Baltimore Noir - Laura Lippman [58]
“Yes, we argued, but we always argued,” C.P. was whining as Ahmad, Jennifer, and I strode over. “Ask anyone. He was very jealous of my business.” He motioned to the large black banner on the booth which contained the name of his salon, Isn’t She Lovely, in gold letters. “But I wouldn’t have killed the man.” He shifted his dog under his arm and held him like a purse while he looked to two of his employees who were doing hair at the booth for confirmation.
“We have information that you threatened Mr. Henry just a few hours ago,” U said calmly.
“Me?” C.P. asked incredulously. “Why in the world would I threaten Miles?”
“Remember, you said you would slit his throat if he kept coming over here stealing your hair spray,” piped up one of C.P.’s employees, a petite honey-colored woman with chunky fuschia highlights in her hair. C.P. shot her a venomous look over his shoulder.
“Figure of speech, Mona,” C.P. said, a little louder than necessary. “I am a nonviolent animal lover.” He patted Bouf for emphasis.
“We were also told that you changed clothes, Mr. Murray,” U further explained. “Now why would you do that?”
C.P. whipped around to face Mona. “You are deliberately trying to destroy me!” he screeched. “It’s because I wouldn’t give you last Friday off, isn’t it?”
“Calm down, Mr. Murray,” Ahmad intoned. “No one is accusing you of anything … yet.”
“Do you own a pair of ivory inlay scissors?” U asked, studying C.P.’s face closely.
“I do, and I can show them to you,” C.P. said quickly, walking over to his work station where he dug through his many supplies. “They were right here this morning. Mona! Did you steal my scissors? I swear, when this is over we are having a very long talk, you and I.”
At that moment, a uniformed officer with a name tag that read “A. Jenkins” escorted a visibly distraught Kylani over to where we were. “Detectives, this is the victim’s sister and she’s demanding to see the persons in charge of the investigation,” the officer said.
“Arrest this man!” Kylani screamed. “He killed my brother.”
C.P. paled and opened and shut his mouth so hard that I thought his teeth were going to shatter. He sputtered and managed to choke out, “I have no idea what she is talking about.”
“They argued this morning,” Kylani continued. She was actually wringing her hands, holding one fist tight inside the other. Given the length of her nails, it had to hurt, but she seemed too distraught to notice.
“I was standing right here when it happened. C.P. said Miles had stolen the last client he was ever going to take from him. He promised he would get even. I’ll never see my brother again!” she wailed, then collapsed against the police officer.
“Where’s the shirt you were wearing earlier, Mr. Murray?” my sister asked.
“I got some dye and perm on it so I asked my assistant to wash it with the last load of towels,” C.P. stammered. “She left an hour ago to go to the laundry. I swear to you, I would never hurt Miles. I was one of his mentors.”
“I think we should continue this discussion at the station,” U stated, all business.
“How could you, C.P.?” Kylani cried, as the officer propped her back up on her feet. “How could you stab my little brother with your special scissors after pretending all this time to be his friend?” She threw her hands up to her face and tilted backwards as if she were about to swoon again.
“U, wait,” I said. “Officer Jenkins, did you take Kylani to see her brother’s body?”
“No ma’am,” Jenkins replied. “The crime scene is still being processed.”
“Kylani,” I tried to boom in my most authoritative voice. “Give it up. Once the police review the security tapes, they will know that you killed Miles.”
Her head shot up and the tears magically disappeared. “Are you nuts?”
“The jig is up, girlfriend,” I said. “You stole C.P.’s scissors and stabbed