Wedding Day Dead: A Murder on Maui Mystery Read online

  Alana and I didn’t have to wait long for my belongings to start coming down the baggage ramp. I grabbed one of those airport carts and put my suitcase, box of books, and laptop bag on it. We pushed the cart out to her car and drove to Alana’s favorite sushi restaurant, which was not far from the police station where she worked.

  I had my usual rainbow and California rolls, while Alana had the sashimi. We each had a large hot sake, and she was gracious enough not to laugh too hard when I told her my tale of sorrow and pain regarding the garage sale.

  After dinner, we drove back to her house, and a few minutes after arriving, we were in her bed. We made love and collapsed on our backs, completely worn out and content. How did I get so lucky?

  II

  Maui the Dog

  After moving to Maui, I started searching for an apartment, but Foxx convinced me to stay with him. He argued there was no reason to rush into finding a place when I really didn’t know the island that well. It was a sound argument, but I thought it was more about Foxx not wanting to be alone. After all, his girlfriend had been murdered, and he had just gotten out of jail. That would shake the strongest of us.

  In addition to being company for Foxx, the location of the house added another benefit. Lauren had been quite wealthy from the success of her art, and she had purchased one of the most beautiful homes in Ka’anapali, one of the most exclusive parts of Maui. The home sits on a gorgeous piece of property that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

  I loved spending the morning jumping in the pool and the evening watching the sun set into the water. It’s quite a life, but there’s always a part of me that feels guilty for being here and enjoying the place so much. This house belonged to Lauren. I didn’t know her well at all. I only met her briefly before her life was tragically cut short. I discovered that a lot of people didn’t like her. Many accused her of stealing their ideas and their work, but she was still a human being. She deserved better than what she got.

  Lauren’s death caused her already-expensive art to skyrocket in price. She left her fortune to Foxx and all of the sales of her remaining art also went to him. He was set for life, but his time in jail had left him questioning everything about his life and what he wanted out of it. Like me, I don’t think he had a clue what he should do next. He was a retired professional football player with no need to work ever again. I was an ex-architect with no desire to design anything ever again, and although I wasn’t as wealthy as Foxx, my parents’ hard work and careful financial planning left me wanting for nothing. I guess he and I were both sort of lost when it came to deciding what path we wanted our futures to take, but neither of us seemed in a hurry to figure it out. I realize these are amazing problems to have.

  So how did I spend my carefree days? Most of my time I could be found photographing the island and spending as much time as I could, usually at night, with Alana. She worked a lot of hours as a detective, especially for an island as small and slow as Maui, but somehow that made our time together even more valuable. We talked briefly about moving in together, but ultimately decided we didn’t want to rush things. It was kind of silly, though, because we practically lived together anyway. I spent a few nights a week at her house, and she spent at least one or two nights with me at Foxx’s place. Life was good, and even though I didn’t know what direction my life should go, I was content to stay on cruise control and not overthink things.

  Just when you think things are going beyond great, the universe comes along and punches you upside your head.

  The tale started on a Saturday. I remember this because it was exactly one week from the surprise wedding. I started my day as I usually did by climbing out of bed and making my way out to the swimming pool. I dove in and felt the cool water instantly wake me up. I dried myself off and walked to the kitchen to make myself a breakfast of cereal and soy milk.

  I turned on the tiny television on the kitchen counter to listen to the news. I still don’t know why I insist on watching the news. It usually just leaves me depressed, as do many of the commercials and public service announcements. Am I the only one who frantically searches for the TV remote so I can quickly turn the channel every time that Sarah McLachlan commercial for animal adoption comes on? It’s depressing and manipulative, which I realize is completely the point. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, it wore me down after about the tenth time I saw it.

  It had been about twenty years since I last owned a dog. I was so devastated by his death that I swore I would never have a dog again. Maybe you think I’m being overly sentimental for getting so upset over the loss of an animal, but for those of you who have had the pleasure of owning a furry companion, you know the pain I speak of when they pass to the great beyond.

  I had been thinking about buying a dog for a few weeks now. Sarah’s latest blatant manipulation of my heartstrings pushed me over the edge, and I decided to spend my morning in search of a hound.

  I pointed my car in the direction of the nearest dog pound. Actually, it was Lauren’s BMW Z3 convertible. Foxx offered to sell it to me, and I initially declined. I actually declined several times. I just felt like it was yet another way I was profiting from Lauren’s death. Foxx convinced me, though, that he was going to sell it to someone, and it may as well be me. So I bought the little silver car. I loved driving it even though it was without a doubt the most impractical vehicle on the road.

  I drove the several miles to the dog pound and pulled into the parking lot. The building looked like two trailers put together. The walls were paper thin, and I could hear the dogs barking from out in the parking lot. I entered the building and told the attendant of my intentions to adopt a dog. She enthusiastically showed me around as I silently cursed Miss McLachlan. All the dogs had that helpless and pitiful look while they sat in their tiny cages. I wanted to adopt them all but knew that would be insanity. I made my way from cage to cage, and then I saw him. He looked like he weighed about ten pounds. He had a silver face and legs, and a black body and tail.

