“Madame does not trust Monsieur Boyd. She said something about his stars being out of alignment, whatever that means. I cannot say what her plans are for us.”
“I’ll talk to her and see what I can learn,” Marla promised. I’ll also find out why she insisted I must find Carolyn’s killer. Is it to throw suspicion off herself? Could this have been a plot with her former employer to gain control over the salon?
Armed with the list Bunny had given her, Marla hustled back to her own place. Before her three o’clock appointment arrived, she dialed Vail’s cell phone. “I’d like to see if Claudia’s days off correspond with our landlord’s out-of-town trips. I got her schedule. Would you be able to look into it? I doubt Mr. Thomson would give me that information, nor do I want to show up at his house and ask his wife. You could do it as part of your investigation if I fax it to you.”
“All right,” his gruff voice answered, “but I can’t promise I’ll get to it today.”
Frowning, Marla studied a clump of dust on the storeroom floor. She should talk to the cleaning staff about doing a better job in there.
Cleaning staff! Why hadn’t she thought of that before?
“I’ll send you a copy,” she told Vail before cutting him off. Her fingers shaking with excitement, she punched the number for a janitorial service that was used by most of the stores in the shopping strip and had taken over cleaning duties for Carolyn’s salon.
“Hello,” Julio answered with a heavy Hispanic accent.
“Hi, it’s Marla Shore from Cut ‘N Dye salon.” She hesitated, wondering how to phrase her query. “I was thinking about that poor woman who died from the other beauty shop and what I could do to help her staff. When you cleaned Hairstyle Heaven, maybe you found things that weren’t easy to identify. You know, since I’m from a salon and all, I could tell what’s still useful.”
She heard Julio’s thoughtful sigh. “Anything important would have gone to the cops or the woman’s sister, senorita.”
“What about unimportant stuff? I suppose you threw out the trash. And besides, the police probably examined it.”
“Just one moment. I will contact Perez. He does their place.”
Marla tapped her fingers on the counter while she waited. Finally, Julio’s voice came back on line.
“There is one bag left. I should call the authorities.”
“They probably looked through everything before letting you into the place,” Marla said quickly. “Can I pick it up?” Maybe Vail had overlooked something that hadn’t held significance at the time. Her heart thudded. Things were finally starting to gel. Once this case was behind them, she and Vail could focus on their relationship.
Marla finished her last customer in record time, but it was too late. Julio’s office had closed. No matter; she’d stop by his workplace in the morning. Fulfilling her family obligations by visiting Aunt Polly, Marla convinced the elderly woman to set aside a date when they could go to the bank together to add Marla’s name on her checking account. Then Marla helped Polly fill out the application form for hurricane evacuation. Satisfied that her aunt had enough food in the refrigerator and no more unpaid bills lying around, Marla left.
Storm reports gripped her attention on the news that evening. Another system was churning toward the northeast and was expected to gather strength over open water. Drat, Marla didn’t want any delays now that they were getting close. Vail hadn’t spoken much about the investigation into Rosemary’s death. Maybe he didn’t want to reveal his findings until he connected the evidence to Carolyn’s case. What about the fingerprints he’d hoped to gain from Sam’s glass at their barbecue? Nothing must have come of it, or he’d have told her. Nevertheless, Marla called her mother anyway to inquire about their date.
“We’re going to brunch on Sunday, and then Sam wants to show me his house on the lake,” Anita said in her soothing tone. “He invited you along, but I declined. You have enough to do on your days off, although it was thoughtful of him.”
“Yes, it was. Did he say where he lives?”
“Not exactly, just that it’s east, and he’s worried about the weather. He joked that I may have to help him put up storm shutters.”
“You’ll have to cancel if it gets that bad.” A cascade of thunder sounded, followed by the splatter of rainfall on the roof. “This isn’t a good time to be near the coast.”
“Stop worrying, bubula. That’s my job.”
