Lethal Tide

by Beth Prentice

  I didn't argue with that. I just allowed him to pull me out of the door, locking and slamming it behind us.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest. Instead I was up at six and at the resort by eight. (What Casey and I did in those two hours was nobody's business but ours, okay?) I tried to wipe the smile off my face, but I couldn't.

  Casey had left to clean his house, which left me the time to find Gabby. I needed to ask her who her techie guy was.

  I found her at her desk bright and early. The dark streak in her blond hair sat perfectly like it had just been combed. Her uniform was ironed, and her smile matched mine.

  "What can I do for you, Sam?" she asked, indicating I should take one of the seats she had opposite her desk.

  I pulled it out and sat, admiring the many posters on her walls and thinking if I didn't have a murder to solve, I would've liked to have been on one of those beaches right now. I sighed, my smile dimming.

  "Well, I remember you mentioning a guy a while back. A techie guy you used to help with a problem you had."

  She nodded, remembering. "Yeah, he was a guy Rick knew."

  "You wouldn't happen to have his number, would you?"

  She laughed like I'd just asked a stupid question.

  "Number? This guy didn't use a number. He was off the grid. Like off-off the grid."

  Disappointment sat heavy in my stomach. "Really? There's no other way of getting in touch with him?"

  She shrugged. "When I visited him, Rick drove me out there. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you where 'there' is. What do you need him for?"

  I filled her in on what had been happening and how we wanted to get into the file on Ryan's iPad.

  "You haven't given it to Detective Ray?" she asked, one perfectly plucked eyebrow raised.

  I shook my head. "Not yet. We wanted to know what was in it first. If anything."

  "Look, give me half an hour, and I'll call Rick. I just have a tour group I need to get on the bus. Once it's left, I'll get on it and see what Rick can work out."

  "Really? That would be awesome!"

  "Don't get too excited. Hector doesn't work for just anybody."

  "Hector?"

  "The techie guy."

  "Thanks, Gabby. You're a rock star."

  I left her with a smile, but I had my fingers crossed that Rick would come through for me and that Hector would agree to help us.

  Gabby was true to her word. Half an hour later I was sitting on a chair outside the Loco Moco when my phone rang.

  "Rick said he'll see what he can work out," Gabby's voice said down the phone line. "He's not confident, but if anyone can charm Hector, Rick can."

  "Thanks, Gabby. I'll sit by the phone and wait patiently."

  Alright, I didn't wait patiently. Instead I saw an opportunity and seized it. As Lori's friend Jenny walked past, I used the time to grill her about her walk in the forest. The one she supposedly took with Lori on the day of the murder.

  "Jenny!" I called as she walked past me, her Nikes pounding the pavement on her morning walk. If the sway to her hips was anything to go by, I figured her headphones were playing her favorite tune.

  I jogged after her and tapped her on the shoulder.

  She jumped, letting out a small squeal.

  "You scared me, Samantha," she said, placing one hand on her heart, the other pulling the headphones from her ears.

  "Sorry. Didn't mean to. I was just hoping to ask you a couple of questions."

  "Oh sure." She stopped walking and placed her hands on her hips, her breathing fast. "Fire away."

  "Well, can you tell me—were you geocaching in the forest the other day?"

  "Geocaching?" she asked. "No. I've never geocached. Sorry. Why do you want to know that?"

  "Lori told me you were with her geocaching."

  Jenny's ears turned a slight pinky color, matching the top she was wearing. Her top matched her socks, which complemented her whiter-than-white shorts. She was a color-coordinated dresser even when exercising.

  "Ummm…what day would that have been?" she asked uncertainly.

  "Monday."

  "This past Monday?"

  "Yep. That's the one. First day of the week. Well, actually I guess that's not quite right. I know Sunday is technically the first day, but Monday always feels like the first day," I rambled. I really needed to shut my mouth while I was ahead.

  "Yes, yes. Monday. I was with Lori. Sorry, my mistake."

  "Really?"

  Her now glowing cheeks gave me the impression she was lying.

