Permed to Death by Nancy J. Cohen, FirstChapter

PERMED TO DEATH
By Nancy J. Cohen

CHAPTER ONE

"Marla, if the coffee is ready, I'll have a cup while my perm processes," Mrs. Kravitz said, squinting as Marla squeezed the pungent solution onto her scalp. "Be careful! I feel it dripping down my neck."

"I'll be done in a minute." Marla gritted her teeth as she bumped her hip against the shampoo sink. Already this promised to be an aggravating day. She'd had to come in early to accommodate Mrs. Kravitz, and the rest of her morning was fully booked. Not that Bertha Kravitz cared; she never considered anyone's needs except her own.

With an efficiency born of years of practice, she wrapped Mrs. Kravitz's rods in a plastic cap, then set the timer for twenty minutes. After washing her hands, she poured her client a cup of coffee and added a package of sugar.

"Don't forget my powdered creamer!" Mrs. Kravitz called.

"I've got it." Marla mixed in two spoonfuls from a reserved jar, frowning when her spoon scraped bottom. Damn, she hadn't realized the supply had dwindled so low! Sparing a moment to rinse the container at a sink, she tossed it into the trash while making a mental note to buy more later.

"Here you go," she said, handing Mrs. Kravitz the steaming mug.

"Marla, was that my jar you just discarded? I hope you have another one in stock because I'll want more coffee." Taking a sip, the woman grimaced. "Ugh, this tastes like medicine! How long has it been standing?"

"I just brewed a fresh pot before you came."

"Give me another package of sugar." While Marla complied, Mrs. Kravitz scanned the room like a vulture searching for prey. "Where's the bagels? I could use something to eat."

"I haven't had a chance to get them yet. Why don't you try to relax? You have less than fifteen minutes left on your timer. I'm going into the storeroom for some clean towels."

Scowling, Mrs. Kravitz took another sip of coffee. Hoping to escape before the woman issued a new command, Marla rushed into the storage area. Her gaze scanned the shelves of chemicals, alighting on the neutralizer solution she'd selected earlier. She plucked it off its perch and was reaching for a pile of towels when a strangled sound struck her ears. A loud crash followed, like glass shattering.

Sprinting into the salon, Marla stared at Mrs. Kravitz, who slumped in the shampoo chair. Her bagged head lolled against the sink. The plastic cap wrapped around her rods had become dislodged, partially shading her face. Marla's gaze dropped to the floor where broken shards of the ceramic mug lay scattered amid a trail of dark liquid.

"Mrs. Kravitz?" she rasped, her heart thumping.

When there was no response, Marla stepped closer. She stared in disbelief as she got a better view.

Mrs. Kravitz's face was distorted into an ugly grimace. Wide-set eyes, pupils dilated, stared blankly at the ceiling. She didn't appear to be breathing, unless her respirations were too shallow to notice.

"Mrs. Kravitz?" Marla repeated, her voice hoarse. Maybe the old woman had fainted or been overwhelmed by fumes from the perm solution. Or she'd fallen asleep. But then her chest would be moving, wouldn't it? And her eyes wouldn't be wide open like a--Oh God.

Bile rising in her throat, she prodded the woman's arm, then jumped back when Mrs. Kravitz's hand flopped over the side of the chair, dangling like a cold, dead fish. A surge of nausea seized her as images from the past clouded her mind. You can't freeze up now, girl. Call for help.

Rushing to the phone, she dialed 911.

"Police, fire, or medical?" replied the operator.

"Medical. I'm Marla Shore at the Cut 'N Dye Beauty Salon. One of my clients has stopped breathing. I think she's dead!" Her voice cracking, she gave her address.

"I'm notifying the rescue unit. They'll be there soon."

Marla replaced the receiver in its cradle, her hand trembling as a sense of deja vu washed over her. Stiff with fear, she stood immobilized as memories from another time, another place haunted her thoughts. A child's limp form, cradled in her arms. Her screams, echoing through a summer afternoon. Accusations, harsh and unforgiving. She hadn't known what to do then. Maybe she could make a difference now.

She dashed over to check the body for a pulse, forcing herself to feel the clammy wrist. She felt nothing. A faint odor, vaguely amiliar, assailed her nostrils. Briefly, she wondered about performing CPR, but logic told her it was too late. Sirens sounded outside, accompanied by the noise of screeching brakes. Any decision became unnecessary as a team of paramedics thundered in the front door. She stood aside while they performed their assessment.

