Burned

by Carol Higgins Clark

  A half hour later they were in a cab and on their way to Steve’s.

  “You’re carrying a big purse,” Kit commented.

  The better to hold something with Steve’s fingerprints, Regan thought. I might need room for a kitchen knife. “You know me,” Regan answered. “I carry my notebook and cell phone in case I have to get back to work. Will is certainly hoping that won’t happen tonight. He’s picking up his wife at the airport and needs a little peace.”

  “And you deserve the night off. Regan, this is also your vacation. Let’s just have fun.”

  Regan smiled at her best friend. Tonight is anything but a night off, she thought. She patted her buddy’s arm, the buddy who’d been such an important part of her life for the last ten years. “I’m sure it’ll be interesting.”

  51

  J azzy and Claude were in a stretch limo driving back from the airport. Claude liked to be seen in a certain light, the light that emanated from luxury cars, fine clothing, and upscale surroundings. His home on the Big Island made his heart swell, but as it turned out, that wasn’t enough. He was now trying to find the meaning of life through his Hawaiian clothing line.

  As the car glided along the highway, Jazzy poured champagne for Claude and herself. They clinked glasses and sipped the bubbly, content in the knowledge that people who saw their vehicle were probably wondering who the important people riding in the back were. They pushed away the thought that if they rolled down the windows and their identities were revealed, nobody would care.

  “Are you tired, Claude?” Jazzy asked solicitously.

  “I work very hard, Jazzy. I was stuck on an airplane for hours. Of course I’m tired.”

  Jazzy made the appropriate cooing sounds of sympathy. “Well, the ball is going to be a big success for us. I just know it.”

  “I think women are going to be thrilled when they put on my muumuus. You know why? Because they’re sexy. Not too many muumuus are sexy. But I know how to design. I know what women want. And the men are going to love my Hawaiian shirts. Any word from GQ?”

  “No.”

  Claude scowled.

  “What I mean is, not yet,” Jazzy hastened to add.

  “I can’t believe they’re not interested. It would make a great story about how I, Claude Mott, will make it hip to wear Hawaiian shirts no matter where you live.”

  “I know you can do it, Claude.”

  “Of course I can. I thank God that those leis have been recovered.”

  She clinked his glass. “So do I. It will make everything so much better tomorrow night.”

  “I wonder if the discovery of the leis in Will Brown’s office will cause him trouble.”

  “It can’t be good. The reports I heard on my way to the airport said the police are investigating and they have no suspects. There’s a private investigator named Regan Reilly staying at the hotel. She’s smart. I have the feeling that she’s working for Will.”

  “Her name is Regan Reilly?” he asked with one eyebrow raised.

  “Yes.”

  “That name sounds familiar.”

  “Her mother is a mystery writer named Nora Regan Reilly. She’s well-known.”

  “Of course. The woman next to me on the plane was reading one of her books. No wonder it rang a bell.” He sipped his champagne. “So, Jazzy, tomorrow night you will be modeling my sexy muumuu.”

  “I’ll go around to every table and make sure they all get a good look. They’ll love it.”

  Claude smiled for the first time in about three weeks. “You know, Jazzy, I’ve been studying the history of great designers. They all made their mark in different ways. For me it’s about bringing the lei to the world. Leis are all over my clothing. I think leis should be worn to black-tie events in New York City. I say that everyone should have leis in their wardrobe. They should wear my clothing when they are casually dressed and real leis when they dress up. I think that is my mission in life: leis for everyone.”

  Jazzy held up her glass and smiled with satisfaction. “Here’s to leis everywhere.”

  They clinked glasses and sipped Dom Perignon as the limo sped toward the Waikiki Waters Resort.

  52

  D own by the pool, Francie, Artie, and Joy were sipping piña coladas. The hula girls were getting ready to swivel their hips, and the musicians were testing the sound system. Ned approached and took a seat.

  “How’s your mother?” Artie asked.

