4 Maui Macadamia Madness

by Cynthia Hickey

  An officer conversed with the Wahine family, notepad in hand, pen busy scratching down notes. He kind of reminded me of a bulldog, the way his forehead hung over his eyes and his heavy jowls lined his mouth. Hopefully, he was a friendly person, unlike my cousin Joe who was an officer back home. Joe actually treated me as a nuisance.

  “Officer.” My sandals slapped the sidewalk. “Did anyone check for Mr. Jamison’s watch?”

  “Excuse me?” Officer Manano, his tag read. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Summer Banning, one of the guests here. On the bus earlier today, Mr. Jamison—”

  “Ma’am, I must insist you step aside and let us do our job.” He made a sweeping motion with his arm.

  “But, sir, it’s possible that—”

  He pushed past me and into the main building, leaving me standing with my mouth hanging open and steam coming out of my ears. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been treated so rudely.

  I stormed back to Ethan and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go back to our room. That man wasn’t interested in a thing I had to say. I need to call your sister.” April, Ethan’s younger sister and my best friend, would lend me a sympathetic ear.

  “The honeymoon’s over already?” Ethan pulled me to his side and kissed the top of my head.

  “Of course not, silly, but if I don’t talk to someone, I’ll burst.”

  “I’m someone.”

  I was a dunce. Of course, he was. My blond, blue eyed, Adonis. “You’re the best someone. So, tell me, hot stuff, why wouldn’t the officer spare me a moment to hear what I had to say?” I stopped and planted fists on my hips.

  “He’s busy?” Ethan leaned against a railing. “It’s very possible the watch is sitting on Bob Jamison’s dresser.”

  “And it’s equally possible it isn’t.” I marched away and through the door of our cottage. The Rolex could be nestled in someone’s pocket waiting to be sold. A piece of jewelry worth thousands was definitely a motive for murder.

  My stomach rumbled, reminding me I’d had very little to eat since our plane landed. I headed for the patio and the basket of fruit and cheese. This is where the latest mystery would begin. I settled into the wicker lounge chair.

  “Somebody, the killer, maybe, jogged down the beach. Then, I heard a scream, most likely from Camilla, since she found the body. Of course, this is only what I saw and heard. I could be totally off track and grasping at straws.” I pulled a few grapes off a cluster. Ethan was still inside, but I tended to talk out loud when working through a problem, so I’d catch him up when he joined me. My hand paused on the way to my mouth. “What if he died of natural causes?”

  “Exactly.” Ethan handed me a blended pineapple drink. “Virgin Pina Colada. Just because nuts were on the bathroom floor, doesn’t mean there was poison involved. He could have had a heart attack, choked, any number of things.”

  “But what if there was foul play?” I took a sip. Pineapple, coconut, and citrus flavors burst on my tongue. “Oh, yum!”

  “You’re always looking for a mystery to solve.”

  “It’s fun.” I shrugged. “A year ago, I never would have thought about solving a crime, much less a murder, and now I’ve solved three.”

  “And almost died in the process.” Ethan pulled his lounge chair closer to mine. “Now that I have you, I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Excuse me.” I play-punched his shoulder. “I think I did the chasing. You didn’t think of me as anything but April’s pesky friend for years!”

  He laid his hand on my thigh and grinned. “I don’t think of you as that anymore.”

  I leaned forward for a kiss.

  A spear whipped past me and imbedded into the cottage wall.

  Chapter Three

  Ethan grabbed me around the shoulders and took me and the deck chair to the wood planks of the patio floor. His elbow slammed into my breasts and drove the air from me in a rush of pain. I hung over the arm of the chair, rear in the air, and prayed another spear didn’t catch me in the behind.

  “Are you all right?” Ethan tugged at me until I lay flat next to him, my heart racing, and me gasping, trying to put together what had happened.

  “Did somebody actually throw a spear at us?” I craned my neck.

  Sure enough, a spear held a piece of paper to the side of our cottage. “A note.” I pushed to my feet and ripped the message free. “Go home.”

