Chapter 26

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

Maddie's mind raced. Someone might kill Adrienne? Had she even heard correctly?

But she knew she had.

"What does Danny look like?" Maddie asked. "Do you have a picture?"

With trembling hands, Adrienne found one on her phone.

Maddie studied the man. He was stocky with a square face and a thick beard that was pointy on the end. His meaty arms and multiple tattoos showed he wasn't someone to be messed with.

She knew she still had duties to attend to as hostess. But helping out her friend was more important.

"I'm going to go look for him in the restaurant. That way you can know for sure." Maddie took a step toward the Sea Glass Café.

Adrienne grabbed her arm before she left. "Wait. You can't let him know I know you."

"If he's been watching you, then he probably just saw us together," Maddie gently reminded her.

Panic still raced through Adrienne's gaze. "Then you can't let him see you. I don't want him to approach you. He's a bad man."

"Okay, I won't. I'll be stealthy." Maddie tried to take another step, but Adrienne still gripped her arm.

"Really. I mean it, Maddie. He's scary."

The fear in Adrienne's voice set Maddie on edge. But she wasn't going to give up. "I promise to be careful."

Adrienne stared at her another moment, terror in her eyes, until she finally nodded and released her grip on Maddie.

Maddie shook off her nerves and hurried toward the café. She bypassed the hostess, murmuring something in passing about meeting a friend. The hostess didn't question her.

Maddie scanned the dining area. Groups of people were gathered at tables, eating sushi and poke while drinking colorful cocktails. A guitarist strummed in the corner, creating a relaxing atmosphere that didn't fit the intensity she felt now.

She studied the faces, but she didn't see Adrienne's ex anywhere.

Had Adrienne been imagining things?

Maddie needed to be sure.

She began strolling the dining area, searching each face as she did.

She walked the entire perimeter, but she didn't see anyone that looked like Danny.

Had Adrienne been seeing things? Or had Danny ducked away, hoping not to be spotted?

Maddie had no idea.

When she was sure Danny wasn't there, she returned to the spa.

Adrienne still appeared pale and shaky as Maddie approached.

"He's not in there," she told her friend.

Adrienne's shoulders slumped with relief before instantly tightening again. "If he's not at the restaurant, then where did he go?"

Maddie studied her friend's face. "Are you sure you saw him?"

"I'm positive."

Maddie pressed her lips together, unsure what to say. Finally, she settled with, "Then let's keep our eyes open. You should let Brody know so he can be on the lookout as well. You could even talk to the resort's security."

"No! I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention." Adrienne let out a feeble laugh, almost as if she'd heard the paranoia in her own words. She blew out a long breath. "I want to do a good job with this event. I've heard about Josh's reputation for firing people on a whim. I need this job."

Maddie had heard about that also, from more than one source.

"I understand." Maddie frowned. "And I'm sorry Josh is impulsive like that."

She'd seen the trait in him before, and she didn't like it. But Josh didn't listen to her. He said that was the way things worked in the business world. A person had to be decisive.

Maybe he was right.

But that still didn't mean Maddie liked it.

"I think I'm going to go lie down for a few minutes." Adrienne stood and fanned her face. "Then I need to get ready for the concert tonight."

"Of course. Do you want me to walk you to your room?"

Adrienne waved her off. "No, I'll be fine. But thank you."

Maddie hesitated a moment before nodding. "Let me know if you need to talk later."

Adrienne paused before pulling Maddie into a quick hug. "Thank you so much for being a friend. I really appreciate it."

Maddie hugged her back, glad she could be there for Adrienne.

The two pulled away, and Maddie watched Adrienne retreat. Then she turned, trying to figure out what to do next.

Her gaze stopped on Detective Kalani.

Just like yesterday, he headed straight toward her.

Dread pooled in her stomach.

What now?

"Ms. Waters." Detective Kalani paused in front of her, his voice monotone.

"People are going to see us talking so much that they're going to think we came here together." Maddie crossed her arms casually as she tried to maintain her cool.

He let out a grunt that she thought for a moment might be a chuckle. She couldn't be sure.

"Maybe," he said. "Unfortunately, we keep needing to talk."

"Yes, unfortunately." Maddie drew in a deep breath. "What is it now?"

"I finally heard back from the resort about who might have used their keycard around the time of Jared's murder."

Her blood went cold. "You're officially calling his death a murder now?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I am. I'm officially investigating Jared's death as a homicide." His expression remained stoic.

Maddie resisted a shiver. "I'm sorry to hear that. Did you discover something? I know it was nothing having to do with my keycard. I was in my room all night."

"Yes, you were—according to your keycard." His gaze narrowed as if that fact disappointed him. "However, someone you know just happened to leave their room around three and return at four."

"Who would that be?" Maddie held her breath as she waited for his response.

"Your fiancé."

"Josh?" The word squawked out before Maddie could stop it.

A gleam of satisfaction shot through the detective's eyes as quickly as a shooting star that quickly disappeared—so fast that she had to question if she'd seen it even.

"The one and only," Kalani murmured. "Any chance he was paying you a late-night visit?"

She swallowed hard. "He was not."

Detective Kalani nodded slowly, the gears clearly turning in his brain. "I see. So you have no idea where Mr. Harding went for about an hour at that time of night?"

"I have no idea."

But one thing was sure: Maddie planned on finding out.

Would Josh have a reason to kill Jared? Was that why he was awake and came down to the beach so early?

What if Jared had been the spy, and Josh had found out and silenced him permanently? What if Jared had wanted to meet with Maddie and plead for her help? Was that too much of a stretch?

She wasn't sure.

Maddie didn't like these thoughts. But she couldn't ignore the questions either.