Murder at Dolphin Bay (Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery Book 1) (2 page)

Kekoa put her hand over her mouth as if to hold in vomit that was threatening to spew forth. “That’s Mr. Cole. He’s staying in the tower suite.”

I furrowed my brow. The tower suite was our most expensive accommodation. One night in the opulent lodging costs more than an entire month’s rent for the condo Kekoa and I shared with Cam. If the guy was staying there he must have been loaded. I guess that explained why a beautiful woman was trying to pick him up.

“How did he die?” Kekoa asked as she tucked long dark hair behind one ear.

“I’m not sure. It looks like he simply passed in his sleep, but my instinct tells me there’s something more going on.” I noticed the first HPD car pull into the parking area. I watched as my brother Jason and his partner stepped out onto the pavement. I grabbed Kekoa’s hand and led her away from the crowd. Now that reinforcements had arrived I didn’t feel bad about leaving my post.

“Where are we going?” Kekoa asked as she struggled to keep up with me.

I grabbed my backpack from the tower and headed toward the hotel. “I want to take a look at Cole’s room before the police get to it.”

“What? No. You can’t. Do you know how much trouble we’ll get into if someone finds out?”

“No one is going to find out. I’ll be in and out as quick as a bunny.”

“Are you insane? Not only will you get fired but your dad is going to kill you. And when he’s done, John, Jason, Jimmy, Justin, and Jeff are
all
going to kill you too.”

In case you were wondering, the
J team
, as my mom refers to them, are my brothers. I have no idea why my parents decided to give all their sons J names, especially because, although we’re a traditional Hawaiian family, not one of them has a traditional Hawaiian name. I’ve asked on more than one occasion, and it seems the idea came from a movie. Or possibly a book. However you slice it, it’s weird. And no, when I eventually persuade Kilo Kapule to first notice and then marry me, I won’t be naming
any
of my children with names beginning with a J.

“I told you, they aren’t going to know.” I hurried across the cool tile of the lobby and slipped behind the desk. It’s somewhat hard to remain inconspicuous when you’re wearing a bathing suit, but everyone who was in the lobby was looking out the window, speculating about what was going on. I pushed Kekoa behind the counter and instructed her to hurry up and make a key to Cole’s room.

“I’m so going to get fired,” Kekoa complained as she did as I asked.

“You aren’t going to get fired. I need you to watch the elevator. If you see anyone heading up to the tower suite buzz the phone in the room and I’ll get out real quick.”

“This isn’t going to end well.”

“It’ll be fine.”

I headed toward the elevators and pushed the button for the car that would take me directly to the top floor of the tower. I figured if I could solve this case before my brother, or anyone else, the HPD would have no choice but to take my application seriously. Jason isn’t nearly as smart as I am and yet he managed to get promoted to detective. I mean really, how hard can it be?

On my way up to the suite I dug into my backpack, then slipped on a pair of shorts and the sweatshirt I’d worn that morning before it warmed up. I took out my phone, put it into my shorts pocket, and pulled the sleeves of my sweatshirt over my hands. Even Jason would think to dust for prints if it turned out foul play was involved, as I suspected it was, so I had to be sure I didn’t leave any behind. I slipped my backpack back over my shoulders, then used the key Kekoa had made to enter the room.

There was an open suitcase on the bed, a laptop and several files on the desk, and a handwritten note on the bedside table next to the phone. I decided the best course of action was to photograph
everything
. I used my phone to take photos of the room in general, and then I headed over to the bed to take photos of the contents of the suitcase. When I was done there I took photos of the files on the desk. I made sure to cover my hands before touching them. I wanted to log on to the computer but it was password protected, and I really didn’t have enough time to even attempt to hack my way in, so I focused my attention on the note next to the bed and the contents of the cabinet in the bathroom.

I heard my phone buzz as I turned each and every prescription pill bottle so I could take a photo of the label. I quickly e-mailed all the photos I’d taken to myself and then put my phone in my pocket. I thought I’d still have time to make my escape.

I was wrong.

