Chapter 28

Frank's throbbing jaw woke him earlier than he liked. Golden rays of sunlight leaked around the edges of the drapes. Frank groaned and reached out in search of his towel and ice pack. His right arm bumped into a warm body. That got his attention. Then he remembered.

Nancy.

They'd had a low-key, but pleasant room service dinner last night. Then they'd filled their ice packs, wrapped them in towels, and lain on the bed to watch a movie. Apparently, they'd fallen asleep.

Any other time this would be a dream come true waking up next to Nancy, but today with the way his head felt … He would be lucky if he could sit up straight.

Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position. Okay, he was sitting up, but it wasn't exactly straight. It was more a half-hunch and his head felt like a bomb ready to explode. He sat on the edge of the bed and let his head adjust to the change in position. He saw the Advil on the glass table and slid off the bed.

The movement woke Nancy. She rolled onto her back, yawned and stretched. Her eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to figure out where she was.

"Oh," she said when realization hit. She propped herself on her elbows and gave Frank a sheepish look. "Guess I fell asleep."

Frank thought she looked pretty darn good first thing in the morning. So good, he momentarily forgot his headache.

"Yeah, so did I." He grabbed the bottle of Advil. His dark hair was mussed, his t-shirt and shorts were wrinkled and he needed a shave. The pounding in his head returned. He opened the bottle and dumped three tablets in his hand, leaned back, and swallowed all three in one dry gulp.

Nancy sat up. Tangled strands of hair framed her face. She smoothed back her hair and said, "That amazes me, how you can take pills without any water."

"It's a learned talent, but I could still use some water. How 'bout you?" He opened the small hotel fridge.

"No, thanks. I'm fine." Nancy slid her legs over the edge of the bed and examined her knee.

Frank got a bottled water, twisted the cap, and took a long chug then asked, "How's the knee?"

If one went strictly by looks, it looked a lot worse this morning. Several new colors, yellow, red and green, had decided to join the black and blue of yesterday, but the swelling was down.

"It's not as swollen and not as painful," Nancy said with a smile and slid off the bed. She stood carefully, testing the knee. "Not bad. I can put weight on it. I think if I take it easy today I'll be fine. How's your jaw?"

"Better. I've got a headache the size of Mount Everest, but the Advil should take care of it." Frank flexed his hand. "And the hand's okay, just a little sore."

Nancy pointed to Joe's empty bed. "I wonder where Joe is? I didn't hear him come in last night. Did you?"

"No, but I was dead to the world, so even if he did come in I probably wouldn't have heard him."

"If he came in and saw us, what would he do? Where would he go? Do you think he found some place else to sleep?" Nancy felt a little guilty that she and Frank might have inadvertently sent Joe away.

Frank read the expression on Nancy's face. "Hey, don't worry about Joe. He's a big boy. He can take care of himself. He's very resourceful."

"But still …" Nancy's face wrinkled with concern.

Frank looked around for his phone. "I'll call him, but I'm sure he's fine."

Frank found his phone and dialed Joe's number. It took several rings before a sleepy voice answered.

"Hello."

"Bess?" Frank's brows knotted together in confusion then lifted in surprise and interest.

"Frank?" asked a sleepy Bess.

"Yeah. I'm checking on Joe. He's not here."

"Oh." Bess yawned.

"You have any idea where he might be?" Frank waited. He heard the rustle of sheets.

At last, Bess said, "He's here. He's still asleep. We had a late night. You need him?"

"Uh, no. Just making sure he's okay. Thanks, Bess. Sorry I woke you."

"'kay, bye." Bess hung up.

Frank pressed the end button and looked at Nancy. "Like I said, he's resourceful and he's fine."

"I guess so." Nancy's eyes met Frank's. They held the same curious glint as his. Was it possible? Bess and Joe?

"Nah," they both said at the same time, in the same tone, with the same dismissive flicks of their hands.

# # # #

By one o'clock Nancy and Frank were sacked out on the beach soaking up the sun and heat. Two hours ago Frank had asked if a bruise could tan. Nancy had said they were going to find out. Then they had stretched out on their towels and promptly fallen asleep.

Bess and Joe were making good use of their extra day in Hawaii. They were taking a helicopter tour of the island. They'd invited Nancy and Frank, but the battered couple had declined. They really just wanted to relax, recuperate, and enjoy the beach and sun.

So, here they were on the beach. A nearby group of palm trees cast long shadows across the sand. The shadows had slowly worked their way over Nancy and Frank.

Nancy stirred to life, thanks to her stomach, not the invading shade. She and Frank had had coffee and toast in Frank's room that morning and that was a long time ago. Nancy looked at Frank. All he had on was his shorts. His t-shirt lay crumpled on the sand next to him. She sat up and leisurely scanned his long, muscular body. Nice biceps lead up to nice deltoids at his shoulders. Her eyes moved to his chest. Well-defined pectoral muscles stretched across the broad expense. He had a couple of small bruises on his chest, but nothing serious.

She looked at her knee. The swelling was gone and so was the pain. She hoped Frank's jaw was feeling better.

Her stomach grumbled. She put a hand over it hoping to silence it. She didn't want to wake Frank.

Another loud rumble, this one loud enough to wake Frank.

Frank stirred, but did not open his eyes. "Hmmm, you say something?"

"Um, no." Nancy cringed. "That was my stomach."

Frank cracked an eye. "You hungry?"

Nancy nodded rapidly.

Frank opened both eyes and smiled. "Me, too. Let's get something to eat."

A few minutes later they were headed to the Puahlua Bar and Grill. Frank had his t-shirt on and his towel draped around his neck. Nancy had stuffed her towel in the handbag she'd brought to Frank's room last night.