A police officer arrived on the scene. After conferring with the medics, he asked Marla some preliminary questions. Numb with shock, she leaned against a counter while he notified his sergeant by cellular phone. She heard him mention something about a crime unit, so when several techs and a detective walked in, she wasn't surprised. Still, she wondered why they'd been called. Surely Mrs. Kravitz had a heart attack or a stroke.

Ignoring the technicians who scoured the salon, she focused on the steely-eyed detective approaching her. She could tell he was used to being in command just from the set of his wide shoulders, his determined stride, and the hawklike expression on his sharply angular face. Bushy eyebrows rose above a nose that might have been rearranged in his youth, indicating he wasn't averse to physical action when required. Faced with such a formidable symbol of authority, she quaked when he stopped in front of her.

Nervous, she began babbling. "I didn't realize she was ill. If I'd have known, I would have called for help sooner. It wasn't my fault."

He held up a hand. "I'm Detective Vail. Please tell me what happened from the start, Miss Shore." When she'd finished, he studied his notes. "Let's see if I've got this straight. You wrapped her hair, gave her a cup of coffee, then went into the back room. Hearing a noise, you returned to find the deceased slumped in her chair."

Marla nodded. "That's right." Her knees weakening, she sank onto a seat at the closest hair station. A quick glance in the mirror shocked her. Her short, glossy brown hair curled inward at chin length, wispy bangs feathering a forehead creased with worry lines. A stranger's fearful eyes, dark as toffee, stared back at her. Surely, that ghastly complexion couldn't be hers. She looked ill, which was certainly how she felt, but this wasn't as horrible as that day when--

"You made a fresh pot of coffee just before Mrs. Kravitz came in?" Detective Vail asked, ripping her away from painful memories.

She nodded, glad for the distraction. "I poured some coffee into her mug, then added a package of sugar and two spoonfuls of powdered creamer. My other customers prefer Half & Half, but Bertha insisted on using the dry variety. I kept a jar just for her."

A gleam entered his gray eyes. "Where is it?"

"I'm afraid I threw it out. I'd used up the last spoonfuls. She said the coffee tasted bitter," Marla recalled. "I didn't think much of it because she complained about everything."

"Did you notice the color of the creamer?"

"Not really."

"Any unusual odors?"

"No...yes. I did smell something after Mrs. Kravitz...when I went to feel her pulse. It reminded me of"--she wrinkled her nose--"marzipan. Yes, that's it."

His eyes narrowed. "You mean almonds?"

"I believe so."

He scanned the tabletop holding the coffeemaker and related supplies. "Where do you normally keep the foodstuffs?"

"In a rear storeroom."

"Who's allowed back there?"

"Everyone. Even our clients go into the storeroom sometimes. Our regulars are pretty familiar with the place."

"You said the creamer jar was nearly empty. Did you recall using most of it the last time the deceased was here?"

"Not really." An idea dawned on her. "Surely you don't think it was something in her drink?" she said, horrified.

"We're just collecting evidence, ma'am. The medical examiner will determine cause of death. Is there anything else you can think of that might be relevant?"

She frowned. "The back door was open when I arrived this morning. I meant to speak to the cleaning crew about it later."

"I see. Please excuse me." He held a hushed conference with two techs, one of whom veered off to examine the trash and another who headed for the rear entrance. They'd already scooped up the dribbled remains of coffee on the floor, collected pieces of the broken mug, and dusted everything for fingerprints. The medical examiner had taken charge of the corpse. Finished with his initial assessment, he'd called the body removal service.

Please get here soon, Marla thought, looking everywhere but at the dead woman. To distract herself, she calculated the cost of a new shampoo chair.

Vail returned to resume his interview. "Tell me, how would you describe your relationship with Bertha Kravitz?"

She compressed her lips. "She was a regular client."

"When did she start coming here to get her hair done?"

"Ever since I opened the shop, eight years ago."

"Did you know her before that time?"

Marla hesitated a fraction too long. "Sure," she said, careful to keep her tone casual. "I'd met her at local charity events."

"Excuse me," said a young officer, approaching them. "There's a couple of women up front who say they're stylists."

Getting Vail's nod of approval, Marla slipped off her chair and hurried to the door. Her face lit up when she spied two familiar faces among the crowd gathering outside. "Lucille! Thank God you're here. And Nicole, I'm so glad to see you!

