Deadly Wipeout (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries Book 3) Page 6

  It appeared I had no option other than leave him in the house. I didn't feel very comfortable with the idea, but it was Mum's house, after all, and if she trusted him, what right did I have to question it?

  "Alright, I'll see you later, I guess," I said, actually grateful to be getting away from him.

  He waved happily as I made my way out the back door. I grabbed the bike and swung my leg over it, ready to head back into town to Lahela's Surf. I looked back over my shoulder as I pushed off on the pedal, and I could have sworn I saw the curtains in Mum's bedroom move. I wondered what he was doing in there.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  My ride along the coast into town was a slow one, only because I stopped four times along the way.

  My first stop was because I'd noticed some kayakers offshore and watched them for a while, wondering where they were going. As they made their way into an inlet of water, I lost them in the foliage and made a mental note to ask Alani where they would have been going. I hadn't had a chance to do any of the touristy things yet, and now that I was working at the resort, which was primarily a tourist destination, I figured I needed to get up to speed with what was what around here. Plus, that looked like fun.

  My second stop along the way was when I was flagged down by a couple who appeared to be lost. They stopped me to ask me directions. It didn't take long for them to regret it. Once I'd sufficiently confused everyone, including myself, they thanked me and took off quickly, most likely to look for someone who could give them the correct instructions.

  I tried riding and looking at the ocean, but it seemed I wasn't that coordinated, so my next two stops were simply to stare. Would I become immune to that view? I hoped not.

  Finally reaching Lahela's Surf, I propped my bike against the wall and made my way inside. I was really there to buy a new swimsuit, but I kind of hoped Alani would be working. I wanted a friend to talk to, and even though we didn't really know each other, I hoped she might become one. Plus, she could hopefully help me with my surfing skills. Turned out I needed more than practice.

  The little bell above the door jingled as I entered. A girl in a bright yellow Hawaiian-print shirt and the shortest shorts I had ever seen smiled at me from behind the counter.

  "Hi," she sang.

  I guessed her to be in her late teens. "Hello."

  "How can I help you today?" She walked around the counter and moved toward me.

  I wondered if this was Alani's cousin, Hani. "I was looking for a new swimsuit, but I was hoping to see Alani."

  "She's on her break. She'll be back soon though, and I can help you with the swimsuit in the meanwhile. I'm Hani."

  She beamed, and I could see the family resemblance. "I'm Samantha," I said, smiling back at her. She looked young, but she seemed really sweet.

  "Oh my goodness! You're the Samantha! The one who got knocked over by the dead guy at the resort."

  "How did you guess?" Was I wearing a sign or something? Oh wait, that was right—Alani's cousin, island grapevines. Apparently news traveled fast.

  "Not too many Samantha's around here."

  I felt the blush start at my ears. "Ummm…well, yes, I guess I am the Samantha."

  "Wow!" she squealed, almost jumping on the spot. "Oh, I wish I'd been there. My friend, Jess, said she was sitting on the beach further down, and she saw the whole thing. She said she saw you, and you had no idea the dead guy was coming in on a wave, and whoosh—you were backside in the air."

  That was probably one way of describing it.

  "She only saw it because she was actually watching Casey, the gorgeous bartender at The Lava Pot, and he was looking at something in the ocean. So she turned to see what he was looking at and got to see the entire thing!"

  I picked a one-piece swimsuit off the rack, distracted by the knowledge that Casey had seen me with my backside in the air. The swimsuit was enormous. I looked at the tag. Oops, wrong size.

  "Wait till I tell her I've met you. Oh, you're not thinking of that suit, are you?" Hani asked, continuing to serve me at the same time as pulling her phone from the pocket of her shorts. She took a quick selfie, me in the background holding the enormous swimsuit, tapped at the keys, and pressed send.

  At that moment Alani appeared from behind the racks. "Hani! What are you doing?" she yelled.

  Hani jumped and pushed her phone back into her pocket. "Nothing…other than helping a customer."

  "So why was your phone in your hand?"

  "I was just sending a quick Snapchat to Caitlyn."

