Photo Finished

by Dane McCaslin

  When I reached her, she held her head in her hands, and her shoulders were shaking slightly. I sat down on the bench next to her and put my arm around her. She jerked up in surprise.

  "I saw that you were upset and thought you might need to talk."

  Kailani looked at me with confusion in her eyes, then resignation replaced it, and she slumped against me just a little.

  "That woman is terrible," she said.

  "So I've heard. You ok?"

  "Yes. She wants me to act like everything is normal, but Noe was my fiancé. And now he's gone." Fresh tears sprang to her eyes and trailed down her cheeks. She didn't bother wiping them away. Since I'd already given her one of my lens cloths, I didn't think I could afford to give her another one.

  "Kailani, do you have any idea who could have killed him?" I asked, taking a chance.

  "Are you a cop or something?"

  "No, just a friend. I thought maybe talking to me might trigger something in your mind. Sometimes talking to the cops can be intimidating."

  "You've got that right."

  I tried a different tactic.

  "Rumor has it that Dax and Noe had a big fight the night before the luau. Know anything about that?"

  "They did. It came to blows, but Phil intervened and put a stop to it. Dax was really angry though and told Noe that he better not catch him in a dark alley or he wouldn't be responsible for his actions. Noe had spit in his face, and Dax was furious."

  That was certainly a different version of the story than Dax and Phil had shared. "Furious enough to kill him?"

  "Kailani! There you are," Annie said, irritation hovering on the edge of her words.

  Kailani quickly wiped her eyes and stood. "Just needed a minute."

  "Patti wants to talk to you. She needs to know the final count for the dancers tonight. She's in the kitchen."

  Kailani nodded then turned back to me. "Thanks," she said and walked toward the resort.

  Annie stood looking at me, and I raised a brow in question. What was she staring at? She smiled then turned around to follow Kailani.

  Annie Morris was one weird chick.

  * * *

  "Red! Wait up!" Jimmy called from behind me.

  I'd just finished up and was walking back toward the resort to get my things and call it a day. It was still early, but since I had to be back at work tonight, I wanted to get home and grab a bite to eat and get off my feet a little.

  "You must be spending a lot of time with Juls. I thought I saw flames coming off those little feet of yours."

  I growled. "Yeah, about that. Want to tell me why you were doubting my ability to keep up with her?"

  Jimmy slung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me up against his side. I wasn't really angry, but sometimes it was just fun to play the part.

  "You know I was just teasing."

  "Yeah, well."

  "Witty comeback there, Red."

  I bumped him with my hip, and Jimmy hopped out of the way in a dramatic flair. "Just stop," I said, not being able to help the grin that split my lips.

  He snickered and put his arm back around my shoulders. "You headed home?"

  "Looks that way. I have to be back for the luau. Are you working that tonight too?"

  "Unfortunately, yes. Last minute shindigs are always hard to find coverage for. With what happened the other night, it's all hands on deck tonight."

  "You don't think anyone would try anything, do you?"

  "Nah. It's just precautionary. Whoever killed Noe had an ax to grind with him. It wasn't arbitrary."

  That made me feel a tiny bit better, but the idea that the killer still thought I could have seen something that night kept me from being able to relax.

  "We got the toxicology report back," Jimmy said.

  "What did it say?"

  "Chef Aki was right. Initial reports are that it was fugu, or pufferfish, whichever you'd like to call it."

  "They're the same thing?"

  "Pretty much. According to Detective Ray and my online investigation, there are several types of pufferfish, but they are all poisonous to humans unless prepared carefully by a trained chef. It takes years to get licensed, and there are only a handful of them. It's a delicacy in Japan."

  "I don't understand the kind of delicacy that requires you to put your life on the line every time you eat it."

  "As much as I love food, I think that's one I'll pass on. It's a terrible way to die, and there is no antidote for it."

  "So someone switched out Noe's sushi for fugu sushi. How did they do that?"

  "My guess is whoever killed Noe switched out the food once it was plated and before it went out to him."

  "That seems so risky. How did they know it was his? And wouldn't someone have seen him make the switch?"

