Free 1 Hairspray and Homicide by Cindy Bell

station and saw her standing there, his expression was grim.
    “Good morning Bekki,” he said as nicely as he could.
    “Guess what?” she smiled at him as she dropped a fresh cup of coffee on his desk in front of him.
    “Ah,” he murmured in appreciation of the scent of the coffee. He held up one finger to her as he took a small sip. Then nodded. “Okay, I'm ready,” he turned his full attention on her.
    “I solved the case,” she smirked and rapped her knuckles lightly against his desk.
    “Oh really?” he laughed out loud, drawing the attention of some of the other officers in the station. “And just how did you do that?”
    Bekki considered how to answer that question. She really didn't want to detail how their fling several years before had reminded her that it wouldn't matter what he did, she would never do anything to hurt him. She had the feeling that Pete felt the same way about Daisy.
    “Let's just say, I'm trusting my instincts,” she said secretively. “But more important is the fact that you have the wrong man in jail.”
    “I do not,” Nick countered, his lashes tightening around his green eyes.
    “You do too,” she replied sharply and narrowed her own eyes in response.
    “No, I don't,” he insisted and stood up from his desk.
    “But, I'm telling you, Pete is not the murderer,” she said, her voice raising an octave.
    “I know,” Nick smiled.
    “I mean it,” Bekki started to say, and then stopped. “Wait, you know?” she asked with surprise.
    “Yes, Pete had an alibi. He was with a late customer when Daisy was killed. So there is no way he is the killer. Which unfortunately returns you to our prime suspect position,” he said with a grimace. “You really have to stop investigating on your own, you're getting me into serious trouble with my partner. She already thinks I'm offering you special favors since we know each other.”
    “Are you?” Bekki asked curiously. When Nick avoided looking directly at her, she knew that he wasn't going to answer honestly.
    “Of course not,” he said firmly. “But we both know that you didn't kill anyone Bekki. We just have to find a way to prove that.”
    “Well, it's a good thing I solved the crime then,” she said quickly, her eyes shimmering with the anticipation of sharing the truth with him.
    “Bekki,” Nick shook his head and smiled faintly as if he did not know where to begin with her. “I can't wait to hear this.”
    “You will hear it,” Bekki insisted with a mischievious smile. “Just follow my lead.”
    “Always chasing,” he mumbled under his breath as Bekki led him out of the police station.
    ***
    About an hour later Bekki arrived at Daisy's salon. Teddy was inside sorting through some of the paperwork.
    “Hi Teddy,” Bekki said softly as she let herself in. Teddy looked up at her, startled.
    “Bekki, what are you doing here?” he asked with a grimace.
    “I just wanted to check on you,” Bekki murmured and let the door fall shut behind her.
    “Bekki I really don't think it's a good idea for you to be here,” Teddy said apologetically as he stood up from behind the reception desk.
    “Teddy, you and I both know that I didn't kill Daisy,” she said firmly. “I just wanted to thank you for standing up for me that night, with Daisy. I meant to thank you then, but it slipped my mind.”
    “Well, Daisy could get a little out of hand,” Teddy admitted with a sigh. “I have no idea who killed her Bekki, but you did have an argument with her that night.”
    Bekki nodded and leaned against the desk beside him. “As I recall you and Daisy had a few words that night as well. Did you fight often?”
    Teddy frowned as he shuffled the papers in his hands. “We'd been married for a long time Bekki, arguments were bound to happen.”
    Bekki nodded slowly. “You must miss her so much,” she continued, easing further into the conversation.
    "I still can't believe it," he murmured, his voice strangled by grief as he rested