Chapter Eleven
Honey fumed all the way home. Lying in bed later, she replayed the events of the evening and finally concluded that maybe Luke was right. If they had called the police, what good would it have done? Those skinny, freaky; okay… that street litter would have spent the night in jail and been back on their corner the next day. Chances are, nothing would come of their incarceration.
Allowing the small voice nagging at her to be heard, she sagged. It pointed out what she already knew… that she should have sympathy for the losers who were abandoned misfits within a populace that had lost interest.
Her heart wavered while facing the truth. Those poor people never started their lives thinking they’d end up this way. Either sickness or a bad beginning had pushed them into this nightmare.
On the other hand, it was a blasted shame the world had come to this… where a woman wasn’t safe on the streets of her own city. A thought interrupted, and she finally let it have space in her head. What smart, purse-carrying female today leaves a well-lit area on her own to go looking for a taxi?
She read the papers and watched the news. She knew better. What pissed her off was admitting to not paying attention because she’d been too busy remembering a sexy cowboy singing the music she loved.
Plus, after all this bullshit, she hadn’t gotten any closer to getting information about her sister. Falling asleep with disappointment searing her soul, she woke early.
The night before had been impossible to strike up a serious conversation. On the other hand, she’d learned that Linda, one of the older part-time bartenders was also a hairdresser who worked at an establishment Honey often visited.
Turns out she held down two jobs to afford her rent. And she’d be at her second gig that day. Hoping to get an appointment, Honey raced to her phone, found the website where one could make a reservation. Five minutes later, she danced around the room. Yes! Four o’clock this afternoon – a cancelation had just been recorded.
She’d be careful not to push too hard, but she had to start somewhere, didn’t she? Racing to get her day started, she pushed away thoughts of the singer but found herself humming his tunes.
***
Yes, there she was.
As Honey stepped into the large establishment later that day, she hoped there’d only be one hairdresser named Linda. She took a chair and waited to be called.
Scanning the place, she soon made out the pretty, middle-aged woman who she’d come to see. With her brown hair arranged in a messy bun on the top of her head, ringlets of loose hair falling on each side of her face, she looked like she’d kept the same style from the night before. It suited her, helping her long-lashed eyes stand out in competition with her light blue eyes. Considering the amount of makeup she used, all professionally applied, she could be on stage.
Her lady customer laughed at something Linda said before she stood to leave, and Honey was even more delighted when they hugged. Taking it as a sign that meant the bartender, slash hairdresser, had a warm heart, Honey hoped she’d be willing to talk about what she knew.
Soon, with her hair dripping, she was perched on a salon chair in front of Linda.
“Okay, Honey, what did you want me to do with your beautiful hair?”
Honey laughed at the fact that the woman had used her name without being aware of what she’d done. It happened often. She waved her hand nonchalantly and suggested, “How about we cut it all off?”
“What? Nope. Don’t make me.” Linda stepped back, her face a picture of horror. “I love your curls. I couldn’t live with myself if I messed with nature’s perfection.” Her beseeching look in the mirror let Honey know she was and yet wasn’t kidding.
“It’s okay. My mom would kill me if I did something so drastic. But I gotta tell you how tempting it’s been over the years. I guess it’s my fault for letting it get this long. Now the only way to get any control is by wetting it and adding conditioner. Then attacking it with a wide-tooth comb.”
All the time they talked; Linda lovingly fussed with her curls. “I’d give anything to have such a healthy head of hair. Mine’s a nightmare to work with. Have to pile on the goop and tease it to death before I can get any kind of style.”
“And here I was wishing I could do the same style with mine.”
“Honey, you can. Here, I’ll show you.” Linda quickly gathered all the strands and like a miracle worker, had it up and sitting on top of Honey’s head looking wonderful. “You just need to use some pins and voilà, it’s perfect.”
Honey laughed along with Linda. “I wish I had one of you in my bathroom drawer.”
“I’ve been told that before,” Linda giggled. “So what’s it gonna be?”
Honey pretended to mull it over before answering, “How about a trim… and could you thin it out a bit?”
“Sure. That, I’ll gladly do. But cutting it off – no way. I’d give up one of my four kids to have a thick head of natural blonde curls like this.” While she talked, Linda continued to comb through the long mass lovingly.
As she worked, Honey caught Linda looking at her with growing curiosity. “I know you from somewhere. Right. Wait… last night. You were in Nudies, at the bar. Hey, are you alright after Zed manhandled you like he did? Bastard should be shot.”
“I was a bit shook up, but I’m fine now.”
“Lucky you had Luke jump in to defend you. The rest of the girls were like jealous cats.”
“You mean the singer? Yeah. He’s annoyingly full of himself, isn’t he?”
“Who? Luke? No way. The man’s a regular gentleman – one of the last of the breed. Can’t tell you how many of the girls have given him the come-on, and he’s been real careful not to take them up on their offers. And, Honey, so you understand, them offers were sincere. Hell, if I was ten years younger, I’d jump them bones myself.” While she chatted, Linda worked her magic and Honey felt more relaxed than she had for days.
