Aloha Lagoon was nestled along the Kauai coastline, where life pretty much revolved around the resort and tourists who kept the local businesses afloat. But as I watched the resort in the rearview mirror, I allowed the sun to warm my skin as it beat through the open window of Alani's red Volkswagen Beetle. As she sped along the coastal road, the lush green mountains painted a magnificent backdrop, and my headache receded with every breath of fresh air I took.
"I'm kind of scared and excited all at the same time." Alani broke through my moment of meditation.
"What do you mean?"
"Rhiannon Caldwell is pretty much a celebrity chef around here."
After making a long list with Whitney, we'd decided that the rival caterer was our best place to start asking questions. After all, the day before, I'd personally seen the hatred in her eyes as she had argued with Vivienne.
I shrugged. "I've never heard of her."
"Luke talks about her all the time. He has aspirations of working for her one day."
"Really? I've never heard him mention her."
"Lucky you. He goes on and on and on about her. I told him that instead of wishing to work for her, he should set up a catering business just like she did."
"He's talented enough." Luke sure knew how to cook. Unfortunately, it wasn't a skill I'd inherited.
"Do you really think Rhiannon would kill Vivienne in order to save her business though?" Alani signaled and turned left onto Akahi Avenue.
"If what Whitney told us about her is true, yes."
Alani pulled to a stop outside number fifteen.
"Is this the right house?" I asked, slightly stunned by the timber and glass minimalist building that overlooked the ocean. "This is where Rhiannon lives?"
"It's the address that Whitney gave me." Alani killed the motor and pushed open the door, ready to step into the heat.
"This house looks expensive. I never knew caterers made that much money," I mused, following Alani.
"If rumors are correct, I think she's Kennedy King's full-time chef."
"Does he live here in Aloha Lagoon?" I asked as we made our way along the palm-lined path towards the oversized front door.
"Yeah. He purchased a mansion that overlooks the bay. Full security and locked gates to keep the fans out."
"You seem to know a lot about him." I grinned. "Don't tell me that you're a fangirl?"
Heat flushed Alani's cheeks, giving her an adorable glow. "He is pretty cute."
I laughed as she pressed the doorbell and we heard the loud ring echo inside the concrete walls.
Seconds later footsteps replaced the chimes, and as the door swung open, we came face-to-face with the woman I'd seen in the kitchen the day before.
Today her pale blue eyes were accentuated by the freckles that were scattered across her nose, her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and her T-shirt was smeared with what looked like icing.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her nasally voice soft and quiet compared to what I'd witnessed the day prior.
"Hi!" I trilled, giving her a finger wave. "I, ummm…we were hoping to have a chat?"
Rhiannon checked her watch.
"We won't take long," I hurriedly added, worried she was about to close the door in our faces. "I was, ummm, wanting to ask about…" Oh geez, I could hardly come out and ask her where she was at the time of death. I turned to Alani, my mind suddenly blank.
"We were hoping you could cater a wedding," Alani added. Thank goodness she was better under pressure than I was.
"Yes!"
Rhiannon startled with my outburst.
"Sorry. I'm a bit nervous," I confessed. "I've heard that you're a celebrity chef." As heat flushed my face, I hoped she believed that I was more starstruck than unprepared.
"Oh, well, I am really busy." The delicious aroma of a baking cake wafted through the doorway, and I said a silent prayer that we would get invited in and manners meant she would offer her guests a piece. "Would you prefer to contact me through my website? I have all my details and pricing on there." She looked over her shoulder as a loud clang sounded from a nearby room.
"But we're here now, and I really need to tie up a date today," I pushed, inching a step closer as I spoke.
Rhiannon took a step backwards, and I saw it as my chance to place a foot over the threshold. Alani followed me.
"I'm so sorry to barge in on you like this, but I was supposed to get married last night at the resort. Then everything fell apart when my caterer was murdered and the wedding had to be postponed." Real tears unexpectedly prickled, and I blinked against them.
Rhiannon's gaze softened. "You were the bride. I saw you in the kitchen talking to Detective Ray?"
I nodded.
"Hey, you weren't the one who told him I was arguing with Vivienne, were you?" Fire flashed in her baby blues, and I halted on the doorstep.
"Me? No!" It had been Casey's sister, but it didn't feel productive to tell her how I was connected.
"Oh, well I'm sorry about your wedding, then."
"Thank you. We've rescheduled, but I'm in need of a caterer now that…well, you know. I was really hoping that you would have an availability." I crossed my fingers behind my back and hoped that my little white lies wouldn't add up.
"What date were you thinking of rebooking? I know the resort is fully booked for another twelve months."
"Whenever you have a free spot," I continued. I widened my eyes and allowed my mouth to turn down, showing her my true feelings about delaying my wedding. "Of course I understand if you can't do it. It was just such an awful way to spend what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life."
Rhiannon sighed and pulled the door all the way open. "Come on in. I'll check my planner and see if we can work anything out."
