I glanced at the list and sipped my coffee as I went through the cabinets, double-checking to make sure I had everything listed that the salon would need. I liked to order in bulk. It seemed easier to place one larger order every couple weeks than to constantly be ordering stock.
After making all the notations and double-checking the order, I pulled out my cell to place the call to the distributor. Just before I hit send, I realized I didn’t check the display out front. After the busy day we had, I knew we were running low on several products. With a sigh, I set the phone down and took another gulp of coffee. Clipboard and pen in hand, I started out to the front.
The sound of the front doors opening and closing heavily had my footsteps slowing. I wasn’t sure why, but the sound… It just seemed different than usual. More forced.
I heard the clicking of Susan’s heels on the tile and then her muffled gasp. “What are you doing here?”
I kept just inside the back room, instinctively knowing I shouldn’t go out there.
“You haven’t been answering your phone,” said a voice that seemed vaguely familiar. I tilted my head, trying to decide where I’d heard it before.
“I’ve been busy,” Susan said tightly.
“Busy doing what?”
“I have a business to run,” she said, and I swear I heard the hint of fear in her tone. My stomach began to knot, wondering what the hell was going on.
“So do I, and when you don’t answer the phone, I start to wonder,” the male replied. I heard his footsteps shuffle farther into the room. “Wonder if maybe you’re going to turn on me.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m gonna need to see the product.”
“It’s safe.”
“I want to see.”
“What if someone saw you come in here?”
“So?” he challenged. “Everyone needs a haircut from time to time.”
The tension coming from out there was thick; I felt it oozing through the doorway, trying to tangle me up in its nasty web.
“It’s in the back,” Susan finally said. I guess she was going to show him whatever it was he wanted to see.
But wait… I was in the back.
The minute they stepped into this room, they would know that I was eavesdropping. Something told me that wasn’t good.
I looked around for a place to hide, my eyes landing on the door to what Susan said was where the water heater and stuff was. I turned to flee, to hide, when the man’s voice caught my attention once more.
“Let me remind you,” he said, low and menacing. “You work for me. Those who try to turn on me, who try to venture out on their own… It doesn’t end well for them.”
A charged silence permeated the air, and I imagined Susan and whoever it was out there locked in a stare-down. It was a good time to get to hiding.
“You killed him, didn’t you?” Susan said, accusation thick in her tone.
Wait a minute. I stopped, turned back to the doorway. Who killed who, now?
“That’s a pretty serious accusation,” the man said mildly. Like being accused of murder wasn’t that big of a deal.
Who is this guy?
“You told me he was out on a job. No job would last this long. You kept me on a string. You knew when I realized what you did that I wouldn’t do this anymore.” I could hear the emotion welling up in Susan, like she had some sort of closed valve in her throat and the pressure from what she was feeling was bottling up behind it, ready to explode. “I should have realized sooner.” Her voice cracked.
“Listen, bitch.” The man breathed. “I don’t have time for your moaning. Like I said. You work for me. Now show me the stuff.”
“Get out,” she demanded.
Whoa. Props to the boss lady. She had some lady balls. I pumped a fist in the air. You go, girl.
“What did you just say?” he practically growled. Little goose bumps prickled my skin at his threatening and dangerous tone.
“I said get. Out. Now.”
I heard a sharp slapping sound and Susan cry out.
Eavesdropping was one thing. Listening to a man beat up on a woman was totally different. She wasn’t the only one with lady balls.
Taking a deep breath, I slapped the clipboard down on the counter and walked out of the back room, not being subtle at all, clicking the end of my ballpoint pen as I walked.
“Susan,” I called like I had no idea she was standing out here. The pair at the other end of the salon froze, surprised, just like I knew they would be. I prepared to act surprised too.
But I didn’t have to act.
Shock rippled through me, and it was followed very closely by thick dread. My eyes locked with the man who was arguing with—who just hit—my boss.