Tipsy (Take It Off #5)(41)
Author: Cambria Hebert

Watson watched us with veiled amusement. I would likely hear about this later.

“Can I ask a question first?” Julie asked, directing her words at Watson.

He nodded.

“Why were the police at the salon tonight?”

He cleared his throat. “We had an anonymous tip.”

“A tip about what?”

“Drugs,” he said simply.

Annoyance flashed through me. “Why wasn’t I notified? This is my case.”

“Because you’re undercover. You would have been notified after we verified the tip,” Watson replied.

“Do you know if it was a man or woman that called in the tip?”

He glanced down at a stack of papers on his desk. “A female.”

“She set me up,” Julie murmured, sounding shell-shocked.

“What?” I asked.

Julie was quiet a moment as she worked through whatever it was in her mind. Then she looked up. “The owner of the salon, Susan Highland, is probably the one who called in the tip. She was the only one who knew I was there tonight. She knew I was alone. She asked me to lock up.”

“Why would she do that?” I asked.

“Because she’s the one who’s been working with Dom. She’s the one who’s been holding the drugs.”

“Explain how you know this, Miss Prescott.” Watson urged.

“Several weeks ago, my boss Susan asked me if I would take on more responsibility at the salon. She wanted me to start doing the inventory—you know, keeping track of our hair supplies, our products, things like that.”

Watson and I both nodded so she continued.

“She also asked me to take over the display and things. I thought it was a little strange that she wouldn’t ask someone more senior, but she said it was because I had the youthful vibe she wanted to represent the salon.” Julie sounded disgusted. “Now I know that it was because she just thought I would be gullible enough to take the blame.”

“How does any of this connect with the drugs and this case?” Watson asked impatiently.

“I heard her on the phone recently, after hours, arguing with someone. Saying there wasn’t enough room for something. It was an awkward conversation, and when she was done, she seemed flustered and upset. I didn’t really think much about it until what happened earlier.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“I had to stay late to finish the inventory so I didn’t have to go in tomorrow. I was the last one left. I was in the back room, out of sight. Susan was in her office. Someone came in the salon and I overheard him and Susan arguing.” She glanced at me sheepishly. “I listened at the door.”

I nodded.

“The guy seemed a little familiar, but I didn’t realize who it was at first. Anyway, he was demanding to see the ‘supply,’ and I was going to hide, but then I heard him slap her.” She paused for a moment and took a sip of water. I couldn’t help but notice how her hand trembled finely. “I went out into the salon. It was Dom.”

“You’re sure it was him?” Watson asked.

“I’m sure. I met him before. I think he might have recognized me.”

“Then what happened?” I didn’t like where this was going.

“Dom left. Susan seemed upset and she asked me to close up. After she left, I got curious… I knew you were looking for the drugs, and after hearing Susan and Dom, I suspected they were at the salon.”

“You went looking for them?” I groaned. “You should have called me.”

“I don’t have your number,” she snapped.

“So you found them and that’s when my officers arrived, finding you with a room full of drugs.”

Julie nodded at Watson, relieved that he understood. “Yes, exactly. I swear those drugs aren’t mine. I found them. Really!”

“We believe you,” I assured her, slipping my arm around her shoulders.

“How does a salon owner fall into business with a drug cartel?” Watson asked in a thoughtful tone.

Julie perked up. “She mentioned something to Dom about a guy. She accused Dom of killing him. She said that Dom was lying to her, keeping her on a string so she would keep working for him.”

“Milo.” I swore.

Watson and Julie both turned to me.

I glanced at Watson. “It’s why Slater is undercover, the cop from Raleigh. They suspect that Dom killed one of his men, a guy named Milo. This could be the break they need,” I murmured.

“So,” Watson surmised. “You think Susan Highland got roped into the drug business by her boyfriend/lover and then Dom killed him?”

Julie nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, but Dom told her that Milo was out of town so she would keep hiding the drugs. They were all disguised in boxes of hair color and developer. No one would have suspected unless they were a hairstylist.”

I cussed. It was the fucking perfect set-up.

“You believe me… right?” Julie asked, unsure.

“Yes, sweetness. We believe you.” I lightly massaged the back of her neck with my hand.

“Sweetness?” Watson said, arching his brow.

Julie laughed. I pretended like I hadn’t heard.

“We’ll need to bring in Ms. Highland for questioning. Hopefully she’ll roll over on Dom.”

Julie sat up. “She will. Especially thinking that he killed Milo. She was getting choked up just talking about him. I actually feel kind of bad for her.”

“Don’t,” I said, harsh. “She deserves to be punished. There’s no excuse for what she’s been doing. People have died.”

Julie paled and I wanted to kick myself. She already looked awful, with dark circles beneath her eyes.

“This is exactly what we needed,” Watson said, gleeful.

“What’s going to happen now?” Julie asked, not nearly as thrilled as my boss.

Adrenaline began to pump through my system like water through a hose. “Now I’m going to break this case wide open.”

25

Julie

All the charges against me were dropped. Well, technically I don’t think they actually charged me with anything to begin with, but whatever.

Blue thought my plans were hare-brained. Shows how much he knew. My plan broke the case. Hopefully now they could do whatever they were going to do and be done with it.

Blue wouldn’t tell me anything after I spilled everything I knew. One look at Watson told me I wouldn’t get any help there either. Basically as soon as they got all the info they needed, I was ushered out of the room to sign some papers and stuff while Blue stayed in the office, no doubt hatching some “official police business” plan.