The next day, Gabriela decided to go into town and get a manicure. She planned to plaster pictures of her engagement ring all over social media and send one to her boss. Mostly just to annoy her.
It was best if her nails were long and beautiful.
“Get long, bright red, rounded tip nails. It will show off your ring better,” Mila suggested over the phone. “Ask them to add some bling to your ring finger.”
Gabriela giggled. “I won’t be able to type.”
“Doesn’t matter. Get them cut down once you get back here.”
Her friend was so smart. It was a fabulous idea.
She found a salon and parked in front. Hopefully they’d take walk-ins. A tingle went through her as the sunlight hit her diamond and it sparkled.
A smile on her lips, she opened the door with the words Essence of Beauty etched on the glass.
“Good afternoon.” A short woman with a sleek bob cut smiled at her. “What can we do for you today?”
It was an elegantly serene place that smelled of flowers and lotions. “I’d like my nails done please.”
Just then a woman emerged from a back door, her heels clacking on the floor reminding her of her boss back in San Diego. The woman smiled, and then upon seeing Gabriela, her expression became more alarmed than welcoming.
It was then Gabriela noticed her name tag. Janet Maloney. Janet was the dead man’s widow. She’d overheard the name while at the station.
Thankfully, she was saved from saying anything when the short woman guided her to a chair. “Someone will be right with you.” She handed her a circular disc with painted plastic nails. “Meanwhile, pick a color.”
Back ramrod stiff, Janet went to the reception desk and leaned forward so that her shoulder length blonde hair covered her face.
Blonde.
Gabriela turned to look at the door. Janet Maloney was blonde, could she be the woman who’d been at the cabin when her husband had been killed? It could be she was the killer. What if the woman owned the salon and told everyone to go home so she could have privacy and kill her?
She was about to push away from the table when a young nail technician lowered across from her and grabbed her left hand. “Oh my goodness, your ring is beautiful. We’ll have to do something special.”
Then again, the woman couldn’t kill her as long as the manicurist remained. Gabriela relaxed into the chair. “Thank you. I’m thinking a pretty cherry red.”
They chatted about weddings and colors. Gabriela was enjoying herself so much, she almost forgot about the possible killer.
“Are you the writer who is staying at Lucky Break?” The woman Janet asked. “I hear you found my husband.”
Thankfully her nails were almost done, so if she had to make a break for it her pictures would still look nice.
“Yes. I’m so sorry for your loss,” Gabriela said, forcing herself to look up.
Janet blinked, attempting to look contrite, but failing miserably when she sniffed and immediately checked her reflection in the large mirrors on the wall. “Thank you.”
A soft bell sounded, and a woman walked in. She wore a bright orange puffy jacket, purple leggings tucked into boots and a thick lime green scarf was wound around her neck.
It was the old lady from the airport. Her sharp gaze moved across the room only stopping when seeing Gabriela. She turned to Janet. “I see you’re already out of mourning. No surprise there.”
Janet’s eyes rounded, and she smoothed down the front of her blouse. It was a bit bright of a color for someone who’d just lost her husband, but then again, Gabriela figured maybe people didn’t do the black thing anymore.
“I have to dress in a way that is flattering for my business,” Janet said guiding the woman to a chair. “You look very bright today.”
“Someone stole my clothes. Whoever it was exchanged them for these and put them in my suitcase. Criminals on those flights from Orlando. Just got back the day before yesterday.”
Janet looked out the window and came up behind Gabriela. “Get up, let me move you to another station. I need this one.”
Not realizing what happened, Gabriela did as told, and was shuffled toward the back of the store.
“What are you doing?” She asked at feeling a sharp item poking into her side.’
“Shut up and get in here.” With amazing strength, the woman shoved her forward and slammed the door behind them.
“Janet Maloney,” a familiar male voice called out from the other side of the door, and everyone in the salon began talking at once.
“Open the door Janet.” It was Williams. “We need to speak to you.”
Janet narrowed her eyes at Gabriela. “No. Go away! I will stab her in the eye!”
“I’m going to have to open the door by force,” Jeremy said.
Unsure what to do, Gabriela flattened against the wall. Janet stood sideways with the knife still pressed to Gabriela’s side.
“I’ll stab her if you try anything.”
“Open the door and let’s talk. You’re only making things worse,” Williams said.
“What do you want?” Janet said and tears began spilling down her face. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Are you alright Gabriela?” This time it was Jeremy.
“Yes,” she replied, unsure what to say exactly. “Except she has a knife.”
Janet pushed the knife into her side harder. “Stop talking.”
“Ouch,” Gabriela said and shifted away. “You know they will bust in here eventually. You’ll be in more trouble if you don’t let me go.”
“I didn’t do anything. He killed him, not me,” Janet whispered. “I don’t want to go to jail.”
“Then tell them the truth,” Gabriela replied. “They will take it easier on you if you do.”
“What do you want?” Williams asked.
“Shut up!” Janet screamed. “I want you to go away!”
“We can’t do that,” Jeremy replied. “Open the door and no one gets hurt.”
For a moment, Janet seemed to consider her options and then she lifted the knife, the
