by Sandi Scott
Aleta took a deep breath and tried to smile.
“Aleta, honey.” Georgie took her sister’s hand. “What happened?”
“I think the shock wore off of Dottie on the way here.” She swallowed hard. “I sat down with her. At first, I didn’t say anything. I just patted her hand. But then she just sort of fell apart.”
Aleta took a deep breath, as if steeling herself to continue.
“Dottie explained how she and Herb met. They worked at the same office. She was hired as a secretary and he was her boss. Neither one of them was married, so despite the rules of no dating among the coworkers, they snuck around until it became common knowledge they were a couple.”
“What kind of business was he in?” Georgie asked.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. Dottie never came right out and said. But she did mention that he was always making real estate deals and that he was also very competent in the stock market. And he was very accustomed to squeezing every quarter until the eagle screamed.”
“I could have pegged him for a tightwad the minute we met.” Georgie shook her head.
“Yeah. Well, he held on to every penny pretty tightly, but lately he’d been making some bad decisions in the business department and lost a couple of land deals he’d been counting on. According to Dottie he was never easy to live with, but recently it was even worse. He was determined to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ even though there were none. They didn’t have any close friends. They didn’t even have any close family left. It was just the two of them. Most of the time.”
“What does ‘most of the time’ mean?” Georgie asked, as she ripped open the bag of chocolate covered pineapple chunks.
“Herb had several affairs over the course of their marriage, but she admitted to doing the same. She said she did it to give him a taste of his own medicine, but found it ended up making her feel like trash. Herb didn’t have that much of a conscience. According to Dottie, at least.” Aleta took a few pineapple chunks and popped them in her mouth.
“Was he seeing anyone now?” Georgie asked.
“No. She said they were trying to fix things. Just like you said she told the police.” With that, Aleta’s eyes began to water. “She told me that before they left for the luau he told her she looked pretty. Dottie said that was the first compliment she’d received from him in over four years. Four years without being told you look nice by your husband? Who does that?”
There were all kinds of people in the world and all kinds of couples that function in different ways to make their family work. But if a man can’t bring himself to give a simple compliment like that to his wife, he doesn’t deserve to have a wife. The more Georgie heard about him, the more she was glad he fell off that cliff.
There would be people who would say she was hateful or cold-hearted to even think such a thing, but Georgie couldn’t help it. Herb was a selfish jerk. He’d done nothing kind the whole time he was with their group. She thought his fate fit him like a glove.
“Dottie says she doesn’t know what she’s going to do when she gets back to Chicago. She’ll have to handle all his affairs and figure out his life insurance policies, on top of dealing with Germaine’s. There will probably be some negotiations going on there.” Aleta shook her head. “She’s got no one to help her. She said for the first time in her life she was not only on her own, but totally alone.
“I offered to help, explaining how I have a background in finance, and she acted as if she was a vampire and someone had held up garlic and a crucifix in front of her. She wanted no help from me or anyone else.” Aleta sighed before adding, “Dottie claimed that Pam had made the same offer.”
“Pam? She’s in personal finance? Dear Lord, I wouldn’t want to be one of her clients. She’s probably drinking their dividends as we speak.” Georgie rolled her eyes and put her hand to her chest.
“No. Not that she was in finance, but that she’d help her get Herb’s estate in order. Dottie told Pam no, too.” Aleta stared ahead of her. “I can’t help but feel bad for Dottie. I don’t think Herb gave her any credit.”
By the time Georgie and Aleta had finished talking and made a complete circle around the stadium it was time to head back to the shuttle. They’d acquired all their souvenirs and still had chocolate covered dragon fruit for the trip back to the hotel.
“Did you find a shirt for Stan?” Aleta asked, when they finally sat down.
“I didn’t show you? That’s right. Pam scared me so much I forgot all about it. Check this out.” Georgie pulled a dark blue shirt out of her bag that had over a dozen 1940’s style pin-up girls all over it. “Can you believe the saleswoman said she couldn’t get rid of this shirt?”
