rang.
“What’s up?” her friend Tally said at the other end.
Marla, fastening the sash of a terry-cloth robe around her waist, sank onto her bed. “Do I have things to tell you!” She proceeded to relate the day’s events.
“Wow, you’re just not content to stay put behind the salon chair, are you?”
“You sound like Cutter. I wonder if Dalton will find out any more when he interviews him tomorrow.”
“Will the detective tell you what he learns?”
Marla gave a rueful chuckle. “I doubt it. I canceled our date Saturday night. We had a disagreement over Brianna.”
“Oh no. What now?”
“Brianna wants to shave her legs and use makeup. Dalton won’t allow it. He’s afraid she’ll start attracting men.”
“Wait until she’s older.” Tally laughed. “So what’s his beef with you?”
“I defended her right to make herself look pretty. Dalton can’t face the fact that she’s growing up. She told me she wants to go shopping and then her face got all red. I think she’s approaching puberty and needs advice, not to mention intimate apparel and other feminine supplies.”
“Why doesn’t she ask Carmen, their housekeeper?”
Marla shrugged. “I don’t know. Beauty is my business, so maybe she felt more inclined to seek my advice. Brie has a beautiful face without any cosmetics, but you know how teenagers are. They have to fit in with the crowd.”
“It doesn’t sound as though Dalton understands.”
“He’s too protective, and he won’t listen to me. If he doesn’t consider my opinions to be of any value, then there’s no point in pursuing our relationship.”
“You’re overreacting.”
“Maybe I was just rushing forward with my hormones instead of my head. It’s time to reevaluate. At any rate, I’ll see him next week at Brianna’s party.”
“How’s your mom?”
Marla grimaced. “She invited Roger and Barry to join us for services Friday night. I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger pushed himself to be included.”
“He cares for Anita. Are you sure you’re not jealous of the attention she pays him?”
“Of course not. I’d like her to be more cautious, that’s all.”
“Look in the mirror, friend. Were you cautious with David, or Dalton?”
“David wormed himself into my life. As for Dalton, I didn’t jump into bed with him right away. It took a while.”
“Uh-huh. Are you sure you’re not getting cantankerous in your old age?”
“Ha! I’m only a few months older than you.”
“Maybe we should rejoin Perfect Fit Sports Club. You need to work out that tension.”
“No way. Besides, you’d be tense, too, after someone assaulted you. I’m too nervous to go to sleep.”
“Maybe the guy was after Goat’s envelope rather than you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Did you see who sent it? You could try to track them down and ask about Goat.”
Marla straightened her shoulders. “Tally, you’re brilliant. I remember the sender’s name and town on the return address. After we hang up, I’ll call information.”
“Be careful, will you?” Tally said, a note of alarm in her voice.
“A phone call can’t harm me. When can we get together?”
“Ken will be out of town this weekend. Want to catch a movie on Saturday night? Unless you change your mind about seeing Detective Vail.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s grab a bite to eat first, okay? I have a craving for clam chowder at Legal Sea Foods. Then we can go to the theater at Sawgrass.”
A few seconds later, Marla dialed four-one-one.
“What city?” an impersonal voice responded.
“Mount Dora. The person’s name is Jenny Stanislaw.” She waited breathlessly for the answer.
“Here’s the number.”
She scribbled down the code before touching the flash button and keypad.
“Hello,” a woman’s sleepy voice answered.
“I’m so sorry. Did I wake you?” She glanced at the clock. It was only ten, early for her.
“It’s all right. Who is this?”
“I’m a close friend of
“What’s up?” her friend Tally said at the other end.
Marla, fastening the sash of a terry-cloth robe around her waist, sank onto her bed. “Do I have things to tell you!” She proceeded to relate the day’s events.
“Wow, you’re just not content to stay put behind the salon chair, are you?”
“You sound like Cutter. I wonder if Dalton will find out any more when he interviews him tomorrow.”
“Will the detective tell you what he learns?”
Marla gave a rueful chuckle. “I doubt it. I canceled our date Saturday night. We had a disagreement over Brianna.”
“Oh no. What now?”
“Brianna wants to shave her legs and use makeup. Dalton won’t allow it. He’s afraid she’ll start attracting men.”
“Wait until she’s older.” Tally laughed. “So what’s his beef with you?”
“I defended her right to make herself look pretty. Dalton can’t face the fact that she’s growing up. She told me she wants to go shopping and then her face got all red. I think she’s approaching puberty and needs advice, not to mention intimate apparel and other feminine supplies.”
“Why doesn’t she ask Carmen, their housekeeper?”
Marla shrugged. “I don’t know. Beauty is my business, so maybe she felt more inclined to seek my advice. Brie has a beautiful face without any cosmetics, but you know how teenagers are. They have to fit in with the crowd.”
“It doesn’t sound as though Dalton understands.”
“He’s too protective, and he won’t listen to me. If he doesn’t consider my opinions to be of any value, then there’s no point in pursuing our relationship.”
“You’re overreacting.”
“Maybe I was just rushing forward with my hormones instead of my head. It’s time to reevaluate. At any rate, I’ll see him next week at Brianna’s party.”
“How’s your mom?”
Marla grimaced. “She invited Roger and Barry to join us for services Friday night. I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger pushed himself to be included.”
“He cares for Anita. Are you sure you’re not jealous of the attention she pays him?”
“Of course not. I’d like her to be more cautious, that’s all.”
“Look in the mirror, friend. Were you cautious with David, or Dalton?”
“David wormed himself into my life. As for Dalton, I didn’t jump into bed with him right away. It took a while.”
“Uh-huh. Are you sure you’re not getting cantankerous in your old age?”
“Ha! I’m only a few months older than you.”
“Maybe we should rejoin Perfect Fit Sports Club. You need to work out that tension.”
“No way. Besides, you’d be tense, too, after someone assaulted you. I’m too nervous to go to sleep.”
“Maybe the guy was after Goat’s envelope rather than you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Did you see who sent it? You could try to track them down and ask about Goat.”
Marla straightened her shoulders. “Tally, you’re brilliant. I remember the sender’s name and town on the return address. After we hang up, I’ll call information.”
“Be careful, will you?” Tally said, a note of alarm in her voice.
“A phone call can’t harm me. When can we get together?”
“Ken will be out of town this weekend. Want to catch a movie on Saturday night? Unless you change your mind about seeing Detective Vail.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s grab a bite to eat first, okay? I have a craving for clam chowder at Legal Sea Foods. Then we can go to the theater at Sawgrass.”
A few seconds later, Marla dialed four-one-one.
“What city?” an impersonal voice responded.
“Mount Dora. The person’s name is Jenny Stanislaw.” She waited breathlessly for the answer.
“Here’s the number.”
She scribbled down the code before touching the flash button and keypad.
“Hello,” a woman’s sleepy voice answered.
“I’m so sorry. Did I wake you?” She glanced at the clock. It was only ten, early for her.
“It’s all right. Who is this?”
“I’m a close friend of
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