4 Maui Macadamia Madness

by Cynthia Hickey

  The tub.

  I forgot my squeamishness and stared through the gloom into the white porcelain coffin shaped tub.

  Both Mr. Jamison and Mrs. Aldrich had died in their bathtubs.

  Chapter Eleven

  I would not take a bath while on Maui.

  “Summer, let me in.” Ethan’s loud whisper drifted through the open window.

  I padded out of the bathroom and into the bedroom where I shoved up the window. “Sorry. I was transfixed by the tub. Are you aware both deaths occurred while taking a bath? I’m so glad I’m a shower person, because no one is going to convince me to take a bath on this island.”

  “I love you, you silly goose. I never know what you’re going to say.” He pulled me back into the bathroom. “Now, what?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What do we do next? You’re the expert.”

  Usually I stumbled across evidence by accident. I considered it a strange gift from God. I chewed my pinkie nail. “Look for anything out of the ordinary.” I turned in a slow circle and kept my eyes open.

  The bed lay unmade. A rumpled towel lay on the bathroom floor. A popular brand of men’s shower gel and deodorant sat on the lip of the tub. Discarded clothes were on the floor by the sink.

  A box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts sat on the bedroom dresser. I dashed into the bathroom and glanced at the empty counter. Next to the tub, someone had pulled up a vanity stool. To set a different gift box of nuts on, perhaps? And the outlet sported a lovely red button to prevent electrocution when dropped in the water. I started to think Office Manano had lied to us about Mrs. Aldrich’s death. Wasn’t it building code to have outlets updated?

  Manano definitely fed us false information to try and determine how much we really knew about these two deaths.

  “Ethan?”

  “Yeah.” His voice came from the closet.

  “Did we get more than one box of nuts?”

  He appeared in the doorway. “What?”

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dresser. “I’m no genius, but I’m pretty sure the police would have taken the poisoned nuts. Why does Mr. Jamison have more than one complimentary box?”

  “Maybe he bought one.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think so.” I propped on the edge of the bed. The box was stamped with the Wahine Bed and Breakfast logo. The hotel didn’t have a gift shop, so purchasing the box didn’t sound feasible to me. “The police obviously took the box that contained the nuts that killed him.” It seemed strange to me that they would leave this one here, untested, but I’d seen stranger things. “We need to talk to the maid.”

  “In a minute.” Ethan pulled a folded sheet of paper from the closet. “I found this in an inner pocket of a suit. It’s an email about building a resort in Kihei, and it isn’t a very nice one.”

  “Here? Where the B & B is?”

  “Maybe.” Ethan sat beside me. “That could give us a possible motive.”

  I skimmed the printed message. “It reads more like a hate letter. Mr. Jamison seems to have stiffed someone in regards to the proposed resort. We need to find out who.”

  “Then we have our killer.” Ethan took the paper from me.

  “That’s what I’m hoping.” I still had no idea why someone wanted to kill me, though. It couldn’t be because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That made absolutely no sense.

  “I’m going to show this to Joe.” He slipped the letter into the back pocket of his jeans.

  I grinned. “I’ve corrupted you. You’re tampering with possible evidence.”

  “Only to keep my girl safe.” He pulled me to my feet and into his arms. “Let’s get some sleep. We can try the maid in the morning.”

  ###

  I rolled over and pounded my pillow for the umpteenth time. The thought that the attempts on me weren’t because of Jamison’s murder, or even Mrs. Aldrich’s, wouldn’t leave me.

  My first attempt at crime solving had been an accident. Diamonds buried under my prize rosebush. The second, a family affair because of the first. The third mystery turned out to be a love triangle slash computer scam and had nothing to do with the previous two. How did the two current deaths relate to me? Did they? Were they tied in to my prior crime solving, or complete coincidence?

  I stopped tossing and stared at Ethan. I lightly traced his lips with my finger and then ran my hand over the stubble on his cheek. Although having him along while I tried solving a mystery and keeping myself alive, I worried. What if I caused him to be hurt? Or worse? I would jump off the volcano if that happened. A fiery lava death would be too easy for me.