Officer, please let them in," she begged the burly policeman standing guard.

"I'm sorry, miss, no one is allowed inside."

"That's okay, Officer," called Detective Vail. "You can let them inside but keep them near the door."

Marla hugged Nicole when the slim dark-skinned woman entered. Nicole had always been her staunch supporter, and she needed her strength now. She wasn't disappointed. Nicole embraced her, as though sensing her need for comfort.

"What's going on?" Lucille snapped. For a woman in her fifties, she presented herself in an attractive manner. Her light application of makeup was just the right tint to complement her colored reddish gold hair.

Quickly, Marla filled her colleagues in on what had happened. Her voice shook with emotion, and Nicole laid a comforting hand on her arm. The tall woman looked sleek and elegant in an ivory pantsuit, her thick raven hair tied in a low ponytail.

"Are you okay?" Nicole asked, her initial shocked expression changing to concern.

Marla drew in a shaky breath. "I've been better."

"This wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known the old lady would become ill."

"I should have been more attentive." Her voice faded, and she remembered that other time a life had depended upon her. She'd failed miserably then and hadn't improved this time.

"Marla." Nicole's sharp tone brought her back to the present. "Don't think about what happened before. That's irrelevant to this situation."

No, it isn't, Marla agonized. Both times, she'd been in a caretaker role and someone had died as a result. Her mother said things happened in threes. Was she doomed to repeat her mistake for a third round? Get a grip! You've already wallowed in enough sorrow. No more!

She managed a weak smile. "I called our customers to notify them we'll be closed for a few days. I said we had an emergency but didn't go into details."

"What about Miloki and the other staff members?"

"I got hold of nearly everyone. You two had already left for work."

"Good thinking, honey," Lucille cut in, her pale blue eyes approving. "Sounds like you have things well under control."

"Ms. Shore."

Dear Lord, it's that detective again. She summoned her strength to face him as he bore down on her. "Yes?" His probing gaze made her feel like a criminal.

"I don't understand why you and Ms. Kravitz were here at eight this morning. Didn't you say your salon normally opens at ten?"

His jaw moved, and she wondered if he were chewing on a piece of gum. Unable to meet his eyes, she glanced at his charcoal suit. "Mrs. Kravitz needed a Thursday appointment, but I didn't have any openings today. Usually, I book two hours for a perm so I had her come in at eight. I can be flexible for my regular clients."

"Couldn't she make an appointment for another day?"

"She was scheduled to be a guest speaker at the library luncheon this afternoon. She wanted to get her hair done early."

"Did anyone among your staff dislike the deceased?"

Her gaze flew to his face, and she inhaled a sharp gust of air. Could he possibly--?

"Detective Vail!" called one of the technicians, saving her from having to answer.

"I'll be right there," he replied. "We'll talk more later," he promised Marla in a deceptively congenial tone. His slate gray eyes met hers, his look of cool assessment seeming to suck the guilt from her soul. She swallowed apprehensively, wondering how much he already knew about her, and how much he'd find out.

"When do you think we'll be allowed to reopen?" she asked, concerned about the customers scheduled for that weekend. She hoped they wouldn't lose too many days. The drop in income would be devastating, not to mention how annoyed her clientele would be to have their appointments canceled.

"I'll let you know," Vail said, stuffing his notebook into a pocket. "We should be able to complete our work here over the weekend." He paused, frowning thoughtfully. "I'll need a list of your staff members: names, addresses, phone numbers. Oh, and your appointment calendar." His sharp gaze pinned Nicole and Lucille. "Don't go away. I'll have some questions for you in just a few minutes."

His words caused a ripple of shock to tear through her. Questions about what? Didn't he believe her story?

Shaken, she turned to Nicole. "I'm sorry you got involved," she said, feeling bad that her friends were drawn into the quagmire.

"It's okay," Nicole reassured her, patting her shoulder. "You look awfully pale, Marla. Maybe you should go home."

"Detective Vail hasn't said I can leave yet. Besides, I won't let you face him alone."

Lucille grinned. "Don't get so worked up over this, honey. Think of the good side: the bad publicity might be a godsend. Once the commotion dies--forgive the pun!--people will swarm here to satisfy their curiosity."

"That's just great." She knew her friends were trying to help, but anxiety addled her mind. "Carolyn Sutton will take advantage of the situation. She wants our lease which is due for renewal next month. From what I hear, she's already been soliciting the landlord, and this incident could turn him against us. He'll boot us out and give the place to Carolyn."

