Murder by Manicure (3 page)

"She's not married; her parents live up north; and she's a research supervisor at Stockhart Industries.” A pause. “Jolene swallowed a couple of pills in the locker room, if that's relevant. She said they were gelatin capsules. She always took them before soaking in the whirlpool because she believed they'd strengthen her nails."

"Were you alone with her in the locker room?"

Marla hesitated. Should she mention the argument between Cookie and Jolene that had caused her client to become upset? Maybe not, at least for now. If Jolene had succumbed to an illness or accident, the discussion she'd overheard would be irrelevant.

"Another club member may have been there,” she hedged, wondering where Cookie had gone. The woman was heading for the pool when Marla went upstairs. Had Cookie left the wet area by the time Jolene arrived?

"Jolene mentioned she'd been having a bad day,” Marla continued. “After Dancercize class, she'd scheduled a massage and then planned to soak in the whirlpool."

"I see. If you'll pardon me, I've got to call my sergeant for instructions."

The officer turned and nearly collided with a tall, athletic man who'd just entered. The newcomer wore a charcoal suit, expertly tailored to fit his broad shoulders. A crimson-and-navy tie added a splash of color to his otherwise somber appearance.

"Lieutenant Vail, sir,” Barkley muttered, giving a respectfully wide berth to his superior.

"Dalton!” Marla cried. “What are you doing here?” As a homicide investigator, Vail wouldn't be present unless foul play was suspected. “You weren't called in because—"

Detective Dalton Vail's steel gray eyes narrowed. “I was in the area and heard the dispatcher. I didn't expect to see
you,
however. Dare I ask why you're in the vicinity?"

She moistened her lips. “I, uh, joined the sports club. For a trial period. Today is my first day.” Her glance strayed to his peppery hair, neatly parted on the side.

"No kidding.” His mouth curled downward. “How amazing that someone just happened to end up unconscious."

Hey, pal, are you implying it's my fault?
“Now wait a minute. Jolene's accident happened through no intent of mine. Just because Bertha Kravitz croaked in my salon and Ben Kline got his head bashed in after we met doesn't mean I'm a jinx."

"Maybe not, but a magnet for disaster is a possibility."

His eyes smoldered, and Marla recalled his earlier warnings for her to stay out of trouble. Warnings she hadn't heeded.

They stared at each other, his keen assessment making her knees weaken. His spice cologne and powerful presence made her heart race erratically. Damn, must she react like a hormone-driven adolescent? All right, so they hadn't seen each other for a few weeks. After Taste of the World at her cousin Cynthia's estate in December, they'd gone out together on New Year's Eve. Since then, busy schedules had claimed their spare time.

Someone cleared his throat beside them. “Excuse me, sir,” Barkley cut in, “shall I take statements from witnesses?"

Vail dragged his gaze from hers. “Go ahead, I'll be with you in a minute,” he replied, his deeply resonant tone sliding along Marla's nerves like warm brandy. Before he could continue his conversation with her, his cell phone rang.

"Lieutenant Vail,” he answered. Listening, he nodded once, his face impassive. “I'm on it.” He hung up, his demeanor grim. “That was our man at the hospital,” the detective told her. “The lady didn't make it."

"Oh, no! Jolene is...” A lump rose in her throat. An optimistic part of her had expected Jolene to survive.

"I gather you knew the victim. I'll have to interview you, but I've got to give some orders first. Wait here.” Pivoting, he strode away while punching numbers on his phone.

Marla stood by, wondering how she could help. There would be plenty of witnesses to question, judging by the uniformed staff clustered around. She didn't recognize everyone. Keith and Slate quietly chatted with the blonde, Amy, on the pool deck. In the lobby, Sharon sat at her post, her face a frozen mask of fear. Gloria leaned against the reception desk, watching the commotion. Her expression of cool disdain belied her earlier distress.

What about club members? Maybe someone had noticed Jolene entering the whirlpool.

No one paid Marla any attention when she headed for the women's locker room.

"Marla Shore! What's going on out there?” demanded a woman with intense moss green eyes, auburn hair, and a fiftyish face devoid of wrinkles.

Marla stopped short inside the entrance. “Eloise, I didn't know you were here.” A successful mortgage broker, Eloise Zelman had become a regular at Marla's salon after Cynthia introduced them at Taste of the World.