  “That tickles.” Ethan smiled and opened his eyes. “Can’t sleep?”

  I shook my head.

  “Wanna talk about it?” He leaned on his elbow, his dark gaze searching my face.

  “Our honeymoon’s been ruined!” A sob threatened to choke off my words. “That’s a selfish thought, isn’t it?” I wiped my eyes on the sheet, leaving a trace of mascara behind. “But I can’t help it. Every time we leave this room, someone tries to kill me. What if they hurt you in the process?”

  “We could just stay in the cottage.” He winked. “We’re safe here.”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “I’m sorry.” He pulled me close for a kiss. “The honeymoon isn’t ruined, just more exciting. We’ll still see the sights we wanted, but in a group. And, we’ll solve this thing before we go home.”

  “How can you be so certain?” I sniffed.

  “I just am.” He pulled me close. “I’ve got something that will help you sleep.”

  Yes, I knew he did. I closed my eyes and pressed closer.

  ###

  Someone pounded on the door.

  I jerked to a sitting position and squinted against the sun squeezing through the slats in the blinds. One glance at the clock told me I’d slept in, as had Ethan. Something I rarely did. I stretched, remembering our time of lovemaking, then shook Ethan awake. “Someone’s at the door.”

  He groaned. “If that’s your family, call the police, because I’m going to kill them.” In one fluid motion, he wrapped the sheet around him and climbed from bed. “I ought to go out there stark naked and show them what they interrupt when they knock on the door of honeymooners.”

  My face flamed. “We were sleeping.”

  “We could have been doing something else.”

  I burrowed deeper in the pillows. I did love my grouchy morning bear, and agreed with him that if it was my family pounding on the door, they needed to learn boundaries. Wait. What if it wasn’t them?

  “Ethan? What if it isn’t Aunt Eunice or Uncle Roy? What if it’s the killer?”

  He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Hide in the bathroom.” He wrapped his fist around the lamp and yanked it from the wall. “If you hear a ruckus, call the police.”

  Taking the blankets with me, I scuttled to the bathroom and slammed the door. I hated hiding like a frightened child. The tiny room had nothing I could use as a weapon. Mine or Ethan’s razor would be of little help. I supposed I could brandish the toilet brush and throw an attacker off guard.

  “Summer, it’s your family.” Ethan’s disgruntled voice came through the door. “Get dressed.”

  Heavens! Their timing wasn’t the best, but still wonderful considering. Although, I suppose most killers wouldn’t bother to knock.

  When I walked into the small living room, all heads turned in my direction. Ethan raised his eyebrows and shrugged as if to tell me there wasn’t much he could do to keep everyone out. Joe’s face resembled a tomato.

  “What did I do now?” I headed for the tiny kitchen for a glass of water.

  “You and Ethan were seen going into Jamison’s cottage.” Joe crossed his arms. “You put my friend up to this, didn’t you?”

  “Wait a minute—” Ethan stood.

  Joe held up a hand. “It’s okay, buddy. I know my cousin, and she can be quite enticing when she wants to
be.”

  I cocked my head and decided not to respond to his outrageous accusations. Instead, I guzzled my drink like I didn’t have a care in the world and silently rejoiced at April’s warning look toward Joe.

  “Who saw us?” Ethan frowned.

  “I did.”

  “Well, if it was you, what’s the big deal?” Ethan plopped back to the sofa.

  “The deal, sweetheart…” I took my time moseying my way over to the group. “Is that my cousin likes to be dramatic. He spends his time being nosey and is stung by the fact that we actually gained entrance. Obviously he tried and didn’t. Isn’t that right, Joe?”

  His face darkened to the point I thought he might have a stroke.

  “He’s too big to fit through the window and wouldn’t think about asking April to help.” I patted his shoulder on my way to balance on the arm of the sofa next to Ethan. “Well?”

  “You’re right. Partially. I chose not to break and enter when I discovered the front door locked.” He pouted. “How do you get away with that type of behavior?”

