Photo Finished

by Dane McCaslin

  I nodded, too scared to say anything else.

  Jimmy must have sensed my distress, because he placed the box on the table and pulled me into his arms.

  I held on for dear life. I felt safe when I was with Jimmy. Cared for. He rubbed my back, holding me tightly against him. I relaxed, the fear floating away and being replaced by something else.

  I cleared my throat. If I didn't extricate myself from his arms soon, I was afraid I was going to climb him like a tree. I pulled away.

  "Thank you," I said, "for being here."

  His hand stroked my cheek.

  "Always."

  "I'm tired of being the damsel in distress though. Someone has to know something, right? Someone must have seen something. Or even— That's it!"

  I grabbed my purse off the counter and rushed to the door.

  "What is it, Red? What's going on?"

  "Pictures, Jimmy. It always comes back to pictures."

  "Ooo-k." He dragged the word out as if it were several syllables instead of just two. "Do you need to sit down? Put your head between your knees? You're not making any sense here."

  "Who would have pictures of Noe?"

  "Um, his parents?"

  "Right. Yes, but were they there that night?" Jimmy shrugged.

  Yeah, I didn't know the answer to that either. I waved my hand in the air. "Doesn't matter. His fiancée would have pictures of him, wouldn't she?"

  "Kailani."

  "Exactly. And I just happened to see her snapping some the night of the luau. She kept getting in my way, taking pictures on her phone."

  "Great thinking, Red."

  "They don't pay me the big bucks for nothing." I winked and sashayed out the door, a laughing Jimmy following close behind.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jimmy let me out in front of the Aloha Lagoon Resort, and I marched it as quickly as I could to the pier. Patti was barking orders left and right, and I hoped I could sneak by without grabbing her attention. No such luck.

  "You there," she said as I cringed, my back turned to her. I kept walking, hoping she'd think I didn't hear her. "Yoo-hoo! Picture girl. Come here, now."

  I sighed, my shoulders drooping, and turned to face the witch. I met Patti's eyes, fire burning in their depths. "You. Are. Late."

  Her words were clipped, hands on her hips, and if looks could kill, I'd surely be dead on the spot. I wondered if she ate small children for breakfast. Shades of Dolores Umbridge, at Hogwarts, I thought with an inward grin.

  "I'm sorry. It will only take me a few moments—"

  "I should fire you. However, I need those photographs. I wanted several of the setup, but since you're terribly late, I'll have to settle for whatever you can manage before the guests begin arriving in"—she glanced down at her watch—"thirty-five minutes. The food!"

  Patti turned on her heel and walked toward the food-prep tent. I felt sorry for whoever was in her sights now.

  Breathing out an exasperated breath, I turned and saw Derrick Stone watching me. His hands were in his pockets, and his face was hard. I raised my eyebrows at him in question, but with only a mustache twitch, he turned and walked away.

  The man gave me the creeps.

  I took a few photos of the waitstaff preparing and caught a few of Patti in full tirade. Not that I'd ever show those to her, but I figured it might be a good idea to have them for a safety net. A few minutes later, the guests began to arrive.

  I spent the first hour of the party snapping photos left and right, catching the hula girls all a titter at one of the tables, a man throwing back his head in laughter, and a view of the spread through the filter of the pit fire. That one I was really proud of.

  Patti walked up to the stage and cleared her throat in the microphone. I never understood why people did that. No one wants to hear you clearing out the mucous from around your vocal chords.

  "Excuse me, everyone." The crowd quieted down as Patti continued in her fake sugary-sweet accent. "I'd just like to thank everyone, on behalf of Ecoboards, for coming tonight. We are so excited about the possibility of hosting this year's Surfing World Classic. I know that this was a highly sought-after event, and we're so happy to step in after the terrible disaster at the Royal Orchid Resort. Such a shame." Patti paused in her monologue to glance down, as if taking a moment to mourn the Royal Orchid's unfortunate luck. Just as quickly the moment passed, and another smile was plastered on her face.

  "At this time, I'd like to invite you all to enjoy the Aloha Lagoon hula dancers!" She did a great impression of Vanna White as she backed off the stage, her arm held high in a dramatic gesture.

