Killer Confections8 Delectable Mysteries(30)

He frowned. “I’m hesitant to talk to them without discussing it with him first. These local kids have a hard enough time making a living. I don’t want to do anything that would get him in trouble with the authorities. Timmy’s had a tough time this past month dealing with his younger brother’s death.”

“I understand, but I hate to think of Regan sitting in jail if Timmy had anything to do with Keiki’s murder.”

“You know, it could have just been talk. Young guys sometimes think they need to put up a macho front when they’re around their friends.”

“I suppose everyone lets something slip now and then.” I recalled some of the maternal comments I’d made over the years. “I might have threatened my children once or twice with a fate worse than death. Like no TV.”

“See, it could be nothing.” He rubbed his jaw for a minute. “Although that night at the Hula bar, Keiki mentioned a possible stalker. She was positive her car had been tailed a few times.”

Now that was interesting. A potential stalker could be a potential suspect.

“Hey, I have a terrific idea.” Steve’s smile was so infectious the women at the next table seemed to brighten. “Why don’t you join us for the sunset sail tonight? You’re really good at drawing people out. I’m sure you could find a tactful way to question Timmy. He’s not the chattiest guy around, but he would probably respond far better to your questions than to being grilled by his boss.”

I wasn’t convinced of my ability to draw Timmy out, but, I would talk to anyone with information about Keiki’s murder. It was the least I could do for my sister-in-law. I pulled out my phone and checked my calendar to see if Liz had made plans for the group that evening.

“Evidently the honeymooners decided to spend a night alone. Should I ask Stan and Mother to join us?”

“We’re fully booked so there won’t be any extra seats for them.” Steve reached out and placed his slightly calloused palm on top of mine. “Besides, once you’re done talking to Timmy, you and I can spend some time together. We’ll finally have an opportunity to get to know each other better, without being surrounded by your family and friends. What do you say?”

The more important question was what would Tom Hunter say? My inner Laurel warned me to stay far away from bronzed sea captains with bewitching blue eyes.

I told her to mind her own business. I had a date to watch the sun set over the Pacific.



* * *



Four hours later, I sat at a different table in the same restaurant with Mother and Stan, discussing my upcoming boating expedition. The tropical koi swam past our table, their colors so vivid and bright, I almost needed sunglasses to reduce the glare.

“So you and the sea captain are hooking up tonight, huh?” Stan wiggled his brows.

“There will be no hooking up.” I scrunched my nose at his comment. “At least for me. I’m only going on board to talk to Timmy from the Sea Jinx crew.”

My mother dropped today’s edition of the local newspaper next to my plate. An unflattering photo of Regan stared back at me from the front page. “I think it’s an excellent idea. We need to help free Regan. And soon. This kind of publicity,” she scowled and pointed at the paper, “isn’t going to help their restaurant one bit. She might even lose her job.”

And her freedom, I thought, staring at the black-and-white photo of my sister-in-law.

The article was relatively brief, mentioning only that the Hawaii police had arrested Regan for Keiki’s murder, and that she and my brother owned Daiquiri Dave’s Lounge, where the victim had also worked.

“I think Steve is right, Laurel. You’re easy to talk to, and you never know what you can learn from questioning Timmy,” Mother said. “Plus Steve is a nice guy. Handsome, personable, and he owns his own boat.”

Stan nodded his agreement. “A man with a boat––the ideal man. Well, he would be if he swam in the other direction.”

“So you haven’t met any hunky Hawaiian hotties yet?” I asked him.

“The day is young.” He looked at his watch. “And in five hours I have a lesson with some Samoan dancers.”

“How did you wangle that?”

“Your brother gave me Walea’s number, and I called her. She was a little reticent at first, but I overwhelmed her with my charm and she referred me to these guys.”

“Will she be there?”

“Nah, she and her husband are performing somewhere tonight. She told me I’m a natural though.”

Walea was right on one count. Stan was a natural. But of what, was the question?