  Ned almost said “Huh?” but made a quick recovery. “She’s feeling better. Thanks for asking.”

  A waitress came over, and Ned ordered his double scotch. Before she walked away, Bob and Betsy arrived and placed their orders for mai tais.

  When the whole group was seated and served and sipping, Joy decided to open up the floor to a discussion of the twins. “You all know that Gert and Ev are being stingy with Sal Hawkins’s money. I say that when we get back to Hudville we ask to see his will and the accounting records.”

  Bob’s eyes lit up. “You think they’re like Bonnie and Clyde?”

  “What?” Joy asked.

  “Bonnie and Clyde.”

  “I don’t think they’re going around shooting anybody. But for all we know they could have spent the day shopping at Ala Moana Center with Sal Hawkins’s money and had everything sent back to Hudville. It’s not right. I know someone who went on one of the first trips, and she said it was fantastic. They were taking helicopter rides and sunset cruises and doing fun things that cost bucks. Now, if it cost money to go swimming in the pool, I think those two would point us to the ocean.”

  Ned almost choked on the scotch that he was drinking too quickly. “Could they be embezzling funds?” he asked as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “That’s unbelievable. I know they drive a hard bargain with Will.”

  “Of course they could!” Francie cried dramatically, waving her arm in the air. “They are denying us our right to enjoy Hawaii to the fullest!”

  “At least we scored four tickets for the ball,” Artie announced. “Wait till they get a load of that.”

  Glenn the bellman waved from the walkway.

  “He’s everywhere,” Joy commented.

  Ned’s central nervous system was on red alert. He took another sip of scotch. When he saw Glenn approaching, he wanted to get up and run.

  “I hope you all enjoy the hula girls,” Glenn said, smiling broadly. “I know Ned has a fondness for hula girls, right, Ned? You folks should see the wild wrapping paper he had on a present he bought today.”

  “I saw that paper. Can you believe he’s giving that package to his mother?” Artie laughed.

  “That’s not what he told me!” Glenn smiled.

  Ned tried to laugh it off. “Give me a break. The store wrapped the present.” He waved his hand dismissively.

  Glenn clapped his hands once. “Well, I’ll be off. Enjoy the show!”

  I’m going to kill that guy, Ned thought. He’s playing with my head.

  “So,” Joy said, “are we all in this or what?”

  “All in what?” Betsy queried.

  “Are we all going to go back to Hudville and find out what’s up with the funds?”

  Artie didn’t answer. He knew he was moving out of Hudville as soon as possible, and he just didn’t care. This Joy was annoying him. She made him feel old and uninteresting.

  “Count us out,” Bob said. “Betsy and I are too busy with our literary pursuits.”

  “What about you, Francie?” Joy asked.

  “What worries me,” Francie began, “is that Hudville is such a small town. If we start something and the twins are innocent, we’ll look like a bunch of ingrates. Things might get a little awkward.”

  “Awkward?” Artie practically snorted. “I wouldn’t want to run into Gert and Ev in a dark alley if I’d stirred up trouble for them.”

  “They don’t scare me,” Joy said dismissively as she stirred her drink with a straw. “It’s something to think about.”

  “Misuse of funds i
s very common,” Ned opined. “Power goes to people’s heads, you know? They start to think that they deserve the money.”

  “Ned, where did you get your psychology degree?” Francie laughed. “You sound like you understand the criminal mind all too well.”

  To Ned’s relief, at that moment the band decided to strike up, as they say. With big smiles the hula girls started to sway their hips, and their fingers fluttered through the air like little fishes. As Ned watched the scantily clad girls, all he could see was the hula girls on the paper that he had so carefully wrapped around the box of antique shell leis.

  Who had their hands all over his paper hula girls and took the leis? he wondered. It had to be Glenn, he decided. Who else could it be? But why? How can I get back at him? While staring at the dancing girls he pondered the thought of just leaving town. But then what? He had no place to go.

  No, I’m staying, he told himself. Glenn must be up to something, and I intend to find out what it is. He’s not going to beat me at this game.