"Nonsense!" Nicole scoffed. "You've fought her off before. You can do it again."

"I hope so."

Vail returned to interview Lucille and Nicole and to collect the list of staff members that Marla had printed from the computer. "You need to come down to the station to make your formal statements," he said. "I'll drive you in my car."

Outside, the warm, humid Florida air blasted her lungs. She followed Vail to an unmarked sedan and got in when he wordlessly held the door open. Mindless of the air-cooled interior, she huddled in the backseat with her companions. At least the last time she hadn't needed to go to police headquarters. She'd been a hysterical nineteen-year-old, and the cops had interviewed her in the home where the accident happened. They were sympathetic, not accusatory. She was the one who'd blamed herself for the tragedy. And later, the child's parents....

"You'll be all right," Nicole said, grasping her hand.

Tears squeezed from Marla's eyes. How could she bear to go through another inquiry?

Somehow she survived giving her taped statement at the police station and answering more questions in detail. Thankfully, her involvement in that other incident wasn't mentioned. It was bad enough that she remembered.

Relieved when the ordeal was over, she sagged against the cushion in Vail's car as he drove them back to the salon.

"I'll be in touch," he promised as he dropped them off. His face was impassive so she couldn't read his expression, but his eyes spoke volumes. They never once left her face when he spoke, as though he knew she had a secret to hide.

"Arnie must be wondering what's going on," Nicole said, when they were standing in the parking lot.

Marla glanced at the deli located two stores down the shopping strip from her salon. She didn't want to go home yet. Too many blank walls to face. Too many memories. "I'll talk to him."

"Tell him not to worry, everything will be fine. You, too, honey. Call us later," Lucille urged, waving goodbye.

Exhausted, she nodded, waiting until the two women left. After reassuring herself the salon was properly locked up, she strode to the eatery. The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bagels wafted into her nostrils as she entered.

"Hi, Arnie," she greeted the dark-haired man behind the cash register. He flashed her a disarming grin. His teeth gleamed white beneath a droopy mustache, dimples creasing his cheeks. She glanced at his trim figure encased in a T-shirt and jeans and quickly looked away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sobering. "You didn't come in to get your usual order of bagels this morning, and then I saw police cars outside."

She took a deep tremulous breath. "Mrs. Kravitz is dead."

"What? The old lady?" She'd told him about her demanding customer before. "How is that possible?" Delegating his post to an employee, he gestured to her. "Come on, sit down. You look like you're about to keel over."

Taking her elbow, he led her to a vacant table. "Two coffees, Ruth," he called to a passing waitress.

Sniffing the aroma of garlic and hot brewed coffee, Marla became aware of an empty gnawing in her stomach, but her appetite had long since departed. Wiping sweaty hands on her belted tan jumpsuit, she related her story.

"Did she have any medical problems that you knew about?" Arnie probed.

"No, and I've seen her every eight weeks for a trim. Her hair was so resistant that she needed a perm often, too. No matter what I did, she'd kvetch about it, but I don't recall her ever saying a word about having a medical condition."

Arnie nodded sympathetically. "I know what you mean about her being a whiner. She came in here for breakfast and was a lousy tipper."

"Tell me about it."

Arnie stroked his mustache. "So the detective thinks it might have been something in her coffee that killed her?"

Marla shuddered. "I hope not, since I served her the drink myself. Vail seemed to find it significant that I smelled almonds near the body."

Arnie leaned forward. "Cyanide."

"Huh?"

"Didn't you ever watch old spy movies? When caught, the guy would take a cyanide pill. He'd be dead in minutes, and his breath smelled like bitter almonds."

"I don't believe it." Although that might explain why the presenting officer had called in the crime unit.

"Whoa, if this is for real, who'd want Bertha Kravitz out of the way enough to do her in?"

Marla snorted. "Who wouldn't?" Refusing to face the horrifying possibilities, she sought another explanation. "Perhaps this isn't about her at all. Maybe someone wants me out of the picture." She twisted her fingers together under the table. "Carolyn Sutton has been itching to discredit me so she can take over my lease. Her shop is going downhill. Maybe she planned to make a customer of mine sick so people would be afraid to come to the salon."

"Mrs. Kravitz isn't sick. She's dead." Arnie's dark eyes regarded her with concern. "You're going out on a limb with that one. I hope you didn't mention Carolyn's name to the cops."