  Kailani gracefully led her dancers across the stage, taking her spot in the center. The music began, and the girls moved their hips and arms in perfect sync. I was mesmerized by the sway of their bodies and started to relax. Maybe I should take up hula.

  I snapped a few pictures of the crowd in awe and decided I could take a small break and grab a bite to eat, since the Chinese food we'd bought earlier still sat untouched on the counter in my kitchen. I filled my plate full of pork and rice and then moved to the back of the audience to stand and watch.

  I hadn't yet seen Jimmy, although I was sure he was back from the police station. I wonder what Detective Ray had to say. Looking around the pier, I found Jimmy standing across the way, legs apart and arms crossed over his chest. He was staring right at me as if he'd been watching me the whole time. I blushed at being caught, and then he winked, the side of his mouth tipping up in a grin. I couldn't help myself, and I smiled back.

  Pulling my eyes away from Jimmy's, I shoved the remaining few bites of pork into my mouth and placed my plate on the table. It was time to find Phil and see what reason he might have had for killing Noe.

  I wasn't sure yet what I would ask him. I would need to ask specific questions, but I didn't think coming right out and asking if he was the killer was the smoothest plan. So, Phil, can you incriminate yourself and give me a reason why you'd want to kill Noe Kahale? Nope.

  Glancing around the pier, I saw Phil standing a few feet away. His attention was focused on the dancers, and there was a softness to his face I hadn't noticed on the beach. I walked over and stood next to him, but he didn't even notice me.

  I followed his gaze and realized it was singularly focused on one dancer in particular. Kailani Chan. Noe's fiancé. Wait. Surely not?

  "They're really good, aren't they?"

  Phil jumped at my question and turned guilty eyes to mine. He cleared his throat. "Um, yeah. Great."

  "Kailani sure looks beautiful tonight, doesn't she?" I asked the leading question, hoping he'd take the bait.

  His eyes narrowed. "Sure."

  Phil's attention went back to the stage, but I couldn't help but notice how his features relaxed when he looked at Kailani dancing.

  "You guys friends?"

  "What?" He looked surprised to see me still standing there.

  "You and Kailani. Friends?"

  "It's a small world in these parts. Of course we're friends."

  "But you hated Noe."

  "I never said I hated him."

  "You disliked him?"

  "What are you getting at?

  "I'm just figuring out why you're staring at his fiancée like she's the last hot Krispy Kreme doughnut in three counties."

  "I'm not—"

  I gave him a stern stare that I hoped communicated I wasn't an idiot. It must have worked, because he sighed, then took my arm and pushed me back away from the crowd.

  "Yeah, I like her. A lot. And she likes me too. She told Noe it was over, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He wasn't exactly used to not having what he wanted." Phil scoffed and then started pacing back and forth.

  "So what did you do?"

  Phil's gaze hardened, and he took a menacing step closer to me.

  I backed up, my knees hitting the bench behind me.

  His face was inches from mine. "Do you mean, did I kill him? So I could have his fiancée? As if she
'd ever have me after that."

  "Phil, can I help you with something?"

  I heard Jimmy's voice but couldn't see over the mountain of a man currently taking up my personal space. I peeked around him and finger waved to Jimmy.

  The look he gave me said he wasn't amused. Phil backed up a couple of spaces then tore his angry gaze away from mine. "Tell your girl to quit accusing people of murder, Jimmy, or she's going to get herself in trouble."

  Crossing the distance in two strides, Jimmy grabbed Phil by the collar, pulling him close. "Is that a threat, Mano?"

  Phil raised his hands in front of him. "Look, man, I'm cool. I'm just saying. She asks the wrong person these kinds of questions, and she's going to be next on their list."

  Jimmy held him tight for a couple more seconds then released him so quickly Phil stumbled, racing to get away. Breathing hard, Jimmy seemed to pull himself together and turned that stern security face on me. I backed up another step and forgot about the bench, sitting down hard with a thump.

  Taking advantage of my humble position, Jimmy stood in front of me, arms crossed over his chest.