  "All questions for the killer."

  But who was the killer? It seemed there were several people who didn't like Noe for various reasons, but were any of those reasons strong enough to kill someone? Something didn't quite fit.

  "Mind if I ride with you to your house? I thought we could get takeout and relax before the luau. Your place is closer than mine too," Jimmy said.

  "Sure. Sounds good to me."

  "Ok, let's pick up Chinese food on the way. You have wine?"

  "I'm game for Chinese. Is wine a good idea before a work event?"

  "Have you ever worked for Patti Stone?"

  "Nope. Good point. Wine it is."

  On the way to the Chinese takeout place, Jimmy shared stories about fugu poisonings that he'd researched earlier in the day. Finally, I told him I'd heard enough. If the killer thought I'd seen something, would he kill me the same way too? I didn't want to think about it.

  After picking up kung pao chicken and Mongolian beef, along with some dumplings and wantons, we pulled up to my apartment. I was grateful that Tom and Doris were still out traveling around the world. Doris was a delight, but she sure liked to talk. Our dinner would be cold before we could make it into the house.

  "Has Detective Ray said anything about suspects?" I asked, sliding out of the car and digging through my purse to find my keys. I didn't have a very large purse, but it always seemed that my keys were tucked into some obscure pocket or folded up in the lining of my purse.

  "He's not sharing that information with me. Guess you have to be on payroll for the inside scoop." Jimmy placed his hand on my lower back as he came up beside me, and I momentarily forgot what we were talking about.

  Finally finding my keys, I walked a little faster to the door, getting the key in and opening it in one fell swoop. I motioned for Jimmy to go ahead, and he quirked an eyebrow as if to say, What in the world is wrong with you? I was so distracted, I didn't notice the package on the ground in front of my door, tripped, and went flying through the air, my purse and keys skidding across the tiny foyer.

  I didn't hit the floor, however. Jimmy's arms caught me in mid-flight, pulling me up against his warm chest. My hands rested there, and I could feel his heart beating as fast as mine.

  "Sorry," I huffed, my breaths coming fast and furious. Because of the fall or my proximity to Jimmy, one could only guess.

  "No problem," Jimmy said, his gaze dropping to my mouth.

  Was he going to kiss me? Did I want him to? I realized I really did. I didn't know what that meant for our friendship. Jimmy was the first friend I'd made on the island and my closest. Could I afford it if things went south?

  I didn't have time to answer any of those questions as Jimmy leaned in, his lips a breath away from mine. And then, he pulled back, cursing under his breath.

  "I need to take this," he said, and I thought I caught a hint of apology in his eyes.

  It was only then that I noticed the ringing phone. I must have been in some kind of Jimmy trance.

  "James Toki."

  Not wanting to deal with the disappointment I felt over the non-kiss, I turned to see what had caused me to trip. A thin, flat box lay on the ground, and I stooped to pick it up. My nam
e and address were typed onto a label, but there was no return address. Shrugging, I tugged at the tape on the side of the box to open it.

  "I'll be right there," Jimmy said to whoever was on the other line. He grabbed the keys off the floor and rushed to the front door. "I've got to go down to the police station."

  "Wait, what? Why?" I asked, tossing the package onto the table next to the front door.

  "That was Detective Ray. They've taken Dax in for questioning."

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The Aloha Lagoon police station was located close to the resort, so it didn't take us long to get there. Jimmy drove like a bat out of hell, although I wasn't sure what he planned to do once he arrived.

  He explained that Detective Ray had asked him to come down and give Dax a ride home, saying that having Jimmy as an influence in his life might be helpful. Dax hadn't wanted to worry his parents.

  Jimmy pushed the door open to the station and walked in, giving his name to the officer seated behind the desk. But before the officer could page Detective Ray, he and Dax entered the hallway.

  "Don't leave the island. Understand?" Detective Ray said.

  "Yeah, I understand," Dax answered, turning to find Jimmy and me standing there. "Hey, cuz. You come to bail me out?"