  “What’s this little guy?” I asked.

  “He’s one of those new breeds.”

  “New breed?”

  “He’s a mix between a Maltese and a Yorkie.”

  “So he’s a mutt?” I asked.

  “You could say that, but the breed is actually called a morkie.”

  “How old is he?”

  “He’s about a year. His owner moved back to the mainland and couldn’t take him with her.”

  How could anyone leave this little guy behind? I thought.

  “What’s his name?” I asked.

  “George.”

  I cringed. George was the name of a guy I met during Lauren’s murder investigation. He lied to me repeatedly and eventually tried to kill me. The dog’s name would have to change.

  “Is he full grown yet?” I asked.

  “He may gain another pound or two as he matures.”

  I leaned toward the cage.

  “Well, little guy, what do you say?”

  The dog barked once, and I took that to mean he was cool with going home with me.

  I turned to the attendant.

  “I’ll take him.”

  The attendant sold me a small bag of dog food and gave me George’s vet records. I carried the dog outside and put him down on the ground and hoped he would use the bathroom before I put him in the car. He lifted his leg and peed on the front steps of the dog shelter. Then he kicked his back legs several times, as if to wash the dirt of the shelter off his tiny paws. He took one last look at the building, and then turned and walked toward my car. I’m not sure how he knew which was the right car, but this little guy was already starting to impress me.

  I put the dog in the front passenger seat and popped the roof back so he’d enjoy the wind through his fur. Yes, I know. I was spoiling him already.

  I drove straight for Alana’s house, anxious to show her my new friend. I usually pull into her driveway, but there was already another car there when I ar
rived, so I parked on the street. The dog stood up in the seat of the car and balanced himself by placing his front paws on the top of the car door. He looked toward her house, and I wondered if he thought I was taking him to his old home. Poor guy. I assumed he missed his original owner badly.

  I picked up the dog and carried him to the front door. I would need to buy a leash soon. I rang the bell and after several long seconds, Alana swung the door open. It was obvious from the sour look on her face that something wasn’t right.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “Fine,” she said.

  She looked at the dog in my arms.

  “So that commercial finally broke you down.”

  “Yeah, what can I say?”

  Alana scratched the dog behind his ears, and that little gesture seemed to make them both feel better, not that the dog was feeling bad to begin with. She stepped aside, and I walked into the house. I put the dog down, and he dashed into the back room.

  “Looks like he already knows his way around,” Alana said. “Is he house trained?”

  “I hope so,” I said.

  “Hey there, cutie. Who are you?” I heard an unfamiliar female voice say from the other room.

  “Who’s that?” I asked.

  Alana didn’t say anything. She simply turned and walked toward the direction of the voice. I followed her, thoroughly confused as to what was going on.

  To say I was floored when I got to the back room would be the understatement of the year. There standing side by side with Alana was her identical twin.

  “Hello there,” the twin said.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “Poe, this is my sister, Hani,” Alana said.

  “Her younger sister,” Hani said.

  So they weren’t twins. But you caught the reference to “younger” sister, I’m sure. Alana certainly wasn’t old by any means, unless you consider thirty old. It didn’t take a genius to pick up the tension between the siblings.

  “This is my boyfriend, Poe,” Alana said.

  “Boyfriend? Why haven’t I heard anything about him?” Hani asked.

  I’m sure you’re assuming my feelings would be hurt since Alana apparently hadn’t mentioned me to her sister. But they weren’t. I was too confused by the situation. Before I could comment, though, the dog ran up to Alana and put his front paws on her lower legs.

  “What’s his name?” Hani asked.

  “Maui. Maui the dog,” I said.

  I’m not entirely sure why I said Maui. I certainly didn’t think up the name on the drive over. It just came out of my mouth and was as big a surprise to me as to you.

  “Hello, Maui the dog,” Hani said.

  Hani bent over to pat him, but he backed away from her. He didn’t growl or anything. He just didn’t want to be touched by her. Was he picking up something that I wasn’t?

  I looked at Alana and saw a smile on her face. She noticed the dog’s slight too.

  Hani stood back up and did her best to ignore the fact Maui the dog just dissed her.

  “So, how did you and my sister meet?” Hani asked.

  “On a murder investigation,” I said.

  “Was it the one involving the artist Lauren Rogers?”

  “The one and the same.”

  Hani turned to Alana.

  “I read about it. You certainly made everyone proud when you solved the case.”

  “Actually,” Alana said, “it was Poe who solved the mystery.”

  “Really?” Hani turned back to me. “So you’re showing up my sister? I’m surprised she continued to date you after that.”

  “Actually I couldn’t have solved it without her. I thought we made a great team,” I said.

  “A gentleman too, refusing to take all the credit,” Hani said.

  “Have you been on Maui all this time, and I just haven’t seen you?” I asked.

  “I grew up here with Alana, but for the last year, I’ve been living in L.A. I’m a model.”

