Styled for Murder Read online

  Marla was dying to peek into the bathroom to get a glimpse of the body. Dalton would want to know the details.

  “I’ve helped my husband solve crimes before. Maybe I can be useful.” She’d noticed clues on previous cases that a trained investigator had overlooked. Her mind strayed to the time she had discovered a dead body in her neighbor Goat’s house. The victim’s pattern of highlights in his hair had led her to a former instructor from Marla’s beauty school.

  Detective Wanner snorted at her suggestion. “Thanks, but we have things under control. I’d appreciate it if you don’t interview the witnesses until I’ve had a chance to get their formal statements.”

  Heat steamed through Marla’s blood at his request. This was her family, not impersonal witnesses. “You mean my mother and stepfather? They’re innocent bystanders.”

  “Bystanders who may have seen or heard something important.”

  Marla agreed but didn’t say so aloud. “I understand the tile installer discovered the body. That means Jack Laredo, the foreman, got here first this morning. Are you sure he expired inside the house? Because if foul play was involved, his body might have been moved. I assume you’ll check outside for footprints.”

  “Why would you mention foul play?” the inspector snapped. “What do you know about it?”

  “My stepfather mentioned someone had wrapped one of his ties around the victim’s neck.”

  Wanner’s lips tightened. “Why don’t you wait for me down the hall? We’ll have a chat once I’m finished here.”

  Oh yeah? Don’t expect me to rat on my mom or stepdad, not that they have anything to do with it.

  She was displeased by his lack of concern for her family. At least Dalton took the time to express his sympathies and to make sure witnesses were safe while waiting for him.

  “May I have your card, Detective Wanner? My husband will want to get in touch with you. I’m sure you understand we have a personal interest in this case. I’m worried for my mother’s sake and want her life back to normal as soon as possible.”

  He pulled out his wallet and extracted a business card, handing it over to her. “That’s exactly why you’re unable to be objective. Please don’t speculate or share information with anyone else other than your husband.”

  A young man with ebony hair leaned out of the bathroom and lifted a camera with a big lens. “Hey, Ed, I’m all done and so is Izzie with his sketches. We’ll see you back at the station.”

  “All right, thanks. I’ll catch you later.” Wanner pulled out a notebook and pen. “Please spell your last name,” he said to Marla.

  She gave him her contact information without offering more than requested. Dalton had taught her not to volunteer anything on her own. She didn’t appreciate this man’s attitude. He might be competent at his job, but he could show more respect to her as a policeman’s wife.

  “May I ask how long it’ll take to clear this area? My mother will want to get into the bedroom as soon as possible. As for the bathroom, it’s been a loss ever since construction started. This job has had a number of delays and now things will be totally held up.”

  The detective zeroed in on her words with eagle-like sharpness. “Have there been issues with how the remodel is going so far?”

  Marla cringed inwardly at her inadvertent slip. She would blame her ever-present fatigue, but she seemed to have perked up ever since she’d stepped into Ma’s house. Why was that? Because there might be another crime to solve? What did that say about her, with a baby at home and a salon to run?

  “You’ll have to talk to my mother about their project,” she told the detective. “Ma knows the details more than me.”

  He stepped closer and stared her down. She caught a whiff of garlic from his breakfast. “The people we’re closest to are often the ones with the most to hide.”

  “What does that mean?” Marla asked in a sugary tone, refusing to react to his bait.

  “Jack Laredo had not arrived yet when your mother unlocked the bathroom door this morning. From all indications, the man must have died between the time your mom left the house and when Lenny Brooks arrived. This means only one person was home alone with him, and that would be your stepfather.”

  Chapter Two

  Marla met the detective’s steely gaze. “Any number of people might have known Jack Laredo was coming here. If it turns out he was murdered, they could have set a trap for him. Or perhaps someone followed him here. I assume you’ll interview his work crew and the design company staff?”

