Chapter 21

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

That evening, Maddie donned a blue Hawaiian dress with large turquoise and white flowers across it. It tied behind her neck and showed off her tanned shoulders and arms. She left her hair down, grateful it was long enough to cover the cuts and bruises on her arms.

She'd gotten to the event ten minutes early and had been greeted with a fragrant white and purple lei. Its floral scent was a nice contrast to the aroma of roasted pig also wafting through the air. In the background, a man played a ukelele and sang Hawaiian songs. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a pink hue across the sky.

She found a table near the front and saved seats for Josh and her friends, just as she had promised. She mingled with everyone as she waited, all the while keeping her eyes open for anyone acting suspiciously.

She knew the truth—there was a good chance the person who knew her secrets worked for Benchmark. That they were attending this luau. That they could be watching her as well.

Her gaze stopped on Adrienne and Brody as they stepped into the dining area.

Adrienne looked gorgeous in a body-hugging pink flowered dress. Brody wore a breezy white button-up shirt and khaki shorts.

He glanced at her and smiled.

The sight of his grin made her heart flip-flop.

No, Maddie. That's not okay. No flip-flopping in your chest. Got it?

Several minutes later, everyone settled into their seats—everyone except Josh.

"Where's Mr. Harding?" Fowler asked from across the table.

Maddie tempered her voice before saying, "Rubbing elbows with important people. I didn't anticipate him sitting here with me very long. The way he's learned to schmooze, he really should go into politics."

"I guess trying to be CEO is great training for a political campaign." Adrienne flashed a smile.

Finally, someone who understood.

"Take advice from an emu and don't let yourself be ostracized." Bree chuckled at her own joke.

"That was pretty bad," Fowler murmured. "But nice effort."

Bree shrugged. "What can I say? I try."

A man got up front and began telling everyone about the history of luaus on the island.

When he finished, Adrienne leaned closer and whispered, "Say, is that detective still asking about Jared? I've been thinking about that all day."

A lump formed in Maddie's throat. "Yes. The police think Jared may have been," she swallowed hard before glancing around and then whispering, "murdered."

Adrienne gasped. "What? That's terrible. I thought it was just a fluke accident."

"So did I." She had no idea when she went outside yesterday morning that everything would change so drastically.

"You're not a suspect or something, are you?" Adrienne continued to study Maddie's expression, on the verge of looking horrified. "I mean, I heard what the detective told you yesterday, but I was hoping he was just testing the waters."

How did Maddie even answer that?

She scrambled for the right words to say. "Honestly, I don't really know what the detective is thinking."

"I'm sure it was just procedure when he talked to you." Brody's gaze met hers, his words reassuring.

"I hope so. Anyway . . . maybe we could talk about something else?"

"Absolutely." Adrienne seemed to snap from her inquisitive stupor. She straightened and glanced around, her eyes lighting. "Let's have some fun."

Maddie only wished it were that easy.

But having fun wasn't on her agenda . . . not when a killer was out there.

As her gaze drifted, Maddie spotted Nico talking with several board members. They all looked at him with admiration in their eyes.

Maybe Josh really was on shaky ground. He'd be devastated if he wasn't named CEO. Since his dad had started the company, Josh had been determined to take over one day, to follow in his father's footsteps.

So where was Josh now?

Her gaze traveled to the other side of the event area, and she spotted him.

He was leaning close to Darla, whispering something to her.

What was that about? Maddie didn't like the way both Darla and Josh glanced around after their quiet conversation. It was almost like . . . they were plotting something.

But what sense would that make?

Maddie didn't know. But she didn't like the unsettled feeling in her gut, a feeling that indicated a vast abundance of secrets cowered in corners here at this retreat.

And if there was one thing she knew about secrets, it was that they could get people killed.