“I understand you knew Keiki, the girl found dead near Daiquiri Dave’s Lounge.”
“Yeah, so. She popular girl.” He smirked. “Lotsa guys knew that one.”
So I was finding out. I just hoped my brother wasn’t a member of Keiki’s fan club.
“I’m only interested in one guy. Your brother. I heard Keiki used to date him.”
Timmy’s face darkened and his hands balled into fists. “Ya, dat bitch, she use him den dump him.”
“Used him how?”
“She had dis “lolo” crazy idea for making dem both rich. She ask him…” Timmy abruptly stopped.
“Ask him what?”
“Nuttin. At least nuttin to do with her dyin.” He raised his voice and shook his fist in the air. “I know she da reason my bruddah kill hisself.”
“You don’t think it was an accident?”
Timmy stuck his nose so close to mine I could see the two lone hairs he’d missed when he’d shaved his chin. “My bruddah, he good kid. Careful about his work. Maybe it was accident. But maybe Joey kill hisself cause of dat no good wahine. It none of your business, so don’t go poking your nose where it don’t belong.”
Footsteps pounded down the stairs. Amanda motioned at us. “It’s getting rougher out. We need both of you up here.”
I’d been so distracted by our conversation I hadn’t even noticed the ship pitching more than ever. I tightened my sarong and followed Timmy as he raced up the stairs. Earlier the clouds had provided a postcard photo opportunity. Now they dumped rain by the boatload.
Amanda shoved a pile of orange life vests at me. “Here. Pass these out to the passengers. Be careful not to scare them. Tell them it’s merely a safety measure.”
Fine. I had no problem reassuring the passengers. But who was going to reassure me?
Amanda and Walea covered one side of the boat and I took the other. Once they finished, the two women urged the passengers to follow them below deck. I handed out my last orange vest then realized I’d been so generous passing life jackets to the passengers that I’d neglected to don one myself.
I looked around and thought I saw Steve running down the stairs to the lower deck but it was difficult to tell with the driving rain. Someone better be piloting this boat. Maybe Rafe had taken over for him. Farther up on the starboard side, I noticed Timmy bending over some type of storage chest. I hustled over and tapped him on his shoulder.
I had to scream above the roaring wind to make myself heard. “Where are the other life jackets located?” He scowled but pointed toward the rear of the boat, so I scurried in that direction.
By now, my sarong felt like a wet shower curtain was plastered to my skin. The straps of my sandals irritated my bunion s so I slipped them off and tucked them under a seat. It would be more comfortable moving around the boat without them. A few seconds later, my bare feet slipped on the wet deck. Comfort came at a price. I inched my way across the slippery surface with a death grip on the railing.
How quickly this romantic sunset sail had morphed into a nightmare journey. The lights from the hotels and condominiums lining the shoreline were barely visible through the king-size sheets of rain.
I stumbled on a thick coil of rope and caught myself before I landed on all fours. Whew. That was close. I’d better find those vests and get below to safety.
The remaining orange jackets hung on a couple of hooks. I sidled over and grabbed one for myself. Getting the vest closed over my double D’s was a struggle. Someone needed to manufacture a version for the full-figured woman. I finally secured both fasteners and let out a sigh of relief.
I heard a muffled noise behind me just as I grabbed the other two vests. Suddenly I was knocked into the ship’s railing. I released my hold on one of the life jackets and tried to grasp onto the slick metal rail.
The boat pitched and I felt another jolt.
Then I was airborne.
Chapter 24
I hit the ocean with a cannonball splash. Water flew everywhere, including into my nose and mouth.
“Blech.” I spewed out a magnum’s worth of seawater. I would need a daiquiri the size of a Big Gulp to wash that salty taste away. Good thing I was wearing the life jacket, which kept my tablecloth sarong from slipping off and floating away. Not that it mattered. It was far more likely a shark would turn me into a sushi appetizer than I’d get arrested for indecent exposure.
I stared at the distant lights. Although they were probably only a few miles away, it could have been a few thousand as far as I was concerned. The odds of me successfully paddling to shore were slimmer than of me winning an Olympic gold medal. I yelled until my vocal cords refused to participate, but the Sea Jinx continued to recede in the distance. No one would hear me now.