by Cindy Bell
“What's wrong?” he murmured, and then realized how silly he might sound. “I mean, other than the obvious,” he added with a shake of his head.
“It's just this crime,” she frowned. “You know, sometimes I forget how hard your job is,” she said with admiration. “I mean how do you do this every single day? I can't figure out one murder, and yet you handle so many more cases.”
“Well, it is Harroway,” he reminded her as he swept his hand gently back through her hair, pulling it away from her eyes. “It's not like we handle much more than a few purse snatchings and some domestic disturbances.”
“Don't lie to me,” Bekki grinned. “I know you're always trying to solve something.”
He smiled a little as she knew his secret about him reviewing cold cases as often as possible. “The thing is sometimes a case can get inside your brain,” Nick explained calmly. “You get one idea of what happened, and you get stuck on it. The answer can be right in front of you, but your mind, it's still playing that idea that you got stuck on. Nothing else can get through. And then,” he sighed as he rubbed his hand gently over the curve of her shoulder and down along her arm to her fingertips. “There's the frustration of having your hands tied. Like Barnes, you are certain that he's the murderer, and I'm certain that you're right,” he arched a brow slightly and met her eyes. “You usually are aren't you?”
Bekki smiled playfully. “Well, I try,” she said with a light laugh.
“But as a detective, I have to follow certain rules, I can't just coax the owner of the motel into letting me into the suspect's room so I can have a look…”
“You knew!” Bekki gasped and glared at him.
“Well,” he smiled lopsidedly. “I am a detective, after all.”
“A great detective,” she replied and lightly kissed his lips.
“Not great enough to solve this, unfortunately,” Nick frowned and shook his head. “I'm sorry Bekki, I wish I had already closed the case.”
“Well, then there would be no excuse for cuddling,” she pointed out and curled her body close to his. He sighed, the sweetest contented sigh and wrapped his body around hers in return.
“We don't need an excuse you know,” he whispered beside her ear. “We can cuddle as much as you want.”
Bekki smiled a little and closed her eyes. “What about all those rules and laws?” she reminded him.
“Sometimes they just don't apply,” he replied huskily and kissed the side of her neck.
As the warmth of his closeness spread throughout her body, Bekki remembered all those firsts she'd had with him when they were just teenagers. When love, was everything. When she was with him, it was hard not to think that it was still everything. Nick's gentle massaging touches along her shoulders, her upper back, and eventually her lower back, eased her into one of the most relaxed states she had ever been in. She felt as if she was floating, and the only thing anchoring her was his slow and steady touch. It reminded her of the way the dock would lull by the water when she lay on it, just slightly side to side. Thinking of the dock, reminded her of the story she had shared with Jasmine. Thinking of Jasmine made all of her muscles tense right back up. She was sure there was only one way to tie everything together. Find the supplies. She fell asleep beneath Nick's soothing touch.
***
The next morning when Bekki woke, Nick had left her some toast and eggs along with a note. He was called into the station first thing in the morning as one of the men had offered some new information on the case. Bekki hoped it meant that Barnes would soon be in jail. She enjoyed her breakfast, all the while planning to do a real search for the supplies that were missing. But first she was going to open the shop. Nick was right. She was so focused on the crime that she couldn't see past it. She was hoping if she settled into her usual routine that she would be able to relax enough to see more.
When she arrived at the salon and opened it up she was relieved to find that everything was in place. No one had broken in again, that she could tell. The only issue was getting the new lock to actually unlock as it still kept sticking. Sammy arrived a few minutes later, looking pretty pale.
“Are you okay?” Bekki asked her the moment she saw her.
“I'll be fine,” Sammy promised her. “Just have a touch of something upsetting my stomach.”
“Are you sure? You can go home and rest you know,” Bekki pointed out with concern as she stepped closer to her.
“I'll be fine,” Sammy repeated firmly. “Do we have many customers today?”
“Well, we've had to shuffle quite a few appointments lately so we are pretty booked today,” Bekki admitted. “But if you start feeling worse, you're going home young lady, no argument. Got me?” she smiled.