  "Bail's only needed if you're arrested. He hasn't been?" He directed his question to Detective Ray.

  "Not yet. Let's talk in my office," he replied, motioning Jimmy back to where I assumed his office was located.

  Jimmy squeezed my arm as he brushed by me. "Stay here, ok? I'll just be a minute."

  I nodded and found a seat in the waiting room. Dax followed behind me.

  He sat down heavily in the seat next to me, his sheer size filling the tiny room and his arms spilling over into my personal space.

  "I didn't kill him, you know," he said softly.

  "So you've said."

  "I didn't. I didn't like the guy. That was no secret. But I didn't kill him." He turned to face me. "I wanted to win, but I wanted to win fair and square. I'm a competitor, so why would I want to take out my biggest competition? I wanted to beat him, not kill him."

  "Yes, well, telling someone if you ever catch them in a dark alley, they'll regret it doesn't help your case any."

  "You heard about that, huh?"

  I didn't confirm or deny. I figured the question was rhetorical, and I wasn't about to tell him who'd told me.

  "I was angry. People say stuff when they're angry. Plus he'd spit on me. Do you know how degrading that is?"

  Again I didn't answer. No, I'd never had someone spit on me, and I could imagine that it would get someone's blood boiling pretty quickly. Plus—gross!

  "So yeah, I wanted to pummel his face in. But I didn't kill him."

  He turned to face me, pleading in his eyes. "Look, Derrick kept pitting us against one another. He fostered the unhealthy competition we had going on. Each time one of us would win, he'd up the prizes. Fancy boards, money, parties. Noe had started taunting me."

  I raised my eyebrow, dubious of this information.

  "I know. No one believes me because Noe was this fun-loving guy on the outside, but when it came to competition, the dude was ruthless."

  "So if not you, then who would want to kill Noe?"

  "I don't know."

  "You have to know something. Who'd have something to gain? Looks like only you did."

  Anger mottled his face red. The tension in his body was palpable.

  "I didn't kill him. Phil had more reason to kill him than I did," he blurted.

  "Why would Phil want to kill Noe?" I asked, confused about the turn in the conversation. What did Phil have to do with anything?

  "Never mind. I shouldn't have said anything. Not my story to tell."

  "If you know something, you need to tell the police—"

  "Phil didn't kill Noe either. He'd pretty much already gotten what he wanted by that time anyway."

  "I don't understand."

  "I've already said more than I should have. Forget it."

  Discussion closed, I switched to the Stones.

  "You said Derrick fostered the competition between you two. Why? What did he have to gain from that?"

  Dax groaned. "You're like a dog with a bone. Leave it alone, Autumn. You don't know what you're messing with."

  "Then tell me."

  Dax grabbed me by the arms, turning me in my seat and drawing me close to his face.

  "Leave the Stones alone. Stay away from them."

  "Everything ok here?" Jimmy's voice was tight, and I peeked around Dax to find him barely controlling himself. His fists were clenched tightly by his side, and I could see the little muscle near his jaw jumping like crazy.

  Dax dropped my arms like a hot potato.

  "Yeah," I said, rubbing my arms where he'd grabbed me. He hadn't hurt me, not really. But his grip had been so firm, and his face had been so serious, grave even.

  Jimmy glared at Dax and pulled me up from my chair, wrapping his arm around me. "We need to go. The luau starts in an hour."

  "I still have to change."

  "The muumuu again, Red?"

  I rolled my eyes. "Of course. Apparently it's the uniform for luaus. I think I need to switch to hula dancing. At least they get those cute grass skirts. Although I could do without the coconut bra."

  "I'd be ok with that," Jimmy said, winking at me when I stared up at him in shock.

  After dropping Dax off at his house, I filled Jimmy in on my conversation with him.

  "Why did he say Phil had more reason to kill Noe? Phil isn't a terrible surfer, but he's never going to make a living off it," Jimmy said.

  "I asked, but he said he'd already said too much. And then when I mentioned the Stones, he got all weird-like. That's when you saw him. He was warning me to stay away from them. If they're so bad, why would he be working for them?"

