CHAPTER 2

“Dee Dee, this is ridiculous! I would never do such a thing!”

Dee Dee Townsend sat back in her leather chair and watched Sheila Hatch cry, her tears turning her honey-glazed skin a dark red. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy; her nose was running. Dee Dee reached across her desk and slid her a box of Kleenex. She’s a good actress. If I were younger, she would have me fooled.

“All the evidence before me, Sheila, points to you,” Dee Dee said calmly. “Can you give me another reason $10,000 is missing from the account on the exact day and time that you said you used the business card?”

“I told you, Dee Dee, I was getting supplies…”

“Ten thousand dollars’ worth? Sheila, you know the rules. Anything over $1,000 must be approved by me. Besides, the salon had already received its supplies for the month.”

“I know, I know, but I swear I didn’t…”

“Did you also go to lunch that day, Sheila?”

“Yes, but—”

“You spent over $250 at—” Dee Dee looked down at a brown file on her desk, “Ruth Cris Steakhouse?”

“Oh, that. I can explain that. I took Michael out to lunch to celebrate his promotion. I had left all my credit cards and had to use the business card. I was gonna tell you—”

“When?”

“It slipped my mind. We’ve been really busy working on our new product line; I forgot to mention it. You can take it out of my next paycheck—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Dee Dee interrupted, closing the file. “Because of your long service and dedication to Behave Hair Salon, I’m going to give you until 5:00 this evening to remove all your things from the premises.”

“What!” Sheila shrieked.

“Everything in your office belongs to you, except the computer and furniture. As stated in your contract all business files must remain, as they are property of the salon. Do you understand, Sheila?”

“No, Dee Dee, I don’t understand. What’s going on here? Fifteen years! I’ve been working here fifteen years and you’re just gonna fire me? You can’t just fire me like this!” Sheila pleaded. “I know all this looks bad, but I didn’t do this! I’ve counted out over $100,000 in your hand! Why would I steal from you? I love you like a mother. Why would I bite the hand that feeds me?”

“I love you, too,” Dee Dee said. Her voice was flat and even, and her brown eyes became cold and hard. “That’s why I’m not pressing charges. But if you’re on this property one minute after 5:00, you’re going to jail. Is that understood?”

Sheila shook her head.

“Who is gonna replace me?”

“Theresa will step in as creative director temporarily, until I can find a suitable replacement.”

“Theresa? Theresa McArthur? Anybody but her! She’s probably the one behind all this mess! She has wanted my job since day one! Dee Dee, please, just give me some time; I’ll prove she set me up—”

“No, Sheila, my decision is final. I can’t keep overlooking this. In November, $2,000 was missing; you said you didn’t know what happened. In January, $4,600 was missing; you said you would look into it. Each time your card had been used. You’re the only one in the salon whose card has an unlimited amount on it. As much as I love you, Sheila, I can’t keep turning a blind eye to this; it has been happening too long. Sheila, if you needed money, why didn’t you just ask me?”

“Because I didn’t need any money! I told you—”

Dee Dee raised her hand, motioning for Sheila to stop.

“You have to leave.”

Sheila stood up, fresh tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry I let you down, Dee Dee,” she said, walking out of Dee Dee’s office for the last time.

Dee Dee watched as Sheila closed her office door, finalizing the decision she had made.

I’m sorry, too.