Following her inside, I wasn't sure where to look first. My eyes were swiveling from side to side so fast I was making myself dizzy. From the double-height polished concrete walls to the floor-to-ceiling glass that framed the aqua blue ocean making it look like a living picture, the house was incredible.
Rhiannon stepped down into the sunken lounge room and waved her hand towards a large super plush couch. "Take a seat. I'll go and get my laptop. I keep my calendar online."
As soon as she was out of earshot, Alani leaned in close and whispered, "Did you see that photo of her and Kennedy King over there? He signed it and everything!"
"Yeah. They look pretty chummy for work colleagues," I noted.
I wanted to push Alani for more information about the working relationship, but Rhiannon came bustling back into the room as the sound of a blender echoed along the hallway.
"You must still be reeling from the shock of Vivienne's death," I commented as she opened her laptop and clicked a few keys.
Shrugging, she replied, "Not really."
"Did you know her well?".
"Aloha Lagoon isn't that big. I know most of the caterers around here."
"Was she a friend of yours?"
"Most definitely not. You saw us arguing. I'm sure you could see there was no love lost between us."
"It's sad though. A human life being cut short so young," Alani added.
"Especially considering she was murdered," I added.
Rhiannon exhaled sharply. "If you ask me, it was only a matter of time."
"What do you mean?"
"She had a lot of enemies."
So I kept hearing.
"Including you?" I pushed my luck, hoping she wouldn't evict us from the premises before we even got a chance to taste that cake she was baking. The scent was making my stomach rumble.
Rhiannon cut her eyes to me. "I hated her, if that's what you're asking. I had every reason to. I'm sure you'd hate the woman who stole your business from you."
I sucked in a breath dramatically, making my eyes wide and pretending that Whitney hadn't given us some of the background information.
"That's awful. What did she do?"
"I once had the resort business, but a year ago Vivienne lied on her resume about her experience, stating she worked for an A-list celeb. The resort was impressed and decided that whenever an outside caterer was needed for events, Vivienne would get their work."
"But why would the resort change if they were happy with you?"
"Because she was cheaper. She undercut me! It was a hard enough pill to swallow that she took the work from me, but then she gloated that she actually stole my résumé. I've worked long and hard to prove myself, and to lose my biggest contract like that nearly forced me to close my business. If Kennedy hadn't moved to the island and offered me the job as his personal chef, I may have had to close my business for good."
"Why were you at the resort last night? I heard they double-booked the kitchen, so why didn't Kennedy King move the event?"
"The only other place that could hold that many guests was his house, and his kitchen has been getting some remodeling done and the work hadn't been finished in time for the party. When we learned of the double-booking, I knew it was too late to change anything. Let me tell you, Whitney had to do a lot of talking to stop the resort from cancelling your event in favor of Kennedy King's."
"Where were you at the time of death?" I asked, not sure if I was now grateful to Whitney or not.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing. I just wondered if you heard anything that may have indicated who killed her?" I had to be careful if I wanted to keep her talking.
Thankfully she settled. "I was serving my high-profile clients and didn't hear a thing."
"It looked like Detective Ray gave you all a grilling."
She rolled her eyes. "Didn't he just. I think for a minute there, he thought I might have been guilty, but honestly, as much as I hated Vivienne, she did me a favor. If I was still working for the resort, then I never would have gotten the job I have now. Anyway," she continued, scrolling on her laptop. "My next available date for a wedding would be November next year."
"Even if I don't want it at the resort?"
"It doesn't matter to me where you have it. That's the next free date that I have on my calendar."
I sighed.
"Look, why don't you take some time to consider which package you'd like?" She handed me a business card. "I'll tentatively keep that date free for you, and you let me know what you decide."
I nodded and accepted the card, slipping it into my pocket as Rhiannon stood. As she headed for the door, I got the impression that it was time to leave.
* * *
"Is it too early for a cocktail?" I asked Owen, the surfer-looking bartender who was filling in for Casey while he had time off. Owen was pretty cute, with his sun-bleached hair, tanned skin, and exceptional biceps.
"It's never too early," he replied with a smile, his leather bracelets sliding up his wrist as he collected a dirty glass from the bar top. "But your mother was in here earlier, and she might disagree."
"What are the chances of her coming back anytime soon?" I asked, glancing around the tiki bar for any signs of her.
"No idea, but she was looking for Luke and she didn't seem happy."
"Well, at least she wasn't looking for me," I replied, unable to hide my grin.
"Don't speak too soon. I'm sure I heard her mention your name."
Oh geez. "You'd better make it a cocktail, then. And make it strong." I loved my mother, but I needed alcohol in my system if I was to deal with her when she was annoyed.
"Make it two. Thanks Owen," Alani added, looking past him towards the door to the kitchen. "Is Luke back there?"
"Yeah. Lunch shift just finished, so he should be about to take his break."
As head cook at The Lava Pot, lunch was one of Luke's busiest times.
Owen pushed the kitchen door open and stuck his head inside. "Hey Luke. Alani and your sister are here."