  "You want to tell me what that was about?" he said, that eyebrow quirking up in my favorite way. It made him look all sexy and mysterious.

  "What? Phil? He was a little dramatic, don't you think?"

  Jimmy's gaze narrowed. I hadn't known that was possible.

  "I was just asking him about why he was looking at Kailani like she was a swimming pool full of Spam."

  Jimmy laughed at my witty comparison and then dropped down on the bench next to me, his arm snaking around my shoulders and pulling me closer.

  "Is Spam the way to your heart, too?" Jimmy asked, waggling his eyebrows.

  "What can I say? I like what I like." I tried to keep the response light and nonchalant, but my insides were flipping and flopping all over the place.

  He sighed. The sound was tired and weighty, as if he'd carried a load and was finally laying it down. "I don't like it when I see a man ganging up on you like that, and that's the third time in two days that I've found him or my cousin looking at you as if they wanted to pummel you into the ground." He squeezed my arm, and I may have sighed. Just a little. "You certainly have a gift for annoying people."

  I pulled away and lightly whacked him on the shoulder. "I do not!"

  His chuckle was warm and rough and reminded me of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. He grabbed me, drawing me up against his side.

  "What am I going to do with you, Red?"

  I turned my face up to his, and the butterflies in my stomach took flight. Jimmy's eyes dropped to my lips, and my tongue darted out of its own accord to moisten my lips. His head leaned down, and my eyes closed.

  Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, and I jerked, slamming my forehead into the bridge of Jimmy's nose.

  "Geez, Red. If you didn't want me to kiss you, all you had to say was no." Jimmy rubbed his nose, that mischievous smile stretching his lips wide. Those lips that had almost landed on mine just seconds before.

  I sputtered, not sure what to say.

  Jimmy laughed, standing and pulling me to my feet. "We'll talk about this later," he said and then winked. "For now, I'm guessing you have more pictures to take?"

  I nodded, still unable to speak.

  "Speechless for once, huh?"

  I stood a little bit taller, lifting my chin. "I'm not speechless, I'm just—" I didn't really know what to say, so I just let it go.

  Turning to walk away and hide my embarrassment, I was stopped short when Jimmy lightly touched my arm. "Go easy out there, ok? I kind of like having you around."

  "I will," I said, touched by his concern.

  "What's your next move?"

  "My next move?"

  "You have a plan, right? That's the list I found in your junk drawer?" he asked, humor and mischief gleaming in his cocoa-colored eyes.

  "You went through my junk drawer?" I planted a hand on my hip.

  "Relax. I was looking for a pen. So?"

  Resigned, I said, "I'm going to ask Kailani about the pictures she took that night and hopefully what's going on between her and Phil."

  "Need company?"

  "I don't know if she'll open up if you're there in all your security man-ness."

  "My security man-ness?" He rolled his eyes, stifling his laughter. "I can be soft and friendly if I need to be." He waggled his eyebrows again, and I couldn't help but giggle.

  "Fine. I'm going to try to catch her after the party. Meet me behind the stage afterwards."

  "Perfect." Jimmy leaned in and kissed me on my forehead then turned to walk away.

  I watched his finely sculpted backside and sighed. That man was a work of art. And what in the world was he doing to me?

  Some moments I was ready for wherever Jimmy wanted to take our relationship, and other moments I wasn't so sure. He was the one I told everything to. Would that change if we took things to the next level? What happened if we broke up? Would I lose him forever?

  I'd gone down this road before, three years ago when I'd moved here. Sure, I'd wanted to be a surfing photographer, but I'd also been running away. Finn Turner had been my best friend all through high school and even into college. The kiss the night of graduation, the year of dating afterwards, followed by the inevitable breakup had ruined our friendship. Not being able to handle the rejection and the loss of my best friend, I'd run here. I wasn't about to run again.

  But then, Jimmy wasn't Finn. And I wasn't a child.

  I was a grown woman, pursuing my dreams. I couldn't say that about my time with Finn. I'd been a girl, trying to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. And Finn. Well, Finn had always been selfish. I'd known that about him all my life. But what once was an endearing quirk as a friend had been a real issue as a boyfriend. Jimmy didn't have a selfish bone in his body.

