Chapter 5
Chapter Five
W hile the coffee’s water came to a boil, Mel measured coffee beans with practiced precision as she thought about their neighbor across the courtyard. She had already wandered onto the balcony for a brief look, and although the blind was open, the man was not at his desk. With all the nervous energy he displayed so far, Mel would have thought Abramson would be an early riser, but perhaps not. There was also the possibility Brigitte talked him out of writing whatever story seemed to possess him, and Abramson finally crashed to sleep for a week.
“I can hear you thinking from here,” Helen called from the bedroom, her voice warm with amusement. “Whatever happened to our agreement about taking a break from the mystery?”
Mel smiled despite herself, carefully pouring hot water into the French press. “Not sure what you mean,” she said. “I’m just making coffee.”
Helen appeared in the kitchen doorway, already dressed in her new swimsuit with a light cover-up thrown over it. “Mmm hmm,” she hummed, crossing to kiss Mel’s cheek. “And I’m pretty sure I heard you go out onto the balcony already this morning. Am I wrong?”
“No,” Mel said with a smile, turning to pull Helen into a proper good morning kiss. The familiar scent of Helen’s shampoo mixed with the rich coffee aroma, grounding Mel in the present moment. “Though I will point out that the blind is open and there is no sign of—”
“Ah!” Helen pressed a finger to Mel’s lips, stopping her mid-sentence. “No detective work until after we try snorkeling. You promised.”
Mel sighed, knowing she was caught. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She finished preparing their coffee, adding a splash of cream to Helen’s cup before handing it to her. “Are you nervous about trying it?”
Helen accepted the coffee, wrapping both hands around the warm mug. “A little,” she admitted. “It seems silly to be afraid, but...”
“Hey,” Mel said softly, reaching for Helen’s hand. “It’s not silly. And I’ll be right there with you the whole time.”
After breakfast, they gathered their snorkel gear, and Mel double-checked that Helen’s mask was properly adjusted. The resort’s concierge had recommended a quiet cove just a short walk from their building, perfect for beginners.
“You’re sure about this?” Mel asked as they made their way down the path, noting how Helen clutched the mesh bag containing her gear. “We could start in the swimming pool if you prefer.”
Helen shook her head. “No, I want to do this properly. Besides,” she added with a small smile. “I trust you to keep me safe.”
The words warmed Mel’s heart. Trust. Such simple words, but ones that carried so much weight. Like Abramson trusting her with his cryptic warning about finding his story if anything happened to him. There was certainly something odd there, but Mel cut off that line of thinking. The morning was about Helen, about sharing something she loved with the woman who had brought such unexpected joy to her life.
The cove was exactly as the instructor had described. The sheltered inlet was calm, and the crystal-clear water was perfect for first-time snorkelers. A few other early morning swimmers dotted the beach, but the water was relatively empty. “Okay,” Mel said, setting their gear on a patch of sand. “First thing is to get comfortable with the mask and snorkel on land.”
She helped Helen with her equipment, showing her how to clear water from the snorkel and create a proper seal with the mask. Helen listened intently, asking all the right questions. Mel was confident Helen would do well. “Now,” she continued. “We’ll start in the shallow water. Just get used to putting your face in while standing.” She demonstrated, making exaggerated breathing sounds through her snorkel that made Helen laugh.
“You look a little ridiculous.”
“That’s the point,” Mel replied after lifting her head. “Takes away some of the anxiety when you can laugh at it.” They waded deeper into the warm water together, and Mel felt Helen’s hand tighten on her arm as the water reached their waists. “I’m right here,” Mel assured her. “Just take your time.” Helen nodded, adjusting her mask one final time before slowly lowering her face to the water. Mel watched as Helen’s body tensed, then gradually relaxed as she got used to breathing through the snorkel.
After a moment, Helen lifted her head, eyes wide with excitement behind her mask. “I did it.”
“You did,” Mel agreed, feeling a surge of pride. “Ready to try actually swimming?”
They moved slowly into deeper water, Mel keeping one hand lightly on Helen’s back for reassurance. The morning sun penetrated the clear water, illuminating the sandy bottom and occasional darting fish. Helen’s movements became more confident as they progressed, though she still stayed close to Mel’s side. Watching Helen discover a new world filled Mel with a joy she hadn’t expected. Every time Helen spotted a particularly colorful fish or interesting coral formation, she surfaced with childlike excitement to share her discovery. It reminded Mel of her early days as a detective when each new clue would bring that same rush of discovery. As they floated over a deeper section of the cove, Mel couldn’t help but notice how different things looked beneath the surface. Just like their situation with Abramson, what might appear straightforward on top held layers of complexity underneath.
