Burned

by Carol Higgins Clark

  Glenn rested the box on his knees. Carefully he pulled another piece of tape off the wrapping paper, trying not to destroy the image of the hula girl. He slid the box out and dropped the paper in the shopping bag. He lifted the top off the box and placed that in the shopping bag as well. He then turned his full attention to the contents of the box. He couldn’t believe his eyes! There were no toys inside. Glenn slowly lifted two exquisite shell leis into the air.

  “Oh, my God!” he whispered. “These are the stolen royal leis. I can’t believe what a liar Ned is!” He unhooked his cell phone from his belt and made a call. “You are not going to believe what I have in my hands!” Quickly he recounted his story. Then he listened. “Yes! That’s a wonderful idea. Better than anything we’ve done so far! Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

  Glenn turned off his cell phone, returned it to his belt, wrapped up the now empty box, and placed the leis at the bottom of the shopping bag. He returned to the storage room, found another shopping bag, and slipped the leis into it. He scooted out to the garage and placed both bags in the trunk of his Honda. Then he hurried to one of the hotel shops where he knew they sold newspapers, magazines, and cheap shell leis. He purchased two of the leis, went back to his car, put the new leis inside the box, and resealed the wrapping paper. He left the valuable leis in his trunk. Then he returned to the bell station, slid the shopping bag Ned gave him under the counter, and told the captain that it would be picked up by a friend of Ned’s, one of the hotel’s trainers.

  Glenn couldn’t wait until his dinner break. It wouldn’t be long. Then he’d get a chance to have a little fun with the royal leis. Let Will try to explain this one, he thought gleefully. Just another day at the Waikiki Waters Playground and Resort.

  44

  R egan decided to stop on the beach for a few minutes before going back to the room. She sat on the sand, pulled out her cell phone, and called Jack. Quickly she filled him in on what she had found in Dorinda’s apartment, as well as the fact that the leis had been stolen again.

  “Stolen again? What’s going on out there, Regan?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. And I’ve got to tell you, this guy Kit has hooked up with seemed iffy, but then to see his picture in Dorinda’s ‘Prospective Dirt’ file is really disturbing. On the back of the photo, Dorinda wrote, ‘Retired from WHAT?’ ”

  “What’s his name again?”

  “Steve Yardley.”

  “I’ll run a check on him. Maybe you should try to get his fingerprints on something.”

  “They’re all over Kit.”

  “He’s really putting on the moves, huh?”

  “I’m afraid so. And Kit is falling for it. Maybe he’s all right, but now I just don’t trust him. We’re invited to his house for dinner tonight. Don’t you think trying to get his fingerprints is a little extreme?”

  “Nah. See if you can nab something small with his prints. I’ll ask Mike Darnell to process them. Then I can find out if he has a criminal record. It’s not a big deal to check him out.”

  “I feel a little guilty,” Regan admitted. “Kit really likes this guy. He might be just fine, but my gut tells me he isn’t. I may be paranoid but seeing him in Dorinda’s file…”

  “You remember what happened with Kit’s last suitor,” Jack reminded her. “He wasn’t a criminal, but he was a liar. You didn’t go with your gut then because Kit’s your friend, and she ended up getting hurt. You obviously won’t tell her your suspicions. If this guy checks out, then all the better. We’ll be relieved, and Kit will never know.”

  “Okay. If Steve weren’t in Dorinda’s dirt file, I might let it go, but there he is along with a few of the other suspicious characters around here. Maybe I’ll give Mike a call later and ask him if they have any leads about the leis. That’s not my problem, but Will, the hotel manager, is worried that they have nothing interesting to auction off at the Princess ball. There’s no hook for the event, so to speak.”

  “I’ll just be glad when you’re back,” Jack said. “And when we’re on our honeymoon, I’m not going to let you take on any cases.”

  “As if.” Regan laughed. “If I can help Will out at least a little bit, I’ll be happy. If the ball is a success, then that will be good for him. And if I can find any leads about how Dorinda ended up in the water the other night, then that’s all to the good. But I don’t see how I can do that and figure out the source of the problems at the hotel in just a couple of days.”

