Fins & Fatalities, page 7
A sharp rap at the door pierced KK's moment of relief. Her eyes squeezed shut, shoulders tensing as if bracing for impact. The prospect of yet another hurdle in this marathon day sent a wave of weariness through her body. She inhaled deeply, steeling herself for whatever awaited on the other side.
Tony popped his head in. “I’m heading out and just wanted to check in with you before I go. How are you doing?”
KK breathed easier when she realized this wasn't another task for her overflowing plate. Instead, here was the one person actively working to lighten her load. “I’m good, how are you settling in? Anything you have questions about?”
Tony frowned and made his way to sit in front of her. “Keiko.” She blanched at the use of her given name. “We have been friends our whole lives. Which means I’m more than just an employee. You don’t have to keep up the ‘everything is fine’ mask. Talk to me.”
She stared at him in shock. “Have I really been treating you as if you are ‘just an employee’?”
He shrugged, eyes shifting past her shoulder in a clear sign that he wasn’t disclosing the full truth. Turns out, she knew him pretty well too. “A little, but I know you’re stressed and bothered by what happened a couple of days ago.”
“Tony. Of course I don’t, and I’m sorry I’ve been a bit distant. You have been such a help around here and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m swamped, and you’re right, I am stressed and probably more than a bit distracted with all of the questions I have about MJ’s death. It’s… no one really talks about how awful it is to see a body, even one you have reason to hate.”
Tony rose, his chair scraping softly against the floor. He circled the desk, settling on the arm of KK's chair. His hand curled around her shoulder, a warm, familiar weight across her back.
"I'm so sorry, KK," he murmured, his voice low and sincere. "I truly wish you hadn't been there."
KK tilted her head, pressing her face into his shoulder. The tension she'd been carrying for days—no, years, it felt like—began to melt away. In Tony's embrace, she had another sanctuary, her body and mind finally surrendering to a long-overdue moment of peace. “I just feel like if I could get some answers about what happened, maybe it would help, you know?”
“I get that. I want to help, KK. Is there anything you need from me?” he asked, his hand rubbing her upper arm in a soothing manner. Realization struck her the moment he said his last word, stealing her breath. Her eyes grew round as connections sparked in her mind. She pulled back so she could look him in the eyes, a sly smile materializing on her face. A newfound energy surged through her.
“Yeah,” she replied. “A date.”
Chapter Nine
“You did what?!” Tony gasped, mouth ajar.
“I took photos of a napkin and torn note that I found on the body of the dead poacher when I found him—to meet him there for still-unknown reasons,” KK replied casually.
A gentle breeze caressed KK's skin, its warmth a stark contrast to the cool office air they'd left behind. Tendrils of her dark hair danced in the wind, sweeping away from her face as they made their way down the street. Dusk painted the sky in deep purples and blues, the final hints of gold and orange fun ebbing away as the sun dipped into the ocean. As Marine World faded into the background, KK laid out her strategy to Tony.
“And that napkin came from The Aloha Lounge?” he clarified.
“I think so. I want to see if I can uncover anything. But..." she hesitated, "it'd be weird if I just showed up alone."
“Ah, so that’s why you asked me on a not-date date?” Tony asked. The subtle strain in his voice, a barely perceptible tremor, might have caught KK's attention had her mind not been so deeply entrenched in her current mission. “Why can’t you let the police handle it?”
A flicker of irritation crossed KK's face. “Because the police are incredibly unreliable. You saw how they handled the investigation when I went to them asking for help with the poachers months ago. They’ve never taken the threat to marine life seriously. If I don’t take matters into my own hands, then nothing is ever going to get solved. That guy died while waiting to meet me. He wanted to tell me something. The police are going to focus on his murder, not how it ties back to the poachers. In order to keep Marine World safe, I can’t let this go until I get some answers. And don’t get me started on Captain Knight—”
“I don’t think I need to,” he teased, cutting KK off mid-rant.
She paused, registering how manic she must have sounded, and started laughing at herself. “Sorry, I can get a bit overzealous sometimes.”