I quickly slipped out of the room onto the balcony just as my brother Jason walked in. I could hear him talking to the men who were with him. They were more interested in the contents of the room than the balcony at that point, but eventually someone was going to come out to check out the exterior. I looked over the edge of the railing toward the sand, which was
very
far below. There was no way I’d survive a jump. There was another balcony directly below the one I stood on. It would be tricky to climb down without falling, and I had no way of knowing if the room was occupied or the door from the balcony open, but as I heard the men moving around inside, I realized making the climb down was really my only option.

I slowly climbed over the wrought-iron railing. I could feel my legs dangling fifteen stories above ground as I slowly walked my way down the railing with my hands. I have to say my fifty-pull-ups-a-day routine was really paying off.

When I got to the bottom of the rails I was hanging on to, I was still several feet above the balcony below. I swung my legs back and forth like I used to on the swing in the park, and then, when I knew my momentum was directed forward, I let go and sailed onto the tile floor of the balcony below.

“Wow,” I said aloud. “I can’t believe that actually worked.”

I tried the sliding glass door that led into the room. Luckily, it was unlocked. I really didn’t want to have to push my luck climbing down to the room directly below the one I’d just accessed. I slipped inside, which was, happily, deserted, and then made my way out into the hallway. I couldn’t risk running into my brother or any of the other cops in the elevator, so I dragged my increasingly fatigued body toward the stairway and made the very long trip back to the lobby.

“Are you insane?” Kekoa asked after I plopped onto a stool behind the counter and recounted what had occurred. “What if you had slipped or fallen wrong when you swung yourself onto the balcony?”

“I guess I’d be dead, but I didn’t slip and I’m very much alive. I need to get back to the beach before anyone realizes I’m gone. Text me if anyone comes around asking questions about me.”

I reached for my phone. It was gone. “Dang. I must have dropped my phone when I swung onto the balcony. I’m going to see if I can find it. We’ll talk later.”

I spent as much time as I dared looking through the shrubs at the base of the tower for my phone, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t find it. I was beginning to regret not deleting the photos I’d taken after I e-mailed them to myself. If someone found the phone, looked at the photos, realized what they were and that the phone was mine, I’m afraid my death-defying leap of faith was going to be for nothing.

I finally gave up my search and returned to my tower, where several members of the HPD were talking to witnesses.

“So what do you think happened?” I asked Colin Reynolds, one of the officers I’d known since I was in diapers. Colin was a nice guy who had worked with my dad when he was on the force. Although I have a whole passel of real uncles, I’ve been referring to him as Uncle Colin for as long as I can remember.

“Too early to tell. Could be death by natural causes, but we won’t know for sure until the medical examiner has a chance to check the guy out.”

“What about the drink?”

“What drink?”

“The empty glass on the table. It looked like it contained rum punch at one point. I have a hunch it might have been tampered with.”

Colin frowned. He held down the button on his radio and spoke into it. “Did we recover an empty glass from the table next to the victim?”

“No. There was nothing on the table next to the deceased,” a voice replied back.

“But there was a glass. I saw it,” I insisted.

“Joey and I arrived right behind Jason. We were one of the first teams on the scene. I don’t remember seeing a glass.”

I looked around the crowd. I figured the redhead I’d spoken to could vouch for the fact that Mr. Cole had had a drink delivered to him by a tall brunette but no longer saw her in the crowd. “Look, you have to trust me; there was a glass on the table. I spoke to a woman with curly red hair while I was waiting for you to show up. She said a tall brunette brought the drink to the man. She said it appeared as if the woman was flirting with him.”

“A tall brunette was flirting with this man?”

“I know he doesn’t look like the type to attract the attention of a beautiful woman, but he was staying in the tower suite,” I informed Colin. “I’m pretty sure it runs at least several grand a night.”

“Fair enough. I guess wealth trumps looks. I’ll speak to the witness. Do you have a name?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Do you see her here now?”

I looked around one more time. “No. She must have left. She was around five foot six with red curly hair that reached the middle of her back. She had green eyes and a southern accent. Oh, and she had on a green bikini with a wrap in a lighter shade of green. Ask around. I’m sure someone knows who she is.”

“I’ll do that. In the meantime, we could use your help clearing the rest of the civilians off the beach.”

“Okay, I’m on it.”

“And Lani…”

I turned and looked back at Colin.

“We
only
need help clearing the civilians off the beach.”

