“We did a pretty good job of hunting down a mass murderer.”
“I don’t want to be that close to another murderer for as long as I live.”
“Speaking of evil, look at Marlene, sitting over there all smug, holding court.” Kiki nodded at a table across the room where Marlene Lockhart sipped green iced tea and waited for Louie to take a break. “She thinks she’s so enlightened after her big trip to Maui to commune with kumu.”
“You were wrong about her, Kiki. Admit it.”
Kiki sniffed. “Time will tell. Mark my words that woman is up to something. Can you believe she actually asked me if she could dance a solo tonight?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“No way. She defected, Em. There are some things you just don’t ever forgive or forget.” Kiki huffed off to gather the troops.
Em made a mental note to have a little sit down with Kiki tomorrow after she cooled off. As long as Louie enjoyed Marlene’s company, Kiki was going to have to back off and give the woman some space.
A minute or two later, with Kiki in the lead, the Maidens sashayed out of the bathroom in single file. Danny struck up a tune and the school of great silver lamé sharks took the stage.
Em finally got to the bar.
Sophie shook her head and sighed. “No wonder Kiki wouldn’t let me see those outfits ahead of time. She said she wanted to surprise me. Now I know why.” Her expression was less than enthusiastic about the costumes. “How about those fins?”
“Exactly. Fins.”
“This is probably a new low for hula.”
“But a new high for tacky.”
“Louie says Tiki Bars are never too tacky.”
“Right. But wait until you hear this,” Em said. “Kiki thinks Louie should open a detective agency.”
“Please. Tell me you’re kidding.”
“I told her no way. This Nancy Drew has retired for good.”
“Speaking of detectives, have you heard from Sharpe lately?”
Em shook her head. “Not since the trial.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off of Roland during Leilani’s trial. If he cared at all that his former high school flame was up for double homicide and kidnapping, he never once let it show. Leilani had remained as unemotional as a block of frozen fish sticks. No so her husband. The now infamous Judge Warren Cabral had come unglued during the proceedings. The last anyone had seen of him, he’d been heavily sedated and was led shuffling and mumbling out of the courtroom.
“I thought Roland would have stopped by to see you before now.” Sophie started mopping down the bar with a wet towel. Now that the Maidens were all on stage and the audience had been shocked into silence there was a lull in drink orders.
Em didn’t tell Sophie, but she was surprisingly disappointed that Roland hadn’t stopped by. She started to think that maybe he was interested in her as more than just the victim in a kidnapping case, but so far, he hadn’t even called.
No big surprise. She had pretty much decided she was totally off the mark when it came to reading men. Maybe Roland wasn’t interested, but at least her attraction to him signaled all her systems were still go after Phillip. Someday she just might find somebody to start the engines again.
Sophie leaned closer so that Em could hear her over the music.
“So are you planning to stay here now that things have settled down? Or will you go back to California?”
Em looked around the bar but didn’t see Louie. Most days he seemed perfectly normal and capable of taking care of things on his own. Then there were times when he acted as if he was High Commander of the Space Cadets. Which, given the company he kept, was perfectly understandable.
She studied the jubilant crowd. Glasses filled with high dollar green drinks she’d inspired lined tabletops covered with tropical fabric she’d chosen. The Maidens were dancing—or rather, trying. The regulars were happy. She had made a little headway here after all. Slowly but surely. On Kauai time.
Business was booming thanks to all the press since the murders, her repeat kidnappings and the trial. CNN did a feature on the Goddess and one morning Em saw John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted in the parking lot shooting a piece about all the unsolved murders of Kauai.
It was hard to imagine missing anything.
“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon,” she told Sophie.
“Okay, then I can put up with the Hula Maidens and their occasional shark frenzy as long as I have you for back up.” Sophie was filling yet another hurricane glass with ice when she looked toward the front door and suddenly paused.
“Sweet. Check that out.” Sophie said.
Em followed her gaze and saw a well-built six footer in madras shorts and a yellow Polo shirt. He had dark blond hair and no nonsense tortoise shell glasses that didn’t detract from his good looks. He appeared to be in his late thirties and at the moment, he was following Uncle Louie across the room toward the bar.
“That must be the new neighbor,” Em said.
“I hope he hasn’t hung any curtains yet.”
As soon as they reached the bar, Louie slapped the newcomer on the back a couple of times and said, “See, I told you she was a dish. Em, this is Nate Clark. Nate, this is my niece, Emily Johnson.”
Then Louie introduced Sophie and said, “Nate’s all moved into Harold’s place so I invited him over to join the fun. Fix him up with a drink on the house, girls, while I go nuzzle up to Marlene.”
Though he was in great shape, Nate Clark had the look of a guy who spent a good deal of time indoors. Sophie handed Em a drink that she’d just poured and went to take orders at the far end of the bar. Em had been rendered mute and could only stare.
“You uncle filled me in on what happened to you,” Nate said.
Em handed over the Jungle Juice. Nate held it at arm’s length and studied the glass before he took a tentative sip and then set the glass on the bar without comment.
“Uncle Louie is good at imparting too much information,” she finally said.
“Everyone I’ve met here so far seems to have a real gift of gab.”
“Me, not so much.”
“Myself, I like to people watch. Everyone is a potential character.”
“If characters are what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place. I heard that you write.” Em hoped he could hear her over the music.
“I’m a staff writer for CDP Hawaii.”
“CDP Hawaii?”
“Yeah. The new series Crime Doesn’t Pay. It’s filmed on Oahu. It’s a spin-off of CDP Miami.”
The music suddenly grew louder and Em had to lean across the bar to shout in his ear.