  Because I always play to win.

  53

  S teve’s party was better than Regan had thought it would be. There were a lot more people there than the night before, and a lively, amiable atmosphere enveloped his home. Hawaiian music was coming from the stereo speakers, the blender was whirring with tropical drinks, and the grill was sizzling with fresh ahi, ono, mahimahi, and hot dogs and hamburgers. Members of Steve’s softball team were there as well as a handful of his neighbors.

  Steve couldn’t have been more charming. He was the ultimate host, introducing people, refilling drinks, supervising the dinner, and paying a lot of attention to Kit. Regan and Kit sat at a large table on the deck, eating, socializing, and having a few laughs.

  I’ve never seen Kit look so happy, Regan thought guiltily as she kept an eye out for an opportunity to grab something with Steve’s fingerprints. But I’m only doing it for your own good, Kit, Regan mused. Lines from the song “That’s What Friends Are For” ran through her head. And if you’re best friends with a private investigator, there are certain drawbacks that come with the territory.

  Regan was happy that Steve seemed to genuinely care about Kit. Maybe I’m wrong, she thought. Maybe Dorinda had him in her dirt file because he spurned her advances. Maybe Steve is what Jazzy proclaimed: “a good catch.”

  When Regan and Kit were alone for a moment at the table, Kit turned to her. “Isn’t he great? I can’t wait for Jack to meet him. I bet they will really get along.”

  “I hope so,” Regan answered.

  “As we’ve always said,” Kit noted with a smile, “we’d better end up with guys who like each other.”

  Regan grinned. “That would help.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Steve take a sip and then give a little shake to his beer bottle. Clearly it was empty. He started to go inside.

  Now’s my chance, Regan thought. She had purposely chosen to drink the same beer as Steve. She didn’t much like it, and even Kit had commented that she was surprised Regan had a beer. But she’d made a plausible excuse about how it felt good to drink beer in hot weather, nursed it, and now her bottle was empty. Regan leaned down to grab her purse. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. Be right back.” With the beer bottle in one hand and her purse in the other, she made her way around all the people standing on the deck and into the house where more guests were milling in groups of three or four. She watched as Steve put his empty beer bottle on the kitchen counter and then turned to talk to someone who announced he was leaving.

  Regan took a deep breath. She slowly ambled past the counter, put down her bottle, and picked up Steve’s. Two seconds later she was in the hallway heading for the bathroom. She passed the bedroom where Mark and Paul were staying. “Can you believe crazy Stevie has all this? I wish I’d gotten kicked out of college,” Mark joked as he stepped out into the hallway.

  Regan slipped into the spacious, luxurious marble bathroom and shut the door behind her. She carefully locked it, then put her purse on the counter. Exhaling a sigh of relief, she pulled a dark plastic bag out of her purse, dropped the beer bottle into it, and then carefully put it back inside. She combed her hair, freshened her lipstick, and figured out a game plan. Any reservations she had about checking out Steve Yardley had vanished.

  Back out on the deck, she sat with Kit for a few minutes and then said, “I’m kind of tired. It’s been a long day. If you don’t mind, I’ll call a cab and head back.”

  “Regan, are you sure?” Kit asked with a look of concern.

  “Yes. Definitely.”

  “I feel a little guilty that we’re not spending time alone.”

  “Kit, it’s fine. I was working today anyway. You have fun. I’ll see you later.”

  Steve came up behind them.

  “Regan’s leaving. Can you call her a cab?”

  Steve put his arm around Regan, his hand brushing the side of her bag which was still over her shoulder. “Aren’t you having fun?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. He looked down at Kit. “Doesn’t your friend like me?”

  Regan smiled. “It’s jet lag. I’ll go home and get my beauty sleep so I can stay up late at the Princess Ball tomorrow night.”

  “We’re going to have a good time at the ball,” Steve predicted. “Kit’s going to be my princess.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss. Standing back up he looked into Regan’s eyes. “And I can’t wait to meet your prince.”