“Got it,” Sammy replied, and then hesitated, her eyes lingering on the light smile playing on Bekki's lips. “I see that dinner must have gone well?”
“It did,” Bekki nodded. “And the two men who broke in here are in custody. Not Jeff Barnes though, not yet. Nick is working on that.”
“That must be why Morris is circling the street,” Sammy managed a grin as she pointed out the window. A patrol car was making a regular loop up and down the main street.
“Oh good,” Bekki smiled, but inside she cringed. She had hoped that she could leave the salon early and hunt for the supplies, but with Sammy being ill, and Morris watching the salon, the chances of her being able to sneak off and do her own investigation were pretty slim.
“Morning ladies,” Marie's cheerful voice called out as she walked into the salon.
“Mama, what are you doing here?” Bekki asked with surprise as she hugged her.
“Oh, your father is on a bit of a rampage,” she smiled at Bekki. “I thought I'd put everyone at ease and just spend the day here helping out.”
“That's good,” Bekki said with a nod towards Sammy's pale features. “Sammy isn't feeling very well, but she won't go home.”
“Well, just rest a bit,” Marie told Sammy in a motherly tone. Bekki's parents had been surrogate parents in many ways for Sammy who had not had the most stable childhood.
“I'm fine, I'm fine,” Sammy insisted again, but Marie's narrowed eyes pushed her right into a chair. “Okay, I'll just rest until the customers start coming in.”
With Bekki's mother there to help when the customers began arriving they were able to get through them rather quickly. Customers were still curious about the break in. Once they discovered that nothing had been stolen and no one was injured, the novelty wore off a bit, and the great main street Christmas light debate began again.
“I think it makes things very mystical,” Bekki volunteered as she combed through a younger woman's hair. She was on the decorative committee for the town.
“So do I,” she said with a sigh. “Who would have thought that lights could stir up so much controversy?” she grinned. Bekki knew she had 'married into' Harroway, and had not grown up with all of the sweet but dramatic interactions of the locals.
“Oh, it's just their way of having fun,” Bekki assured her. “Nothing to be too concerned about. If they didn't have the lights to squabble over it would be something else.”
“I guess,” the woman sighed again, but when Bekki spun her around in her chair to face the mirror, she gasped. “Oh, it's perfect!” she smiled at the waterfall style that Bekki had cut the sides of her hair into. “It's just what I wanted.”
“You look beautiful,” Bekki said with genuine admiration.
“Thanks so much,” she gushed and hurried to the reception desk where Marie was checking out customers. Bekki breathed a long slow sigh as she glanced around the salon. There were only two customers remaining, and it was getting late. She knew her chances of searching for the supplies were quickly disappearing. Sammy had just finished her last customer, and Bekki's last customer was sitting under the hair dryer. As Bekki studied her friend, she saw her dizzily step to the side.
“Sammy?” Bekki lunged forward as Sammy caught her balance on one of the stations.
“Oh, I am really not feeling well,” Sammy moaned as she clutched at her stomach. “Morris took me for Sushi last night,” she admitted. Her face was quite pale. She looked like she was ready to curl up and stay in bed for a few weeks.
“Just go on home,” Bekki said gently as she looked at her friend with sympathy. “You need some serious rest.”
“But, I don't want to leave you to close alone,” Sammy frowned as she stood up from the chair she had collapsed into. “I'm staying, I can stay until we close…” she started to say but as she stood up she grew very dizzy and toppled right back down into the chair.
“That's it, you're going home,” Bekki said firmly as she reached out to lightly touch Sammy's forehead. It felt as if she was burning up. “We'll get my mom to give you a ride home,” Bekki said, leaving no room for discussion. “Mama?” she called out as she steered Sammy in her direction. “Would you mind giving Sammy a ride home? She's really not feeling well.”
“Of course I will,” she smiled and took over the job of steadying Sammy as she walked. “I'll come right back to help you close up.”
