Died Blonde Read Online Free Page A

Carolyn employed a number of graduates from the Sunrise Academy of Beauty. She subsidized foreign students there.”
    “I heard them jabbering in some language. Couldn’t recognize it, except that it wasn’t Spanish.”
    Bilingualism being nearly an acquired trait among South Floridians since the Cuban influx, Sam’s remark didn’t raise her eyebrows. But where did the women originate from if they weren’t Hispanic? French-speaking Canada? “Do you think Carolyn got knocked off by a disgruntled employee?”
    Sam shrugged. “Carolyn acted a bit weird. Maybe that contributed to her downfall. She could have annoyed someone in her spiritual camp.”
    “What do you mean?” Shuffling through several magazines on the counter, Marla glanced at the covers of Kitchens and Baths, Better Homes and Gardens, Seventeen, Builders Square, and Gardening Today . A customer entered, clinking a bell on the door. The fellow wasn’t anyone she recognized. He seemed out of place in his sport coat and tie, as though he belonged in a downtown Fort Lauderdale office, in one of those tall bank buildings, instead of cruising the casual suburbs. Black hair was slicked off his wide forehead with something that looked more like suet than hair gel.
    You want to be more kosher, pal? Drop the grease on your head and lose the suit. This is tropical territory, unless you don’t mind changing your shirt several times a day . Then again, Vail always wore a suit to work, and he looked smashing. It must be the way this guy was sweating that put her off. Or maybe it was his beady eyes that scoured them as though they were fire ants needing extermination.
    Sam leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Carolyn was nuts about voodoo stuff. If she let it interfere with her work, that might have made people unhappy. Whenever I talked to her, she referred to her ‘spiritual adviser.’ Seemed pretty hokey to me.”
    “I didn’t know Carolyn was into that sort of thing.”
    “You bet. Gotta go now. Keep me informed, will you?” He turned to the customer, who’d stopped right behind Marla, practically breathing down her neck. “May I help you, sir?”
    Marla stepped out of his path but didn’t leave, remembering another reason why she’d come into the store.
    The man glared at her as though he could wish her away. “I’m having a problem with a sink faucet. Where can I find your plumbing supplies?”
    Like you’re going to soil your clothes to fix a sink? Yeah, right . “Sam, there’s one more thing. Remember I told you about my mother? She’s coming in for an appointment this afternoon, and I’d really like for you to meet her. Think you can stop by around three o’clock?”
    Sam’s eyes twinkled. “I was wondering when you were going to ask me. The boss is coming in at two, so I should be able to take a break. I’ll be there.”
    “Great, see you later.”
    Stepping outside, she considered what to do with her remaining free time. Get a snack? Or swallow her distaste for visiting Hairstyle Heaven? Marla had yet to step inside Carolyn’s salon, because the prospect repelled her. She’d made some additional suggestions to Claudia about running the shop, since the girl had come pleading to her several times after their first encounter. But offering specific advice based on an examination of Carolyn’s business practices just wasn’t her place.
    Vail was still looking into the legalities regarding Carolyn’s heirs, while Marla secretly hoped Hairstyle Heaven would be forced to close. From what Vail had told her, Carolyn’s sister, Linda Hall, did not inherit the salon. Nor did any of her other distant relatives. That left future management up in the air, while Carolyn’s staffers struggled to maintain the business in the interim.
    Their landlord might know who had to pay the rent. Dennis Thomson’s office was a short drive away, a block across from her favorite Publix supermarket. Marla figured Vail must’ve spoken to him already, but maybe