Groomer Has It

by Katie Hagen

The salon was fairly busy but the woman at the front desk managed to squeeze us both in. Carlie headed toward the back and I was sat in a chair near the front which I appreciated because from there I could check on Picklepuss when needed. Through the window I saw her little head watching me for a minute before she disappeared to explore my car for lost fries.

  My stylist was Danielle, a dainty woman in her mid-twenties with blonde hair pulled into fishtail braids. She wore red high heels on her feet which brought her up to my eye level with the chair sunk to the floor. Brave, I thought. I’d never be able to groom in heels. Her confidence far outshined her size and I immediately trusted her with my tresses.

  Danielle and I made small talk, and someone brought me a paper cup of tea. As much as I liked her, I tried my best to be vague. I’m just visiting family, I told her. No need to let her know I was THAT Kit Davis.

  The chairs next to me were momentarily empty so I looked over the pictures pinned next to the mirror at Danielle’s station.

  “Cute poodle!” I pointed at a picture of an elegant red standard poodle. “I’ve always wanted a standard.”

  Danielle didn’t stop coating my hair in oil but smiled lovingly at the picture then met my eyes in the mirror. “That’s Daphne. She’s my everything. She’s been with me through all my relationships and she’s the only one that’s always been there. That probably sounds crazy,” she laughed a little.

  “No! I totally get it. That’s actually my little poodle out there in the car.” I pointed toward the parking lot where seemingly on demand Picklepuss popped up and glared at us.

  “Oh! She’s cute. She looks pissed though.”

  “Yeah, that’s just her face. She has separation anxiety, so I have to bring her everywhere. She’s actually pretty happy out there.”

  “Oh, poor thing! I used to bring Daphne with me when she was little. Now I have to leave her home so I have a dog walker stop by on the days I can’t make it home for a while,” she shrugged.

  “I didn’t realize there were dog walkers here.”

  Danielle put one hand on her hip. “We don’t have a lot of things here but at least it’s a dog friendly town. There are actually a lot of good dog businesses in Glaney.”

  I wanted to ask her where she got Daphne groomed but I didn’t want to draw too much attention to myself. Instead I just smiled, and she went back to massaging the oil into my scalp.

  I closed my eyes and was about to drift off when I heard voices beside me.

  Another stylist had led her client to the chair and was pulling out her tools for a haircut. I didn’t recognize the middle-aged woman in the chair, and I hoped she wouldn’t know me either. It felt nice to be anonymous. Almost like being back in L.A.

  Danielle put a plastic cap over my hair and told me to sit tight while she went to check on another client who sat with a big bubble drying hood over their head. I listened to her heels click-clack away before turning my attention to the conversation happening next to me.

  “I think it was that nephew of hers. He’s always given me the creeps. So pale,” the stylist stage whispered. Her skin, on the other hand, was the color of a glazed rawhide bone. “He looks like the sort of person to snap.”

  “I don’t know,” the client replied. “He seems too weak to me. Vicki was a big woman. I think she’d be able to fight him off. Are his hands even big enough to strangle someone?”

  “Strangled?” I said before I could stop myself. The women next to me didn’t seem to mind my eavesdropping. In fact, they looked pleased to be able to share the news.

  “Oh yeah! My step-son works at the funeral home and he told me that’s what did it,” the stylist announced proudly then turned back to her client. “And he definitely could have done it. Haven’t you ever heard of rage adrenaline? People that snap get all kinds of extra strength. At least that’s what I tell Jim when he leaves his protein bar wrappers all over the house!” She snorted.

  The women cackled together for a full minute before continuing.

  “Well I still say it was Daniel Bianchi. Barbara Townsend said she heard that the night Vicki died they got into it, something about him not holding up his end of their agreement.”

  “The pizza guy?” The tanned stylist thought for a moment, placing the comb in the side of her mouth. “He does come across a little unhinged. I always thought it was sexy though,” she snorted again, took the comb out of her mouth and ran it through her client’s hair.