"I was in the sauna.” The older woman gestured to her salmon-colored shorts set. “I came in here to change and heard someone screaming. I was afraid to come out."

"Well, Jolene Myers dunked herself in the whirlpool and didn't surface. Keith pulled her out, but apparently too late. She drowned, or so I presume.” Marla shook her head, unable to believe her own words. “Jolene is just too smart to let that happen. I've known her for several years.” Realizing she was speaking in the present tense, Marla gulped.

"Jolene
drowned?"
Eloise's face paled.

"I should get her things and give them to Dalton,” Marla murmured thoughtfully, eyeing a rack of plastic bags on a wall hook. Ignoring Eloise, who trailed after her, Marla obtained a paper towel from the bathroom. Careful not to touch the turquoise sack with her hands, she placed the deceased woman's belongings into the plastic bag, but not before peeking inside. Jolene's shorts outfit was on top. She must have changed into a swimsuit after her massage. A bottle of something called Bite No More was tilted on its side.

"How did it happen? Were you there?” Eloise queried, her pitch rising.

Flushing guiltily, Marla rested the plastic bag on the shiny tile floor. “I was upstairs getting a tour with Keith. Did you see anyone else when you came out of the sauna?"

Eloise fluttered a hand in the air. “I didn't notice anybody, but I'll ask Sam. He was in the steam room with Wallace Ritiker."

"Wally is here?” Marla knew the city councilman from her activities with the Child Drowning Prevention Coalition.

Eloise shifted uneasily. “Yeah, he and Sam wanted to talk about something. I wonder if they're still cooking or if they went to get dressed."

Where the hell had they been during the crisis? Marla refrained from asking. A woman screams, and everyone scatters. Nice group of people. She wouldn't want them around if she were in trouble.

"How many policemen are out there?” Eloise said, a worried frown creasing her forehead.

"The place is swarming with technicians.” Or it would be soon, once Vail called in his team. Jolene's death may have been accidental, but she supposed the detective had to cover all the bases.
Time for me to skedaddle.

Eloise put a hand on her arm. Her palm was moist and clammy. “Who was screaming before? Was it Jolene? Was she being attacked?” Her eyes widened with fright, or some other hidden terror that wasn't readily evident.

Marla shrugged her off. “No, Sharon shrieked when she found the body. The girl is upset. I'll go talk to her."

Eager to get away before Eloise hounded her with more questions, Marla scrambled to the exit. Outside, the force of police personnel had increased. Dalton Vail was at the hub, giving orders. Catching sight of Marla, he broke away and hurried to her side.

"Here's Jolene's bag,” Marla said, handing it over.

"Oh, thanks.” Vail passed it to a tech. “Look, I'd rather talk to you away from the crowd. How about if we meet later at Sterling Worth Café?"

"Don't you have to get home to Brianna?” His twelve-year-old daughter would be there alone. Marla knew that their housekeeper departed after preparing dinner for the pair.

Vail glanced at his watch. “Brianna is used to my irregular hours. I'll be here for a while yet, but I realize you have to get up early tomorrow for work. Is ten o'clock too late?"

"Not for you.” She gave him a coy glance, pleased at the notion of having Vail's company to herself. Unfortunately, they always seemed to talk about suspects when they got together.

Crinkles appeared beside his eyes. “This is strictly a business date."

"Oh, sure.” She raised an eyebrow in amusement, noting his darting glance at her figure. “We'll have our usual discussion about whodunit."

"There is no whodunit until the medical examiner issues his report. I need to gather information at this stage."

"Naturally,” she agreed in a mild tone, although from the way he was looking at her, that wasn't all he wanted to cover. A vision of his tall, lean body entwined with hers flashed through her mind, sending a delicious shiver along her nerves. She hastily pushed the temptation aside. No time for that. This was business, remember?

She rushed home to shower and change into a black-and-jade silk dress before meeting him at the restaurant in Plantation.

Sterling Worth Café reminded her of a cozy Victorian parlor. They secured a table at an end row so no one could overhear their conversation. Settling into her seat, Marla drew a black shawl around her shoulders. It was cool outside, at least by her standards. Any time the temperature dropped below seventy, she froze. Too long living in the tropics.