Not anymore. “By the way, did you ever ask your friends about Dr. Hennings?” Marla had contemplated the various reasons why Carolyn might have had a hold on him. Could she have caught the chiropractor at income tax evasion? Prescription fraud? Faulty billing practices? Or something more personal, like he didn’t want patients to learn he was gay?
“Well, yes, now that you mention it,” Anita replied. “Two people I know had gone to Dr. Hennings for back problems. Their Medicare statements listed treatments they’d never had.”
“That’s great, Ma. I’ll talk to you later.” Now she had a bit of leverage she could use as a bluff.
Thursday morning, she stopped by the janitorial service to pick up the bag from Julio and drove on to the doctor’s office, where she had an early appointment.
As she entered the waiting room, Marla considered what to say. After her gaze swept the empty seats, she zoomed in on the receptionist. Voices drifted from an examination room: Dr. Hennings and a patient. She might have only a few minutes to question the girl behind the front desk.
“Hi, I’m Marla Shore. I have a nine o’clock appointment. Gee, the doctor must come in early if he’s already seeing someone. You know, I couldn’t remember when I was here last. I believe I was here on…” She mentioned the date Carolyn died.
The clerk made pleasant small talk while shuffling through their appointment calendar. “Here we go.” Her finger ran down the entries. “I don’t see your name. Are you sure this is the right day?”
Marla peered at the upside-down writing. “It appears Dr. Hennings was fully booked that Tuesday. I guess he doesn’t get many breaks, huh?” she said, smiling encouragingly. “Does he even leave for lunch?”
The girl’s mouth set in a thin line. “Dr. Hennings won’t leave the clinic when our schedule is full. If I recall, that day was so busy with walk-ins that he didn’t have time for meals.” Her eyes glittered. “Is there a particular reason why you want to know?”
“I’m just such a ditz-brain; I don’t remember my own schedule half the time. It doesn’t matter.” Waving her hand airily, Marla paced the room until her name was called, about ten minutes later.
She trotted after Dr. Hennings into an examination room, where he nudged the door shut and turned to face her. “So. What brings you back, Marla?”
“My neck is bothering me again.”
“I see,” he said, although his tone expressed disbelief.
While he palpated her vertebrae, Marla spoke in a casual voice. “It’s so sad about Carolyn. Do you know she confided in her friend Rosemary, who told me about their conversation? And now poor Rosemary is dead.”
His hands held her head, then he twisted with a crack. Marla cried out at the jolt.
“I thought Carolyn wasn’t that close with her bingo pal.”
“Oh? How do you know they played bingo together?”
“Carolyn told me things, too. Like how much you aggravated her.” Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he jerked her spine with another loud pop.
Reeling, Marla tried to concentrate. “Rosemary indicated you felt the same about Carolyn,” she said, turning to face him. “Was it because she found out about your scheme?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ever heard of Medicare fraud? It’s rampant in South Florida with all the senior citizens. Probably many of them don’t even read their statements to see if Medicare paid for treatments they never got. Doctors pad bills for tests and procedures all the time and hope that patients will file claim forms without checkin
g them.”
“No doubt that’s true, but so what?”
“I’ve met several of your former patients who’ve said your charges were unjustified. Carolyn had proof, didn’t she?”
“You’re guessing.” He scowled but didn’t move toward her.
“Carolyn took advantage of people. I’m figuring she wanted to get paid to keep quiet, but you should know she kept records of every payment.”
“Even if you’re right, her bank receipts won’t point to me; I pay certain debts in cash.”
Maybe you got tired of paying. Carolyn died from a broken neck. With your expertise, that method would be a snap for you. Marla glanced toward the treatment-room door that had drifted partially open. She heard voices coming from the reception area. Stepping nearer the exit, she said, “The authorities are looking into the background of everyone who knew Carolyn.”
His jaw twitched. “What’s your point?”
“She was murdered. Don’t you want to see her killer brought to justice?”
“I didn’t do it. That’s all the cops care about.”
