Page 35 of Loving a Billionaire

Kurt cussed. “Apparently, the killer was serious about killing Kalama one way or another.” The other men in the room didn’t verbally answer, but nodded in agreement.

“Conover,” Tyrone asked, “in your testing, could you tell what she had for breakfast that morning?”

Nodding, Conover lifted his notebook and scanned the contents. “Pancakes and bacon with coffee.”

Talia tapped her finger on her chin. Now the question was, had she stayed at home to eat or went out?

Feakes cleared his throat. “We need everyone to return to the suspects’ homes and see if they have an ancient collection of weapons. Because this was the exact cause of the death, finding the weapon is crucial.”

She walked with Kurt outside toward the parking lot in silence. She tried to piece in her mind what could have happened at the crime scene. Kalama must have been with the killer before she’d gone in to take a bath. But, she wouldn’t have brought this person back to her parent’s home. Instead, Kalama would have met this person somewhere else, had drinks with them, perhaps a late breakfast of pancakes and bacon before returning to her parent’s house. The poison would have made her ill, and after regurgitating what was in her stomach, she would have wanted to take a shower to wash it off in hopes of feeling better again.

“Kurt? Has Jasmine pulled the report to see which purchases Kalama used with her credit or debit card?”

He shrugged. “Good question. I’m not sure, but if she hasn’t, we’ll ask her to do that.”

“I’m thinking,” Talia continued, “that Kalama probably met the killer for breakfast. Maybe it was there where the killer poisoned her.”

“Good thinking.” He walked to his car first and pointed at the driver’s side. “Why don’t we go together and check on some leads.”

“Sure.” She climbed in and closed the door.

Once Kurt was inside, he started the car and backed out. “Call Jasmine now and ask her.”

Talia quickly got on her cell and called the other woman. Thankfully, Jasmine had pulled the report, and she read off the few places Kalama had gone that morning where she used her credit card. When Talia ended the call, she grinned at Kurt. “Looks like we’ll be going to Heavenly Island Café.”

His smile widened, showing his polished white teeth, which contrasted against his dark brown beard. “Am I to understand Kalama had breakfast there that morning?”

Talia nodded. “And I’m betting money that she met up with a man.”

“Me, too.” He winked. “Oh, and the next place I want to check out is Isabella’s Escort Service.”

Confusion filled her and she narrowed her gaze on him. “Isabella’s Escort Service? I thought Austin had mentioned a Belle’s Escort Service.”

“Since there is no business by that name, I’m thinking Belle is a nickname for Isabella.”

“Ah, good thinking, partner.” She chuckled. “I never suspected Belle would be short for another name.” She drummed her fingers on the armrest of the car. “Are there other escort services in Honolulu?”

“A few, but not with a name that would fit with Belle.”

It didn’t take long before he pulled up in front of the pancake house. Thankfully, they were open for dinner as well as breakfast. Talia and Kurt walked in together. Immediately, they were greeted by the hostess. They both flashed the woman their badges.

“I’m Detective Hamill, and this is my partner, Detective Russell with HPD. Can we speak with the manager?”

The girl looked like she was still in high school with mostly brown hair, but a section was colored in blue, and a lip ring, widened her eyes. She swallowed hard. “Um, the manager doesn’t work tonight. But my supervisor is here.”

“Please get your supervisor,” Talia said.

The girl hurried off, and Talia scoped out the seating area. Tonight, there were only five man/woman couples, one couple that were both female, and one family with four kids, partaking of the restaurant’s fine dining. She raised her gaze to the ceiling, looking for any security cameras. “I don’t see any more cameras,” she whispered.

“Me, either.” Kurt moved to the cash register, his attention went everywhere, even on the floor. Then he pointed to a spot on the wall behind the register. “I think that’s the security camera.”

She stood close to him until their elbows touched. “Yeah, I think it is.”

“Can I help you?”

A man, who was in his late twenties, approached them with the blue-haired girl tagging behind. Kurt moved in front of Talia to greet the man.

“We are HPD Detectives, and I need to ask you a few questions about Sunday morning between eight and ten. Were you, or any of your employees, working that morning?”