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The following is a bonus novelette that follows the continuing melodrama, romance,
and suspense surrounding the grand opening of a new hotel on Maui's famed Kaanapali Beach
KAANAPALI BEACH PARADISE, PART 2
By R. Barri Flowers
Donnie Ortega deliberately made himself scarce when the person he had been trailing nearly made him. The last thing he wanted to do was spook her into pulling another vanishing act. At least not until it was time for her to vanish for good.
He slipped inside one of the hotels on Kaanapali Beach and wandered around, while making sure she hadn't foolishly followed him. Once he was convinced of that, he found an isolated spot and took out his cell phone.
He called his homey, Cooper Romero, who was currently in the state pen in California doing time for drug dealing. Cooper had bribed a crooked guard to smuggle in a cell phone. Apart from conducting his business on the outside, he needed it to keep in touch on the efforts to find his ex-girlfriend, Genevieve Roswell, the bitch who threw him under the bus to save her own ass.
She had fled town shortly thereafter and had, at one point, seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Cooper had recruited him to find her, no matter what rock she was hiding under or how far she went to escape justice.
For a while, Donnie honestly believed tracking her down was a lost cause. But dogged determination and some less than gentle persuasion in getting one of her girlfriends to reveal her whereabouts had done the trick.
"I found her," Donnie said proudly.
"Where?" Cooper asked with interest.
"Hawaii. She's tucked away on Maui."
"While I'm stuck here in this hell hole," Cooper grumbled. "Is she there alone?"
"She's been hanging out with some old Asian dude," Donnie responded, casting his dark eyes at a shapely raven-haired woman passing by. He waited till she had put some distance between them, before continuing. "I wouldn't be surprised if Genevieve gave him a heart attack."
"Yeah, she knows how to get a man off and then some," Cooper snorted satirically, and coughed into the phone. "Does she know you're there?"
"Not yet. I've been careful to lay low."
"Good. Wish I could be there to see the look on her pretty face when she realizes that her days of living the good life on the beach are over for good."
"Yeah, she brought this on herself," Donnie agreed unsympathetically.
"Damn right she did," Cooper spat. "You know what you need to do. Call me when the job is done."
Donnie sighed. "Will do."
Cooper disconnected and Donnie mused about taking out his ex. After she stabbed Cooper in the back, it was only a matter of time before she paid for it. Once the score was settled, maybe he would catch some rays, hang at the beach, and meet some chicks before heading back to Frisco.
* * *
Genevieve stepped into the hotel, feeling compelled to have a look around the only place the man could have gone. She needed peace of mind, if nothing else, that Cooper had not sent someone to track her down. The only person who knew she was there was her friend, Sarah. But she wouldn't have told anyone. Would she?
No, Genevieve convinced herself, gazing around, seeing no one she recognized or who was giving her a weird or threatening look. There was no one there looking for her, hoping to harm her on behalf of Cooper. What was that old saying: the only thing to fear was fear itself.
She couldn't allow Cooper and his minions to ruin her life and take away the freedom she had worked hard to achieve. Otherwise, her no good ex-boyfriend would win, wouldn't he?
Genevieve took one more look around the sprawling lobby just to be sure she hadn't missed anything or anyone. Again, she saw nothing to indicate she was being pursued. Good. She hoped she could finally put the past behind her and make a life for herself as a musician on Maui.
But that didn't mean she would ever let her guard down. That was just what Cooper wanted and she would never give him that pleasure. Or allow him to cause her more pain.
She headed home.
* * *
Yoshiko Pelayo sat at the table at the Sun and Seas restaurant. It was located outdoors on the beachfront side of the Kaanapali Palms Hotel on Maui. Gazing out at the ocean, she could see the islands of Lanai and Molokai. Quite magnificent, indeed, but at the moment, she was more interested in her handsome lunch date, Stewart McGann.
"So are you just here for a little R&R?" she asked innocently. In truth, she was curious about his connection to the hotel CEO, Ben Crawford, her bastard father who had to this day never even acknowledged her existence, much less accorded her rightful legacy as his offspring.
Stewart stared at the question as he forked a slice of kalua pork. "Well, I thought I was."
She chuckled. "You're not sure?"
He grinned. "Let me explain. I came here to relax for a couple of weeks under the Hawaiian sun. But I've just been offered a job by the hotel owner."
"Really?" Yoshiko lifted a brow. "What kind of job?"
"Head of security."
"Interesting," she told him. "Had you applied for—"
"Actually, I did some private investigation work a while back for Ben Crawford. I guess this was his way of paying me back a little extra for my trouble."
"So you're a private detective?" Yoshiko asked, tasting her garden salad.
"Not exactly. I'm an ex-police detective from Portland, Oregon who used to moonlight as a PI for extra cash. I hurt my back during a drug sting and ended up retiring from the force a year ago."
She frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."
He shrugged. "It happens. We all have times when things don't go our way. All you can do is move on..."
Yoshiko only wished it were that simple. There could be no escaping her bloodline, even if her father wanted nothing to do with her. But she wasn't about to leave it at that. He owed her and she fully intended to collect—one way or the other.
