After the Storm Page 2

  “Are you worried?”

  “Not yet.”

  “We’ll be at full capacity in three days. The governor should be here before then, possibly tomorrow. He’s decided to come early. He wouldn’t come if there was going to be anything to worry about.” She stood. “Let’s move this desk.”

  Early? Chase would have to step up his game if he were going to keep the governor safe.

  CHAPTER 3

  The talk with her grandfather the night before had not gone well. It never did. Not since the fire anyway. Kayla booted up her computer. The staff had stood stiff as soldiers during the morning inspection. Resentment rolled off them in waves. Perhaps Chase and Alana were right and Kayla was too rigid for paradise.

  At first, she’d wanted the new opening at a New York hotel, but that idea had been squashed with Grandfather’s iron fist. He’d made it more than clear that Kayla wasn’t ready for a job of that magnitude.

  After making sure there were no emails depicting disaster or customer complaints, Kayla clutched her clipboard to her chest and went to make herself available to the staff and customers. The light mist that fell didn’t seem to deter the guests from wandering the grounds or frolicking in the ocean. Several stood in line for the charter that would take them snorkeling by Molokai Island. Everything seemed to be as it should. Except for loud voices behind an outbuilding.

  Kayla marched in their direction, surprised to see the easy-going Daniel, arms crossed over his massive chest, standing like a warrior of old while a smaller staff member yelled up at him. “I know you did.”

  “Did what?” Kayla stepped around the corner.

  “Took my laulau.”

  “You’re making a scene over food?” Kayla narrowed her eyes. “You are behaving unprofessionally, Mr. Pali.”

  The man spewed an expletive. “I quit. I cannot work with thieves and tyrants.” He stomped away.

  Kayla glanced up at Daniel. “Am I tyrant?”

  The big man’s features softened. “A bit. But there is a lot more wrong with that lolo than we’re seeing.”

  “Did you take his food?”

  “No.” He turned to leave.

  “Wait.” Kayla put a hand on his arm. “I need another baggage handler as soon as possible. Do you know anyone?”

  “I’ve a younger brother, but he’s inexperienced.”

  “I’m desperate enough to hire him.”

  “I’ll get him on my break.” Daniel gave a nod and continued on his way.

  Kayla sat on the nearest bench. She wasn’t a manager. Far from it. She’d not been strict enough in Nebraska, now she was too strict. A good manager would know where the happy middle was. A good manager would have employees who loved their jobs, and her.

  She stared at the ocean. The far-off wall of clouds looked closer and darker. Perhaps the threat of a storm was real.

  “Miss Denton.” Alana hurried toward her, flip-flops snapping against the lanai floor. “The governor is approaching us.”

  “You mean he’s on a carriage now?” Kayla stood.

  “Yes.” Alana rushed to keep up with Kayla as she strode to the front of the resort.

  “Find Daniel.” There wasn’t time for him to get his brother. The governor would need his bags moved immediately.

  Alana darted away.

  Kayla stepped forward, straightened her shoulders, and smiled to greet Governor Frank Lowery. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Chase stepping behind a palm tree. At first glance his posture seemed relaxed, but on a closer look, he seemed primed to act. His blue gaze focused on the governor. Before she could investigate further, the carriage carrying the governor arrived.

  Daniel stepped past Kayla and opened the door before hefting a suitcase on each massive shoulder.

  “Welcome to Maui Lani, Governor Lowery. I’m the manager, Kayla Denton.” Kayla offered her hand. “It is our great pleasure to have you visit us.”

  The governor, a tall man with stylish gray hair brushed back from a ruddy face, returned her shake. “The pleasure is all mine. I desperately need a few days of ho’okipa.”

  “You’ll get that here, sir.” She motioned for Alana to show him to his room. As Kayla followed, she noticed the tanned guest stand from his seat on the lanai and follow the progression of people into the lobby. Right behind him moved Chase.

