"A way to get back at his mother. He hacked into my work email and tracked your movements. Was George paying Elliott to bolster certain drugs or to keep your true identity a secret?"
"George doesn't know a thing about me," she said with a hint of pride.
It was my turn to try my hand at lying and find out more.
"George met with a Canadian pharmaceutical supplier a few days ago. He mentioned he had information supporting some outrageous cure claims. The articles were submitted by Elliott," I said with authority.
"Delusional little Simone, George is in Miami."
"Not earlier this week. He was in Toronto. He doesn't think you're doing enough to push his chosen drugs. Elliott seduced Martha to retaliate against George for nonpayment."
"That miserable son of a bitch. I handed him that mock think tank. He couldn't push a pencil without me."
Her face defied the plastic surgery she'd had as the wrinkles pushed through her skin. The ugly truth of her rotted soul outed for all to see.
"You're right, Deborah. Men are dogs."
Don't argue with a crazy person. Just agree and live to screw up another day.
"What do you know? The next bed you fell into was a disgraced soldier's who works for his grandmother."
That's it. Bash me, but leave Liam out of it.
"You wouldn't rank as a pimple on his ass," I said as I stood to face her.
She took a step back.
A flinch from Deborah?
She raised her left hand, and I ducked under her arm. I grabbed her around the waist and pushed her to the floor. She got off two rounds with the gun in her right hand. One hit the wall, and the other nipped my right butt cheek. It stung, and I retaliated by grabbing her arm and sinking my teeth in deep. I heard something metal thud to the floor.
"Stop it," she said as she swatted at me with her left hand and flipped me over.
The deck door rolled open, and a slim shadow appeared.
"I'm Isabel Ryan, and you shot my daughter in the ass. Prepare to die," she said as she rolled up her sleeves and curled her fingers into fists.
Mom hauled Deborah off of me, and the nauseating sound of a bone cracking filled the room.
"You dislocated my shoulder," Deborah yelled.
"It was an accident. I meant to break your neck," Mom said.
Deborah screamed and crab walked away from us. My mom had been boxing for a few years. She slammed power shakes and pounded punching bags in between her grandchildren's visits. My brother and his wife had two children. My mother adored them. I thought of these things as my mother stalked after Deborah.
"Get out of my grandson's house, you murderer!" Ellen yelled as she stormed in from the deck. Detective Ray and his officers, guns drawn, burst through the front door. Liam ran in right behind them.
"Hands up, Rhonda Carroll, aka Alexandra Deborah Niven," Detective Ray said as Ellen knelt by me.
"I like your mother," Ellen said as she patted my back.
"Your mother could put me through a brick wall," Liam said as he joined us.
"Yeah, she gives off a hunter vibe. As the oldest of seven and the only girl, she's had a lot of practice subduing an enemy," I said as I winced.
Ellen moved to make room for my mom.
"That woman is Elliott's mother?" Bel asked as she sat next to me and stroked my hair.
"Yes, Mrs. Ryan. I'm Liam Bentley. It's a very tangled web. I'm going to call an ambulance for Simone," Liam said as he pulled out his phone.
"I was attacked by a disgruntled employee and will be pressing charges," Deborah said as she sat up and was handcuffed. "I was lured here in hopes of helping this lost and delusional woman."
"So you came armed with a gun and shot her. Is this a new therapy protocol?" Detective Ray asked as the men hoisted her to her feet. "Congresswoman A. Deborah Niven, you're under arrest for the murder of Elliott Smythe-Wilkes."
"He drowned in a pool," Deborah said.
"The missing deck chair turned up hidden under some bushes. Thankfully, Deborah's fingerprints were able to be identified," Liam said.
"Elliott also sustained a gunshot in the back of the knee," Detective Ray said as he picked up Deborah's gun.
"I demand to call my attorney," Deborah ordered as she struggled with the cuffs.
"Let's keep the demands to a minimum, Congresswoman Niven, and focus on requests," Detective Ray said as she was bundled up and out the door.
