by Nella Tyler
Ola turned to grin broadly at them.
“Welcome! I knew you would come back today. I set some dresses for you to try.”
The women looked at each other in surprise.
“You couldn’t have really known we would come here today,” Ashlee said doubtfully.
“Of course I did,” Ola smiled.
“But how?” Meg asked incredibly.
Ola shrugged.
“I had a feeling and they are never wrong,” she said. She turned to Beni. “Have you recovered from your recent horrible experience? It must have been a nightmare in reality.” Ola shuddered.
“Yes. But how do you know about that?” Beni questioned.
“I’m not sure now. Someone must have told me,” she said evasively. “Many people saw the incident. It has been quite the story.”
“I imagine it has,” Beni said. She was unconvinced with Ola’s explanation but could not think of a rational reason why.
“Come. Let’s not think of such an awful experience. Try these dresses on. You will love them,” Ola said gaily. She gave them the clothes and directed them to the changing rooms.
The girls soon forgot about Ola’s knowledge of the incident. They became caught up in the fabulous clothes.
“Look at this. It’s lovely,” Meg exclaimed about the red, maxi halter sundress. “It can’t wait to wear with Drake.”
“He will drool all night,” Ash giggled.
Beni came out of the dressing room and twirled in short, white peasant dress. She had pushed the ruffled neckline off her shoulders and looked utterly charming.
“You’re gorgeous, Beni. Noah will be in the same state as Drake,” Meg teased.
It was then Ashlee’s turn to model for them. She came out in a blue, form fitting, knee length sheath that cupped her hips provocatively. The neckline was deep and Ashlee’s full breasts looked luscious.
“Wow! That is sexy. You will not be leaving Kai’s house when he sees you in that dress,” Beni cooed. “You are one hot, hot mama!”
“It’s not too much?” Ashlee asked uncertainly.
“No!” Meg and Beni said together.
“How do you feel in it?” Meg asked.
“Like a trillion bucks,” Ashlee giggled.
“Have Kai take you somewhere special and wear that dress. It will knock him flat,” Beni encouraged.
“Perhaps a walk through the Pua Maze,” Ola suggested.
“What is the Pua Maze?” Ashlee asked.
“It is an amazing maze constructed of flowers. It is truly stunning. An evening walk through the winding paths is always romantic,” Ola smiled.
“It sounds like a place we should visit,” Ashlee grinned.
“Your male friends will know of it. So do you want the dresses?” Ola asked with a smile.
“Oh yes! We will take them,” Meg answered.
They changed out of the dresses and bought some hair accessories and perfume.
“Thank you, Ola,” Beni said gaily as they were leaving.
“Have fun in your new dresses,” Ola smiled.
The waved happily and set off.
“How about an ice cream. It’s so hot today,” Ashlee suggested.
“I can go for that,” Meg said.
“Me too,” Beni agreed.
They walked down the street and found an ice cream parlor.
“Let’s go in here,” Meg said.
They went inside and sighed at the feel of the cool air. They went to the counter and selected their favorite ice cream. The attendant scooped it up and after paying for it they sat at a table by the window. It was fun to see locals and tourist alike shopping in the market.
“So where do we go from here, guys?” Beni asked.
“Are you talking about now or the mystery?” Meg clarified.
“The mystery. After what I endured, I want to solve it more than ever,” Beni answered.
“Well, we have to figure out the significance of the key. Why is it so important,” Meg said.
“I think the real question is: What does it open? I think that is the key to this whole mystery. Pardon the pun,” Ashlee grinned.
“It could open a box or a door. But where would we find the right lock, be it box or door, that fits the key,” Beni asked. “It could be anywhere on this island.”
“There’s got to be a way of narrowing the options,” Meg murmured thoughtfully.
“We need another clue,” Beni said.
“Maybe we were given one,” Meg replied.
“What are you talking about?” Ashlee asked.
“Pua Maze,” Meg said.
“What about it?” Beni frowned.
“I think Ola was giving us a clue. When I think about it, although we bought great dresses, our entire visit there was a little strange,” Meg observed.
“Ola was a little weird,” Ashlee piped up. “And how did she know about our male friends? We’ve never been to the shop with them.”
“Probably the way she knew about Beni’s kidnapping. There is more to her than meets the eye,” Meg said. “But I think she wants us to go to Pua Maze for a specific reason.”
“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 Thirteen
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 dis
play.
“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 lat
er,” 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.
