by Nella Tyler
“Maybe she is aware of our quest and is trying to help us,” Beni offered.
“And another clue could be waiting for us at Pua Maze,” Ashlee said.
Meg nodded.
“I know it sounds crazy. But nothing about this mystery has been sane,” Meg responded.
“What if going to Pua Maze is a mistake?” Beni mumbled.
“I don’t believe that Ola would deliberately put us in harm’s way. I think she is trying to help us,” Meg said.
“I agree. Ola is not a mean person,” Ashlee said. “We should tell the guys.”
They finished their ice cream and rose to leave the shop. As Ashlee was about to push open the door, she saw Larry and Moe standing across the street.
“There they are,” Ashlee said in shock.
“You should go out the back,” the attendant said urgently.
He ushered them to the rear of the shop and out the back door. They hurried down the back alley but Larry and Moe must have suspected that they had gone out the back. When they got to the end of the alley they saw the men running toward them. The girls took off running down the street.
“Hey! Come back here,” one of The Two Stooges yelled.
Meg thought the stooges had to be insane if they thought the girls would stop. Meg could see the hotel just ahead. They weaved between pedestrians and finally arrived at the hotel. They rushed into the lobby.
“Are you all right?” the concierge asked in concern.
“Don’t let those two men in the hotel.” Ashlee begged as she pointed out the glass doors at Larry and Moe. “They mean us harm and were chasing us. Please don’t let them in.”
The concierge looked out the doors at Larry and Moe with distaste. They were doubled over trying to catch their breath.
“They will not be allowed in, Miss. Rest assured they will not harm you while you are here,” the concierge said firmly. “I will make sure security is aware of the situation.”
“Thank you,” Meg said.
They moved away as the concierge picked up the phone. They hurried to their suite.
Chapter 13
Meg and her friends stared up at the huge turf arch that held the name Pua Maze in twinkling white lights. People excitedly passed under the arched entrance in anticipation of wandering through the twisting and turning paths.
“Are we ready to go in?” Drake asked.
“As ready as ever,” Ashlee said. “You have the key, right Kai?”
“I have it,” Kai answered. “Let’s go.”
Each of them handed their ticket to the attendant as entered the maze. They entered maze and Meg was stunned at what she saw.
“It’s absolutely breathtaking,” she said in awe.
The path was lined with a seven-foot walls that were covered with a myriad of colorful blooms. There were flowers of every variety on display.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Beni whispered. “I feel like I’m in a fairy tale.”
Ashlee moved to hold a blossom in her palm. She bent her head to inhale the fragrant scent.
“It smells divine,” she sighed.
The girls moved from flower to flower extolling their beauty and scents while the men watched indulgently.
“Let’s not forget the main reason we are here,” Drake reminded them.
“Aren’t you a Mr. Killjoy,” Meg teased.
“Apparently somebody has to be. Come on. Let’s keep moving,” Drake encouraged.
“Did Ola say anything thing else other than we should come here?” Noah asked.
“No,” Meg answered.
“So this really is a shot in the dark,” Kai said dryly.
“Yep,” Meg smiled. “But I really do think she was giving us a clue.”
“It could be that she was suggesting an outing that tourists do. We are tourists,” Drake smiled.
“It was more than that. Our whole conversation with her was just odd,” Beni remarked. “She knew things about us that she shouldn’t. And her explanation for having the knowledge was lame.”
“Which says she’s helping us solve the mystery,” Noah commented sarcastically.
Beni slapped at his arm playfully.
“Which says that she knows more than she’s letting on, but she wants to help,” Beni insisted.
“You’re reaching,” Noah laughed.
“Well, we’ve nothing else to work with. I think it’s worth a shot,” Ashlee said.
“Hey! We’re here, aren’t we? Here’s hoping your hunch pans out,” Noah said.
“Here! Here!” the men cheered.
The women stuck their tongues out at them and quickly walked ahead. Drake caught up to Meg and slipped his arms about her waist. He whispered in her ear.
“I once told you of a better use for that tongue,” he grinned.
“Really? I don’t recall.”
“Shall jog your memory? Right here. Right now?” he murmured.
“You wouldn’t,” Meg gasped.
“Oh I would. Dare me. Pleeeease!” he pleaded.
“Not on your life,” she laughed then ran around the corner.
Drake ran after her. Upon turning the corner, Meg stormed right into a vine cover wall.
“Oomph!” she exclaimed as she hit the wall hard.
Drake stopped beside her.
“Are you all right?” Concern filled his grey eyes. He turned her to face him and cupped her face.
“Yes, I’m fine. I didn’t expect there to be a wall here. But this is a maze, is it not?” she said with chagrin. She slapped the wall in annoyance.
He smiled wryly.
“It is.”
When she slapped the wall she felt something usual. She ran her hand over the wall and parted the vines. There it was. A keyhole.
“Drake! Look,” she cried.
He peered at the small, ornate door with a keyhole in its center. He then looked at Meg incredulously.
“Is it possible?” he whispered.
“There’s only one way to find out.” She ran back around the corner. “Kai! Ashlee! You guys! Come over here.”
