She nodded, pointing at the screen. “I’m sure. See that watch?”
“Hard to miss. Can you print this frame along with the one before and after it?” he asked Varla.
“For you Roland? Sure thing.”
Roland? Em managed to get to her feet, excused herself, and told Roland she’d meet him outside. She was feeling woozy again, in need of fresh air.
Her thoughts were jumbled. Numbly she watched a Japanese bride in a traditional white wedding gown and a groom in a black tux pose for photos in front of the hotel’s wedding gazebo. The structure perched on lava boulders above a waterfall-fed lagoon below the Ocean Crystal chapel. Em didn’t even hear Roland walk up until he spoke beside her.
“Are you all right?”
“I can’t seem to think straight right now, and not just because of last night’s grog fest. I can’t believe Phillip not only stole Uncle Louie’s Booze Bible, but he tried to bilk us into paying for its return.”
“How would he even have known about it?”
“The same reason he called to see if I’d be here this week. He read all about Uncle Louie in a story about the Shake Off in the LA Times. Louie was featured and the Booze Bible was mentioned.”
“Why did he expect to get you to pay for it?”
“Louie was quoted as saying the notebook contained all his recipes and was his life’s work. It was invaluable to him.” She paused for a minute thinking. “If the time on the video camera is correct, then Phillip delivered those envelopes right before he and I met for lunch. I can’t imagine the nerve that must have taken. That wasn’t the shirt he wore to lunch later. He normally wouldn’t be caught dead in such a gaudy shirt or the baseball cap.”
“He probably tossed them after he left here and walked over to meet you at the Halekulani. It’s not very far,” he said.
“He had the nerve to sit there and tell me how well he was doing and how he’d turned his life around when all the time he knew that letter was being delivered to my uncle. Thank goodness it got stalled at the front desk until I got back. I’m so glad Louie wasn’t there alone. He’d have mortgaged the Goddess if I hadn’t stopped him.”
A thought came to her and she added, “If Phillip stole the Booze Bible, then it must be in that seedy apartment. We’ve got to go back.”
“To the murder scene? Not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Let me call Bardon and fill him in first. He may have already found the notebook among Phillip’s things. Not only that, but if he looked you up, he may have found out that you omitted telling him about your trip to the Waikiki substation last night.”
“Okay, but we need . . .”
“We need to think about this. If Phillip had the notebook in his possession, that gives you an even bigger motive for murder than getting revenge over a messy divorce.”
“I didn’t want revenge. I didn’t want anything from him. Until just now, I didn’t know he was the thief.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just telling you what Bardon is probably going to think.”
“What do we do now?”
“I’ll call Bardon and tell him Phillip Johnson was at the very least an extortionist, and I’ll tell him about your little escapade last night.”
“Don’t forget to ask if they found Louie’s Booze Bible in the apartment and if they haven’t, they have to please search for it. Louie needs it right away.”
“It’s evidence in a murder case. They’re not going to hand it over.”
“Oh, Roland, they have to. Louie is lost without it. Please, call Bardon and do whatever you can. I’ll buy you coffee and scones if that works.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” He paused a moment, watched the over-animated photographer pose the Japanese couple in the gazebo. “What does it look like anyway?”
She described the three ring binder filled with pages and pages of handwritten legends and recipes inside. Some had doodles around the margins. There were fruit juice spatters on some of the pages.
“You’re forgetting one thing, Em,” he said.
“No doubt. I damaged more than a few brain cells last night.”
“Someone killed your ex. It definitely wasn’t you. If it wasn’t Bautista, there’s only one other obvious suspect.”
“Louie? Oh no. He was at the party. Everyone saw him there. This morning you saw him before he left for the contest. He was in the suite. Louie had no idea where Phillip was staying. Nor could he have found him at that apartment.”
“Not Louie,” he said. “Someone else.”
When she realized who he was talking about, they both said the same thing at the same time—
“The fiancée.”
26
ROLAND SUGGESTED Em find a seat in the atrium near the Tapa Bar and wait while he called Bardon. He would meet her after the call. The place was packed with Shriners, and all the seats in the bar were occupied, so she found a spot on a low planter wall where she could sit and watch the men cavort. Apparently they were living up to the “fun and fellowship” motto emblazoned on the banner near the registration area.
It was a little past noon, and they already had the “fun” requirement pretty well covered.
Em heard a very recognizable horn beep, turned, and saw Little Estelle roll up on her rented Gadabout. With so many other things to worry about, Em had all but forgotten Little Estelle had gone AWOL.
Em couldn’t ignore the fact that Little Estelle was not only wearing a trucker style ball cap sideways, but also a big gold medallion on a heavy gold chain around her ninety-year-old, pencil-thin neck.
“Look at all the Shriners!” Little Estelle waved toward the bar. “This must be my lucky day. I love Shriners!”
“Have you told Big Estelle you’re back? She’s worried about you.”
“That stick in the mud? If I hadn’t seen her pop outta me seventy years ago, I’d never know she was mine. She’s always worried about something. I’m a big girl, you know.”
