Page 39 of Pau Hana: Cat cozy Humor Mystery (Paradise Crime Cozy Mystery Book 5)

The reception was windingdown and most of the guests had gone home. I made one more round with the guest book and the plumy pen.

Aunt Fae had caught a ride with Red Hat friend Rita back to Ohia, and both had been overjoyed to hear about Maile’s discovery. I wanted to stay until the end in case Keone showed up.

Suddenly my cell chimed. Keone? I dug around in my clutch and was disappointed when I saw it was just the landline number from our house in New Ohia. “Hey Auntie,” I said. “Want an extra piece of cake or something?”

“Katherine, you are needed here at the house,” Aunt Fae said.

Aunt Fae only called me by my full given name when I was in trouble. “What’s going on? Is it Tiki? Is she okay?”

“I don’t give a diddly damn about that silly cat of yours,” she said. My hand froze holding the phone; my eyes widened in shock at her words as Auntie went on. “I need you to get back here. You hear me? Back. Now.”

The line went dead. I had a feeling she wasn’t alone because Aunt Fae never swore; she never even got close to it.

I told Elle that Aunt Fae was having a problem. I asked her if she’d make sure Maile and the Nakasone girls got home safely. Then I ran out to Sharkey, hopped in, and drove home like a ticking time bomb had hit the one-minute mark.

Something was very wrong.

I recalled Aunt Fae’s message. “Get back here. Now.” She’d emphasized the word, “back.” It might mean nothing. But then again, it might mean she wanted me to come in around the “back” of the house.

As I whizzed past the development’s fancy clubhouse, I noticed a mud-splattered vehicle parked outside. The clubhouse was closed on Sundays, and I was sure we’d locked it up tight when we’d done our caretaker duties yesterday afternoon. Why would a vehicle be parked there? Possibly so they could approach a house on foot . . .

I slowed as I approached our driveway, then parked halfway up. Because our house was on a slight rise, the white SUV would be out of sight from anyone peering outside.

I got out and edged up the driveway, sticking to where bushes hid my advance and provided cover. I wished I’d had my weapon, but it wasn’t good manners to attend a wedding armed, so I’d left it safely tucked in my nightstand.

When I got within sight of the house, I spotted Tiki outside, scowling and licking her front paw in the driveway as if sharpening her claws.

What in the world was going on in there?

I crept around the house, staying on the south side which had fewer windows, and creeping along below the sight line. I had to tamp down a grim feeling of déjà vu as I recalled sneaking around the hermit’s shack using the same tactic.

I reached the rear patio and slowly edged forward so I’d be able to peek inside. Nothing out of the ordinary was visible. I had my key out so I could unlock the slider. The kitty door insert had been pulled away and the door latch was in the “up” position, meaning it was already unlocked.

I slowed my breathing and narrowed my concentration, slipping out of my heels so I could move faster as I approached.

Whatever I did next was crucial. Aunt Fae was in trouble, and I was probably within fifty feet of her . . . just as I’d been with Maile Ortiz, when I’d gone out to the hermit’s shack that fateful day. I listened at the door and heard scraping sounds coming from somewhere inside. I carefully pulled open the slider. An armed assailant might be aiming a weapon at me from inside, but when I’d backed off under similar circumstances, I’d been plagued by sleepless nights and an avalanche of regret.

Not this time.

I sprinted through the living room on light feet and heard muffled sounds coming from the kitchen area. I peered around the wall into that room and sucked in an involuntary gasp at what I saw.