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him.” Arlene shook her head, lamenting Lane’s fate. She knew what it was like living with a bad man, a man who didn’t mind using his wife’s face for a punching bag.
    â€œAnyone who knows Lane knows she didn’t kill Kent. She’s just not the type to murder somebody.”
    â€œI understand she’s holding up real well, all things considered,” Arlene said. “Guess you’ve heard what some folks are saying—that the boy killed Kent and she’s just covering for him.”
    â€œShe’s spoiled him rotten, that’s for sure. And it doesn’t help people’s opinion of him that he’s so good-looking and such a charmer, even at fourteen. Folks are bound to be jealous of a boy like that who seems to have everything.”
    Biting softly into her bottom lip, Arlene looked down at Jackie. The woman was a loyal customer and an acquaintance of long-standing, and for those reasons, she wouldn’t correct her misconception of Lane’s son being spoiled rotten. “Will Graham is a good-looking boy, now that’s for sure. And the last time I saw him, he put me in mind of somebody. There’s something awfully familiar about him. I can’t quite place who he reminds me of, but sooner or later, it’ll come to me.”
    The entrance door opened. A rush of hot air swept into the cool comfort of Arlene Dothan’s Kut and Kurl beauty salon.
    â€œGlenn! You’re early,” Jackie whined. “Arlene hasn’t finished making me beautiful for tonight.”
    Glenn Manis, short, stocky and sweating profusely, wiped his face with a white handkerchief and flopped his wide butt down on the Kmart wicker sofa in the waiting area.
    Arlene had known Glenn since they were kids. He was a nice guy, with a good job as a maintenance man for the city of Noble’s Crossing. He seemed to be hog-wild crazy over Jackie. The two had been dating nearly a year now.
    â€œI’m in no hurry.” Glenn smiled at his girlfriend, the action adding a few character lines to his amazingly youthful face. At forty, Glenn didn’t have any noticeable wrinkles, and his once blond hair had darkened to a light brown. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re already beautiful enough for any occasion.”
    â€œHow come you’re early?” Jackie asked.
    â€œI walked over straight from the mayor’s office, with a bit of news I thought you and Arlene might find interesting.”
    Arlene sprayed Jackie’s hair until not even a hurricane force wind could have mussed it. “Wouldn’t be something about Kent Graham’s murder, would it? I swear, it’s the only thing this town is talking about.”
    â€œI can’t reveal any privileged information without endangering my job with the city, but since Penny Walsh overheard it, too, then the news is bound to be all over town before sundown.” Glenn crossed his hefty right leg over his left knee. “I could be persuaded to share my news if you’d get me a Coke.”
    Arlene patted Jackie on the shoulders. “Sit still. I’ll do your nails as soon as I get Glenn his Coke.”
    While Arlene raided the cola machine, Jackie whirled around in the swivel chair and gave her boyfriend a hard stare. “Is it something deliciously juicy?”
    Arlene popped the lid on the can and handed Glenn his cola. “Here’s your bribe. Now tell us.”
    Glenn’s face flushed slightly. “Y’all never will guess who might be coming back to town.” Tilting the cola to his lips, Glenn gulped down the refreshing drink.
    â€œWhat sort of news is that?” Standing, Jackie unsnapped her plastic cape and tossed it onto a nearby chair. Snips of shimmering platinum hair dropped to the floor. “Come on, Arlene, do my nails.”
    â€œSo, who’s coming back to town?” Arlene followed Jackie to the manicurist’s table.
    â€œDon’t you girls