  “I wouldn’t let Sofia hear you say that,” the client smirked then waved her finger for the stylist to lean in. She whispered, “especially since I heard she had ties to the M...O...B.”

  The stylist waved the comment away and went on snipping. “This is Glaney. You’ve been watching too much H...B...O.” She cackled.

  Danielle came over and told me to come sit under the dryer for a minute. “Sorry about the murder mystery twins over there,” she whispered as she placed the plastic bowl of the drying chair over my head. “I’m just glad we own our building. Vicki owned half the town you know. That’s a lot of businesses with their leases up in the air right now.”

  She flipped the switch to turn the air on, checked it with her hand and walked toward the back.

  So, Vicki was a bit of a tycoon. Kitty owned her building so I didn’t have to worry either, but I wondered what would happen to everyone else? Would everything go to Vic? He was her only living relative as far as I knew. And why would she spend so much of her time critiquing the business around town, like Main Street Pizza if she owned the building it was in? Wouldn’t that be bad for business?

  From my seat I could still see the parking lot where Picklepuss sat in my car. Every few minutes she would pop up, glare through the window, then disappear again. It was nice to know someone worried about where I was. My own mother hadn’t called once to check in and I was sure she’d heard about my arrest by then. Tom would know. He had friends that were officers since he worked on all their cars. Maybe he didn’t tell her? She wasn’t exactly social, so she didn’t get pulled into a lot of gossip. It was actually one of her finer points.

  I was so busy considering my mother that I almost didn’t recognize Jordan walk by the front window with a woman on his arm. Almost.

  My heart dropped.

  I’d recognize that dirty blond anywhere.

  Jordan Parker was on a date with Ashley Trull.

  They didn’t look in, but even so, I sunk down into the chair so low that Danielle came running over.

  “Is it too hot?” she asked, panicked. “You look flushed.”

  She pulled me to the sinks and eased me back into the chair where she began running cool water over my head.

  I couldn’t speak. I was utterly, ridiculously without the words to describe what I was feeling.

  Danielle began to work some lavender scented shampoo into my hair and looked at me sadly. “Better? Lavender helps with stress.”

  “How did you know I was stressed? And yes, I think it’s helping.”

  “I’m an empath.”

  “Wait, like you read minds?”

  “No!” She laughed and started massaging my scalp. “It’s what you call someone who is deeply aware of the emotions of the people around them. It’s like I suck them right up into myself. The lavender isn’t just for you,” she smiled.

  “Oh, sorry,” I winced a little.

  “Oh no honey, you’re fine. It’s all part of my job. People come in here stressed and tired and I love that I can help to ease that a little for them.”

  “It must get hard though, if you feel everything like that.”

  “Nothing a good glass of wine and a great dog snuggle can’t fix.”

  “Now that sounds amazing,” I smiled.

  If I were staying in Glaney, I thought, Danielle would be the type of person I’d want to make friends with. But I had my own friends and my own city that I couldn’t get back to until I solved this mystery, I reminded myself. Not even Jordan Parker and his terrible choice in dates matt
ered. Plenty of boys in L.A. Maybe even boys like Peter George. I hadn’t met one yet, but I was sure he was out there.

  “I tried to help Vicki, you know,” Danielle sighed. “She was my client.”

  Now that was helpful. I hoped Danielle didn’t notice my change in energy.

  “Weren’t you worried about her leaving you a bad review?”

  “Not really. She was always really nice to me, actually. But last week when she came in something just was off about her. She was very tense. I could tell something was bothering her, but I don’t like to push too much. She didn’t seem to want to talk about it, so I just sent her on her way.”

  Danielle sniffed a little then smiled. “Sorry! I’m a mess,” she laughed.

  “Totally understandable,” I smiled back then closed my eyes while she rinsed out my hair.

  About thirty minutes later my hair was dry and softer than it had ever been. I paid for my service and left Danielle a tip before meeting Carlie by the car.

  “Have I got some gossip for you!” Carlie grinned and we both climbed in.