“Urgh,” Bekki clenched her hands into fists of frustration. “It's one night. Just let me close up. Nothing is going to happen. Nick's working the case right now, he probably already has Barnes in custody. Besides Morris is driving past every three minutes,” she reminded them.
“But your father…” her mother began to say.
“Ma,” Bekki met her mother's eyes. “I'll call Nick, okay? I'll have him close up with me.”
“Okay,” her mother nodded with a smile. “I don't think you could be much safer than having a detective here with you. Just make sure you lock the door behind us, until he gets here, got it?”
Bekki nodded and tried not to grimace. She knew her mother meant well, as did her father, but she was feeling more than a little overwhelmed by everyone insisting on monitoring her every move.
“Feel better,” she called out to Sammy as Marie escorted her out the door. Once she finished with the last customer Bekki didn’t lock the door behind them like she promised. She didn't want to be trapped in her own salon. She wanted to be able to take care of last minute customers if they came in. When she pulled out her cell phone to call Nick, she hesitated. She knew she had promised her mother that she would call him, but she really did want a few minutes alone.
Ever since the shop had been broken into and ransacked she had been looked after by her friends and family. She just wanted a little time by herself, to sort out what she knew so far about the case. With Morris still driving past, there was no chance of escaping to hunt for the supplies, but at least she could be alone with her thoughts. Despite the fact that she had been so convinced that Jeff was the killer, he had managed to evade arrest. With no evidence, there was no way that Nick could arrest him. He was still hanging around town though, and Bekki was certain that he was still looking for the supplies that were missing.
She needed to try to piece together the truth about what had happened. She picked up a broom to sweep up some hair from the last customers. Sweeping sometimes helped her mind to relax, and with a clear thought process, she could piece together more about what had really happened. She knew that a dangerous criminal was somehow involved in the situation. She also knew that the two men who were acting as bodyguards for Jeff Barnes were connected to that criminal. But why was Jeff involved with them? She began to sweep the hair into a dustpan as she thought things through.
“If Jeff is the connection to the criminals, what is Jasmine's connection to the criminals?” she asked herself quietly. No matter how she put the pieces together she could not come up with a reason for Jasmine to be killed. Her mind shifted to what seemed to be Jeff's main focus at the moment. He wanted the supplies that had gone missing. But why? It was just a bunch of makeup, powders and accessories. Why would he need them so badly? Bekki gasped as she finally made the connection. Once she did it made perfect sense. She reached for her phone to call Nick, but before she could put the phone to her ear, the door to the salon swung open. The bell above the door jingled, announcing that Jeff was standing before her. Then it jingled again as he closed the door behind him.
Chapter Nine
“Hello Bekki,” Jeff said with all of the charm he had wielded before. “It seems like we have some things to talk about.”
“You need to leave,” Bekki said sternly as she glared at him and slid her cell phone back down into her pocket. She gripped the broom tightly in her other hand.
“Listen, the cops have been asking me all kinds of crazy questions because of you,” he frowned and shook his head. “Are you really that jealous of people who were able to tolerate and thrive in the city, that you are coming after me now, too? You should know that I pointed out to the cops how your jealousy might have been too much to take, how you might have attacked Jasmine yourself.”
“No one will believe that,” Bekki said as calmly as she could. She didn't move a muscle as Jeff stepped slightly closer to her.
“Oh that's right, because your boyfriend is on the payroll, right?” he smirked a little as he studied her. “Either way, you need to stop spreading lies about me. There's not a single shred of evidence to prove that I was involved in Jasmine's murder.”
“No, there isn't,” Bekki agreed as she knew that he must have destroyed the shirt he had been wearing. She also knew that despite the fact that the police could place Randy's car at the motel around the time of Jasmine's death, that had nothing to do with Jeff. Or so it seemed. “So why are you still here, Jeff?” she asked, still sounding as casual as she could. “Don't you have a company to run?” she arched a brow slightly.
“Of course I do,” Jeff snapped back in return. “But I need to tie up some loose ends here first.”