  "This Monday just gone?" I asked. "The same day Ryan was murdered?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "You were geocaching?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you find it?"

  "Pardon?"

  "The geocache. Did you find it?"

  "Yes. Yes, we did."

  I knew that was a lie because Lori had told me they hadn't found it. Well, Jenny was nothing if not loyal.

  "So how did you manage to lose each other?" I continued.

  Jenny looked at me, her eyes wide, her mind whirring. She was trying to keep up but was having too hard of a time at it.

  "I'm so sorry, Samantha, but I really have to get going," she said, making a fuss of looking at her watch. "I'm supposed to be on the tennis court at nine. So sorry."

  Hunph.

  As she jogged away, I figured she didn't really need to be on any tennis court. She was just avoiding the question. I'd lay money that she was calling Lori right now asking to get their stories straight.

  I wandered to the sand, sat down, and watched the waves. I was waiting for Gabby to call me back, and I had time to kill.

  The ocean was tame, and the waves were small, washing the beach with the lulling sound they made. I put my hands behind me and lay back onto them, enjoying the warm sun beating down on my body. I had sunscreen on of course, so I could sit here for as long as necessary.

  Five minutes in and a face I recognized moved past, the woman's feet walking along the water's edge, her glorious long locks shimmering in the sunlight. Veronica.

  My heart jumped into my throat as my mind raced at a million miles an hour. I had so much I wanted to ask her, yet I wasn't sure if I had the courage.

  An internal debate started. I had the chance to ask her why she was here. Casey hadn't been too happy to see her. She'd appeared at the same time Ryan and Travis did. All of this couldn't be coincidental.

  I swallowed my pride, stood, brushed the sand from my shorts, and made my way towards her.

  "Excuse me," I called after her.

  She stopped walking and turned to me, her eyes hidden by her oversized sunglasses. "Yeah," she said, her Aussie accent ringing loud.

  "Ummm…I was wondering if you'd have a second. I just wanted to ask you a couple of things."

  She tilted her sunglasses to the top of her head as her emerald green eyes glared down at me from her extraordinary height. Her willowy arms flicked her hair over her shoulder. Her sheer sarong billowed in the breeze, gently wrapping itself around her long tanned legs, and the water trickled over her perfect pedicure.

  My God, she was gorgeous. I looked down at my own toenails, the red polish chipping, noticing the uneven tan line my sandals had given me. My legs had scabs on them from falling over in the forest last week, and I'd forgotten to put makeup on this morning.

  But what does that matter? She isn't better than me because she's better looking. I bet she's a better kisser than I am. I mean, just look at those full, pouting lips. And I bet she's better in bed than I am too. All of my self-doubts came gushing to the surface.

  Arghh! I shook myself and straightened my shoulders.

  Her condescending look made me feel even more inferior. I was regretting this already.

  "Ummm…I'm Samantha," I said, continuing on and nodding like an idiot. "Yes. That's me. Samantha. But you can call me Sam if you like." Oh why did I say that? Just shut up and walk away now! But I did
n't. In typical me style, I ploughed ahead. "I'm Casey's girlfriend," I stated, pulling my shoulders back even further and sticking my chest out.

  She looked down her perfect nose, and her gaze wandered over me. She grimaced.

  "He's lowered his standards a lot, hasn't he?"

  She laughed, the noise grating on my nerves. I mean, I hadn't been rude to her. I hadn't launched a personal attack on her. I'd merely asked her a question.

  Her words stung, but I had enough pride not to let her see that. Instead I lifted my nose to match hers and asked, "What are you doing here? Why did you come here?"

  "Why do you want to know? Are you worried?"

  "No," I stated vehemently. Of course I was worried. "I'm investigating the murder of Ryan Hobson."

  I saw a flash of sadness hit those gorgeous eyes. "Why are you doing that?" she spat, replacing the sadness with venom.

  "Because Casey is the police's number one suspect, and I need to prove them wrong. So tell me, why are you here?"

  "I had nothing to do with Ryan's death. I didn't even know he was dead until Casey told me."

