4 Maui Macadamia Madness

by Cynthia Hickey

  “Okay.”

  April and I high-fived each other as soon as Malia turned her back to us. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Manano’s face when we solved the murders.

  Once we figured out what had happened to Mr. Jamison, we could move on to Mrs. Aldrich. Although the methods were different, I knew the two deaths were related.

  Somehow, I needed to figure out how to find out whether Mrs. Aldrich was actually poisoned, since everyone in the world but me knew she couldn’t actually be electrocuted. Maybe I could have April wheedle Joe into finding out. He’d do anything for his ‘girl’.

  We stopped in front of French doors covered with gauzy fabric. Malia knocked.

  “Come in.”

  Malia pushed open the door and led the way inside a room with a teak wood desk and walls of books. I felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

  “Mr. Wahine? I have found a discrepancy in our inventory I think you should be made aware of.” Malia twisted her hands in the folds of her dress. Her face paled.

  “Yes?” He frowned.

  Was it possible the gentle teddy bear-of-a-man was more like a grizzly bear?

  “There is a box of nuts missing.”

  He shrugged and turned back to the papers on his desk. “Maybe one of my children took it. They enjoy the chocolate.”

  How could I let him know Ethan and I were in Mr. Jamison’s room without being prosecuted for trespassing?

  “Mrs. Banning!” As if he just noticed me, his smile returned. “May I help you?”

  “No, we just accompanied Malia here. She seemed shaken up. We’ll all be leaving now. Thank you.” I put my arms around the other girls’ shoulders and ushered them from the room. “He doesn’t seem concerned about the missing box.”

  “He is.” Malia plopped on a nearby wicker bench. “He is fanatic about knowing where everything is at all times. He tends to blow when a towel is missing, much less expensive nuts.” She covered her face. “Oh, he’ll think I’m trying to cover up the fact I took them.”

  I sat next to her. “No, he won’t. Not with me and April having gone with you. He has to keep up appearances.” He did a really good job, too. Everyone was convinced the portly man was a jolly Hawaiian version of Santa Claus.

  “I shouldn’t be speaking ill of my employer.” Malia stood. “He is only stressed because the Bed and Breakfast is in danger.”

  “In danger?” I looked at April.

  “Someone told me, they want to build a fancy resort here. I must go.” Malia scampered away like she was a mouse and us the cats.

  “We need to find out what kind of business Mr. Jamison was in.”

  April nodded. “My guess—development.”

  The door opened and Mr. Wahine joined us. He startled, almost dropping the ledger in his hand. “Ladies?”

  “We were just leaving.” I dropped my gaze to the book in his hand. Did it show more red tallies than black?

  “No hurry. Other than our private quarters, the Wahine Bed and Breakfast is home to guests. Aloha.” He disappeared through a door across the hall.

  Was I to assume closed doors were private quarters? I eyed the library, office, whatever he had just come out of. “Did he tell us which were his family’s private quarters?”

  April smiled. “He neglected that piece of important information.”

  “Then we return tonight and search this desk.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ethan rubbed his chin as I filled him in on what Malia had told us. I liked the fact he didn’t shave everyday while on the island. It gave him a rugged, outdoorsy look.

  “I can see why someone might want Jamison dead, if he was trying to get the Wahine’s to give up their hotel, but why kill Mrs. Aldrich?”

  “That’s what we need to find out.” I scooted closer to him on the sofa. “April and I are going back to investigate his office after everyone is asleep.”

  “I’m not sure…”

  “We haven’t come to any harm yet.” I leaned back to see his face. “Has Joe said anything to you about how Mrs. Aldrich actually died? I’m sure he knows.”

  Ethan sighed. “She was poisoned. He wasn’t able to get Manano to tell him what kind of poison, though, so don’t ask.”

  “Is there a storage building close by? Somewhere the Wahine’s keep gardening tools?” I’d be willing to bet my favorite red stilettos that there was poison hidden on the grounds. “I bet Mrs. Aldrich found out something she shouldn’t.” I laid my check on his broad chest.

  “You mean she nosed around, asked questions, and went where she didn’t belong.”