  Jack, who always was so calm, reassured her-“Regan, I know that no matter what, you’ll end up helping Will. I’m sure he feels better just having you around. I know I always do.”

  “And I feel much better when you’re around.” Regan smiled. “Oh, Jack, you’d get such a kick out of Dorinda’s cousin. He’s a trip. I can’t believe he’s her only living relative. Even though she had a bad rep in a lot of ways, I’m sure one thing she never worried about was embarrassing her family.”

  “Are you going to see him again?”

  “He managed to score a free ticket for the ball tomorrow night.”

  “Well, don’t be too much of a princess at that ball. I don’t want some guy sweeping you off into the night.”

  “If there’s anything that I’m sure of in this world, it’s that that won’t happen.” When she hung up, Regan looked at her watch. It was 5:15. The beach was peaceful, mellow, and nearly empty. I think I’ll pay a quick visit to Will, she decided. Then it’s off to dinner at Steve’s with Kit.

  Somehow she had no appetite.

  45

  A t 5:15, Glenn went on his dinner break. As he left the lobby area, he saw Will standing and talking to the concierge. They looked as if they were deep in discussion. I’ve got to make this quick, Glenn thought. He quickly headed to his car, took the bag with the leis out of the trunk, and snapped it shut.

  He hurried out of the garage and up onto the circular driveway where the cars pulled in and out of the reception area. His destination was Will’s office. He planned to gain access through the sliding glass doors that looked out onto a small garden of lush tropical vegetation. It was an isolated area that you could only get to from the main path where hotel guests strolled to the shops and different towers. The solid brick wall of the ladies’ clothing store was right across the little garden. If I can just slip into that area without being seen, he thought, then I can be in and out fast.

  Once on the main path, Glenn ducked into the narrow grassy area that led to Will’s own private little garden. He was sure no one had seen him. He stayed close to the building, and when he reached the door, he hid behind a shrub and took a quick peek into Will’s office. There was no one there. The screen of the sliding glass door was closed. Will inched forward and quickly pulled on it. The screen door slid open easily. Glenn took the leis out of the bag and placed them on the floor so they couldn’t possibly be missed. He then turned and dashed off. When he was in the clear, he called his contact and told them to call the police.

  Within minutes, the police received an anonymous tip that the stolen leis from the Seashell Museum were in Will Brown’s office at the Waikiki Waters Playground and Resort.

  46

  “W ill, there you are,” Regan said as she approached the concierge’s desk.

  “Hi, Regan. This is Otis, our concierge. He tells me that people are still looking for tickets to the ball.”

  “That’s good news. It’s nice to meet you, Otis.”

  Otis had a thin mustache and seemed very efficient. His expression indicated that he was overly pleased with himself. “You, too,” he said to Regan almost dismissively. “Mr. Brown, I am doing my best to accommodate everyone. But a couple of people from the tour group from Hudville are insisting that we find them tickets for the ball. I told them they should have made reservations days ago. I told them I would put them on the waiting list and consult with you.”

  “They want to buy tickets?” Will asked. “I’m surprised. They usually don’t want t
o spend money. Are the twin sisters the ones requesting the tickets?”

  “No, sir. A woman and a man from the group were asking,” Otis said primly.

  Lighten up, Otis, Regan thought. This is the land of aloha. And this might be the Princess Ball, but we’re not talking Buckingham Palace.

  “Were they planning to pay for the tickets themselves?”

  “No, sir. They said if we were able to procure tickets, we should charge them to the sisters’ room.”

  Will whistled. “That’s a new one. How many tickets do they want?”

  “Two. Possibly four.”

  “If they’re finally going to start spending money, I’ll have to find them some seats. Tell them they can have the tickets.”

  “Very well.”

  “I hope that we don’t get too many cancellations for tomorrow night now that the leis are off the menu,” Will said.

  “Sir, it appears that the interest in the ball has waxed rather than waned.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Will, could I speak to you in your office?” Regan asked.

