4 Maui Macadamia Madness

by Cynthia Hickey

“No.” His shoulders slumped. “I recognized the voice with Susan. It was Manano’s voice.”

  I gripped his arm. “We tell the police.”

  “Who are they going to believe? One of their own, or an amateur sleuth out to make a name for herself?” He cupped my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Please.”

  He was gone. Vanished in the dark like smoke in a breeze.

  With my heart in my throat, I grabbed my cell phone off the coffee table and punched in Joe’s number. “Joe.”

  “Ethan tire of you already?”

  “Stop. We had an intruder. Ethan’s gone after—” Click.

  Well, being my cousin, it didn’t take much for Joe to fill in the blanks. I collapsed on the sofa and waited for one of the men in my life to return. Within minutes, I had dug at my fingernails until one of the beautiful sculpted French tips fell off. So much for pretty hands. I sat on them. Where are Ethan and Joe?

  I called April. “Where’s my cousin?”

  “Isn’t he there?”

  “I wouldn’t be asking you where he was if he was here.” My stomach churned. Horror! The bad guy managed to overcome Ethan and Joe. A feat I always thought would be impossible.

  “Calm down. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”

  “Don’t tell me you aren’t scared spitless.”

  “Every time I’m involved in one of your mysteries, I’m terrified.”

  “Very funny.” I glanced at the dark windows. Was the killer watching me? Had he murdered my husband? Tears poured down my cheeks. “Pray, April. I’m losing it over here. I’m not used to being left behind.”

  “I will. And I’ll get Eunice and Roy, too. You know Eunice has a direct line. Even God is afraid of not listening to her.”

  I laughed through my tears, the sound coming out between a gurgle and a snort. “You’re right.” Something scraped across the flagstone patio. “I’ll talk to you later. Thanks.” After hanging up, I grabbed the lamp beside the sofa. Its ceramic base was a better weapon than nothing.

  Taking a deep breath, I approached the patio door, holding the lamp like a baseball bat. The shade fell to the floor with a thump, sending ants scurrying down my arms. Okay, Lord. Here I go. Angels protect me.

  With a trembling hand, I shoved open the door.

  Two figures stood there.

  I screamed.

  Chapter Six

  I punched Ethan in the arm then followed suit with Joe. Afterward, I felt like I had hit a couple of walls. “You scared the wits out of me!” I set the lamp on the nearest table and shook the pain from my hand. “Did you find him?”

  “Nope. But we found the clothes.” Joe tossed the sweats on the sofa. “No telling if it was a man or a woman?”“None.” Ethan wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Thank you for doing as I asked and staying put.

  “I didn’t have a choice. You took off too fast for me to follow.” I stretched on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for coming back alive.” Taking Ethan’s hand and heading for the bedroom, I glanced over my shoulder. “Goodnight, Joe. Thanks for coming.”

  “Don’t you want to talk about the case?” He grinned, although his ears were a bright enough scarlet to light the night. “Should I take these clothes to the police? What about your statement?”

  Ethan’s steps paused. Poor man. He was clearly torn between wanting to make love to me and keeping me from getting killed by catching a murderer. “Keep the clothes,” he said. “And don’t bother going to the police. They won’t help anyway.”

  “We’ll talk about this tomorrow.” I pulled Ethan inside the room and closed the door.

  ###

  Having upgraded the rental car to a van, our group gathered around Ethan who held a map of the island. I didn’t mind sightseeing with the family, but I did insist they follow the schedule Ethan and I had planned. Today, we were off to the whaling town of Lahaina. I couldn’t wait to browse the art galleries. I already had my camera slung over my shoulder, comfortable sandals on my feet, and a bright yellow sundress on my body.

  “Time to go. I want to get some snorkeling in when we return this afternoon.” Maybe the little fishes had grown since yesterday.

  “I want to see the whales,” Uncle Roy said.

  “You see one every time I put on a bathing suit.” Aunt Eunice cackled and winked.

  “A mythical creature is what I see.” He nuzzled her neck. “A siren of the ocean waves.”

  I sighed. Having grown up with daily doses of witnessing their affection for each other, the physical contact no longer made me want to gag. If they still acted that way while on the downside of sixty, more power to them, but I wished they’d snuggle behind closed doors.