Seconds later Luke appeared. He had a chef's jacket covering his T-shirt, flour dusting his black pants, his hair pulled back into a man bun, and the second his eyes connected with Alani's, his grin was his accessory of choice.
"Hey. There's my girl." He used his hip to push open the wooden gate that kept the clientele on their side of the bar and pulled Alani in for a hug.
"You smell like fish." She giggled before he shushed her with a kiss.
Watching them made me miss Casey, so I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent him a quick message.
Miss you. What are you up to? x
Seconds later my phone dinged his reply.
Taken Mum and Dad into town to show them around. I should be back before dinner. Miss you too. xo
I sighed. If everything had gone to plan yesterday, he would be hanging around the pool with me about now.
Fatigue, the remains of a hangover, and sadness all weighed my shoulders down, and my heart felt heavy. His words to me ran through my mind—our wedding being delayed changed nothing between us.
He was right, of course. He still loved me, and he would still hold me tight tonight. But the thing is, I'd really wanted to be his wife. I wanted to be known as Samantha Dalton, to wear his ring and for him to wear mine. The notion that we were connected by vows meant more to me than I cared to admit, and the fact that I would have to wait so long to get another opportunity caused a pain behind my breastbone that intensified with every breath.
"Are you okay, Sam?" Alani asked.
"Yep," I squeaked. "Just peachy."
"Then why do you look like you have gas?" Luke asked, releasing Alani from his arms and pulling out a barstool alongside me.
"I do not look like that!"
"You kind of do," Alani agreed with him.
I huffed. Sometimes I hated that my best friend was dating my brother.
"I was just thinking about the last twenty-four hours." I sniffed.
"Don't be sad," Alani encouraged. "Let's focus on the future and celebrate that you get to wear that gorgeous dress a second time."
"Casey's already seen me in it now. Isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before they get married? And besides, it's kinda ruined."
"Well then, what about setting a new date? Rhiannon said November, right?"
"Yeah. Next year," I moaned.
"It's better than nothing," Alani added.
"I guess so, but who says I can even afford her?"
"Only one way to find out. Do you have the business card with her website on it?"
I nodded and pulled it from my pocket. Alani read over my shoulder and instantly started to tap at the screen of her phone, finding the website and navigating to the packages page.
"Whoa," she murmured before turning the screen towards me.
It took a moment to count the number of zeros highlighted with a dollar sign, and instantly the world began to spin.
"Are you kidding me? That's more than I earn in six months! I'll never get married at that rate." Anxiety built in my chest, causing my breath to be short and sharp. Tears prickled, and I grabbed for a napkin to wipe my nose.
"For what it's worth, the engagement party was awesome," Luke replied.
"It really was." Alani beamed. "Except for the murdered caterer bit."
"I didn't even get any photos," I cried. I'd expected to have been taking snaps on my phone all afternoon, but instead I'd been so busy pushing my butterflies aside and worrying what Casey's mother was going to think of the wedding, I hadn't once thought to capture the memories.
"I got heaps." Alani stabbed at her phone, thankfully making those awful numbers disappear.
"You're a star," I said to her, my mood taking a turn for the better as Owen placed a tall glass of delicious red liquid on the bar top in front of me.
"It's what best friends are for."
I sipped my drink, hoping the alcohol would settle my upset stomach, as we scrolled through photo after photo.
"Everyone looked to be having a good time," I commented. "Casey's mum is even smiling in a few of them."
Luke laughed. "That was right after I recalled the story of how you fell down the stairs at your high school graduation, showing the entire school your G-string."
Humph.
"Was that Vivienne?" I hurriedly asked, wanting to change the subject and simultaneously using my fingers to stop Alani from scrolling the photos.
We all leaned forward, peering at the screen.
"Yeah. I wanted a photo of the cake before it was moved into the function room," Alani explained. "I guess Vivienne was in the background and I didn't realize."
"She doesn't look happy," Luke commented.
"Did she ever?" Alani asked.
"It looks like she's shouting at someone," I commented.
Alani scrolled to the next photo. Our wedding cake looked stunning, and I took a moment to enjoy it before the memory of Vivienne's blood mixing with the icing made my stomach churn even more.
"Zoom in, Alani," Luke directed.
She did as asked, and a slightly blurry image of two women in the background filled the screen. One was Vivienne, but the other looked like an older woman. Her auburn hair framed her heart-shaped face, her navy-blue suit jacket was pressed, and even with the blurry image, I could see her eyes were spitting fire.
"Who's that?" Luke asked.
Alani and I shrugged.
"Did you hear them when you took the photo?" I asked.
"Not that I remember. To be honest, until I saw this photo, I didn't even know that Vivienne was in the room."
"Well, whoever that lady is, she doesn't look at all happy with her," added Luke. "In fact, I'd go as far to say that if looks could kill, Vivienne would have already been dead."
"Do you think this mystery woman could have killed her?" Alani asked. "She looks angry enough."
"I don't know, but I think it's something we need to find out."
"How are we going to do that?"
That was a very good question.