* * *
Helen adjusted her mask once more, determined to make Mel proud. The water was so clear she could see every detail of the sandy bottom below, scattered with patches of coral formations that ranged from deep purple to vibrant orange. Tiny, iridescent fish darted everywhere. She had just started to feel truly comfortable when something dark moved in her peripheral vision. Her heart leaped into her throat as she turned her head sharply, losing the seal on her mask. Cold water rushed in, and suddenly she couldn’t see. Panic seized her chest as she tried to remember which way was up. Then strong hands gripped her shoulders, guiding her to the surface. “I’ve got you,” Mel’s steady voice cut through her fear as they broke the surface. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”
Helen clung to Mel’s arm, gasping slightly as she pushed her mask up. “I’m sorry,” she managed, embarrassed by her reaction. “I thought I saw something big and dark, and then my mask leaked, and—”
“Hey,” Mel said softly, keeping them both afloat easily. “No apologies needed. It was probably just a shadow from the coral. Even experienced snorkelers get spooked sometimes.”
The gentle waves rocked them as Helen’s breathing steadied. She felt Mel’s solid presence beside her, an anchor in more ways than one. “I think maybe I’ve had enough for today,” Helen admitted.
“Of course,” Mel agreed. “I think we’ve had enough excitement for one morning.”
As they waded out of the water, Helen couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and gratitude. Frustration at her own fear, but immense gratitude for Mel’s unwavering support. The sand was hot under their feet as they gathered their gear. “You did really well, you know,” Mel said as they started toward their apartment. “Before the shadow thing, you were a natural.”
Helen squeezed water from her shoulder-length hair, touched by Mel’s encouragement. “Thank you for being so patient with me. Both with the snorkeling and my moment of panic.”
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the morning sun warming Helen’s shoulders. As they approached their building, Helen noticed a taxi pulling up to the entrance. A man stepped out. He was tall, pale, and wearing a dark suit that seemed completely at odds with the tropical setting. The man retrieved two large, black suitcases from the trunk, paid the driver, and disappeared into the lobby before they could get a good look at his face.
“Well, that’s interesting,” Helen said, knowing Mel would pick up on her meaning. “Not exactly standard resort wear.”
Mel nodded, her eyes fixed on the lobby doors. “And two large suitcases? Seemed like a lot for one person on a typical vacation.” She paused, then added with forced casualness. “You know, maybe we should take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get some exercise.”
Helen hid her smile, recognizing Mel’s transparent attempt to investigate. “Of course, dear. Though these wet flip-flops might make that a bit treacherous.”
They entered the open stairway and made it to the third floor just as they heard the elevator ding. From the steps, they watched the mysterious man exit, wheeling his luggage toward James Abramson’s end of the hallway. “Mel,” Helen whispered. “He’s heading in the direction of our mystery writer’s apartment.”
They waited a minute before emerging into the open hallway. The man and his luggage were nowhere in sight, but Helen hadn’t heard a door close, so he must have gone around the corner. “What should we do?” Helen asked, but Mel was already moving toward their apartment. “Follow and see where his room is?”
“No. I don’t want to risk being seen. Let’s get changed first,” Mel said, her voice low. “Then maybe we can take a walk, see if we notice anything interesting.”
As they entered their apartment, Helen felt a mix of excitement. She watched Mel move to the sliding glass doors, trying to catch a glimpse of any activity in their neighbor’s apartment. “Abramson at his desk,” Mel said.
Helen stepped closer, placing a hand on Mel’s shoulder. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
“What’s that?”
“No more joking that we’re not investigating,” Helen said with a grim smile. “That man was definitely not a tourist. Something feels wrong.”
Mel turned to face her. “Are you sure you’re okay with that? We’re still on vacation…
“I’m sure,” Helen assured her. “Though perhaps we should change out of our wet swimsuits before we start playing detective.”
Mel smiled. “I love you,” she said simply.
“I love you too,” Helen replied. “Now, let’s get dried off. I have a feeling this vacation just got a lot more interesting.”
* * *
After changing into dry clothes, Mel stood at their sliding glass door, studying Abramson’s apartment while Helen finished getting ready in the bathroom. The writer was on his cell phone again, pacing and looking agitated. Her mind drifted to the pale man in the dark suit. It seemed like too much of a coincidence that he was staying at the same vacation complex Abramson was, but anything was possible. From Mel’s experience, based on his appearance, he could be anyone from a federal agent to hired muscle, but his bearing and those large, black suitcases pointed toward the latter.
