4 Maui Macadamia Madness by Cynthia Hickey Page B

back in an hour, call the police.”
    “Slow down, hot
shot.” Ethan laid a hand on my arm. “We’re going to breakfast. Then, you and I
will get up and search for the maid.”
    I shook my head. “I
think April and I should excuse ourselves to go to the restroom. The girl is
more likely to talk to women than men.”
    “I agree.” April
spoke up. “And since I gave Summer her tazer , then…”
    “You did what?” A
vein throbbed in Ethan’s temple.
    April returned his
glare. “I brought her tazer . A girl needs to be able
to defend herself.”
    “See, Ethan?” I
figured I ought to step in before he really blew up at his sister. “April and I
will be just fine. We’ll take our cell phones, you’ll
be waiting in the dining room, and if anything happens, which it won’t…” I
widened my eyes. “You’ll be right there to save us.” I flashed a grin.
    “If Manano sees you snooping,” Joe stood. “And something else happens, you’ll only reaffirm his opinion that you are
somehow involved in these murders.”
    “Don’t say that
about your cousin!” Aunt Eunice slapped him on the arm. “Summer wouldn’t hurt a
fly and you know it. I’ve half a mind to help her myself.”
    Uncle Roy slipped an
arm around her ample waist. “Not on our second honeymoon,
sweetheart. No risk taking.”
    “But it’s all right
for our baby?” She glared.
    “We’re here, aren’t
we?” He waggled his eyebrows. “If it makes you feel better, we’ll ask some
questions at breakfast and supper. Can we eat now?”
    Ethan glanced at his
watch. “We’d better hurry if we want served.”
    We hurried outside
and to the dining room. April and I exchanged nervous smiles. Although she was
always willing to help me in my mystery-solving, I could tell she suffered from
a bit of trepidation. I did tend to land us in tight spots.
    I reached over and
squeezed her hand. “I won’t do anything foolhardy. I promise.”
    “Good.” She squeezed
back then slipped her arm through Joe’s.
    It still amazed me
how someone so sweet could love my bullheaded cousin, but everyone deserved
love, I supposed. Even Joe.
    We all took our
seats toward the end of the long wooden table. I did my best not to fidget and
to wait until I had at least eaten half of my pancakes with mango salsa. I
didn’t want to appear too eager, nor did I want to miss speaking with the maids
while the other guests were occupied.
    I motioned to April.
“I’m going to the ladies room. Would you like to go with me?”
    “What? Are we in
Junior High?” Aunt Eunice rolled her eyes. “You can’t go to the bathroom
alone?”
    I gave her a look
trying to tell her to be quiet. Had she forgotten so soon that we had a plan?
Shaking my head, I led April into the foyer. “Do you think the maids are in the
main building or one of the cottages?”
    “Let’s take a walk.
My guess is a cottage. Most likely they take the opportunity of meal time to
clean undisturbed.”
    With our arms
linked, we strolled down the flagstone walk and kept our eyes open for the
maid’s cart. Wonderful! It sat outside the cottage my family shared.
    “We can go in with
the excuse of you looking for something.” I tugged April with me. Please, God, let it be the maid who found
Mr. Jamison .
    The maid tucked
fresh sheet corners under the mattress. She turned with a smile. Thankfully,
she was the one I had seen the night of the murder. “I’ll be finished in just a
moment.”
    “That’s okay. We’re
just,” I grabbed April’s camera off the dresser. “Grabbing
this.”
    How could I approach
the subject of Mr. Jamison?
    She raised her
eyebrows. “May I be of service?”
    “Well,
I, uh.” I took a deep
breath. “You’re Malia, the one who found the man in his bathtub, right?”
    “Yes.” Her shoulders
slumped. “I do not wish to talk about it.”
    “Please. Just a couple of questions.” I motioned for her to sit.
    Eyes filling, she
nodded and perched on the edge of the bed. “It was