  How many times did Kayla have to tell him that maintenance staff was not to be seen? Prepared to do battle, she marched inside. Chase seemed to have disappeared. Not so with the guest. He leaned against a pillar and watched the governor’s entourage. When he caught Kayla looking, he gave a nod and a smile, then slipped into the men’s room.

  ~

  Catching sight of Davis coming to the bathroom, Chase stepped away from where he peeked through the slightly open door and ducked into a stall. Once the man was inside, he stepped out and, whistling, washed his hands. “A lot of excitement out there,” he said.

  Davis made a noise in his throat. “Too much for a man with beliefs like our governor. He doesn’t care about education or the welfare of the poor. Have you noticed the homeless who spend the night on our beaches?” He scowled. “Probably not. You’re a privileged haole.”

  “That’s an unfair assessment of my character.” Chase grabbed a paper towel. “We’ve just met. Are you a native?”

  “Been here all my life. My parents immigrated from Russia before I was born.” He glanced at the door, then opened it and peered out. “The horde is gone.” He hurried away, leaving Chase to stare after him.

  Tossing the paper towel into the nearby garbage can, Chase followed Davis, doing his best to stay far enough away so he wouldn’t alert him. Chase rounded the corner and came face-to-face with a red-faced Kayla.

  “Why are you stalking Mr. Davis? And…why were you hiding behind a tree when the governor arrived?”

  Chase took her by the arm and pulled her into an alcove. “Shh.”

  “Don’t shush me.” She yanked free. “What exactly—” Her cell phone rang, cutting off her words. Chase took advantage of the opportunity to jog away. There was a leaky faucet in cottage ten, but making sure the governor in the VIP cottage at the water’s edge was safe took priority.

  The VIP cottage jutted over the water with a small bridge leading from the island to its platform. Fairly secure, but anyone determined enough could still manage to get inside even with the burly African American man stationed outside the door.

  Chase’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the picture of a different Bill Davis. This man had piercing blue eyes, pale skin, and almost white hair. He knew in his gut he had the face of his killer. Chase read the accompanying text which apologized for the slow arriving information but it had taken a while to find a match after Clive Wazinsky, aka Bill Davis, changed his appearance so drastically. Chase was also informed not to confront the man. Since he was only a suspected assassin, Chase’s main priority was finding proof he was the man he sought before he killed someone.

  Chase shook his head. Proof like what? A picture of him in the act of killing someone?

  Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

  He whirled, fist doubled, and stared into the startled face of Kayla. “I almost hit you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Why are you so jumpy? What are you doing that I won’t approve of?” She crossed her arms. “Don’t you dare run away again without giving me some answers.”

  “I don’t have any answers to give you.” Not right then, anyway. There might come a time when he needed to reveal his identity, but not today.

  “You should have fixed the leaky faucet in ten instead of following the governor like some kind of groupie.”

  Chase laughed. “I’m not exactly a fan of his, but you’re right. I’ve work to do. See you later.” He marched away.

  The crunch of shells alerted him to the fact she followed. “Why are you acting so strange?”

  “Why are you asking so many questions?”

  �
��Because my gut tells me you aren’t who you say you are.” She stepped in front of him forcing him to stop. The look on her face dared him to say otherwise.

  Not one to turn down a dare, Chase said, “I’m Chase Mitchell, maintenance and all-around handyman.” He quirked his mouth.

  “Hmmph. I’ll find out, you know. I have contacts.”

  He pushed past her. “I’m sure you do.” He knocked on the door of cottage ten, then entered when no one answered. The made-up bed and lack of personal items told him the cottage hadn’t been assigned to a guest yet.

  “They arrive this afternoon,” Kayla said, standing in the doorway. “Hence the urgency of fixing the faucet.”

  “Got it.” He pulled a wrench from the tool belt around his waist and climbed halfway under the bathroom sink. Kayla was as tenacious as a pit bull. From his position he could hear the tapping away of her fingernails on the keyboard of her phone. If she found out his identity too soon, she could give him away and increase the risk to the governor.

  “Stop.” He slid from under the counter. “Let it be. Please.”