Maybe even with the help of his new head of security. She couldn't help but wonder what type of investigating Stewart had done for her father. Did it involve anything illegal that might be damaging to him should it ever come out?
"Anyway, enough about me," Stewart said, interrupting her thoughts. "What's your story?"
"My story...?"
"Well, I don't see a ring on your finger, so I assume you're single."
She smiled. "You assumed correctly." She saw no reason to deny the fact that she was not currently involved with anyone, even if it was by choice, as opposed to lack of men hitting on her.
He grinned approvingly. "Just so you know, I'm divorced—and have been for a while now."
"Okay," Yoshiko said, taking that to mean he was available too. She wondered what his wife was like and if the demands of his job had proven to be more than she could handle.
"So, back to you..." Stewart lifted his drink. "I know you're with housekeeping at the hotel, but something tells me there's more to you than cleaning guests' rooms."
"I wish there were, but what you see is what you get." Yoshiko resisted the urge to admit that she was really a journalist, but had put that on hold while she sought payback from Ben Crawford, who made her mother's life a living hell, before it ended prematurely. "I'm not afraid to change bedding and clean toilets for an honest day's pay."
"I didn't mean to suggest the job was beneath you. Or that it's really important to me what your job is—"
"I didn't take it the wrong way," she said. "It's probably just the detective in you, always looking for things that may not be there."
"I suppose," he acknowledged. "So have you worked at the hotel for long?"
Long enough to know what I'm up against, Yoshiko thought, but answered, "Not really." She sliced into coconut shrimp and turned the conversation back to him. "I think you should take the job—"
Stewart cocked a brow. "You do?"
"Yes. It seems like a good opportunity."
"Is that the only reason?"
S
he smiled effectively. "Maybe I'm also looking for a way to have you stick around, so we can get to know each other better."
He grinned. "I'd like that. It could be time for me to try something different."
Yoshiko interpreted that in two ways, both compelling to her. At the same time, she cautioned herself not to get too caught up in his attention, no matter how welcome it was. Especially when her primary objective for coming to Maui had nothing to do with romance and everything to do with revenge.
Still, maybe there was room for both angles.
* * *
Stewart walked Yoshiko back to a housekeeping door, wishing they could have talked longer. He would settle for knowing that he would have plenty of opportunities to see her again, now that he had decided to stick around longer than his original length of stay. When he did head back to Portland, it would only be to pick up some of his belongings for a new life on Maui.
Going back to his room, Stewart mused about the stunning Yoshiko. In spite of her suggestions to the contrary, his instincts told him that there was more there than met the eye. There was nothing wrong with cleaning rooms for a living, but he suspected she was not being entirely straight with him. Did it matter? No. Whatever her reasons were for doing what she did were her own. But that didn't mean he couldn't do a bit of digging, assuming he couldn't pry more out of her over time.
Right now, he needed to focus on his own decision that would change his life seemingly for the better.
In his room, he stepped out on the lanai, admiring the view while he called Ben Crawford on his cell phone.
"Hey there," Ben said in a friendly tone.
"I accept your offer," Stewart told him. "I'd be happy to be your new head of security."
"Wonderful!" Ben said. "When would you like to start?"
"How about tomorrow? The sooner I'm brought up to speed, the sooner I'll be on top of security for the hotel."
"I couldn't agree more," Ben told him. "I'll hook you up with Rick and Victor and they'll get you all set up."
"I look forward to it," Stewart said, before disconnecting.
He stared out at the ocean thoughtfully. His previous work for Ben Crawford had involved getting him out from under a two million dollar blackmailing scheme, after one of his former employees had threatened to go public about alleged ties to the mob in building his fortune.
For his part, Stewart was able to get some damaging information on the blackmailer that could have put him away for the rest of his life if the authorities ever got ahold of it. It was enough to get him to back off; leaving Crawford free of the threat he posed. Stewart didn't probe any further into the allegations against his employer, not wanting to compromise his obligations as a police detective doing double duty.
Now he was associating himself again with Crawford in an idyllic setting, far away from his old life. And this time, there was an attractive and intriguing Hawaiian woman who just might give him another good reason to call Maui home.
* * *
Eugene Keebler rolled the trash can across the lobby, picking up stuff that guests had tossed to the floor. He suspected that most people who passed him by looked down on him. Probably for good reason. They were the haves and he was definitely a have not at this point. But that didn't mean it would always be that way.
Not if he could help it.
His plan to rob the place when it held its grand opening was a go, even if he had to do it alone. The particulars hadn't been worked out yet, but that would come once he knew if his buddies wanted to join in on the theft.
After finishing his shift, Eugene hitched a ride with Maggie Webb, who worked in housekeeping. She was hardly his speed as far as being attracted to her, with hair that was too short and too bleached blonde and an ass that was too big for his liking. But she did seem to be turned on by him, since she flirted with him every chance she got. He could use that to his advantage for the time being.
"You wanna come back to my place?" he asked bluntly.
Maggie batted her eyes as she drove. "Are you inviting me?"