“Yes.” Aleta’s mouth hung open. “Georgie, they are practically nude.”
“So?”
“So? Where is Stan going to wear this?”
“The real question, little sister, is where isn’t Stan going to wear this. I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts he’ll wear this every chance he gets.” Georgie smirked.
“Whoa! Awesome shirt,” Luke said, speaking across the aisle to Georgie. “Dad. You should have gotten one of those.”
“Right, and have your mother kill me? I don’t think so,” Norman chuckled. “Did you get that for yourself, Georgie?”
“No. For my ex-husband, actually,” she said proudly.
When the shuttle started moving, Georgie looked around and did a head count. Daniel was there and sleeping as soon as the wheels had completed their first revolution. June and Forrester were sitting in their usual seat looking over their treasures and talking quietly together. Pam was asleep in one seat, her head hanging back and her mouth open. Hector was across the aisle from her looking out the window. Dottie was alone in the back looking a little better after getting some sun on her face. Georgie hoped her talk with Aleta had helped. She hoped Dottie would seize this opportunity to do something brave and unique, and maybe even self-indulgent.
Everyone was tired after the long day in the sun. Georgie had to reach over and give Daniel a gentle nudge to wake him up when they finally arrived back at the hotel. He jumped up out of his seat leaving his cell phone on behind.
“Okay, everyone. We’re home.” Daniel was oblivious to the fact that his phone had fallen out of his pocket. “Tonight is a free night. Get some rest. Get some food. Enjoy the nightlife, and we’ll all convene in the lobby tomorrow at ten o’clock sharp. We’ve got an exciting nature walk unlike any you’ve ever been on.”
“Aleta.” Georgie elbowed her sister. “Look.” She pointed to the phone.
“Daniel’s?”
Georgie nodded and before anyone noticed, she reached down and scooped it up.
“Georgie, are you crazy? You know he’s going to notice it’s gone missing.”
“Shh. I’ll give it back.” Georgie stuffed her hands in her bag as if she were looking for something. Everyone filed out as she swiped the screen to get to his text messages.
“Goodness,” Georgie muttered.
“Hurry up.” Aleta urged her twin, as she stood and pretended to be looking through her own purse for something.
“Oh. My. Well. This changes things.” Georgie looked up at Aleta, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
“What’s the matter?” Aleta’s eyes popped when she looked directly at Georgie.
“Daniel didn’t do Herb in, I can tell you that much.”
“Come on ladies.” Daniel stepped back up on the bus. “You can’t stay on the shuttle.”
“We’re coming. I’m just looking for my room key.” Georgie lied. “I know it’s here, I’m coming. Go ahead of me Aleta. Oh, and ask Daniel that thing—about the thing. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah.” Aleta scowled at Georgie. “Hey, Daniel. Uhm. I wanted to ask you about this thing.” She pushed her way past Georgie intentionally knocking a few of her bags on the floor and walked off the shuttle with Daniel following.
Quickly, Georgie scrolled through several of Daniel’s lates
t texts and saw nothing that would implicate him in Herb’s death. However, what she did discover made her feel as if she caught the man with his pants down.
Finally, she backed out of his texts, stood up and marched off the bus.
“Daniel? Is this your phone?” Georgie asked, innocently. “I found it on the floor when I was picking up my things.”
“Gosh, I’d forget my own head if it weren’t attached. Thank you.” He looked at Aleta. “So, I hope that answers your question about mint juleps.”
“It does, Daniel. Thank you,” Aleta said, smiling awkwardly.
“Good night, Daniel. See you tomorrow at ten.” Georgie waved, grabbing Aleta by the hand and shuffling quickly to the elevator bank.
“So? What did you see that made you throw me under the bus like that, Georgie?” Aleta asked, as they stepped into an empty elevator car. Just as the doors were about to close another couple stepped in.
“You probably don’t want to be on this elevator. She’s got gas,” Georgie blurted out. The couple shook their heads and without a word stepped back off the elevator.
