Shear Murder

S
HEAR
M
URDER

A BAD HAIR DAY MYSTERY

N
ANCY
J. C
OHEN

FIVE STAR
A part of Gale, Cengage Learning

Copyright © 2012 by Nancy J. Cohen.

Five Star Publishing, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.

No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieval systems, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Cohen, Nancy J., 1948−

Shear murder: a bad hair day mystery / Nancy J. Cohen. — 1st ed.
       p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2554-6 (hardcover)

ISBN-10: 1-4328-2554-2 (hardcover)

eISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2747-2 eISBN-10: 1-4328-2747-2

1. Shore, Marla (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Women detectives—Florida—Fiction. 3. Beauty operators—Fiction. 4. Florida—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3553.O4258S54 2012

813'.54—dc23                                                   2011034912

First Edition. First Printing: January 2012.

Published in conjunction with the Author.

This title is available as an e-book.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2747-2 ISBN-10: 1-4328-2747-2

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Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 16 15 14 13 12

This story is dedicated to my fans for your continued support, encouragement, and enthusiasm. I wouldn't have finished this book without your repeated requests for more Marla Shore stories. Thanks to all of you for being my inspiration.

Many thanks to Diane Davis, former chair for the Florida-Caribbean Judging Center of the American Orchid Society, and to author Sharon Hartley, avid orchid hobbyist, for sharing your knowledge of orchids. Your input added to the authenticity of this story and is greatly appreciated.

With gratitude to Detective R.C. White, Fort Lauderdale Police (retired). Thank you for answering my crime-related questions and for generously sharing your expertise.

   
Marla Shore—
Owner of Cut 'N Dye Salon in Palm Haven, Florida.

   
Angela Moran—
Senior editor for
Home & Style Magazine.

   
Anita Shorstein—
Marla's mother.

   
Arnie Hartman—
Jill's groom and owner of Bagel Busters, he is also a friend of Marla's. His children are Josh and Lisa. Their nanny is Graciella.

   
Babs Winrow—
Marla's regular client and senior VP of Tylex Industries.

   
Bev Hartman—
Arnie's mother.

   
Brianna Vail—
Dalton's teenaged daughter. Nickname is “Brie.”

   
Cornelia Oakwood—
Falcon's mother.

   
Cynthia & Bruce Rosen—
Cynthia is Marla's cousin. Bruce is her husband. Cynthia's brother is Corbin.

   
Dalton Vail—
Marla's fiancé and Brianna's father. Homicide detective in Palm Haven.

   
Dellene Hallberg—
Senior editor for
Boca Style Magazine.

   
Detective Brody—
Homicide detective.

   
Diane Potts—
Orchid class instructor.

   
Eddy & Alexis Rhodes—
Jill's uncle, a real estate attorney, and his wife.

   
Georgia Rogers—
Marla's former college roommate who lives in California.

   
Goat—
A dog groomer. His real name is Kyle. He has a black poodle named Rita.

   
Grant Bosworth—
Photographer for
Home & Style Magazine
in Palm Beach.

   
Griff Beasley—
Photographer for
Boca Style Magazine.

   
Falcon & Leanne Oakwood—
Falcon is founder of Orchid Isle. Leanne is his wife and Torrie's friend.

   
Hally Leeds—
Society columnist for
Boca Style Magazine.

   
Jennifer Cater—
Stylist at Cut 'N Dye Salon.

   
Jill Barlow—
Marla's friend and Arnie's fiancée. Jill works in public relations at Stockhart Industries.

   
Jim Rawls—
Jill's wedding photographer.

   
John & Kate Vail—
Dalton's parents, both retired.

   
Kathy Wilkinson—
A private investigator from North Florida.

   
Kevin & Dana Rhodes—
Jill's cousin Kevin is a Realtor. Dana is his wife.

   
Lance Pearson—
Marla's friend and a computer systems analyst.

   
Luis—
Receptionist at Cut 'N Dye Salon.

   
Michael & Charlene Shorstein—
Marla's brother and sister-in-law.

   
Moss & Emma Cantor—
Marla's elderly neighbors.

   
Nicole Johnson—
Hairstylist at Cut 'N Dye Salon.

   
Pete Schneider—
A real estate agent.

   
Philip Canfield—
Jill's wedding florist.

   
Rachel—
Torrie's office assistant.

   
Roger Gold—
Anita's boyfriend. His son, Barry, is an optometrist.

   
Samuel—
Executive chef at Orchid Isle.

   
Sandy—
Sales director at Orchid Isle.

   
Scott Miller—
Torrie's husband who owns a clock repair shop.

   
Spooks—
Marla's cream-colored male poodle.

   
Stan Kaufman—
Marla's ex-spouse and an attorney.

   
Susan Beamer—
Waitress at Jill's wedding.

   
Tally & Ken Riggs—
Tally is Marla's best friend. Ken is her husband.

   
Torrie Miller—
Jill's sister and matron of honor. She's a fashion reporter for
Boca Style Magazine.

   
Yolanda—
Owner of a fashion boutique in Fort Lauderdale.

If these two women don't stop arguing, one of them is bound to kill the other before the day is done.
Marla Shore tucked her shears into a drawer before the leggy bride sitting in her salon chair grabbed them to stab her sister.

“Your nail polish looks like blood,” Jillian Barlow said to her sibling and matron of honor. “Why did you wear such a horrid red? It'll clash with your dress.”

“Who cares? It's not as if you gave us a choice with your color scheme,” Torrie Miller replied, staring into the mirror from the station on their right.

“I thought lavender gowns would go perfectly with the flowers at Orchid Isle.”

“So they will, for your bridesmaids. You made
me
wear plum. I don't look good in dark colors.”

“It's not your wedding, is it? Oh gosh, I'm going to be sick.” Bending forward, Jill clutched her stomach. Damp strands of blond hair clung to her face.

Marla picked up her blow dryer and twirled the chair around to face her client. “You'll be fine, Jill,” she said in a patient tone. “You're having prewedding jitters.”

Owner of Cut 'N Dye Salon, Marla had done any number of bridal parties. She'd seen attacks of nerves ranging from throwing up to throwing a fit. This was no different, except the bride and groom were friends of hers. Marla's bridesmaid gown waited in her Camry. She'd be heading to Orchid Isle along with the other wedding attendants right after their hair appointments.

“Am I making a mistake?” Jill's blue eyes misted. “I mean, there's a seven-year age difference between Arnie and me. While I adore his kids, I hope he doesn't plan to expand the family. I have no wish to get pregnant at thirty-four and ruin my figure.”

Not after what you paid for cosmetic enhancements.
Marla didn't want kids either, but for different reasons. She, too, had jumped into the maternal arena by sharing the responsibility for her fiancé's teenage daughter. Marla wouldn't trade her relationship with Brianna for anything, and she suspected Jill felt the same toward Arnie's family. Naturally Jill would feel nervous getting married for the first—and hopefully the last—time.

“You love Arnie,” she reassured her friend. “You've even converted to Judaism for his sake. You'll be a great wife and mother. Now let me finish your hair, or we'll never get out of here.” Without waiting for a reply, she switched on the blow dryer, using a round brush to lift and roll one section of hair at a time.

In the background, she heard the whirr of other dryers, the chatter of excited voices, and jazz music on the speaker system. Reflecting on her own choices, Marla hoped she'd made the right decision regarding her salon expansion. Rather than relocating to the new town center, she'd decided to remain in the same shopping strip to avoid inconveniencing her customers. Instead, she'd moved to a larger space that had become available while also renting the adjacent empty store for her new day spa.