  Wanner’s brows drew together like thunderclouds. “I don’t need a civilian’s advice on how to pursue my case. I’ll contact you if I require more information.”

  He turned his back on her and disappeared into the bathroom. She could see the sink area, but the shower and toilet were out of view.

  It appeared Wanner no longer held any interest in interviewing her, thank goodness. No doubt she’d irritated him with her remarks.

  She couldn’t help it. Experience had shown her that when the cops fixated on a single suspect, they often missed clues. She recalled the incident again with her neighbor Goat, who had disappeared after discovering the dead body in his bedroom. The investigator had figured he’d done the deed and run, but he had been a scared witness. It was only through her persistence that the true killer had been found.

  Then there was the time her friend Jill became a prime suspect in her sister’s murder. The matron-of-honor had turned up dead under the cake table at Jill’s wedding. Thankfully, Marla had uncovered the real culprit and saved her friend from going to jail.

  It was merely good detective work to consider all the options.

  With a grunt of annoyance, she headed back toward the family room on the other side of the house. She shared her observations with Anita and Reed.

  Standing in front of their flat-screen TV, Reed stroked his jaw. “I’m still a person of interest if this turns out to be an unnatural death.”

  “Let’s not make assumptions until the medical examiner’s report comes in. Meanwhile, I’m sorry you have this tsuris. Do you want to stay at our house until things settle down?”

  Marla had enough to do with Ryder, but this way she could keep an eye on her mother who might not want to stay in the house where a man had died. Plus, playing with her grandson would bring Ma comfort.

  Anita swiped a hand over her face. Seated on the sofa, she looked weary. Lines creased the skin by her eyes and bracketed her mouth. “Thanks, bubeleh, but we’re not going anywhere. We have three full bathrooms, and we’ve been managing without one of them. We’ll sleep in the guest bedroom for now.”

  “Fine, but if you change your mind, you’re always welcome at our place.”

  Anita gave her an appreciative glance. “I know. We could go to Michael’s house, too. Your brother doesn’t have a baby that needs his full attention.”

  “Oh yeah? I’ll bet his kids are a handful when they’re home from school. Can I get you a cup of tea, Ma? Your face looks like pastry dough. I don’t want this to affect your health.”

  Anita patted her chest. “I’ll be all right. I’m feeling a bit short of breath, that’s all.”

  Alarm shot through her. “You’re not having chest pain or pressure, are you?”

  “No, it’s just stress. Don’t worry about me. I’m more concerned about Reed. I hope you’ll ask Dalton to have a chat with Detective Wanner. It’s comforting to have your husband on our side.”

  “I’m sure he’ll step in to help. Wanner might be more willing to open up to him as a colleague.” Not that Marla wanted to add to her husband’s burdens. Dalton had been less talkative about work lately. She’d attributed it to lack of sleep, thanks to their son. But she feared he might be rethinking his choice of expanding their family this late in the game.

  Marla had just hit forty and Dalton would turn forty-nine this year. He already had one child from his previous marriage. Brianna, a senior in high school, had been accepted at Boston University. Ever
since her mother had died from cancer, she’d been aiming toward a research career in molecular biology. However, Dalton hoped that one winter in the historical city would be enough to drive her back to Florida. Time would tell. Marla had a feeling Brianna would love living in the city.

  “Tell me what you know about this design company,” she said, settling on the couch beside her mother and refocusing on their current dilemma.

  “Amaze Design Center came highly recommended,” Reed responded in his baritone voice. “We hadn’t counted on the aggravation we’ve had since they started the project, though.”

  Anita jabbed a finger at him. “You’re the one who insisted we hire this company. I would have chosen the one with the lowest bid instead.”

  Marla narrowed her gaze at Reed, wondering what had influenced him to make this decision. “Why did you choose Amaze Designs over the others?” she asked.

  “I had my reasons. Although, I should have known better, considering...” Reed cut himself off and glowered at her, his Irish heritage evident in his graying red hair and his normally impish green eyes. Today they were a somber moss color and lacking luster.