  Her gaze locked with his. “I’m scheduling the luau.”

  “Oh.” He climbed back under the seat.

  “But now I’m more curious than ever.” She lightly kicked his leg. “I’ll be back later with your identity. I guarantee it.” She laughed and left him stewing under the sink.

  The moment she was gone, Chase tightened the loose fitting on the faucet, got to his feet, shoved the wrench back into his belt, then raced back to a spot he could watch the governor’s cottage from. It didn’t take long for him to see a disturbance in the water.

  The shiny head of someone in full scuba gear broke the surface under the deck. The orange face of Bill Davis stared upward. When the bodyguard rounded the corner of the cottage, Davis submerged.

  There had to be a spot under the deck that had the killer thinking he could get in that way. Chase would have to go check when the sun set.

  Later that evening, when the last light flicked out in the governor’s cottage, Chase slipped into the water. He didn’t bother with scuba or snorkeling gear. If caught, he wanted the other person to believe his story of enjoying an evening swim.

  He paddled to where he’d seen Davis surface earlier. By shining a penlight upward, he was able to see a hole in the floor. A black cord looped through the hole. Bill Davis was listening in on what went on in the cottage.

  “Hey!” The body guard’s head appeared over the railing. “Get out of there.”

  “Sorry.” Chase floated on his back. “It’s just me…maintenance…enjoying an evening swim as I do every night.”

  “Not around here, you don’t.”

  “Point taken.” Chase rolled to his stomach and swam away. He’d have to be more careful when he came back to remove the device. He didn’t need to get shot doing his job.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Alana.” Kayla stood on the lanai. “What is that? I thought it was the hurricane, but—”

  Her assistant giggled. “That’s Molokai Island. We won’t see clouds from the hurricane until this afternoon.” Her smile faded. “We need to prepare, Miss Denton. According to this morning’s update, it will be bad.”

  An icy hand ceased Kayla’s heart. “It’s going to hit us?”

  She shrugged. “Weatherman says it will veer and only send strong wind and rain, but we should still prepare for the worst. We need to board up the windows, the supplies are late, we need to gather everyone in the main room…there is a lot to do today. The hurricane, if it doesn’t change course, will arrive tomorrow.”

  The girl made it sound as if the storm was merely another guest. Kayla pressed Chase’s number into her walkie talkie and pressed 9-1-1. She was out of her element. In the past, she’d dealt with nothing more than an unruly guest. Wait. “The supplies haven’t arrived? Get Daniel.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Alana used her two-way radio and summoned the big man.

  Daniel and Chase arrived together. Daniel’s round face was creased with worry.

  Kayla took a deep breath. Oh, she hated to admit her ignorance, but other than reading procedures in a handbook, she had no idea what to do in this type of situation. “I’ve been told the hurricane will hit us directly. Chase, I need you to secure the cottages. Daniel, head into town and find out where our supplies are.” Her throat clogged. “Inform the guests. Either they evacuate today or move their possessions into the main building.” Her gaze clashed with Chase’s. “Have I forgotten anything?”

  “We need seven days’ worth of supplies in case the bridge washes out,” Daniel said. “I’ll get what I can. If the supplier cannot provide, I’ll need money.”

  Kayla fished a credit card from her pocket. “You know much more than I do about this. Get what you can. Chase, what do you need?”

  “Man power. The builder of the resort left plenty of plywood to cover the windows. Someone thought ahead.”

  Everyone but her. Well, this time, she’d make sure everything was done to avoid catastrophe. “Alana, we’ll need flashlights, candles, fuel for the generator—”

  “I know.” She rushed away, her long hair flowing behind her.

  “What’s the worst that can happen?” She focused on Chase again. “I know you aren’t from here, but—”

  “I think your main concern is that bridge.” He directed her attention to the resort entrance. “If the waves get high enough, it will wash away. The road, too.”

  “Ok. I need to make a phone call. Please secure the resort and have the guests who will be staying sign a log. I need to know exactly who is here and who evacuated. Should we leave?”

