Coco's Nuts by Tyler Colins

Author:Tyler Colins [Colins, Tyler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2016-08-12T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

As we drove back to Honolulu, Kent called Buddy. He'd not been able to get a hold of me (my muted phone had been in the bottom of a bag) or Rey (her muted phone had been in the bottom of a bag). As he'd not had Linda's number, he'd aimed for his coworker.

I watched in the rear-view mirror, noting Buddy's frown as she nodded and uh-huhed several times. Linda, seated in front with me, stared out the window, pretending not to pay attention – unlike Rey, who was all but on Buddy's lap and in her face.

Finally, the call ended. She laughed when she noticed all eyes on her. “Inquisitive, are we?”

Not one to mince words, Rey demanded, “What's up?”

“Kent spoke to Annia's maid regarding her employer's whereabouts at the fundraiser the night Jimmy was murdered.”

“Go on,” Rey urged.

“It appears Annia arrived home around midnight. Antonia, the maid, is very loyal to her employer … has been for thirteen years.”

“That bit of information doesn't help any,” Rey grumbled.

“According to Antonia, Annia is a decent boss, one who doesn't rile easily. She entertains twice a month and hasn't been seeing anyone since Greg died, at least that Antonia is aware of.” Buddy looked from one face to the next. “She did mention that her boss looked pale and winded that night, and when asked if everything was all right, Annia explained that she'd eaten bad seafood and wasn't feeling well.”

Rey perked up. “Pale and winded, huh? Now that's more helpful.”

“But she truly may have eaten something that disagreed with her,” Linda pointed out.

Rey leaned forward so that her face was close to my ear. “Do we want to follow up with Annia?”

“Not right away,” I replied. “Let's hang on to this little tidbit for now.”

“And in the meantime?” Buddy asked.

“Rey and I are visiting with Lula on Maui later this evening.” I turned to Linda and grinned. “You're still welcome to change plans with Makjo.”

“And give up the home-cooked dinner Mrs. Kelmore's preparing as a thank-you for proving her hubby wasn't errant?” she quipped.

“What was Mrs. Kelmore's hubby being?” Buddy asked curiously.

“Thoughtful,” Linda replied. “He was organizing a huge surprise party for their thirty-fifth.”

“Just when you think men are all the same – useless – you discover one that renews your faith in the opposite sex,” Rey grinned.

“Do you think visiting with Lula will prove beneficial?” Buddy asked, despondency fleetingly darkening that pretty face.

“This is a two-fold quest: first and foremost, find folks to corroborate your whereabouts at the time of the murders and second, unearth the real killer. The only way to accomplish either is to pick at every teeny, tiny prospect.”

Buddy canted her head one way and then the other before staring reflectively out the window.

“Speaking of killer, who wants to call Ald?” Linda asked. “We should let him know about Eddy's flat … and Coco, for that matter.”

“Someone's surely already called the police about the explosion,” Rey advised. “As for Coco, what's another day or

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