Read Online Bad Hair 8 - Day Perish By Pedicure by Nancy J. Cohen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy J. Cohen
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him, she heard a feminine giggle and saw a streaking figure clutching a sheet around itself.
“Marla, what do you want?” Ron said, raising an eyebrow.
Caught you in the act, hot shot. “You’re supposed to be downstairs. We’re going to my salon to do the models, remember? Jan has already left with Sampson and Liesl. She has five of the girls with her. Am I to assume that your visitor is the sixth?”
Ron had the grace to blush. “Er, I was only getting started. My sink works just as well as the ones in your shop.”
“Really? Does that mean you won’t be joining us?” She peered around him, but the girl had vanished into the bathroom.
“We’ll come over in a while. Heather’s highlights will take more time.”
“Oh, yeah, I see how she’ll take up your time, all right.”
Ron’s lip curled in a snarl. “Hey, no offense, but I do things my way. We’ll show up at your salon, even if we’re late. Sampson can’t possibly get everyone done by himself. Tell Jan to chill in the meantime.”
After handing Ron one of her business cards, Marla strode down the corridor toward the bank of elevators. If this was how he conducted business, he wouldn’t be hobnobbing with Hollywood celebrities anytime soon. It could also be the reason why Ron remained in Sampson’s shadow. Being a womanizer on his own time was one thing, but Chris wouldn’t have permitted any male to upstage her. In her book, she stayed on top. Of course, now that she was gone, all bets were off. Did Ron hope to gain from her death? If so, Sampson remained his main obstacle at Luxor.
She remembered the check Sampson had written to Chris. What was that all about? Had he owed her money? Certainly, he hadn’t been happy when Marla presented the uncashed check back to him. You’d think he would have been glad to have his debt cancelled, especially if Chris used it as a means to control him.
And these were just the stylists, she thought as she arrived at the ground floor, retrieved Georgia, and headed for the parking lot. Now that Chris’s seat was open, Jan had a chance for promotion. That meant Tyler could move up to regional manager, the position that Chris had denied him.
Why am I even bothering to think this way? Force of habit, that’s why . Vail’s influence already had her contemplating suspects. Chris’s unattended death raised some questions, including what had really happened last night between Georgia, Tyler, and the company director. Likely, the interpersonal dynamics were similar to what went on in most other firms, but then, no one ended up dead with their face in a foot bath at other firms.
It’s not your concern , she told herself, withdrawing her car keys from her purse. Georgia remained silent, so Marla spent the drive trying to rally her friend’s spirits.
She did a good job, because by the time they arrived at the shopping center housing the Cut ‘N Dye, Georgia was chatting happily about the restaurants in San Francisco, where she lived. Her appetite had returned with gusto, necessitating a stop at Burger King on the way west. Fortunately, the afternoon air had warmed to a balmy seventy degrees with a light sea breeze.
“This is why I love living in Florida,” Marla said, sipping a Diet Coke in the parking lot of her shopping strip. “It’s worth the risk of hurricanes. Besides, most of the tempests I’ve confronted have been caused by people.”
But she felt as though a whirlwind hit as soon as they walked through the door at her salon. Nicole had a panicked look on her face. “Marla, thank God,” the cinnamon-skinned stylist called out from her station. “I didn’t know where to put everyone.”
The seats up front were filled with regular customers and a couple of the models. Glancing toward the rear, Marla noticed Sampson using her chair for a coloring job, while another model sat at an empty manicure console with foils in her hair. The fifth girl occupied a seat by the shampoo sinks. Liesl stood
“Marla, what do you want?” Ron said, raising an eyebrow.
Caught you in the act, hot shot. “You’re supposed to be downstairs. We’re going to my salon to do the models, remember? Jan has already left with Sampson and Liesl. She has five of the girls with her. Am I to assume that your visitor is the sixth?”
Ron had the grace to blush. “Er, I was only getting started. My sink works just as well as the ones in your shop.”
“Really? Does that mean you won’t be joining us?” She peered around him, but the girl had vanished into the bathroom.
“We’ll come over in a while. Heather’s highlights will take more time.”
“Oh, yeah, I see how she’ll take up your time, all right.”
Ron’s lip curled in a snarl. “Hey, no offense, but I do things my way. We’ll show up at your salon, even if we’re late. Sampson can’t possibly get everyone done by himself. Tell Jan to chill in the meantime.”
After handing Ron one of her business cards, Marla strode down the corridor toward the bank of elevators. If this was how he conducted business, he wouldn’t be hobnobbing with Hollywood celebrities anytime soon. It could also be the reason why Ron remained in Sampson’s shadow. Being a womanizer on his own time was one thing, but Chris wouldn’t have permitted any male to upstage her. In her book, she stayed on top. Of course, now that she was gone, all bets were off. Did Ron hope to gain from her death? If so, Sampson remained his main obstacle at Luxor.
She remembered the check Sampson had written to Chris. What was that all about? Had he owed her money? Certainly, he hadn’t been happy when Marla presented the uncashed check back to him. You’d think he would have been glad to have his debt cancelled, especially if Chris used it as a means to control him.
And these were just the stylists, she thought as she arrived at the ground floor, retrieved Georgia, and headed for the parking lot. Now that Chris’s seat was open, Jan had a chance for promotion. That meant Tyler could move up to regional manager, the position that Chris had denied him.
Why am I even bothering to think this way? Force of habit, that’s why . Vail’s influence already had her contemplating suspects. Chris’s unattended death raised some questions, including what had really happened last night between Georgia, Tyler, and the company director. Likely, the interpersonal dynamics were similar to what went on in most other firms, but then, no one ended up dead with their face in a foot bath at other firms.
It’s not your concern , she told herself, withdrawing her car keys from her purse. Georgia remained silent, so Marla spent the drive trying to rally her friend’s spirits.
She did a good job, because by the time they arrived at the shopping center housing the Cut ‘N Dye, Georgia was chatting happily about the restaurants in San Francisco, where she lived. Her appetite had returned with gusto, necessitating a stop at Burger King on the way west. Fortunately, the afternoon air had warmed to a balmy seventy degrees with a light sea breeze.
“This is why I love living in Florida,” Marla said, sipping a Diet Coke in the parking lot of her shopping strip. “It’s worth the risk of hurricanes. Besides, most of the tempests I’ve confronted have been caused by people.”
But she felt as though a whirlwind hit as soon as they walked through the door at her salon. Nicole had a panicked look on her face. “Marla, thank God,” the cinnamon-skinned stylist called out from her station. “I didn’t know where to put everyone.”
The seats up front were filled with regular customers and a couple of the models. Glancing toward the rear, Marla noticed Sampson using her chair for a coloring job, while another model sat at an empty manicure console with foils in her hair. The fifth girl occupied a seat by the shampoo sinks. Liesl stood
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