Chapter 22
Frank came up alongside his brother and Joe pointed to the body lying on the sand near a clump of bushes.
Frank stepped back and looked up at the hotel. Five stories up was a public walkway and balcony. Someone could have pushed Chase from there. With that thought in mind, Frank scanned the sand. Sure enough he saw faint drag marks.
"Look," he said to Joe and pointed at the sand.
"Damn," Joe hissed. He'd walked right through the indentations and hadn't noticed them.
Joe spun around and easily spotted the point of impact. A large depression several feet away from where the body currently lay. Joe shielded his eyes with a hand and looked up at the balcony.
"Westin was pushed off that balcony," Frank said.
Joe lowered his hand and looked at his brother. "Or fell."
"Pushed," Frank said with certainty. "No one moves a body after it falls five stories. They'd call 911, not try and hide it behind a bush."
"Yeah," Joe said. "They didn't finish the job either. Must have been interrupted."
"Might've heard someone coming along the path over there." Frank pointed to his left. "The path Nancy and I tried to follow a few nights ago."
The door by the fire escape stairs opened and Lau strode out. He glanced at the Hardys and then to his right. He immediately saw what had brought them to this spot.
Frank drew Lau's attention with a wave of his hand. "The impact point is over here. And there's drag marks. Looks like whoever pushed Mr. Westin from up above," Frank motioned to the balcony, "tried to move him. Looks like they wanted to hide him behind that bush."
Lau made his way carefully to the brothers. His eyes followed the drag marks back to the point of impact.
Lau stood next to Frank and Joe. He looked up at the hotel. "Quite a long drop." He silently counted the floors. "Five stories. Why not let it look like an accident? Why try to cover it up?"
"Maybe," Joe said, "the killer didn't mean to kill Westin."
Frank gave his brother a doubtful look.
"Hear me out," Joe said. "We know that Westin was meeting someone this morning. The killer I assume. So, let's say they meet. They talk. Things are going okay at first, but then turn ugly. They start fighting. The killer pushes Westin and over he goes. It's accidental. The killer didn't mean to kill Westin. He panics. Comes down here and decides to hide the body."
Frank was shaking his head. "I'm not buying it. The killer met Westin for a very specific reason. We don't know what that reason was, but whatever it was, it clearly made the killer angry, angry enough to kill."
The brothers stared at each other. Frank raked a hand down the side of his face, over his stubble. He hadn't shaved this morning and with the way things were going, he probably wasn't going to shave anytime soon.
Lau was on his phone, off to the side.
"We need to look at the body," Frank said. "See if there are any defensive wounds."
Joe jerked his head toward the police detective. "We better ask Lau first."
Lau ended his call and walked up to the brothers. "Coroner's on the way. We'll see what he has to say about this. I've also got uniforms headed to the balcony to guard it until the forensic team arrives."
All three men slowly tipped their heads back and looked up at the balcony.
Frank had an idea about what might have happened up there. First though, he needed to ask the coroner a question … or two.
# # # #
Night fell on the Big Island of Hawaii and with it came a foreboding sense of melancholy. The discovery of another body at the Aloha Hilton had undone Mr. Gaulter. He'd collapsed in his office when his secretary delivered the news. The poor secretary had stood there, horrified and helpless, as she watched his huge body sink to the floor. There was no humanly way she could possibly stop that massive hulk from going down and didn't try. She'd kept her wits about her and immediately called 911.
From his hospital bed, Gaulter watched the evening news, something he shouldn't be doing considering his blood pressure, the reason he was in the hospital. But it was like a train wreck, he couldn't turn away. He felt compelled to watch. He had to hear what they were saying about his hotel. It was the lead story.
To Gaulter's chagrin, the news commentators made tasteless jokes about the hotel as they led into the story. The older commentator said, "So Wayne, our big story tonight is the Aloha Hilton, a new five-star hotel on the Big Island. People say it's a place where guests check-in, but they don't check-out."
"They do check-out," Wayne corrected his older partner. "They check-out permanently!" Both men turned and smiled at the camera.
Gaulter groaned. He wanted to punch both men in the mouth.
If he only knew, the police and three young detectives were taking the situation much more seriously.
Nancy, Frank, and Joe sat in the Sunrise Café. They were tired and downcast. A long afternoon of interviewing hotel guests and suspects, coupled with lengthy discussions with the forensic team and coroner, had drained their spirits and energy.