  “Lucky, I guess.” I tossed him a grin. “Besides, I now have Ethan’s help.”

  Joe sighed. “Did you find anything?”

  “Just the curious fact that apparently Mr. Jamison had two boxes of nuts in his room. One is still sitting on the dresser.” I sat my glass on the coffee table with a flourish, enjoying the fact of having ‘got one up’ on Joe. Neither one of us really knows when things got so competitive between us and while I know Joe would die for me and me the same for him, life wouldn’t be the same if we weren’t trying to outdo each other. “And a really mean email from someone called antiresortbuilder who seems to have a grudge against the late Mr. Jamison.”

  “Y’all did good.” Joe rubbed his chin. “Now, we need to decide the next step. You also need to lay low. The last thing you want is to be arrested.”

  It wouldn’t be the first time. “We thought I’d try getting information out of the maid.”

  “How do you plan on doing that?” Uncle Roy snagged a banana from the fruit basket. “You need to be subtle. You can’t just prance up to the girl and say, ‘Hey, heard you found the body.’”

  “I know that. Besides, Camilla found the body, but maids often know everything that goes on in a place.” I twirled my hair “We’re suddenly going to be low on towels.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Do you know who the maid is?” Joe asked.

  “A young, pretty Hawaiian girl in a muumuu.” I grabbed my purse.

  “They both are young and pretty and wear muumuus.”

  “Two maids?” I’d only seen one on the night they found Jamison. “Do you have names?”

  “They’re sisters. Malia and Micah, I think. Twins. Also, depending on the number of guests, sometimes Camilla helps the maids out.” Joe reached for an apple. “Are we going to breakfast? They stop serving in thirty minutes, and I’m starving.”

  “In a minute. Why would the cops lie about the cause of Mrs. Aldrich’s death?” I kept my gaze focused on Joe. No way was I allowing him to give me a mundane answer.

  He sighed. “To keep certain pertinent information out of the press.” He crossed his arms. “If only the killer knows the truth, the authorities can weed out the thrill seekers and story tellers.”

  “Did you know from the beginning they were lying?”

  “Yes.” He looked at me as if I were stupid. “Nobody dies from a hair dryer in the bath, unless the house is not up to code.” He chomped his apple.

  Apparently ‘everyone’ was smarter than me. I grabbed my purse from the counter. “If I’m not back in an hour, call the police.”

  “Slow down, hot shot.” Ethan laid a hand on my arm. “We’re going to breakfast. Then, you and I will get up and search for the maid.”

  I shook my head. “I think April and I should excuse ourselves to go to the restroom. The girl is more likely to talk to women than men.”

  “I agree.” April spoke up. “And since I gave Summer her tazer, then…”

  “You did what?” A vein throbbed in Ethan’s temple.

  April returned his glare. “I brought her tazer. A girl needs to be able to defend herself.”

  “See, Ethan?” I figured I ought to step in before he really blew up at his sister. “April and I will be just fine. We’ll take our cell phones, you’ll be waiting in the dining room, and if anything happens, which it won’t…” I widened my eyes. “You’ll be right there to save us.” I flashed a grin.

  “If Manano sees you snooping,” Joe stood. “And something else happens, you’ll only reaffirm his opinion that you are somehow involved in these murders.”

  “Don’t say that about your cousin!” Aunt Eunice slapped him on the arm. “Summer wouldn’t hurt a fly and you know it. I’ve half a mind to help her myself.”

  Uncle Roy slipped an arm around her ample waist. “Not on our second honeymoon, sweetheart. No risk taking.”

  “But it’s all right for our baby?” She glared.

  “We’re here, aren’t we?” He waggled his eyebrows. “If it makes you feel better, we’ll ask some questions at breakfast and supper. Can we eat now?”

  Ethan glanced at his watch. “We’d better hurry if we want served.”

  We hurried outside and to the dining room. April and I exchanged nervous smiles. Although she was always willing to help me in my mystery-solving, I could tell she suffered from a bit of trepidation. I did tend to land us in tight spots.

  I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I won’t do anything foolhardy. I promise.”