  “Oh yeah? Is it that my ex-boyfriend is dating Ashley Trull?”

  Carlie winced. “Oh, you found out about that did you?”

  “They walked by the salon. I almost choked. How long has that been going on?”

  “About six months, I think. Why do you care?”

  “I don’t! I mean, I obviously do but not because I want him back or anything. It’s just…it’s Jordan.”

  “And it’s Ashley. No, I get it. Sorry.”

  I shrugged. There was nothing I could do about it anyway. Probably. I mean, my hands were kind of full. But if I had the time… “So, what did you hear?”

  “Well…” Carlie turned in her seat so she could face me. “Apparently, Vicki was telling everyone that she was kicking Vic out of the guest house.”

  My stomach growled. “Want to finish that thought over pizza?” Maybe I could get a little more information about the Bianchis while we were at it.

  Carlie nodded and fastened her belt. Picklepuss climbed onto her lap. “We’re probably going to have to start grooming some dogs if we’re going to keep you in the lifestyle that you seemed to have become accustomed, poodle lady.”

  I took a look at my new hair in the mirror. “Oh, I know it.”

  The sun was surprisingly untainted by rain that afternoon, so we parked at the shop and walked with Picklepuss to Main Street Pizza where they had a dog friendly patio. On the way, we saw that a lot of the businesses had Closed for Lunch signs in the windows including Paint N’ Tings and Vic Perring’s bookstore.

  We waved at Peter who was cleaning the glass over the movie posters out front and I blushed.

  Carlie, sweet girl that she is, slapped my rear end and yelled, “You like that, movie boy?”

  I may have died a little.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” I hissed.

  “Oh, come on. I had to do something to break through those goo-goo eyes. Yuck.”

  “Carlie. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen you flirt with a bartender and an old man.”

  Picklepuss shot her a judgmental glare and I bent down to pat her on her fluffy silver head. At least someone was on my side.

  “That was just flirting. You were looking at Peter like you were planning the wedding date, the honeymoon and the names of your first three kids.”

  “Hailey, Laura, and Thomas,” I grinned. “But that’s just off the top of my head.”

  Carlie rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you leaving anyway. What’s the point?”

  She walked a little faster and I found myself following her down the road. What was the point, anyway? Did there have to be one? Couldn’t a girl just enjoy a little harmless flirtation now and then? Did it always have to mean something?

  We made it to Main Street Pizza and Carlie grabbed a table on the side patio by a small garden area overlooking the bay. I left Picklepuss with her while I went inside to order.

  I waited at the counter for a second before Daniel Bianchi saw me from the kitchen, gave me a wave and came around the corner. It took me a second to realize that we were alone.

  My heart started to race a little. Hadn’t we just established that Daniel was a murder suspect? I mean, not officially, but according to the girls at the salon anyway.

  “What can I get you?”

  I scanned the menu. Clam pizza? How dare you, Sir. “Woo, so many options here,” I stalled.

  “Is this for here or to go?” He asked stiffly.

  “Here,” I pointed toward Carlie and Picklepuss on the patio. “Outside.”

  Daniel nodded.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about how much taller he was up close. He had to be 6’2’’, maybe more. I usually liked to feel small around men, demure, but somehow standing in front of Daniel Bianchi, even with a counter between us, I couldn’t get over how small suddenly equated to weak and vulnerable. I wondered if Sofia ever felt like that. Her husband towered over her even more than he did me. Somehow, I thought she could probably take him.

  “Are you going to order something?” Daniel leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest.

  I glanced around at the empty dining room. “Looks like it’ll probably be quick huh?”

  Daniel practically growled and I realized that instead of making small talk, I’d just insulted his restaurant.

  “I’m just surprised, really. This is by far the best pizza I’ve ever had. Definitely better than anything in L.A., where I live.”

  Daniel scoffed. “L.A. No one makes good pizza in L.A.”

  I begged to differ but kept it to myself. Obviously, he’d never heard of California Pizza Kitchen.