Nancy and Frank refilled their coffee cups. Joe finished his second glass of water. The remains of their evening meal, they'd skipped lunch, had just been cleared away by the waitress.
Joe set his empty glass on the table. "What a day. I can't believe we're looking for another killer. Who'd have thought that would happen?"
He looked at Nancy and then his brother. Frank had the shadow of a beard and dark circles under his eyes.
"No one," Nancy said. She lifted her coffee cup and cradled it in both hands, absorbing its warmth. "Barbara Westin was devastated. I'm not sure which hit her harder, the fact her husband was a killer, or the fact he was murdered. I'm glad Kate and Paula agreed to spend the night with her. She shouldn't be alone, not at a time like this."
Joe nodded at his brother. "You've been awfully quiet this evening. Something bothering you?"
Frank frowned which made him appear even more haggard. He chose his words carefully, "I've been thinking about what the coroner said in his preliminary report."
When Frank didn't elaborate, Joe prodded, "Well, what's that? We can't read your mind and not all of us had a chance to read the report."
Joe hated it when he had to pull information out of his brother. There were times when Frank got tunnel-vision and so wrapped up in a theory – thinking it out, weighing the possibilities – that it was like he was stuck in a different world. Then again, Frank's mind might not be firing on all its cylinders given his lack of sleep. Joe doubted that was the reason, Frank was sharp no matter how little rest he got.
"Umm, I .. I was." Frank thought for a moment more then said, "I was thinking about Westin's Adam's apple and the fact it was crushed."
Joe stared at Frank. Joe wondered what on earth was going on inside that analytical brain. "How about the fact his neck was snapped clean in two or the fact he was probably dead before he hit the ground?"
"Those, too. Seems to me the killer hated Westin and meant to kill him. The killer acted out of rage. Gives weight to the theory that the killer arranged the meeting with the sole intention of killing Westin."
"I think we all can agree on that. So, what's really bothering you?" Joe studied Frank's face.
"Out of our remaining suspects, who fits this type of attack?" Frank gazed into the distance. He was speaking more to himself than the others.
"Given what Barbara Westin told Nancy this morning, I'd say Lance Airedale looks like a pretty good suspect. He was upset last night, almost to the point of rage, when he saw Barbara wearing Diana's necklace. Airedale had motive and opportunity and he doesn't have an airtight alibi for this morning." Joe looked at Nancy.
"I have to agree," she said reluctantly and thought of Bess. Bess hadn't liked hearing her boss was yet again the prime suspect in a murder case.
However, the fact Lance was the prime suspect had kept the trio on the case and working for Lance, trying to prove his innocence.
When the police questioned Lance earlier that day, he had loudly proclaimed he had nothing to do with Chase's death. He'd also loudly proclaimed he felt no remorse at the man's death.
He'd spat out, "In my opinion, he got exactly what he deserved! Good riddance."
Tonight, Bess was having dinner with Melinda in Lance Airedale's suite. Lengthy interrogations by the police had put the women behind schedule in their preparations for tomorrow's fashion show. They still had several last minute details to iron out before morning. Therefore, they were having a 'working dinner.'
Frank drained his coffee and announced, "I have to check on something and do some research. I'll be in my room." He rose and Nancy and Joe stared at him, startled by his abruptness.
"And what are we supposed to do?" Joe asked gesturing at himself and Nancy.
Frank gave Joe a puzzled look. "Whatever you want. I'm working on a plan. I'll call you guys when I get it figured out." He was gone before Joe could say another word.
Joe slumped in his chair. "Well, how do you like those apples?"
"I don't." Nancy looked none too pleased. "I wish he'd at least given us a clue as to what he's trying to figure out."
"Me, too," Joe sighed.
Nancy rested an elbow on the table. "Something's bugging me."
"What's that?"
"Why did Westin kill Gwen? We know why he killed Diana."
"The inheritance money," Joe said.
"Yes, and he attacked the maid because he feared she might tell the police she'd given him her pass key. But why kill Gwen?"
Nancy sipped her coffee and grimaced. It was lukewarm. Lukewarm coffee did not promote clear, logical thinking. She returned the cup to the table and contemplated Gwen's murder.
Joe broke the silence, "Gwen had to have been a threat to Westin."
"She knew something or saw something that made her a liability."
Joe fixed his blue eyes on Nancy. "Do you think she knew Westin killed Diana?"
Nancy took a deep breath and considered. "That seems the most likely answer, but we need to prove it."
