Deadly Wipeout (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries Book 3) Read online

  I heard the distinct whoop whoop sound of a helicopter and looked up. Rick's Air Paradise helicopter tours were busy. I'd lost count of the number of times he'd flown over that day. I remembered what Gabby had said about his tours. I'd love to do it one day, but as I swung my leg over the bike, which thanks to Casey was now complete with shiny new back tire, I knew I had other priorities to consider first. Still, it was definitely on the list.

  The upside to riding a bike was that my fitness was getting better. I could now easily make my way up the hill to home. Okay, maybe easily was a bit generous, but at least I didn't collapse in a heap at the top anymore.

  The house was empty when I walked in, so I took advantage of that, turned the radio up to loud, and made my way straight to the bathroom.

  I took the time to pamper myself. I shaved my legs, washed my hair, used one of Mum's moisture treatments, and then exfoliated everywhere that needed exfoliating. By the time I turned the shower off, I felt amazing. I hung my wet towel over the towel rail and realized that I'd left my clean clothes in my bedroom. No one was home, so a quick dash across the hall wouldn't hurt. I grabbed my towel and tied it around my body. It was on the small side and barely covered my backside, but that didn't matter. It wasn't like I was about to entertain company. The radio was blaring a hit from the sixties, which was really catchy, so I flung the bathroom door open and danced into the hall. And directly into Luke.

  I screamed. Luke screamed. In fact, I didn't know who screamed the loudest. Hmmm, actually, I think that was probably Luke.

  I quickly used my hands to pull the towel over my backside as much as I could and yelled at him.

  "Where the hell did you come from?"

  "I just got home. Where are your clothes?" he yelled, turning his back to me.

  "I had a shower. No one was home!" I ducked across the hall to my room. As I did, I looked over Luke's shoulder and saw Casey—his grin the largest I had ever seen it.

  If a person could self-combust from overheating, I would have. I had never been so embarrassed in my life—even the time I'd been caught photocopying my boobs as a dare. I flung myself onto my bed.

  My life sucked. I hated living with my brother. I hated it. All the memories I had of living with him as a kid came flooding back. Soon anger started to replace the tears, but then I settled down and figured it wasn't his fault. He didn't know I would be walking around half naked. And really, it wasn't Luke that I was embarrassed about. It was Casey.

  I stood and moved to my mirror and checked just how much of my flesh that Casey would have seen. The towel had been tied low across my chest, showing quite a bit of cleavage, and I hoped like anything that I hadn't been bending at the waist when Casey saw me. If I had, I would have been showing him areas where the sun didn't shine.

  Argh!

  I found some clothes and applied some makeup. My hair was drying naturally, which was something I was getting used to. Using my fingers, I fluffed it to give it some bounce and then flopped myself on the bed. It didn't take long lying there for me to fall asleep.

  I woke to the sound of someone tapping on my door. Darkness had fallen outside, so I must have been out for quite a while. Feeling groggy from sleep, I stood and opened my door. Casey grinned back at me. And the events of the afternoon suddenly came rushing back.

  Now I didn't know what to do. Instinct made me want to slam the door in his face and hide, but adulthood told me that would be rude. I needed to face him and pretend nothing had happened. Or pretend like it was a common occurrence for me to get caught half naked.

  No, that wasn't right. I didn't want him to think that. Maybe I'd just go for nonchalance. It didn't bother me. Yeah, that was the one I'd try.

  "Hey!" I sang, leaning against the door as if I didn't have a care in the world.

  Casey's grin kicked up a notch, and I felt the door slip. Or was that me? He put out his hand and caught me before I slid into the hallway. Argh! I might as well just show him that the real me was a klutz who often gets caught doing stupid things. He'd probably figured that out by now anyway.

  "Hi," I said, embarrassment once again burning my ears.

  "Luke's made pizza, if you want some," said Casey, his voice deep and gravelly, his hand still holding my arm.