  I handed the note to Ethan and peered into the night. A person would have had to have been close in order to throw something as archaic as a spear. I leaned over the railing and searched both ways. “There’s nobody here.”

  “Get down!” Ethan grabbed the hem of my dress and tugged me back next to him. “We need to let the Wahine’s know. Good grief. We haven’t been here twenty-four hours, and you’ve managed to get us neck deep into trouble.”

  I plopped next to him, my floral skirt ballooning around me. “We aren’t going home, are we?”

  “No, we aren’t.” Ethan took my hand and we crawled into the room. “And we aren’t going to skip the fun things on our list, either.”

  “Can we try to find out what happened to Mr. Jamison?” Please, please, please.

  He tapped my nose. “We’ll leave that up to the police.”

  “But what if we get another threat?” I stood and pulled the curtains closed.

  “We’ll discuss that if it happens.” Ethan picked up the phone, asked the Wahine’s to call the police, then dropped onto the sofa. “Let’s cuddle until the cops get here.”

  As hot as he was, snuggling was the last thing on my mind after someone tried to kill us. Nevertheless, we were on our honeymoon, and a few kisses would get me in the mood fast enough. I closed my eyes and puckered up. After a couple seconds of … nothing, I opened them. “What?”

  “You aren’t in it.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He shook his head. “What’s going through that pretty red head of yours?”

  “My hair is auburn, thank you. Doesn’t it concern you that one of us could have been killed?”

  “Yes.” He rolled his shoulders. “I really did pray that we could have an uneventful ten days on Maui. I see now that no time with you will ever be uneventful. What do you want to do?”

  Hope bubbled up in me like the effervescent bubbles in the sparkling cider I had drunk. “Ask a few questions? Find out whether Mr. Jamison died naturally or by evil intent.” I kissed the end of his nose. “How many people get to solve a crime in the beauty of Hawaii?”

  “Seeing as how someone wants us gone, I believe there is something to discover now.”

  A knock pounded on the door.

  Ethan stood. “We’ll come up with a plan after the cops leave.” He flashed a smile. “I might actually enjoy being your sidekick for once, instead of the person telling you to stay out of things.” He strolled to the door.

  I couldn’t wait to phone April and tell her what I’d landed in this time! Don’t get me wrong, I still intended to witness all the wonders of the island while solving Mr. Jamison’s murder. I was on my honeymoon, after all.

  Officer Manano, and a younger African American policeman I hadn’t seen before, bustled into the living area of the cottage. Officer Manano gave me a stern look, which I returned with a glare of my own. “Where’s the spear?”

  I motioned my head toward the patio then leaped from the sofa. “I tried to tell you that I have experience—”

  He looked past me to Ethan. “You said there was a note?”

  “Yes, sir.” Ethan handed him the ripped sheet of notebook paper.

  “Hmmm.” Officer Manano handed it to his partner, who tucked it into a paper bag. “Are you leaving? I suggest you don’t.”

  “Why?” I rushed to his side. “Are we suspects? Someone threw a spear at us!”

  “You are persons of interest, yes.” His brown face remained emotionless. “All the guests here are. I’ve heard of you, Mrs. Banning. You and your need to poke into police business. My
suggestion is for you to enjoy your honeymoon and let the authorities handle this.”

  I crossed my arms. “How did you hear about me?” I was going to bash Susan Wood’s teeth in if she was spreading malicious gossip about me to the police. Why had that woman taken such a dislike to me? We had never met before the shuttle bus ride.

  Officer Manano chose not to answer. He turned to Ethan. “Will you be staying here for the duration of your stay?”

  Ethan nodded, his brows drawing to a V. Good. He wasn’t happy about being a suspect any more than I was.

  “What do you do for a living, Mr. Banning?” Officer Manano nodded to his partner.

  I could see his badge now, Officer Williams. He poised his pen over his paper.

  “I’m a high school woodshop teacher.” Ethan crossed his arms, giving me a delightful view of his own ‘guns’. “My wife owns Summer Confections, a candy store in Mountain Springs, Arkansas. We are on our honeymoon. We were married yesterday. Why, exactly, do you have us as persons of interest? We didn’t know Mr. Jamison before this afternoon. We aren’t the sort of people to poison someone’s macadamia nuts.”