  "While you were helping a customer?"

  "Yeah, well, she was in it."

  Alani paled.

  "Don't worry," continued Hani, "She looked really good in the photo."

  I did? I wouldn't mind seeing that photo. "It's okay, Alani," I said as my way of pacifying the situation. "I don't mind."

  Alani looked from me to Hani and sighed. "Why don't you take your break now, and I'll finish helping Sam."

  Hani shrugged. "Yeah, whatever."

  She beamed at me again and left, pulling her phone from her pocket once more. I inwardly groaned and hoped that whoever her friend was, she didn't have any video footage of me with my rear in the air.

  Once she was gone, Alani turned to me. "I'm really sorry about that."

  "It's all good. Don't worry."

  "You're not thinking of buying that swimsuit, are you?" Alani asked, her expression one of horror.

  I hurriedly put the suit back on the rack. "No, but I am looking for a one-piece."

  "Didn't you like the cute bikini you bought the other day?"

  "Yeah, I did. So did the adolescent boys."

  Alani smiled her megawatt smile.

  "I need something with a bit more coverage for work."

  "Ah, okay. I have a few options for you. We just got some new stock in, and I haven't put it out on the racks yet. There's one I think will be perfect."

  Alani led me to the back of the shop, where she rummaged through a few boxes and came up with what she was looking for.

  "Hey, Alani," I said, plucking up the courage I needed to start a new friendship. "Would you like to go surfing with me sometime?"

  "Sure, that would be awesome. I finish at two today. Is that too early?"

  "No, that would be great!"

  "Do you have a board, or would you like to use one of the spares I keep here?"

  "Thank you. I'd love that. I need to buy one soon, but I need to get paid first." I handed Alani what was close to being the last of my cash to pay for the swimsuit.

  "Sure thing. Don't worry though. You can use one of our boards for as long as you like."

  I felt that happy glow only a new friendship could give you and smiled. I may not have had the best start in Aloha Lagoon, but things seemed to be looking up.

  * * *

  I killed some time while I waited for Alani to finish work by wandering around town and getting some lunch, walking whilst I ate. I hadn't had much chance to see the town properly, so I used my time well.

  As I walked I admired an old church with its whitewashed walls and brown tiled roof, making my way to the window of a local gift shop. Sure I had no spare money, but I could window shop. I was grateful for the overhanging trees shading the road and dropping the temperature by a few degrees, giving me a momentary break from the heat.

  The town was reasonably quiet, as this was the off-season, but I smiled at a smattering of tourists as they meandered past me, stopping to take photos of the many flowering trees and shrubs, looking like they were completely in awe of how green Aloha Lagoon was.

  I tried my hardest to not be a tourist, but it was difficult, and before long, I made my way into the gift shop, threw my budget out of the window, and bought myself a yellow T-shirt with I heart AL written in white across the chest.

  At two o'clock I walked back to Lahela's Surf and met Alani, where we picked up our boards, and she led the way to a secluded spot on the beach where the waves were perfect.

  It to
ok me most of the hour and a half that we were in the water, and much tuition from Alani, to get the hang of it again. Fortunately, no one else was around to see my many fails at catching the wave.

  By the time we finished, I was exhausted but happy.

  "You looked a bit rusty out there," commented Alani, walking out of the water with me and dropping her board to the sand.

  I gave her a sheepish grin. "Yeah, I felt better at the end though," I said, copying her with the board and grabbing my towel to dry my face.

  "You looked it. I thought you were the surf instructor at the resort?"

  "I am." I quickly filled her in on my interview and why I'd taken the job. By the time I finished, Alani had her head back, laughing a deep belly laugh unlike anything I'd ever heard.

  "High five to you," she said, holding her hand up for me to palm slap. "That's initiative. I'm always talking to Hani about stuff like that. Don't let fear get in your way—just do it."

  "Fear did get in the way for a while. I was terrified one of the kids would drown or something equally horrific. I guess I was right."

  "Well, I'm impressed."

  "Really? I feel like a fraud."