“My girlfriend, Melanie, said the same but then Luke introduced her to Jess, and she ended up with him. Probably still together. They hit it off.”
“That’s right. I remember. Jess came over to tell me he’d fallen in love… the silly kook. He’s so shy, I’m amazed Luke got him to take up his suggestion. But then he idolizes the guy, so I guess it’s not that farfetched.”
“You know Jess well?”
“Sure do. Been working at the place for close to fifteen years now. Jess came in off the streets about twenty years ago, and they took him in. Poor bastard was a mess back in them days. Couldn’t hardly talk from all the booze and crap he’d used. Add his shyness into the mix, and he’d have been a goner if not for Ham. He did the same for Luke back in the day. That man sure knows how to pick the good ones.”
“Ham? Is he with the band?”
“Sometimes. His name is Hamilton Jones. And, Honey, that black man is one of the best guitar players in the city… hell in the whole country. Keeps a low profile though, never known him to break out much. But if he wants a place on any stage in town, all he has to do is show up with his instrument, and they all welcome him with open arms.”
“Oh, I’d love to meet him. Do you know when and where he’ll be playing?”
“Not really. Well, except for tonight. It’s Luke’s birthday, so no doubt, he’ll be there to celebrate it with him. Those two are close.”
Honey couldn’t help herself. “You like Luke a lot, don’t you?”
“Ye-hah. He’s been good for the place. We’ve gone through a lot of bands in the last year but having Luke pair up with Matt and the rest of the band – well that’s been fantastic for business.”
“Speaking of business, do you know of anyone on the street who plays in a band, possibly in Nudies, but could have been hanging out with criminal types say twenty years ago?”
“Hell, girl. Now why would you ask me something like that?”
Honey hesitated and then decided to give Linda a bit of information so she wouldn’t consider her a nutcase.
Linda listened and then repeated Honey’s words. “Your sister? She was killed by two guys – one who died in prison and the other is still free and works with a band playing in Nudies. Wait… you figure the killer worked there twenty years ago, or he’s there now?”
Honey shrugged, deciding to be truthful. “I don’t know. All the detective said was he’s working on Broadway, and I had the feeling he was a musician.” Squeamish now, she added, “Actually, I’m not really sure it’s Nudies. It’s just that I saw a list of places in the police station, and Nudie’s was the only one highlighted.”
“You must know the bands change all the time. Hell, we’ve had so many different ones over the years, it’s impossible to remember them all. Also, a lot of the groups break up and the members often end up playing with someone else. Happens all the time.”
Honey felt deflated. “I kinda thought that might be the case. It was just a place to start.”
“Also, we have three stories, which means a variety of groups all hours of the day and night.”
“That’s true. I guess I’m being silly. But Katrina and I were so close even though there was a huge gap in our ages. I guess she was like a second mother to me back then, and it’s killing me that the police never caught the two bastards who took her life.”
Linda’s face became thoughtful. “Caught one though, didn’t they?”
Honey had to agree. “Yeah. Guess so. But what about the other guy still walking free? It’s not right.”
Linda kept snipping but she did stop long enough to look at Honey in the mirror. “You coming back to the bar tonight?”
“Not planning on it, why?”
“I can ask around if anyone remembers rumors about musicians who were in trouble with the law or should have been. We’ve had some real mucky-mucks and sad cases over the years. Just not sure how many of those players have stuck it out that long.”
Stiffening with gratitude, Honey’s voice rang with true feeling. “You’d do that? Thanks, Linda. I appreciate it so much.” Honey felt a kinship to the older woman and reached for her hand without thinking.
Linda held it, squeezed before letting go, and added shyly, “You’re welcome, Honey. I feel bad that you lost someone so dear to you. My mom took off when me and my sister were still in elementary school. It’s terrible enough to have been discarded so one never gets over the feeling of abandonment. But it must be worse when you know your person never intended to leave.” She blinked away the gathering moisture. “Not sure it will do you any good getting answers. Just promise if we do find out any info that seems pertinent, you’ll take it to the police.”
“I promise.”
Linda swiped at the hair still clinging to Honey’s shoulders and held up a hand mirror so she could check the back.
“Did you really cut it? No, I don’t mean to diss you, I can see all the hair on the floor, but it still looks so long.”
Linda’s bashful expression gave away her guilt. “I thinned it out which makes it hang a bit looser. Trust me, I trimmed it like you asked.” She lovingly reached for one last handful of hair and sighed. “It’s so pretty.” Then she looked into the mirror at Honey. “What’s your name, Honey? I feel silly calling you by an endearment all the time.”
Laughing, she arched her brow and used a teasing tone. “My name is Honey. Honey Bolder.”
Linda began to laugh. “You must have thought me psychic.”
“You’d be surprised how often it happens. See you later.”
“Sure thing. First margarita’s on me.”