  Marla got the distinct feeling Reed had meant to finish that sentence. “Having problems with remodeling firms isn’t news in South Florida,” she said. “Hurry up and wait is the motto for most of them. Did you read reviews before making a decision?”

  “All of the companies had complaints,” Anita retorted. “In retrospect, we should have gone with the first estimate. At least their salesman warned me things could take longer than expected due to delays from suppliers.”

  “You’d told me two men came initially to do the demolition?” Marla asked, needing to learn who had access to the premises.

  Anita smoothed her pants and nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Pete and Juan were polite and cleaned up the site when done. Then several days after his visit was promised, the plumber showed up. I had to keep texting Jack, who lied and said the guy would be here on Monday, but he didn’t come until Thursday. We stayed home every morning waiting for a no-show. I can’t tell you how frustrating it’s been.”

  Oh, great. If the cops obtained the cell phone records of the dead man, they’d see her mother’s irate messages.

  “Who else came besides the plumber and the two laborers?” Marla peered at the cherry wood bookshelves lining one wall. They held Reed’s collection of classic literature. How many of those books had he actually read?

  “The electrician did some rewiring. Then Pete and Juan returned to install the cabinets,” Reed said with a sweeping gesture. “The drawers didn’t have any knobs and they left huge gaps between the wood and the walls.”

  Anita bobbed her head. “The new cabinets were smaller than the old ones, leaving unfinished walls and missing tiles on the sides. I’d thought they would fill the same space. When I saw them, I panicked and sent Jack a text. He replied that the work wasn’t done, and he was right. At Pete and Juan’s next visit, they added fillers on the sides of the cabinets and installed the hardware. Now it looks much better.”

  “So let me be clear on this,” Marla said, wagging her finger. “At every stage, one of you has sent angry text messages to Jack Laredo?” That would give the detective more fuel in his case against Reed. Annoyed customers would only take so much grief before they took stronger steps to gain satisfaction.

  Marla recalled the angry client whose hair had become brittle after a bleach job because she hadn’t told her stylist about a new medication she was on. Bleach was contraindicated in that case. Not only did the customer demand a refund along with a corrective treatment, but she’d insisted Marla fire the hapless stylist. In addition, she’d sent Marla a threatening letter from her lawyer. Fortunately, her insurance company dealt with the issue. But it showed how disagreements with customers could quickly escalate.

  Anita plucked at the fabric of her pants. “Jack didn’t tell us what to expect. He was lousy at customer service and should have been dismissed,” she said, confirming Marla’s thoughts on the subject.

  “You don’t have to worry about Jack’s lack of skills any longer, Ma. The man is dead.”

  “I know, and it’s terrible to speak ill of him under the circumstances, but that’s the way it is. I’m sure we’re not the only unhappy customers.”

  “Who else has been here to work on your bathroom?” Marla asked, making a mental list of potential suspects. She didn’t have to wait for confirmation of a murder with the evidence of a necktie wrapped around the man’s throat.

  Reed paced the room, hands folded behind his back. He carried himself with a dignified air, although his steps dragged more than usual. “Lenny, the tile guy. At least he’s good at his job. He does beautiful work and is a true craftsman.”

  Anita pointed a finger at Reed. “Don’t forget the purple niche in the shower. It didn’t match the beige tiles at all. I texted Jack that I hoped they didn’t plan to leave it that way. He assured me the alcove would be tiled. I wouldn’t have been upset if he’d told us these things up front.”

  Marla gave her a rueful smile. “They’re knowledgeable about the process, but they forget that most homeowners have no clue as to what’s going on. What else still needs to be done?”

  “The plumber has to install the fixtures on the sinks and shower. The electrician has to cover the outlets, install the vanity lighting, and connect the vent fan. Then the shower doors, towel racks and mirrors have to be installed. Did I tell you that when they took down the old mirror, the guys found tar there along with old wallpaper? It needed drywall repairs.”

