Chapter 22

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Just as Maddie had anticipated, Josh was hardly present to sit beside her.

She was a work widow. Though they weren't married, the concept was still the same.

Actually, maybe vacation widow would be a better term.

At events like this one, there was no time to hang out together. She'd mostly gotten used to being alone and finding people to chat with. But she was glad to have found Adrienne, Brody, Bree, and Fowler.

Maddie's group had already been through the buffet line. They'd tried some of the world-famous poi Hawaii was known for. She discovered she wasn't a fan of purplish pudding.

She did, however, go back for seconds on the pork barbecue and macaroni salad.

As she waited for the rest of the group to return to the table, she took a bite of creamy pasta. She scanned the area again. Again, her gaze stopped on Josh.

This time, he was talking to Logan, who wore a body-hugging white dress.

Maddie's shoulders tightened.

"You're not worried about him, are you?"

She snapped her attention to Adrienne, who'd come back to the table and had clearly seen her watching Josh.

Maddie tried to neutralize her expression. "No, the only thing Josh wants is to be named CEO. That's his primary goal in life right now."

Adrienne frowned. "I guess you haven't done too much wedding planning then?"

Maddie glanced at the two-carat engagement ring on her finger. She hadn't wanted something this large, but for Josh, it was another trophy to add to his collection. That was how she'd always seen it, at least.

"No, I guess I haven't," Maddie answered. "No rush, right?"

Brody quietly joined them again, giving them space to finish their conversation.

"It was a shame what happened to his dad." Adrienne stabbed a piece of her Lomi Lomi salmon.

"It really was. Everyone thought he was as healthy as a horse." Two months ago, he'd dropped dead while working late in the office. He'd had a massive heart attack, one that had left Josh and his brother, Sam, fatherless, and Lynn, Josh's mother, a widow.

"Josh seems like a no-brainer for the position," Adrienne continued.

"That's what everyone says."

A member of the event team waved to Adrienne from a few tables over.

"Excuse me a minute," Adrienne muttered.

She scurried to her coworker, leaving Maddie and Brody sitting at the table.

She glanced at Brody and shoved down another rush of attraction.

Inappropriate, Maddie. Do better.

She swallowed hard before asking, "Are you having fun?"

"Hawaii is an amazing place."

"That didn't answer my question."

Brody laughed. "I can't complain. How about that?"

"I guess that works." But Maddie was still curious about his relationship with Adrienne. Something between the two of them didn't seem quite right. They weren't especially affectionate with each other, nor did they exchange warm glances.

Then again, people probably said the same thing about her and Josh. They were rather stiff together often.

"How about you?" Brody shifted in his seat as he turned toward her.

Maddie pushed her hair behind her ear as she considered what to say. "I don't like being paraded around. I guess you could say I'm not in my element here."

"That's a hard position to be in."

She suddenly realized what a drama queen she sounded like and let out an embarrassed laugh. "Listen to me. I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that."

"Nothing wrong with being honest."

Her cheeks flushed at his sincere comment.

Why was she letting this man have this effect on her?

Her thoughts shifted—scrambled really—as an idea hit her. This man had been special forces.

Maybe Brody could help her sort through some of the thoughts and ideas she'd been playing with. After all, investigating elder abuse was different than investigating a homicide. She had some of the skills and experience, but this was still bigger than what she'd previously handled.

She could certainly use someone in her corner, a second set of eyes to help her navigate this and someone to bounce ideas off of.

"Listen, this is going to sound weird," she started, turning toward him. "But hear me out. Please."

Brody's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Okay."

She told him how she was a suspect in Jared's death and how she needed to clear her name.

"I need help," she finished. "Would you?—"

"Hey, guys! Sorry I took so long." Adrienne appeared by their table.

Maddie clamped her mouth shut, promising herself she'd finish this conversation later.

Just as that thought settled in her mind, her phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number reading, " Don't be CLUELESS ."

She glanced around.

Was the person who'd sent this watching her now?

No one appeared to be looking at her.

Despite that, her insides began to quake.

As the skies turned dark, the show following the luau started. Maddie sat with her group in some comfortable seats and watched as the history of Hawaii played out in front of them, demonstrated by song and dance, along with narration and even a fire dancer.

However, it was hard for Maddie to concentrate after she'd gotten that text.

It had used the word clueless, which was the title of another old movie she'd watched with her Poppy. Someone knew enough about her to know what movies she liked.

The thought was unnerving, to say the least.

The show ended. Watching it had been good for Maddie. She needed to get her mind off things, if only for a few minutes. However, she knew as soon as the show was over that her ponderings would return.

She had to figure out what was going on. She couldn't let herself get distracted.

And eventually, she needed to finish the conversation she'd started with Brody. He could offer some valuable insight.

As the cast took their bows, everyone applauded before standing.

Maddie scanned everyone around her again. Her gaze stopped on Tom McLemore. He'd quickly slipped away, but his body language was odd. He glanced around as if to see if anyone was watching. Then he hurried into the shadows, almost as if he were on a mission.

Strange.

Maddie continued surveying the crowd. Darla stood on the grassy lawn chatting with Nico and his wife. Josh started toward them but stopped before reaching them, almost as if second-guessing himself.

Except Josh never second-guessed himself. Overconfidence seemed to be both his superpower and his super weakness.

A gasp and low murmurings cut through the happy sounds of the luau.

Maddie jerked her head toward the commotion.

One of the lanterns lining the luau area had fallen over, and flames spread across the grass.

But it was more than that, Maddie realized.

The lantern had hit someone on its way down.

Now Darla was flailing her arms as she tried to put the flames out.