Killer Confections8 Delectable Mysteries(40)

After I showered, shampooed and blow-dried my hair, my next scheduled stop was the manicure station. The last few days had been so stressful, I’d chewed my nails down to their nubs, leaving little left to polish. I hoped the technician could work some mani-magic.

I left the spa and walked into the tranquil beige-on-beige-on-beige hair and nail salon. Liz sat in front of a young nail technician, babbling away. The manicurist filed my friend’s nails without once looking up. When I slid into the chair next to Liz, I realized she was chatting on her cell, her ever-present Bluetooth jammed into her ear. My manicurist, who introduced herself as Rose, placed a bowl of warm water in front of me. She instructed me to soak my right hand then she picked up my left hand and began nipping at my torn cuticles.

“Bye, sweetie. Love you.” Liz turned to me, her smile wide. “That was Brian.”

No, duh.

“He called Tom to discuss that big murder trial your hunky detective has to testify at. The jury selection starts on Monday.” She threw a quizzical look at me. “While they were talking, Brian brought up Keiki’s murder. And the near drowning of Detective Hunter’s girlfriend. Something Tom knew nothing about.”

Shoot. I knew I’d forgotten something on my to-do list. Call my boyfriend back home and tell him someone tried to kill me.

“Ouch,” I yelped as blood spurted from the cuticle Rose just snipped.

“Sorry. I distracted. You almost drown and don’t call boyfriend?” She waved her manicure scissors at me. “Bet he no be happy with you.”

Bet she be right. If there was one thing that annoyed Tom Hunter, it was my failure to disclose an almost fatal experience.

“I would have called him this morning if you hadn’t insisted on dragging me down here,” I accused Liz.

“Nice try,” she replied. “How could you forget to call him? Or was it intentional? Maybe you didn’t want to tell him about Steve.” She tilted her bronze curls in my direction and winked.

“Who Steve?” asked Rose, indicating I should switch hands. “You got you new boyfriend?”

“No, I got no new boyfriend. I mean…” I sat there flummoxed as Rose snipped away at the ragged edges of my cuticles. I really didn’t know what my heart or my libido desired. Anger surged through me as I realized none of this would have been an issue if Tom had prioritized me over his career. If we’d been enjoying our time on the island together, there would have been no distractions like the captain of the Sea Jinx.

My irritation with Tom disappeared as quickly as it surfaced. Realistically, the detective would always put me behind his career and his daughter. Maybe we were setting ourselves up for failure even before we started anything serious. Was I really attracted to Steve or merely flattered by his attention? Maybe I just felt lonely in paradise. Easily flattered and seduced.

Well, not seduced. Not yet anyway.

But my own situation made me realize how a lack of attention from Regan might have made it easier for Keiki to seduce my brother. What really happened during their rendezvous the night of the reception?

Even more important, what occurred afterward?

“I promise to call Tom,” I said to Liz, “but first I need to get Dave alone.”

“Another guy? You one busy miss,” Rose remarked. Liz giggled while I explained that Dave was my brother and I needed to talk to him that evening.

“So, you have big plans for tonight? What color you like?” Rose pointed to a dazzling and confusing array of polishes.

I glanced at Liz as I pointed to a bottle of Magnificent Mango Mama polish. “Do we have plans this evening? What exactly is on the agenda for the rest of the week?”

“Tomorrow I scheduled a ride through the Waipi’o Valley. Doesn’t that sound brilliant?”

“It depends what I’m riding. Does it have legs and eat hay?”

Liz shook her head and attempted to look mysterious. “It has wheels and guzzles gasoline.”

Rose slapped her palm on the table, “Oh, you take ATV ride. Much fun. Kinda bumpy on trail though. You no mind bumpy ride?”

Are you kidding? That could be my theme song.





Chapter 29





While Mother remained at the spa enjoying a pedicure and reflexology treatment, I returned to the room, delighted for the opportunity to have it to myself. Since the spa required that patrons turn off their cells, I first checked for messages. The second I hit the ON button, a series of text messages beeped on my screen.

“Are you okay?” That was the first text from Tom at eleven a.m.

“Please call me and let me know you’re alright.” Message two at noon.

“Call me ASAP.” Message three at 1:06 p.m.