4 Maui Macadamia Madness (8 page)

What was wrong with
me? I slipped out of my sundress and turned on the shower. Help solving a
mystery was always welcome. What I resented was the timing.

Having managed to
keep myself chaste until the ripe old age of thirty, it didn’t take more than
the first night to show me how much I enjoyed what transpired between a man and
a woman. I didn’t like having others interfere with spontaneity.

I sighed and stepped
under the shower head, allowing the warm water to wash away the sea salt and my
self-pity. The family could have one hour, then I would kick them out.

By the time I
entered the living area in my silky pajamas and robe, the others were crowded
around the table with a pad of paper and a pen.

Joe glanced up.
“You’re good at making lists. Here’s what we have so far.”

He was actually
asking for my input? “Who do you have?”

“Nobody,
actually.
One of us
always comes up with a reason to discount them. We’re doing more arguing than
work.”

“You’re a cop.” I
settled in an empty chair. “Take charge.”

“I’m on vacation.”

Good grief. I
glanced at Ethan, who shrugged. I blew him a kiss and focused on the task at
hand.

“Put down Susan Wood
and David Hatcher.
Also, Bruce and Maryann Franklin.
The
Wahine’s
—”

“That
sweet old couple?”
Aunt
Eunice waved away the thought.
“Never.”

Joe wrote them down.

“Don’t forget their
kids.” I chewed my pinky nail. “The
maid,
and Camilla
Wahine
. She found the body.” What about the Aldrich’s? I
decided to ask some questions. “So far, everyone outside of this room is a suspect.”

“The
Wahine’s
buy their nuts from a candy shop in
Lahaina
,” Joe said as he wrote. “
Manano
checked them out and thinks the nuts were clean when the
Wahine’s
got them.”

“Put him down, too.”
I pointed at the paper.

“He’s a police
officer.” Joe glowered.

“A dirty one, I’d
bet my next pineapple.”

“I agree with
Summer
,” Ethan said, standing. “There’s something that
doesn’t sit right about him. Anyone want something to drink?”

All hands went up.

“Six glasses of
water all around.”

Bless my husband. He
knew if he handed out tasty drinks, they’d all stay forever.

“The folks I still
want to investigate are the gardener and the
Aldrichs
.”

“I don’t like it.
Not one bit,” Aunt Eunice said. “But you know me, I mind my own business. We’re
just here for moral support.”

I almost laughed out
loud. She had been involved in all three of previous jaunts into crime solving.

“I think you girls
should let the men handle this. It’s too dangerous. Don’t forget, I got stabbed
last time.” Uncle Roy lifted his tropical print shirt and showed us the scar.
A raw pucker that marred his pasty-white skin.

“That was because of
an elephant, not a murderer.” I accepted the glass Ethan handed me and smiled,
lifting my face for a kiss.

He obliged and
continued around the table.

“Which of these
people fit the sweats?” April took her glass and set it on the table. “Wouldn’t
that rule out some of these people?”

“That is an
excellent point.” Aunt Eunice raised her hand for a high five.

I shook my head. She
forgot she was in her sixties until she tried to keep up with me. I loved her
dearly and waited my turn to high-five.

“Tomorrow, we’re
going to the volcano. Are we going to watch the sunset or rise? I heard the
Aldrichs
say at supper that they were going up there and
making a day of it.” Aunt Eunice stood. “I’ve made a point of befriending the
woman. She’s a kind soul, but I’ll try to get her to talk, if you think she
killed someone.”

“She’s a suspect,
Eunice,” Joe said.
“Nothing more.”

“Well, if she tries
something, I’ll throw her into the fiery pit.”

“It’s a dormant
volcano.” Joe’s face reddened. “And you can’t make threats.”

“I can say what I
darn well please.” She planted her fists on her hips. “If anyone tries any
funny business, I’ll give them what-for!”

Okay. I stood and
started gathering glasses.
“Sounds like we’ve got a busy day
ahead of us.
Time to get to sleep.
I seriously
doubt we’ll make it for sunrise.”

“I’m too riled up to
sleep, thanks to your cousin.” Aunt Eunice glared. “He does go on with his
nonsense like a silly fool.”

“Well, try anyway.”
I gave her a pointed look. Could she not take a hint?

“Oh.” She paled and
grabbed Uncle Roy’s hand. “They are…you know…um…”

“On
their honeymoon.”
He
grinned. “I get it. Let’s go, old woman.” He kissed her cheek and ushered her
out, followed by Joe and April.

Ethan closed the
door behind them and turned with a grin. “Your family is as much fun as a
circus.”

“A
regular riot.”
I set the
glasses in the sink, grateful that we had splurged on a cabin with all the
amenities in case we didn’t want to join the others for meals. I suppose it
gave honeymooners the chance to practice real married life.

Although,
I doubted many of them planned on solving a murder while enjoying that
so-called life.

Chapter
Nine

I was glad we’d opted for watching the sun set instead of rise.
Something about the legend of the demigod Maui lassoing the sun to make the day
last longer, resonated with me far more than forcing myself to rise early. The
beauty of the land invited a person to linger and enjoy God’s creation, not
rush helter-skelter through the day like life on the mainland.

“Ready?” Ethan
stowed a small ice chest in the back of the van and closed the rear door. He
eyed my bare legs. “I’ve heard it’s pretty chilly up there. Maybe you should
wear long pants.”

“I didn’t bring any.
This is Hawaii. It’s tropical.”

“Do you have a
sweater?”

Wasn’t he listening?
Aunt Eunice, a windbreaker draped over her arm, bustled down the walk
accompanied by April, who wore yoga pants with a sweater tied around her waist.