"Yeah. I thought we could hang out, drink some wine, and whatever happens, happens—"
She didn't need long to think about it. "I'm game. I was only going to go home and catch up on my soap operas, but that can wait."
He grinned lasciviously. "We can be the stars in our own soap."
Maggie glanced at him, smiling. "Cool."
As soon as they entered his studio apartment on Awaiku Street in nearby Lahaina in West Maui, they got right down to business. Eugene insisted on wearing a condom, surprised that his soon-to-be-lover was against the idea. Though she was no spring chicken, she was still capable of getting pregnant, whether she was on the pill or not. The last thing he wanted was to have to deal with an unwanted kid.
Fortunately, she gave in to his way of thinking and they had good—not great—sex. Afterward, he rolled off her and lay there catching his breath. He fantasized about getting it on with a real looker like Yoshiko, their co-worker. Or even Crawford's red-hot daughter, Leigh. But neither of them had given him the time of day.
His thoughts shifted to his upcoming big payday and what was needed to get away with it without the police hauling his ass off to jail.
* * *
That night, Leigh Crawford invited her father's chauffeur, Masami, to her suite. Yes, she knew Daddy would never approve of anything serious with the hired help. And even anything non-serious would likely meet with his disapproval. But maybe that was what made it so appealing. She couldn't help herself in going against expectations as the admittedly spoiled hotel owner's daughter. Call it her wild spirit in the mode of her late mother.
Apart from that, Masami was hot, which made Leigh horny. She needed to do something with all that pent-up sexual energy and he was clearly more than willing to do his part.
"Nice place," Masami said in surveying the suite.
Leigh agreed, but she didn't bring him there to enjoy the sights. Only her. "The bedroom is even better," she teased him.
He chuckled. "I'll bet it is."
She took him by the hand and led the way. Before he could take in its splendor, she turned to him and began kissing him, which he eagerly returned. The way he caressed, nibbled, and teased with his tongue was like nothing Leigh had ever experienced and it turned her on even more.
Still, she managed to pull away from his firm mouth. "Do you have protection?" she remembered to ask, wondering if her needs were too strong even if he said no.
"Of course," he replied, as though it went without saying in this day and age.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."
They picked up where they left off and were soon literally tearing away each other's clothes before falling onto her king-sized bed.
Leigh got on top and slid onto his stiff manhood, allowing him to go deep inside her, as she arched her back and luxuriated in the experience.
They switched to the missionary position after her first orgasm, then she had another just before his own powerful release came.
They sucked on each other's lips during the waning moments of ecstasy and then lay there catching their breaths.
Leigh wondered if she had ever been so satisfied. Or was she merely caught up in the afterglow with her lover?
"Do you seduce all of your father's chauffeurs?" Masami asked, gazing at her.
"Only the really hot ones," she responded teasingly.
He laughed. "Thought so."
"Actually, you're the first employee who has even interested me in the slightest," Leigh admitted, hoping it wouldn't go to his head.
He grinned. "Lucky me."
"I think we're both lucky," Leigh told him honestly.
"Yeah, definitely!"
"So how did you become a chauffeur anyway?" she asked, draping her leg over his.
"I followed in my father's footsteps. He ended up drinking himself to death, but that's another story. Anyway, when the opportunity came to get this gig, I went for it and got it." He
kissed her shoulder. "But I never expected fringe benefits like this."
"Neither did I," Leigh had to admit. She thought about her mother's early departure from life. They had that much in common, besides having sex together. She looked at him curiously. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"If I did, I wouldn't be here right now."
She lifted a thin brow. "That's never stopped most guys..."
"Guess I'm not most guys," Masami said proudly. "How about you? Did you leave some poor lovesick guy waiting for you back home?"
Leigh rolled her eyes. "I wish. Things haven't worked out that way, for one reason or another."
"I'm glad," he admitted. "Otherwise someone else would probably be occupying this space."
"Probably," she teased.
He grinned and sat up. "I better go."
She frowned. "What's your hurry?"
"I just thought that..." He paused. "I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I can stick around for a while, if you want."
Leigh smiled. "I'd like that."
He smiled back. "Then I'm staying."
They began making out again. Leigh wondered if this was what it felt like to be in love. Or was it just lust magnified? She hoped it was the latter, especially since she couldn't imagine any chance of a future between them.
* * *
Masami Sorayama slipped from the slender arms of his employer's daughter. She looked like an angel as she slept. He wanted nothing more than to spend the entire night with her. But he needed to go home and, of course, be ready for his duties as a chauffeur at the beck and call of Ben Crawford.
It occurred to Masami that if he somehow became seriously involved with Leigh, then maybe he could also move up in her father's company. Or was that asking too much—especially where it concerned Crawford, who might frown at the notion of the hired help fraternizing with his daughter.
Masami had no idea if there was any real chance of him and Leigh being an item. She was gorgeous, young, white, and rich. He was not bad looking, by most accounts, a Native Hawaiian, twenty-four years old, and far from rich. For all he knew, she would only be around till the grand opening of the hotel and then go back to the mainland, where they would never see each other again.
Murder of the Hula Dancers Page 28