5 Conditioner and a Corpse by Cindy Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

supplies the other day. The criminal has no connection with Harroway either. As for this Jeff Barnes, I don't see what he has to do with any of it.”
    “ I don't know either,” Bekki admitted with a deepening frown. “But I know he did it. Or at the very least, he's lying about not seeing Jasmine after she came to the salon and before she died.”
    “ How do you know that?” Nick asked with a furrowed brow.
    “ Because,” Bekki picked up a tube of lipstick from the display on the receptionist desk, “of this!”
    “ What does lipstick have to do with it?” Nick asked.
    “ It was on his cuff,” Bekki explained as she opened up the tube of lipstick.
    “ Well, Bekki,” Nick shifted slightly. “Rich and powerful men are known for having their affairs,” he explained with a slight blush.
    “ I know that,” Bekki agreed. “But only one woman had a tube of this lipstick.”
    “ How do you know it was that lipstick?” Nick asked. “There are so many different kinds of lipstick and shades I couldn't even begin to keep track.”
    “ That's true,” Bekki nodded and then waved the tube of lipstick under his nose. “But not all of them are scented.”
    “ Wow, that smells good,” he murmured as he breathed in the scent. “So you're saying that the lipstick on his cuff smelled like this?” he asked.
    “ Yes,” Bekki said as she capped the lipstick once more. “And this is made by a local woman and only sold here. I haven't sold any, except for giving one to Jasmine, right before she left the salon.”
    “ Wait, how do you know it smelled like this lipstick?” Nick asked as he went over the information in his mind.
    “ Because I hugged him,” Bekki said with confidence.
    “ You hugged a potential murderer?” Nick's eyes widened with shock and frustration.
    “ I had to be sure,” Bekki explained. “I knew if I could smell the lipstick I would be certain that it was this exact same lipstick. Which means that Jeff saw Jasmine before she was killed, and after she was here. He saw her in the time that the murder occurred, and is acting as if he just drove into town.”
    Nick nodded slowly and ran his hand back t hrough his hair. “This is very good information. I'll take him in for questioning. In the meantime Bekki please…”
    “ I didn't investigate!” Bekki said with a smirk. “He came to me.”
    “ Well, just be careful,” Nick held her gaze intently. “Promise?”
    “ I promise,” Bekki nodded as she glanced over at Sammy. “I don't think either of us were expecting to have him walk into the salon. Were we?”
    “ I sure wasn't,” Sammy agreed. “Is it enough to arrest him, Nick?” she asked hopefully.
    “ I can't be sure until he's questioned,” Nick explained. “But everyone is working on this.”
    Bekki nodded and gave him a quick hug. As she pulled away, Nick wrapped his arms a little tighter around her waist.
    “ No more hugging murderers, okay?” he kissed her gently on the forehead.
    “ I'll do my best,” Bekki replied with a small smile. He held her gaze briefly and then stepped out of the salon. Sammy was quick to lock the door behind him.
    “ I have to admit Bekki this is freaking me out,” Sammy frowned as she rubbed her upper arms. “Do you really think it was him?”
    “ One thing I've learned Sammy, is to always expect the unexpected,” Bekki sighed. A moment before she had been certain of her assumption that Jeff was the killer, but Nick had made a good point. Why would Jeff want to hurt one of his own employees? Why did those men coming looking for the supplies the other day if they didn’t kill her?
     

Chapter Six
     
    Bekki convinced Sammy to open the salon for afternoon customers now that there was a cop car regularly driving past. Bekki didn't want to disappoint her regular clients, and she also needed to do something to keep her mind off what was unfolding.
    “ We're a less likely target the busier we are,” she explained to Sammy who still felt a