Shampoo and a Stiff (4 page)

Bekki locked the door promptly at six. Then she began the closing routine for the salon. She was so engrossed in her thoughts as she worked that when she heard a knock on the door it made her jump out of her skin. She gasped and spun around quickly to find a figure in the glass doors. She hadn't turned the outside light on yet, so it was really just an outline in the evening light. Bekki's heart started racing as she wondered if it might be the reporter, or the man who claimed to be the reporter. The figure knocked again.

“
Bekki?” Nick called out. “Are you in there?”

Bekki
flushed with embarrassment. Of course it was Nick. He was picking her up to meet Sammy and Morris at the bar.

“
I'm coming,” she called out and rushed over to the door. Once she unlocked and opened it, Nick stepped in with a frown.

“
Everything okay?” he asked as he glanced around the salon.

“
Yes, sorry. You just startled me,” she explained with a shake of her head. Nick studied her intently.

“
You don't usually startle easily,” he pointed out. In the time that they had been together Bekki had been in a few dangerous situations and she usually rose to the occasion.

“
To be honest, when I got here after lunch there was this man hanging around outside. Actually, he was hiding. When I spotted him he claimed he was a reporter. I believed him, but the more I think about it...”

“
Why didn't you call me when it happened?” Nick asked with wide eyes as he looked towards the door. “I would have checked him out.”

“
I know, but honestly I didn't think anything of it until later,” she frowned as she shut down the cash register. “He said that there was a lot being said about the possible sale of the factory, and that with Brad's death it could finally happen.”

“
What did he mean?” Nick asked as he gathered up the trash from the waste baskets.

“
Apparently, Brad is the reason why they hadn't sold the company yet. He had no interest in selling,” Bekki explained and took the bags from him. They walked out to the dumpster together.

“
That's interesting,” Nick said as he rubbed his chin lightly. “Steven didn't say anything to me about that.”

“
But he has an alibi,” Bekki reminded him with a grim frown. “Did the coroner pinpoint the time of death, yet?”

“
Only within a few hours, somewhere between about nine and midnight,” Nick explained as they walked to his car. “Looks like he was strangled,” he added and then lowered his voice. “It was likely with bare hands, so it is probably a man.”

“
Huh,” Bekki said thoughtfully as she sat in the passenger side of his car. “Well, I guess there was a struggle,” she said thoughtfully as she recalled the scraped label on the dented bottle of shampoo. It was likely that whoever had packed the boxes had dropped the pen inside. So, it made sense that the struggle took place while the boxes were being packed.

“
Looks like it,” Nick said calmly as he parked the car in the parking lot. The bar was fairly empty since it was a week night. Sammy and Morris were already waiting for them at a table near the corner. Nick frowned a little as he glanced over at Bekki.

“
You’re not here to ask about the case, are you?” he asked.

“
It's a night out with friends,” Bekki assured him and kissed his cheek softly.

“
Hmm,” he kissed her on the cheek in return. 

As they walked further into the bar Sammy waved to them from the table where she and Morris were sitting.
Bekki could see that there were already two frosty mugs of beer on the table.

“
I'll just get us some drinks,” she murmured to Nick and pulled away from him to head to the bar. Bekki could feel his gaze following her, but he walked over to the table to greet Sammy and Morris. When Bekki stepped up to the bar, Doug was wiping a few glasses clean.

“
Well, hello there, Bekki,” he smiled at her. “It's been a while.”

“
It has,” Bekki agreed as she leaned against the bar. “I've been pretty busy lately.”

“
So I've heard,” Doug chuckled. “What can I get you?”

“
A couple of house drafts would be fine,” Bekki replied and then lowered her voice slightly. “And maybe a little bit of information.”

“
Information?” Doug grinned as he set the mugs of beer on the bar. “What about?”

“
Well, as you know Brad Zane was killed on Sunday night,” Bekki explained.

“
Yes, terrible thing,” Doug shook his head. “But I don't know anything about that. I already told Nick that I saw Steven Zane in here all night.”

“
I was wondering if maybe Steven had spoken to you about anything,” Bekki picked up one of the mugs of beer and took a small sip. “Did he seem upset, or maybe have something he was excited about?”

“
Actually,” Doug narrowed his eyes slightly. “I did notice that he bought a round for everyone in the bar. That's pretty unusual around here.”

“
Did he say why?” Bekki asked curiously. It didn't seem like a gesture that Steven would make easily.

“
Just said, he felt like it,” Doug shook his head. “It was busy in here so I didn't have much time to talk to him. But he was talking to your dad and his friends.”

“
My dad?” Bekki asked with surprise. “You mean he was in here on Sunday night talking to Steven?”

“
Yes,” Doug shrugged. “Just in passing you know, like hi how are you doing, that kind of thing. I didn't think it was important enough to tell Nick. I mean, what difference does it make? Steven was here all night.”

“
Thanks Doug,” Bekki said as she picked up both of the mugs of beer.

“
I hope it helps,” he smiled. He tilted his head towards the table where Nick gave him a short wave and a smile. “First round is on me,” he winked at Bekki.

“
Thank you very much,” Bekki grinned and walked over to the table. Nick took his beer and met her eyes as she sat down beside him.

“
So, how did the interrogation go?” he asked and sipped his beer.

