Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2)

by Christine Hartmann

  “I think so. Nobody’s sure. And management apparently isn’t talking.” She lowered her voice and grinned. “Look at all those couples in the pool. You think they’d be swimming if they thought a body had been floating there last night?”

  Ellie lowered her legs and took another sip. “I don’t think it can be true. Why aren’t there cops everywhere?”

  “They say it was late. Could have been all cleaned up by morning.”

  “I don’t know.”

  Jacqui shoved the phone in the waistband of her floral Capri leggings. “You’re right. No point in worrying about it. Now, tell me about your date.”

  The level of the blue liquid in Ellie’s glass lowered rapidly as she told Jacqui about Denver.

  “I thought you were on Maui to play the field?”

  Ellie blinked. “My field’s got only one player right now. You know any others?”

  “What about the hot stud gardeners?”

  Ellie laughed. “Brandon’s the best of the bunch.”

  Jacqui motioned to the bartender for another round. “Then Olivia’s lucky.”

  “Seriously. I texted to ask if she wanted to join us later. But she didn’t answer. Brandon didn’t show up for work today, so they must be doing something.” Ellie bent over with another groan and pulled her phone from her purse. “Oh. She texted back. She wants me to call her.”

  Jacqui hopped off the bar stool and carried their glasses to an empty table. They sat. “So call. I’ve got some classes I can set up.”

  Ellie dialed and watched a young man in the pool hoist his girlfriend onto his hips and fling her backward into the water with a splash.

  “Olivia? It’s…hey. Hold on. What? Speak slower. I can’t understand you.”

  Jacqui frowned at her and put down her phone.

  Color drained from Ellie’s face. A sound like rushing water enveloped her, and the world began to sway.

  Jacqui nudged her chair closer to Ellie’s and motioned for Ellie to put the phone on speaker. Ellie, eyes large, handed her the phone. Jacqui pushed the button.

  “…police came over. I can’t believe it. Brandon.”

  “Olivia, honey, this is Jacqui. Is somebody there with you?”

  “No.” The voice sounded empty, an infinitesimal rasp in the long silence that followed it.

  Jacqui pushed back her chair and waved signals at the bartender who waved back. “You stay put, Olivia.” She motioned for Ellie to head to the exit. “Make yourself a cup of coffee. Ellie will talk to you. We’re on our way.”

  Before handing the phone to Ellie, she covered the microphone with her hand. “What happened?”

  Ellie nodded. “It’s totally crazy. Brandon’s dead. She says they found him in a pool.”

  Recognition dawned on both of them at once and the two women stared at the blue water in front of them.

  “Oh, God.” Ellie closed her eyes. “I didn’t even remember he worked here.”

  A cool breeze carried the scent of seaweed and decaying fish from the nearby ocean.

  Jacqui pulled her arm. “Come on. Keep her talking. I’ll drive.”

  ***

  Jacqui tromped the wooden stairs to Olivia’s apartment two at a time. The boards creaked disquietingly as Ellie followed. The door was leaned opened. Inside, the shades were drawn.

  “I should have told her to turn on the light.” Ellie flipped a switch to the right of the door. “Olivia?”

  Olivia lay face down on a bamboo frame sofa, the phone still clutched in her hands.

  She turned her head, as though the effort cost her a great deal. “You came.” Her voice barely reached them.

  Ellie squatted by her head. “I told you we were downstairs, silly.”

  Olivia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Her face was blotchy and wet. “I didn’t believe you.”

  Jacqui returned from the galley kitchen with a towel. “Here, honey, wipe your face with this.” She glided her arms under Olivia’s neck and legs and swung her expertly to a sitting position.

  “Go look for some chocolate or cookies or something, Ellie. She needs a little kick to her system. And bring water.”

  Jacqui sat next to Olivia and put her arm around her shoulders. Olivia slumped against her, her body convulsing with sobs.

  Three chocolates and fifteen minutes later, Olivia began to talk, speaking a torrent of words that poured out of her like a stream plunging over a rocky river bed. Phrases bumped and jolted, swerved and halted, spinning and tumbling over one another. Ellie sat with her arms around her legs, willing herself not to cry. Jacqui stroked Olivia’s tousled hair as a mother would a child’s.