  "Maybe. But you came to Aloha Lagoon for a reason. I want to know what that reason was."

  "It's personal, and I don't need to tell you." She moved to push past me, but I stood my ground.

  "Look, if you must know," she said impatiently, "I'm looking for Travis. He double-crossed me."

  "What?"

  She sighed. "How's Casey?" she asked, her vibrant green eyes sparkling once again.

  "He's great! We're great! Things couldn't be better if we tried. Well, he could be cleared of all suspicions in regards to Ryan's murder. But other than that, things are great." I put on a fake smile, hands on my hips, attempting to convey a woman filled with happiness. Not anxiety or fear or any of those horrible emotions.

  "Huh," she replied, crossing her arms over her ample chest. Actually I didn't know how she managed to get her arms folded like that. From my viewpoint, her chest was enormous. Casey would have enjoyed those.

  "What does 'huh' mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes and shaking away all unpleasant thoughts about her chest and Casey.

  "Nothing. It's just…well, he doesn't look like he's happy."

  Her words cut to my soul.

  "I know Casey—well," she said, giving me a smug smile.

  I bet she did.

  "When he's happy, his eyes sparkle, and he has the most gorgeous smile."

  I knew what she was talking about. "His smile only stopped when you came to town," I couldn't help but interject.

  She flashed me a scowl. "That's not my fault. That's Ryan's fault. If he had stuck to the plan, I wouldn't have to be here."

  Hmmm, so Ryan had a plan, and Travis double-crossed her. That was all very interesting.

  "But then maybe there's a reason I'm here," she continued. "Fate can be a fickle master sometimes."

  "Fate?"

  "Yes. Maybe I was meant to see Casey again."

  I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

  "He dumped you for a reason," I spat.

  "Is that what he told you? That he dumped me?" She laughed, the sound like nails on a chalkboard to my ears. "No, sweetie, that's not what happened."

  I hated the way she called me sweetie. It made me feel even more inferior. If that was even possible.

  "Seeing him again has brought back so many memories. Good memories. Casey and I were good together. I should never have let him go." She licked her red painted lips and then turning to me, said, "Don't get in my way, Samantha. I get whatever I want."

  Tears stung the back of my eyelids.

  "But…you're here for Travis."

  "I'm here for what Travis is looking for."

  "Which is?"

  "Ryan."

  "But Ryan's dead."

  "Listen, sweetie, Travis is a very driven man. He will do whatever is necessary to get what he wants. With that in mind, I'm following him so I can have my share. Bastard thinks he can cut me out after all this time, he's got another think coming."

  "So what was the plan?"

  "None of your business," she snapped, pushing me aside. "Now I have more important things to do than stay here and talk to you." With that she flicked her hair over her shoulder and strutted away.

  I felt rattled. I shouldn't have let her get to me that way, but I had. My own stupid insecurities had gotten the better of me.

  I closed my eyes and remembered the night I had just spent with Casey. He didn't act like a man who wanted his ex back, so why should I be worried?

  The internal debate continued as I checked my phone for Gabby's call. But I had no missed calls, and no messages. Disappointment mixed with impatience as I realized I still had to wait. Argh! I hated waiting. I hated it.

  Well, there was nothing else I could do, so I made my way to the Loco Moco to buy myself a cappuccino. I called Alani and asked if she was up and available. I really needed a best friend to talk to. She would know exactly what to say to me about Veronica that would make me feel better.

  Reaching the Loco Moco, I chose one of the outside tables. It was too beautiful a morning to sit inside. I was ordering my coffee as Alani messaged me to say she'd be there in ten. Luke had already gone for a surf, and she was sitting around doing nothing, so it gave her a great excuse to come to the resort.

  By the time she arrived I had talked myself into an anxiety attack. My hand shook as I lifted my coffee cup to my lips.

  The four cups of coffee before nine in the morning probably hadn't helped my present anxious state.

  "So what exactly did she say to you about Casey?" asked Alani. Today she had dressed in a bright yellow cotton sundress. It contrasted with her dark hair perfectly, and for the second time today I wished I had at least applied some makeup.

