“Oh, my God,” Edwina said. “I’m so sorry. We have absolutely no control over what he says.”
“He does say a lot of words, doesn’t he?”
“He more than says words,” Debbie Sue said. “He knows what they mean and he can solve problems. He’s even got opinions on everything.”
“Debbie Sue and I are teaching him about politics,” the aunt said. “Some of our customers have started asking him for advice, so we’re coaching him to tell them who to vote for. We figure we can influence elections that way.”
Was she serious? Casting her a skeptical look, Nick took a seat in her chair. A newspaper lay on the counter with a headline about John Wilson not being released from jail after all. Nick had seen that report on this morning’s TV news, but he hadn’t seen it in a newspaper. He picked up the paper.
“Do you know that guy?” Edwina asked, draping him with a black plastic cape.
“I know about him and the murder he’s accused of. Midland is more like a small town than a city. Home invasion and murder are a big deal.”
“The dude’s confessed,” Debbie Sue said.
“But he’s recanted his confession.” Nick replied. “With all of the publicity the case has had, a jury might find him not guilty.”
Debbie Sue assumed a sagely demeanor. “Just because he might get found not guilty doesn’t mean he’s innocent.”
“True enough,” Nick agreed. “He sounds like a tough customer. The evidence against him was pretty damning even without the DNA results. You ladies are interested in that crime?”
“We’re interested in all crime,” Debbie Sue said. “We’re detectives. Didn’t you see our sign out front? Your boss’s former wife was our customer a few years back. Pearl Ann Carruthers. She was murdered and we found the killer.”
“You don’t say.”
“Are we shampooing you today?” Edwina asked.
Uh-oh. That was an abrupt change in direction. Evidently the aunt didn’t want to discuss their adventures as detectives. “Nope. Already did that at home. I can’t see myself getting my hair washed in a beauty shop.”
“Too bad.,” Debbie Sue said. “Ed would give you a shampoo you’d never forget.”
Edwina picked up a squirt bottle and doused his hair with water. “You’re out early.”
“Headed for Midland. I’m getting my new pup today. I want to spend the weekend bonding with him. Already got him a new doghouse, a new bed, some new toys and dishes and a new collar.
Nick had bought new puppy supplies that would stay at his place in Midland. With a heavy heart, he had thoroughly cleaned his old dog house at the Flying C for the new puppy to occupy when they were at the ranch. Buster was gone. It was time to move on.
“Aww. Really?” Debbie Sue said. “That’s sweet. I love dogs. I’ve got three myself.”
“Oh, yeah? What kind?”
“Strays. They just showed up and I kept them. Now they’re like my kids.”
“I know what you mean. Yep, the new dog’s gonna be a good one. Still haven’t thought of a name for him though.” He had been trying for days to think of a name to give the new puppy, but nothing had come to him yet.
“Male or female?”
“Male.”
Snipping away at his hair, Edwina looked at her partner and said, “Okay, we gotta come with a name for Nick’s new dog.”
From the wooden cage in the corner, the parrot said, “Awrrk! Felix. You’re such a dog, Felix.”
“Felix?” Nick said. “Did he say Felix?”
The bird followed up with what could only be described as gasping. “Felix. ... Oh, yes, that’s it. Touch me there. ... Yes! Yes! Yes! Right there ...”
A pregnant pause followed. Warmth crept up Nick’s neck. He angled a look toward the parrot.
Finally, Debbie Sue spoke. “See? We told you. He knows what we’re talking about. I mean about naming your dog,” she added quickly.
Nick laughed, relieved to get past the awkward moment. “Get outta here. A parrot might learn a few words, but no way does he know what they mean.”
“Seriously,” Debbie Sue said. “He’s scary smart. And he mimics everything he hears. Dogs barking, coyotes howling. He yowls like Ed’s cat and makes her think Gus is hurt. She drops everything and chases after the cat. We’ve already made a pact not to discuss anything confidential in front of him. The last thing we need is for him to repeat what he hears in here. Our customers do talk about secret stuff from time to time.”
Nick laughed again. He left the Styling Station with a good haircut and an upbeat mood. Sandi’s aunt and her partner were fun. As he drove, he idly wonder-ed if he might run into Sandi again. She had seemed to be friends with the woman who owned the Pampered Pooch.
Chapter 11
Before opening her shop every day, Sandi sprayed her display cases with a mixture of vinegar and water and wiped them down so that they sparkled. She and Waffle played a game. He pressed his nose to the case, leaving a nose print. Swiping it away with her cloth, she laughed. “Waffle, did you know you’re my best friend?”
The dog began to wag his long tail furiously, stretching his grin even wider. Sandi laughed so hard she barely heard the phone behind the counter.
When she picked up, Prissy greeted her with a whispery, out-of-breath voice. “He’s here. He’s picking up the baby.”
Sandi’s insides lurched. She didn’t have to be told that the “he” was Nick Conway, even though she and Prissy hadn’t had a conversation about him since the day they both met him. Scarcely a day had past that Sandi hadn’t thought of Nick, but she had deliberately avoided passing on to Prissy the gossip Fiona had told her. She hadn’t want to share such intimate details.
Keeping him in her mind as an erotic escape was one thing, but knowing he was a few doors up from where she stood sent a tremble from her head to her toes.
“Are you going to come up here
