Treated and Dyed (A Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mystery Book 13) Read Online Free PDF

asked.
    “My best friend, and yes,” Bekki said.
    “You already suspected that the water might be poisoned?” Dave asked and walked towards the water cooler. “Why would you think that?”
    “I didn't really think it. Nick mentioned that you were coming to the salon today as Stella might not have died from natural causes, and when Sammy filled up a cup of the water I remembered giving Stella a cup. I just thought it was better to be safe,” Bekki explained.
    “Oh?” Dave turned back to face her. “So, you didn't poison the water?”
    Bekki scowled at him. She wanted him to know that she didn't appreciate the question.
    “No Dave, I didn't poison the water,” Bekki replied.
    “We'll just have to check that out,” Dave said. “This entire salon is now considered a crime scene. You'll have to close until further notice. Do you have any problem with cooperating with the investigation?”
    “Of course not,” Bekki said. She crossed her arms and watched Dave like a hawk. He was looking at everything in the salon. He picked up shampoos and hair gels and sniffed at them as if he suspected something.
    “She didn't eat or drink anything else?” Dave asked. He paused in the middle of the salon. Nick peered through the glass door at the two. Bekki reminded herself to be on her best behavior. As much as she was beginning to dislike Dave, she didn't want to cause any trouble between Nick and his partner.
    “Actually, she did have one of her candies,” Bekki said. She walked over to the counter where she had stored Stella's purse. “The paramedics left this here yesterday. I meant to give it to her daughter last night,” Bekki said. She turned around with the purse to find Dave standing directly in front of her. He was a broad man. Nick was lean and muscular, but Dave was bulky, like a bouncer at a club. Bekki hadn't really noticed that he could be a little intimidating until that moment. “The candies are in her purse,” she said. She held it out to him.
    “We'll need to take that,” Dave said. He took the purse from her. “Did you take anything out of here?”
    “Did I steal from a dead woman?” Bekki suddenly said. Nick swung the door open in the same moment. Bekki guessed that he had noticed her tense expression.
    “I didn't say that,” Dave said. He moved away from her a few steps. “I just meant, it's important that we have everything that was on her person the day of her death.”
    “That's all I have,” Bekki said. She made sure her tone was calmer. Nick paused beside Dave.
    “Everything okay here?” he asked.
    “Looks like we might have a few possibilities of where the poison came from,” Dave said. “We'll need to test the water in the water cooler, and there are some candies in this purse that Bekki says Stella ate.”
    “You didn't eat any, did you?” Nick asked. There was urgency in his eyes as he looked at her. “Or drink any of the water?”
    “No,” Bekki replied quickly.
    “I'll give you a minute,” Dave said. “But it would probably be best if you weren't here while the scene is processed.”
    Bekki nodded. Dave stepped outside where Sammy was still waiting.
    “He is quite charming,” Bekki said.
    “He's a good detective,” Nick assured her.
    “I can't believe that she was poisoned. Do you really think it could have been in the water, Nick? Sammy almost drank it!”
    “Shh, it's okay,” Nick hugged her. “I'm sure it wasn't in the water. How would anyone get it in there? You opened the salon yesterday, right? You were alone here?”
    “Yes,” Bekki nodded.
    “Then it's fine,” Nick said. “She could have had some tea at breakfast that had slow-acting poison in it. She could have even taken some tainted medication. We'll know more when the tox screen comes back. For now, we're just being extra cautious. We don't want anyone else getting hurt.”
    “That's good,” Bekki nodded. “Do you think you'll be home for dinner tonight?”
    “I hope so,” he said. He