  The police, Olivia said, had knocked on the apartment door before dawn. Brandon didn’t usually get home from his maintenance job at the hotel until two or three in the morning, but she was surprised he wasn’t there. The police told her Brandon had been found dead in a hotel pool with a blow to the head. It looked as if someone had hit him and then pushed him in. They said whatever happened took place between ten-thirty and eleven at night.

  Olivia told the police she had been at Target until the store closed at eleven. She was certain the clerk would remember her. They’d had a long discussion about the respective merits of Target and Walmart. When she’d gotten home, she’d gone to bed. She hadn’t been worried. Brandon was always there when she woke up in the morning.

  When she finished, she began to shake in rapid vibrations over which she seemed to have no control. Jacqui looked around the room for a sweater. “Honey, you need to get away from here. We’re driving you down to Ellie’s house tonight.”

  They bundled her into Jacqui’s car. The long, mostly silent drive back to sea level gave Ellie time to think.

  Who would kill Brandon? Was he involved in something illicit? Was he selling drugs or something?

  She thought back over their interactions, all she knew about him.

  Something was going on in Seattle before he came here. Probably the same reason he and Olivia dropped out of school. It must’ve made him able to handle Noa. And it must be why he had that tattoo.

  At her house, they ensconced Olivia in the guest bedroom, where she fell almost immediately into a sleep that looked more like unconsciousness than slumber. Her fetal-position ball formed an incongruous and lonely bump under the yellow and orange plumeria comforter Ellie had purchased for Celine’s arrival.

  After Jacqui left, Ellie prowled the kitchen between the two bedrooms, Viv pacing at her side as though sensing unrest in the house. She spoke quietly on the phone with Celine.

  “You freaked?”

  Ellie shuddered. “Totally. It’s got nothing to do with me, but I knew him. I liked him. I can’t believe he’s dead.”

  “What do you think happened?”

  Ellie opened the front door and sat on the lanai steps. “No clue. But if I had to guess, I’d say it was his past catching up with him. He was super nice, but there was something he wasn’t saying. Olivia too. Their life in Seattle wasn’t all Starbucks lattes and trips to the Space Needle.”

  “Shit.”

  “You’re telling me.” The moon shone bright above the ocean, creating a light yellow reflection on the waves that extended like a searchlight to the shore. Ellie circled her arms around her knees. “If it were at a hotel miles from here and I didn’t know the guy, I wouldn’t think twice. But this is practically next door. It’s not like I’m next on the list. But it does mean a murderer’s wandering around.”

  “The underside of paradise. That ice-witch boss of yours willing to pay for a security system?”

  Ellie nodded. “I texted Devora already. She said she’d wave the word murder in front of Vivyenne. Told me to go ahead and call some companies in the morning.”

  There was a pause. Ellie heard a drawn-out intake of breath that sounded like Celine pulling on a cigarette. Only Celine didn’t smoke. “Maybe a man in the house right now wouldn’t be a bad idea. Have you thought about calling Denver?”

&n
bsp; Ellie smiled. “Beat you to it. I called twice already. But he doesn’t pick up.”

  “You could go over and knock.”

  Ellie laughed. “I’m a mess. I wouldn’t want him seeing me like this.” Ellie tromped through the house, flipping on light switches as she moved through the rooms. “You still sure you want to come on Sunday?”

  “Hell, yeah. Seems like a girlfriend from the ’hood will fit right in.”

  Ellie smirked. “You grew up in Oak Park. That isn’t the ’hood, remember?”

  “A minor technicality.”

  Chapter 11

  The next morning before Olivia got up, Ellie began calling alarm companies. She sat cross-legged on a stool at the kitchen island, her laptop in front of her, a cup of black coffee placed strategically to one side.

  “That’s right. The best system you’ve got. And I want signs. Huge ones. All over the yard. For the windows and doors too.”

  She typed notes on the computer.

  “Is that the fastest you can get it installed? I’ll pay extra if you’ll rush.”