  I just nodded. I really didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kept my mouth shut. Who tells people within the first few minutes of meeting them that they’re a model? She certainly had the looks to be a model. She was downright gorgeous, but why brag about it?

  “So you just came back here to visit family?” I asked after several long moments of uncomfortable silence between the three of us, four if you count the dog.

  “I’m getting married next Saturday,” Hani said.

  Alana looked away. I had no idea why her sister’s wedding would piss her off so much. I was sure she would tell me later.

  “Congratulations,” I said.

  Hani smiled at me, and I smiled back.

  Maui the dog barked once. I looked down at him. He was standing by my feet and looking straight up at me. I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by the bark, but if I had to guess, I think he was saying things were about to get weird.

  III

  What Are Friends For If Not to Make You Feel Uncomfortable?

  The next morning proved to be almost as strange and unexpected as meeting Alana’s sister. The night before I put a towel down on the floor beside my bed for Maui to sleep on, but he preferred to sleep on my dirty clothes instead. He must have been waiting for me to wake up because he leaped to his feet the moment mine touched the floor. He followed me to the back door. I slid the door open. Maui barked once and then raced outside. That’s when I saw them.

  “What the hell?” Foxx asked.

  I looked up and saw Maui the dog standing at the edge of the pool. He barked once more at Foxx who was in the pool with a very attractive and naked young woman. It was obvious from this short distance that Maui and I caught them in the act. Foxx is a big man, just over six foot four and weighing around two hundred and forty pounds. He easily dwarfed the woman with him in the pool.

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “Who the hell is that?” Foxx grumbled.

  “Your new roommate,” I said and walked back inside the house. I turned to the dog, who continued to watch Foxx.

  “Maui, come.”

  The dog turned and ran into the house. I slid the door shut and tried to erase the image of what I had just seen from my brain. I fed the dog and gave him water. He seemed content in his new home.

  An hour later, Alana picked me up, and we drove toward our surfing spot. She had been giving me surfing lessons for the last few weeks. Although I still wasn’t very good, I had shown some small improvement. Unfortunately she was still in a bad mood. I wasn’t sure if I should ask questions or just wait for her to talk when she was ready.

  We pulled up to the beach, and there was no one there. We pulled the surfboards off the roof and carried them down to the water. Alana walked into the water without even saying anything to me. It was definitely going to be a tense morning.

  I followed Alana into the water. We both paddled to our usual spot and waited for a wave to come. The first wave approached, and I didn’t make a move because I assumed Alana would take it. She didn’t. The next wave came and then another. Neither of us moved. I wasn’t wearing a watch, but I could have sworn a good ten minutes went by with neither of us saying a word. Finally, Alana broke the silence.

  “She wants us to have dinner with them tonight.”

  “Hani and her fiance?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Is that’s something you want to do?”

  “No, and I’ve been trying all morning to come up with a good excuse to get out of it.”

  “Just say you have to work,” I suggested.

  “I thought about that. But sooner or later, I’m going to have to see them both.”

  “Have you met her finance before?” I asked.

  “Yes, he used to live here on the island.”

  “Nice guy?”

  “Depends who you ask,” she said.

  “Well,” I said, “I thought I was asking you.”

  “Then, no, he’s not a nice guy.”

  “The dinner is up to you. It do
esn’t matter one way or the other to me,” I said.

  “I don’t even want to go to that damn wedding, but I don’t see how I can get out of it. She wants me to be her maid of honor.”

  “Makes sense. You seem the logical choice.”

  “Not really. We can’t stand each other,” she said.

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be. Sometimes that’s just the way it is.”

  “So let’s not go to dinner. No reason for you to do something you don’t want to do.”

  Alana said nothing, and it was quite obvious she was struggling to make up her mind. Finally, she spoke.

  “Let’s just do it and get it over with.”

  A wave rolled in, and Alana took it. Her form was graceful, as usual. Another perfect wave appeared a few seconds later, but I ignored it. I couldn’t stop wondering what it was that had her so upset. I’d never seen Alana like that before. There’s nothing like family to really piss you off.

  Alana didn’t feel like surfing anymore, so she drove me back to the house. She promised to call me later in the day and give me the time for dinner. I kissed her goodbye, and she sped off. I saw Foxx’s car was still in the driveway as I walked to the house. I wondered if he and the mystery lady were still at it in the pool. I didn’t see them there, nor did I see them in the house. His bedroom door was closed though, so it wasn’t hard to imagine what they were up to.

  I really didn’t have anything to do that day, so I just hung out at the pool with Maui the dog. He sat under my chair to give himself some shade. A couple of hours later, Foxx emerged from the house. His hair was a mess, and he looked exhausted. He walked over to me.

  “How’s it going, buddy?” he asked.

  “Fine. How are you? You look a little hung over.”

  “Yeah. Probably had a few too many.”

  Foxx’s nickname is Five Beers. As you can imagine, it centered on his ability to consume a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time. It was a name he’d grown to hate, so I tended not to use it unless I really wanted to give him a hard time.