Carol Clark - Burned

“Can you identify him in any way?”

“Jimmy has been concentrating very hard. He saw a flash of yellow.”

“Yellow what?” a reporter from the back of the crowd called.

“Yellow something. When Jimmy was shoved, he thought he saw something yellow fly by his face.”

“That’s all you remember?”

“What do you want from Jimmy? Jimmy could have been killed. It’s something! Cops should figure out what to do!”

“Is there anything else you’d like to tell us, Jimmy?”

Jimmy looked straight into the camera. “Whoever did this will have very bad luck, especially if I get my hands on them. Those royal leis were stolen many years ago from the women who made them right before they were to be given to Queen Liliuokalani and Princess Kaiulani. They found the thief and chased him into the ocean. Yesterday one of those royal leis was found around the neck of the lady who drowned at Waikiki Waters. To whoever took both my leis today, I hope the sea swallows you up! There is a curse on those leis!” He paused. “Jimmy needs an aspirin.”

The reporters closed their notebooks, and the cameras were shut off.

“A flash of yellow,” one of the reporters muttered. “This guy should be easy to find.”

J ason and Carla were seated at a table by the window, across the room from the twins. Carla couldn’t help looking over at the older women every two minutes.

“Relax and eat,” Jason told her more than once.

“I can’t. I’m so mad. They thumbed their noses at us and this beautiful ring.” She held out her hand.

“Forget it!”

She tried to eat her ahi burger but didn’t feel hungry. What was it about those two that was different today? She glanced over at them again. They were wearing beige slacks and long-sleeved beige shirts. Carla squinted her eyes and recalled seeing them at the hotel wearing garish muumuus.

A waitress walked by and refilled their water glasses as Carla remained deep in thought.

“Carla,” Jason said, “you’re ignoring me.”

“That’s it!” she whispered to him. “Now I remember what I saw the other night when I took my walk on the beach.”

“What?”

“Those women’s muumuus were hanging over their railing. Their lanai is right on the beach. I remember seeing them and thinking that the hotel doesn’t want people hanging things out to dry like that. It makes the place look like a flophouse. The muumuus were soaking wet!”

“So?”

“So that’s the night Dorinda Dawes drowned. Maybe they killed her. How else does your muumuu get all wet like that?”

“How do you even know who the muumuus belonged to, Carla?”

“They were two big ugly muumuus! I know they were theirs. I was tipsy, but I remember thinking that I had seen them before. One was hot pink and the other purple, and otherwise they were identical. They practically glowed in the dark.”

At the other table the twins called for their check.

“Get our check,” Carla ordered Jason.

“Why? I’m not finished.”

“I want to follow them and see what they’re up to.”

“What?”

“We have to. They could be murderers. It’s our duty.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “You’re crazy,” he muttered as he signaled their waiter. “There’s no law against hanging your muumuu out to dry.”

“No, there isn’t,” Carla agreed. “But I still think they’re no good.”

“I guess we’ll find out.” Jason sighed.

They certainly would.

R egan wandered down to the beach to look for Kit. She spotted Steve and Kit under a large umbrella near the edge of the ocean.

“We’ve been waiting for you, Regan,” Steve announced as he jumped up. “We have a seat right here with your name on it!”

“Thanks.” Regan plopped down and kicked off her sandals. It felt good to dig her toes into the warm sand. Kit and Steve were in bathing suits, and their hair was wet. It was after four, and already many of the sunbathers had retreated from the beach. Empty beach chairs dotted the sand.

“How’s it going?” Kit asked.

“Fine.”

“You’re not a beach person?” Steve asked.

“I love to swim, but I can’t sit in the sun for very long. No matter what I put on, I get burned.” Regan explained.

Steve laughed. “There are a lot of different ways to get burned.”

“I suppose,” Regan answered. Their eyes met for a second, but he looked away quickly. Funny, Regan thought. All of a sudden he looks older than thirty-five. And last night he seemed much more wholesome. Right now he has the aura of someone who’s been to one too many singles parties-slick and tired.

“Kit tells me your fiancé is head of the major case squad in New York City.”

“Yes, he is.”

“And you’re a private investigator?”

“That’s right.”

Steve smiled. “No one can get away with much when the two of you are around.”

“I can’t wait to see what their kids are like,” Kit said with a grin. “I’m the godmother of your first-right, Regan?”

“I’ll be the godfather,” Steve volunteered.

Kit looked at him with an expression of pure joy.

Oh, Kit, this guy is too smooth, Regan thought. He seems to be the type who promises too much too soon and doesn’t mean a word of it. He had already given Kit the line that he couldn’t believe they had so much in common. And Kit loved it! But Regan silently warned herself not to become one of those women who gets in a good relationship and then loses patience for their single friends’ dating problems. “Let’s see if we’re lucky enough to even have kids,” she answered.

“I want to have a houseful of children,” Steve declared.

And I want to trust you, Steve, Regan thought. Don’t make it so hard. Those classic lines you’re feeding Kit are just too much. Regan had heard them all and much to her regret, had too often believed them. I should say a prayer right now thanking God for Jack. Regan watched as Steve reached over and patted Kit’s knee. Kit smiled and reached out her hand. He clutched it for a moment and then brought it to his lips for a little kiss.

I feel a wave of nausea, Regan thought. This Romeo is getting phonier by the minute. Her cell phone rang. Saved by the bell. She reached for it in her bag and pulled it out. The caller ID had the Hawaii area code.

“Hello.”

“Regan, it’s Janet. We’ve got a problem. The leis were stolen from the museum, and Dorinda’s cousin is on his way from the airport. He should be here in about fifteen minutes.”

Regan stood. “Thank you. I’ll call you right back.” She closed her phone and turned to Kit and Steve. “I have some business to take care of.”

“Dinner at my house tonight,” Steve proclaimed. “We’ll cook up some tuna and mahimahi, with a little Italian bread. It’ll be great. Same group as last night.”

I’d rather stick pins in my eyes, Regan thought. “Sounds wonderful,” she said with a smile. “Kit, I’ll see you back at the room later.”

“I’m going to take off soon and go food shopping,” Steve announced. “If you two don’t mind taking a cab to my place, I’ll of course get you home.”

“Do you need help?” Kit asked.

“No,” Steve answered quickly. When he saw the dejected look on Kit’s face, he added, “you girls have a little time together. My buddies are back at the house. They’ll help me get the dinner ready.”

“I have to get back to this caller,” Regan explained. “Kit, I’ll see you by six at the latest.” She turned and headed toward the hotel. She couldn’t believe that both leis were stolen. Dying to hear how it happened, Regan rushed to Will’s office.