A waitress came and took their order for dessert and coffee.

After they were left alone, Vail rolled his broad shoulders as though to relieve tension, then he pulled out a notebook and pen. “So tell me exactly who was present in the club tonight. Why were you there? I got the impression you don't have time for that sort of thing."

Marla stared pensively at her water glass. “Tally and I joined for the free trial membership. We need to lose weight and get in shape.” Was she only five years away from the big Four-oh? At home, she'd examined her roots for gray hairs but had found none. Her weight scale hadn't been as accommodating. She'd gained two pounds since her last weigh-in. Maybe it was water, she thought hopefully, subconsciously sucking in her stomach.

"We ate too much at Taste of the World,” she added wryly.

Vail grinned, transforming his craggy features from their normally impassive mask. “So did I. You and your cousin did a great job with Ocean Guard's fund-raiser."

"Did I tell you they offered me a position on the board?” Marla laughed. “As if I'd want to associate with that bunch of lunatics again. Cynthia can manage without me. Wait until I tell my cuz there's another suspicious death to investigate."

"I don't think she'll want to be involved this time."

"You're right.” Their desserts arrived, and Marla swallowed her guilt over the calories. A few sweet mouthfuls of vanilla crème brûlée wiped away any remorse over the transgression.

"Gloria Muñoz was the first person I encountered at the club,” she mentioned while Vail began scribbling. “She tried to sell me a full membership and became rude when I refused. Maybe Gloria works on commission, but her behavior was inexcusable. Sharon is the receptionist. She seems like a decent girl. Amy Gerard is the juice bar attendant. She didn't seem too upset by Jolene's accident."

"Go on."

A spoonful of creamy custard melted on her tongue. “Keith Hamilton is a fitness consultant. He tried to put the moves on me when he showed me the equipment. Oh, don't worry. I told him he'd better keep his hands off because my boyfriend is a police officer.” She grinned at Vail's pleased expression.

"Slate is one of the massage therapists,” she went on before he could comment. “Jolene warned me not to use him because he hit on her and wouldn't take no for an answer.” Hesitating, she frowned. “Jolene had a massage before she went into the whirlpool, but I don't recall seeing another therapist in the massage suite. If Slate didn't take Jolene's appointment, who did?"

Vail's eyes narrowed. “I have a list of employees, so I can check it out. What about club members?"

"It was a quiet night because most people were at Dayna's Gym for some contest, or so Sharon told me. I met Jolene in the locker room, and she introduced me to Cookie Calcone. Cookie must have left after her swim, because I didn't see her later. Eloise and Sam Zelman were at the club."

Vail nodded. They'd met the Zelmans at Taste of the World. “Eloise said her husband was in the steam room with Wallace Ritiker,” Marla went on. “She was in the women's lockers when she heard Sharon screaming."

Vail asked a few more questions before putting away his notebook. Then he attacked his dessert, a rich chocolate layer cake. He devoured it in a few bites before pushing his plate aside. Marla noted his unusual silence. His brows were drawn together, as though he were troubled.

Concerned, she reached out and touched his arm. “What's the matter? Do you know something about this case you're not sharing?"

Grimacing, he lifted his gaze. “No, it's not that. I'll have some late nights ahead, and that brings up a problem with Brianna. I don't want to burden you."

"Bless my bones, Dalton, how do you expect our relationship to progress if you don't confide in me? Of course I want to hear about your daughter."

He rested his large hand on top of hers. Its warmth seeped into her skin, conveying reassurance. “Brianna goes to dance class every Tuesday evening. Working late means I won't be able to drive her there. I suppose I could ask Carmen."

"Your housekeeper leaves around five, doesn't she?” A widower after his wife died of cancer over two years ago, Vail had hired part-time domestic help.

He nodded his head. “Yeah, after she fixes our dinner."

"What time is the class?"

"Eight o'clock."

Sitting back in her seat, Marla pursed her lips. Unfortunately or not, depending on how you looked at it, Vail didn't have a swarm of relatives in the area like she did.

Her next words tumbled from her mouth before she could retract them. “I'll take her,” she offered, hoping she wasn't biting off more than she could chew.

"What's wrong, Marla?” asked Nicole, the dark-skinned stylist at the next station. “You're not your usual talkative self today. Did you stay out too late last night?"