  “Most likely.”

  “Like you.”

  “Well…I…” He had me there. “I’ll be careful, I promise. I have no desire to be locked into a trunk, shot at, or chased through a carnival funhouse ever again. I’m being very low key this time.”

  He laughed, his chest rumbling under my ear. “Sure, you are.”

  “Stop.” I gave him a playful slap on the arm. “What could possibly go wrong?”

  “You really want me to answer that?”

  “No.” As careful as I planned on being, things did tend to go wrong for me. But, as long as I told Ethan and Joe where I would be, things should be just fine. “What do you want to do until supper?”

  “How does a walk on the beach sound? We’re on our honeymoon, you know. Can’t have you spending all your time with my sister. We could find a secluded spot, watch the wind surfers, and make out.”

  I stood and held out my hand. “A walk on the beach sounds perfect.”

  ###

  I stood outside our cottage and breathed deep of the salt-and-seaweed laden air. Closing my eyes, I made out the sound of the waves slapping the shore. I still felt warm and fuzzy from necking with my husband. We had decided to forgo supper, staying in our cottage and ordering room service instead. Ethan’s love kept me fortified and gave me courage. A warm breeze kissed my face as tenderly as Ethan had minutes before. I almost had second thoughts about leaving him alone for an hour or two.

  Footsteps pounding up the walk. I opened my eyes.

  “Aunt Eunice, what are you doing here?” My aunt raced toward me, dressed in black, a huge grin on her face.

  “I’m here to help you and April. You’ll need a lookout. I can blend in when I want to.” She rubbed her hands together. “This will be so much fun! Uncle Roy doesn’t even know I’m gone.”

  I peered over her shoulder to where April stood with Uncle Roy coming up behind her like a locomotive. “He does now.”

  “Eunice, are you out of your mind?” He stopped beside her and crossed his arms.

  “Shhh. You’ll wake people up, and we’ll be found out.” She mimicked his body language.

  “You are not going anywhere.” Even in the dark, I knew my uncle’s face was darkening.

  “Oh, yes I am.” She turned to me. “Let’s go. Night’s a wasting.”

  I gave an apologetic glance to my uncle, a heavy kiss on Ethan’s lips, then took Aunt Eunice by the hand. “I’ll take good care of her.”

  “Who is going to take care of you?” Uncle Roy sniffed.

  “I will.” April patted his shoulder.

  He nodded. “You’re likely the most sensible. I’ll be here with Ethan until y’all get back. You have one hour.”

  And then what? We turn into pumpkins? “April screams at her own shadow.” Sensible, my foot.

  “You aren’t helping your case, sweetheart.” Ethan gave me a peck on the forehead. “Y’all three stay together, and you should be all right.”

  At least my husband had faith in me.

  “Where’s Joe?” I asked April as we kept to the shadows on our way to the main house.

  “Said he had something to do. I think he’s doing some investigating on his own.”

  No way! “We need to solve this case first.” Then maybe my bossy cousin would get off my back about me undertaking things too big for me to handle.

  “Do you have your t
azer?” Aunt Eunice asked.

  “Yes, why?”

  “I think you should give it to me so I can shock anyone who comes around while you’re snooping.”

  “No, I think I’ll keep it.” Was she nuts? She’d most likely taze me or April, or herself.

  I shoved aside a low hanging branch and peered through a hibiscus plant. No lights glowed in the house. I was pretty sure I remembered the way to the library slash office. Hopefully the door would be unlocked.

  The others followed me as I stepped into the opening and dashed across the lawn. Horror! The light over the shuffleboard court highlighted April’s blonde hair and Aunt Eunice’s grey. What did my red hair look like? We needed to get under cover fast before someone glanced out a window.

  I grabbed the doorknob to the front door and pushed. Locked. Aunt Eunice and April barreled into me, knocking the air from my lungs. “Back off!”

  “I thought Mr. Wahine said the main house was open to guests at all times.” April peered through the glass.

  “He did.” I leaned against the building. “Did he at any time say anything about hiding a key anywhere?”