“Of course. That was implied. You know I’d never meddle in your case.”

I smiled the biggest and most sweetly innocent smile in my portfolio. This may be an odd thing to admit, but I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time in front of a mirror perfecting my facial expressions. When you have five brothers, all of whom are older and larger than you are, manipulation quickly becomes the main tool in your arsenal.

I won’t say I actually meddled at this point, but I wasn’t sure Colin would put much effort into trying to locate the redhead, so I asked everyone I came into contact with as I cleared the beach if they remembered seeing her. Everyone said they didn’t. I also asked those nearest to where the body had been found if they remembered seeing a glass on the guy’s table, but everyone I spoke to admitted they hadn’t been paying much attention to the man, who’d appeared to be napping, so they hadn’t really noticed.

I wasn’t certain what was going on, but I had a feeling there was something going on and I intended to figure out what it was—and I meant to be the first to do so.

As I mentioned, Cam, Kekoa, and I share a condo. It’s really tiny and pretty run-down, but it’s in a small complex, it’s right on the beach, and, best of all, it’s only a short bike ride away from the resort where we all work. In other words, in spite of the fact that Kekoa and I have to share a bedroom and Cam is a complete and total slob, it’s perfect.

When I got home after my shift I changed into a yellow bikini and a pair of faded cutoffs. Then I slipped my feet into bright yellow flip-flops, shoved a clean sweatshirt into my backpack, pulled my long dark hair into a sloppy ponytail, and began loading my car with my surfboard and the food and drink I’d bought for our cookout.

The Shell Beach Condominiums, where we live, has six units, numbered one through six. Cam, Kekoa, and I live in unit 1, which is the first condo along the sidewalk that leads to the parking area. Kekoa wanted to wait for a unit to open up that would have less foot traffic, but I like being in a positon to watch my neighbors as they come and go. I guess you could say I’m nosy.

Everyone in the other five units is very nice and we all get along fabulously, except for Mr. B in unit 6. Mr. B never seems to leave his condo and never talks to anyone. In fact, I personally have never met the man. He hasn’t lived in the building long—maybe a month—but it’s my opinion, based on his behavior, that he’s hiding out from someone, and as far as I’m concerned, that makes him interesting. Cam thinks he’s just an introvert and doesn’t enjoy social interactions, but I think there’s something more going on. I haven’t yet determined if he’s a good guy hiding out from the bad guys or a bad guy hiding out from the cops, but I’ve been working on a plan first to introduce myself and then slowly integrate myself into his life so I can find out what’s really going on once and for all.

As you may be able to discern, I have an active curiosity that at times lands me in a heap of trouble. Which could be another reason the HPD hasn’t moved me to the top of the waiting list for a spot on the team. I’ve never intentionally broken any laws, but there have been moments when my inclination to snoop has come to the attention of my brothers and their cop colleagues, and in all fairness, I supposed I could see how these incidents could hurt my chances of being offered the job my heart longs for.

It’s not that I wake up in the morning and ask myself what sort of trouble I can get into. It’s more that I’m impulsive and tend to act first and think later. There are times when this tendency toward spontaneity has worked well for me and lives have been saved, and there have been others when my well-intended actions have landed me in a heap of trouble.

I made sure that the door to the condo was firmly closed, then called to my yellow lab, Sandy, who was chasing seagulls on the beach. I buckled Sandy into the passenger seat of my Jeep and headed toward one of the best surfing spots in the area. The most awesome thing about this particular beach is that it’s off the beaten path, and most tourists don’t even know it exists.

When I arrived I was happy to see the waves were just about perfect. It was sunny and warm but not too hot, as it can be at times. The swells started in the distance and then rolled in toward the beach in perfectly synchronized sets that would make planning for the perfect wave all that much easier.

There’s nothing better than riding a giant wave in the warm tropical water as the sun sets behind you. I’ve participated in many different activities in my life, but I haven’t found a single thing that can take you away from your problems and help calm your mind more completely than racing across the sea as the wave curls and crashes into the water just behind you. Well, maybe sex, but it would be impolite to bring that up here.

I unbuckled Sandy and instructed him to hop down from the Jeep. I grabbed my board and backpack and headed over to the fire that someone had already built.

