Page 88 of For Love or Money
‘We’ll go back and get it. We’ll meet you back at the car,’ Al said to his cousins.
‘We have to talk to that guy!’ Lesley hissed once the others were out of earshot.
Adam was crossing the road now, turning up a side street. Lesley glanced behind her to make sure the others were out of sight before darting after him. Once they turned the corner, she started running, and she caught up with him at the top of the road.
‘Excuse me!’ Lesley called to his back. ‘Adam!’
He turned at the sound of his name, and looked surprised to see her and Al.
‘Oh. Hello?’
‘Hi.’ Lesley puffed. She was a little out of breath from the chase, and her heart was pounding with excitement. She hadn’t thought about what she was going to say when they caught up with him, so she had to think quickly. ‘Sorry to bother you but – you said you were a hairdresser ...’
‘Did I?’ Adam looked confused.
‘Well, you said you used to work at Vidal Sassoon.’
‘Oh, yes.’
‘Anyway, the thing is, I could really do with getting my hair cut while I’m here—’
‘Yes.’ Adam nodded, giving her hair the once-over. She decided she didn’t like Adam.
‘—and I’d love to find an English-speaking hairdresser,’ she continued. ‘I was wondering ... do you know any around here by any chance?’
‘You’re in luck! I’m in a salon in St Tropez now,’ he said, pulling a card from the tight pocket of his jeans with difficulty. ‘Give that number a ring and ask for me. I’ll sort that lot out for you.’
Yes! Lesley resisted punching the air in triumph. She was so happy, she didn’t even care that Adam was being rude about her hair. ‘Perfect. Thank you,’ she said evenly, taking the card from him. ‘I’ll ring you tomorrow.’
Her heart was racing as she turned and walked away with Al, but she managed to contain her excitement until they’d turned the corner.
‘Oh my God!’ she burst out then, brandishing the card. ‘That was so much fun!’
‘You were brilliant!’ Al grinned. ‘Coming up with something on the spur of the moment like that—’
‘I know!’ Lesley beamed with pride. ‘It’s like bullshitting is my superpower.’
‘This could be the breakthrough we’ve been looking for,’ Al said as they walked back to join the others.
Lesley could kiss him when he talked like that. ‘It could crack this case wide open.’
‘So, what’s our next move?’
Lesley decided not to reprimand him for the ‘our’. It was fun having a sidekick, someone she could discuss everything with; she felt she might burst if she had to keep it all to herself. ‘We’re going to St Tropez!’ she said. ‘I’m getting a haircut.’
‘Oh.’ Al’s face fell. ‘Do we have to?’
Lesley was surprised how deflated she felt that he seemed reluctant to join in all of a sudden. ‘You don’t have to come if you don’t want to,’ she said. ‘I just thought—’
‘What? Of course I want to come! I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Only ...’
‘What?’
‘You won’t get too much off, will you?’ he said, looking at the top of her head.
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I like your hair. The more of it, the merrier.’
