meeting everyone. But that was a mistake.”
“Go on.” Marla leaned forward so she could hear over the background chatter echoing in the huge hall. Dipping her tongue into her drink, she determined the coffee had cooled enough for her to sip.
“It was so awesome, us being there together, but I let it distract me,” Georgia said. “Chris felt I wasn’t up to par. Nick and I were thinking about hiring one of those wedding chapels, and we had arrangements to make. Chris got mad when I told her what we had in mind.”
“What did she care what you did on your personal time? Besides, she should have been happy for you.”
“Not when Luxor paid my way. Anyway, I went off with some of the girls to go shopping, but I felt guilty leaving Nick behind. So I returned early. Chris was in bed with him.” Georgia lifted her face, her eyes filled with remembered pain.
“You must have been furious.”
“Furious doesn’t begin to describe how I felt. It was my room, so I kicked them out, and I threw Nick’s suitcase in the hall after him. I never wanted to see him again.”
“What about Chris? I’d blame her for seducing the guy. What a rotten thing to do behind your back.”
“I hated her, but I understood her reasons. It was never about stealing Nick from me. Chris, ever the control freak, expected my full devotion, and our romance interfered. She probably figured we’d have a spat and make up later, but I couldn’t forgive Nick for betraying me.”
“So you just went back to work?”
“I told Chris I didn’t have to like working for her, but I had an obligation to Luxor, and I wouldn’t abandon the crew. I guess I was kinda hoping she wouldn’t be around for the Beauty Classic trade show that I’d signed on for next.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Georgia shrugged. “It’s history. What matters now is that I’m single and looking.”
“It matters that Chris is dead and you have a possible motive, if her death proves to be a deliberate act.”
“Excuse me? It’s a far reach to believe I’d knock Chris off over something that happened months ago.”
“Combined with the fact that she just fired you, I’d say you’re a prime suspect.” Marla forked a piece of cake into her mouth. The moist cinnamon flavor melted on her tongue.
“Who told you that?”
“Tyler remarked that you’re lucky to still have a job. He said how convenient it was for you that Chris died, and no one is the wiser.”
“He’d better keep his mouth shut. I hope he didn’t rat on me to the detective. “You’re not gonna say anything, are you?”
“I’ve learned not to volunteer information.” They fell silent, consuming their snacks. “Can I ask you something?” Marla said after swallowing her last bite. “Liesl answers my questions well enough, but she seems hard to get to know. I notice she acts more relaxed around you.”
“Don’t take it personally. She feels guilty about her family history. Once when she was tipsy, she told me about it. Liesl’s grandfather served in the Gestapo. His wife fled to England with their children, one of whom married an American and moved to the United States. That was Liesl’s mother.”
“Why should she feel bad about what her grandfather did?”
“Collective guilt. I imagine she feels awkward around you.”
“Tell me about it.” Marla rolled her shoulders to shrug off worldly concerns. They had enough problems without worrying about buried hatreds and generational atonement.
She consulted her floor map for the booth with AB Salon Equipment. “Number thirty-four hundred is at the south end opposite the OPI exhibit. Let’s move on.”
Tossing her trash into a garbage can, she started down the nearest aisle. She couldn’t decide what to look at first: gleaming shears at Ashai Scissors, titanium brushes at Interfashion USA, or Turbo Power hair dryers. Georgia lingered by a collection of shiny metal tweezers.
Some guy was arguing with a
“Go on.” Marla leaned forward so she could hear over the background chatter echoing in the huge hall. Dipping her tongue into her drink, she determined the coffee had cooled enough for her to sip.
“It was so awesome, us being there together, but I let it distract me,” Georgia said. “Chris felt I wasn’t up to par. Nick and I were thinking about hiring one of those wedding chapels, and we had arrangements to make. Chris got mad when I told her what we had in mind.”
“What did she care what you did on your personal time? Besides, she should have been happy for you.”
“Not when Luxor paid my way. Anyway, I went off with some of the girls to go shopping, but I felt guilty leaving Nick behind. So I returned early. Chris was in bed with him.” Georgia lifted her face, her eyes filled with remembered pain.
“You must have been furious.”
“Furious doesn’t begin to describe how I felt. It was my room, so I kicked them out, and I threw Nick’s suitcase in the hall after him. I never wanted to see him again.”
“What about Chris? I’d blame her for seducing the guy. What a rotten thing to do behind your back.”
“I hated her, but I understood her reasons. It was never about stealing Nick from me. Chris, ever the control freak, expected my full devotion, and our romance interfered. She probably figured we’d have a spat and make up later, but I couldn’t forgive Nick for betraying me.”
“So you just went back to work?”
“I told Chris I didn’t have to like working for her, but I had an obligation to Luxor, and I wouldn’t abandon the crew. I guess I was kinda hoping she wouldn’t be around for the Beauty Classic trade show that I’d signed on for next.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Georgia shrugged. “It’s history. What matters now is that I’m single and looking.”
“It matters that Chris is dead and you have a possible motive, if her death proves to be a deliberate act.”
“Excuse me? It’s a far reach to believe I’d knock Chris off over something that happened months ago.”
“Combined with the fact that she just fired you, I’d say you’re a prime suspect.” Marla forked a piece of cake into her mouth. The moist cinnamon flavor melted on her tongue.
“Who told you that?”
“Tyler remarked that you’re lucky to still have a job. He said how convenient it was for you that Chris died, and no one is the wiser.”
“He’d better keep his mouth shut. I hope he didn’t rat on me to the detective. “You’re not gonna say anything, are you?”
“I’ve learned not to volunteer information.” They fell silent, consuming their snacks. “Can I ask you something?” Marla said after swallowing her last bite. “Liesl answers my questions well enough, but she seems hard to get to know. I notice she acts more relaxed around you.”
“Don’t take it personally. She feels guilty about her family history. Once when she was tipsy, she told me about it. Liesl’s grandfather served in the Gestapo. His wife fled to England with their children, one of whom married an American and moved to the United States. That was Liesl’s mother.”
“Why should she feel bad about what her grandfather did?”
“Collective guilt. I imagine she feels awkward around you.”
“Tell me about it.” Marla rolled her shoulders to shrug off worldly concerns. They had enough problems without worrying about buried hatreds and generational atonement.
She consulted her floor map for the booth with AB Salon Equipment. “Number thirty-four hundred is at the south end opposite the OPI exhibit. Let’s move on.”
Tossing her trash into a garbage can, she started down the nearest aisle. She couldn’t decide what to look at first: gleaming shears at Ashai Scissors, titanium brushes at Interfashion USA, or Turbo Power hair dryers. Georgia lingered by a collection of shiny metal tweezers.
Some guy was arguing with a
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