I tried to get on my feet but ended up on my knees. Liam sat on the floor and eased me down to lie on my stomach.
"Simone, the paramedics will be here soon, so stay still until they arrive," Liam said.
"Oh, I must look a fright. Simone, dear, mind if I borrow a brush and some mascara from your purse?" Ellen asked as she dug through my bag.
"No," I said through gritted teeth.
"I'll take this mint too," she said as she unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth.
The sirens sounded closer, and my butt throbbed. The embarrassment of my injury faded as the pain radiated to my hip. A muscle spasm started to encase my thigh, making it tremble.
"Steady, love," Liam said as he gently massaged my leg.
As a cramp gripped my foot, I wished I could enjoy the attention. I panted as the intensity grew. Strobe lights blinked around the room as the EMTs pounded through the door. As they made their entrance, Ellen rested her hand on her forehead, swooned, and fell to the floor. A paramedic rushed to her side.
"For the love of Lili'uokalani, Ellen, we don't have time for this sideshow," Detective Ray said as he stopped the man and pointed at me.
Ellen pulled around and sat on the floor, facing us.
"Raymond Aloysius Kahoalani, you have no heart or sense of play," Ellen said as she crawled to her knees.
"Alloy who?" Detective Ray asked.
"Aloysius Gonzaga is a saint, and eventually she calls everyone his name when she scolds," Liam said as he helped lift me. "Gran's not a religious person, but it comes in handy when she curses people."
"No more calling me mean names," Detective Ray said as he hoisted her up.
"It's not mean—it gets your attention. Now drive me to the hospital. I'm going to stay with Simone," Ellen said.
"You need to go home. I'll watch over Simone," Liam said.
"Bossy," she said as she settled her ruffled feathers.
My mom stood silently and assessed the Bentleys' activities. Her one raised eyebrow let me know I had a lot of explaining to do.
I was set on a board, strapped down, and picked up. Ellen came alongside it and patted my shoulder.
"You vanquished the foe. Well done, Simone. Take care, dear, and I'll see you in the morning," she said.
"Okay," I said.
I was rushed to the ambulance as Liam and my mom climbed in next to me. Someone cut my pants around my grazed skin, gave me a shot, and packed the wound with gauze.
"Looks like a flesh wound. The nurses will clean it out, and the doctor will stitch it up," the paramedic said.
"What's the estimated recovery time?" Mom asked as she stroked my cheek.
"They'll keep her overnight and probably release her tomorrow. Usually restricted activity, rest up, and watch television for a few days," he said as the ambulance turned up the well-lit hospital drive.
The doors flipped open, and I was juggled out of the ambulance as numbness settled over my right butt cheek. I felt sleepy as Liam leaned over and kissed me on the mouth.
"You were so brave and foolish at the same time," he whispered in my ear.
"That's the same thing, isn't it?" I asked and tried to smile.
"Yes. It should be emblazoned on your family's coat of arms," he said as I was wheeled away.
I noticed mom crossed her arms and looked at Liam.
Good luck, buddy. Bel had Liam in her cross hairs.
I ended up in a curtained-off room, and medical people fussed over me. Somewhere in the flurry of activity, I fell asleep. When I woke up, I not
iced my clothes were gone, replaced by a faded, green gown, and my wrist sported a neon-orange, plastic bracelet. I was propped on my left side with pillows.
Two hospital visits in a week. Best Hawaii trip no one said ever, especially one without health insurance. If my former employer shot me, was it covered by workman's compensation or COBRA?
"You solved a murder, captured a fugitive, and brought down a Congresswoman and her cabal. If it were in my power, I'd award you a medal of valor," Detective Ray said when he stopped by.
"Thanks, but I'd prefer a rewind button for the last few months of my life."
"Learn from your mistakes and move on, never back. Thank you for your help, willing or not," he said as he left.
I fell asleep again. My dreams were swirls of psychedelic colors and shapes. These drugs were the best.