  “Sure he did. At check-in. Most likely you and Ethan were too wrapped up in each other to pay attention.” Aunt Eunice picked up a tropical-colored frog. “There’s one in the frog’s butt. Isn’t that clever?” She handed me the key.

  “Very. Thanks.” I inserted it in the lock and listened for the satisfying sound of it disengaging. There. I handed the key back to my aunt and led the way inside. “Lock it behind you. It will make it harder to be surprised.”

  Aunt Eunice turned, knocking into a table, and lunged for a swaying lamp. “Got it!”

  “Shh.” April and I hissed in unison.

  “If you can’t be quiet and careful, go back.” I shook my head and moved down the hall.

  Praise God, the office was unlocked. I slipped inside.

  April joined me, leaving Aunt Eunice in the hall. “She said she would recite a bible passage if someone was coming.”

  Good grief. “Look for anything that might tell us whether Mr. Wahine is involved in shady dealings or had worked with Mr. Jamison.”

  April moved to the bookshelves while I jiggled desk drawers. They were all locked.

  I eyed the laptop and wondered whether it required a password. If it was for guests’ use, it shouldn’t. I pressed the button and watched as it came to life. “What’s Mr. Jamison’s first name?”

  “I have no idea.” April shook a book. “Maybe it’s written in the guest book.”

  “Which is at the front desk.” This was a total waste of time.

  “Love is patient, love is kind, love is…” Aunt Eunice’s voice drifted loud and clear.

  April clutched the book to her chest and plopped on the sofa. I grabbed a book and fell into a wingchair as the door opened.

  Leroy Wahine marched in. “Kind of late for reading, isn’t it?”

  “Is it a problem?” I thought my heart would stop. “Your father said we could visit any time.”

  “That is correct.” He pulled a key from his pocket and opened a drawer to the desk. With a manila folder in his hand, he stopped in the middle of the room. “Why is there an old lady babbling to herself in the hall?”

  “That’s my senile aunt. Excuse us. I need to care for her.” I handed him the book I held and stood, motioning for April to follow.

  “Why are all three of you dressed in black?” Leroy frowned. “I don’t think you’re being entirely truthful with me. I’ve heard about you, Mrs. Banning.”

  “From Susan Wood, no doubt.”

  “Yes. She warned us all about your nosiness.” He smiled without humor. “My suggestion to you is for you to enjoy your visit and go home. Nothing more.”

  That sounded an awful lot like a threat. My hackles rose. I wanted nothing more than to stick my tazer to his bum and wipe that smirk off his face. “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.” I turned to April. “Do you have the book you wanted?”

  “Yes, thank you.” With her nose in the air, she sashayed past our unfriendly host and out the door.

  Leroy leaned close. “People are talking about you, Mrs. Banning.” He winked and left me standing there gaping like a fish.

  What people? I wanted to shout after him. Were they talking about me in a good way or a bad one? Somehow, I guessed it was bad.

  I joined April and my aunt in the hall. “Really? Corinthians?”

  Aunt Eunice shrugged. “It’s the first thing that came to mind. Found out anything?”

  “Nothing more than the fact that Leroy Wahine doesn’t like me.”

  “What else is new?” Aunt Eunice grinned. “I’m hungry. Let’s go to your cottage and grab something to eat.”

  “What do you mean? I’m likeable. Everybody likes me.” Seriously.

  “If everybody liked you, someone wouldn’t be trying to kill you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aunt Eunice’s words haunted me into the morning hours. The only person on the island I could truthfully say didn’t care for me would be Susan Woods. I had no idea why. Just because she had read a few newspaper articles about my crime solving wasn’t enough motivation. Not in my book, anyway.

  I sat up in bed and slid my legs over the side. It was hard to believe today was our fifth day on the island and I was neck-deep in two murders. Depressing, really. Not only because two people were dead, but also because all I knew in that five day’s time was the possibility that Mr. Jamison might have wanted to take control of the land the Wahine Bed and Breakfast sat on.

  Ethan rolled over. “Can’t sleep?”

  “No.” I pushed aside a curl that had fallen over his eyes. “What do you want to do today?”

  “Parasailing?” He raised his eyebrows.