  I recapped my meeting with Veronica.

  "So you think she's going to try to get him back?"

  "Yes. Those were her exact words." Kind of, in a roundabout way.

  "You have nothing to worry about, Sam. Casey loves you."

  "He's never said he does," I replied mournfully.

  "You told me he uses your name as his password and that he only does that for people he loves."

  "It's not the same thing."

  "I still think you're overreacting."

  "Alani, Casey and I have only been together for a few months."

  "So?"

  "So how would he love me already?"

  "I read somewhere that it only takes three minutes to fall in love with someone."

  That didn't mean it applied to Casey.

  "Has he told you his history with her?" she asked.

  I shook my head. "No. He's been really closed about it."

  "Maybe they only dated for a short time. Maybe there's nothing to tell."

  "Maybe," I replied, absently playing with the froth of my cappuccino. "It just doesn't feel like nothing."

  Alani reached across the table and touched my arm. "Talk to him. Ask him the questions. He knows all your secrets. It's time he tells you his."

  I took a deep calming breath. She was right. The only way to sort this out was to talk to one another. What was I afraid of?

  "On a brighter note," said Alani, her eyes crinkling at the corners, full of mischief. "Do you want to hear the town gossip?"

  "Sure," I said, pushing Veronica to the back of my mind where she belonged. "What is it?"

  "Apparently someone ran into the Coconut Closet Convenience Co-Op and almost wrecked the store!"

  I gulped and downed the remains of my coffee.

  * * *

  I didn't know how he did it, but he did it. Rick had arranged for us to pay Hector a visit. We'd agreed not to overwhelm him, so it was just going to be Rick, Casey, and me.

  Honestly, I was a little nervous about it all. I had thought we were going to visit a

  geek nerd who lived in front of an Xbox, but after Gabby had explained Hector to me, I was really unsure what we were driving into.

 
Rick jumped into the front seat of Casey's car, me in the back, and he gave directions to drive north and inland to the base of the mountains. Once there, we were greeted with an amazing property filled with lush green grass, a stream, and many, many fruit trees. This may not be so bad after all. I had no idea what Gabby had been talking about.

  Then I saw the house. Well, if I could have called it that. Honestly, I thought that if dictionaries had pictures, this one would be under the word shack.

  We parked the car and got out, and the butterflies in my stomach erupted.

  Rick took the lead, striding towards the house. He knocked on the old wooden door, and I heard a deep voice say, "Aloha?"

  "Hey, Hector. It's me, Rick. And I have the friends I was telling you about."

  The door swung open, and a man, whom I can only describe as wild, greeted Rick with a grin. The man had thicker hair on his chin than on his head (the hair up there was quite thin). He was tanned and shirtless. But his grey eyes smiled as he looked at Rick.

  "Brother, man, dude. Good to see you, buddy," he said, slapping Rick on the back.

  Rick slapped him back, and they did a complicated handshake thing.

  "You weren't followed, were you?" asked the man.

  "Nope. Not today," said Rick. "Hector, this is Casey and Samantha. They're the ones who need your help."

  "Aloha," he said as a way of greeting us as he ushered us in the door. Looking around the grounds behind us, he said, "Got to be careful these days. FBI, CIA, Homeland Security are everywhere."

  They were?

  Once Hector was satisfied we were alone, Rick led the way into the dark interior of Hector's home. It wasn't scary—it was just different in an eclectic kind of way.

  Casey didn't waste any time. He handed Hector the iPad, and said, "Thank you for taking a look at this for us. We can't tell you how grateful we are."

  "It's nothing. Happy to help my friend Rick. He's a good man."

  Rick gave us a shrug, his expression indicating that he couldn't argue with Hector.

  I just happened to agree that Hector was right. Rick had no reason to help us today, yet he had. We sure owed him a big favor.

  It didn't take long for Hector to get the iPad app unlocked. "I changed the password to password. You can get into it whenever you want to then," he explained, handing it back to us.