“I call it passionate,” he corrected, nudging her. “It’s one of the reasons I like you.”
She angled her head to look at him. He stared straight ahead, hands in his pockets.
“Anyway, you’re not wrong. I still can’t believe you handled a dead body,” he shivered. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s pretty disgusting.”
“I used gloves,” she retorted. “And all I did was turn over the body to get to the napkin.”
“Same thing.” He shuddered again. “Pretty sure ‘turning over the body’ counts.”
KK shouldered him playfully, smirking.
Ocean-kissed air swirled around them from the cerulean blue waters as they continued to stroll down the street. The emerald peaks of the mountains to the east stood defiant against the encroaching twilight, their lush contours etched against the deepening sky. Nearby, palm trees swayed and creaked, their fronds heavy with ripe coconuts poised precariously overhead as a gray francolin soared above them, screeching its call into the twilight. The scent of hibiscus and jasmine blended with the sea breeze as KK inhaled deeply. She could stay out here forever and never tire of the stunning tropical landscape or the crisp white beaches. To her, Maui was perfect and she wasn’t about to let poachers and murderers wreak havoc on her hometown island.
The rhythmic crash of waves mingled with distant laughter and the faint strains of ukulele music. As they approached the bar, the scent of grilled seafood and tropical cocktails wafted through the air. Tiki torches flickered along the path, casting dancing shadows on weathered wooden siding. They stepped into the bar's dim interior, leaving the twilight behind. Soft blue lighting bathed the space in an ethereal glow, while intricately woven tiki straw adorned columns and chair backs. Intimate booths hugged the walls, their dark upholstery inviting quiet conversation. The bar and tables, crafted from rich, polished wood, gleamed softly. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance - a nod to tiki culture without succumbing to tourist-trap clichés.
Weaving through the patrons finishing off their happy hour drinks, KK and Tony made their way to the bar. Within seconds of clambering onto their stools, a tall, slender woman materialized in front of them, placing napkins on the bar.
“Aloha,” she greeted, tossing her blond tousled hair over her shoulder as she smiled, offering a drink menu. “Call me Billi. What can I get you?”
KK's finger hovered over the menu, not sure of what she was in the mood for since she only came for answers. "Surprise me," she finally told the bartender with a resigned sigh, her eyes tracing the purple lines of the napkin.
Tony, never one to be outdone, grinned mischievously. "Make that two surprises, but make mine extra... surprising."
The bartender's brow flicked up, her eyes alight at the challenge. “Done and done.” She pivoted and reached for opaque and red-hued bottles, her hands a blur of motion as she mixed, shook, and poured with theatrical flair. Moments later, she presented two glasses on the familiar napkin—one emitting a faint, ethereal glow, the other crowned with a swirling wisp of aromatic smoke.
KK thanked her before turning her attention back to the napkin. She lifted the glass and slurped, pleasantly surprised with the sweet and sour combination. KK slid Tony's glass aside, her finger tapping the exposed napkin.
Tony, brushing aside KK's pointing finger, snatched up his glass. He sipped the mysterious concoction, his eyebrows arching in unexpected pleasure. "Wow, this is... interesting," he muttered, studying the glass with a mix of curiosity and mild satisfaction. He glanced at KK, noticing her distraction. "So, what’s going on in that head of yours?"
An I-told-you grin splashed across her face, practically glowing with vindication. The familiar markings that had niggled at her memory when she'd first glimpsed the napkin in Michael Stein’s pocket now crystallized into certainty. Her eyes darted toward the end of the bar, seeking out Billi. "Hold on. I need to ask Billi something," she said in a low voice. Raising her hand to catch the bartender's attention, she called out, "Hey, Billi. Got a sec?"
She finalized a payment with another customer before glancing around. “Sure. It’s pretty quiet right now. What’s up? Something wrong with the drinks?” she asked, approaching her.
