Free Treated and Dyed (A Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mystery Book 13) by Cindy Bell

has happened to her, like it did to her mother.”
    Bekki's heart skipped a beat as she remembered the empty package of candy in the trashcan that she had seen when she visited Jodie. Was it possible that the candies she had were poisoned also? Maybe she had put the candies into a dish or a drawer rather than keeping them in a package. Or maybe she had deliberately given the contaminated ones to her mother.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Bekki knocked on the front door of Jodie's house. She could see that all of the lights were out. She could also hear music playing inside the house. She knocked harder. Finally the door jerked open. Jodie leaned against the door as she stared out at Bekki.
    “What do you want?” she asked.
    “Are you okay?” Bekki peered past her into the darkened house.
    “I'm just fine,” Jodie replied.
    “It's almost time for the memorial,” Bekki said. “Do you want me to give you a ride?”
    “No,” Jodie sighed. “I'm not going to the memorial. I have funeral arrangements to make. It'll be a private funeral. If the people of Harroway want to saint my mother they can do it without me.”
    “Jodie, it's just a way of saying goodbye,” Bekki said softly. “I know that you're angry, but you might regret missing the memorial later.”
    “No, I won't,” Jodie said. “I have my own way of remembering my mother, Bekki, and it has nothing to do with candles.”
    “Jodie, I can drive you over,” Bekki offered. “Don't you need to be there after for the reading of the will?”
    “I already told that loser of a lawyer that he can just let me know tomorrow. He's worthless you know. I sent him over to Get and Go today to get the rent that Holly owes, and he came back empty handed. Said she needed a few days. Can you believe that? What kind of lawyer takes no for an answer. I needed that money today, and he didn't even come through for me,” she scowled. “No, I'll stay right here and enjoy my evening. What you do with yours is your business, Bekki,” she said.
    Bekki sighed as Jodie closed the door in her face. She was beginning to think Jodie was more than happy about her mother being gone. As she walked back to her car she remembered seeing McAllister meeting with Holly. Bekki had a feeling there might have been more to their meeting than what she had observed. As she drove back towards Angela's Bakery, her phone began ringing. Bekki could see that it was Nick. She switched it onto speakerphone.
    “I'm heading to the memorial now,” Bekki said. “Where are you?”
    “I've just arrived at the memorial,” Nick said. “But I wanted to update you on what I found out about Holly. Where are you coming from?” he asked.
    Bekki hesitated for a moment. “I went to talk to Stella's daughter, Jodie,” she said. “I'm really concerned about her. She either has a very guilty conscience or she is in denial.”
    “The death of a parent can really shake you up,” Nick said. “Is she going to be at the memorial?”
    “No, she refused to go,” Bekki said. “I offered her a ride, but she said she had her own way of honoring her mother.”
    “Hmm,” Nick muttered. “Okay. I'm keeping my eye out for Holly Smith.”
    “Really?” Bekki asked. “Why?”
    She could see the bakery not far ahead of her.
    “It turns out that before she came to Harroway she had a career as a pharmacist,” Nick explained. “She was sued and nearly arrested when she mixed up some medications and almost killed one of the pharmacy's customers.”
    “What?” Bekki pressed on the brakes. She looked down at the phone. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, I'm sure,” Nick said, his voice darkened. “She lost her license, I guess that's why she moved here. So, she would have had knowledge and potentially access through old connections to the medications that were used in the murder.”
    “I guess that's why she's so private about her past.” Bekki was shocked that the evidence appeared to be pointing to Holly. “Do you have