“You’re doing that thing with your jaw again,” Helen said, emerging from the bathroom in fresh resort wear, her ash-blonde hair neatly combed. “The clenching thing.”
Mel consciously relaxed her jaw, turning to face her partner. “Just thinking. Not only was the man’s outfit not appropriate for a vacation in Hawaii, but the suit was expensive. If I had to guess, I’d say it was custom-tailored, probably Italian.”
“And all of that matters because...?” Helen prompted, though her slight smile suggested she already knew where Mel was going.
“Because he’s not here for a vacation. He’s here on business, but what kind is the question,” she answered. “I don’t think he’s a government agent because even undercover ones tend to wear off-the-rack suits. Budget constraints.” Mel moved away from the window, gathering her thoughts. “This guy’s suit screamed private sector. High-end private sector.”
Helen nodded, slipping her feet into comfortable sandals. “The kind of private sector that might be interested in whatever story our neighbor is working on?”
“Exactly.” Mel checked her watch. It was barely noon. “Want to take that walk now? Maybe past the front desk?”
“Let me guess,” Helen said. “To casually inquire about our new neighbor?”
Mel grinned. “The desk clerk seemed chatty when we checked in. Might be worth a conversation.”
They left their apartment, taking the elevator this time. Mel’s mind was already constructing questions that wouldn’t seem suspicious, ways to guide the conversation naturally toward their target. It felt good, familiar, like slipping back into a comfortable routine from her days with the LAPD.
Thankfully, the lobby was relatively quiet, with just a few guests milling about. The same young clerk from their check-in was behind the desk, his name tag identifying him as “Kai.” He looked up as they approached, offering a bright smile. “Good morning! How are you enjoying your stay?”
“Wonderful,” Helen replied warmly. “We just came back from snorkeling. It was perfect.”
“Oh great! First time?” Kai asked, his enthusiasm clearly genuine.
“For me,” Helen said. “Though I had an excellent teacher.” She squeezed Mel’s hand, and Mel felt that familiar warmth in her chest.
“Always good to have someone experienced showing you the ropes,” Kai agreed. “Speaking of new experiences, we just had another guest check in. Always nice to see the resort filling up.”
Mel kept her expression neutral, though internally she celebrated the perfect opening. “Oh? We saw him arrive. Seemed a bit overdressed for Hawaii.”
Kai pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Yeah, that was different,” he said. “Usually, our business travelers lose the jacket and tie before they make it here from the airport.” He glanced around before leaning forward slightly. “Between us, he wasn’t exactly friendly during check-in.”
“No?” Helen asked.
“Let’s just say some people could use a reminder that they’re in Hawaii.” Kai straightened up as another guest approached the desk. “Anything else I can help you with?”
“Actually,” Mel said. “We were thinking of trying that new restaurant down the beach. The one with all the tiki torches? Any good?”
As Kai launched into a detailed review of the restaurant’s menu, Mel noticed a flicker of movement near the elevator. The pale man appeared, still in his suit but now without his luggage. He moved with purpose toward the exit, barely acknowledging the concierge’s cheerful “Aloha.”
“Well, thank you for the recommendations,” Helen said. “We should let you help your other guests.”
Together they walked outside where the Hawaiian sun was high and bright, making the pale man’s suit look even more out of place. He headed toward the beach promenade, and Mel felt Helen’s gentle tug on her arm. “Shall we take that walk now?”
Mel smiled. “Lead the way.” They maintained a discrete distance, letting other tourists provide cover as they followed the man along the path. He moved with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what he was doing, checking his phone periodically.
“What do you think is in those suitcases he checked in with?” Helen whispered as they walked.
“Impossible to know,” Mel replied. “But something tells me it’s not tanning lotion and snorkeling gear.”
The man stopped suddenly, pulling his phone from a pocket and turning to take a call. Mel guided Helen to a nearby beach vendor, pretending to examine Hawaiian-style jewelry while straining to hear the conversation. “…yes, I understand the urgency...” The wind carried away fragments of the man’s words, but his tone was clear that whoever he was talking to had authority over him.
“Should we head back?” Helen asked softly, holding up a shell necklace. Mel nodded. They had pushed their luck far enough for one day, and she didn’t want to risk being noticed. As they turned toward their building, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were escalating faster than she had anticipated.