I woke up with a serious case of the munchies.
"Can I see your scar?" Liam asked from the chair in the corner.
He stood and set down a book.
"I'm sure it's pathetic next to yours."
"But much cuter, and I'm looking forward to it being next to me very soon," he said as he pulled back the blanket and lifted my gown.
Kauai was a paradise on Earth, and the natives divine.
* * *
The next day, I was released into Liam's care with my padded toilet-seat-shaped pillow in hand. I set it on the seat and eased myself into Liam's car. My mom sat in the backseat. We still hadn't had time to talk alone. The slow ride home was uneventful, but I felt every bump. I arrived shaky and sweaty, and Ellen opened the front door to welcome me. Liam carried me in from the car and set me on my designated seat cushion. Ellen had a tray set with scones and jam, fresh fruit, and a tumbler of golden liquid.
"Gran, Simone is taking antibiotics and pain medication, so no alcohol allowed," Liam said.
"I added just a wee bit to warm her weary bones," she said as she smiled and pulled up a chair next to me. "Now, eat and then a nap."
I nodded and took a bite of the scone filled with buttery goodness and Liam's perfection.
"I'm going to eat these every day and get fat," I said.
"Sounds like a plan," he said as he removed the glass from my tray and handed it to my mom.
"Thank you, Liam," Mom said with a hint of a smile.
"Your servant, Mrs. Ryan," he said and then headed down the hall.
"Sometimes his adherence to the rules can be a major pain in the ass. Pardon me. I didn't mean to be indelicate in your current condition," Ellen said as she patted my arm.
"Hopefully, your definition of ass pain will be the only one I'll ever have to deal with after I heal," I said as I smiled at my mom.
She had been staying at Ellen's house. By now, they both had probably analyzed my life and found it out of control.
Liam returned from the kitchen with a tall glass of ginger ale for me.
"Have you seen the news? Deborah's husband was arrested at the Washington DC airport trying to flee the country," Ellen said. "I knew the bald, fat man killed Elliott."
"Gran, the murderer was a woman, Simone's boss, Congresswoman Niven."
"She's married to the bald, fat man," Ellen said.
"Yes," I said.
"There you have it," Ellen said as she spread her arms out and sat serenely pleased with herself.
Who were we to argue? Sherlock had struck again.
"George Armstrong Lawler, the mastermind and campaign fund siphon machine, was behind the money laundering and drug trade with Silas. Deborah found out and demanded her share and a place in the organization for her ne'er-do-well son Dominick self-christened as Elliott. George and Deborah worked together but never trusted each other. What an unholy trio George, Silas, and Deborah made. Any updates about Martha?" I asked after polishing off one scone.
"She's living with friends and back at school," Liam said as he sat across from me. "George married Deborah for the clout, the money, and the inside information. Whether she knew it or not, by opposing MAB she accumulated the perfect intelligence on every pharmaceutical company and every smell of pending legislation. Lobbyists flooded her office with cash and any documentation she ever wanted. George sat back and collected huge fees. People thought he was a genius."
"Instead of a crook. If Deborah hadn't killed Elliott, no one would have known or suspected George of anything illegal or known about her criminal past," I said.
"A superiority complex breeds entitlement and disregard for the rules," my mom said after a healthy gulp of Ellen's concoction.
"Men are diabolical creatures, bless them all," Ellen said, raising her glass in a toast and then taking a long swallow.
"I'd be offended, but you ladies don't know the half of it," Liam said with a smile.
* * *
I paid to have Elliott cremated. I didn't want him to sit in cold storage at the county morgue. It was the least I could do.
There had been a twenty-five-thousand-dollar reward for Silas's capture offered by the FBI. The Bentleys graciously allowed me to claim it alone. Taxes took a bite, but I had enough to pay off my credit card and opt out of my lease. Silas's reward offer for Elliott's killer never panned out. All of his assets were seized and frozen. I tried not to be greedy, but it was hard.
