The 'Your Best Style' salon was small but had plenty of stations for doing hair. It was originally owned by Harriett Bismark, who was Mayor Michael Bismark's cousin but she ended up selling it to a lady named Jean Young. She owned several and was training Katherine Page to be a manager for her.

Katherine had gone to school with Runa and Mendalie. She started cosmetology while she was a senior in high school. She took to it like a fish to water. She was a cute red haired girl with dimples and freckles. Her hair is long and beautiful and always styled nicely to advertise her skill. She keeps an orderly store, an orderly home and an orderly life.

Her boyfriend lives with her in 'her' apartment which is to say that she is the 'queen' of her castle and won't put up with much. But Roger is an easygoing and friendly young man who works long hours at Steiny's as a cook with his friend Grant, who only works there part time. Roger loves to cook and so Katherine never really has to. He does get messy and she can't stand that. It is about the only thing they fight about.

Katherine was busy getting ready for her morning perm. The store had to be immaculate. She always kept it clean but if Sable Weihl was the client, nothing was clean enough. It had to be perfect. Old magazines and hair books were tossed in the back. The floor was re-swept and mopped again. All of the scissors and other tools were sanitized again.

The door opened and Ava Madison walked in. She was the richest woman in town and she flaunted it well. She was always decked out in gorgeous clothes and gaudy, expensive jewelry. She was also the town gossip. If there was anything you wanted everyone to know; Ava was your megaphone.

"Good morning," Katharine said to her.

"Good morning dear. How are you?" Ava asked.

"I'm doing well. What can I do for you?"

"I need to pick up some of that shampoo again. It is the best thing I've found," she told her.

"Okay," Kathy said, going to the shelf. She grabbed a bottle and took it to the register. "Do you need anything else?"

Ava looked around. "Not today, dear but, I do need to schedule an appointment to get my hair colored before next Thursday."

"Not a problem," she told her and opened up the appointment book.

The door opened and Sable came in. She stood there behind Ava who was not paying attention.

"How about Tuesday at nine?" Kathy asked.

"Oh nine? Do you have anything a little later?" Ava asked her.

"Ava doesn't get up until noon, Kathy." Sable told her.

Ava turned to see Sable. She smiled at her. "Well I suppose it wouldn't do any good to say that most of us don't get up at the crack of dawn to play in the dirt."

"No, I would consider that a compliment," Sable said.

"I thought so," Ava said nodding to her. "Find anything interesting lately?"

Sable gave her a warning look. "Nothing you would find interesting, Ava."

"Probably not," she said.

"How's Bill doing?" Sable asked.

"Buried as usual. Who knows, maybe someday he'll bury himself so deep in his work that you'll have to dig him up."

"I don't want your leftover old bones, Ava," she told her. "I've got my own... admirer these days."

"So I've noticed," Ava said. "Well, that was your plan after all."

"Not one that I wanted to work quite so well," Sable said. "I may have to cut him off one of these days."

"How would you run things then?" Ava asked her.

"My dear Mrs. Madison," she told her, "There's more than one way to keep a city in your pocket."

She smiled at Ava.

"Well, I better get over to the sale," Ava said. "Who knows if that girl can handle things?"

"Okay. Call me tonight and we'll try to come up with a plan for Thursday."

Ava nodded and left.

"I'm ready for you, Miss Weihl," Kathy said, politely.

"Thank you dear. Just let me hang my coat." Sable removed her jacket and walked over by the window where the hooks were. She watched Ava walking away and then she looked across the square at the 'Bell, Book and Candle.'

She went over to the chair and before sitting down she looked at Katherine.

"You went to school with Runa Walker, didn't you?"

"Yes. I did."

"What was she like in school?"

"Oh, I don't really remember too much. She kept mostly to herself, I guess" Kathy said. "I did too. I only spent half a day at the High School. I went to the other school for Cosmetology."

"I see," Sable said.

"But I remember there were several times she got to school late, and after the accident, she kept even more to herself."

"Of course, poor dear," Sable said as she sat in the chair. "So Kathy, I think it's time we had a conversation."

"About what?"

"Well, as you know, the book club is more than reading books."

"Oh I know," she said. "What do you need me to do?"

Sable smiled at her. "You always were sharp as a tack. Valarie was right to sponsor you."