Read Bad Hair Day 2 - Hair Raiser for Free Online

figured I'd go nuts while my hands were healing. Helping Cynthia seemed a good idea at the time. I like what Ocean Guard stands for and want to support their aims. But if I had met those _shysters_ before, I wouldn't have been so eager to volunteer. Now the chefs are turning out to be more trouble than they're worth."

"Explain."

_That's what I like about you, pal. You're a man of few words._ She related the problems she'd been having with the chefs. "What do you think Pierre meant about a warning and Ocean Guard being cursed?"

His intense, penetrating gaze skewered her like shish kebab. "I'm not sure. I need to hear more about the board members."

"Don't tell me you suspect someone from Ocean Guard murdered Ben?" she scoffed. "He probably had loads of enemies. His practice included criminal defense, and he's been in the news more often than our local politicians."

"We're considering all angles."

"Family?" She examined his ruggedly contoured face, hoping for a telltale reaction, but his features remained as impassive as stone.

"His wife divorced him, moved to California six years ago, and remarried."

"Business associates? Former clients? Current cases?"

A small smile played about his lips. Her eyes inadvertently dropped to his chiseled mouth, and her thoughts strayed in a more imaginative direction. _Bless my bones, if he isn't damned attractive when he's in a stern mood._

"As I said, I'm looking into different possibilities."

"So I guess you want my impressions of yesterday's meeting." Vail nodded, withdrawing a notebook.

Well, maybe if she shared info with him, he'd be more forthcoming. "Babs Winrow, a client of mine, is chairperson. She kept trying to get everyone back on track. Digby Raines is running for mayor. Word has it he's got much higher ambitions. He has aspirations where women are concerned, too, if you know what I mean. Dr. Taylor has a superiority complex. Darren Shapiro is a quiet sort, the respectable banker type you'd expect. Stefano Barletti has scary eyes. They bulge out in his grim face, making him look like a walking corpse. But then, he is an undertaker."

"What else?" He scribbled while she repeated the gist of their conversation. When her story finished, he plowed stiff fingers through his hair. _He needs a cut soon,_ she observed, the prospect giving her a vicarious thrill. She liked feeling the soft texture of his wavy hair.

"You haven't been around for a while," she remarked.

"I've been busy." He stuffed the notebook back in a pocket. "But I've been meaning to ask you ... Brianna wants to see _Rent_ which is playing at Broward Center next weekend. I bought three tickets for Saturday night. I realize it's short notice, but if you don't have any plans yet, wanna go?" A hopeful expression sprang into his eyes as he regarded her expectantly.

Marla's lips parted. This was the first time he'd asked her to do anything involving his daughter. Mixed feelings assailed her. Did this mean he was getting more serious? She met his earnest gaze and smiled.

"Okay, that sounds nice. I'll look forward to it." In the meantime, she'd see what Cynthia had to say. No doubt her cousin would be upset about Ben's demise. Considering the board of directors' animosity toward him, she wondered if anyone else among the group would be distressed by the news. This latest tragedy meant another jinx on their fund-raiser. She hoped Cynthia would provide reassurance that all was well event-wise.

     * * * *
    Marla enjoyed the drive past the main gate into her cousin's oceanfront estate. Framed by a row of malaleuca trees with their papery bark, the packed-earth road wound through grounds as close to a jungle as you could get in this part of south Florida. She slowed the car so she could enjoy the tangle of thick-trunked mahogany trees, sable palms, seagrapes, and gumbo limbos. Among the spreading branches, she caught sight of a spider monkey chewing on a green rose apple. Her eyes narrowed as she peered