  A shape darkened the kitchen door. She motioned for Olivia to come in and pour herself a cup of coffee.

  “I’m going to need an hour or so to think about it. Can you pencil me in and I’ll call you back? Thanks.”

  She hopped from the stool and gave Olivia a hug.

  “How are you doing?”

  Olivia stared at her with haunted, dark-circled eyes.

  “Stupid question. I heard you throwing up last night. You feel like shit, of course.” Ellie pulled eggs and milk from the new refrigerator. “Let’s have waffles. After that, I can drive you home if you want. Jacqui and I got my car back here this morning while you were still sleeping.”

  Olivia suspended an egg over a bowl, looking out the window. After waiting a moment, Ellie took the egg from her hand and guided her to the counter. “You sit. I’ll make the waffles.”

  “I don’t want to go back.” Olivia’s voice broke through Ellie’s whisking.

  “Back to the apartment?” The waffle iron sizzled as the batter oozed slowly among the raised iron squares.

  “Uh huh.”

  “Then stay here. No problem. I’ve got more furniture arriving today. White sofas. You can help me decorate.” She peeked at Olivia through the steam from the waffle iron. Her skin looked as pale and brittle as an eggshell. “Or just watch me do it.”

  After breakfast, Ellie installed Olivia in the guest bedroom again with “Men in Black” playing on her iPad. She resumed calls to alarm companies.

  She’d narrowed the field when the timer on her phone reminded her Olivia’s movie was finished. She stretched and went to the living room to get Viv.

  “Enough fun in the sun.” She picked up the warm creature. “You’ve got work to do today.”

  She knocked on Olivia’s door and nudged it open when she didn’t get a response. Olivia lay on her side, the pad propped against the comforter. She hardly looked up when Ellie entered, but her face brightened slightly at the sight of Viv.

  “I brought you some company.” The cat hopped onto the bed and pranced toward Olivia’s outstretched hand. “He told me he really wants to watch Men in Black II with you.”

  Ellie perched on the edge of the bed as she queued the movie. Viv rubbed enthusiastically against Olivia’s cheeks.

  “Did you find an alarm company?”

  “Yep. They’ll be out in the next few days to get started.”

  No point mentioning they won’t be finished for weeks. Hawaii doesn’t do ‘rush.’

  “You’re all set.” The introductory music played. Ellie drew the curtains.

  Olivia used Viv’s paw to tap the pause and play button. “He’s so cute.”

  Ellie rolled her eyes. “He’s my little bundle of joy.”

  Olivia dropped the furry arm and Ellie saw a tear edge down her cheek.

  Ellie fingered the curtains. “I don’t want to…but yesterday you said not to let your parents know. Do you still feel that way? I could call them for you.”

  Olivia shook her head and met Ellie’s eyes. “You don’t understand. I haven’t talked with my parents in a long time. Not…since…well, right after I dropped out of college.”

  Ellie’s gaze wandered from Olivia’s grief-stricken face to the plumeria photos on the walls. “My parents don’t always approve of what I do either. They weren’t thrilled about my coming here. But I can rely on them in an emergency.”

  Olivia hit the play button and spoke in a voice barely audible over the music. “Mine are different. I can’t.”

  An hour later, in the middle of Ellie’s preparing peanut butter and liliquoi jelly sandwiches for lunch, Olivia walked into the kitchen clutching her phone.

  “The police just called.”

  Ellie dropped the knife. “What’d they say?”

  “Good news. They don’t think I did it.” Olivia attempted a smile.

  “They could have called me for that answer.” Ellie finished making a sandwich and thrust it at Olivia, who pushed the plate away and then picked it up when Ellie shot her a listen-to-your-elders look.

  “They think it might be drug-related.”

  Ellie parked herself at the counter. “What? Brandon using drugs?” She tried to sound surprised.

  “They’re wrong.”

  Ellie thought back to her conversation with Jacqui that morning and the rumors flying at the hotel. Drugs topped the list of suspected reasons for the murder of a part-time maintenance employee.

  “Are you sure?”

