"Tempting, but I think I'd prefer to handle her myself," I said, thinking of the reporter's credit card, which was still in my wallet. A little revenge retail therapy, maybe?
"Let me know if you change your mind," Jamie replied. "And for what it's worth, I'm really glad you took my advice about Noa." I could practically hear her grinning. "I told you I was a great wing woman."
"The best," I replied.
"What happened?" Noa asked when I ended the call.
I didn't answer, too focused on typing my own name into the Google search engine on my phone's web browser. It pulled up nearly two dozen different articles. My breath hitched in my throat as I scanned the search results. Football Star's Ex Finds New Love in Paradise; Resort Romance for Former Mrs. Colfax; Bryan Colfax's Ex-Wife on the Rebound with Hottie in Hawaii.
"Ugh." I slumped low in the seat and covered my face with my hands. "Don't they have anything better to report about?" I grumbled.
"Who is reporting about what?" Noa's brow furrowed. "Kaley, what's going on?"
I sighed, dropping my gaze to my lap. It was too soon to know what would happen between Noa and me. I didn't need the added stress of having the media try to define our relationship for us. "The press caught wind of our dinner at Starlight on the Lagoon," I said, my tone frustrated. "There are pictures all over the web." I opened a blog post by Felicity Chase on the Aloha Sun's website and surveyed the images. "It looks like Felicity camped out in the lagoon and shot pictures of us through the window." At the time, I'd been so thrilled to be seated next the gorgeous view, but now I regretted it.
"So what?" Noa shrugged, giving me a look that said it didn't bother him. "Why does it matter? Are you upset that you were photographed with me or that Bryan is going to find out about it?"
"I don't care what Bryan thinks," I said sourly. "We're not together anymore. Screw him and his precious image." I huffed. "I'm just angry that I can't have feelings for someone else without the celebrity gossip hounds taking to the internet to dish about it. I'm not even famous. I was only married to someone famous for a little while."
Noa grinned. "So you have feelings for me, huh?"
I blinked at him. I thought I'd made that pretty clear the night before. "That's all you got out of that?"
"That was enough for me." He took one hand off the wheel and reached over to grab mine. "It'll blow over soon anyway. By this time next week, we'll be yesterday's news." His mouth quirked. "Unless you want to do something crazy to keep 'em talking."
I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "Let's put a pin in that." There would be plenty of time to figure out what was going on between us after we found a way to get Rikki out of jail. For now, I was just glad he was there. I couldn't have made it through any of this without him.
"Where to?" Noa asked as we reached the Aloha Lagoon city limits. "Are you hungry? You should probably eat something before work." He patted his stomach. "And so should I. My lifeguard shift starts at two."
I glanced at the clock on the top right corner of my phone screen. I had an hour and a half until I needed to be at the boutique. Though I wasn't particularly hungry, he was right. "Sure."
Noa parallel parked the Jeep in an open space half a block away from the Blue Manu Coffee House. The little café was located directly across the road from the police station. I shot a furtive glance at the stucco building where my aunt was currently being held, and my hands clenched into fists. I'll get you out of there, Rikki, I silently promised. As soon as I can.
"Kaley!" called a voice that was becoming all too familiar. I turned around to find Felicity Chase hurrying toward us from about a block away. She waved. "Wait up."
This chick again? I scowled at her. I was starting to understand how Erin Malone felt about me showing up wherever she went. After her little paparazzi stunt, Felicity Chase was the last person I wanted to see. If we hadn't been across the road from the police station, I would have stabbed her with her own stiletto.
"Come on," I said, grabbing Noa by the arm and pulling him toward the café before the reporter could catch up to us. We stepped inside the coffee shop and were greeted with the lively sound of a busker performing for the patrons on his ukulele. Noa and I each ordered a cup of Kona brew. I also chose a macadamia biscotti, while he grabbed a banana and a poppy seed muffin. I paid for everything with Felicity Chase's credit card. As far as I was concerned, it served her right. If she was getting paid to post pictures of Noa and me on the web, then the least she could do was treat us to a coffee. She'd probably be able to expense the purchase to the newspaper anyway.