  "Don't. You may never have taught surfing before, but keep going at it like you did today, and you'll be as good as the regular instructor, Brad, in no time."

  I beamed at her encouragement.

  Alani wrapped her towel around her waist and picked up her board. "Come on," she said. "I'm going to introduce you to Kahoni. He makes the world's best juice."

  I liked the sound of that. Wrapping my towel around me, I carried my board up the beach.

  Walking across the sand dunes, we came to a stop in a parking lot where an old lime green van stood opposite us with the words The Juice Guy written in large letters across the rear. I figured that must be Kahoni.

  "Another cousin?" I asked as he smiled a megawatt smile at us.

  "Yep. How did you know?"

  "Good guess."

  "Hello, ladies!" Kahoni beamed. "How are the waves this afternoon?"

  "You haven't been down there to check them out?" asked Alani.

  "Too busy!"

  "Well, we're going to make you busier. I'll have my usual, and what would you like, Sam? My shout," she said, turning to me.

  "Umm…just an apple juice please." I felt uncomfortable accepting her gesture, but her body language suggested I shouldn't argue about it.

  Kahoni looked offended at my choice of drink. "Just apple juice? I can't tempt you with something better?"

  I wondered what was wrong with apple juice. "Maybe." I didn't want to upset him.

  "Do you like mango?" he asked.

  I nodded.

  "Then how does a Mango Sunset sound?"

  "What's in that one?"

  "Mango and honey mixed with my very best yogurt."

  "Okay. Sounds nice."

  Kahoni shook his head, looking at me as if I was crazy for suggesting I'd just have apple juice, then busied himself making our drinks. I stood back and allowed the people who'd moved in behind me to step up and place their order. It didn't take long for their conversations to waft my way.

  "I visited Grandpa at Aloha Ohana this morning," I heard one lady say.

  My ears pricked up immediately. That was the facility that Mum worked at. This woman looked to be a bit older than Mum, her dress style consisting of a kaftan and leather sandals. Obviously her friend shopped at the same place.

  "I requested Nurse Rita be kept away from him. Thankfully, she's been suspended," she continued. "Her patients die very quickly because she helps them along the way."

  "How did you know that?" asked her friend, surprised. "I always thought they took great care of loved ones up there."

  "Do you remember Joan Sullivan? She was Aloha Ohana's oldest resident. She didn't die of old age, you know. Grandpa told me that Nurse Rita helped her along the way. He said she has a great belief in euthanasia."

  "Why didn't you tell the police about it?" asked her friend, horrified.

  "At the time I thought Grandpa was making it up. But now…if Rita hadn't been asked to leave, I would have moved Grandpa home. I mean, we would have loved to have kept him with us from the start, but…" she explained.

  I didn't want to hear about her grandpa. I was stuck on her words about Rita. Anger rumbled in my belly. She had no right to say things like that about Mum. No right.

  "You're wrong!" I blurted out before my brain could stop me. My mouth did that at times—opened up and said whatever the heck it wanted. "That man on the beach died of natural causes."

  The woman looked at me, shocked. "No," she said, her tone stern. "You're wrong. He did not die from natural causes. He was murdered."

  I wanted to continue to argue my point, but her words slapped me backward. Murdered? The nagging gnawing in my stomach kicked up a notch. Alani put her arm around my shoulder and squeezed. I think she saw the look of shock on my face.

  "Come on, Sam. Let's get out of here."

  She called to Kahoni to cancel our order and turned me around back toward the beach. Once we were on the sand, she looked at me.

  "Do you believe what that woman said?"

  I shook my head, but doubt must have been written all over my face. "No, I don't believe her. About Mum anyway. Mum wouldn't hurt a fly. The bit about the old guy being murdered? Maybe. I mean, I haven't heard anything official, but then I don't suppose I would. It was only a coincidence he washed up on the beach at the exact moment I was there. Detective Ray has no reason to tell me anything."

  Alani nodded, leading me back down the beach.

  "I'd heard that rumor about the murder too," she said quietly. "I visited my tutu yesterday, and she whispered to me that she thought the man had been murdered."