“Oh, so you’re not worried about what they might find?”
“You mean how Carolyn discovered my creative billing techniques?” He shrugged as though it were inconsequential. “I could afford to pay her off. She even started referring patients to me.”
“That sounds like something Carolyn would do. How did she catch on?” Marla’s voice held praise, as though she admired her rival’s chutzpah.
He glanced away. “I billed her insurer for certain extra procedures. Carolyn came to me instead of notifying her insurance company.”
“I see.” Marla remembered a case on the news involving an orthopedic surgeon who bilked insurers for services he didn’t perform. He gave massages that he reported as prescribed neuromuscular therapy. Some of the massages had an additional therapeutic benefit, mainly the doctor’s, who took advantage of his female patients.
Dr. Hennings gripped her arm. “While I was relieved by Carolyn’s death because she couldn’t threaten my practice any further, her loss saddened me. I wouldn’t have harmed her.”
The sincerity in his eyes convinced Marla. “Detective Vail isn’t interested in chasing down insurance fraud,” she said, shaking him off, “but he will want to hear about Carolyn’s activities. Can you think of anyone else she might have roped the same way?”
At his negative answer, she took her leave, feeling she had achieved closure in terms of the chiropractor’s relationship with Carolyn. If the police wanted to follow up on his illegal activities, that was their prerogative.
Reaching her car, Marla took a peek inside the trash bag in her trunk and gave a snort of dismay. Nothing but old Modern Salon magazines. No wonder the cops passed up on them. Climbing into the Toyota, she glanced at the clock. Another half hour remained before her first customer. Claudia was supposed to be back at work, and Mr. Thomson should be in his office. Figuring Vail hadn’t had a chance yet to look into the latter’s activities, she decided to swing by his office.
“Hello, Marla,” the landlord said, greeting her from behind his desk. His drawn eyebrows indicated he wasn’t happy to see her. “It’s too early for you to be bringing the October rent.”
“I’m not here about my salon.” Sinking into a seat, she spoke rapidly before he could chase her out. “I was wondering if you knew what’s going to happen with Carolyn’s place. I spoke to Wilda, and she was considering moving its location closer to Miami. One of the girls told me that Atlas Boyd made her an offer, but she turned him down.”
Thomson’s eyes narrowed. “If you’re so interested, why don’t you ask Miz Cleaver yourself?”
“I just thought you might have heard something. Did you know Wilda had a previous business association with Peter McGraw? He’s the attorney who handled Carolyn’s estate, and I also gathered he helped bring in the French girls who staff her shop.”
“Funny you should mention that.” Folding his hands on the desk, Thomson leaned forward. “I just got a call from some officials who said those people extended their limits in this country. Something about their visas being fraudulently obtained. I said I didn’t know anything about it.” Sweat beaded his brow. “Is this your way of causing me trouble?”
“Excuse me?” Marla sat up straight. “You’re the one who let Carolyn into the shopping strip, knowing the competition would hurt me. I don’t know why you dislike me so much. You almost ran me out of here by accepting Stan’s offer when he tried to outbid my lease. He’d aligned himself with Carolyn then, but when my former husband failed to derail me, you let Carolyn in anyway. How much did she bribe you?”
Thomson wouldn’t meet her penetrating gaze. “She didn’t have the money.”
“No? Then who did? Or were you seduced into agreement?”
He clenched his fists. “I knew this would get me in hot water. If only Alice would stop comparing me to her brother.”
“What?”
“My wife. All she does is tell me how great Eric looks because he dyes his hair and works out at a health club. Like she’s not happy with me the way I am.” He glared at her. “Why else do you think I started seeing Carolyn?”
“You tell me.” She’d never glimpsed this view of her landlord before. He rarely talked about his family.
Pointing to his white dress shirt, he said, “I have a dandruff problem. It’s embarrassing, and Carolyn was helping me with treatments. When Mr. Boyd offered me a generous down payment for her to occupy our vacant space, I couldn’t refuse. She was lucky to have found someone to back her. Carolyn wasn’t the ogre you make her out to be.”