We grabbed a table near the back of the café. I sipped the hot beverage and studied the surfboards that lined the walls as I waited for Felicity to inevitably appear in the doorway. Sure enough, she blew into the coffeehouse just a few moments after we sat down, her chestnut hair whipping about her face. She removed her sunglasses and darted her head from side to side. The reporter spotted me and made a beeline for our table, her lips parting to show her perfect white teeth.
"Well if it isn't my new favorite couple," she said, looking from Noa to me. "I called after you just a minute ago on the sidewalk. You must not have heard me."
"I did hear you," I said sourly. "I just didn't want to talk to you. I still don't."
Felicity ignored my anger. Her lips curved in a predatory smile. "Can I get a quote from you about your aunt's arrest in the hit-and-run assault of Luka Hale?" she asked, perching in the empty chair next to Noa.
"Sure. Here's your quote." I leaned across the table, glaring down my nose at her. "No freaking comment." I might have said a different, less polite word than "freaking."
"Okay. That's fair." Felicity leaned back in her seat and then raised her eyebrows, fixing me with a quizzical look. "Have you at least given some thought to my offer from yesterday?"
"Actually, I have a different offer for you," I replied through clenched teeth. "Get rid of those photos that you took of Noa and me, and maybe I'll give you back your credit card." My mouth twitched. "By the way, thanks for the coffee." I dipped the biscotti in my drink and then took a bite.
Felicity flinched but recovered quickly. "You're welcome," she said sweetly, waving her hand. "What's a few bucks in exchange for the story of my career?"
I smirked. "More than a few, actually. You just bought breakfast for everyone in this café."
Her face turned as white as the napkins on the table. I was lying, but it was still fun to watch her squirm for a few moments. She totally deserved it. "I'm kidding," I said finally.
Felicity's cheeks flushed. "I knew that," she muttered. She blew out a breath. "If you won't give me a quote defending Rikki, then I'll just have to print what I know so far." Her eyes slanted, and that same sharklike smile returned. "Which is that a witness places your aunt behind the wheel of her scooter last night, running over one of her own employees." She shook her head and made a clucking noise with her tongue. "And to think, she attacked the poor boy in front of his own mother. That is straight-up evil."
I stared at her, willing myself not to reach across the table and slap the snide grin off her face. She wanted me to fly off the handle, but I wasn't going to take the bait.
Noa's shoulders stiffened. He turned in his chair to loom over her, his own expression tight with anger. "You should go," he said gruffly. "And leave Kaley alone."
Felicity cleared her throat and pushed her chair back from the table. "All right. Fine. Don't cooperate." She scowled at me. "By the way, you'll be lucky if I don't decide to write an article about your aunt's sham of a clothing shop. I want my money back for the dress I bought yesterday."
I frowned. The remark had caught me off guard. "What? Why?"
The reporter wrinkled her nose. "When I put it on this morning, the sleeve ripped."
I bit back the urge to make a comment about her fat arms. "Are you sure?" I asked instead. I found it hard to believe that a high-quality garment from the boutique could tear so easily.
Felicity huffed, blowing several st
rands of her chestnut hair out of place. "Of course I'm sure," she said coolly. She held out her hand. "I'd like my credit card back now, please."
I handed it to her, and she stowed it in her wallet.
"I'll be seeing you," she said, her tone making it sound like a threat.
Noa shook his head as he watched Felicity stalk out of the coffeehouse. "That woman is…" He let his voice trail off as if he were searching for the right word.
"Incorrigible," I said dryly. I drew my lips down, frowning. "She's off her rocker if she thinks that Rikki's boutique is a sham. Happy Hula has been open at the resort for years. The Aloha Sun even named it Aloha Lagoon's Best Place to Shop two years in a row."
Noa reached across the table and patted my hand. "She was just trying to get a rise out of you."
"Yeah. You're right." I finished my coffee and then rose from my seat. "I should probably go into the boutique a little early." Happy Hula would likely be busy thanks to the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. "Would you mind giving me a ride to the resort?"
"No problem." Noa stood and followed me back to his Jeep. A few minutes later, he pulled into the little circle in front of the main lobby, where the airport shuttles dropped off guests for check-in. "I've got a few hours until my lifeguarding shift starts, so I think I'm going to go home and start on a site for one of my new clients." A yawn cracked his mouth wide open. "Or maybe I'll take a nap." Noa leaned across the front seat and cupped my face in his hand. "Everything's going to be fine, Kales," he said softly. "Let me know as soon as they set bail for Rikki. We'll get her out of there."
