2 A Dyed Blonde and a Dead Body Read Online Free Page A

that," Bekki said as pleasantly as she could. As she took the woman through the stages of touching up her roots, she tried to ask questions to put her mind at ease.
    "Do you have a friend or family member who told you about Harroway?" she asked casually.
    "No, I just happened upon it, lucky me," Julie replied with a sly smile.
    "Do you live far from here?" Bekki inquired, her words nothing more than the friendly banter of a hair stylist.
    "I'm from Chicago, actually," Julie answered proudly. "But I'm a bit of a wanderer."
    The name of the city burned into Bekki's mind. It was the same city that Lydia was from. Sure, there were plenty of people in Chicago, but what were the chances of two of them ending up in Harroway?
    “I've heard Chicago is an amazing city,” Bekki smiled. “I'll let this set for a few minutes. Would you like some tea, some water?” she suggested.
    “No I'm fine thank you,” Julie replied and settled back in her chair. Bekki's mind was filled with pieces of information that did not fit together. She could not comprehend what Lydia and Julie would have to do with each other, and yet she couldn't shake the certainty that there was a connection. When she returned to style Julie's hair she decided to ask a few bolder questions.
    “Did you just get into town today?” she asked. Maybe, if Julie had been there the day before, she had visited the bakery, and that would explain how her earring back might have ended up on the floor.
    “Just this morning,” Julie nodded and watched Bekki like a hawk as she arranged and styled her hair.
    “Will you be staying long?” Bekki wondered as she gave the woman's hair a final fluff.
    “Well, with such an amazing stylist as yourself, I might have to,” Julie cooed as she smiled at herself in the mirror. Bekki tried not to let the compliment make her like the woman more but she couldn't help it. It meant a lot coming from someone as refined and obviously well off as her.
    “Thank you,” Bekki said genuinely. “I'm glad you like it.”
    “Now I can shop in style,” the woman sighed with relief and followed Bekki over to the front desk. She handed her a card to pay with. Bekki held the card in her hand long enough to get a clear view of the woman's full name, then she ran it through.
    “Well, I hope you enjoy your time here,” Bekki said as she plastered on her brightest smile. “Everyone is very close here.”
    “Good to know,” the woman said with an arched brow and then headed for the door. As soon as she was gone, Bekki grabbed a notepad and scribbled down her full name, Julie Ann Brentwood
    “Julie Ann…,” she said aloud.
    “Who's that?” Nick asked as he entered the salon.
    “How do you always do that?” Bekki demanded with exasperation.
    “Do what?” he frowned as he walked up to the desk.
    “You sneak in places, you're like a ninja,” she huffed and quickly tucked away the notepad.
    He quirked a brow and leaned across the desk, meeting her eyes boldly. “I am a ninja,” he stated flatly. “There you know my deepest, darkest secret.”
    Bekki couldn't help but smile a little. She was still annoyed with him over the night before, but there was something about Nick that never allowed her to stay angry with him for long.
    “All right then Ninja Nick, what brings you here? Need that ego trimmed a bit?” her lips curved into a cheeky smile.
    “Excuse me?” he blinked at her words and his mouth dropped open slightly. “My ego?”
    “Oh yes grand detective,” she bowed her head playfully and looked back up at him.
    “I am a police detective,” he pointed out, tapping the top of the desk lightly. “I actually have training, and experience, and…”
    “A shiny little badge,” she smirked and batted her eyes sweetly.
    “You're pushing it you know,” he heaved a sigh, but she could see the sparkle of amusement in his eyes.
    “Okay, fine, you're the detective,” she waved her hand in his direction. “But that means I get to be the