  “Good.” She squeezed back then slipped her arm through Joe’s.

  It still amazed me how someone so sweet could love my bullheaded cousin, but everyone deserved love, I supposed. Even Joe.

  We all took our seats toward the end of the long wooden table. I did my best not to fidget and to wait until I had at least eaten half of my pancakes with mango salsa. I didn’t want to appear too eager, nor did I want to miss speaking with the maids while the other guests were occupied.

  I motioned to April. “I’m going to the ladies room. Would you like to go with me?”

  “What? Are we in Junior High?” Aunt Eunice rolled her eyes. “You can’t go to the bathroom alone?”

  I gave her a look trying to tell her to be quiet. Had she forgotten so soon that we had a plan? Shaking my head, I led April into the foyer. “Do you think the maids are in the main building or one of the cottages?”

  “Let’s take a walk. My guess is a cottage. Most likely they take the opportunity of meal time to clean undisturbed.”

  With our arms linked, we strolled down the flagstone walk and kept our eyes open for the maid’s cart. Wonderful! It sat outside the cottage my family shared.

  “We can go in with the excuse of you looking for something.” I tugged April with me. Please, God, let it be the maid who found Mr. Jamison.

  The maid tucked fresh sheet corners under the mattress. She turned with a smile. Thankfully, she was the one I had seen the night of the murder. “I’ll be finished in just a moment.”

  “That’s okay. We’re just,” I grabbed April’s camera off the dresser. “Grabbing this.”

  How could I approach the subject of Mr. Jamison?

  She raised her eyebrows. “May I be of service?”

  “Well, I, uh.” I took a deep breath. “You’re Malia, the one who found the man in his bathtub, right?”

  “Yes.” Her shoulders slumped. “I do not wish to talk about it.”

  “Please. Just a couple of questions.” I motioned for her to sit.

  Eyes filling, she nodded and perched on the edge of the bed. “It was the most awful thing I’d ever experienced. He was foaming at the mouth, his lips were blue, eyes bulging…” She shuddered. “The night it happened, Mr. Wahine told us all to act as normal as possible so as to set the guests at ease. It was so hard to smile.”

  For someone who didn’t want to talk, she seemed to have warmed up just fine. I for
ced my stomach not to rebel.

  April clutched her stomach and plopped on the bed beside Malia. “No more description, please.”

  “Did you notice another box of nuts on the dresser?”

  Malia raised a confused face. “Pardon?”

  “Other than the box of nuts spilled beside Mr. Jamison’s tub, did you see another one?”

  “All I saw was the box on the dresser and it was unopened. What are you saying? That there were two complimentary boxes?” She stood and paced. “That’s impossible. Those gifts are only accessible by employees of the Wahine’s.” She withdrew a key from a hidden pocket in her floral uniform. “I must do an inventory right away.”

  I motioned to April to follow. We’d hit pay dirt! If Malia found an extra box had been used, we would know Mr. Jamison died at the hands of an employee. I couldn’t help but grin. This case could be solved within the hour.

  “I’m going to text Ethan and let him know what we’re doing.” April pressed buttons on her cell phone. “Otherwise, he might think he needs to rescue us.”

  “Good thinking.” I increased my pace to match the furious one of Malia. Once she thought there might be a thief on the grounds, she sure had gotten over her despair at finding a dead body mighty quick.

  She led us through a back door to the kitchen then into a pantry the size of my bedroom back home. I glanced at the full shelves with envy. The island of Maui could be self-sufficient from the amount of food stored there.

  Stopping in front of a towering shelf of little white and gold boxes, Malia consulted a clipboard then started counting. She chewed her lip, and then counted again.

  “Yes,” she said. “There is a box missing.”

  Triumph! Thank God for meticulous inventory.

  “This is unacceptable.” Malia shook her head. “I need to report this right away.”

  “We’ll come with you.”

  She stared at me. “Why?”

  “Because we alerted you to the fact there might be one missing.” I gave her my most innocent look. “This could be invaluable in the authorities solving the murder.”