  “More like a troll.” Aunt Eunice giggled.

  “Okay, that’s enough.” I threw open the van door. “Time to hit the road and stop with the mushiness.” Any kissing and snuggling going on would be between me and Ethan.

  “But this is like a second honeymoon for us.” Aunt Eunice grunted as she practically crawled into the vehicle.

  My gaze met Ethan’s over the hood. He grinned and winked. “That’s us in thirty years.”

  I hoped so. Having waited most of my life for Ethan to notice me, I wanted to spend the rest of it beside him. Joe squeezed into the front passenger seat, leaving me to slide in the far back beside April.

  “More leg room,” he said.

  Totally not fair that I wasn’t sitting next to my new husband. What if I died on this trip and this was the last time I got to sit next to him? Yes, a bit dramatic, but my brain did tend to venture off in strange directions when threatened with danger.

  As Ethan drove, with Joe navigating, I took the time to drink in the scene outside the van window. I wanted to see all Maui had to offer before we headed home.

  On the passenger side of the van, lush greenness rose, hugging us with tropical beauty. On the driver’s side, a steep cliff fell to an ocean lapping a boulder-strewn shore interspersed with pristine beaches. There didn’t seem to be any worry about the beauty disappearing. Not even a mountain goat could make it down there.

  No matter where I looked, the scenery calmed, inspired, and coaxed me to stay and rest a while. Maybe I shouldn’t have planned each moment of our stay to include sightseeing or a thrill. I probably should have planned time to sit on the beach, Ethan beside me, and let the water lap my legs. Other than watching the sunset each night, I had us on the go from breakfast on.

  “Are you still mad we’re here?” April leaned to speak soft enough the others wouldn’t hear.

  “No. Especially now that Joe can help Ethan find out why someone wants to frame me.” Or at least has threatened to. “It isn’t like y’all are sharing a cottage.”

  “Aunt Eunice wanted to suggest you check out of your room, and we all get one large cabin. Joe put a stop to that idea right off the bat.”

  “Remind me to thank him.” I caught Joe’s glance through the mirror in his visor. My parents died when I was five, cousin Joe was the closest thing I had to a sibling, and he fit the role of older brother very well. He was bossy and kept an eye on me. I thanked God for him every day, even when I grumbled about Joe’s heavy handed ways.

  The van pulled as far to the side of the road as possible, and Ethan cut the ignition. “There’s a small waterfall, if y’all want to take pictures.”

  Did I? I wanted to snap a memory of every second. I practically crawled over April and Aunt Eunice in my excitement.

  Ethan’s waterfall was more like a trickle over moss-covered rocks on a hillside, but I took the picture anyway. A trickle on Maui is different than a trickle in Arkansas. More romantic for one. I grinned at Ethan.

  The sun highlighted his hair with gold. It really wasn’t fair how a few days in the sun gave his dark blond hair highlights that cost a pretty fortune for someone at a salon. My own hair would sport brassy red streaks by the end of our Hawaiian stay.

  “All y’all stand against that greenery. It wi
ll make a gorgeous picture!” I hadn’t planned on others being in our honeymoon snapshots, but it couldn’t be helped now, so I’d make the best of things.

  “Let me take one of you and Ethan first.” April took the camera. “After all, we’re the ones imposing.”

  True. I grabbed Ethan’s hand and dragged him to stand in front of our ‘waterfall’. I had a feeling that we would see real falls of water within a day or two. Rip-roaring, cascading streams that thundered to a crystal pool a hundred feet below.

  Once April finished, we took turns taking shots of each couple. I aimed the camera at Aunt Eunice and Uncle Roy, then backed as far across the road as I felt safe. I had no desire to topple over the cliff.

  “Say Hawaii is heaven.” I lifted the camera to my eye.

  A breeze sprang up, teasing the hem of my dress and flirting with my hair. If I could fly, I’d take that two more steps and sail off into Hawaii’s heavenly sky.

  “Summer, freeze!” Ethan leaped out of the road and in my direction.

  I caught my breath, afraid to move. Kind of like the time an African lion snuck up behind me. I learned very quickly to listen when Ethan gave the order not to move.