“No. It’s actually perfect,” KK assured her. “Like one of the best I’ve had in a while. I wanted to ask you about someone who might have come in recently. He died not too long ago.” She paused, contemplating whether to be upfront or choose her words carefully. Billi struck her as the kind of woman who preferred straightforward bluntness, so she gave it a shot. “In fact it’s about the guy the police found on the beach.”
The bartender nodded. “I heard a few people talking about that the other night. No one had any specific details to share about what exactly happened or who it was. Strange it hit so close to home. I don’t know anything else.”
“But maybe you do. They found a napkin from here on the beach. Do you recall a guy with kind of ashy brown hair, hazel or green eyes, square jaw, about yay tall?”
Billi squinted, her fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the bar top. Suddenly, recognition flashed across her face, her eyes widening with the spark of recollection. “Are you talking about MJ?”
KK perked up. “Maybe. His name was Michael Jason Stein.”
“That’s him all right. He typically went by ‘MJ’,” Billi said.
KK's lips parted, questions poised on the tip of her tongue. But before she could voice them, a shrill cry sliced through the air, cutting off her next words.
“KK! Tony!”
Peggi and Tim weaved through the bar, steering with them a young woman towards KK and Tony. The newcomer's hair blazed an impossible shade of crimson, reminiscent of a cartoon character come to life. As the woman’s gaze landed on her, dark eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement.
"Hey, guys," KK greeted, mustering a smile despite her internal conflict. Talk about timing, she thought, stealing a glance at Billi, who was now drifting to the other side of the bar. KK's shoulders tensed imperceptibly as she watched her potential lead slip away.
“KK, this is my sister, Georgya.” Peggi nudged the petite woman forward. “She’s a huge fan, and might be more obsessed about dolphins than you.”
“Tim’s told me all about you, KK!” the young woman beamed. “It’s really nice to finally meet you. I love what you’ve been doing with the dolphins. I’ve been following Tim’s social media for updates. I can’t believe I’m here. Is there any chance I could get a tour sometime? I’d love to meet Jasper and the twins.” Georgya's words tumbled out in a breathless cascade, her enthusiasm overriding any semblance of a “normal” first meet.
KK blinked, her mind working to untangle the rapid-fire introduction. As comprehension dawned, the polite mask KK had been wearing softened. “I think we can figure something out,” she laughed.
Georgya bounced on the balls of her feet, grinning from ear to ear. “That would be so cool! He’s been telling me about the horrible poachers too. Is it true you found one of them dead? Serves him right. I’m glad he’s dead. Well, not glad, because murder is never cool. And also because I kinda sorta really wanted to help catch the guy. I’ve been doing a lot of research into the endangered marine life around the islands, and it just makes me so mad people can be so cruel.”
Again, it took KK a moment to process what the exuberant young woman had said. Had she even taken a breath? Any remaining irritation about being interrupted mid-conversation with Billi was swept aside by the tide of Georgya's infectious energy.
“Round of drinks on me.” Tim hailed Billi to order.
As the evening progressed, the bar's atmosphere thickened with patrons and chatter. KK's gaze darted periodically to Billi, only to find her perpetually occupied - a whirlwind of shaking cocktails and animated conversations. The window of opportunity slowly closed, slipping away like sand through an hourglass.
KK exhaled softly, resignation settling over her. Her impromptu investigation would have to wait. Shifting her focus, she resolved to embrace the night's unexpected turn. She tuned back into the group's banter, allowing herself to be drawn into their stories.
Yet, even as she relaxed, a small tension remained. Her eyes couldn't help but track Peggi's not-so-subtle flirtations with Tony, all while Tim sat nearby. The display left a slightly bitter taste.
“Have you been working out more?” Peggi asked, batting her eyelashes as she squeezed his bicep.
“Um, not really,” Tony replied. “I don’t have much time.”
Peggi's laughter trilled through the air, a forced girlishness clinging to the sound. "Liar," she said. Her hand connected with Tony's arm in a playful swat, the gesture lingering a beat too long. "You can be honest," she purred, leaning in slightly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."