  I plucked up courage and looked him in the eyes. They looked back at me, deep blue like the ocean, holding an expression I couldn't explain. I moved my eyes to his lips and saw the hint of a smile, but his look was intense. Normally this was the moment when I couldn't handle it anymore and would look away. But I didn't want to. I wanted to meet his gaze head on and see where it led.

  Luke's loud, stomping footsteps echoed up the hall, interrupting anything that might be about to happen. Actually, maybe nothing was about to happen. Maybe that was my imagination. Whatever it was, I was no longer embarrassed about being caught showing more of myself than I had wished. And anyway, I had the bike riding and surfing to thank for the fact that my thighs were no longer as wobbly as they used to be and that my body was close to the best it had ever been. I wasn't saying it was supermodel status or anything, but everything was where it was meant to be—not hanging or jiggling or anything.

  "What's going on?" asked Luke.

  I could feel him going big brother on me and wondered if he'd spoken to Casey about it. I never did have the conversation with him to tell him to back off.

  "Sam was just coming for pizza, and I was about to use the toilet," replied Casey, winking at me before facing Luke.

  "Oh. Well, it's ready." Luke turned back down the hall, his shoulders hunched. Casey turned and entered the bathroom. I followed Luke.

  Reaching the living room, I heard the doorbell chime. I raised my eyebrows as I looked at Luke.

  "I invited Alani," he said. "Hope you don't mind."

  No, I didn't mind. In fact, I had a very good idea that there was something happening between Alani and Luke, and it gave me the perfect reason to tell him to back off where Casey was concerned.

  Alani looked extra beautiful tonight. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, she was wearing a short, flowy lemon-colored dress that showed off her perfect skin, and she'd applied just enough makeup to accentuate her big brown eyes and still make it look like she wasn't wearing any.

  The TV was on in the lounge, and a midevening weather update was being read. The Hawaiian weather reporter in the very bright shirt was announcing how tomorrow was going to be one of the few wet days we would see. Not great when you rode a bike.

  I moved to the remote and turned the volume down as Luke placed the pizza on the center of the table.

  "Where's Mum?" I asked, noting the places set at the table and how we were a place too short.

  "She's out with Rebecca. There's a show on at the resort that they wanted to see."

  "Good for her," I said, thinking how she needed more fun in her life.

  I pulled out a chair and sat down between Casey and Luke, helping myself to a piece of pizza as I did so.

  "Hey, Luke, did you go to see Mr. Fathersham today?" I asked before taking a bite.

  "Yeah."

  "And?"

  "And I saw the will. It wasn't Mark who witnessed it."

  I felt disappointment sink in my stomach.

  "Who did?" asked Casey.

  Luke wiped his mouth with a napkin. "It was actually a bit of a disappointment."

  Okay. He had everyone's attention.

  "The first witness was Mr. Fathersham's secretary, and the second was April Clements. I know April. She's a caregiver at Aloha Ohana."

  "There goes your theory about Mark," said Alani quietly.

  She was right. Without Mark being the witness to the will change, my theory about him coercing Albert Johnstone and Jeremy Gibson had nothing to support it.

  "Unless," I continued, "he talked the men into making the changes, and then the caregivers were just the ones to take them for the drive. Assuming that Mark didn't witness Jeremy Gibson's will either. I'll have to ask Mum to check on
that for me."

  "Maybe," said Alani, not entirely convinced.

  "I still need to talk to April. I'll ask her if she knows why Luke was named."

  "I'd ask her for you," said Luke. "But I've been told to stay away from the Aloha Ohana."

  I took a bite of pizza and shrugged. "It's okay. I'm happy to chase it up," I said.

  "I was going to tell you about a guy in the bar last night," said Casey, speaking up for the first time since he'd winked at me in the hallway. "He was really big, red hair, and he was talking to another guy who's known around here as not being the best kind of person. If you want drugs, you go to him. Anyway, I overheard their conversation. It was along the lines of the red-haired guy moving here because he got fired from his last job for taking drugs."

  "And?" asked Luke.

  "The red-haired guy is a security guard up at Aloha Ohana, and he moved here just before the murders. I wondered if he's involved."

  I immediately thought of Patrick.

