|
My Kind of Town Don Chapman |
Dead and happy
>> Kona
Sonya Chan was making this up as she went, and discovering a side of her she never knew existed. It was both exhilarating and horrifying as she stood there with a speargun in one hand, Sushi Leclaire's 9mm pistol in the other, his 20 $1,000 bills tucked into the top of her yellow bikini.
"What's gotten into you, Sonya?" her fiance Daren Guy said. The officially dead Daren Guy. "What happened?"
The lure of sudden multi-millions, that's what. And a ruthless, scheming man she once loved.
And she knew that if Daren were discovered ashore while helping Sushi Leclaire find Pele's Bath, it would mean to the authorities that he was alive. Good-bye millions, hello back to hustling tables at the Yacht Club. So Daren needed to remain officially dead, at the very least.
She'd had the opportunity, and the urge, moments ago, but hesitated, changed the subject, went for the cash and the gun. But now ...
Daren and Sushi held their breath, could almost see the wheels churning inside her head. Both of them had big plans, big dreams of big money, and they needed to get moving. Time mattered, and if this yacht were seen, everybody's plans fell apart.
"Sonya," Daren said, his voice suddenly dry and raspy. "Babe ... we gotta get going. If anybody recognizes this boat ..."
"I know why you changed the boat's name to Wet Spot, Daren. I know everything. I found your little pink journal."
Daren sighed heavily. "But there's things you don't ..."
"I know you killed the two crewman when this was Pet Shop, that you faked your own death to scam the insurance company and ..."
"Babe, I did it for you!"
He sounded so sincere. She wanted to believe him. A tear burst out of her left eye. Then another. Then the other eye started. Oh boy, was she intimidating these two. And did you ever try wiping away tears with a speargun in one hand and a Glock in the other?
Sonya forced the tears to stop, took a step toward Daren.
"Really, you did it for me? So why are you trying to look like your long-lost cousin we saw on TV? Daren, I know everything, remember. Your cousin gets the Lotto money and the insurance money only if both you and me are dead. If I don't kill you, my dear, you'll kill me."
"It was just a thought with my cousin. I could stay officially dead and be very happy with you. Really."
"I don't trust you, and that's that," she said, raised the spear gun.
"Hear that?" Daren said. The sound of an outboard motor firing up, coming from the dock. "Somebody's heading out. We gotta go."
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek. His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin. He can be e-mailed at dchapman@midweek.com