  I was roused from my musings by commotion on the stage.

  "I can tell by those happy smiles on your faces that you're enjoying this as much as I am."

  Patti Stone, who seemed to be the only one smiling, looked around at the guests sitting at the long tables and beamed. I almost felt sorry for her as I observed the uncomfortable squirming and pained expressions of those at the party.

  Almost felt sorry for her, I should emphasize. The woman had done nothing to raise my original estimation of her. Observing her queen bee behavior as she strolled about, chatting and laughing then snapping someone's head off, had cemented my opinion. By the looks on everyone's faces when she got up to speak, it was clear I wasn't the only one with the poor opinion of her.

  "Phil Mano? Where are you?" Patti asked, her hand raised over her eyes as she peered out over the audience in search of Phil.

  Phil lifted his hand from his position next to the stage.

  "Come on up here and let me introduce you to these fine people," she drawled in her souped-up syrupy accent.

  Phil just shook his head, but Patti kept on, making a scene now. Was she drunk?

  She took two steps toward the stairs and wobbled. Yep, she was drunk alright.

  Seeing her precarious situation, Phil jumped onto the stage, putting his arm around her waist to steady her.

  "That's a good boy." Patti patted his chest, then to Phil's horror, she squeezed his backside. Phil jumped, grabbing her arms and pinning them to her side. But Patti continued to fight him. She was standing away from the mic, but we could still make out her protests.

  "You never let me do what I want to do. I told you it could be good between us. Please, Phil. Let Mama Patti make it all better."

  Good lord, the woman was a mess.

  Derrick Stone finally arrived on stage. He none too gently pushed Phil away from his intoxicated wife and bent down, whispering something in her ear. Judging by the look of irritation that flashed across her face, she wasn't happy with what he had to say.

  Ever mindful of the spotlight, real or perceived, Patti turned back to her captive audience and gave a shrug and a sm
ile. "It seems that Mr. Stone and I are needed elsewhere. You all enjoy yourself, you hear?"

  From where I was standing, I could clearly see the smile on her carefully made-up face being replaced by a scowl of epic proportions. Whatever her spouse had said to her, it wasn't going to be pretty.

  I snapped pictures left and right, catching a constant stream of the action between the two. Offstage the yelling began.

  Patti pushed Derrick away, almost toppling over in her too tall high heels. "You never let me have any fun!"

  Derrick said something back quietly, but Patti wasn't going to let it go.

  "It wasn't like I was going to jump his bones on stage or anything. I just wanted a little taste."

  Good gosh, the woman was a hussy.

  Derrick's voice rose with his anger. "You're going to screw this up for the both of us!"

  "You're the one screwing things up, Derrick. Not me."

  "I told you to leave my surfers alone. This is the last time!"

  In a huff, Patti tottered away as quickly as her feet could go, leaving a huffing Derrick in her wake. I still had the camera lifted to my eye, when he turned. Just as I snapped the picture, Derrick's gaze seemed to penetrate mine through the lens, as if he was staring right at me. He started toward me, but I lowered the camera and rushed off to find Jimmy.

  When I found him, he was in deep conversation with someone, but it seemed Derrick had let the issue go and hadn't pursued me. I wasn't sure what I would have said if he'd caught up to me.

  The rest of the party was actually fun, I had to admit. Once the Stones were gone, most folks loosened up. One of the surfers began an impromptu dance-off, and before long everyone was clapping and laughing as the dances grew more and more absurd. By this time, of course, most of the crowd was lubed up with drinks of the liquor variety, but I think that some of the looseness could be chalked up to a Patti-less luau. Whatever the cause, it sure gave another meaning to the word stoned.

  I was packing up my gear and looking around for Jimmy when I saw Patti make her return. She looked around as if trying to find someone, and her eyes finally fell on Kailani standing near the stage. She marched toward her on her too-high heels, seeming to still be tremendously under the influence. I moved closer, catching Jimmy's eye as he did the same.