“Did you bring the beer?” Cam asked.

“Ice chest in the back of my Jeep. I’m surprised you aren’t in the water. It’s about as perfect as it can get.”

“I’m going to head in, but I thought I’d wait for Makena. She should be here any time.”

I shrugged and tossed my backpack on the sand next to where Cam was sitting. “Your loss. You may as well unload both ice chests while you’re waiting.”

I tucked my board under my arm and ran toward the water with Sandy chasing along behind me. Given the fact that I work on the beach and spend a significant amount of my free time surfing, I spend a
lot
of time in the ocean. There are times I worry about what all that saltwater will do to my hair and skin, but when it comes right down to it, the ocean is where I feel most at home.

I noticed Brody had shown up with Luke. I did my best to ignore them, not because the very sight of Luke makes my teeth hurt from all the clenching I do to keep my less-than-flattering opinions about him to myself but because Brody is a wave hog. The guy is only a moderately skilled surfer, yet he seems to think any wave is fair game whether someone else already has claimed it or not. I’m pretty good at avoiding what might appear to be an inevitable collision, but one of these days Brody is going to hurt someone with his wave hog ways and I’d really prefer that
someone
not be me.

By the time I decided to call it a day and return to the fire, the rest of the gang had arrived. Cam was sitting on a blanket next to Makena, trying not to be obvious about the fact that he was staring at her breasts, Drake was shooting the breeze with Brody and Luke, who both looked bored by whatever story he was telling, and Kekoa was talking to Tessa, the smartest of all the WSOs next to me. I’ve seen Brody noticing Tessa when he thinks no one is looking, but I’d be willing to bet my favorite surfboard that he has little to no chance with the serious and ambitious woman who is simply biding her time until she earns enough money to head to the mainland and pursue the college degree she’s always yammering on about. Personally, I don’t know why anyone would want to spend four years of their life in a stuffy classroom, but Tessa seems as committed to her dream of going to college as I do to mine of becoming a cop.

“Figures that the most excitement that’s happened at the resort in a good long while happens when I’m off,” Brody complained as I grabbed my towel and dried myself off.

“It’s rude to refer to the death of one of our guests as excitement,” Kekoa pointed out. “Mr. Cole deserves our respect.”

“Cole?” Luke asked. “Are you referring to Branson Cole?”

“Yeah,” Kekoa answered. “Do you know him?”

Luke nodded. “He’s quite good friends with my father. How did he die?”

“It’s inconclusive at this point, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say he was drugged,” I answered as I pulled my sweatshirt over my head. “Or at least that’s my theory based on the fact that he had an empty glass beside him that seems to have disappeared before HPD was able to retrieve it. I mean, why take the glass unless it was to hide evidence?”

“I thought he died in his sleep,” Drake countered.

“That’s what everyone was saying at the scene, but the guy’s eyes were wide open when I lifted the hat off his face and his features were somewhat distorted. I’m betting he died in some degree of pain but was unable to move or even call out for help. If you ask me, whatever drug was added to his drink paralyzed him before it killed him.”

“Ew. Do you need to be so graphic?” Makena complained.

I rolled my eyes. I really didn’t know what Cam saw in the newest member of our little group. She’s such a girl.

“If he was drugged, do you happen to know if the HPD has made an arrest?” Luke continued.

“Not as far as I’ve heard.” I made myself a plate of the food that had been set out on the table. The selection of fresh fish that had been grilled to perfection indicated that Brody had used his time off to do a little spearfishing.

“Based on the deep furrow in Jason’s forehead when I saw him just prior to leaving the resort for the day, I’d say the ME confirmed my suspicion about drugs contributing to the man’s death. I also think he’s confused by my report about there being a glass on the table next to where the guy was sitting, and he’s been unsuccessful in tracking down the redheaded witness and the woman who brought over the drink.” I looked directly at Luke. “You know the guy; do you have any idea who might want him dead?”

Luke didn’t answer right away, but I could tell he was seriously considering my question. I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised that Luke knew Branson Cole. Cole was rich and Luke came from a wealthy family. It had always seemed to me that the rich and influential among us tended to form a pretty tight bond that seemed to exist for the express purpose of keeping the less affluent at arm’s length.

