Honeymoon in High Heels Read Online Free PDF Page A

approached, and my stomach did that little flip it always did when his eyes hit mine.  I wondered if this was just newlywedded bliss or if it would ever wear off.  I could see myself twenty years from now still feeling the same little flip.
    “Hey, beautiful,” he said, his eyes twinkling at me as he pulled my chair out for me and planted a kiss on my cheek.
    “Hey, yourself.  Long time no see.”
    Some of the mischief sank from his eyes.  “Sorry about that.  I feel awful about leaving you alone.”
    I waved him off.  I honestly hadn’t meant to make him feel bad.  “No, no, it’s fine. I had a great day. Shopping mostly, which I know you would have hated anyway.”
    “Smart girl,” he agreed.
    “I’m fine,” I said again.  “But I’d love to know how your day went.”
    He sighed, taking a sip of the Mai Tai I saw he’d already started without me.  “About as you’d expect I guess.  We interviewed the husband again, who, was, of course, pretty broken up.  And we talked to the aunt.  Apparently Ahlia also had a younger brother as well, but we're still trying to locate him."
    “Oh?” I asked, leaning forward.  "Who's the brother?"
    “Tamaheretanero'onuiaatadon.”
    “Whoa.  That’s a mouthful.”
    Ramirez grinned.  “No kidding.  Though, as it turns out, Ahlia’s full name is Ahliaamurapoemaamana.”
    “Kinda long to fit on a souvenir coffee mug, no?” I said as a server brought me a drink as well.
    Ramirez grinned again.  “Ever practical, aren’t you, Springer?”
    “So did the aunt give you anything useful beside those incredibly long names?” I asked, taking a small sip from of my Mai Tai.  I’d learned my lesson and was limiting myself to one this evening. 
    Ramirez shrugged.  “She said she couldn’t imagine anyone hurting Ahlia.  No enemies, no unusual behavior.  Though, she did mention something interesting.”
    “Oh?” I asked, leaning just that much closer.
    Ramirez nodded.  “Turns out Ahlia was loaded.”
    “How loaded?” 
    “A couple mil.”
    “Wow,” I agreed.  “I had no idea dancers made that much.”
    “They don’t,” Ramirez explained.  “Apparently she and her brother both inherited quite a bit when their father passed away a few years back.”
    “Must be nice,” I mumbled thinking of my own father, who was currently dancing as a showgirl named “Lola” in a Vegas drag club.  I as much as I loved him, I had a feeling my inheritance from him would someday include a handful of sparkly garters and a Liza Minnelli record collection.  “So, I’m guessing the husband gets Ahlia's millions now?”
    “We’re looking into it,” Ramirez hedged.  “But remember, the husband does have an alibi.” 
    Right.  The pesky alibi.  I had to admit, after having talked to Cathy the restaurant manager, it felt like a good one, too.  She didn’t strike me as the type to lie to the police for an employee.
    I was just about to tell Ramirez that there might be a second man in Ahlia’s life when the lights dimmed, loud drum music filled the room, and the fire dancers took to the stage.
    I sat back in my rattan chair, sipping at my drink as I tried to figure out which one might be Temoe.  Two of the guys were the same as last night, a third unfamiliar to me.  All three looked similar - obviously native to the island, broad-chested, tanned, dark-haired.  One of the two repeats from last night was clean-shaven while the second wore a small soul-patch just below his lower lip.  I watched as they stomped their feet, twirled their batons, and treated the guests to a light show that was far more dangerous and exhilarating that any high tech laser show I'd seen back home.  By the end I was clapping right along with everyone else and had almost forgotten the reason for my interest in the dancers.
    Almost.
    As soon as they left the stage and the lights went up, signaling the service of the first course, I quickly excused myself for the ladies room and