Shampoo and a Stiff Read Free Page B

down at the table again. His thin cheeks were burnt crimson.
    “ I didn't do what they say I did, Bekki,” Tom murmured. “I swear I didn't.”
    “ I know you didn't,” Bekki assured him and patted the back of his hand lightly. “Don't worry. Tom, we'll get all of this straightened out.”
    “ I'm not sure how,” Tom confessed as he stared at the table. “I am not sure there is a way to prove my innocence.”
    “ It's your guilt that has to be proven,” Bekki said with confidence in her voice. “Now, tell me again what happened yesterday morning.”
    “ Well I,” Tom swallowed thickly and glanced up briefly at the waitress who brought the three of them glasses of ice water. Sammy was quietly observing the conversation. “I loaded the truck the night before like usual. Steven's supposed to check off the contents before I start the deliveries, but I needed to finish early. I had a doctor's appointment,” he explained with a slight shake of his head. “So, when he didn't show by seven thirty, I decided to just start the deliveries. I've done it before,” he added with a frown. “Brad and Steven never minded, they trusted me,” his voice broke slightly. “Just thinking that Steven might think I had something to do with this,” he groaned and ran his hand across his forehead with frustration. “I didn't. I swear I didn't.”
    “ It's going to be okay,” Bekki assured him. “So you were waiting for Steven yesterday morning? Was he usually late?”
    “ That was the strange thing,” Tom admitted. “He was never late. Sometimes Brad would be running behind, he had a thing with the ladies, so once in a while he would text me and tell me to go ahead with the delivery. But Steven was always right on time no matter what. He expected the same from his employees, too. He fired four drivers in a row before me because they were a few minutes late for their shift.”
    Bekki grimaced as she recalled the callous threat he had made to the foreman about firing anyone who didn't show up for work.
    “ Had you noticed Steven and Brad having any problems lately?” Bekki asked as she looked more closely at Tom. “Anyone strange showing up at the factory?”
    Tom was obviously uncomfortable as he tore at the edge of his napkin until it frayed.
    “All I know is, they weren't exactly like brothers, you know,” he stated as he looked guiltily up at Bekki. “I mean, I don't want to talk out of turn, but even though they both owned the company, it was never like they were equals. When Steven barked Brad jumped, and Steven had the final say in all of the big decisions.”
    “ So, they argued a lot?” Bekki suggested curiously.
    “ No, just the opposite,” Tom insisted. “Brad seemed happier to just deal with the day-to-day stuff with the employees. He just wasn't really the businessman type.”
    “ Not like Steven,” Bekki shook her head.
    “ Definitely, not like Steven,” Tom laughed a little. “Steven can talk anyone out of their last penny. I remember once I had a dispute about one of my pay checks. I went into his office to straighten it out and came out offering to work a few extra hours for free. I still have no idea how that happened.”
    “ Interesting,” Bekki said quietly. “Order anything you like, Tom, it's on me,” she smiled at him. Her phone beeped as the waitress was taking their order. She glanced down at it and saw a text from Nick.
    'Outside please' was all it said.
    Bekki glanced up at the large glass window of the diner. She saw Nick standing just beside the entrance. Bekki frowned as she excused herself from the table. When she met Nick outside he didn't look too pleased.
    “ Is there a particular reason you and Sammy are having lunch with a murder suspect?” he asked as he regarded her with slightly narrowed eyes.
    “ I told you Nick,” Bekki replied with some surprise. “We're old friends.”
    “ Right, which is fine, but he's also our prime suspect in Brad's death, and you could be