  Poor thing. Unfortunately, Ethan knew the drill when questioned by officers of the law. Something he could pin on me because of my past escapades. Only thing was, this time he wasn’t being questioned by a friendly face.

  Officer Manano narrowed his eyes. “Who said anything about poisoned nuts?”

  “So, it is true.” I popped a grape into my mouth. “I figured as much.”

  “Mrs. Banning.” High spots of color appeared on Manano’s cheeks. “If you don’t stay out of my investigation, then I’ll be going with the assumption that you planted those poisoned nuts in an insane attempt for more notoriety in solving crimes and to get your face plastered in the Maui newspaper.”

  Not many things leave me speechless, but that comment did. Tears burned the back of my eyelids. How could a complete stranger be so cruel? I hated having my picture taken.

  Ethan marched to the door. “I must insist that unless you have a warrant, it is time for the two of you to leave.”

  “Stick around, Mr. Banning. We’ll be in touch.” Officer Manano strode through the door.

  Officer Williams stepped onto the back porch, retrieved an awesomely carved wooden spear with a shark’s tooth spearhead, then followed his senior partner.

  By the time Officer Friendly and Officer No Speech left, my stomach was growling in earnest. I didn’t think a few chunks of cheese and some grapes would do the trick. “I’m starving.”

  Ethan cast a wide-eyed gaze on me. “How can you eat at a time like this? That man thinks we killed someone just so you could get your name and face in another newspaper.”

  I shrugged. “I’m used to people thinking the worst. We’ll prove him wrong.” I slid my arms around his waist and laid my cheek on his chest. His heart raced. Maybe I could skip food in favor of something more delicious. I peered up at him. “Wanna go to bed?”

  ###

  “I could not believe the nerve of that man. He really hurt my feelings.” I scooted higher on the headboard and stared through the bedroom door. Ethan would be home any moment with our breakfast.

  “How do you manage to get into these predicaments?” April sighed through the phone. “Joe is going to throw a gasket when he hears.”

  “You should have seen Ethan. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so angry.” A breeze blew through the open window and fluttered the white gauzy curtains. The sun rose above the azure sea, calling for vacationers to don swimsuits and snorkel gear. I couldn’t wait to get my feet wet. As long as I didn’t meet the shark whose tooth was recently in our cottage wall.

  “Since you’re knee deep in another mystery, are you going to try and solve it?”

  “Of course. You know me.” My fingers itched to take up pen and paper and start taking notes.

  “Yes, I do. Please, be careful. On a better subject, how’s the honeymoon?”

  “Wonderful.” I snuggled into the pillows. “I married the best man in the world.”

  “Actually, I think Joe is.”

  “Of course you aren’t going to think your brother is the best. How are your wedding plans coming along?” The front door clicked closed and the enticing aroma of coffee made its way to the bedroom.

  “Great. Right on schedule. And don’t say anything else about how a June wedding is cliché, I know it is, but that’s what I’ve always wanted.”

  “I’m happy for you. Ethan is back with food. I’d better go. I’ll keep you informed. Bye.” I clicked off, slid the phone onto the nightstand, and greeted Ethan with a smile. “Hey, baby.”

  “Still hungry?” He set a tray of fruit and pastries on the bed then plopped next to me.

  “Starving!” I grabbed a cream cheese Danish. If I didn’t start eating something of substance, all the carbs were going to make my behind as big as the island. “What’s on the agenda today?”

  “Do you want to snorkel right off the beach here or go up to the resort?”

  “Since I’ve never snorkeled, I’d like to try here first.” The pastry melted in my mouth with cheesy creaminess. I reached for another. By sticking around the B & B, I might find an opportunity to question someone, anyone, seeing as how I had absolutely no suspects at this point. Except for Susan Wood. She’s the only person here who knew who I was and who could have told Officer Friendly I was in the paper back home.