"Didn't you and Frank go over Diana and Gwen's files?"
"We did, but neither file connected the women to Westin." Nancy drummed her fingers on the table for a second then said, "Okay, let's concentrate on what we do know. One, Gwen and Westin both lived in Chicago at the time of Diana's murder. Two, both Gwen and Westin had connections to the fashion industry. Gwen was a designer, Chase Westin worked as a model, at least sporadically."
Joe put his forearms on the table and leaned forward. "When you think about it, the odds are good that the two of them crossed paths at some point."
"Exactly. And perhaps, Gwen and Westin were more than casual acquaintances. Maybe they dated for a while. Maybe they were serious about one another."
"If Gwen and Westin were a couple," Joe lowered his voice, "Gwen could very easily have known that he murdered Diana. That would make her an accessory after the fact to the murder."
"That's a chilling thought." Nancy rubbed her arms. Goosebumps had formed and she suddenly felt very cold. "I'd hate to think Gwen had anything to do with Diana's murder, but you're right, it's a possibility. Actually, now that you've mentioned it, I think there's a very real possibility Gwen knew Westin murdered Diana and she never reported it. I can see that scenario quite easily and we have some evidence to support it."
"Such as?"
"Such as the fact, Gwen wanted to be hidden. Kate Mansville told me that. Actually, all the wives said that. They said, Gwen never left Lance's side and didn't socialize much. Gwen liked to stay in the background. You have to ask yourself, who was Gwen hiding from?"
"Chase Westin," Joe bit off the words. Then his eyes widened as a new thought dawned. "Didn't Lance tell us Gwen seemed frightened that first night here in Hawaii and didn't want to be left alone?"
"That's right." Nancy was thunderstruck. "Gwen must've spotted Westin in the hotel earlier that day. Once she saw him she knew it was only a matter of time before he spotted her. She knew then she was in danger and couldn't tell her husband. Not without implicating herself. Gwen had to have been terrified. She knew what Westin was capable of."
"This theory makes a lot of sense, but we need to prove it."
Nancy thought for a moment. "There has to be a connection between Gwen and Westin. We just have to find it."
"What was the name of that other design place Gwen worked at?"
Nancy immediately guessed what Joe was thinking. "Frazer and Frazer Designs. If Gwen and Westin worked together in the past that's the most likely place. Gwen worked there as a fashion designer for three years. Westin could easily have worked there, off and on, as a model."
Joe was nodding. "They could've met during a photo shoot or a fashion show."
Nancy smiled. "Maybe the Chicago detectives working Diana's case can help us. They know the alias Westin was using at the time of Diana's death. We can tell them our theory and let them check the name and employment history of Mr. Chase Westin. I bet they'll find he worked for Frazer and Frazer as a model at the same time as Gwen worked there."
"With any luck, they might find some co-workers who remember seeing Gwen and Westin together. Gwen might've had a friend back then that she confided in."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed." Nancy held up a hand with crossed fingers.
Joe's cell phone buzzed and he checked it. "Looks like I have to leave you."
"Oh? Can I ask why?"
"My date's ready." Joe winked and gave Nancy a smile. Then he typed a message on his phone.
"When in the world have you had time to find a date?" Nancy's eyes were wide and curious.
"It's Bess." Joe gave Nancy a look that said, who else would it be? "She's finished with her meeting with Melinda. Bess and I made a pact to try and enjoy some of Hawaii while we're here. A stroll on the beach qualifies as enjoying." He got to his feet and pocketed his phone. "You and Frank should try it sometime."
"Been there, done that. We ran into a murderer." Nancy smiled up at Joe. "Be careful. A killer's still on the loose."
"Will do. Don't stay up too late, Nan." Over his shoulder, Joe said, "See you in the morning. We'll contact the Chicago detectives then."
Nancy watched Joe's broad backside as he hurried out of sight. At that moment she envied him and Bess, but she was happy for them, too. They were making time to enjoy Hawaii.
The group had two days left on the island. Two days! Nancy groaned. Time was slipping away. She and the Hardys had to work fast if they were going to catch this new killer.
Nancy left the café a few minutes later. She had no idea she was being watched.
The new killer was meticulous and methodical. He left no detail to chance. This killer was already one step ahead of Nancy, Frank, and Joe. And he had set in motion a plan that would leave one member of the team dead.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, Folks! Glad I could surprise you with that little twist at the end. ;) Also, thanks for not putting spoilers in your reviews.