“Where’d you get the necklace?” Em asked.
Little Estelle lifted the medallion and stared at it for a second.
“My new bling? My producer gave it to me for a job well done.” She winked.
Em wasn’t about to ask for details. “How was your recording session?”
“Sweet. Got my first track laid down in a couple of takes.” She was obviously distracted by all the Shriners in the bar. “I was First Lady once.” She spoke with a faraway look in her eyes.
“First Lady?” Em reached for her cell. Time to call in Big Estelle and let her know her mom was definitely losing it.
Little Estelle nodded. “One of my husbands, maybe my second, was a Shriner. He rose through the ranks, eventually became the Grand High Poobah. Actually, it’s called the Imperial Potentate.”
“Seriously?”
“You bet’cha. We used to travel all over going to these conventions, raising money for children’s hospitals. You might not think so by looking at these guys, but they’re dedicated to philanthropic work. Well, that and partying. They’ve been at it since 1872.”
“So why the fezzes?”
Little Estelle let out a cackle. “Why not? You haven’t lived until you’ve been to bed with a man in a fez, honey. Not that I’ve ever needed an excuse to go wild.”
Em decided no one else could keep her mind off of what Detective Bardon might be telling Roland as well as Little Estelle could.
“So, what’s the title of your rap?” she asked the former first lady.
“‘Motorized Love.’ Wanna hear the first verse?”
Before Em could say no, Little Estelle started tapping her handlebars and making beat box sounds.
“Pooh, cheechee, pooh, cheechee, pooh, cheechee, pooh.” She kept tappi
ng as she launched into the lyrics.
“I got it goin’ on, goin’ on, goin’ on.
All night long, all night long, all night long.
I got it goin’ on, to the lef’, to the right, back n’ forth, all damn night.
Got it goin’ on, goin’ on, goin’ on.
Goin’ on like its galvanized, polarized, super-sized.
Motorized luv!
Pooh, cheechee, pooh, cheechee, pooh, cheechee, pooh.”
She smiled at Em, waiting for her to say something.
“Wow.”
“I know, huh? I had no idea I could do that until I tried.” Little Estelle smiled.
“I’m sure it’s a rare talent.”
“You bet. It’s a gift. My rap name is Elenee. Stands for L and E, Little Estelle, get it? Like Eminem is MnM. I’ll get you and Roland front row seats at the first stop on my concert tour.”
“That’ll be great. When and where do you open?”
“Still working out the details. Oh my stars and garters, I know that guy.” She pointed toward the ground in front of the bar where a hefty Shriner was doing one-handed pushups. The tassel on his fez was slapping the stone floor.
“Charlie! Charlie Watson! It’s me, the former First Lady of the TajMaHaLay Temple!” She threw the Gadabout into gear and roared away.
Little Estelle had no sooner disappeared behind a phalanx of Shriners than Uncle Louie walked through the open air atrium and spotted Em. She waved in greeting as he sauntered down the walkway.
“There you are. All alone?” He looked around. “Where’s Roland?”
“Making a quick phone call.” She debated telling Louie about Phillip’s death, but only for a nanosecond. The time wasn’t right. She didn’t want to ruin his day when he still needed to stay focused on the contest. Just then the Shriners let out a collective whoop, and she decided this was definitely not the place, either.
“I heard Suzi broke her toe,” he said.
“Her whole foot is pretty screwed up. She’ll be all right, hopefully. What are you up to?”
“We’re on a lunch break. I’m looking for someone willing to help me. The Shriner who rented me the monkey is attending the convention, and he wants it back. You think Roland could coax it back into the cage? He’s gotta be pretty good at locking people up by now.”
“People. Not misbehaving Capuchin monkeys.”
“I’ll treat you two to dinner anywhere in Waikiki.”
“If he can’t do it I’ll see if we can find someone who will.”
He snapped his fingers. “Locking people up. That reminds me. DePesto cornered me and told me what happened last night. I’m sure glad you aren’t in jail.”
She should have known. “I’m sorry, Louie. I didn’t get you tossed out of the contest, did I?”
“Fat chance. When he told me he called the police and had you hauled off, I told him I was dropping out.”
“Please, tell me you didn’t. I’d never forgive myself.”
“He wouldn’t let me. Said because of our TV series, I was a huge draw. He needs me to attract the press.”
Em realized once Honolulu’s latest murder victim was connected to her and Louie the press would have a field day.
“The guy is an ass.” Louie rolled his eyes. “He was rambling on about you coming on to him just to get into his suite and how he caught you tossing his room.”
“All of it’s true except I wasn’t tossing his room. I was carefully looking for the Booze Bible,” she said. “I thought the costume party would be a great way to mingle with the Shake Off committee and see if I could discover who might be desperate enough to steal your notebook, so I rented a costume and went.”
“When I didn’t see you there I thought you found something else to do.”
“You talked to me, actually.”
“No way. I did?”