  “You never know what you’re going to find when you start a remodel,” Marla said.

  Anita shook her head. “We might have expected cracks in the floorboards or mold growing between the walls from an unforeseen leak, but not a dead person.”

  “Who else related to this project came to your house?” Marla swallowed, realizing her throat was dry. She could use another cup of coffee but didn’t plan to stay that long.

  “Nadia, the architect, came here for the initial consultation,” Reed answered. “And the granite company sent a guy to measure the space. That’s about it. These workers go from job to job instead of focusing on one project at a time. They would finish a lot quicker if they did one house entirely before moving on to the next. But I understand suppliers can take longer than expected, especially for items that have to be special ordered.”

  “Have you told Michael about any of this?” Marla asked her mother. Michael lived in Boca Raton with his family. Her brother was closer in distance and could have gotten there sooner.

  “Michael and Charlene are both at work today,” Anita replied. “I’ll call them later and let them know what’s been going on. By the way, have you spoken to your brother lately? Something is brewing there, but he won’t tell me what’s bothering him.”

  “Sorry, I haven’t had time.” Marla bristled at the implication that she’d been neglectful. She had too many responsibilities to keep up with everything.

  Anita gave her a morose glance. “Maybe he’ll confide in you. I’m lucky if he answers the phone when I call. He doesn’t respond to my texts, either. Sometimes, it’s days before he gets back to me, if then.”

  “I’ll get in touch with him when I have the chance,” Marla promised. A daughter was often closer to her mother than a son. Besides, men were notoriously less communicative than women. Even Dalton had recognized how Marla’s conversational skills helped him solve cases. She could connect to people in a way that he couldn’t. Too bad she hadn’t kept her cool with Detective Wanner, but the man lacked sympathy for her family.

  A text message popped up on her screen, and her heart thudded. “It’s Ryder’s teacher. He has a low-grade fever, and I need to pick him up from daycare.”

  Anita’s brows arched. “Oh, dear. I hope he’ll be alright. Didn’t he just get over a cold a couple of weeks ago?”

  Marla collected her purse as her thoughts scattered. “Yes, but the pe
diatrician says these frequent infections will help him build his immune system. At least we’ve been resistant in catching things from him.”

  “Call me later and let me know how he is,” Anita said, worry lines creasing her brow.

  Marla could have texted Dalton and asked him to get their son, but she was ready to go anyway. She hugged her mother and departed, her heart heavy at leaving the older couple but wanting to be with her child.

  Outside, a van had pulled up, and two men in white uniforms removed a gurney from the rear. Bile rose in her throat. What an awful end to such a beautiful day. If for no other reason, Marla wanted to identify the killer to serve justice. Then Jack Laredo could go to his final rest and her mother and stepdad could find peace.

  It took her nearly an hour to get to the daycare center through heavy traffic. She signed in at the front desk and headed for Ryder’s classroom.

  Cribs lined the space that was brightly decorated with animal murals and scattered with toys. The room had two attendants for up to ten children who ranged in age from three months to two years. She’d made friends with some of the moms but most of them worked and had little time available for socializing.

  After greeting the teachers, Marla washed her hands at the sink before proceeding to Ryder’s assigned spot. Her child lay on his back, his wide brown eyes watching her approach. He whimpered his discomfort as she plucked him up and felt his brow. Definitely too warm.

  “Has anyone else been sick?” she asked Tabitha, one of the teachers.

  The pretty blonde nodded. “We sent Evan home the other day. He had a runny nose.”

  “Great. I’ll be in touch.” Kids had to be fever free for twenty-four hours before they were allowed back in school.

  Outside, she secured Ryder in his car seat while wishing she could enjoy the sunny April day. She liked to take Ryder for walks when they had time. She hoped this sickness was fleeting and would go away without further symptoms.

  After she got in the car, she sent Dalton a quick update. Maybe he could contact Detective Wanner before he came home.