  “There’s no way he was doing drugs.” Color rose to Olivia’s face, blotchy red streaks that only emphasized her overall pallor. “No fucking way.”

  “I believe you. But maybe his murderer was involved in drugs?”

  “They didn’t say anything about that.” Olivia bit into the sandwich. “They don’t even know for sure that someone tried to kill him. It could have been an accident.”

  “That’s right.” Ellie shrugged. “We don’t know anything. Brandon could have been with anyone that night.”

  Olivia rounded on her, eyes flashing. “Brandon wasn’t hanging out with users.”

  Ellie sat back, stunned. “Chill, Olivia. I didn’t mean that. I’m just trying to help.”

  Olivia slammed the counter. “Not if you say things like that.”

  What’s going on with her?

  Ellie leaned forward. “Look, I’m sorry. I really like Brandon.”

  “Liked. He’s dead.” Olivia threw the remainder of the sandwich on the counter. “And drugs had nothing to do with it.” She stomped from the room.

  Ellie followed. “What are you doing?”

  Olivia picked her sweater up from the floor. “Going home.”

  Ellie settled on the bed, arms crossed.

  Tears rolled freely down Olivia’s cheeks. She petted Viv and looked up taxi companies on her phone. “I’m freaked.”

  Ellie uncrossed her arms and gestured for Olivia to sit next to her. “I’ll drive you back.”

  Olivia shook her head, spoke to a dispatcher, and hung up. “They’ll be here in ten minutes. I’ll wait outside.”

  Ellie rose. “I’ll go with you.”

  “No.” Olivia looked around the room. “I’ll go by myself.” She strode into the hallway and turned around. “Ellie, just fucking forgive me, okay? My whole life…I feel like I can’t breathe.”

  Ellie’s shoulders slumped and tightness wrapped itself around her chest.

  I can’t believe he’s dead either. So how must you feel?

  Ellie waved at the back of Olivia’s taxi. Her phone rang. Jacqui listed sympathetically to the story of Olivia’s departure.

  “Forgive her, honey. She just lost her boyfriend and doesn’t know which end is up.”

  “Of course I will. But why’d she go ballistic? Now I feel like if I mention anything I’m wondering about, I’ll be stepping on a landmine.” Ellie lay stretched on the floor of the lanai, her hand shading h
er face.

  “Why don’t you call Denver? He’ll take your mind off it.”

  Ellie stared at a set of overhead fans she’d never noticed before.

  Explains that mystery switch near the front door.

  Ellie sighed. “He texted me this morning. Mr. Drone Company has some kind of stupid conference in LA. He won’t be back until tomorrow night.”

  “Honey, I’m sorry, but I have to go teach serenity to stressed out visitors. What about some retail therapy after?”

  “The white furniture’s supposed to arrive any minute now. I’ll be stuck here for hours.”

  “I’ll call you later. In the meantime, spill some coffee on the sofa when the movers leave. It’ll make you feel better.”

  Ellie grinned. “Sick idea. I’ll go make a pot.”

  ***

  The next day, a text interrupted Ellie’s impromptu testing of the new living room furniture. When the phone pinged, she jumped guiltily from the white sofa as though Vivyenne had just walked into the room.

  Olivia: Sorry 4 yesterday.

  Ellie: All’s good. How r u holding up?

  Olivia: Throwing up.

  Poor thing.

  Ellie: Want me to bring soup?

  Olivia: Don’t think I could keep it down.

  Viv eyed the new sofa and reached out a paw to touch it. Ellie scooted a cardboard cat scratcher in front of him. “Don’t get any ideas.” Viv hopped on the scratcher and wriggled in the catnip.

  Ellie: Need company?

  Olivia: Thx. Brandon’s friends r coming over soon. Just wanted to say sorry.

  Ellie: No need. Big hug.

  Ellie added an emoji of a smiling face blowing a kiss.

  She walked into the strong morning sun and texted Celine.

  Ellie: Can’t wait for u to get here.

  Celine: Liar. Ur only thinking about tomorrow with Denver.

  Ellie laughed.

  Ellie: That too.

  Celine: U still in disguise?