I was released by my doctor to travel. Liam helped me pack up my belongings.
"My mom is taking me home with her to Chicago. The police department bought us three seats on the airplane so that I can lie across two. I have Elliott's ashes, but I'm not sure what to do with them," I said to Liam as I pointed to a cardboard box.
"Leave them here. I'll find an open sewer drain and deposit them reverently," Liam said as he zipped up my suitcase and picked it up.
"I'll attend the service and say a few choice words."
"When will you be back in Kauai?" he asked as he took my hand and led me to the living room.
"I need a job, and it's expensive to visit here," I said as I felt both his warmth and need.
And I was trying to maintain some perspective and not leap into another relationship, even though every fiber of my being begged me to throw myself at this man.
"It costs less to live here than Washington DC. Public relations is a sought-after profession in the tourism field," he said, taking a step closer.
"Public relations is also listed on porn sites, so I have to be careful where I apply for a job," I said, fighting my inner urge to lead him back down the hall to the bedroom.
"I meant to say, you've built up a reputation here. Why not cash in? The police department, the Aloha Lagoon Resort, and a small unnamed scone bakery are always looking for superior employees."
"Tempting. Any idea how much they pay?"
He pulled me closer and kissed my hand.
"I know the bakery would outbid all others and offer many fringe benefits."
"I do like fringe," I said as I looped my other arm over his shoulder.
"I know. Me too," he said as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "When you settle on a place to stay, I'll help you move."
"Chicago is a tad east of here."
"About halfway to London," he said as he picked me up and strolled out to the deck.
There was plenty of privacy and shadows there for a prolonged good-bye.
My mom and I left that night. I planned out what to say to her, apologizing and promising to do better. I sprawled out on the seats, resting my head on her knee, and never got a chance.
"You were very brave and smart about this whole affair. Elliott wasn't an ideal choice, but the heart makes weird demands. Sometimes you have to let it lead. I'm so proud of you, and I love you, baby girl," she said as she rubbed my shoulder.
All I needed to hear as I sat up and hugged her. I cried but felt fantastic.
She and Liam had mapped out my next couple of weeks. He arrived in Chicago, met some of my friends and family, and helped my mom paint her kitchen. I supervised and ate a lot of Italian beef sandwiches, hot dogs, and pizza.
After two weeks of gluttony, Liam and I flew back to Washington DC to collect my belongings and close up my life there. It was worth the cost to see Lizzie's jaw drop at the sight of Liam. In our experience, plain-looking girls didn't get gorgeous guys' attention. We stayed a few days, and I showed him around. Maybe we did a few things in the dark that would shock my grandmother. Although, after hearing parts of Ellen's escapades, I think she may have found them tame. Every generation thought they had invented sex, and every one of them was wrong.
I gave away most of my belongings. The mail had stacked up, and I went through it. I decided to frame my resignation letter from Deborah's office. Washington was all abuzz with her and George's downfalls. Because of my breaking the case wide open, fifty people had lost their jobs and been interrogated by the police. I kept my homecoming quiet, just in case someone felt like venting or hitting me.
Liam, in his quest to be a man of mystery, took a meeting at the FBI building. He said he had lunch with an old friend. His connections ran still and deep.
Did I need another guy with a secret past and identity? Hell yeah.
Liam had rogue tendencies, and a few centuries ago, would have made a dashing duke, but for now, Liam Bentley was mine. And I owed it all to Elliott, Martha, Deborah, Silas, and George.
Fate was one crazy lady, and I owed her big time too. Maybe an orchid lei and daily hot buttered scones and being a happy human would suffice.
* * * * *
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ALOHA LAGOON BOOKS
Ukulele Murder
Murder on the Aloha Express
Deadly Wipeout
Deadly Bubbles in the Wine
Death of the Big Kahuna
Mele Kalikimaka Murder
Photo Finished
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Deadly Bubbles in the Wine (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries Book 4) Page 16