"Thanks," I said, grateful for his comfort. I closed the gap between us and gave Noa a gentle kiss on the lips. "I'll call you," I promised before sliding out of the passenger seat. I crossed through the lobby and into the courtyard, feeling weighed down with worry. I hoped that Noa was right and that Aunt Rikki would be released, but I wasn't feeling very optimistic. Now that they were holding her for Luka's attack, it was probably only a matter of hours before they formally charged her with Louana's murder too.
The lunch rush hadn't begun yet when I arrived at Happy Hula. Four or five resort guests milled about the store. Sara stood behind the counter, chatting amiably with one woman as she rang up her dress and shoes. Across the sales floor, Rose was crouched low, restocking the bottom of a display shelf with several pairs of sandals.
Sara handed the customer her receipt and shopping bag. She waved when she spotted me. "Hi, Kaley." Her eyes pinched with concern when I came to stand next to her. "Is Rikki okay? Harmony said you had a family emergency this morning."
I studied her for a moment. If she knew about what had happened to Luka, her face didn't show it. The word would spread eventually, but I wasn't ready to talk about it yet—especially not while Rikki was still the prime suspect. "Everything's fine," I lied. "You should probably take your lunch break as soon as Tonya gets here to cover the register. I'm sure business will pick up this afternoon once Rose and I finish hanging all the Fourth of July sale signs."
"Sure thing." Sara smiled at me, but I could still see the sympathy behind her eyes.
"Where's Harmony?" I asked, glancing around the store.
Sara shrugged. "In the office, I think." She made a face. "When I went back there earlier, she had her feet propped up on the desk like she owned the place—and she was watching funny cat videos on her phone."
I furrowed my brow. My aunt wasn't paying her to watch funny cat videos. I thought Rikki said Harmony was one of her best employees. "I'll go see what she's up to," I said, turning to walk toward the rear of the shop.
Harmony wasn't in the Rikki's office. I found her in the stockroom, crouching on the floor as she sorted through a pile of garment bags. "What are you doing?" I asked, scowling down at her.
Evidently, she hadn't heard me walk up. Harmony made a startled little squeal and teetered on her heels, nearly falling backward. She recovered quickly and straightened, glaring at me. "Don't sneak up on me like that," she practically hissed.
I couldn't help but smirk. "Sorry," I said insincerely. My gaze shifted down to the black garment bags. They appeared to be stuffed full of clothes. "What are you doing?"
Harmony stepped in front of the bags, blocking them from my sight. "Nothing," she said quickly. She shook her head as if to chase away the twin spots of color forming high on her cheeks. "It's none of your business," she added haughtily. Harmony stooped to pick up the bags and slung them over her shoulder. "Now that you're here, I'm taking my lunch break," she said, walking briskly toward the door. "I'll be back."
I stared after her as she exited the stockroom, puzzling over our odd exchange. I had the impression that Harmony hadn't wanted anyone to see what she'd been doing with those garment bags.
You've got bigger things to worry about, I reminded myself. I turned and headed toward Rikki's office, my thoughts on Erin Malone. I wondered where she was right at that minute. Was it possible that she'd fled the island after attacking Luka? What if she was still somewhere on the island, waiting to make sure my aunt took the fall for her crimes? She could even be at the resort, going about her housekeeping duties as if nothing were wrong. I need proof that she's guilty. While I was more convinced than ever that Erin was behind Louana Watson's murder, I still didn't have hard evidence.
I stepped inside Rikki's office, leaving the door open a crack so that I could hear if Sara or Rose called for manager assistance from up front. I slouched in the desk chair, feeling frustrated. I needed something to take my mind off Erin, Luka, and my poor aunt's predicament. Since shopping is my favorite distraction, I decided to peruse catalogs for more inventory.
Opening Rikki's laptop, I discovered that it hadn't been shut down properly the day before. The screen blinked to life, displaying the web browser I'd been viewing at the end of my shift. I recognized the vendor site that I'd found on the list in Louana's computer file. I glanced at the little hibiscus flower logo with swirly lettering at the top of the website and smiled. "The Island Fashionista Online Boutique," I read aloud. "Cute."
