Page 27 of K-9 in Pursuit

“I have plenty of time,” Nadia said. “And you’ll feel better. I promise.”

Chloe closed her eyes as Nadia began combing out and trimming her hair. “You know, you can take some time off if you need to,” Nadia said. “The rest of us will keep this place running while you do what you need to do.”

Chloe opened her eyes and met her friend’s gaze in the mirror. “I would rather stay busy and work,” she said.

“I can understand that.” Nadia resumed trimming the ends of Chloe’s bob. “But if you need time to grieve, or want to get away for a little bit, you can trust us.”

“I do trust you. And thank you. I mean it.”

Nadia’s smile held a tinge of sadness. “It’s the mom in me,” she said. “I’m always telling people to look after themselves.”

Chloe seldom thought of the elegant young woman before her as a parent. “How old is your daughter again?” she asked.

Nadia’s expression brightened. “Talia is eight. The light of my life.” Her smile faded. “I can’t imagine what I would do if anything ever happened to her. Your mom must be beside herself.”

“She is.” Chloe didn’t bother to explain that Darinda was her stepmother. She was Sharee’s mother, and she was definitely grieving hard. Chloe reminded herself to give Darinda more grace next time they spoke.

Twenty minutes later Chloe studied her reflection in the mirror. Somehow Nadia had managed to hide most of the dark circles beneath her eyes, shape her hair into a more flattering style and put some color in her cheeks. “You’re a miracle worker,” she said.

“No miracle. I’m just bringing out what you already possess.”

“I do feel better,” Chloe said. “Thank you.”

Nadia patted her shoulder. “It’s the least I can do. Is there going to be a service for your sister here in SkyCrest? Some of us have been wondering.”

“No. Back home in Richmond. I’m not sure when yet.”

“You know we’ll hold down the fort here whenever you have to leave.”

She didn’t want to think about her sister’s funeral. So much sadness. So much tension at home. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll let you know.”

She spent the rest of the day tending to clients and managed not to think about Sharee. At six she turned the sign on the front door to Closed and said goodbye to Nadia and the others. She was retrieving cleaning supplies from the closet when the bell rang. Brian waved at her through the sidelight and she hurried to open the door again.

He entered, Daisy at his heels. “I hope you don’t mind I brought her,” he said. “She pretty much goes everywhere with me.”

“No, that’s fine. She’s obviously well behaved.” She patted Daisy’s head and the dog grinned up at her.

“You look great,” he said.

“Thanks.” He looked like he hadn’t slept and he needed a shave. Not that the rough-around-the-edges appearance was a bad look for him. He had changed out of his ski patroller’s uniform into jeans and a navy-blue fleece half-zip, and hiking boots. The clothes weren’t exactly form-fitting, but they did show off his muscular shoulders and thighs. She made herself look away, though a heightened awareness warmed her. “Come on in,” she said. “I just made a fresh pot of coffee. I needed the caffeine.”

“Sounds perfect.” He followed her to the tiny kitchen at the back of the building. “What do you want me to do?”

“You said you talked to a couple of Sharee’s friends?”

“Leann and Krista. I can tell you what they said while we work. I promised to help you clean up, remember?”

“Oh, right.” She grabbed a broom and handed it to him. “You can start by sweeping the floor while I tidy all the stylists’ stations.” She retrieved cleaner and wipes from the supply closet. Daisy retreated to the rug in the entryway and lay down, and almost immediately fell asleep.

“I took her for a long run on the slopes after the lifts closed,” Brian said. “It wore her out. So you clean this place every evening?”

“I used to have a cleaning person, but she moved and I decided to save the money I paid her and do the job myself.” She moved to the first stylist’s station and began spraying every surface with the disinfecting cleanser. “Everyone is responsible for their own space, but at the end of the day I like to give everything an extra polish so we’re ready to start fresh in the morning.”

She was talking too much. The man couldn’t get a word in edgewise. “What did Leann and Krista say about Sharee?”

“That she was fun and outgoing and always the center of attention.”

“That’s nothing I didn’t already know.”