She nodded. “You asked me about the thigh-high stiletto boots I was wearing.”
Her uncle rarely blushed, but upon hearing that he went from tan to red.
“Was that you? In that pirate wench getup?”
“Were you hitting on me?”
“Of course not. I really wanted to know about those boots. I thought you’d like some.”
“I almost broke my leg trying to walk in them.”
“Why did you suspect dePesto?”
“Because he said he’d do anything to win. Then when I got to his suite, I found an extortion letter just like yours along with a printer and a computer. He could have written them both, but he swore someone sent him the letter, too.”
“The thief wants to sell both of us the Booze Bible?”
She shook her head. “The thief only offered to sell dePesto a copy.”
“A copy? How many more offers are out there?” He glanced over at the tiki wearing the giant fez. Then he sighed. “I guess my Booze Bible is gone for good.”
“Don’t give up hope, Uncle Louie.” She wished she could tell him more, but she’d have to tell him that the thief was her own ex-husband.
Her dead ex-husband.
“It’s not worth getting thrown in jail over,” he said. “In fact, I’ve got a new idea for my big presentation tomorrow. I’m really lucky we weren’t required to turn in a recipe for approval when we mailed in our contest registration forms. In this contest it’s okay to concoct something at the last minute. The only requirement is that the mix has to include a least one tropical ingredient.”
He stared out toward the ocean with a faraway expression.
“You are on to something. I can see it in your eyes,” Em said.
“I’ve got a name anyway. Now I just have to come up with a great story that goes along with the drink and sets the scene. That’ll earn me a lot of points, so it’s gotta be a good one.”
“You’re a master at legends,” she said.
“So they say.”
A woman in her fifties wearing a colorful sheath and an official Shake Off contestant’s badge walked up to them. Louie introduced her as Fran.
“I’m headed back over to the conference center,” Fran said. “What about you?”
Louie agreed to walk back with her and told Em goodbye. Before he walked away he said, “Remember to ask Roland to cage the monkey so I can return it.”
“Will do.” Monkeys, murder, and mayhem. Oh my.
After Louie left, Em took a deep breath. The idea of having a shot of tequila flitted across her mind, but the Shriners were stacked up three deep around the bar and it was too early anyway. She didn’t need to compound her problems. She was impatient with waiting and ready to call Roland when she spotted him trapped behind a huge wedding party on the walkway.
An entire contingent of Japanese including six bridesmaids and six groomsmen along with assorted friends and family were headed up the path toward the Crystal Chapel. Roland stood head and shoulders above them, waiting for them to move along.
“Big business,” he said when he finally reached Em.
“These hotels are like Japanese wedding factories. It’s amazing,” she said. “What’s up with all these weddings?”
“It’s cheaper to fly entire families over here from Japan than it is to hold one there, or so I hear.”
“I can’t imagine all the work that goes into the planning.”
“One phone call, and you’ve got a location, photographer, rental clothing for everyone including the bride, someone to officiate, music, and a reception. They can even book high-end venues and still get off cheaper here than in Japan.” He sat down beside her on the rock planter.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
Em shrugged. “Not great, but better. I think the shock is wearing off. Did they find the Booze Bible in Phillip’s apartment?”
/>
He shook his head. “No. At least not yet. I described it to Bardon and filled him in on Phillip’s extortion scheme. I told him we have definitely ID’d Phillip on the surveillance video.”
“Uh, oh.”
“I also told him about your trip to the substation last night. He wasn’t any happier than I was when he found out you’d conveniently left that little detail out of your alibi. I assured him I’d make sure you didn’t go anywhere.”
“Thank you.”
“So don’t pull any more stunts.”
“Definitely not. Have they found Phillip’s neighbor yet? What was his name?”
“Damian Bautista. Not yet,” he said.
“Did you ask if he’s got anyone looking for Felicity?”
“They do. As far as he knows, they haven’t found her. She hasn’t checked out of the Moana either, but she’s not there, at least not in her room.”
“Now what?”
He studied her carefully. “How about lunch? I’m starved.”
“I don’t know. I’m still kind of queasy.”
“You can watch while I eat.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t let the guy starve to death.
“Let’s head up the street to the Moana. Keep an eye out for the fiancée.”
“Really?” She couldn’t believe it. “Are we going detecting?”
“I am. You’re just my sidekick and only because I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on you and you know what Felicity looks like. If she did kill Phillip, it’s a long shot that she’ll stick around long.”
“Maybe she just ran out of the hotels. She’s probably on her way to the mainland by now,” Em said. “I would be.”
As they passed the Tapa Bar, Em spotted Little Estelle surrounded by a host of Shriners. Roland followed her gaze and stared.
“Tell me Little Estelle isn’t trying to flash gang signs.”
“I would, but that would be a lie.”
“Why is she doing that?”
“Looks like she’s throwing down her new rap for the Shriner’s. She’s Elenee now.”
Too Hot Four Hula: 4 (The Tiki Goddess Mystery Series) Page 14
