind the wheel to practice driving. Wait until she got her driver’s license in March. With Tally’s accident hitting home, he’d be doubly anxious. Yet there were always things to worry parents. You had to push it aside, enjoy the moment, and carry on with optimism.

  A waft of cool air hit her from an air-conditioning vent, and Marla realized she’d been standing frozen in front of the diaper section. She grabbed a package and moved on to acquire the rest of the supplies on her list. Her heart softened as she regarded a display of pacifiers. Maybe she should get one for Luke. He’d be teething soon and might like something to suck on.

  She left the store with a long receipt of credit card charges. Baby Luke was worth them. Eager to see him again and cuddle his little body, she headed to the day care center.

  He’d done well on his first day, according to the staff. His face brightened when he spotted her, and a happy gurgle escaped his mouth. Marla scooped him into her arms.

  During the drive home, she thought about Ken’s car. Had Dalton gained access to his wreck yet? There might be clues inside as to Ken’s purpose in leaving home. She’d ask Dalton about it at dinner.

  He broached the subject first, waiting until they were seated at the kitchen table. “Sergeant Mallory released Ken’s car today. I went over to the yard to meet his insurance adjustor. The vehicle will be written off as totaled. The check can go into his estate.”

  “What about their personal possessions?” Marla passed him the plate of pecan-encrusted tilapia she’d prepared. Brianna sat in the other chair, digging into her garlic mashed potatoes.

  “I grabbed what I could find. It was a mess.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple visible. “Ken’s door was mangled. I could see why the rescue team had trouble removing his body. Tally was fortunate her side remained dry and fairly intact.”

  “She still whacked her head when they rolled over,” Marla reminded him.

  Her attention shifted to Luke, sitting in his infant seat. Although still a bit wobbly, his neck was getting stronger every day. He made baby noises, his big blue eyes staring at her. His hand gripped a toy she’d bought, a series of colored rings that he could bite on when he started teething. She had to give him a bath yet before putting him to sleep for the night.

  “Dad, have you heard any more about the other car involved in the accident?” Brianna asked. She tickled Luke, who chortled in response.

  “There’s only the witness report and the tire tracks. Mallory is working the murder of that woman i
n the warehouse. If someone called Ken out there that evening, it had to be an accomplice. This is the person we need to find.”

  “What have you learned about Ken’s work force?” Marla queried, eager to tell him about her sojourn to Ken’s office.

  “Not as much as I’d like. None of them have any background of criminal activity. And the state finance department is being markedly silent about their investigation.”

  “You’re assuming their agent was in town for that purpose.” She summarized her interviews with Ken’s staff. As her mind flashed back to her visit, she straightened her spine. “I saw a matchbook on Ryan’s desk. It didn’t register earlier, but it’s for a bar on the beach. I still feel he has something to tell me. Maybe we should check the place out.”

  Dalton spread his hands. “Sure, why not? If there’s a rotten egg in that bunch, better to find the person now. It would save Tally from more trouble down the road.”

  “We could go on Friday, when Ryan is likely to be there,” Marla suggested.

  “I have plans for that evening,” Brianna piped in. “Sorry, but I won’t be able to babysit.”

  “That’s okay, honey. I’d prefer not to bother my mother, either,” she told Dalton. “Ma is leaving on her cruise in two weeks. It isn’t fair to monopolize her time.”

  “Her boyfriend has grown children,” Dalton said. “He’d understand.”

  “Speaking of Reed, you never did tell me what you found out about him.” They’d just met their mother’s new boyfriend last week, and Marla had asked Dalton to check up on him.

  “He’s widowed and has two sons. I think he really likes your mom. But you’re right. We shouldn’t lean on her too much. Why don’t you call Mrs. Phelps? She’s familiar with Luke.”

  “Good idea. In the meantime, I’d like to attend Tally’s tea circle on Thursday. The women meet in the afternoon, according to her calendar. I’ll ask Robyn to clear my work schedule. There’s a time and place listed, but that’s all. I have no idea who belongs.”

  “Huh, nobody who has a day job, if they meet during a weekday. Where is it?” Dalton asked, helping himself to a second portion of fish.