  A silver Nissan Maxima with dark tinted windows sped past us on the narrow road. There was barely room for one vehicle, much less two. Definitely no room for a pedestrian on the side of the road.

  I gasped, hugged the camera to my chest, and fought to keep my feet from slipping on the loose gravel. I glanced over my shoulder to the turquoise ocean far below. The world spun. Spots swam before my eyes. I tottered. I couldn’t breathe.

  Somebody screamed. Maybe either me or April. Maybe both. I slid farther and closed my eyes.

  Ethan grabbed my hand and slammed me against his chest, taking us both down hard to the warm asphalt road. “This is beginning to be a habit.”

  “Not funny.” I opened my eyes. “Did that car deliberately try to run over me?”

  “I’m sure they were just in a hurry,” Uncle Roy said, lifting me off Ethan. “Right, Joe?”

  “Yeah, that’s it.” Joe stared in the direction the Nissan had sped. “There’s nobody on earth that wants to do away with Summer. Now or in the past.”

  “That’s enough.” Ethan swatted dirt from his backside, gave me a quick kiss, and then stepped over to whisper something to Joe. Soon, the two were deep in a secret conversation. After a few seconds, Uncle Roy joined them. My own little security detail.

  I didn’t need to be a genius to know I was the topic of their conversation and the target of the speeder. Why couldn’t I just have an enjoyable honeymoon? Why does somebody always die when I was around?

  Slumping against the car, I allowed Aunt Eunice and April to fuss over me. After all, I almost fell to my death.

  “That was very frightening.” Aunt Eunice smoothed my hair from my face. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” I glanced to where the men talked. Why couldn’t it be Ethan comforting me? “Just feeling sorry for myself.”

  “As you should.” April crossed her arms and leaned against the car with me. “Wonder what my buffoon of a brother and future husband are cooking up now.”

  “That buffoon is my husband, and I’m asking you to treat him as such.” My mouth quirked.

  “As a buffoon or as your husband?” April giggled and hugged me. “I’m so glad we’re sisters now.”

  “Even if being around me might get you killed?”

  “Even then.” She bumped me with her hip. “Besides, whoever was in that car was after you, not me.”

  “So you noticed it, too.” Obviously Ethan and Joe thought the same thing. So, what were the two cooking up? Occasionally, Uncle Roy would glance over his shoulder like a naughty boy telling a secret. “I think I’m going to ask Ethan for a second honeymoon. This one isn’t what I had planned.”

  Aunt Eunice laughed and playfully slapped my arm. “This one isn’t over yet, and you can guarantee this is one you won’t forget anytime soon.”

  I most likely wouldn’t forget even without a murder and someone trying to frame me. A girl’s honeymoon was like her wedding. Unforgettable. Or should be, even without drama and intrigue. I squared my shoulders. “Let’s get moving. Who knows? Maybe we’ll run into the Nissan in Lahaina.” I hoped so. I’d like to find out who the speeder was and maybe push them over a cliff.

  Ethan tossed me a thin-lipped smile and climbed behind the wheel of the van. Joe squeezed past me on the middle seat and motioned for me to sit beside him. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

  “I insist.” He tipped his head and patted the seat.

  Uncle Roy climbed in next, sandwiching me between them, and leaving the far backseat for April and Aunt Eunice. I gave thanks for a day of mild weather and hopefully very little perspiring. Neither Uncle Roy or Joe were small men. I sat with my elbows pressed into my sides and fumed. In that position, I couldn’t take pictures of the scenery.

  “Scrunch over!” I jabbed Joe.

  “There’s no room.” He shoved back.

  “Uncle Roy, sit in the back. There’s more space.” I crossed my arms. Finding that position no more comfortable, I exhaled and let my hands drop to my lap.

  “No, little girl, I’m fine right where I am.” He succeeded in crossing his arms, taking up more room, putting his elbow in close contact with my nose.

  Mercy! It was going to be a long vacation.