  “Sure. Let’s go.”

  Regan followed him through the reception area, which as usual was bustling. They went behind the desk where people were checking in and entered the inner sanctum.

  Janet was at her desk. She handed Will a piece of paper. “The head of the auction committee called. She just got word about the leis being stolen. She wants to know if you have any suggestions about what they can auction off in place of the leis.”

  “How about my head on a platter?” Will muttered. He took the paper with the phone number on it and entered his office. He stopped short so fast that Regan almost bumped into him. “Oh, my God!” he exclaimed.

  “What?” Regan asked. Quickly she moved aside and looked down. The two beautiful shell leis she had seen just this morning at the Seashell Museum were lying on the floor. The sliding screen door was open.

  Will went over and picked them up.

  “The royal leis,” Regan said, her voice incredulous.

  The color was draining from Will’s face. He looked at Regan in bewilderment. “What am I going to do?”

  “We’ll call the police.”

  Janet was standing in the doorway. “There’s no need. They’re already here.”

  47

  T he cab dropped Ned off in front of the old movie theater on Kalakaua Avenue, the main street in Waikiki. By now he was perspiring. It’s just a knapsack, he told himself over and over. Even if there’s something of mine in it that identifies me, that doesn’t mean I stole the leis. The cops don’t even know it was a yellow knapsack. It could have been a guy in a yellow shirt.

  He crossed the street, darting around the traffic, and headed straight for the alley where he’d done his gift wrapping. It was narrow and dark, but he could tell immediately that the knapsack was gone. Ned ran down the alley looking for it. Nothing. He checked in a garbage can. It wasn’t there. What could have happened to it? he thought frantically. He was trying to remember if there could have been anything inside it that would identify him. Was there a bank slip? A receipt from the ATM machine? Ned just wasn’t sure.

  He emerged from the alley and noticed a vagrant with a hangdog expression sitting on the sidewalk, his butt smack on the middle of Ned’s yellow knapsack. Ned was sure it was his. He could see the oil stains on the side.

  “Excuse me, buddy,” Ned said, “but I think you’re sitting on my bag.”

  The vagrant ignored him.

  “Come on, man,” Ned pleaded as he leaned down and started to pull on one of the straps. It turned out not to be the greatest idea.

  The formerly silent vagrant went nuts. “This is mine!” he screamed. “Leave me alone! Help! Police! Hellllpppppp!”

  His noisy protests had the intended effect. Passersby started to stop and murmur the way people do when some drama is unfolding. In an instant Ned realized that it was far better to get the heck out of there and risk whatever might be found inside the bag, bank slip or no bank slip. He hightailed it down the block, crossed the street, and did his best to disappear into the Friday night crowds.

  That’s the second time today I ran off serenaded by the sounds of someone squawking in my wake, Ned realized. But this was too much of a close call. People had seen him. All I need is to be caught in a tug-of-war over a dirty yellow knapsack with a guy who lives on the street. Then they’d really have cause to lock me up.

  Ned’s heart was beating so fast, he decided to walk back to the hotel to calm himself. It wasn’t that far. What have I gotten myself into? he wondered. I’ve got to get that package back from the bell station, he decided. It’s not worth leaving there. I’ll take the chance that Artie isn’t as nosy as I was when I was a kid, going through my mother’s closets and peeking at the wrapped Christmas presents.

  When Ned got back to the hotel, there was more excitement. A police car was parked in the driveway, its lights flashing. The first person Ned saw was the ubiquitous Glenn.

  “What’s going on?” Ned asked.

  “The stolen leis were discovered in Will’s office. An anonymous tipster called the police.”

  Ned tried not to flinch. “The stolen leis?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Will must be happy,” Ned said carefully.

  “I don’t know about that. It doesn’t look too good for the hotel that stolen property is found in the manager’s office.”

  “Oh, give me a break, Glenn. Will obviously had nothing to do with it.”

  “I didn’t say he did.”

  Ned’s head was spinning, but he was doing his best not to let his discomfort show. Now he really had to get his box with the hula girl wrapping paper back. “Do you know if my friend came to pick up the package I left for her?”

