Murder of a Small-Town Honey

lona.' Vince gestured toward the woman in the styling chair, who had been following their conversation with great interest.

She waved.

'Great. I'll wash it myself while I wait.' Skye started in the direction of the shampoo bowls but turned back. 'By the way, why are you working alone?'

'Things have been kind of slow, so I had to let the re­ceptionist and the other stylist go.'

Skye emerged from the shampoo area with her hair in a towel and plopped herself into the chair, still warm from lona's recent occupation. Vince whipped off the towel and started to comb out her tangles.

She squirmed and frowned at his image in the mirror. 'Don't cut off too much. Only any inch or so, to get the split ends.'

'Why don't you let me try something different? Maybe a shoulder-length pageboy.'

Skye gave her brother a forbidding look. 'No! No! No! I like it long and one length so I can tie it back or put it up.'

'You're no fun.'

'Last time you had fun with my hair I ended up looking like a Navy recruit.'

'Fine. If that's how you feel, I'll just trim it.' Vince grabbed a section of hair and held it straight up from her head.

They both turned to look as the front door opened. A UPS deliveryman held out a small package and a clipboard. 'Hi. Sign right here, please.'

Vince grinned and reached for the pen. 'Thanks.' He scribbled his name, grabbed the box, and tore it open. 'I've been going crazy without these.'

After the UPS man left, Skye asked, 'What was that all about?'

'I misplaced my styling shears last Saturday. I've had to make do with an old pair until these got here. The other ones just aren't as sharp.'

Vince continued talking as he started to cut her hair. 'I'm glad you stopped by. I Wanted to ask you about dou­ble-dating with Abby and me on Wednesday.'

'I don't know. She and I didn't get off to a very good start.'

'Oh, I forgot. Did she give you the silent treatment?' Vince began snipping off pieces of hair.

'Yes. Why didn't you just tell me how you felt? I never knew you thought of me as Miss Perfect, until Abby ex­plained about you feeling unsuccessful around me.'

'It's not a big deal.'

Skye looked him in the eye via the mirror. 'It sure seemed like one to me. Can't we talk about it?'

Shrugging, Vince looked away. 'There's nothing to talk about.'

She sighed and changed the subject. 'This is the longest you've dated anyone since that awful girl in high school. What was her name?'

'I don't remember.'

'Are you serious about Abby?'

'Maybe, if other things work out.' Vince finished cut­ting and took out the blow-dryer.

'I'm really happy for you. I'd sure like to start over with Abby, but who would make up the fourth in this little out­ing?' Skye gazed up at him warily.

'For crying out loud! It's only dinner and a movie in Joliet, not a lifetime commitment.'

'True, but I still would like to know who I'll be sharing a backseat with.'

'He's a good friend of mine. You probably remember him. Mike Young.'

'I saw him at the chokeberry jelly judging last Saturday. He sure hates Chokeberry Days.' Skye raised an eyebrow.

'Well, he's pretty religious now. Chokeberry Days prob­ably reminds him of his wild youth.'

She narrowed her eyes. 'How interesting. He's your age, right?'

Vince nodded.

'Has he ever been married?'

Shaking his head, he switched off the dryer and picked up the curling iron.

Skye pounced. 'What's wrong with him?'

'Nothing. Boy, try to do you a favor and this is the thanks I get.' Vince shook his head in disgust. 'You have such a suspicious mind.'

'That's one drawback of being a psychologist,' Skye conceded. 'You're always looking for what's beneath the surface.'

'So, are you going out with us or not?'

'Against my better judgment, I'll say yes. I've learned that anything or anyone that sounds too good to be true usually is.'

'Mike's a great guy. He's good-looking, and he has his own business.' Vince attempted to sound straightforward but failed.

'Look, I said I'd go out with him.' Skye hesitated as an unwelcome thought occurred to her. 'Have you asked him yet if he wants to go out with me?'

'Yep, it's all set. We'll swing by and pick up Mike first, then be at your place about six. That should give you plenty of time. You school people get off work around three, right?'

'Yeah, right,' she said sarcastically. 'I finally found all the files today. It looks like no one has done anything since the last psychologist left a year ago November. I'll be lucky to get out by five.'

He finished curling Skye's hair, brushed her off, and folded the cape.

She jumped out of the chair and walked over to the nail polish display. 'You should get a manicurist in here. I'd love to get my nails done.'

'Not everyone can afford to indulge all their whims like you.'

'Would I still be driving the Impala-from-Hell if I in­dulged my every whim?'

Vince busied himself sweeping up the curls of hair on the floor.

Skye made her selection, Springtime Lilac, and walked to the counter. 'How much?'

Vince folded his arms. 'I can't charge my sister.'

'I won't come here if you don't let me pay. Besides, I cost you a customer.'

He balked, then reluctantly keyed the cash register. 'Nineteen ninety-eight.'

Skye dug her wallet out of the bottom of her canvas tote. She gave him a twenty and joked, 'Keep the change.'

With a flourish Vince took two pennies from the cash register and put them in his pants pocket. 'Gee, Sis, you're too generous.'

'Any time. When's your next appointment?'

'In about five minutes. I try to book them as close to­gether as possible without making people wait too long.'

Skye paused with her hand on the door. 'Is there any­thing wrong, Vince? I mean, I'm surprised you had to let

the receptionist and stylist go. I thought you did a pretty good business.'

'There is something else I wanted to talk to you about, if you have a couple of minutes.'

'Sure, let's sit down. You must be on your feet all day.' She headed to the waiting area.

'Let's sit in the back by the shampoo bowls. It's kind of personal.'

After they settled themselves, Vince hesitated.

In her best counselor mode, Skye leaned forward with her hands held loosely on her lap. 'You can tell me any­thing. It won't go any farther than this room.'

'I'm short on money this month. Some extra expenses came up that I wasn't expecting, and I'm not going to be able to make the mortgage. Could you lend me fifteen hun­dred dollars? I won't be able to pay it back for a while.' Vince didn't pause for breath.

Before she could reply, Vince interrupted her thoughts. 'You probably don't have much money right now, but I can't ask Mom and Dad. You know the answer I'd get from them.'

She nodded. 'How about Uncle Charlie?'

'He doesn't have the cash either. This hasn't been a good year for the motor court.'