Ashlee and the others looked curiously at her.
“What is it, Meg?” Ashlee asked.
“Come over here,” Meg insisted. She then went back around the corner.
The two couples arrived.
“What’s up?” Beni asked. She was more than a little baffled.
Meg pointed to the small door on the wall.
“That!”
They drew closer to look at the wall.
“Oh my gosh! It’s a keyhole,” Ashlee exclaimed.
“Let’s see if the key fits,” Drake said.
Kai moved forward and withdrew the key from his pocket. He inserted it in the keyhole and turned it clockwise. They heard a click and the door opened slightly.”
“It fits!” Beni said in awe.
Kai pulled the door wide. The interior was like a safe.
“There’s a piece of paper inside,” Benita said in a hush voice. “Take it out.”
Kai did so and unfolded it. He read aloud what the paper said.
“Find the other lock, before midnight on the clock.
Never underestimate a man’s need for pleasure,
He will do anything to secure Oahu’s treasure.”
“A riddle? We have to unravel a riddle?” Meg exclaimed in frustration. “This is insane. Where are we going to find another lock?”
“I know it’s maddening, Meg. But we really are making progress,” Drake said. “Somehow we’ll be pointed in the right direction.”
Kai peered inside the dark box.
“There’s something else in here,” Kai said. He reached inside and pulled out a flat, round, silver medallion. It had an inscription on it. “It says The Tropics. I think we have our next clue.”
“The resort?” Ashlee queried.
“It kind of makes sense in an odd way. We’re being led back to where it all started,” Drake mused. “We were at the hotel restaurant
when Peleke told us the resort was built on a burial site. All of this started at the resort.”
“I guess,” Beni said dubiously. “So we need to find another lock that fits the key at the hotel?”
“So it seems,” Meg sighed.
“Well, we have what we came here to find. Let’s enjoy the rest of the maze,” Noah invited.
“That’s a very good idea,” Beni quipped.
Kai closed and locked the door. Meg scattered the vines about to hide it.
“Okay. Let’s go,” she smiled.
They moved through the maze, running into numerous dead ends. They laughed hysterically and became sillier by the moment. Finally, they managed to get out of the maze. When they arrived back at the hotel, Meg went with Drake to his room. It was when they were snuggled together in bed that she sighed contentedly and thought that it had been a very good night.
*****
Drake sipped his coffee leisurely as he sat back and listened to the girls chat. He had taken them out to breakfast at an outdoor café not far from the hotel. Kai and Noah were at work so he had them all to himself. He chuckled as several passing men winked at him for his good fortune. He recognized his good luck in having three beautiful women at his side. Life could not be better.
“Feeling good about yourself?” Meg asked archly.
He smiled.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re sitting at a table with three lovely women giving you a truck load of attention,” Meg grinned.
“And he’s eating it up like apple pie,” Ashlee giggled.
“Is it my fault that Kai and Noah can’t be here?” he asked innocently.
“No. But you are excessively happy about the situation,” Beni declared.
He shrugged.
“No more so than they would be if the roles were reversed.”
“Touché! He speaks the truth,” Meg conceded.
“So, where do we begin to look for the lock at the resort? That place is huge,” Ashlee inquired.
“And it is most likely hidden. It will be hard to find,” Meg grimaced.
“We will find it when we least expect it,” Beni surmised.
“My purchase deal will conclude tomorrow. I will be the new owner of the resort. As such, I can give you leave to go into places where guests are not allowed,” Drake stated.
“It helps to be friends with the boss,” Meg grinned.
Drake’s eyes were smoldering when he glanced at her. He knew that they were a lot more than friends. And he would love to show her right about now. His grey eyes locked with hers and he could see she had read his mind. She ducked her head and shoved scrambled eggs into her mouth. He laughed devilishly.
“What funny?” Ashlee asked. She had missed the look the passed between Drake and Meg.
Beni had not.
“I’ll tell you later,” Beni grinned. “Why don’t we start snooping around the resort when we finish our breakfast?”
“Sure. There’s no time like the present to start looking,” Ashlee agreed.
“That works for me,” Meg added.
The reminisced about their time in the maze with renewed laughter. When they finished their meal, they made their way back to the hotel. As lobby was filled with chattering people, Beni moved to David, the concierge.
“What’s going on?” she asked him.
“It’s the Kualoa Ranch tour. Everyone is waiting for the tour bus,” David said. “Would you like to go on the tour? The ranch is a working cattle ranch and it’s amazing. You can see the ranch by bus or ATV vehicle.”
“Let me check with my friends,” Beni replied.
She stepped away to join her friends.
“Guys, everyone is waiting to go on the Kualoa Ranch tour. David said we could see the ranch by ATV vehicle. Do you want to go?”
“Riding on an ATV would be so much fun. Let’s do it,” Ashlee exclaimed.
“I’m in,” Meg grinned. She looked at Drake. “Would you like to come with us?”
“Of course. But not on the bus,” he smiled. “I will hire a private car to take us out there.”
Beni rubbed her hands together quickly.
“Oooh! This is going to be so much fun. I’ll tell David,” she said.