“
Actually, it was interesting,” Bekki replied knowing that Nick would see straight through her if she tried to deny asking Doug questions related to the murder. Everyone at the table leaned in to hear what she had to say. “According to Doug, Steven bought everyone a round of beer in the bar. It was packed that night. Who does that but millionaires?”

“
Good point,” Sammy nodded a little. “That is weird.”

“Maybe he just had a few too many and was feeling generous,” Nick pointed out.

“
Well, I'm going to find out,” Bekki said with confidence. “Apparently he was chatting with my dad.”

“
Wait, Doug told you that?” Nick asked as he looked back up at the bar with some annoyance. “He didn't mention that to me.”

“
Well, I guess I have my talents,” Bekki smiled a little over the top of her beer.

“
I guess you do,” he laughed and studied her with admiration.

After they finished their drinks and were ready to head home, Nick guided her to the car.

“I can just drop you off at the salon tomorrow,” he suggested, as Bekki's car was still at the salon.

“
No thanks,” Bekki kissed his cheek lightly. “I think I'm going to stop by my parents’ place.”

“
Okay,” he smiled as he knew what she was up to. “Want me to come along?” he offered.

“
No, you have to work tomorrow,” she reminded him. “Must be well rested to be the police officer in the relationship.”

“
Ha ha,” he growled and kissed her firmly. “Okay, I'll drop you off at your car,” he agreed reluctantly. On the drive to the salon, Bekki filled Nick in a little more on what Doug had shared with her.

“
So, I'm thinking if I can talk to my dad and see if he has an idea of when Steven arrived and left, maybe it will help validate his alibi,” Bekki explained. “I still think he's hiding something. But, then of course there's that reporter...”

“
And the hundreds of other people that might have had something against Brad,” Nick reminded her as he pulled into the parking lot of the salon. “I'm not looking forward to tracking down all of his girlfriends.”

“
You're right,” Bekki nodded thoughtfully. “It would make sense that it would be a boyfriend of one of the women he was with. But,” Bekki said as it suddenly occurred to her. “You're forgetting about the damaged shampoo bottle.”

“
What damaged shampoo bottle?” Nick asked with confusion.

“
Oh, that's right, I didn't tell you about that,” Bekki arched a brow. “I found one of the bottles that came in my delivery was dented and scraped. Like maybe someone had dropped it, or even scratched it with something.”

“
And?” Nick asked as he attempted to follow her logic.

“
Well, if the bottle was scraped in a scuffle, then the person who attacked Brad had to have been familiar enough with the factory to be packing the boxes. I doubt it was Brad himself packing the shampoo bottles. Why would an owner be doing that?” she shook her head at the idea.

“
Good point,” Nick agreed as he sat back and gripped the wheel of the car loosely. “We still haven’t been able to search the factory and I've got to get permission to interview the employees. Steven is being a stickler and demanding warrants for everything, which is understandable considering the bad press his company it getting from this.”

Bekki
leaned over to kiss him gently. “I'll see you at home,” she smiled as she met his eyes.

“
See you there,” he replied and kissed her once more. He waited until Bekki was safely in her car before driving off.

***

Bekki knew her father would still be awake. It had taken him a while to find a way to fill his free time when he had first retired, but recently he seemed to always have a new hobby to keep him up at night. He loved tinkering with anything that he could get his hands on. Still, she knocked softly on the door just in case. He came to the door pretty quickly and smiled when he saw her.

“
What a nice surprise,” he said as he held open the door for her. “Shh, Mama's sleeping,” he added in a hushed tone.

“
I'll just stay a minute,” Bekki said as she gave her father a quick hug. “I was at Doug's, and he told me that you had spoken with Steven Zane on Sunday night.”

“
Oh sure, uh huh,” her father nodded as he walked back over to the kitchen table. He was working on a miniature plane. “So sad about his brother,” he added with a frown.

“
I was wondering if you saw him come in or leave?” Bekki asked as she sat down across from him.

“
Well, I saw him come in, everyone did. He walked right up to the bar and ordered drinks for the entire bar, everyone was impressed,” he peered closely at the wing he was gluing together.

“
Do you know what time that was?” Bekki asked hopefully.

“
Oh, maybe nine?” he shrugged a little. “I can't be sure. I was there to enjoy a few drinks, and wasn't really paying attention to the time.”

“
How about when he left?” Bekki suggested and watched as he cautiously connected the wing of the plane.

“
We hung around until about midnight I guess,” he admitted and grinned at his daughter. “Don't tell your mom though, she was sound asleep when I stumbled in. Let me tell you, one night of fun proved to me that I am too old for hangovers.”

“Dad,” Bekki laughed quietly and shook her head. “So, Steven was still there when you left?”

“
Bekki, to be perfectly honest I can't be sure,” he frowned. “All I know is that I got herded into a cab with a few of the other guys. Steven wasn't with us then. I don't recall him leaving, though.”

“
Yes, no one does,” Bekki pursed her lips a little. “What I don't understand is, if he created such a commotion with his generosity, why did he slip out?”

“
I don't know, Bekki, guys like Steven can be pretty strange,” he said as he set down the small bottle of glue. “Are you thinking he had something to do with his brother's death?”

“
I'm not sure,” Bekki replied honestly.

“
I hope not,” her father frowned deeply as he looked at her. “There's no excuse for bad blood between brothers.”

“
Maybe not, but these brothers were in business together,” Bekki pointed out. “That can change things.”