  Someone knocked on the door. When Ethan moved to answer, I ducked into the bathroom. I might as well get dressed. I had bought a new red bikini with white polka dots and a sheer gauzy white scarf to tie around my hips. I couldn’t wait to dazzle Ethan. Once dressed, I slipped my feet into sandals which sported a big red flower on them, and stepped into the living room.

  I smiled as Ethan’s eyes widened in appreciation. Mr. Wahine grinned beside him. Yep, I still had appeal.

  Ethan strolled up to me, the sparkle in his eyes never fading, and swiped a finger across my chest. “Were you saving that blob of cream cheese for later?”

  “Yes.” My shoulders slumped. So much for a sexy entrance. “Good morning, Mr. Wahine.”

  “Aloha, Mrs. Banning. I came to see how you were after last night’s fright.”

  “All in the past.” I sat on the sofa, crossed my legs, and tried to look as alluring as possible in order to remove the mental picture of me with food on my bosom from Ethan. Although I was built petite, God saw fit to amply endow me, and they tended to catch ‘things’ such as food. By the age of thirty, I should know better than to step outside the bathroom without checking.

  “We would like to give you free tickets to a luau on Friday night for your misfortune.” He handed them to Ethan. “My son and daughter will be dancing.”

  “Thank you so much!” I clapped my hands. I’ve always wanted to see men in grass skirts play with fire.

  Now might be a good opportunity for the first of my questions. I avoided Ethan’s gaze so he couldn’t send me signals to stop. “How are the other guests faring after Mr. Jamison’s death, and now this?”

  Mr. Wahine shook his head. “As well as can be expected. My poor daughter is the most traumatized. My son seems to be angry that this has happened, as it will not look favorably on the hotel. The other guests are looking at it as excitement for their vacation.” His grin returned. “We just booked our two-bedroom cottage. The party arrives in the morning. This may help our business. You know what they say, any advertising is good advertising.” He tossed us a wave and backed out of the room.

  Hmmm. I chewed my pinkie nail. Was the Wahine Bed and Breakfast in financial trouble? What sort of business did Mr. Jamison do? I glanced out the window to see Susan Wood in a black string bikini head for the beach.

  “Ready?” I popped up from the sofa, grabbed a waterproof bag that held towels, sun screen, and the latest mystery from James Patterson.

  Ethan cocked his head. “What are you up to? What questions could you possibly have to ask Susan?”


  “I won’t know until we start talking.” I kissed him and skipped out the door.

  Ethan followed with the snorkel gear. “I may soon regret saying you could try solving this.” He closed the door and locked it behind us.

  The Aldrichs came out of their cabin and headed for the beach. Wonderful. Sharon was much more communicative than Susan.

  Ethan put his arm around my shoulders. “Before you start bugging people, you have to go snorkeling with me first. Don’t forget why we’re on Maui.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” I slipped my hand in his and let him lead me to a stretch of sand a little away from the others.

  Off the shore, a small reef formed an almost complete circle. The area looked safe enough for me. It wasn’t big enough for man-eating sharks. I kicked off my shoes and slipped on the flipper fins. Once I managed to get that mouth breathing apparatus over my head without the rubber band pulling all my hair out, I slapped my way into the delicious water. Ah, I could stay out there all day.

  After a few minutes of getting up enough nerve to let my feet come out from under me and to lay face first in the water, I opened my eyes and surveyed the murky world around me. I thought the water in Hawaii was clear?

  My face mask fogged up. I pushed my feet back to the silty ocean floor. After removing the mask, I spit in it as I had seen divers on television do, then slapped around until I was once again laying on my face in the water. Someone tapped me on the head.

  Didn’t they know how long it took me to get in that position?

  Ethan stared at me. “Stop mixing up the bottom. You’re making the water murky. Just fall forward or squat then let your feet up.”

  Oh. That explains the unclear view down below. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  I tried again and succeeded. Once the water cleared, I spotted all types of marine life. Deciding to follow the reef, I skimmed along the top, spotting black and yellow striped fish with fins, some silver sparkly ones, and one that looked like a snake. I steered clear of that one. The sun’s rays warmed my shoulders and the top of my head. I couldn’t think of a more pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning.