Read Online Permed To Death [Bad Hair Day Mystery 1] by Nancy J. Cohen - Free Book Online

It stays until it's cut out, but you'll need to touch up your roots every six weeks. You may want to start with the semipermanent to see the effect."
    "Okay, I'll make an appointment."
    "How'd your bathroom turn out? Last time you were here, you'd mentioned new tile."
    Jess smiled. “It's great. The new flooring brightens the whole place. Now I'm refurbishing the bookshelves in our family room. They're such a dark stain, and the wood is warped."
    "I'll tell you what's warped!” exclaimed Giorgio from across the room. Startled, Marla shot him a glance. She hadn't realized he'd been eavesdropping. His previous customer had left and apparently he was waiting for his next appointment. “That lady who was just here, she told me she saw Mrs. Kravitz's son cruising down the boulevard driving his mother's Cadillac. Can you imagine? He didn't even wait for the old lady to grow cold before taking her car."
    "That reminds me,” Marla said, snipping furiously. “Does anyone recall Todd Kravitz coming into the salon? He seemed so familiar when I met him at the funeral."
    At the next station, Nicole shook her head. “I'd remember his looks if I'd seen him before. Man, could he use a good stylist. What a slimeball!"
    Marla almost blurted out that she intended to meet him later in the week but held her tongue. Talk got around in a salon, and it might reach the wrong person's ears.
    "That's perfect,” Jess said, studying herself in the mirror when Marla was done. She always gave a compliment, unlike other women who kvetched about how their hair was cut too short or their white hairs were exposed. “So tell me, what happened to Bertha Kravitz? She's the talk of the town."
    Marla groaned inwardly. She'd repeated the story so many times she could hear it in her sleep. “I wrapped Bertha's perm and gave her a cup of coffee,” she said, seeing no way to avoid the story. “After a couple of sips, she was dead."
    "Wow, and the cops said she was poisoned?"
    "Right” She untied Jess's cape and used the dryer to blow stray hairs from her neckline, drowning out the possibility of any further conversation.
    To her relief, Jess let it go at that and departed just as her next customer showed up. Kept busy for the next couple of hours, Marla fielded questions and comments with a finesse she hadn't known she possessed. Her cool reserve wavered when Detective Vail marched through the door, but she told herself his visit was just routine. At least he didn't flaunt his status as a police officer. His navy sportcoat and red-and-blue-striped tie could have belonged to any businessman. Her glance swept his peppery hair brushed back from a wide forehead then settled on his craggy face.
    "Good afternoon, Detective Vail,” she said evenly as he approached. “What can I do for you?"
    ''I have a few more questions to ask, if you don’ t mind.” He smiled in a manner that reminded her of a wolf about to devour its prey.
    "Fire away.” She looked him directly in the eye, showing him she wasn't fooled by his supposedly friendly demeanor.
    "Where did you go after I dropped you off here on Thursday?"
    "I kibitzed with Arnie in the bagel shop, then I went home."
    "Directly home?"
    Oh God, was I spotted cruising by Mrs. Kravitz's house? Or worse, prowling around the grounds ? Thinking fast, she delivered a glib reply. “Actually, I went for a drive. I was nervous and upset. I didn't want to go home right away."
    "A car like yours was seen in Bertha Kravitz's neighborhood."
    So it was possible she hadn ‘t been personally identified. “I drove by her house. I couldn't help feeling sorry for the old lady, and I'd remembered where she lived. I went to her home once to do her hair before a party,” she lied.
    "Umm.” Vail didn't look convinced.’ ‘I'll just meander around and talk to your employees. Don't let me keep you from your work."
    "Sure,” she gritted.
    The next hour crawled by as she felt his eyes on her constantly. When would the man leave? His