  The thought scared me spitless, but I’d try anything once. “Sure. Do you think we can escape without the others?”

  He grinned. “We can sure try. Might have a better chance if we grab breakfast in Lahaina.”

  “I’ll get dressed.” I jumped to my feet and dashed into the bathroom.

  I reached for a sundress. No, not if I was going to be floating over people’s heads. I opted instead for white capris and a royal blue tank top with sequins. I’d look like part of the sky. After tying my hair back into a ponytail and grabbing the camera, I rejoined Ethan and hand-in-hand we headed to the front of the hotel to see about renting a car for the day, which would leave the rental van for the others.

  Joy bubbled inside. I was ridiculously excited about spending an entire day with my new husband. Just me, him, and the island of Maui. What could be better?

  My aunt and uncle turned the corner. I clutched Ethan’s arm. “We need to hurry.”

  A young man handed him the keys to a candy-apple red convertible. Perfect! Ethan handed him a ten dollar bill and slid behind the wheel. I rushed to the passenger side and climbed in. Made it by the skin of our teeth.

  “Yoo hoo!” Aunt Eunice waved.

  I waved back, then slid what I called my Hollywood sunglasses over my eyes. “See you later! Enjoy your day.” I leaned in to Ethan. “Floor it.” I felt awful for ditching them, but Ethan and I deserved a day to ourselves, didn’t we? I never should have called April after someone threw the spear at us. The rental car roared down the road.

  “What’s wrong?” Ethan reached over and grasped my hand.

  “It hasn’t been the honeymoon you envisioned, has it?”

  “What do you mean?” He glanced at me. “Any day with you is a honeymoon.” His mouth quirked. “Besides, how many guys can say they helped solve a murder on their honeymoon?”

  “Don’t tease.” I faced out the passenger side of the car.

  The wind whipped my hair and kissed my skin with the scent of Hawaii. Maybe I would ditch my ailing Sonata for a Mustang convertible when we got home. The candy store was making good money. Somehow I doubted Ethan would argue too much. He looked perfectly happy behind the wheel.

  He smile
d. “I’m not teasing. Anywhere, any time with you, is paradise.”

  How did I warrant such a splendid gift from God?

  “I love you.” I pressed my lips against his neck.

  “I love you, but if you really want to go parasailing, you might want to stop nuzzling my neck.”

  “Do I get to pick which I’d rather do?” I ran my fingers through his hair. “Because it isn’t a difficult decision.”

  He flicked a glance at me. “We don’t have to go. There are plenty of other things to do.”

  “I want to.” Actually, I knew how much he wanted to, and didn’t have the heart to tell him how much the idea scared me.

  Settling back into my seat, I watched the deep greens and blues of the landscape whip past. A luxury cruise ship perched on the ocean like a whale. A smaller boat carried passengers to shore. Tourists anxious to explore Maui’s treasures. How many of them would run across a murder or two while here? Not many, I’d guess.

  I wouldn’t think of those things today. I grabbed Ethan’s hand and gave him a shaky smile.

  “Don’t worry, Tink,” he said. “If you decide you don’t want to parasail once we get on the boat, it won’t be too late to change your mind. But remember, fairies fly.”

  “Very funny.” Even his endearing nickname for me couldn’t alleviate my nervousness. I sent a prayer heavenward and tried to convince myself that floating above the earth, tied to a nylon rope, would only bring me closer to God.

  Ethan stopped the car on a gravel drive and flashed his teeth. “Ready?”

  “You bet!” If faking enthusiasm kept that grin on his face, then so be it. We’d had anything but a model honeymoon so far.

  He helped me from the car and practically ran toward the boat guy. “Reservation for Banning.”

  “Yes, sir. Climb aboard. My name’s Paul and that young whipper-snapper over there is Junior.”

  My stomach churned as I allowed Paul to help me onboard. Instead I tried to focus on how dark his skin was. He looked Caucasian, but his skin was browned to the shade of a walnut. If Junior’s skin was any indication, he was trying to catch up to his senior. Blue eyes sparkled out of both faces and I’m pretty sure their white smiles were intended to calm me. It didn’t work.