Tiki Torches and Treasure by J.C. Long

Author:J.C. Long [Long, J.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, contemporary, gay, romance, private detective, cozy mystery, law enforcement, Hawaii, humor
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

NUUANU VALLEY RAINFOREST was beautiful. Everything seemed so much more vibrant. The leafy canopy had gaps that allowed beams of sunlight to speckle the path, dust motes and pollen dancing amongst the beams. Tree roots branched out into the path every now and then, interrupting the dirt path. The sounds of wild birds could be heard in the distance, their various calls echoing through the dome of branches and leaves. It felt almost surreal, as if I’d stepped into a painting.

We followed the path carefully, watching for places it might fork off as we went. The tourist crowd wasn’t out in too much force, maybe because it was a Friday morning and they just hadn’t reached the island yet. Whatever the reason, I was glad we had the trail mostly to ourselves. This way, when we ducked off the main trail, we wouldn’t look suspicious.

“I think this is it,” Grace said after about an hour of trekking through the trees. She pointed toward a trail that didn’t look well traveled; if it hadn’t been for some disturbed plants, I’d never have noticed it at all.

“What makes you say that?” I asked, craning my neck to see up the path, but it curled up ahead, blocking my sight. “Why is this one different than any of the ones we’ve already passed?”

“I just think it is,” Grace said, confident for no reason I could see. “The other paths didn’t look big enough for a group of people to go down, but this one does.”

“I say we check it out,” Biers said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “We’ll never find the camp if we just stay on this trail.”

I nodded in acquiescence, since it was two against one. It was a valid point, anyway. We had to start venturing off the path eventually.

Brushing along the path, I was grateful for the long pants. I didn’t know if poison ivy grew in the rainforest, and I didn’t actually know how to recognize it if it did, but the pants would make it something I didn’t need to worry about.

Biers stumbled over roots and things the uneven ground, studying the map. “It looks like the camp is to the northeast from the main trail. Are we going northeast?”

Grace checked her compass. “Uh, I don’t think so right now, but the trail keeps winding, so who knows?”

“I’m going to repeat my earlier assertion that we’re going to die here,” I said, instinctively reaching out to steady Edwin before he could topple completely over after tripping over another root.

“You’re such a pessimist,” Grace called back to me over her shoulder. “But if you think we’re going the wrong way, then we must be going in the right direction.”

I sniffed. “Rude.”

The path continued to twist and turn, making it difficult to tell what direction we were going. I just followed along, content not to be the one in the lead when we didn’t end up in the right place.

We walked the trail for nearly an hour before Grace sighed and came to a stop.

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