Highlights to Heaven Read Free

crowd of neighbors accosted her on the sidewalk.
    “What’s happening, Marla? Why are all those police cars here?” asked one of her neighbors, Lyn. Lyn was married, with two school-age children. She lived in one of the larger two-story town houses. The architectural variety of Green Hills was one reason why Marla had been attracted to this affluent community in upscale Palm Haven, Florida.
    “A man was found dead in Goat’s house. Goat is missing. Have any of you heard from him?” She scanned the faces of her fellow residents, which represented a mixture of ages and cultural backgrounds.
    “I think he was here on Friday,” commented Hector, a handsome Hispanic with a slight accent. “He must have been at work during the day, because I didn’t notice his van parked there until later that evening.”
    Marla met his warm brown gaze. “Did you see him come home?”
    He stroked his mustache. “Not quite, senorita. Goat’s vehicle was gone when I left in the morning. He still wasn’t home by six when I returned.”
    “So how did you know he’d come back?” she persisted, curbing her impatience.
    “I went outside after dinner, and the van was parked in his driveway along with a small, dark car.”
    “I remember!” Lyn inserted. “My kids were playing ball, and I warned them to stay away from that junk heap.”
    Marla’s pulse accelerated. “What kind of car?”
    “Who knows?” Lyn said, shuffling a hand through her ash-blond hair. She glanced at her house, as though she expected her kids to charge out the front door into the street. “You could ask Craig later tonight. He studies car magazines and can tell you all about the different models.”
    “I think it was a Corolla,” Hector offered.
    Marla shifted feet. “What time was this?”
    “Just past eight o’clock.”
    “Did you see the Corolla leave?”
    Regret stamped his features. “Nope. I don’t think it was much later though, because I heard a commotion outside.”
    “You heard voices?”
    “Doors slamming and tires screeching.” Hector gestured to Lyn.
    They were the closest neighbors to Goat, having houses on either side of his place. “When did you go inside with your kids?”
    “We didn’t stay out too long. Shanna and John had to finish their homework, then go to bed.”
    “I heard something else, like a motorcycle,” Hector added, scratching his jaw.
    So, it appeared Goat had a visitor after he came home from work, around eight o’clock on Friday. Something happened shortly thereafter. By the next morning, the Corolla was gone, along with Goat.
    “I’ll tell Detective Vail your news when I talk to him later,” Marla said, not wishing to disturb him now. The medical examiner would determine the exact time of death, but she wondered if it had occurred Friday evening. Who had driven the Corolla? If it belonged to the dead man, had Goat stolen the vehicle to make his escape? Or was another party involved?
    There could have been someone else in the Corolla, she figured on her way home. Perhaps several passengers. They had no way of telling if Goat had more than one visitor, unless Vail found evidence inside his house.
    This isn’t your business , she reminded herself as she quickly showered and changed clothes. But when she drew up her agenda for the next day, visiting Cutter Corrigan’s salon took top priority on her list.

Chapter Two
    By the time Marla pulled into a metered parking space in a lot behind Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale, it was ten-thirty. Anxious to reach Cutter Corrigan before the detective contacted him, she hurried onto the boutique-lined avenue, and walked past La Bonne Crepe, one of her favorite restaurants. Heavenly Hair Salon should be somewhere along the next block. Passing Seldom Seen Gallery, with its intriguing window display, she remembered that she still needed to buy a birthday gift for Brianna.
    Not today. Time is running short .
    Having never been inside Cutter’s salon, she