Piece of My Heart (Under Suspicion #7) - Mary Higgins Clark Page 0,48
father?”
Laurie had begun to explain that Under Suspicion would be investigating Darren Gunther’s wrongful conviction claim, when Samantha interrupted. “I don’t conduct any business that matters over the telephone. I need to see a face in person and look them in the eye to form an opinion. I learned that from my father.”
“Just name the time and place,” Laurie said.
Chapter 30
The smell of ammonia tinged with a faint whiff of lilies greeted Laurie as she walked into Organique, the hair salon owned by Samantha Finney. The decor was naturalism meets minimalism, all white with bleached wood accents and flourishing potted plants for pops of green.
“Oooh, great color,” the receptionist gushed as Laurie approached the check-in desk. Her name tag identified her as Rachel. Her own tresses were streaked with pink and piled in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. The hoop in her left nostril was gold. “You’re clearly in no need of a touch-up. It’s just perfect with your stunning hazel eyes.”
Laurie had read once that businesses that cater to a woman’s physical appearance make a point to comment on their customers’ attractiveness. The idea was to build a customer’s self-esteem while also reinforcing the importance of aesthetic beauty. Or perhaps Rachel was simply paying her a compliment. Indeed, Laurie had been to her own hairdresser only three days earlier. Charlotte had convinced Laurie to add a few blond highlights to her natural honey color for the wedding. According to her friend, the blond would shine more in photographs, without looking fake. A time when her hair color was the pressing matter of the day felt like a different lifetime.
“I’m here to see Samantha,” Laurie said, raising her voice to be heard over a hairdryer blowing on the other side of the reception desk. Rachel began to flip through the appointment book. “Laurie Moran, but I’m probably not in the schedule. Samantha’s expecting me, though. I spoke to her on the phone this afternoon.”
Laurie noticed that the hairdresser at the back station of the busy salon was looking in their direction. Rachel turned and caught the woman’s eye. The woman managed to expertly wrap a section of her client’s hair in tinfoil while simultaneously pointing to herself, as if to say, Is that for me?
Rachel nodded, and Samantha flashed a peace sign with her fingers.
“She’ll just be a couple of minutes,” Rachel said.
As promised, two minutes later, Samantha snapped off a pair of latex gloves and dropped them in a wastebasket on her way to the salon’s waiting area. She gave her palms a quick wipe on her black smock before greeting Laurie with a handshake.
“Samantha Finney. Thanks for coming.” Samantha had bright blue eyes, alabaster skin, and dark wavy hair that framed her round face. Laurie guessed Samantha was at most a few years older than she was. “Sorry, I know I told you I had a hole in my schedule, but my five o’clock got here half an hour late. No apology, of course, and she never tips more than five percent, but hey, the customer’s always right.” She flashed an obviously forced smile. “Anyway, I assume your show wants to highlight that lying lowlife who killed my dad, so, yeah, I brought you all the way downtown to tell you to your face you’re being suckered. You can produce whatever story you want, but I’m not going to help you turn that man—”
“Darren Gunther.”
Samantha winced at the sound of his name. “I refuse to say it out loud. My father, he was a hero. He was my hero. And that piece of garbage took him away from me. To me, he doesn’t even deserve to be thought of as a human being, let alone… some kind of oppressed artist?” She shook her head. “You can’t understand. You just know he’ll help your ratings.”
“I know a little something about having a hero for a father. I’m Leo Farley’s daughter.”
Samantha’s eyes widened. “Wow.” As she processed the information, Laurie could see Samantha’s expression soften. “We can talk in my break room.”
* * *
Samantha took a deep breath and exhaled once the break room door was closed. “Most draft-proof door the contractor could find, plus I run an air purifier back here 24/7. Those chemicals are no joke.”
“But they’re… Organique?”
“Rebranded last year. Everybody wants to sound so green and natural these days. But guess what? If you want your curly hair straight, or your straight hair curly, there are chemicals involved.” Samantha took a seat at