  “Well, I just can’t help but wonder why your place is so empty when your food is so good?”

  Daniel dropped his arms and sighed.

  “My business is the same way right now, actually. I own Kitty’s Laundromutt down the street and we’re actually closed today because we didn’t have any appointments.” I looked up at him and he nodded. “I’m not sure if you heard about it but this woman wrote a really bad review about us in the paper and it practically killed us.”

  “Vicki Perring,” Daniel snarled.

  “Yeah. I guess you know her? Or, uh, knew her?”

  Daniel nodded again. “That woman never stopped complaining.”

  I took a step back and glanced outside to where Carlie sat watching me with a confused look on her face. I hoped that if the situation escalated that she’d at least see it and be able to call someone. Knowing she was there gave me the courage to continue.

  “Did you ever do anything about it? You know, because I’m trying to figure out what I can do about my business.”

  “I did,” he said and folded his arms again.

  A bell over the door dinged and Sofia came in holding two paper grocery bags. Daniel rushed around the counter to take them from her.

  “Kit. It’s so nice to see you again,” Sofia smiled as Daniel kissed her on the cheek and took the bags to the back. “I saw Carlie outside. Sister lunch?”

  “Yeah,” I smiled back. “I was just about to put in my order,” I looked toward the kitchen where Daniel had disappeared.

  “Oh, well I can take it. My husband usually likes to stay in the kitchen. He feels more comfortable there. When he comes out things tend to get messy,” she laughed as she moved around me to the other side of the counter. “He never really understood how business had to be handled. But,” she pulled out a pen and pad from beside the register. “He is an amazing chef.” Sofia winked. “So, what can we get you?”

  I ordered a small pesto garlic pizza with more vegetables than I knew Carlie could handle, salad and some garlic knots to go with the knots in my stomach before heading back outside. Carlie was sitting at the table smoking a cigarette which she put out quickly when she saw me coming.

  “Stress,” she shrugged. “So, did you find out anything? I saw you talking to Daniel for a while.”


  I took a seat and leaned in. “I’m not sure. He was pretty vague, but he definitely had a reason to want her gone and he did admit to doing something about it. I just don’t know what. Sofia came in before I got to any of the good stuff.”

  “Yeah, she stopped by the table and talked to me for a minute but when she saw you inside with Daniel, she practically ran in there. Maybe she thought you were flirting with him?”

  “Or maybe she wanted to stop him from incriminating himself,” I whispered.

  “Maybe.” Carlie tapped her fingers on the table. “She does always seem to be in charge, you know? Like she would protect him if he did anything.”

  “Really? She’s so small and delicate.”

  “Oh, she can handle herself.” Carlie grinned.

  Something about what she said seemed to click. “She did say that Daniel didn’t really know how to handle business. She said when he came out of the kitchen things got messy. We already know that he confronted Vicki that night. So, what if things got a little too messy and Sofia had to clean it up? Maybe she’s protecting him?”

  “She could have easily taken a bag of trash from behind the shop and put dog hair over the crime scene to make it look like someone else did it. Who would think dog hair went with pizza?” Carlie’s eyes went wide.

  “Oh, any groomer trying to have lunch ever,” I laughed.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I do. Should we tell someone about it?” I asked.

  “Like the police? I’m sure they’ve heard that Daniel and Vicki argued that night. What else would we tell them?”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  Our food came out quickly, delivered by Sofia and Carlie munched on bread and salad while I ate the pizza. Pesto, artichokes, red pepper, garlic, yum.

  “You do know they have pepperoni here, right?” Carlie sighed. “Who orders vegetable pizza?”

  On our walk back we passed some early season tourists and a few locals who smiled but watched us carefully. Word was definitely out.

  When we got to the book shop, I saw that the sign was turned back to open and Crookshanks 2 was in the window right next to a sign that said, No Dogs.

  “Do you mind taking her home?” I motioned toward Picklepuss who was whining at the unwelcoming cat.