Frank and Nancy entered the Bar and Grill and immediately spotted the wives. Kate, Barbara, and Paula were having drinks at a table in the corner.

Nancy nudged Frank's arm. "I really need to say something to Kate and Barbara. I feel awful about their husbands and how everything turned out."

"Okay," Frank said hesitantly. He would just as soon find a table and order food.

"Nancy." Kate Mansville sprang out of her chair and rushed up to Nancy. She embraced Nancy in a bear hug. "I'm so, so, sorry dear."

Nancy was startled by the apology. "Mrs. Mansville, I mean Kate, you have nothing to be sorry about."

Kate put her hands on Nancy's shoulders and looked at her. "My dear, I heard that that idiot husband of mine tried to kill you. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Her eyes darted over Nancy checking for wounds. "Your knee. What happened?"

"Nothing. I'm fine. And you have nothing to be sorry about. You had nothing to do with your husband or his actions or what he did."

Barbara came over and placed a comforting hand on Nancy's back. "Please, join us." She motioned toward their table. "We're having drinks."

Nancy looked at Frank.

"I'll get us some iced teas," he said and tipped his head toward the bar.

"Thanks," Nancy said and sank into the chair Barbara had pulled out.

Nancy looked at all three women seated at the table. "So, how are all of you doing? I know this has to be a difficult time for each of you."

Barbara spoke first, her voice full of indignation, "I can't believe I was so stupid." Her lower lip gave a slight quiver. "How could Chase pull the wool over my eyes like that? I keep asking myself, what kind of man did I marry? He murdered two people."

Before Nancy could respond, Kate spat out, "Well, look at me! I was married to the same man for eighteen years. You'd think I would've known him by then wouldn't you? Guess not. He was having an affair right behind my back. I can't tell you how angry that makes me." She shook her head as if to shake away the thoughts. "Men! At times they can be such pigs, such absolute filthy pigs!"

Frank stepped up to the table, two iced teas in hand. He stood there stunned and speechless.

Kate, realizing Frank was there, looked up at him. "Oh. Um, no offense."

Frank was dubious. "None taken … I think." He sat an ice tea in front of Nancy and remained standing. He didn't think it was safe to sit. He felt like he'd walked into a den of angry lionesses.

Kate hadn't lost her momentum. "Nancy, I want you to know I wasn't naïve. I'd suspected John had a crush on Diana. That much was obvious, he didn't try to hide his attraction. But so help me, I didn't think, or perhaps, I couldn't bring myself to believe he'd actually act on it. Of course, then with the age difference, I didn't think she would be interested. Guess I was wrong about that if you believe what he told the police." She shook her head again hoping to dislodge her own doubts and anger.

"Well, look at my husband," Barbara said, "he apparently only cared about money. According to Detective Lau, Chase murdered Diana so he could get all the inheritance and that necklace." Her hand instinctively went to her neck. She looked at Nancy. "I don't want that necklace anymore. I can't stand to look at it or have it in my possession. Who's the rightful owner, or heir? Do you know?"

"Um, no, I don't know." Nancy felt like she'd stepped into a hornet's nest, one that had been violently shaken.

Frank braved a response, "Maybe the housekeeper would know. Margie Collins had the same housekeeper for over thirty years."

"Frank's right," Nancy said with great relief. She looked up at Frank. "Did Margie have any siblings? Or maybe Harvey Collins did?"

"I don't know. I didn't research Margie or Harvey's backgrounds, but the housekeeper should know," Frank said.

Barbara was glad to have an answer to a question that had plagued her since yesterday. "Can I give you the necklace, Nancy?" Her eyes pleaded with Nancy.

Frank answered, "I think it's best if you give it to Detective Lau. He'll make sure it gets to the housekeeper."

"Thanks, I will." Barbara settled back in her chair feeling relieved. Once she'd discovered the necklace belonged to Diana she didn't want to have anything to do with it. It was stolen goods. It had been given in love, or at least she'd thought so at the time, but with the truth coming to light, she felt the sooner it was out of her hands, the better.

Nancy looked at Paula who'd remained silent this whole time. Her face was puffy and her eyes were red as if she'd been crying.

"And how are you doing?" Nancy asked.

Kate answered for her, "Paula's told her husband to pack his bags and hit the road. He's a cheating, lying, ―"

"That's enough," Paula said laying a firm hand on Kate's arm.

The strength and tone of Paula's voice surprised Nancy.

Paula peered at Nancy. There was an inner strength hidden behind her small brown eyes. "My husband's been cheating on me for years. I've put up with it thinking it was just a phase that all men go through. Heaven help me, but I really thought he'd grow out of it. But after all this." She spread out her hands palms up to indicate her two friends. "Why should I stay with him? Last night I told him it was over. He's only stayed with me for my money. I'm sure of that. I'm filing for divorce as soon as we land in Chicago."

Nancy thought that out of the three women, Paula's troubles seemed the simplest. Nancy remembered the day she'd seen Parker meet up with the young woman. Nancy was happy to know that Paula had known about her husband's indiscretions.

Kate lifted her cocktail. "Here's to us. We've been friends and business associates for more than twenty years. We've watched out for each other. We've stuck together through the good times and the bad. We've always been there for one another and we always will be."

Barbara and Paula lifted their long-stemmed glasses and said, "To us."

Three glasses clinked together in unison.

A/N: Thank you to those who have left reviews. Your time, effort, and comments are always greatly appreciated. There are two more chapters after this. Time for some fun in the sun and the final wrap up of the case.