“We had our personal differences, but that doesn’t get around the fact that you knew having two salons in the same location would be harmful to me. I run a good business, and I’ve always been on time with rental payments. Doesn’t customer loyalty mean anything to you?”
He shrugged. “Having a high occupancy rate means more to the developers.”
“All right, then,” Marla said spitefully. “What about Claudia?”
He gave her a startled look. “What about her?”
“If she’s one of those illegal visa holders, you’ll have to end your affair, won’t you?” When his mouth gaped, she added, “I asked Detective Vail to check the dates of your out-of-town business trips against Claudia’s days off. I thought there might be a correlation.”
His skin paled. “Alice can’t find out. You’ll tell the detective not to talk to her, won’t you?”
Marla smirked. “It might be too late, but I’ll try, especially if you make an effort to move Carolyn’s salon away from here.” Truthfully, she’d already gotten used to the place, and it no longer impacted her business. With Carolyn’s nasty pranks ended, Marla had become busier than ever.
Rising, she smoothed her skirt. “One more thing. Do you think Claudia had anything to do with Carolyn’s death? A little birdie told me Carolyn planned to fire her.”
Thomson stood, his full height not much above Marla’s five feet six inches. “Claudia’s guilty of many things, but not killing her boss.”
“Is that because you did it?”
“Huh?”
“Wilda told me you had combat experience in the Marines. You’d know how to get rid of someone silently.”
“Don’t be absurd.”
“Did you murder her because she discovered your affair with Claudia? Or were you afraid of being implicated regarding the immigrants she employed without proper documentation?”
“Maybe you should pose the same questions to Atlas Boyd.”
“That man certainly throws his weight around the salon. His influence over Carolyn must have been considerable.”
“Perhaps she intended to pull out from whatever agreement they had, and he didn’t like that idea,” Thomson suggested.
“You may have a point.” The European seemed the type who expected obedience from his underlings. How would he have felt if he financed Carolyn, then she turned her bac
k on him?
Rounding his desk, Thomson stopped in front of her. “Look, I’m sorry we haven’t always gotten along. You’re right in that you’ve been a good tenant. You’ll keep quiet to Alice, and I’ll see what I can do for you in return, okay?”
“I don’t blackmail people, Mr. Thomson. I’ll share what I know with Detective Vail, but I can’t see any reason to involve your wife.”
Returning to her establishment, Marla got caught up in her duties until closing. As she was leaving, she spied Sam hurrying toward her along the pavement.
“Hey, Marla,” the wiry fellow said, ruffling his silvery hair with one hand. “I’ve been meaning to stop by and say hello. Your mom tells me you won’t be able to join us this weekend.”
“No, I’m sorry, I have too much to do.”
“How about Brianna? Would she like some relief from her homework?”
Marla gave him an odd look. What made him think the teenager would prefer the company of an older couple to her friends? “I’ll ask, but I wouldn’t count on it. Ma said you’re taking her to see your house. I don’t remember where you said you lived.”
Sam grinned, waving a hand. “It’s a private community.” He watched a pair of young women drive past. “Check with the kid, will you? She’d have a good time. I’ve a boat on the lake.”
“Sure. But where…?” Her skirt whipped about her legs. “It’s rather breezy, isn’t it?” she asked, distracted by the gusty weather.
“That hurricane is heading directly for the coast,” Sam warned, concern dimming his pale blue eyes. “Did you hear it’s been upgraded to a Category Two? They say it may get here early next week unless it picks up speed. Best keep an eye on the news.”
Marla hadn’t heard anything about the latest storm, having been preoccupied with the murder investigation. She preferred to keep an eye on Brianna, so she detoured to Vail’s house, realizing her anxiety over the girl bordered on paranoia. Either she was becoming too much like Dalton, or her latent psychic powers had awakened.
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