“I’ll go with you to buy the tickets. It’s my treat,” he said.
“Aw! Thank you. You’re so sweet,” Meg said as she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek.
“That praise is what I live for,” he quipped then walked away with Beni.
“I can’t wait to ride an ATV. They’re so much fun,” Meg said.
“I’m with you on that. Our search of the resort can wait,” Ashlee said.
“I’m with you on that!” Meg laughed.
*****
Meg savored the posh comfort of the small limousine. There were two, leather-cushioned rows facing each other at the back of the car. While a partition with a small sliding glass window in it separated them from the driver. Meg knew that she could get used to kind of lifestyle. She stared out the window at the lovely meadows and grasslands that whipped by as the car sped down the smoothly pathed road.
“I could become accustomed to this mode of travel,” Beni sagely. “I’m sure Meggie could as well.” Beni looked at Meg with an arched brow.
Meg frowned at her meaningfully.
“It was very thoughtful of you to rent the car, Drake. Thank you. But we would have been just as content on the bus.
“But I wouldn’t have. I much prefer privacy and relaxation the car gives us both … and the ability to stretch my legs,” he smiled.
“There’s plenty of leg room in here. And these seats are fabulous. This car is perfect!” Ashlee enthused.
“David said it was only about an hour’s drive. So we should be there soon,” Beni said.
True to Beni’s words, the car turned into a long driveway then parked with several other private cars.
“Seems like several other guests had the same idea,” Drake mused.
“It’s a good idea,” Ashlee returned.
Drake got out of the car and assisted the girls to exit. They then walked over to the attendant who took their tickets.
“Thank you for visiting Kualoa Ranch,” the attendant smiled. “I understand that you will be taking the ATVs.”
“Correct,” Drake said.
“Good choice. You’re in for a whole lot of fun. Your guide is waiting for you right over there,” the girl smile and pointed to the guide.
“Thank you,” Ashlee said.
They walked over to the guide where another group of three people waited. They exchanged greeting with the guide whose name was Jake.
“Welcome. Glad you’re here. Let’s get you outfitted with an ATV then we can start the tour,” Jake smiled.
They settled on their ATVs and began touring the massive ranch. It was more than four thousand acres large on the windward coast of Oahu. Meg was amazed at the size of it. It was a working ranch with over five hundred heads of cattle. They rode along dirt road at a spanking pace and Meg loved the breeze on her face as her red hair blew wildly about her head. It was exciting to see the sites of where famous movies had been filmed. And the ride up the volcanic mountainside was surreal.
Jake came to a stop and spoke to the group.
“We’re about to enter the rainforest. We will see Kualoa Ranch’s eight hundred year old fishpond and the fantastic waterfalls,” Jake said.
The girls grinned at each other as they moved their vehicles forward.
“How’s the ride?” Drake called to Meg.
“It’s fine. The ATV handles well,” she answered.
Jake took them through the dense rainforest. It was absolutely beautiful. The foliage was greener than any plants she had ever seen. The forest smelled like fresh herbs and scented blooms. They eventually arrived at the fishpond. Tourists left their vehicles to take photos.
“Come on, ladies! You know I want to take pictures of us,” Beni cried.
They all
snapped photos of each other together and separately.
“Let me take some shots of all of you,” Drake offered.
“Okay!” they chorused.
Drake shook his head sadly at them but happily snapped their photos. Ashlee in turn took several shots of him and Meg.
“If any of you would like to take this path to the waterfall, you are welcome to do so,” Jake announced. “We will start back in forty-five minutes.”
The two groups chatted as they made their way to the waterfall.
“Hi. I’m Gary. And this is my wife, Laura, and my daughter, Brook,” he smiled.
“Hi. I’m Drake and this is my girlfriend, Meg, and our friends, Benita and Ashlee,” Drake introduced them.
Meg did not miss that Drake introduced her as his girlfriend. And neither did Ashlee and Beni who grinned knowingly at her.
“Dad! I want to look for the hidden door. It’s supposed to be near the waterfall. Can we look? Please!” Brook begged.
Gary rolled his eyes at his daughter.
“Brook, a hidden door doesn’t exist. It’s just a myth,” he said patiently.
Brook’s statement had caught their attention.
“Is there a legend that talks about a hidden door, Brook?” Meg asked casually.
“Yes! I reading the history of Oahu and it spoke about the secret door. It’s believed that whoever has the key that unlocks the door will be showered with incredible good will,” Brook raved.
“And the door is supposed to be here?” Beni asked mildly.
“Yes. By the waterfall on Kualoa Ranch,” Brook replied as she nodded her head vigorously.
“Reading that article only added fuel to the imagination of a ten-year-old girl,” Gary sighed.
“She refuses to give up the notion of finding immeasurable treasure behind this hidden door,” Laura smiled wanly.
“It’s here. I know it is,” Brook insisted.
“Well, I was going to take a look around the fall. Do you want to come with me and look for the hidden door?” Meg asked. “That is if it’s okay with your parents.”
“Please! Can I go with her?” Brook pleaded to her parents.
“All right, you can go. Thank you, Meg,” Laura sighed gratefully.