  "If it is him, then how did he get the job? Wasn't a security check done on him prior to being employed?"

  "Who does the hiring and firing up there?" asked Casey.

  "When I was employed," said Luke, "it was Tristan who was in charge."

  "So is he incompetent and hired a criminal without knowing it?"

  "Maybe he knew exactly what he was doing."

  "If that's true, then I suggest you pass your concerns to Detective Ray and stay away from it. The guy from the bar is trouble." Casey looked at me, those adorable creases on his forehead deep with concern.

  "Maybe the red-haired guy is stealing drugs here, and the victims caught him. Maybe he blackmailed them into changing their wills," said Alani, going along with Casey's theory.

  "Yes, but why were Mum and Luke named as beneficiary in those wills?"

  "Does he have any connection to them?" asked Casey.

  "Not that I know of," said Luke.

  "I still think it's Mark," I said.

  "But what if you're wrong?"

  "I've seen the red-haired guy at Aloha Ohana," said Alani.

  So had I.

  "Alani, how many people around here are as tall as he is?" I asked.

  "The red-haired man?"

  I nodded.

  "Not many. He'd have to be around six foot five."

  "Do you think he was the guy Mark met on the beach?"

  She thought for a moment and then nodded. "He could have been. That guy's silhouette was pretty big."

  "So hang on a minute," said Luke. "Do you think that Mark is involved with this red-haired man, who is involved with the bad guy, who is involved with drugs?"

  That pretty much summed it up.

  "I'm not working tomorrow, so I think I'll visit Aloha Ohana in the morning and talk to April," I said. "Can anyone give me a lift?"

  "Not enjoying the bike?" asked Luke humorously.

  "The weatherman said it's going to rain."

  "It is? It hardly ever rains."

  "I have to work. Sorry," said Alani.

  "Me too," said Luke.

  "I can take you," said Casey. "I have tomorrow off."

  Even better. "That'd be awesome. Thanks."

  I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the rest of the night. Luke, on the other hand, looked like you'd killed his cat.

  * * *

  I got up early the next morning and put extra effort into my appearance. I even found my flat iron and straightened my hair. I studied it in the mirror and decided I liked it better natural, so I stuck my head back under the shower and wet it again, this time just fluffing it with my fingers and applying some product to help with the humidity.

  So far the rain had held off. Personally, I would have liked it to stay away until tonight, when I could fall asleep to the sound of the rain pattering against the windows. Looking at the clouds, I didn't like my chances.

  I pulled on a little skirt that stopped about midthigh, found a tank that accentuated the color of my eyes, and swiped on an extra layer of mascara. I even added lip gloss. Was I going all out or what?

  Casey pulled into the driveway at nine fifteen. Locking the house door behind me, I ran out to meet him.

  The plan was to go to Aloha Ohana and ask for April Clements. I'd already checked with Mum, and she confirmed that April did indeed witness Albert's will and that April did work at Aloha Ohana as a caregiver. She just didn't work every day. Hopefully, I'd find her there today. If I had any problems, I was going to ask Lahela for tips. Surely she'd know the comings and goings of the place.

  Opening the car door, Casey's scent overwhelmed me. It was a subtle mix of aftershave and soap. His hair was still wet from his shower.

  "Sorry. I'm a bit later than we planned," he said, giving me a coy smile. "I went surfing this morning and ended up at the rock. I lost track of time."

  "Don't worry about it. I can understand losing time sitting there." I gave him a big smile, pulling my seat belt over my shoulder and locking it into place.

  Putting the car into gear, he reversed out of the drive and headed to Aloha Ohana. Casey's mood was different this morning. He wasn't his usual exuberant self.

  "Are you okay?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

  "Yeah. Why do you ask?"

  "You just seem quiet."

  "Sorry. I don't mean to be."

  "I hope you didn't mind giving me a lift? It hasn't started to rain yet, so I could have ridden my bike. I'm probably wasting your time today."

  "You're not wasting my time. I'm happy to help," he said, his eyes firmly on the road ahead.

  "Okay, so long as we're good."