“Have you lost your mind?” Aleta barked.
“I just didn’t want them to hear what I was going to say. I don’t want to get Daniel in any trouble.” Georgie shook her head. “Taking his phone was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Why didn’t you stop me?”
“Georgie Kaye, what is going on?”
Chapter 11
“Daniel threatened someone on his Facebook page before he left for Hawaii. Now that person, who apparently has ties to some low-life politician, has got the police and FBI involved. They are waiting for Daniel to return to question him.” Georgie folded her arms and shook her head. “Haven’t I always said those social media things are bad?”
“Well, they aren’t bad if you aren’t threatening people,” Aleta said. “Do you know what he said?”
Georgie pursed her lips together tightly before nodding her head.
“What did he say?”
“Let’s just say that even General Patton would blush if he read it. Our southern gentleman has quite a way with obscenities, weaving them together like an exotic tapestry.” Georgie looked at Aleta. “Don’t get on his bad side.”
“So that’s probably what he meant when he said that he’d lost his temper and made that ‘how could I be so stupid’ remark.” Aleta nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Does he know that Norman is ex-FBI?”
“Why?”
“Maybe he could help Daniel.” Georgie felt over her pockets for her hotel key. “You know, make a couple phone calls or maybe explain to him what will happen when they question him and get him prepared for what they’re probably going to do.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Aleta concurred, as she easily pulled her key from her back pocket and opened their hotel door. “But we’ll have to be stealthy about it. We can’t let him know that you read the intimate, private texts on his phone.”
“Oh, don’t make it sound all sinister.” Georgie dropped her bags on her bed. “We knew he was up to something. Now we know what it is and he’s not a killer. He just threatens to kill people.”
“Right.” Aleta kicked off her shoes.
“Whatever happened to the good old days when you could threaten people willy-nilly and everyone knew you weren’t crazy enough to do it?” Georgie asked, as she started to takeoff her jewelry and flowery hair adornments.
“Those days are gone for good, big sister.”
“What a shame.”
THAT EVENING, GEORGIE and Aleta decided to eat a light dinner by the pool. Aleta brought along a biography about some spies during World War II, and Georgie brought her sketchbook and pencils. The sun had once again started its glorious descent, spreading its cloak of pink, orange and purple across the sky.
A young man in his early twenties took a seat at the table next to Georgie. He had a beautiful parrot on his shoulder.
“What is your friend’s name?” Georgie asked.
“Niji,” he replied proudly. “That’s rainbow in Japanese.”
“Would you mind if I did a quick sketch of the two of you?” Georgie asked, to which the young man smiled and agreed.
Having her pencil in her hand again after several days of not drawing or painting made Georgie feel like a kid with brand new art supplies. This wasn’t a drawing for money or for tickets to a play or for a slice of double chocolate cake. It was just because she loved to draw and Niji was a beautiful subject.
While she sketched, Georgie learned that Niji’s owner Max, taught surfing lessons and grew up in Hawaii, but not on the Big Island. He lived on the quieter and wealthier island of Oahu. He travelled to Japan two times a year and was on the Big Island now to catch a plane to visit family he had there. Max had only been to the Mainland once.
“I went to Los Angeles,” he said, as Niji nuzzled his head. “It was too spread out. Too big.”
“Well, I’ve never been to Los Angeles.” Georgie admitted. “We’re from Chicago. We’ve got great public transportation that can get you anywhere. The best things in the city are off the beaten track. That’s one thing about the Windy City. You can get anywhere you want to go on a bus or a train.” Her hand flew across the page with ease as she tended to every feather on the parrot and every eyelash on his owner.
They chatted a little more about the weather, the flowers and the food until Georgie sat back and admired her finished piece.
“So, Niji. What do you think of your picture?” Georgie flipped her sketchbook over for Max to see.
“Wow. I can’t believe it. It looks just like us.” He gushed. “This is so beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“What do you do for a living? Whatever it is, quit, because you should be drawing for a living,” Max said. He couldn’t take his eyes off the drawing.