“Loose ends, like the drugs you lost?” Bekki asked with a smug smile. Jeff's eyes widened instantly. His poker face was wiped away as the realization that she had figured out the truth dawned on him. What Bekki didn't expect was for him to reach out and turn the deadbolt on the door of the salon.
“Well, you really are as clever as they say, aren't you?” he smirked a little. Bekki watched his movements as he reached out and twisted the cord on the blinds to close them. No one outside the salon would find this unusual, as it was time for closing.
“I don't know about that,” Bekki said through gritted teeth. “But I do know that you're not smart enough to be running the kind of drug franchise that you're trying to.”
“Hmm, you're just full of ideas,” he said with a scowl and moved closer to her. “Didn't your mother ever teach you if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all?” he asked as he began to close the distance between them.
“Leave my mother out of this,” Bekki growled and twisted the broom handle in her hand. “What happened? Did Jasmine pick up the wrong supplies? Hmm? Did she take from your special stash? The real reason you started your company?”
“That one,” he shook his head with a cluck of his tongue. “She just wasn't very bright. I told her, take the supplies from one office, and she took the supplies from another. Much more valuable supplies,” he added.
“Supplies that weren't carrying anything beautiful,” Bekki suggested. “Instead they were carrying drugs. What was it, cocaine?” she studied him intently. “What a genius way to traffic drugs, if only you had been smart enough to pull it off.”
“Look, I started out as a legitimate businessman,” Jeff corrected her sternly as he brushed his suit jacket back to reveal the gun he had tucked into his belt. “But, no one makes any honest money these days. A man came to me with an offer, a very generous offer, and I accepted it. The drugs could be distributed throughout the country by individual saleswomen. But Jasmine was not one of them. She was one of my regular employees. She and the others like her provided the cover we needed for the real traffickers to move freely. The ones with the drugs, they are trained to know what to do with them, where to take them, who to talk to. Whe
n I realized Jasmine had the wrong supplies, I knew it was only a matter of time before disaster struck.”
“So you got to her first,” Bekki suggested, her breathing a bit more shallow as her eyes lingered on the gun. “But why did you have to kill her, Jeff? Was it because she wouldn't tell you where the supplies were?”
He sighed and laid his hand on the handle of the gun as he shook his head. “I didn't intend to kill her really. The thing is, she didn't understand the danger she had put us both in by being so stupid. The people I accepted the offer from, they aren't the type of people you can just say, oops I lost your drugs.”
“Right,” Bekki nodded a little and started to move to the side.
“Don't move,” he warned her as he pulled out his gun. He tapped the barrel of it lightly against the side of his thigh. “I was never going to kill her,” he said again. “I was there to protect her. All she had to do was tell me where the drugs were, and everything was going to be fine. But she wouldn't,” he sighed.
“Why not?” Bekki asked and cleared her throat. “Why wouldn't she tell you?”
“She kept ranting about how she was going to go to the police. She had found the drugs before I got there. She said she was looking through some of the supplies, and when she opened a bottle of powder she knew what it was. I tried to get her to be reasonable. She was just so irate. She kept going on and on about how she had believed in my company, and that the police would know everything as soon as she had a chance to talk to you,” he smirked as he looked up at her. “She knew about your detective boyfriend. She was going to tell him all about it. She actually thought I was going to just turn myself in,” he laughed and shook his head.
“Jasmine was so dense she couldn't even comprehend that without the drugs, we were both dead. So it was going to be both of us, or just her,” he shrugged a little. “I'm not a killer really, but it was simple math. She wasn't smart enough to think things through. The men I was dealing with, they have people on the inside and the outside. I never would have even made it to the police station without a bullet in the back of my head, and neither would she. So,” he hesitated a moment and lowered his eyes, Bekki thought she could even detect a hint of guilt flickering across his face. “I did what I had to do. I pulled out a knife I had brought along for protection, and I stabbed her. She didn't expect it, I would say she was pretty surprised I had it in me,” he arched a brow. “Honestly I was surprised I had it in me, too. I thought it would be simple then. I would find the supplies and get out of town. But the stupid woman had done something with them.”