Read 1 Hairspray and Homicide Online
Authors: Cindy Bell
1 Hairspray and Homicide (8 page)
No matter how much changed in her life, Bekki had to admit that she always fell back on those fond memories of Nick and that special summer to get her through difficult moments. They became like a fantasy to her, a place to retreat to the sweet dreams of youth, before the reality of life kicked in. Trevor had seemed so real to her, and yet in the end, he had turned out to be as fake as they come. Suddenly Bekki sat forward on the porch swing.
“That's it!” she gasped out into the night air. “It was him or me! Now I understand!”
It was late, and Bekki knew that if she called Nick with another wild idea after all of the things she had pulled lately, he would likely not believe her. She had no way to prove her theory at the moment. All she had was one very risky hunch, and a big part of her hoped that it was wrong. As she turned in for the night she hoped she had solved the mystery, and hoped that she would be able to clear her name.
First thing in the morning, Bekki was waiting beside Nick's desk. When he walked into the police station and saw her standing there, his expression was grim.
“Good morning Bekki,” he said as nicely as he could.
“Guess what?” she smiled at him as she dropped a fresh cup of coffee on his desk in front of him.
“Ah,” he murmured in appreciation of the scent of the coffee. He held up one finger to her as he took a small sip. Then nodded. “Okay, I'm ready,” he turned his full attention on her.
“I solved the case,” she smirked and rapped her knuckles lightly against his desk.
“Oh really?” he laughed out loud, drawing the attention of some of the other officers in the station. “And just how did you do that?”
Bekki considered how to answer that question. She really didn't want to detail how their fling several years before had reminded her that it wouldn't matter what he did, she would never do anything to hurt him. She had the feeling that Pete felt the same way about Daisy.
“Let's just say, I'm trusting my instincts,” she said secretively. “But more important is the fact that you have the wrong man in jail.”
“I do not,” Nick countered, his lashes tightening around his green eyes.
“You do too,” she replied sharply and narrowed her own eyes in response.
“No, I don't,” he insisted and stood up from his desk.
“But, I'm telling you, Pete is not the murderer,” she said, her voice raising an octave.
“I know,” Nick smiled.
“I mean it,” Bekki started to say, and then stopped. “Wait, you know?” she asked with surprise.
“Yes, Pete had an alibi. He was with a late customer when Daisy was killed. So there is no way he is the killer. Which unfortunately returns you to our prime suspect position,” he said with a grimace. “You really have to stop investigating on your own, you're getting me into serious trouble with my partner. She already thinks I'm offering you special favors since we know each other.”
“Are you?” Bekki asked curiously. When Nick avoided looking directly at her, she knew that he wasn't going to answer honestly.
“Of course not,” he said firmly. “But we both know that you didn't kill anyone Bekki. We just have to find a way to prove that.”
“Well, it's a good thing I solved the crime then,” she said quickly, her eyes shimmering with the anticipation of sharing the truth with him.
“Bekki,” Nick shook his head and smiled faintly as if he did not know where to begin with her. “I can't wait to hear this.”
“You will hear it,” Bekki insisted with a mischievious smile. “Just follow my lead.”
“Always chasing,” he mumbled under his breath as Bekki led him out of the police station.
***
About an hour later Bekki arrived at Daisy's salon. Teddy was inside sorting through some of the paperwork.
“Hi Teddy,” Bekki said softly as she let herself in. Teddy looked up at her, startled.
“Bekki, what are you doing here?” he asked with a grimace.
“I just wanted to check on you,” Bekki murmured and let the door fall shut behind her.
“Bekki I really don't think it's a good idea for you to be here,” Teddy said apologetically as he stood up from behind the reception desk.
“Teddy, you and I both know that I didn't kill Daisy,” she said firmly. “I just wanted to thank you for standing up for me that night, with Daisy. I meant to thank you then, but it slipped my mind.”