  “He can’t wait to meet you, either.” More than you know, Regan thought.

  Fifteen minutes later Steve escorted her outside. The cab had just pulled up.

  “Have a good night, Regan.” He held the door of the car open for her. “And don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your friend.”

  “She’s the best,” Regan said. “See you tomorrow night.”

  “Put on your seat belt.”

  “I will.”

  “You can never be too safe.” He laughed as he pushed the button down to lock the back door of the vehicle.

  As the driver pulled away, Regan waved to Steve who stood in the driveway and watched her depart. She then patted her purse, reassuring herself that his beer bottle was still there. Kicked out of college, she thought. Why? What else are you hiding?

  54

  K im stared at the spot on the living room wall where the shell lei had hung ever since they moved into the house. “Your mother will never cease to amaze me,” she declared. “Only she could get her hands on a royal Hawaiian lei that had been stolen and manage to set these events in motion thirty years ago.”

  Will hugged her. “I know.”

  Their son, Billy, was asleep down the hall. Will and Kim had enjoyed a quiet dinner. It was now nearly midnight. They were sitting on the couch sipping an after-dinner drink and catching up. He explained everything that had happened, and Kim actually took it quite well.

  “I knew Dorinda Dawes didn’t like me. I can’t wait to see the newsletter with my terrible picture. But you were smart to leave it at the office.”

  Will looked at his beautiful wife, with her long dark hair and almond-shaped eyes. They’d met five years ago when they’d both been alone on line to buy a movie ticket. On a whim each of them had decided to take in a five o’clock show. They got to talking, sat together, and from that day on they were a couple. Now, every year on the anniversary of the day they met, they always go to a five o’clock movie even if there is nothing they really want to see. He loved her and their son and the life that they shared. He never wanted to jeopardize it. But of course he had-by giving the stupid lei to Dorinda Dawes.

  “Do you think your mother is really going to be able to keep her mouth shut tomorrow at the ball? How is she going to keep it a secret that the lei was in your family all this time?”

  Will shook his head and rested it on her shoulder. “I don’t know. But she has to.”

  “Just wait till she sees the lei, Will!” Kim exclaimed. “When it goes up for auction, she’ll be jumping out of her seat.”r />
  “Jimmy hasn’t decided whether it will be auctioned off or not.”

  “But didn’t you say he was going to wear both leis to the ball?”

  “That is his plan.”

  “Can you imagine when your mother meets him? Wearing HER lei?”

  “I don’t want to think about it.” He snuggled closer to her. “My head is spinning with everything that’s going wrong around the hotel.”

  “And now Bingsley and Almetta will be checking in.”

  “I asked Ned to take care of them tomorrow afternoon. With any luck he’ll tire my mother out. Then we have to get through the ball. I hope someone buys the leis and takes them far, far away from here. Then maybe we can move on from all this trouble.”

  “So this Regan Reilly is on the case.”

  “Yes. She has to leave Monday, but she has already done a lot. I’m glad she’ll be here for the ball. One of the detectives in town is a friend of her fiancé. He’s sending over undercover cops tomorrow night to keep an eye on things.”

  “The ‘Be a Princess’ Ball was supposed to be all about making the night a fairy tale. It’s turned into a nightmare.”

  The phone on the table next to the couch rang. Startled, Will leaned over to answer it. “I hope this is nothing bad,” he said under his breath. “Hello.”

  “Hi, darling!” Will’s mother cried. “We’re at the airport having a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun before we board the flight. I can’t believe how early it is! But your father managed to find some crazy airline that flies out at the crack of dawn. I just wanted to say hello and tell you we’ll be there soon!”

  “That’s great, Mom.”

  “Anything new with our lei?” she chirped.

  “They found it today,” Will replied, failing to mention that it was located in his office.

  “Oh, my goodness! That lei certainly gets around, doesn’t it, dear?”

  “That it does.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s our little secret. But will I get to see it?”