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Shouting into one’s phone is usually something that would get under my skin anywhere—especially in the formal dining room—but seeing that he’s the next suspect on my list, I don’t seem to mind as much.
He nods as he cradles the receiver to his ear. “Right now I’m heading out for a shore excursion—hiking around Kilauea.”
He disappears out of the dining room and I gasp.
But before I say a word, Elodie nearly passes us by with Layla Beauchamp by her side. Layla is a brunette cutie and a Georgia peach that happens to work down at guest relations. They’re dressed like twins in their white formfitting blouses and navy pencil skirts.
“What’s going on here?” Elodie backtracks a moment as she inspects the three of us. She can’t see Phineas, but judging by the way his jaw just unhinged, he can certainly see the two beauties who popped up in our presence.
“Looks like a séance is taking place,” Layla says, looking less than amused by our conjoined hands.
I quickly shake my hands free. “We were—”
“Praying.” Bess shrugs my way and I shrug back because, well, the Almighty was in the equation however loosely.
“Layla, you’re just the person we were about to see,” I tell her. “We need three tickets to today’s hike to Kilauea.”
“Oh, you don’t want to do that in this heat,” Sparky says. “Your soul will melt right out of your body.”
Elodie frowns. “You ladies really are getting spiritual this morning.”
If she only knew.
I nod. “And that’s exactly why I want to partake in the hike,” I tell them. “Please tell me you have room for three more.” I glance to Bess and Nettie. “That is, unless you’d rather sit this one out.”
“Knew it,” Elodie says. “You’re tracking down a suspect.”
Nettie sighs. “Then I’m in like sin.”
“Not me,” Sparky shouts. “I can’t be out in that heat. I might spontaneously turn into a bonfire.”
“Please,” Bess moans. “We’re not that lucky.”
“You better watch your back, Red,” Sparky threatens. “Just because we’re a couple of copperheads doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you if you stoke my ire.”
Nettie sits up. “What does ire mean?”
Both Bess and I give her the stink eye.
“I’m serious,” Nettie insists. “I’m not controlling what the little guy says. He’s gone sentient on me. There’s a ghost in that little dark suit.”
“I can assure you there’s no ghost,” I tell her before looking up at Layla. “Will you help us with those tickets?”
“If you insist on burning alive,” she says. “You can pick them up at my desk in ten minutes. The bus for the excursion leaves in an hour.”
“Wonderful,” I say as Elodie and Layla take off. “Well, ladies, the volcano might be letting off a little steam today, and if we’re lucky, so will our next suspect—by way of some major clues.”
Phineas floats right out of his seat. “It looks as if we’ve got a hot date.” And with that, he disappears.
A hot date, indeed.
Here’s hoping I’m hot on the killer’s heels. It’s time to put this case to rest, and with that, Julia Edwards will finally be able to rest in peace herself.
We’re headed to Kilauea to catch a killer—if we can.
And I have more than a little faith in both the Good Book and us.
But we’re not making a single move until we finish with breakfast.
