Page 32 of Slay Bells

Gabriela looked down at him. “Let’s take it one step at a time. Come to San Diego and spend a couple weeks. Let’s see how it feels to you. I can work from anywhere. I can’t lie, I do miss Missoula and the ranch when I’m away.”

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.”