Carol Clark - Burned

“Steve Yardley. He comes around to the bars here sometimes. All I know is that he retired young and supposedly has a fortune.”

“Do you think he’s legit?”

“I don’t know, Regan. He’s one of those guys who gets around town. He seems to be a real ladies’ man. But I’ve noticed him talking to a lot of the businessmen at the bar.”

“There was a group picture on Dorinda’s desk taken at a party. Dorinda was gazing up at him with a big smile.”

“Dorinda gazed up at a lot of men with a big smile. If she had something on him, I don’t know what it could be.”

“Okay. How about our dear friend Jazzy? There’s a small article in here about her boss Claude’s clothing line.”

“He’s always trying to get publicity. The guy is an extremely successful businessman who now wants to be famous. He wants to be in the middle of the action. As far as I know, that’s not a crime.”

“No, it’s not. But Jazzy works for him. Who knows what she’s capable of?”

“I told you. She’s like dandruff. Wait till you see her in action tomorrow night. The guys love her. It’s hard to stomach but I think she’s harmless. Anything else, Regan?”

Regan handed him a couple of clippings about restaurant openings and parties around town. “Do these mean anything to you?”

Will glanced at them and shook his head. “They have no significance to me.” He handed them back.

Regan shut the file. “I have to meet Kit and go to dinner at this guy Steve’s house.” She paused. “One more thing. There was a young couple I spoke to on the beach last night. She had gone for a late-night walk the night Dorinda drowned. She thinks she saw something unusual but couldn’t remember what it was. She said she’d let me know. I haven’t heard from her today, but I’d like to give her a call. Problem is, I didn’t take their number.”

“What are their names?”

“Carla and Jason. They just got engaged last night. The other problem is that I didn’t get their last names, but I know they’re staying in the Coconut Tower.”

“I’ll have someone run a check on the computer. They should be easy to find.”

“Great. Are you going straight home from the airport?”

“Yes. And I’m not coming back until tomorrow. You can always reach me on my cell phone.”

“I hope I won’t have to.”

“No more than me, Regan, no more than me.”

“W hat are we going to do with them?” Gert asked Ev. They had taken a taxi to the airport and were waiting for a flight back to Honolulu. The airport was open and breezy and small. In spite of the unexpected development, Gert and Ev sat on a bench enjoying the beautiful evening.

“For one thing, we’ve got to come back tomorrow and get rid of them somehow, ya know?”

“Sure do. But how? We can’t ever let them talk, or else we’ll end up like those ladies in the prison movies.” Gert laughed. “I can’t believe we’ve turned into such bad girls.”

Ev looked at her. “We deserve to have some fun in life. We took care of our parents. We took care of Sal Hawkins. I’ve stepped in too many puddles in Hudville. That life is almost over. Now’s our time, sister. It’s Gert and Ev’s time to have fun.”

“I’m going to cry,” Gert sniffled. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

“We’re lucky to have each other. We make a good team.”

“I never thought we’d be partners in crime.”

“Get used to it!” Ev laughed. “I’ve been thinking about those two jerks up in our house. I’m sorry they had to ruin it for themselves, I really am. And now they’re going to cost us more money running back and forth. We’ve got the flight back here tomorrow afternoon. I figure we’ll rent a car with a big trunk. Then when it gets dark we’ll get them in there and drive to the other side of the island. There are lots of places where you can just give someone a good shove and away they go, down the cliffs into the deep blue sea.”

“You’re a genius.”

“No, I’m not, sister. It’s common sense. Luckily our ma taught us all about that.”

“She didn’t teach us how to kill people.”

“There was no one worth killing in Hudville. Given half a chance I bet she could have done it in a heartbeat.”

“I suppose. But how are we going to get back to Honolulu in time for our early morning walk on the beach Sunday? The group is really going to know that something’s up if we’re not there for that.”

“We can tell them we have to go to church, to a special sunrise service that will take all morning. It’ll be our last full day, so we’ll go to the special Sunday brunch with them. And then we can say good riddance to these tour groups.”

“I just thought of something.”

“What, sister?”

“What about that couple’s car? What are we going to do with that?”

“It’s actually kind of perfect. Tomorrow you follow me in their car. We park it by the cliff. Everyone will think the lovers committed suicide for some dumb reason or other.”

“One problem, Ev.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t drive.”

“Sure you can. It’s easy. You just never got your license because you know I like to drive. That’s because I like to be in charge because I’m older.”

“Only by five minutes and twenty-two seconds.”

An announcement came over the loudspeaker that the flight to Honolulu was now boarding. The twins gave each other a quick hug, as they always did before they boarded a flight. When the plane finally took off, they looked down at the Big Island.

“Pretty soon we’ll call it home,” Gert said.

“Home sweet home,” Ev agreed.

Off in the distance, in the basement of Gert and Ev’s dream house, Jason and Carla were frantically trying to loosen the ropes around their hands. Carla was sobbing. Her chest started to heave, and the piece of torn sheet they’d tied around her mouth gagged her.

“Calm down,” Jason pleaded as he attempted to make himself understood through the sheet stuffed in his mouth. “We’ll…make…it,” he said, trying to assure this woman who, he realized now more than ever, was the love of his life. Please, God, he prayed. Let someone find us. He closed his eyes. Regan Reilly came into his mind. She was investigating Dorinda Dawes’s death, which he was now sure was a murder. I can tell you who did it, Regan. Come find us, he prayed, before those two psychos get back.

He was sure they were capable of anything.

T here was no denying it. Kit was in deep, deep like. When Regan got back to the room, Kit’s clothing was all over her bed.

“Regan, I can’t decide what to wear. How are things going?”

Regan explained that the leis had been stolen and then found in Will’s office.

“This place is crazy,” Kit commented as she held up yet another silk top before the mirror. “I have to find something to wear to the ball tomorrow night. When I came out here for the conference, I certainly didn’t pack a glittery outfit.”

“There’s a huge shopping center down the street,” Regan reminded her.

“I know. Steve is taking me there tomorrow. He wants to buy me a dress to wear.”

“Are you going to let him?” Regan asked cautiously.

“At first I said no, but he really wants to. You don’t think that’s a good idea?”

“Ahhh,” Regan began. She didn’t want to dampen Kit’s enthusiasm. And maybe Steve was a good guy. “It’s just so fast,” she said.

Kit sat down on her bed. “Regan, I know it sounds crazy, but I think this guy could really be the one.”

“There’s nothing I’d like better than if this worked out,” Regan replied honestly if ambiguously. She didn’t add that she thought that was a long shot.