Scrolling down the page, I clicked on the link to the boutique's full catalog. Images of dresses, capris, blouses, and more filled the screen. My gaze moved over a familiar blue ombré tankini. It was from Kate Spade's new beachwear collection. Just like the bikini I'd spied on the site the previous day, we also had that piece in stock at Happy Hula. Louana must have done a lot of ordering from this place, I thought, skimming through the page. I felt a frown tug at my lips when I spotted a purple and white Zac Posen maxi dress. I had placed the order for that dress myself earlier this week, though it had come from a different vendor. It had arrived yesterday.
Could just be coincidence, I told myself, but I couldn't shake the odd sensation that filled my gut. Something about this site felt fishy. One by one, I clicked on each item in the catalog, and every time, I recognized the garments as part of Happy Hula's inventory.
The very last item in the Island Fashionista catalog sent me jumping out of my chair. It was the floral Sage McKinnon blouse—the one that Rikki's local designer friend had created exclusively for the Happy Hula Dress Boutique. "This doesn't make any sense," I said out loud. I bent over the desk and tapped the laptop screen. Why would Sage McKinnon have claimed to sell Rikki an exclusive piece if she planned to supply this shop with the same blouse? Had the designer lied…or had someone stolen the blouses from Happy Hula and listed them for sale on this site?
It was that last thought that sparked through my mind, illuminating several memories. I pictured Harmony crouched on the stockroom floor with the pile of full garment bags. I'd also seen her stuffing some into the trunk of her car on Tuesday night. And didn't Noa tell me he recently built a website for Harmony? I was pretty sure he'd even said it was for selling clothing online. Noa didn't know our product inventory like I did, so it was entirely possible that he wouldn't have even noticed that the clothes were the same as the pieces in our shop. Was Harmony stealing from Happy Hula to supply h
er own store?
Another thought struck me, setting my pulse to a gallop. Louana had highlighted the Island Fashionista Online Boutique on her vendor list. Was it possible that she had also recognized our inventory on the site and had caught on to Harmony's scheme? My blood chilled. Had I been looking at the wrong people all this time? Could Harmony have murdered Lou?
Heart racing, I pulled out my cell and dialed Noa's number, groaning in frustration when the call went to voicemail. "Noa, it's Kaley," I blurted. "Call me back as soon as you get this. I want to talk to you about the website for a clothing store called the Island Fashionista Online Boutique." I paused, feeling the excitement mount in my chest. "I think I know who Louana's real killer is."
The office door creaked as I hung up the phone, causing me to jump. I cast a furtive glance across the room. Had it been my imagination, or had someone been listening on the other side? Relax, I thought, closing my eyes. I'd worked myself up over this new theory about Harmony, and now I was jumpy. I took a few calming breaths and then sat back down in the chair. I watched my cell phone for several minutes, waiting for Noa to call. When I didn't hear from him, I got impatient and sent him a text: I think Harmony has been stealing from Happy Hula to supply her online shop. Louana found out, and I think Harm might have killed her.
Felicity Chase's words from that morning echoed in my memory as I slipped the phone back into the pocket of my dress. She'd called Rikki's shop a sham after her brand-new dress had ripped. I thought back to the button that had popped off the brand-new blouse I'd picked up in the stockroom on my first full day as manager. I was past the point of believing in coincidences. Rising from the desk chair, I marched out of the office and into the stockroom. A rack of orange Donna Karen wrap dresses were hanging along the far wall. It looked like either Rose or Luka had already priced the garments and prepped them to be rolled out onto the sales floor.
On a hunch, I plucked one of the dresses off its hanger and held it up for a closer inspection. To the average shopper, the dress might appear to be made of silk, as the tag claimed, but I'd worked in fashion retail long enough to recognize that it was really a synthetic replacement. I rubbed the fabric between my fingers. Had Felicity been right? Was Happy Hula passing off cheap knockoffs as real designer pieces? It certainly seemed that way.
Aloha Lagoon Mysteries Boxed Set Volume III (Books 7-9) Page 37