“Anything I can do?” he asked. “I know most of the folks on the block.”
“That’s okay. I apologized and dropped off gift baskets. In the meantime, I better go. We’ve got a tight shooting schedule today.”
“Can’t wait to see what you’re doing with the place,” Davis said. “I’d love a tour.”
“I’ll call you,” Hattie promised. “Soon.”
* * *
Trae was sitting in the makeup chair, a plastic cape tied around his neck, when Hattie arrived in the trailer. He was simultaneously scrolling through the emails on his phone, flirting with Lisa, and critiquing her work as the hair and makeup artist skillfully applied highlighter to his cheeks and chin, and patted tinted concealer under his eyes.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, flashing Hattie one of his hundred-watt smiles.
“Be right with you, Hattie,” Lisa said. She picked up an electric razor. “I just want to sharpen up these sideburns a little.”
“Not too sharp,” Trae cautioned. “I kinda like that natural look.”
Hattie guffawed. “Natural? You’re currently wearing more makeup and hair product than I wore to prom.”
“Yeah, but who wore it better?”
“All done!” Lisa whisked the cape from his shoulders and gestured to Hattie. “Next.”
Trae vacated the chair but not the trailer, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Lisa start work on Hattie’s hair. He was dressed in artfully faded jeans and a white cotton T-shirt just tight enough to show off his toned physique, and had a rolled-up newspaper tucked under his arm.
“Another story in today’s paper about the wallet-in-the-wall lady,” he said.
“What’s it say?”
Trae unrolled the paper and tried to hand it to her.
“Just tell me what it says, okay?”
“It’s about that Tybee cop who came out here the other day. Says he’s officially taken over the investigation from the Savannah cops. Nice mention of us in here, too. They even spelled my name right. Yours too.”
“I guess that’s a good thing,” Hattie said.
“How did your interview go with the reporter?” he asked.
“Okay. It wasn’t like there was a lot I could tell her about finding the wallet.”
“But you were with her for quite awhile,” he commented. “I’m just curious why this is such a big story, what? Sixteen years later?”
Hattie watched her reflection in the mirror as Lisa deftly wove her hair into French braids, loosening some strands, then using the end of her comb to pick out some wispy bangs.
“Seventeen years. Lanier was special to a lot of people. Yeah, it’s been years since she vanished, but that makes it all the more puzzling. Where did she go? What happened to her?”
“Well, you knew her. What do you think happened?”
“Like Cass said, nothing good. I don’t believe she ran off and left her little kid behind. Molly, that’s the reporter, has heard all the rumors—that Lanier was having an affair. Which was the rumor going around way back when we were still in high school…”
The trailer door opened and Cass stepped inside. “Hey, Lisa, Mo says you want to jazz me up for my scene this morning?”
“Yup,” Lisa said. “I’ll get to you as soon as I finish with Hattie. Your outfit’s over in wardrobe if you want to get dressed first.”
“Nooo,” Cass protested. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” She was wearing a faded olive-green T-shirt, baggy cargo shorts that fell just below her knees, and high-top Converse sneakers.
Trae shot Hattie a look. “Where shall we start? First off, Cassandra…”
“It’s Cassidy.”
“Okay, Cassidy. No offense, but there’s a homeless woman hanging out at the gas station on the corner who wants her clothes back. What you’re wearing is aggressively ugly.”
Hattie cleared her throat. “Ignore Trae. I think what he means is, that outfit, while comfortable, and practical, doesn’t exactly play up your best assets.”
“Cass, don’t worry,” Lisa said. “Jodi showed me your outfit. It’s just skinny jeans and a T-shirt. You’ve got a cute butt on you. So why not play it up?”
“Maybe I don’t want to play it up because I don’t want any of these pervy subs getting the wrong idea,” Cass said, still pouting.
“I promise, it’s nothing provocative or revealing,” Lisa said.