“Well, Daisy could get a little out of hand,” Teddy admitted with a sigh. “I have no idea who killed her Bekki, but you did have an argument with her that night.”
Bekki nodded and leaned against the desk beside him. “As I recall you and Daisy had a few words that night as well. Did you fight often?”
Teddy frowned as he shuffled the papers in his hands. “We'd been married for a long time Bekki, arguments were bound to happen.”
Bekki nodded slowly. “You must miss her so much,” she continued, easing further into the conversation.
"I still can't believe it," he murmured, his voice strangled by grief as he rested his head in his hands. "She's gone."
"I'm sorry Teddy," Bekki said with genuine sympathy. "I know that losing someone you love can be the worst feeling that you ever experience."
"It is," he agreed and looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry you got mixed up in all of this Bekki.”
“Can it really be your fault?” she asked in a gentle tone. “Really the fault lies with Daisy and Pete, doesn't it?”
Teddy stared at her, stunned by her words. “What are you saying?” he asked, and swallowed thickly.
“After so many years of marriage, after you had been so loyal to her, to find out
about them, had to be the harshest experience.”
Teddy hung his head. “I had no idea that Daisy was with Pete. I only suspected when I found the deed to the Dry Cleaners in her papers. She was a joint owner with Pete. I can't believe all those years of marriage led to this," his voice raised with anger over his last words.
"I know that must have hurt you," Bekki assured him and took one of his hands in hers. "You did so much for Daisy, and treated her with so much love. To find out she betrayed you must have really pushed you over the edge."
"It did," he admitted, his words torn by a sob.
"And when she didn't even deny it," Bekki murmured, making sure her voice was loud enough for the microphone to record. "All of that anger you must have felt."
"She laughed in my face," he gasped out, and then suddenly his face went pale. "I mean, I didn't mean to say that!"
Bekki met his gaze sternly. "Calm down Teddy. Everyone will understand why you did what you did. Daisy was horrible to everyone, worst of all you. She trampled all over your heart, how could you not react when she told you the truth?"
"No," he shook his head firmly. "No, I wouldn't do that to her!"
"Of course you wouldn't. Not on purpose," Bekki prompted him gently. "But when that anger came over you, you couldn't control yourself, could you?"
"No," he wept and laid his head back into his hands. "I couldn't stop myself. She just wouldn't stop laughing at me. Oh what have I done? "
“So, you blackmailed Pete to help you frame me or he would have lost half the dry cleaners?” Bekki questioned.
“I am so sorry Bekki,” he wept.
Bekki sat back slowly as she heard the door open to the salon. She heard the footsteps of the police officers approaching. As she watched Teddy being led away in handcuffs she couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him. He had discovered that his entire marriage was a lie. It had been devastating for Bekki when she found out about Trevor cheating on her, and that was only after two years. Daisy and Teddy had been married for at least thirty.
Bekki felt warm hands slide down over the curve of her shoulders followed by a gentle squeeze.
"Are you okay?" Nick asked gently.
"I think so," Bekki sniffed and wiped at her eyes.
“What you said in there, about knowing how it feels to lose someone you love,” he paused a moment, his voice barely above a whisper. “That was about Trevor wasn't it? Did he break your heart?”
Bekki stared up at him, her lips dangerously close to his. “No,” she shook her head slowly. “It wasn't about Trevor.”
Nick's eyes widened slightly but his next question was lost on the tip of his tongue. “You did good work Bekki,” he finally said, reluctantly changing the subject as he knew it was not the time or place to hash out their past.
"At least we finally know the truth,” Bekki sighed with relief. “No matter how sad it may be.”
Nick nodded as he helped her up from her chair. "Thanks to you, Bekki. You helped us figure it out."
"So, maybe I'm not a bad influence after all?" Bekki asked, her lips curving upward into a mild smile.
"I wouldn't go that far, just yet," he grinned, and they walked out of the salon together.
The End
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