“It gets cold up
there,” Aunt Eunice said. “Flip-flops and shorts will not do according to the
Wahines
.”

I sighed. “I’ve got
gym shoes inside. Be right back.”

After setting my
camera on the van seat, I hurried inside the cottage and changed into a flower
print maxi sundress over a white tee shirt. At least the dress would cover my
legs. Then, I slipped on pink and white gym shoes which looked ridiculous with
the predominantly red dress.

When I rejoined the
others, Aunt Eunice shoved some pea green soup-colored sweater at
me, that
once I put it on, would swallow me whole.
So much for fashion.

“Let’s go.” Joe
clapped his hands together then rubbed them.
“Time to get
this show on the road.
It’ll take about two hours to get there from
here. Hope y’all don’t get car sick.”

“Car
sick?”
Of course I did.
Joe knew that, too, as evidenced by the grin he gave as he climbed into the
front seat.
Again.
A person would think he was the one
who married Ethan. I didn’t get nearly as sick if I rode in the front.

I dug into my purse,
pulled out my nausea pills, and grinned. Since we planned on possibly taking a
boat somewhere to snorkel rather than right off shore every time, I had come
prepared. I waved the packet in his face, then settled back in my seat and
popped one in my mouth.

“Grow up, Summer.”
Joe faced forward.

“Where’s the fun in
that?” I focused on the glorious scene outside.

We passed fields of
pineapple and pastures of fat cattle. We stopped and waited while a school bus
dropped off children. I smiled at the sight of little girls in sundresses and
flip-flops. If not for the murder, life on Maui would seem idyllic.

The whole concept of
living on an island didn’t bother me. You might not be able to drive to the
coast in a day in Arkansas, but I still didn’t think being surrounded by water
would suffocate me. Especially when the water was such a brilliant blue,
flowers abounded, life slowed down, and people were friendly.

By the time we were
halfway up the volcano, I thanked God profusely for the nausea medicine. The
road was so curvy it often turned back on itself. I had heard the road to
Hana
was treacherous. If it was worse than this, I’d be
white-knuckled the entire trip.

I wrapped my arms
around the headrest and massaged Ethan’s shoulders. There didn’t seem to be
enough physical affection between us for a honeymoon. I cast a sideways glance
at the others. No one needed to tell me why there was a lack.

“Parking lot is
full.” Ethan slowed.

“There.” Joe
pointed.
“By the gift shop.”

The moment I climbed
from the van, the wind whipped my hair around my face and my skirt around my
legs with a biting force. The cold cut to the bone, even after I wrestled
myself into Aunt Eunice’s giant sweater. For once, I was glad to be wrong about
my previous choice of attire.

Ethan grabbed my
hand. “Do you want to observe the crater from the store window?”

“No. I want to take
pictures.” I headed for the railing. “Oh, look. We’re in heaven.”

The clouds below us
looked thick enough to walk on. All they lacked was a cherub with wings and a
harp. In the distance, a rainbow cut through the clouds completing the fantasy
picture. Although I knew the camera wouldn’t do the sight justice, I snapped a
few pictures and chose to do my best to ignore the wind.

“I’m up. We’ll meet
at O one hundred hours to compare notes.” Aunt Eunice clapped me on the
shoulder and pushed her way into the store where the Aldrich’s milled with a
few other tourists.

“I’d best make sure
she doesn’t cause a ruckus.” Uncle Roy followed his eager wife.

Joe shook his head
and grabbed April’s hand. “Let’s take a look at the crater.”

Finally
alone.
Just
as I preferred.
I turned and beamed at Ethan. “I want to see the crater,
too. Let’s walk off a ways.”

His arm around my
shoulders felt warm and comforting, steadying me. Why wasn’t there a brochure
in our room warning us of the temperature and weather up here? I pressed closer
and let him lead me to a spot relatively free of tourists.

I leaned my elbows
on the rail. It did indeed look like the moon. Black dirt mingled with hues of
rust, smaller craters within the large one, plants I’d never seen before with
spiky silver leaves. I laid eyes on another planet. If not for people starting
to crowd close, I could almost believe I had entered another world. What a
contrast from the lushness below.

When Joe and April
joined us, I stepped away, not willing to give up that strange sense of
otherworldliness. I snapped picture after picture, hoping they would look as
fantastic when I printed them.

People crowded
closer, smashing me against the iron rail. I shoved back. Someone banged into
me. My hip slammed against the rail. Pain shot through me. I tried peering over
the crowd for Ethan.

I was lifted off my
feet.

I tried to turn
around. Someone had me tight against the railing, slowly shoving me over. The crater
floor looked miles away. My heart stopped.

No way could someone
survive the fall. With so many people crowded around, it would look like an
accident.

Adrenaline prickled
my skin. My breath came in gasps. I kicked backwards and screamed.

The pressure
released. I fell in a lump on the ground. The crowd moved back as Ethan forced
his way through.

“Summer!”
He knelt and pulled me close. “Are you
hurt?”

“Someone tried to
push me over.”

“Are you sure? It’s
gotten very crowded, maybe it was an accident.” He pulled me to my feet.

“Like the spear?” I
gripped his arms. “Was that an accident? Ethan, I’ll have bruises I can show
you later to prove someone tried to push me.”

His face paled.
“Come on. Let’s get you in the store.”

“I want to sit down.
Is there somewhere to sit?” My head swam and despite the temperature,
perspiration broke out on my upper lip. No matter how many times somebody
tried, I could not get used to someone trying to kill me.

Ethan lowered me to
a nearby bench and took a knee. “I’m sorry.” He smoothed the hair away from my
face. “I shouldn’t have let us get separated. We’re going home.”