  He shrugged. “We haven’t been told to. Come here. Unprofessional or not, you look as if you need a hug.” He held out his arms.

  Choking back a sob, she stepped into his embrace. “I’m not cut out for this. I have no idea what I’m doing. I think I was set up to fail.”

  He rubbed comforting circles on her back. “Then you have to buck up and make sure you don’t. You have plenty of people here to help you.”

  “I know. You’re right. I need to rely on their expertise.” She sniffed and stepped back. “There’s too much work to do for me to indulge in a pity party. I’ll be in my office if you need me.” She hurried away, shoving aside how good it felt to be held by him. Romance was not in her future. She wanted a career. Love left behind broken hearts and shattered dreams. Her parents had been proof of that. Still, indulging in a few seconds of being comforted seemed to have done a world of good.

  At her desk, she dialed her grandfather. “It’s Kayla.”

  “Make it quick. I’m headed to a meeting.”

  “We are preparing for a possible evacuation here in preparations for the hurricane. Some of the—”

  “I haven’t heard news of an evacuation. Why are you fool enough to cause a panic? If people leave, we’ll have to refund their money. Is the governor leaving?”

  “I don’t know. I—”

  “Well, find out. If he stays, then everything must be fine. An important man like that wouldn’t stay if it was dangerous. Use your head.” Click.

  Kayla put her hands over her face. Her gut told her the guests needed to evacuate. Outside her office window the wind whipped the branches of the palm trees. The blue of the sky slowly faded to dark under thickening clouds. She couldn’t force anyone to leave. In fact, she’d not received notice for any evacuation. But after the fire…she wasn’t taking any chances.

  She pulled up the radar on her computer, copied and pasted the trajectory path of the storm onto a flier, and made enough to be handed to every guest. She would let them decide for themselves and she would prepare for those who chose to stay.

  Arms full of fliers, she went door-to-door with a clipboard. She handed everyone a flier and took down the names of the guests who chose not to leave. A little over half decided not to chance the storm, but didn’t cancel their rooms, planning on returning once the storm was over. Only a han
dful wanted a refund. The others said they’d ride out the storm in the main building.

  “After all,” Bill Davis said, “isn’t vacation about adventure?”

  Kayla stared at him for a moment in silence. “It isn’t about foolishly putting your life in danger.”

  “Are you leaving?” He cocked his head.

  “No.”

  “Well, then.” He grinned and closed the door in her face.

  Chase stepped around the building, a wide piece of plywood in his hands. “He isn’t the friendliest guy unless you’re having a smoke with him.”

  “I didn’t know you smoked.”

  “I don’t.” He grinned and held the wood up to the window. “I’ve a hammer in my belt. Would you hand it to me along with some nails?”

  “Sure.” She did as he’d asked. Why was he so mysterious? He asked her question after question but when they were directed at him, it was like pulling a splinter out of a finger. She still hadn’t had a chance to google the man. Now, there were more important things vying for her attention.

  “See me when you’ve finished, please. I’d like to go over the to-do list with you, Alana, and Daniel. Are any of the staff choosing to go?”

  “Those with families.” He pounded in a nail. “The younger and the single folks are choosing to stay.”

  She nodded. They’d have enough left behind to care for the staying guests. She hoped.

  ~

  Chase pounded the last nail into Davis’s cottage. The man had spent a lot of time on the phone inside, but his words had been too muffled for Chase to hear. Occasionally, Chase could make out Governor Lowery and storm, but didn’t have enough information to put two and two together. He needed to find the time to disconnect the listening device in the governor’s cottage. Once the storm hit, no one would be able to get in the water.

  After glancing around to make sure Kayla wasn’t around to ask questions about his strange behavior, Chase ducked out of sight and stripped to the swimming trunks he’d worn under his uniform. Leaving his clothes, he raced for the water’s edge and dove in. One quick snip of the wire and no more eavesdropping. When his head surfaced, he found himself eye to barrel with a gun.