Aretha Moon and the Dead Hairdresser: Aretha Moon Book 2 (Aretha Moon Mysteries) by Linda Ross (reading books for 7 year olds .TXT) 📗

Lorenzo had put out a public invitation to anyone who wanted to join us, and some of our recent interviewees had shown up.  Joan had come with her dog Stewart in her arms, and I was staying as far away from them as I could.  I saw Les Noll, the dairy farmer now known as the Banksy of Bovines, and Darlene Gregory, the Unluckiest Woman in the World.  At the moment Darlene was standing next to Rose, and Rose was trying to disengage Darlene’s dangling earring from her shoulder.

“Hey, great party!” a voice said next to me, and I turned to see Avery Turnberry.  He looked stunning tonight too in tight spandex pants, a loose silk blouse and his auburn wig.

“Looking good, Avery,” I said.

“I just came from a show,” he said.  “No time to change, but I wiped off most of the makeup.

“Well, you look fantastic,” I said.  Avery thanked me and moved on with a toss of his glorious hair.  I briefly contemplated getting a wig, but with my luck it would get infested with something.

“Time for champagne,” Lorenzo called, holding up a bottle and setting his thumbs to it.  “Rose, you can pour while I open.”  He flipped the cork out with a resounding pop, and we all cheered.

Rose set about pouring the champagne into the glasses lined up on the counter and handing them off.  Lorenzo started on the second bottle, but when he popped the cork the champagne practically exploded out.  I was grateful to be standing near the back as the bubbly sprayed Rose and then Darlene.

Rose definitely took the brunt of it.  The front of her blouse was soaking wet, and I could see her bra underneath.  So could Carl, and he was openly leering.  Champagne dripped off her belt onto the floor.  Rose looked startled as she shook her hands in the air to clear the dripping champagne.

Darlene’s hair was wet, but her clothes relatively dry. “Oh, dear,” she said as she surveyed Rose.

“Never mind,” Rose said.  “My sweater’s still dry.  “I’ll go get out of the blouse.”  She headed to the rest room, and everybody helped themselves to champagne.

When Rose came back, she had buttoned the cardigan in place of the blouse, and she looked as chic as ever.

We all drank champagne and chatted for about half an hour, and then the party moved down the street to the brewery where Lorenzo had rented a room and ordered appetizers and sandwiches for us.

I couldn’t seem to get into the party mood though.

“So what’s wrong?” Thelma asked as we stood at the edge of the room watching everyone laughing and eating.  “Where’s your appetite?  You should be celebrating that you found a killer.”

“I don’t know.  I guess it’s this itchy rash.  Something just doesn’t feel right, and I can’t put my finger on it.”

“You found the evidence and the police are questioning Haskell.  Seems to me it’s pretty well wrapped up.”

“I suppose so.  But it was just too. . . easy.  You know?  Why would Haskell just leave that stuff sitting in the barrel? Why wouldn’t he get rid of it?”

“Maybe he hadn’t had time.  He knew you were watching him.”

“And why was he threatening you and me?  We didn’t find out anything incriminating when we talked to him.”

“Maybe he thought we did.”

“And Duggie the elf never saw him near the salon.”

“Maybe he came after Duggie left.”

I was still brooding when Avery came up and handed me a plate with some shrimp, chips and guacamole on it.  “I saw you standing here, and you’re not eating.  You should be celebrating.”

“Thanks, Avery.  How are things going with you?”

“Oh, they’re terrific.  I’m a regular now in the shows, and I’m practicing to do a Liza Minnelli number. I’ve ordered a new black wig.  It’s going to look fabulous.”

“Good for you,” I said.

As Avery walked away, I tried to picture him in a black wig, but the only image I could conjure was Moe of the Three Stooges.  I couldn’t quite make the image change to Liza Minnelli.

But Avery might pull it off.

And that’s when it clicked.  I looked across the room and felt the puzzle pieces falling in place.  It made sense now.  I was pretty sure I knew what happened.  I just needed to get Jimmy to check one thing.

I found Lorenzo holding court with a woman Thelma had interviewed when she won a hottest grandmother of the year award.  I apologized for the interruption and asked Lorenzo if I could have the key to the office.  I said I’d left my wallet there.

He handed it over without any hesitation, and I grabbed my coat and headed for the door.  I wanted to take Thelma, but she was on the far side of the room talking to Rose.

Once I was outside, I texted Jimmy and then headed for the office at a brisk walk.  The night was crisp and cold, and a full moon had come out.  A few people were still out and about, but most had gone indoors to get warm.

I trotted the last block and stopped at the door, my hand shaking when I put the key in.  I turned on the light and closed the door, then headed for the rest room.  I didn’t see what I was looking for when I first opened the door.  I turned on the light and looked around the toilet and sink.  Then I looked behind the door and there it was.  Rose’s braided belt hanging over her blouse on the door knob.  I knew that fingerprints weren’t important at this point, so I just grabbed it and coiled it into a neat circle.  I knew I couldn’t very well walk back into the party with it, so I needed to find