Carol Clark - Burned

“Regan Reilly said she’d be a bridesmaid,” she told them joyfully.

If Carla and Jason felt up to it, they said they’d come down and make an appearance later on. But they had barely touched the food and drinks Will had sent to their room.

Jimmy was in attendance, wearing both leis around his neck. “Jimmy is going to donate both leis for the auction,” he announced proudly.

Jazzy was modeling Claude’s sexy muumuu and clearly enjoying the attention. She and Claude hosted two tables filled with socialites. Regan was seated with Kit, Steve, Will, Kim, Will’s parents, and Dorinda’s cousin Gus. He was quite the social butterfly, getting up and down every two minutes to do interviews and take pictures for the article Will promised to publish in the next newsletter. “We mustn’t forget Dorinda,” he said. “But most of all, justice must be served.”

An air of conviviality prevailed. Everyone was relieved that the twins were behind bars.

“You’re some investigator,” Steve said to Regan. “Kit is so proud of you.”

Regan shrugged and smiled at both of them. “Thanks. Sometimes you just get a gut instinct that you have to follow.”

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. As she turned away, Steve remarked to Kit, “She’s something, isn’t she?”

Kit giggled. She’d had a few glasses of wine and was feeling light-headed. She put her arm around his back. “Knowing her, she’s probably having you checked out.”

He looked at her and laughed. “Little old me?”

“She’s very protective. And I’m her best friend.”

The band started to play “The Way You Look Tonight.” Steve extended his hand. “Shall we dance?”

Kit floated out of her chair, and they were off.

Regan couldn’t wait to get back home. She missed Jack more than ever as she watched all the couples on the dance floor. She had to admit that Kit and Steve did look great together. She also felt that she had done enough for the Waikiki Waters Resort. With the twins in captivity, the place was certainly safer.

“I can’t thank you enough, Regan,” Will said to her quietly. “I wish I could hire you on a permanent basis.”

“Well, I promise to come back and visit.”

“They’re going to auction the leis in a little while. For my taste they can’t be out of here soon enough.”

“I can well imagine.”

Regan’s cell phone began to ring. She had it out on the table. When she looked at the number, she saw it was Jack. They had talked several hours ago after the twins were arrested. Smiling, she turned to Will. “Excuse me. I’ll go outside with this.” She got up and started to walk toward the door. “Hello there!” she answered.

“Regan, where’s Kit?” he asked briskly.

“She’s here at the ball. Why?”

“Is Steve Yardley with her?”

“Yes. What is it, Jack?”

“I just got word about the prints from the beer bottle. This guy has a criminal record and goes by a number of aliases. Yes, he worked on Wall Street, but he was fired for embezzling funds. He’s run a number of scams since then. He rents a house in an expensive neighborhood with lots of part-time residents and gets people he meets to invest in his schemes. Then he moves on. He had a girlfriend who disappeared about ten years ago and has never been found. He has a bad temper and is considered dangerous if you make him angry.”

“Oh, my God,” Regan walked back into the room, the phone at her ear. The band had taken a break, and no one was on the dance floor. She looked over at her table. Kit and Steve’s seats were empty. The main course was being served. “Jack, I don’t know where she is.”

“I thought you said she was there.”

“She was a few minutes ago, but then she and Steve got up to dance. Now they’re gone. Maybe they just went for a walk,” Regan said, worry filling her soul. “I’m going to look for her. I’ll call you back.”

“Regan, be careful! This guy is dangerous.”

Regan closed her cell phone and for a brief moment had the surreal feeling that she was leaving her body. Kit. Oh, Kit. She turned around and bumped into Gus. “Have you seen Kit?”

“I just interviewed her outside. She and Steve look as if they’re so much in love. I think they’re going for a moonlight stroll.”

Regan ran out the door toward the beach.

“This is so romantic!” Kit said giddily as they strolled along the beach.

“I just want to be with you,” Steve told her quietly. “Not with all those other people. Some of them are so annoying. Let’s go sit on the jetty.”

They took off their shoes and gingerly stepped onto the rocky surface. Steve tightened his grip on Kit’s hand as, in the darkness, they carefully made their way out to the end of the jetty. A breeze was blowing, and the wide open sea lay endlessly before them. When they couldn’t walk any farther, Kit laid her head on Steve’s shoulder.

“Come on,” Steve urged. He crouched, moved down among the rocks that faced the ocean, and turned to reach for Kit. “It’s our own little place here. No one will bother us.”

Kit smiled as he carefully guided her down beside him. They sat, wrapped their arms around one another, and nestled in their private cove. The water lapped at their feet.

“This is so wonderful.” Kit sighed.

Steve turned his head and started to kiss her. Hard. Too hard.

Kit pulled back. “Steve,” she protested, trying to laugh it off.

“Ow!”

“What’s the matter?” he asked gruffly. “You don’t want me to kiss you now?”

“Of course I want you to kiss me.” She leaned back in toward him.

“I want you to kiss me the way you did last night.”

He kissed her again, biting her bottom lip as his right hand yanked the back of her hair. Kit pulled away for the second time, fear rising in her. “Steve, you’re hurting me.”

He grabbed her arm. “Do you think I would hurt you? Do you think that just because you’re best friends with Regan Reilly all your boyfriends should be checked out? Is that what you think?” he demanded as his grip around her arm tightened.

“No, I was just kidding,” Kit protested. “Regan looks out for me, that’s all. She’s my best friend. She likes you…”

“No she doesn’t. I saw the way she was looking at me.”

“She does like you. We want you to meet her fiancé Jack. He’s great…”

Steve squeezed her arm and shook it. “He’s a cop. I don’t need the two of them asking me a lot of questions. That’s what Dorinda Dawes did. She started poking around my house and asking me everything about my life. She thought she was so smart. I had to shut her up!”

Kit’s brain, which had been slightly clouded by the wine she’d been drinking, suddenly snapped into focus. The realization that Steve was Dorinda’s killer hit her with sickening force. I’ve got to get out of here, she thought. “Let go of my arm,” she said as calmly as she could. “You’re hurting me.”

“You’re hurting me,” he repeated in a baby voice, mocking her.

“I’ve got to go.” Kit started to stand but didn’t get far. She screamed as he pulled her back down.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“Yes, I am!” Kit insisted fiercely as she turned away and hurriedly began to climb up from the rocks. But Steve pulled her back again. She stumbled backward and screamed out for help. He quickly pressed his hand over her mouth, held her struggling body close to him, and dipped her head into the swirling dark ocean.

Out on the beach, Regan frantically looked around. There was no one there. “Kit!” she called. “Kit!” She kicked off her shoes and ran down to the water’s edge. “Kit!”

All was silent.

“Kit!”