  "I don't know. I'm not sure they're bad, but it's definitely a strange warning," Jimmy agreed.

  "What did Detective Ray have to say?"

  "Just that Dax was a suspect. Told me there'd been eyewitnesses to the fight they had. Apparently it was pretty nasty."

  "Yeah, that's what Kailani said today."

  "But I just don't see Dax killing anyone. I know he could fool me, but Dax is competitive. He wants to win, but he wouldn't want there to be any doubts in anyone's minds that he was the legitimate champion."

  "That's what he told me. Did you tell that to Detective Ray?"

  "I did. He said that he could see that too. I don't think he really thinks Dax did it, but Noe's parents are breathing down his neck, wanting answers. Ray's a good guy. He's just trying to do his job."

  It had to be a difficult job being a detective. I was no detective, but just trying to puzzle things out in my own mind had exhausted me. I couldn't imagine if that was my job 24/7.

  We stopped by my apartment so I could run in and change into the dreaded muumuu. The luau started in an hour, and I still needed to take a few before pictures and unload my gear. I should have been there already.

  Jimmy plopped onto my couch, flopping one arm over his eyes. "I think I'm going to nap while you change."

  "Do you really have time for a nap?"

  "Red, I've always got time for a little shut-eye. You take it wherever you can get it sometimes."

  I stepped into my room to change, pondering all I'd learned so far. I mentally added Phil to the list of people I needed to talk to. He'd be there tonight. Maybe I could catch him and ask a few questions. Dax's words that Phil had more reason to kill Noe than he did bothered me. What could Phil have against Noe?

  I ran a comb through my hair and added a little water to help the frizz. It seemed the wild tangles would not be tamed, so I swept it to the side in a low ponytail. Grabbing a fake hibiscus flower I'd bought my first week on the island, I clipped it to the hairband. Dabbing on some lipstick and a touch of peach blush, I winked at myself in the mirror. That would have to do.

  The sound of Jimmy
's light snores filled the room. I grinned at all the fun I'd have teasing him about it. The box on the front table caught my eye. I'd forgotten all about it in our haste to get to the police station. I picked it up and tore off the tape. Lifting the lid from the box, I looked inside and froze.

  There, lying on tissue paper, were photos. Photos of me. In the first one I was on the beach talking to Dax and Phil. The second one I was walking around snapping pictures of the hula dancers. The final one was of me walking away from the pier with Jimmy.

  It was disturbing enough that someone had taken my photograph without my knowledge or permission, but what was even more alarming was the huge, red X across my face in each photo. A note sat at the bottom of the pile.

  Stop asking questions.

  Who knew I'd been asking questions? I thought I'd been discreet about it.

  I must have made some kind of noise, because Jimmy sat up and rushed to my side.

  "Autumn. What is it? Red. Talk to me." Jimmy jostled me slightly by the arms.

  "What?" I shook my head to clear away the morbid thoughts that were swirling around in there. "The photos." I pointed to the box that I'd apparently dropped onto the floor.

  Jimmy stooped to pick the box up. "Where'd you get these?"

  "That's what I tripped over earlier when you—" I shut my mouth. I was about to say when you almost kissed me. Pull it together, Autumn.

  Jimmy didn't seem to notice what I'd been referring to, because he immediately pulled out his phone.

  "Ray, it's Jimmy. Not great. Look, someone delivered photos to Autumn's door. There's no return address. Looks like they just left it on the front stoop." He paused while Ray must have said something. "Yeah, we touched it. Anyway, the photos all have Autumn's face X'ed out. They were taken without her knowing. And there's a note." Jimmy read Detective Ray the note then paused.

  "I'll be right there." He put his phone in his pocket and put the lid back on the box. "Let's go," he said, taking my hand and pulling me behind him.

  "Jimmy, I can't. I have to work tonight."

  He sighed. "That's right."

  "Plus we only have one car since we came here together."

  "Ok, I'll drop you off at the resort. Do not go anywhere alone. Got me? You stay on the pier with all the other people. I'll drop these off with Ray and then be back there as soon as I can."