“Do you know how long Branson had been on the island?” Luke asked.

“He checked into the tower suite three days ago,” Kekoa supplied. “I’m not sure if he had just arrived on the island or if he stayed somewhere else before his reservation with us.”

Luke pulled his phone out of his backpack and headed down to the water’s edge. I watched as he paced back and forth, talking to someone. The sun had set some time ago so it was dark, but the moon provided just enough light for me to see Luke running his hand through his hair in a fairly agitated manner. Luke had said he knew the man. Maybe he
did
know who’d killed him.

Luke himself had arrived on the scene almost two years earlier. I’m not sure how he got hooked up with Brody, who’s a very different kind of person than Luke appears to be. Not that I really knew Luke all that well. Sure, he seemed to pop up at a lot of the same events I attended, but I went out of my way to avoid him, so I’d really only said a handful of words to him in all the time I’d known him. I’d noticed Luke watching me from time to time with a serious look of contemplation on his face. I’m not sure what was going on in that head of his, but I found the whole thing to be both creepy and oddly exciting.

“Looks like Kilo made it after all,” Cam announced just as I was on the verge of ripping my brain out for admitting even to myself that I found Luke somewhat exciting.

My heart filled with anticipation as I turned toward the parking lot in anticipation of the arrival of the love of my life. Kilo was absolutely perfect for me and I was sure we’d enjoy many years of happiness together. Now I just needed to get him to notice me. My whole being was immersed with happiness as he stepped out of his car. God, he was a babe. But that happiness turned to anger when I saw him walking around the car to open the passenger door. He held out a hand to a bleached blond bimbo who caused quite the disturbance among the guys in the crowd as her fit but voluptuous body came into view.

What is it with busty blondes and men anyway? Working at the resort, I’ve witnessed men of all ages make fools of themselves as they panted after some silicone-enhanced Barbie doll while their wives looked on in anger. They’re on vacation in one of the most romantic places in the world with the women they’d pledged to spend their lives with. Shouldn’t their focus be on them and only them?

I was never settling down unless I could pull off a miracle and convince Kilo to marry me and forsake all others. I knew a lot of men, but in my humble opinion there wasn’t one that would be worth all the trouble that seemed to come with tying the knot. Don’t get me wrong; I like to date, and I do so fairly often, but marriage? Thanks but no thanks.

Right about the time Kilo announced he was taking Barbie—not her real name—to Australia with him for an upcoming surf competition, I decided I really needed a walk. I thought about telling someone where I was going, but all eyes and ears were on Kilo, so I motioned for Sandy to follow me and started down the beach.

I knew I should give up on Kilo. He barely knew I was alive and he certainly didn’t see me in the way I wanted him to. But I kept thinking he’d tire of dating supermodels and turn his sights elsewhere. I’d tried to be patient and wait for him to realize the best life partner is one with whom you share a background and common interests. I’d bet Barbie didn’t know how to surf, spear a fish, or free dive for shellfish. What could the man possibly see in her?

I stopped and stared at the water. The tide had turned and the waves had gentled quite a bit. The moon had risen higher in the sky and was shining down on the water, providing a nice glow in the otherwise dark night. Maybe I should just go home. I had my own car and my enthusiasm for the evening had waned considerably after Kilo arrived with his date.

“Beautiful night.” Luke walked up and stood beside me.

“It’s all right.” I shrugged. “Was that your dad you were talking to?”

“Yeah. He was pretty upset to hear about Branson but not all that surprised.”

Okay. Now that had my attention. “Why wasn’t he surprised?”

“He mentioned that Branson had gotten wrapped up in a business deal that appeared to be less than legit. Bran wanted my dad to invest in his project, but after doing his due diligence my dad decided to pass.”

“What kind of business?”

“He’s part of an investment group that’s planning to build a resort not far from Dolphin Bay. My dad commented that on the surface the project looked to be potentially profitable, but it’s his opinion that the seed money is dirty, and he wanted no part in it. He also mentioned that there were some zoning issues that as far as he knew had never been resolved, as well as backlash from local environmental groups. In his opinion the whole thing wasn’t likely ever to get off the ground, and even if it did, he didn’t need the hassle.”