  “If she did, I didn’t see her,” Glenn answered cheerily and efficiently. “But let me go check.” He stepped away while Ned stood in the reception area trying to absorb what was going on. In two seconds flat Glenn was back. “No. Ms. Legatte didn’t pick it up after all. The package is still behind the desk, safe and sound.”

  “Great. You know, on second thought, I think I’ll drop it off at her place tonight. Could I have the bag, please?”

  “Sure! She sounds like a good friend. You go shopping for her and then deliver the goods to her doorstep.” Glenn waltzed off, retrieved the bag from behind the desk, sauntered back, and slowly handed it over to Ned. “I don’t need a tip,” he joked with a big smile. “We’re both working stiffs at this grand resort.”

  “Right, thanks.” Ned took the bag and started to walk back to his room. When he went around the corner and was out of Glenn’s sight, he lifted the box and shook it. He was glad to hear a rattling sound, as if the shell leis were still in there. Is Glenn messing with my head? he wondered. If he is, he’ll be sorry. I can’t wait to open this box. He silently prayed that Artie wouldn’t be in their room. But he had barely put the key in the door and was pushing it open when Artie called out to him.

  “Hey, Ned.”

  Ned cringed. “Hi, there,” he said as he entered the room.

  Artie jumped up from his bed where he’d been lounging. “It’s time to meet the others for drinks. Are you going to join us?”

  “Maybe in a few minutes,” Ned replied. He sat down on his bed.

  “What have you got in the bag there?” Artie asked, his eyes looking down into the bag.

  “A present for my mother,” Ned answered quickly.

  “That’s sexy wrapping paper for a mother.”

  “My mother has always liked crazy stuff.”

  “Not my mother. She’s prim and proper. She’d have me committed if I handed her a present with that paper on it. She prefers paper with rainbows and shooting stars and cutesy teddy bears.”

  Ned thought he was going to scream. Instead he shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and wiped his forehead.

  “Are you all right?” Artie asked.

  “Yes. Why?”


  “You seem a little preoccupied.”

  “I’m fine,” Ned insisted. “I’ll join you downstairs for drinks in a few minutes. I want to call my mother. She hasn’t been feeling well. That’s why I bought her this crazy present.”

  “That’s nice! If she were here, I’d give her a free massage. What crazy present did you get her anyway?”

  Ned almost choked. Once you start lying, it truly becomes a tangled web. “I just got her a couple of muumuus and a Hawaiian bathing suit.”

  “Where does she live?”

  “In Maine.”

  Artie laughed. “I can just picture it. Someone walking around in a muumuu on the rocky coast of Maine.”

  Ned looked up at him and couldn’t contain a flash of anger. “She goes to Florida in the winter. Women wear muumuus in Florida.”

  “I’m sorry, Ned,” Artie apologized. “I was just trying to have some fun. Listen, old Gert and Ev aren’t going to be back until late. Who knows what they’re up to. Maybe they met a couple of guys. Anyway, the five of us are eating on our own and are planning to spend a lot of Sal Hawkins’s money. We’re starting with expensive drinks down by the pool. We’re going to take in the hula show. I hope the girls look as good as they do on your paper there. Come down after you talk to your mother, and give her my best wishes. I hope she feels better soon.” He quickly disappeared out the door.

  Ned sat there for what felt like an eternity, sure that Artie would burst back in at any moment. When he was finally satisfied that enough time had passed for Artie to be sipping his first piña colada of the night, Ned went over and bolted the door-just in case. It would be hard to explain if Artie came back and couldn’t get in. But Ned had to take that chance.

  He laid the box on the bed and noticed that a tiny piece of the wrapping paper near where it was taped was white. Part of a hula girl’s lei had come off and was stuck to a piece of the tape. How appropriate, Ned thought. Is this an indication that someone was tampering with the box? He pulled off the wrapping and lifted the cover. He gasped. Inside were two shell leis that looked as if they cost about a dollar each.