Burned

“Not yet. In any case, I drove over to Dorinda’s apartment after work and rang the bell. It was late, and she didn’t answer. I waited in my car and tried to call her a few times, but she didn’t pick up. Finally I went home. The next morning I come to work and her body washes ashore. And she’s wearing that lei around her neck. I gave the lei to her in a special pouch and asked her to please be careful with it. The minute she walked out of here, she must have put the lei around her neck. But, Regan”-Will paused-“Dorinda intended to go straight home. She liked my company and knew I was coming over. She wouldn’t have stopped to sit on the jetty that night. And now I keep thinking that someone might have seen me sitting outside her apartment on the night she died.”

Regan sat there thoughtfully. “From everything I’ve heard about Dorinda, she was impulsive. Maybe she did just decide to go out on the jetty for a few minutes.”

Will shook his head. “I just don’t believe it. Someone must have lured her down to the water.”

“She was wearing the lei. Maybe she decided to show it off to someone on the beach.”

“Could be. But to whom? And did that person intentionally hurt her? Will he or she harm someone else? Regan, I don’t want anyone to find out about my involvement in all this. But I do believe that someone killed Dorinda and should pay for it.”

“You know, Will, in years past, supposedly she burned a lot of people. Even my mother was not happy with an article Dorinda wrote about her years ago. And that last newsletter…”

Will put his head in his hands.

“I heard that some guy who wanted Dorinda to interview him was bugging her. He designs Hawaiian clothing. Do you know if that’s Jazzy’s boss?” Regan asked.

“Yes. Claude Mott. He wants to bring attention to his line of clothing and was pushing to get Dorinda to profile him, but she told me she didn’t want to do it.”

“Jazzy never mentioned this to me when she was telling me what a terrible person Dorinda was.”

“That’s Jazzy for you.”

“I think I’d better have a chat with her. I’d also love to talk to Claude.”

“He’ll be here tonight in one of our best suites.”

“Good. Another thing: I met a couple out at the bar at lunchtime. They’re with a tour group from a place where it rains all the time.”

“Oh, yes. The Praise the Rain Club.”

“What?”

Will filled her in on the history of the club and the tours. “They’ve been coming for three years now.”

“I want to keep an eye on this couple. They’re very strange. I caught them coming out of the supplies closet. The guy insisted they were just grabbing some extra towels. But with what you say has been going on around here, I don’t know.”

“It’s the first time that couple has stayed here. They may be strange, but they probably don’t have anything to do with the troubles we’ve been having. But I’ll be glad when that group is gone for good. The two women in charge have been badgering me to lower their room rates. I already have many times. I’ve decided I’m not making any more deals with them. If they want to come back, they’ll have to pay a fair price. I already give them way too much attention and too many perks, and they’re just not worth it.”

Regan smiled. “Especially if their group members are stealing your towels.”

Will chuckled and rubbed his eyes.

“When are your parents arriving?” Regan asked.

“Tomorrow.”

“And your wife?”

“Tonight, thank God. It’ll give me a little time to help her get used to the idea of their being here. And then the lei…”

Regan stood. “I’m going to see if Jazzy is around. I understand Dorinda’s cousin is coming by later. Could you please call me when he gets here? I’d like to talk to him. Maybe he’ll let me take a look at her apartment. There might be something there that will be helpful…”

“Okay.”

“And don’t worry, Will. You’re doing the right thing. I would love to find that kid who sold the lei to your parents.”

“They’ll be here tomorrow. I’m sure my mother will be happy to describe his toes to you.”

Regan smiled. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

“I think I inherited ESP from my mother,” Will said, his face very serious. “I know it sounds crazy, but I have a very strong feeling that the person who killed Dorinda and the thief who stole the lei are among us.”

“I’m doing my best to find them,” Regan said as she walked out the door. The storm of the century in New York City would have been a lot easier to handle than this, she thought.

33

W hen Ned, Artie, and Francie returned to the hotel after their surfing expedition, Ned felt as if he was being propelled by a jet engine toward the Seashell Museum. He was desperate to see the lei that he had worn around his neck ever so briefly thirty years ago. And he wanted the lei to be his. He knew it would give him a feeling of power if he stole it again. He also knew that was kind of pathetic. He hadn’t spent ten years in therapy for nothing, but he didn’t care.

It was three o’clock when the van dropped them off at the hotel.

“Shall we get a bite to eat and then go to the beach?” Francie asked.

“I can’t,” Ned replied quickly.

“But I thought you said you were hungry,” Francie protested.

“I am. But I’m going to take a shower and then check in at my boss’s office. He loves you guys, but he might want me to pay attention to some of the other hotel guests. I’ll have a drink with your group later.”

Francie made a face. “Then maybe I’ll go to the spa and see if I can get a lomi lomi massage and a seaweed wrap.”

“I feel as if I just had a seaweed wrap,” Artie commented. “Getting knocked over by a couple of those waves made me feel like I was one with the ocean.”

“But you liked it, right?” Ned asked.

“I suppose,” Artie agreed begrudgingly.

Back to his friendly old self, Ned thought.

The two of them walked to their room, and Ned jumped in the shower. Artie pulled a bottle of chilled water out of the mini bar and went out on the lanai. They had a nice view of the beach, and it was pleasant to sit and relax as the heat of the day and the strength of the sun started to fade. It was as though the world were mellowing out.

But not in the shower. Ned soaped up as fast as he could, rinsed his muscular body, and turned off the faucet. He grabbed a towel and dried off. Back in the room, he pulled a pair of shorts and a shirt from his drawer and quickly dressed. He slipped his feet into a pair of worn Top-Siders, glancing at the pair of sandals he’d bought on a whim in one of the hotel clothing stores. I should make myself wear those, he thought. Who cares what people think of my toes? But not now. He didn’t want to be conscious of his feet at a time like this, even though it would be fitting. The last time he stole the lei was the last day he ever wore sandals. For a brief moment he considered that wearing the sandals might bring him luck.

But he decided against it.

And what am I thinking wearing these Top-Siders? he mused as he kicked them off. I might have to do some ru

He dashed over to the terrace door. “See you later,” he called to Artie.

Artie spun around. “Come down to the beach when you’re free. Francie’s going to join me there after her spa treatment.”