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Tony whistled. “No shit?”
“Yeah. Consider this a heads-up. Whoever’s looking for Meredith is playing rough. They might pay you a visit next.” Kiana glanced at Dev. “Be careful.”
“Locking my doors now,” Tony said. “And, Kiana, you be careful as well. And, just so you know, I haven’t given up hope that you’ll come back to work with me.”
“I like working in the resort industry. It’s a lot steadier than modeling, and I won’t age out of it too soon,” she said. “But I’ll keep you in mind.”
Kiana ended the call and gave Dev a twisted smile. “I guess you heard most of that.”
He nodded. “Her agent hasn’t heard from her either.” His eyes narrowed. “Do you trust him? For that matter, do you trust your friend Cliff?” He tilted his head toward the building in front of him.
Kiana shrugged. “I’ve never had reason not to. He did his best to give us clients who wouldn’t take advantage of us. Besides, he has other escorts who will do anything for a price.”
Dev’s eyes narrowed more. “The escort business can be shady, at best.”
Kiana sighed. “Yeah, but it helped pay the rent when the modeling jobs didn’t come through. I’d have gone back to being a waitress, but I had to be flexible enough to take a modeling job whenever one came up. The better places to be a waitress weren’t as flexible with their schedules, and rightfully so. They handle a huge number of customers. Tourist season is all year long in Hawaii. Especially in Waikiki.”
Dev reached out and touched her arm. “I’m not judging.”
“Thanks,” she said. “And you’re right. The escort business has its shady side.”
He returned his hand to the steering wheel. “Is there anywhere else we should look for Meredith? Anyone she might have contacted or gone to if she was in trouble?”
“Maybe her boyfriend. Hopefully, whoever trashed Cliff’s office hasn’t found him yet.” Kiana bit her bottom lip. “The problem is, I don’t know where he lives.”
“You know his name?” Dev asked.
“Jason Ungers.” Her brow furrowed. “Meredith started seeing him after I moved to Maui. In our phone conversations, she never said where he lived, just that he worked as a bartender on the evening shift at a place called the Big Wave Dive Bar.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s a little early for the bar to be open. Could we check in with Reid and see if there’s any change in Tish’s condition?”
Dev nodded. “We should grab something to eat. I can call Reid and also check in with Swede to see if he’s found anything on the internet.”
Kiana’s stomach rumbled loudly at his mention of food. She was shocked that the day had flown by, and it wouldn’t be long before the sun set on the island. “You must be starving.”
“I could eat,” he admitted. “And so should you.”
She rested her hand over her belly. “I feel oddly guilty thinking of eating when my friends are in such dire straits.
“You’re no help to them if you don’t keep up your strength,” he said. “Food fuels your body and your mind.”
She sighed. “I know. It’s just that we’re no closer to finding Meredith or the people who hurt Tish and Cliff.” Kiana wrung her hands in her lap. “What has Meredith gotten herself into?”
“I don’t know.” Dev shifted into drive. “But I’m worried about you.”
Kiana’s eyebrows rose. “Why me?”
Dev’s jaw tightened. “I think some really bad assholes would kill to find her. Now that you’re in town, you might be their next target.”
Chapter 5
Kiana gave Dev directions to a restaurant close to the Big Wave Dive Bar.
Dev navigated Honolulu traffic, one light at a time until they neared the bar and restaurant.
“They won’t have anywhere to park at either establishment.” She pointed to a place past the restaurant on the right. “There’s a parking lot a block ahead on the left.”
He pulled into a paid parking lot and backed into a parking space. Using an online app, he paid for the parking for the space number and locked the car.
Together, they walked to a small grill where they ordered hamburgers and fries. Dev had tea while Kiana drank water with a slice of lemon.