  He turned look at me. "We're good," he said, giving me his dazzling smile.

  I took a deep, shuddery breath and tried to stop my heart from doing its trippy thing.

  "I spent a lot of time sitting on the rock thinking this morning," he said. "I had a lot to think about," he continued, in way of explanation. "Maybe that's affected my mood. Sorry."

  "Really, it's okay. I didn't mention it to be awkward. I was just concerned, that's all."

  Casey turned back to concentrate on the road, and silence filled the car once more. I looked out the window at the volcanoes in the distance, the clouds hanging low over them.

  "Lahela told me that Hawaiians believe the sky to be sacred," I said. "They think it protects us. I like that."

  Casey looked up through the windscreen at the sky. "What does it protect us from?"

  I thought for a moment. I really didn't know. I shrugged and looked back out the window, deciding I really needed to study Hawaiian culture just a little bit more before opening my mouth.

  Casey pulled the car into the parking lot of Aloha Ohana and killed the engine. He turned to unlatch my seat belt. Before he did though, he stopped and looked at me, his expression sad. Oh no. What was he about to say?

  "Luke had a chat with me last night," he said quietly.

  I instantly felt a flash of irritation. I knew what was coming.

  "He said he thought there was something going on between us."

  I certainly hoped there was.

  "Did he just?" I replied, anger simmering in my voice. Luke really needed to let go of the big-brother routine.

  "Don't worry though. I told him he was wrong. We're just friends."

  "Really?" I whispered.

  Casey nodded. "Yeah, a mate doesn't hit on his mate's little sister."

  His words felt like a punch to my stomach. Casey didn't feel anything for me other than me being his mate's sister.

  "Well, you can tell Luke that I'm only his little sister by six minutes. It hardly makes him an authority."

  I pushed Casey's hand aside and attempted to undo the seat belt myself. Tears stung my lashes, and I needed to get out into the fresh air before I embarrassed myself once more.

  Casey's scent surrounded me in this car, and I couldn't cope, having admitted to myself that my feelings for him were more than a crush. I'd never met a man like him. He w
as funny, caring, thoughtful, understanding, and downright sexy. He was my perfect man. One I felt I could be best friends with and whom I could spend a very long time sitting on a rock overlooking the ocean with. Right now, I hated Luke. For the first time in my life, I didn't want to be his sister.

  Damn this seat belt! No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get it to unlatch. Casey gently took my hand and placed it on my lap. I could hear his breathing, uneven and fast, as he performed his magic trick and unclicked the belt. I didn't look at him. The second the belt released, I opened my door and almost leaped into the cooler air outside the car.

  My knees felt rubbery, and my hands shook, but I had to get a grip before Casey saw my reaction. It was humiliating enough that I had these feelings for him. If he knew how I felt, he would feel bad for me, and then things between us would be awkward because he was so kind.

  I heard his door close. His footsteps were heavy on the driveway. I didn't turn to look. I made a beeline for the entrance into Aloha Ohana, desperately trying to pull myself together. By the time Casey followed me in, I'd already signed the visitors' book.

  I stepped over to the desk where the receptionist, Ania, glared at me. "Hello," I said, going for cheery. Even I heard the wobble in my voice. "I'm looking for April Clements. Would she be available at all?"

  "What do you need April for?" she asked me suspiciously.

  "I just wanted a chat, that's all."

  I knew my face was flushed, and I was grateful that Casey had kept his distance and was standing closer to the door than to me.

  "If she's here, she'll be around the lounge room, but she may have left already."

  "Thank you," I said before she had the chance to interrogate me anymore.

  I made my way around to the lounge room. I had no idea what April looked like. Fortunately, I spotted Lahela. She'd be able to help me.

  As we approached, Lahela sucked in her breath. My first instinct was that I hoped I hadn't done anything wrong, but when I saw her quickly adjust the flower behind her ear, I knew her reaction was for Casey's sake.

  "Hello!" she called, standing to kiss my cheek. She'd never done that before. She then moved to Casey. "Hello," she said, reaching up to kiss him as well.