then be making a lot of stops as they got closer to Newquay.
‘All the little out-of-the-way stations, but they said it’d only be another hour and a half.’
Anna closed her eyes. They would get the plane back, budget or not.
Donna was now sitting where Kiara had been. She’d helped herself to a coffee and was munching on biscuits. Langton had refused another cup and was now becoming a little impatient.
‘What’s she been telling you?’ Donna eventually asked.
‘Just describing how she does nail extensions.’
‘I bet. She’s a gossip, that one, and she and Tina have never got along, but to find someone who can do nails and hair extensions isn’t easy round here. We’ve got a lot of black customers so that’s why Tina keeps her on.’
‘You just do haircuts, do you?’
‘No, I do manicures and pedicures as well. Salon this size you gotta be jack-of-all-trades.’
‘But you don’t do the massage and beauty treatments?’
‘No, that’s Tina’s department. She can do hair, and she’s good, but she gets impatient with the client if they don’t want what she wants. I’ve seen them go out crying ’cos she lopped off more than they wanted. She’s also a good colourist, very professional. She was trained by L’Oreal and she still does competitions. We work them between us. I told that lady about how many we done, I sent in the dates – well, the ones I could remember. She wanted to know how long Tina and me are out from the salon.’
‘This would be DCI Travis, yes?’
‘Yeah, that’s right. I’d love to have a go at her hair, give her a real sharp cut. It’s a lovely colour, that red. Is it natural?’
‘I believe so. Do you get on well with Tina?’
‘Yes, I’ve worked for her for years. When I say we get along, it’s my job and she’s okay just so long as you don’t get on the wrong side of her. She can fly off the handle.’
‘Did you know Alan, her fiance?’
‘Only to say hello, never had much of a conversation with him. I think she used to get browned off with him going away all the time, but she always said she didn’t go with him because she couldn’t swim. We all reckoned it was because he didn’t want her there.’
‘They were engaged to be married?’
‘Yes, so she said, but I dunno when they planned it. A few of us thought he might be getting cold feet.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘Well, they were having a big row out in the car park one night and the next day she was like a bear with a sore behind having a go at every one of us. These past few days she’s been making secret phone calls, hurrying out of the salon.’
‘Taking the juniors’ tips?’
‘Yeah, that’s right – who told you that?’
‘I think someone mentioned it to DCI Travis.’
The girl put her hand over her mouth and grinned. ‘Could have been me. I don’t want to sling the dirt. Don’t get me wrong, but he looked younger than her and she changed the colour of her hair, was always on a diet, working out, trying to look younger than she is.’
‘Botox?’
Donna giggled again. ‘Yeah. Once it must have hit a nerve by her eye ’cos it twitched for days.’
Donna almost fell off her chair as Tina stepped round the screen.
‘Can you work with the junior, please, Donna. You are supposed to be training her, not sitting in here gossiping. Off you go!’
Donna scuttled out fast. Tina glared at Langton as he stood up to introduce himself.
‘Don’t bother – Felicity’s told me who you are. Where’s the other bloke?’
‘He’s outside, felt a bit sick with the smell of the—’
Tina brushed past him and picked up Donna and Kiara’s dirty coffee mugs.
‘Bloody girls can’t wash up after themselves.’ She dumped them into the sink, turning to rest against it. ‘What do you want? This is now bordering on harassment.’
‘Just to talk to you, Tina.’
‘I’m all talked out with the police. I have no intentions of saying anything unless my lawyer is present.’
‘That’s a pity, Tina. I just wanted to iron a few things out. I’m overseeing the enquiry.’
‘Really? Well, somebody should be.’
Langton sat back down. He was surprised at just how attractive she was, and taller than he’d expected. Her glossy reddish-brown hair fell to just below her shoulders, and her make-up was flawless.
‘If you don’t mind me saying so, you are a very good advert for your salon.’
‘Flattery won’t get you anywhere.’ She poured what remained of the coffee and leaned back holding the cup between her hands – revealing long perfect fingernails with white tips.
‘What’s happened to that woman Travis?’ she asked rudely.
‘She’s on her way to Cornwall to make enquiries.’
‘I’d like to make some myself. I’ve never had much luck with men, but with Alan I really thought it was special, different. Just goes to show, doesn’t it?’
‘What does?’
‘That he was a liar like the others. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson. The guy before Alan left owing me ten thousand quid. He was a carpenter and said he needed it to buy some equipment for a big job, and like an idiot I gave him a cheque. That was the last I saw of him.’
‘Sounds like a habit.’
‘What?’
‘Men disappearing on you.’
‘I know where he is – with his wife. He lied about that too.’
‘I’m sorry, and amazed that anyone would leave someone as attractive as you.’
She rolled her eyes and then laughed. She had a deep sexy voice and her laugh was infectious.
‘Looks aren’t everything, although Alan certainly had them.’ She sipped her coffee and pulled a face. ‘It’s cold.’ She turned and tossed the coffee down the sink then stood with her back to Langton, her hands resting on the edge of the sink.
‘It just doesn’t seem real,’ she said bleakly. ‘First he’s missing, then I’m accused of killing him, then I’m told he was homosexual and also stashing money away. What kind of fucking idiot am I?’
Langton got to his feet as Tina tossed her head back and ran her fingers through her curls.
‘I’ve got to go back to work,’ she mumbled.
‘This must be very hard for you to deal with.’ Langton moved closer.
‘You can say that again, but you know I’ve been hurt a few times and I’m getting used to picking myself up and getting on with my life.’
Unexpectedly she started to cry, wafting her hands as if annoyed at herself. She plucked a tissue from a box beside the sink.
‘Going to ruin my eye make-up,’ she laughed shakily.
‘I understand. I’ve been told you were planning on getting married.’
She sniffed as her eyes welled with tears again. She grabbed another tissue from the box.
‘Yes. I even thought that maybe he’d got cold feet because I kept pushing for him to set the date. I was going to arrange it all. I’ve no parents so it was all going to be down to me.’
‘You mind me asking you a personal question?’
She sniffed. ‘Like what?’
‘How old are you?’
She looked taken aback and then started to cry again. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘It doesn’t matter. I can always check.’
‘I’m forty-two – all right!’
Whether it was admitting to her real age or not, more tears came down and she pressed her hand to her mouth.
‘You don’t look it,’ Langton said gently.