“Actually, I do pet portraits for a living. People pay me to paint pictures of their furry and feathered family members. It’s a pretty rewarding career, I have to admit.”
“That’s amazing. Georgie, I have to have this picture. How much do you want for it?”
“How about a picture with Niji and we’ll call it even.” Georgie turned to Aleta. “Can you take a picture on your phone?”
“Of course,” Aleta replied.
As Aleta was positioning her camera on Georgie, and Max was transferring Niji to her shoulder, she saw Hector and Pam appear at the hostess station.
“Okay. Say Aloha.”
“Aloha.” Georgie said to the flash of the camera.
“This looks awesome,” Aleta said, flipping her camera for Georgie to see.
“Stan is going to go crazy when he sees this.” Georgie smiled. “Max? Can I get a picture of you and Niji with me? My ex-husband will wonder what I was up to when he wasn’t around.”
“Of course,” Max smiled happily. With Niji back on his shoulder, Max made himself comfortable next to Georgie. Very comfortable. He slipped an arm around her waist, pulled her close to him and nuzzled his cheek next to hers. Georgie giggled.
“Okay. One more time. Aloha.” Aleta said, still watching Hector and Pam as they made their way to a couple of lounge chairs on the opposite side of the pool.
With another bright flash, Aleta captured the picture of Georgie, Max and Niji. It looked great.
“Thank you, Max.” Georgie said, as she carefully removed her drawing from her sketchbook and handed it to him. “Enjoy.”
After a few more pleasantries, the young man said his good-byes and wished Georgie and Aleta safe travels.
“Stan is going to flip when he sees that picture.” Georgie laughed. “That boy had very strong arms. He was squeezing me like a lemon.”
“Yeah. I think he had a thing for older women—that’s for sure,” Aleta said, watching as Pam started talking to Hector who appeared to be falling asleep on the chase lounge. “Mrs. Robinson. We’ve got a scene unfolding at three o’clock on the other side of the pool.”
&
nbsp; “Mrs. Robinson? Oh, very clever.” Georgie harrumphed as she casually turned to see what her sister was talking about. As soon as she saw Pam standing up, talking down to Hector who had his eyes closed and his Hawaiian shirt wide open to relax under the waning sun, Georgie stared.
“She’s still wearing the hoodie,” Georgie whispered, looking back at her sister.
“Yes, but those shorts barely cover one cheek,” Aleta said. It was obvious from the way Pam was walking that she’d sobered up some, but as she sauntered away from Hector toward the bar it was only a matter of time before any ground she gained toward sobriety would be lost.
“Why does he let her drink?” Aleta asked. “It’s obvious she is over-doing it.”
“Maybe it makes it easier for him to carry on his own affairs.” Georgie was squinting, trying to see her wrists. “Go over there and take a look at the band-aids on her wrist and tell me what you think.”
“What? Why me?”
“Because. She knows who I am already. I’ve spoken to her twice and both times she gave me the heebie-jeebies. Everyone knows you are the more formulated twin.”
“What the heck does that even mean, Georgie?”
“I’m tuned in to people’s vibes. That’s why I’m the artist. Pam’s got severely negative vibes and it affects me. You, on the other hand, are the calculator. You deal with the cut and dried. Her bad mojo won’t affect you. See?”
“You lay in bed at night dreaming up this nonsense, don’t you?” Aleta narrowed her eyes as she glared at her sister. “In other words, Pam could be dangerous so send Aleta.”
“In a nutshell, maybe.” Georgie shrugged. “But you know if she tries anything I’ll be right there to back you up.”
“You better be.” Aleta stood up, mumbling as she walked over to the bar.
Pam had taken a seat and was busy flirting with a very receptive bartender who wore a Hawaiian shirt so tight that his biceps were straining at the seams of the sleeves.
“Two virgin pina coladas, please,” Aleta said, and smiled.
Pam looked in her direction and quickly dismissed Aleta as no threat to her game.