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“Grace Conroy,” Grace said, and rattled off her phone number.
Molly did the same. Grace noticed a young woman who came in behind them. The woman hurried into the back room, then emerged in an apron and carrying a broom. She began to sweep.
That must be Bridget McBain, Grace thought. She knew Molly’s name even though Molly never got her hair cut at Cut ‘n Curls.
“Have a seat. We’ll have chairs for you both in just a minute.” The gray-haired woman exclaimed. “I’m Sondra, by the way. I’m the manager. I’m also the only stylist in at the moment, although Gloria is due at any minute. Poor Bridget was a trifle late — she had an unfortunate car accident and needed to take public transportation. Bridget? Let’s start with Ms. Grace, shall we? Come on back and let’s get you shampooed.”
Grace smiled and followed Sondra to a back area where the sinks were set up. Bridget stood there, looking a little uncomfortable, but ready to do her job.
“Bridget, this is Grace. Shampoo and condition, and then send her to my chair,” Sondra instructed.
Bridget nodded and motioned for Grace to take a seat at the first sink. “Hi, I’m Bridget. Just get comfortable.” She turned on the water and began washing Grace’s hair. “Is that Molly Sunshine with you?”
“Yes. Do you know her?”
“She used to date my ex.”
“Wow. Small world.” Grace gave her a small smile. “Your ex, huh?”
“Yeah. Jeremy Prada. He got murdered last week.”
“Oh, my God! That was your boyfriend?”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Bridget said in a firm voice. “I found out he was having affairs while we were dating. One of the women, Anna Bonnet Sanders, worked for his boss. The other was your friend.” Bridget’s voice cracked then, and Grace realized Bridget had loved Jeremy, even though he was a thieving dog.
“I’m sorry, Bridget, but my friend, Molly, hasn’t seen Jeremy in a year.”
“Is that what she told you? Because that’s not what I heard.” Bridget massaged Grace’s scalp, then rinsed off the shampoo. She applied conditioner and began rubbing it through Grace’s hair, a little aggressively, truth be told. “I heard she followed him out here, that he wanted to break up with her, but she couldn’t accept it. That they started their affair all over again, while he was still seeing me.”
“I’m sorry, Bridget, but that’s just not true. Molly moved to Summit Springs a year ago, right after their break-up. We don’t know why Jeremy chose to come to Summit Springs, but he never looked Molly up. She didn’t even know he was in town until he was murdered.”
Bridget rinsed Grace’s hair. “No, it isn’t true. She’s the reason he broke up with me. I hate her!” She started to cry and stepped away from the sink.
Grace grabbed a towel from a stack near the sink and quickly wrapped it around her head. “It’s true, Bridget. He lied to you. He lied to everyone.”
“No! No! It can’t be true! It’s why…”
Sondra came hurrying to the sinks. “What’s going on? Bridget? Are you all right?”
Bridget began to sob, her body shaking, but she shook her head. She obviously couldn’t speak. She grabbed a towel and covered her face.
“Bridget just found out something she believed to be true wasn’t. Could you give us a few moments, Sondra? So Bridget can collect herself?”
“Of course,” Sondra said, although she narrowed her eyes and looked at Grace with suspicion. “I wasn’t aware you two knew each other.”
“Only through a third acquaintance.” Grace offered Sondra a smile. “I’m sure Bridget will be fine in a minute or two.”
“Bridget? Do you want me to leave?” Sondra asked.
Bridget nodded her head, although she continued to sob into the towel.
Once Sondra was out of hearing range, Grace got up and took Bridget into her arms, holding her while she cried. “He lied to everyone, Bridget. Heusedeveryone. I’m so sorry.”
“Y-you don’t k-know how much I hated h-her because I thought it was all her f-fault!” Bridget cried.
“That’s why you rammed our truck with yours, isn’t it?” Grace asked, finally putting two and two together. “That was the accident Sondra was talking about when we got here.”
“I-I didn’t plan to do it. I saw you and her together, laughing, and all I could think of was ‘How can she laugh when Jeremy is dead?’” Britney blew her nose in the towel and tossed it into the laundry. Her eyes still streamed tears, but she seemed to be getting herself under control. “I don’t even rememberstepping on the gas. After it happened, I just…panicked. I was banged up, but nothing serious, so I drove my truck home and parked it in my garage. I haven’t moved it since. Are you going to call Sheriff Maverick?”
