Honolulu Hottie

by Terry Ambrose

  The detective chuckled. “Tried to. He fired his attorney, so I went directly to him, but he chased me off with a broom. Couldn’t hear a thing I said. He’s pretty feisty. And he kept yelling about this friend of his—guy named McKenna—who was gonna straighten us out.”

  I groaned and buried my face in my hands. “Why me?”

  “I’ll speak to him,” Chance said.

  We finished our statements and were walking to the Ferrari when I said, “Most direct route, please. I have to make an urgent phone call.”

  “You can borrow my cell.”

  “No, I need privacy and quiet. Sorry, but your car has a little too much drama and traffic noise.”

  “I understand. No worries.”

  “I’m afraid to ask how things went with Skye, but what were you going to tell me on the phone? You said you figured Victor out.”

  He smiled. “You’ll love this, McKenna. Skye pretty much jumped me when you left. It made me think about how far Victor would go to find his big score. For the first time in my life, I realized that’s not what I want. All I could think of was Lexie. Skye, her money—all the high society stuff—it’s everything I’ve been running from. Lexie has everything I want.”

  We didn’t say much for the rest of the trip. The lovesick grin on Chance’s face did all the talking. I didn’t begrudge him the moment and didn’t want to burst his bubble. Just two weeks ago, I’d felt the same. At least I’d had that feeling for a short time before throwing it away. Chance and I had so much in common. We’d found a killer. Saved Meyer. Were both working on our last chance. His prospects looked good. Mine, however…

  Chance parked the Ferrari in his usual spot at the Sunsetter Apartments. The weight in my stomach was as heavy as a ball of uncooked dough. Chance said he’d take care of Meyer, but I was only half-listening. Instead, I was fixated on the Toyota Tundra in one of the guest slots. It was Alexander’s truck. And here he was, my best friend, sitting around looking hot and grumpy. I swallowed hard. Had he found out what I’d been up to? I guess I really had burned every bridge to save Meyer. Live with my choice. It’s all I could do.

  Alexander burst out of the driver’s door. He strode across the lot. Not normal. Not for him. He epitomized laid back.

  “You got a new ride, brah? My truck ain’t good enough no more?”

  “Not at all, you were busy.” I stopped. No, I wouldn’t lie. “That’s not true. I got sucked into helping Meyer because he was being accused of murder.”

  Alexander stopped for a second, eyeing me. “This for real?”

  “Yah, for real. I felt guilty every minute because I told Benni I’d stay out of trouble. In less than two weeks, look what I’ve done.”

  He placed his hand on my shoulder. Looked deep into my eyes. “Then you gotta be thinking what to do about my sistah. She can’t be getting her hopes up for a guy’s who’s tryin’ to get himself killed every other week. You gotta sort it out with her.”

  “Right. I’ll, um, deal with it. I have to decide what’s important. And I don’t think it’s getting killed.”

  “Who’s the haole with the Magnum car?”

  “Chance Logan. He moved in a little while ago.”

  Alexander let out a deep sigh. “Figure out what’s important, McKenna. Otherwise, you gonna find yourself back where you started.” He turned and left without another word.

  My slippas were long gone, so I trudged barefoot toward my apartment, my feet slapping against hot pavement. It looked like my efforts to help Meyer had cost me my best friend and a budding relationship. I turned the corner to my apartment. The Pacific stretched before me. White bands of surf worked their way toward shore. The ocean surface beyond was flat. Much like I felt at this moment.

  Instead of going to the front door, I headed for the lānai. Alexander was right, I had to sort things out. The jagged edges of the lava rock cut into the soles of my bare feet. I could walk down by the shore on the beach. No, I’d had enough water for one day.

  I stepped onto the smooth concrete slab and into the shade. Stopped. Stared at my open slider door. Panicked. Someone was in my place?

  Benni appeared behind the screen door. Slid it open. Stood before me. Was I hallucinating? She wore shorts and a tank top. Her dark hair was pulled back. My heart stopped. I had no air. No words. She smiled, beckoned me forward with a small wave of her fingers. I couldn’t move or even think.

  Was I losing my mind? She rushed into my arms. The warmth of her kiss was all too real. This was no dream. No mind game on Kimu’s part. “You’re here,” I stammered.

  “Is that okay? You’re not upset with me are you? When you didn’t call me back...” She began to ease away, but I pulled her close again.

  “More than okay. But, I have to tell you what’s happened.”

  “Alexander said he hadn’t seen you in a couple of days. He showed me where you hide your spare key. Hey, you don’t look that happy to see me.” Her jaw tightened. “Oh, I get it. You’re not interested anymore.”

  “If only it were that easy.” I let out a heavy sigh. “You’re the hottest woman in Honolulu, hands down. And me, I’m the biggest moron. I won’t blame you when you dump me.” The ball of dough was back, heavier than ever. I might as well get this over. “I got sucked into another murder case.”

  Benni’s eyebrows went up; she pursed her lips and nodded. “Oh. And you didn’t want to tell me because you made that promise before you left.”

  I shut my eyes and nodded, then let my arms fall to my sides. “You’ll probably want to...”

  “Kiss you,” she said. “I knew you couldn’t keep that promise, McKenna. You have a skill. A gift. It’s part of why I think I’m falling in love with you.”

  About ten feet away, standing on a patch of grass, a cardinal watched us. He kept jerking his red head in Benni’s direction. I blinked. This couldn’t be happening. I had a reprieve?

  “Are you okay?” asked Benni. “You look like you’re going to pass out.”

  “You’re falling in love with me?” I croaked. The cardinal flew away. Another mind game on Kimu’s part? He’d taken another form? Or was it just a bird? Who cared? I swiped away the tear on my cheek. “How about if we go someplace nice for lunch?”

  “Okay.”

  Her smile sent me into free fall. Again. I might as well be flailing about, plummeting into an unknown abyss. I’d never felt so helpless—or alive. It was time for me to follow Chance’s example—to live life, not regret it.

  “Do you have a car?” Benni asked.

  Who needed to drive? I still had fifty bucks from Skye Pilkington-Winchester. “We can call a cab. I’ve got money.”

  Her smile widened. She slipped her arms around me. Her kiss was deep with passion. “Forget lunch,” she said. “I have a better idea.”

  Come to think of it, so did I.