“That’s one of David Letterman’s favorite shows. He likes the Little Person who plays a cop.”
“Letterman likes the show?” Nate smiled, genuinely pleased. “Casting that guy was my idea.”
Em hated to burst his bubble. “Letterman the parrot. Not Letterman of the Late Show.”
“The parrot?”
“Yes. He’s Louie’s taste tester. I’m sure you’ll meet him sooner or later.”
Nate took another sip of his drink but just enough to be polite. He leaned on the bar.
“It really has been nice to meet you, but I was in the middle of working on a scene when Louie came over to get me. I told him I couldn’t stay.”
“No problem. I know how persuasive Louie can be.” There was still a lull in orders so she started mopping up the bar with a dishrag.
“Really,” Nate said. “I’ll be back when it’s quieter. I’m just not into crowds. I’d love to hear all about your experience—the kidnapping and all—if it’s not too painful for you.”
When he smiled, she couldn’t help but smile back.
“Not at all. Stop by anytime. I’ll introduce you to the feathered David Letterman.” Em found herself staring at his even white teeth. They would do a newscaster proud.
She watched Nate leave and found herself thinking, so what if Roland nev
er stops by again? Somehow the thought didn’t cheer her though.
On stage, Danny announced the Maidens would take a two minute break because Lillian had lost her fin during one of their more complicated turns. Kiki refused to let them continue until it was found.
Uncle Louie came drifting back with a twinkle in his eye. The man liked nothing better than a party. He glanced at his watch and said, “Pour me a gin and tonic, kid.”
“No Jungle Juice?” Em laughed.
“I’m not into green. Just thirsty.” He took the tumbler she handed him. Thanked her and then smiled. “Would you mind running over to the house for me? I need my hat.”
Years ago his precious Irene told him his Panama hat made him look sexy. It had become his trademark, but he usually didn’t wear it at night.
“You need your hat? Right now?”
“I feel like singing The Tiki Goddess song wearing my hat and I’d like you to go get it for me. Please, Em?”
She started to send Sophie, but any excuse to escape the heat and the din was too good to pass up.
“Okay. I’ll be right back,” she promised.
“Mahalo, Em. And don’t hurry. If you can’t find it, no big deal.” He winked before she walked away.
She skirted the bathroom door where the Maidens were assembled. Lil was drying her eyes, her fin once more anchored to her head. Suzi and Big Estelle were stapling Flora’s side seams together. No one noticed when Em slipped through the office and out the back door.
Outside, the music sounded nearly as loud as inside. The thump of the bass and the drum reverberated on the night air and matched the rhythm of the surf. When she reached the house, Em realized the drumming wasn’t coming from the Goddess at all, but from the beach in front of Louie’s house. She paused at the foot of the lanai steps just before a ball of flame burst to life a few feet away from her. It was instantly followed by another.
The drums beat faster and the twin circles of fire began to rotate in perfect time. It was a moonless night and the bright orange glow of the flaming fire knives reflected off the bronze skinned man wielding them.
She glanced around, looking for Roland’s drummers but all she saw was a boom box resting on a wide tree stump. Recorded Tahitian drumbeats matched the tempo of the whirling fire knives.
Now she knew why Uncle Louie winked and told her not to hurry back—she’d been set up. Louie sent her out knowing she’d find Detective Sharpe alone on the beach waiting to dance just for her.
The soft trades caressed her skin as Em walked barefoot across the sand drawn toward the twirling flames. More than ready to enjoy her own private show she stared at Detective Roland Sharpe. He was oiled up, wearing nothing but a skimpy malo wrapped around his loins.
He might be a man of few words, but right now, Em thought he definitely didn’t need to say a thing.
(Continue reading for drink recipes and information about Jill)
Tropical Libations from Uncle Louie’s Booze Bible
Great Balls of Fire
Dedicated to the memory of Harold Otanami, aka The Smoke Monster, who ended up face down in the luau pit. Hot and smooth, one sip will forever immortalize this long time neighbor of The Tiki Goddess Bar and call to mind those tropic nights when Harold sang his favorite Karaoke number, “Feel Like A Woman.”
1 oz. Light Rum
½ oz. Dark Rum
¼ oz. Triple Sec
Dash of ginger
2 Drops Tabasco
Shake all together with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Preferably a clean one.
Huli Huli Boolie
Huli means to turn. This one will keep your head spinning. Uncle Louie really gets the tourists rockin’ with this one.
1 oz. Rum
1 oz. Vodka
½ oz. Bourbon
2 oz. Sweet and Sour
3 oz. Passion Fruit or ½ papaya
Blend all with ice. Pour into a tall glass, garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry.
Tiger Shark Attack
Uncle Louie commemorated his near miss off of Princeville when a six-foot tiger shark took a hunk out of his surfboard—now on display above the front door of The Tiki Goddess Bar.
¾ C. Spicy Hot V8 Juice
1 oz. Vodka
1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
2 dashes Tabasco
¼ tsp. prepared Wasabi
Squeeze of lime
Whisk the ingredients together until the wasabi dissolves. Pour over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a celery stick and slice of red bell pepper cut in the shape of a shark fin.
About the Author
JILL MARIE LANDIS has written over twenty-five novels which have earned distinguished awards and slots on such national bestseller lists as the USA TODAY Top 50 and the New York Times Best Sellers Plus. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award in both Single Title and Contemporary Romance as well as a Golden Heart and RITA Award winner. She’s written historical and contemporary romance, inspirational historical romance and she is now penning The Tiki Goddess Series which begins with MAI TAI ONE ON. Visit her at http://thetikigoddess.com.
Mai Tai One On Page 23