  Chapter Seven

  We drove by the cutest church. White weathered paneling on the outside. Bright red double doors, shadowed by two massive palm trees. Organ music drifted from the open door and windows. So engrossed was I in the sight and sound of worship in paradise, that we had passed before I opened my mouth to suggest we attend a service. We did have plans to walk through the gardens of a Buddhist temple, though, only because I’ve never been in one, and curiosity won out.

  Out the van window to my left, I made out the sails of a whaling ship. “Find a place to park.”

  “I will.” Ethan steered them into a gravel parking area. “I’m aware of your list of sights to see.”

  “I don’t want to go on the vessel, if we can’t sail,” I said, climbing out after Uncle Roy. “But I would love to get a couple of photos. I’m more interested in the art galleries.”

  Uncle Roy groaned, eliciting a glare from me. “What’s wrong? You don’t have to go. I’m sure you and Aunt Eunice have things you’d rather see.”

  He connected gazes with Joe, then turned to Ethan. “That all right with you? I think Eunice wants to hit up some Hawaii yard sales.”

  “Flea market,” Aunt Eunice corrected.

  “Joe?” Ethan raised his eyebrows.

  “We’ll go with you.” He sighed.

  April and I frowned at each other. I shrugged. There was no way of knowing what went through the minds of the men in my family. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. With Ethan on my right, April on my left and Joe next to her, we set off down the sidewalk squashed together like too many people on a bus.

  I expelled my breath with enough force to blow my bangs. “Joe, you and April walk behind us. This is ridiculous. One false step and Ethan is in the street.”

  “Well, I, uh…” He cocked his head in Ethan’s direction as if to ask ‘what now?’.

  Seriously? “You men are protecting me? You think that by having one of you on each side of me each second of the day will keep me safe?” Good grief. “I’m not going to let an idle threat, or a maniac speeding down a road, ruin my honeymoon.” I grabbed April’s hand. “Come on. The men can walk together.”

  “Summer.” Ethan took my other hand. “We care about you.”

  “I understand that.” Tears stung my eyes. “I have never, nor will I ever, allow some sick minded fool to dictate my life. I did not ask to solve this murder—”

  “Yet, you’re smack dab in the middle of it,” April said. “So, let’s solve it. All of us. There’s nothing from stopping us from sightseeing and having fun at the same time. Look!
” She pointed at an outdoor café. “There are some of the hotel’s guests, and it’s lunchtime anyway.”

  Susan Wood and David Hatcher sat cozy at a bistro-style table under a sun-shine yellow umbrella. Instead of sitting across from each other, they sat with shoulders touching and heads bent. At a different table sat the Wahine siblings, along with who I thought might be the maid, Malia. All of a sudden, I found myself very hungry. “I agree. Time to eat.”

  I led my entourage to the table between the others, smiled at everyone, then hid behind a laminated menu. Maybe, if they thought I was engrossed in ordering, someone might divulge some useful information.

  Ethan leaned close. “Maybe if we make out, they won’t think we’re listening.”

  Mercy! I grinned. “Not in public, dear husband.” One look from his stormy eyes always melted my insides. If I hadn’t been raised better, making out in public might have a certain wild allure to it.

  “It’s always worth a try.” He straightened. “You might as well order. I doubt you’ll be able to hear anything. Those two seem to be intent on whispering.” He nodded at Susan and David.

  With April and Joe laughing, the waiters taking orders, and seagulls squawking from the patio railing, there would definitely be no eavesdropping. When Susan grabbed her cell phone and disappeared inside the eatery, I had the sudden urge to find the restroom.

  Dropping my menu beside my rolled silverware, I trailed my hand along Ethan’s back and followed Susan. Experience had told me to play as dumb as I needed to in order to garner information. Looking for a restroom worked as well as any other excuse.

  Susan ducked into a small hallway under a sign reading ‘Women’, then through a door. I counted to three, then followed. Hallelujah, she was in one of the two stalls. I locked myself in the other one.

  “I told you I didn’t think that was the proper way to handle it.” Susan sighed over the rustle of paper. “There are better ways when you’re on an island. That type of behavior upsets David.”

  Better ways to do what? Kill someone? I clapped a hand over my mouth to stifle a gasp. Did she mean by shark? Drowning? Horror! Susan was right. An island surrounded by water hosted a million ways to murder someone. Who was she talking to?