Free Murder by Manicure by Nancy J. Cohen Page B

that?"
    "Society for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. You're promoting cruelty by supporting those companies."
    "We use only quality professional products. Rusk, Sebastian, Paul Mitchell, and Nexxus, for example. Biolage, Joico, and Redken are other well-known names. Most, if not all, claim to protect the rights of animals. Many of these companies are benefactors to groups like yours.” Marla couldn't help her strident tone. Onlookers were watching them, and she hoped to show that Cookie was an uninformed troublemaker.
    "Not Stockhart Industries.” Cookie's eyes narrowed. “They produce the chemicals that go into many of those hair care products. Sure, your companies claim they don't do animal testing, but they neglect to mention where they obtain their ingredients. I know for a fact that Jolene's division was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of animals. I have ways of finding out things."
    "Oh, yeah? Then what have you heard about Jolene's death?” According to what Vail said, Jolene had ingested sedatives about an hour before entering the whirlpool. That's when she was in the locker room with Cookie.
    Cookie's expression hardened. “The woman drowned. She should have suffered more cruelly, like those poor creatures she tortured."
    "Maybe you hastened Jolene on her way. How badly did you want revenge?"
    "Meaning?"
    "Never mind.” Marla's nostrils flared. People walked away, not wishing to get embroiled in a personal conflict. At least she'd succeeded in taking the heat off her salon.
    Cookie rested her placard against a wall. Green eyes blazing with hatred, she faced Marla. “Jolene ruined my life. She took away every chance at happiness I'd had."
    "I'm sorry to hear you say that,” Marla responded softly, hoping to encourage confidences.
    "She came to your salon, was your friend. Maybe Jolene confided in you. Women like to tell their hairdressers things. Did she tell you about the falsified reports?"
    "What do you mean?"
    Cookie's eyes glittered. “You'd like to know, wouldn't you? You do favors for me, I'll be more accommodating."
    Trembling with anger, Marla gave up on being civil. She whirled around and stormed through the door to her salon. The chutzpah of the woman! Maybe I should take up boxing instead of Dancercize, she thought, visualizing a match between herself and Cookie.
    Tense and irritable, she greeted Tally with a snarl that evening at the sports club. “Thank goodness that woman isn't here,” Marla muttered, stuffing her street clothes into the gym bag she'd brought. They were in the locker room, changing before their group class began. Marla had spotted Lindsay on her way out just as they came in. Apparently, the dance instructor used the same facilities. Had Lindsay changed back into her street clothes the night Jolene died? Marla wondered. Jolene had mentioned taking her class; then she'd eaten a snack at the refreshment bar. Lindsay could have changed and left before Jolene reentered the locker room and encountered Cookie.
    Tally finished tying her shoelace. “Why do you have such a gloomy face? We're here to relieve stress, remember?” Using a hairbrush from her sack, Tally proceeded to fix her thick hair into a ponytail.
    Marla filled her in on events of the week. “I'm glad Cookie isn't here. I don't think I could have tolerated her tonight."
    "She's a royal pain in the butt,” Tally agreed. “I hope she doesn't find an excuse to picket Dressed to Kill Boutique!” Her blue eyes twinkled playfully. “By the way, did you ever make a massage appointment for later?"
    "I've got one with Slate. Manny is still out sick, and I just found out about Tesla. I'm hoping she's here so I can talk to her about Jolene."
    Tally straightened. With her statuesque body and clear complexion, she could have been a model. “Marla, why are you pursuing this? Jolene's drowning was tragic, but in all likelihood it was an accident. Are you feeling responsible for another one of your clients?"
    Dalton's