"Of course not. You think I'm meshuga?" The waitress brought their coffee and Marla fell silent, staring at her cup. It would be awful if she'd given Bertha a beverage containing a lethal substance. Then there was the matter of who'd tampered with the coffee supplies. Someone must have added poison with deliberate intent to harm. But who?

Wait for the medical examiner's report, she chided herself. Bertha could still have had a sudden stroke.

Grimacing, she looked at Arnie. "Sorry, coffee doesn't appeal to me right now. Got any hot chocolate?" Her throat was parched, and she craved a drink.

The waitress changed her beverage and she sipped the hot cocoa, seeking solace in its sweetness.

"If this does turn out to be something sinister, I hope you'll let the cops handle it," Arnie warned her.

"What do you mean?"

"Sticking your nose into a murder investigation could be dangerous. You're not responsible for what happened, Marla."

"Yes, I am. My customer's well-being is my responsibility. But this could mean nothing," she retorted. "Mrs. Kravitz probably had an attack of some kind."

"I hope you're right. Look, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

Touched by his concern, she sipped her drink to hide her swell of emotion. "Thanks for the offer, but it's bad enough that my staff is involved."

"Say, I've got tickets for the Florida Philharmonic this Saturday," Arnie said in an obvious attempt to cheer her. "Want to keep me company?"

"Tally and I are supposed to go to the Southern Women's Exposition. I can't disappoint my best friend. Maybe another time." Inwardly, she smiled. A lonely widower, Arnie needed a wife for many reasons, none of which suited her. She'd been down the matrimonial road before, and it had been an unpleasant experience. She preferred to keep their relationship on a friendship level, although Arnie had other ideas.

"You're a tough nut to crack, you know that?" Arnie said, his dark brown eyes gleaming.

She grinned, her mood lightening. "I don't know why you keep trying."

"I like the challenge. So what's it going to take to get you interested, huh?"

"Just stay as sweet as you are."

"Come on, I know we'd hit it off if you'd give me a chance."

"Sometimes just being friends is more important."

"You've got a lot of friends. Look," he said, flexing his muscles, "don't I have sex appeal?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Sure you do, pal, but that's not the issue here."

"Then what is? Wait, I've got it. You don't like my hairstyle."

"Well, now that you mention it," Marla began, pretending to study his receding hairline.

He glanced at the waitress bustling between tables. "I should get back to work." Scraping his chair back, he stood, giving her a wry grin. "Let me know if you change your mind."

She smiled in response, nodding. A few minutes later, she was walking outside. The shopping strip was a bustling center, unlike many others with empty storefronts. Her clientele mainly consisted of young professionals, who provided a brisk business. Squeezed between Fort Lauderdale to the east and the Everglades far to the west, Palm Haven's prime location guaranteed success.

Marla was proud of her reputation, one she'd struggled to earn after the tragic incident in her past. It hadn't been an easy choice to settle near the place where the accident happened. Too many reminders still haunted her, but she'd learned to use them as a force for good. Viewed as an active, helpful member of the community, she'd reached a tentative peace with herself. Customers appreciated her sensitivity, and many had become good friends.

She veered toward her Toyota Camry, its white color being the most popular choice in sunny South Florida. Reflects the heat, said the salesman, like all the white tile roofs. Black was the other common choice, in her mind representing funerals of so many senior citizens. Now Bertha would be among them.

Heat from the car's interior slammed her face as she slid into the driver's seat. Gripping her keys, she started the engine. A refreshing blast of air-conditioning cooled her cheeks. Though late May, humidity hung heavily in the air.

Heaviness burdened her heart as well as she considered her next move. Now what? To her knowledge, Bertha Kravitz still kept that damned envelope in her mansion. Marla had no doubt that if the cops found it, they'd accuse her of having a motive for murder if this did turn out to be a homicide case. Her best bet would be to retrieve it before they searched the Kravitz house. At least Bertha can't use it to blackmail me any longer, she thought with grim satisfaction.

Switching gears, she backed out of the parking space. She'd been to Mrs. Kravitz's stately home on the Intracoastal Waterway once before, an occasion she'd never forget. This was her chance finally to bury the mistake she'd made years ago. Survival instincts, honed through past traumas, took precedence over any attacks of conscience that might afflict her.

Gritting her teeth, she pulled onto the main road and headed east.

Copyright 1999