KK's eyes flicked to Tim, gauging his reaction. In the past, Peggi's flirtations had sailed over his head, but tonight was different. His jaw clenched, a muscle twitching near his ear. Shadows played across his face, his usual easy-going demeanor replaced by a storm of barely contained emotions.
As the interaction unfolded, however, a subtle shift occurred. Tony's responses remained polite but distant, either skillfully deflecting or genuinely missing Peggi's hints. With each of Tony's oblivious replies, the tension in Tim's face eased incrementally. His breathing steadied, the dark cloud lifting from his features as he realized Tony wasn't reciprocating Peggi's attention.
Tony glanced down the bar before his eyes met KK’s. “Hey, KK, you alright? You don’t look like you’re feeling well.”
Her brow lifted. “What are you talking about? I’m fine.”
“You look pale.” He drawled, jerking his head.
“I…do?”
“Maybe you should go to the bathroom and check in the mirror?” His words emerged deliberately, each syllable measured. He cocked his head, the sharp motion punctuating his statement.
Her lips tugged downward until her eyes followed the motion of his head, catching on to what he was trying to show her. At the far end of the bar, Billi leaned on her elbows, reading a paper. It seemed the bartender had some free time at the moment.
“Actually,” KK said. “I am feeling a little off. I’m going to go ask Billi for some water.” Tim's hand lifted in a listless wave. Absorbed in their chat, Peggi and Georgya didn’t seem to notice KK's quiet retreat from her perch.
Tony's gaze tracked KK's movement, unwavering. Their eyes met, and he offered a quick wink. A smirk played at KK's lips, her stare holding his. The moment stretched, charged with unspoken words. She finally turned and strode to the bar's far end.
Billi glanced up when KK approached. She straightened, shifting into customer-service/friendly bartender mode.
“Need another drink?” she asked.
KK shook her head. “No, but it was delicious. I need to talk to you a bit more about Mich— MJ. The guy who died on the beach. You seemed to know him.”
“As well as a bartender can know a regular, I guess,” she replied, clicking her nails against the bar in tune to the music. “He drank stouts in the winter and shandies in the summer, and was a rum man for the harder days.”
“That’s all?”
Billi's posture tensed, her spine straightening. Her gaze sharpened, eyes narrowing with a flicker of distrust. “I was his bartender, not his therapist.”
“Yeah, but come on. That’s basically the same thing.”
Billi snorted, a genuine smile overriding her cloud of suspicion. “Okay, you’ve got me there. I'm like a human sponge for secrets. If there were a Guinness World Record for 'Most Unwanted Information Absorbed,' I'd be drowning in certificates. I swear, my therapist should be charging my customers. I'm just the middleman in this game of emotional hot potato. Maybe I should start handing out invoices with the beer nuts.”
“Which means you’ve got a good pulse on things?”
“There’s really no denying it.”
“Was he here the night before he died, do you know?”
Another look of suspicion. “Yeah, he was.”
“What was he like that night? Was there anything off about him?”
Billi halted her dancing fingernails, her lips pursing as she flicked her eyes to a rag and began wiping the spotless bar top. “He was pretty drunk,” she said. “I remember he kept saying ‘Sorry, Ma. I’m so sorry.’”
“Really?” KK tried not to sound too eager. The note had mentioned turning his life around. What if it had something to do with his mother? “Do you have any idea what that meant? Were they close or not close? Had something happened between them?”
Billi retreated, her head swinging side to side. Her hands fluttered in front of her, painting her denial in broad strokes. “No, sorry. I’m not going to start gossiping about a boy’s momma.”
KK's lips parted, words forming and dissolving unsaid. The urgency of hankering for answers clashed with the need for tact. She wrestled with how to convey the gravity of her request without seeming like just another gossip-monger. The line between sincere inquiry and prying felt razor-thin.
“Hey, KK!”
She pivoted and saw Tim gesturing to her as he said, “KK, we’re about to leave.”
She held up a finger, facing Billi.
“Please. I don’t really like to talk about it, but I found MJ’s body. If his mother lives around here, I’m sure she’s devastated. I want to help her understand what’s happened because I don’t think the police are going to do anything about it.”