  "Did she say anything about Mum?"

  "No! She loves your mom. She's always telling me how Rita is the best nurse that they have."

  That was good to hear. "Don't worry about them, Sam. It's just gossip. In a couple of days, they'll have something else to talk about."

  I hoped so, for Mum's sake.

  * * *

  My soul relaxed the minute I walked in the door at home. Mum was busy cooking at the stove—something that smelled delicious—and Luke was sitting on the sofa, laughing at a rerun of Friends. He loved Chandler's sarcastic humor. Personally, Ross was my favorite—his mannerisms cracked me up.

  "Hi," I said to Mum, walking over and giving her a kiss. She hummed as she worked. "You must have had a good day."

  "Hello, Samantha. Did you wipe the sand off your feet before coming inside?"

  "I lost most of it on the twenty-minute bike ride from town. That smells good. What are you cooking?"

  "Chicken long rice. I thought what we don't eat now can be put in the fridge for leftovers."

  Sniffing the air, I didn't think there would be much going into the fridge. I dropped my phone and house key onto the counter next to the door.

  "Can you set the table please, Samantha?" asked Mum.

  "Sure." I grabbed three plates, forks, and knives and put them on the table.

  "Don't set a place for me," said Luke. "I have to get going back into work. Paul, the other cook, has just messaged me. He's going home sick." Luke sighed.

  "Well, grab yourself a bowl now and eat it while you're getting ready," directed Mum.

  You didn't have to tell Luke twice. He jumped over the back of the sofa and joined Mum at the stove.

  "I actually wanted to talk to you two over dinner, but I guess we'll have to do it now."

  Oh no. That didn't sound good, even though Mum looked more happy and relaxed than I'd seen her in days. I felt the blood drain from my face. "What's wrong?" I asked.

  "Nothing's wrong. I just saw a solicitor today."

  "Oh, yeah, one stopped by. I left his card for you."

  "Yes, thank you. Mark gave it to me. He came with me on my visit. It turns out that Albert—the man who died in the surf a few days ago—named me in hi
s will."

  "Go, Mum!" said Luke, smiling and giving her a high five. "That's awesome!"

  I wanted to share his enthusiasm, but the gnawing in my stomach started again as I remembered what the woman at the beach had said.

  "Why did he do that?" I asked. "Did you know him well?"

  "Who cares why he did it," said Luke. He grabbed Mum and pulled her in for a big hug. I heard her bones crack from two feet away. "How much did he leave you?"

  "Quite a bit actually. Enough to pay off my mortgage. Apparently he appreciated how I treated him, and as he had no family, he decided to leave whatever he had to me. Honestly, Hawaii has been so lucky for me this last year. Remember that radio contest I won a few months ago? And I didn't even remember entering…" Mum trailed off.

  "But this is a lot more than a few dollars from a radio competition," I said.

  Mum nodded. "I agree. This just blows me away."

  I was happy for her, I really was. If I could just get the gnawing to stop.

  "Mum, did you know he'd put you in his will?"

  "Of course not! I try not to discuss monetary affairs with people. What you don't know won't hurt you," she added.

  I wasn't quite sure that was right. "But what happens when Detective Ray finds out?"

  Mum looked thoughtful. "I hadn't considered that. I was just so excited that Albert remembered me." She stopped stirring the contents of the pot and wiped her hands on the nearest tea towel. "But I didn't ask Albert to. He did it of his own free will."

  "I hope the detective sees it that way."

  "Well, it's the truth. I don't even know how long ago Albert wrote it. I mean, he's been at Aloha Ohana for about six years now. He could have changed it at any time."

  I didn't know when Albert had changed it either, but I would bet my new paycheck that the good detective would find out.

  * * *

  In exchange for surfing lessons, I'd promised Alani I would help her rearrange her stock that night, so after dinner I borrowed Mum's bike again and headed into town. It was the first time I had ridden the bike in the dark, and I was embarrassed to say that I wasn't very good at negotiating the road with the only light coming from a small headlamp on the handlebars. But I got there and only fell off once, so I couldn't complain.