My Kind of Town
>> Ala Moana Beach Park Here’s looking at you
They weren't what you'd call friends but their work paths often intersected. They had each seen what the other could do. And so HPD Detective Sherlock Gomes and extreme photographer Johnny B. Goo shared a cordial professional respect. "See ya," Johnny B. Goo called, hurrying off to get his photos -- of a World War II vintage Japanese mini-sub beaching itself at the Diamond Head end of the park with a babe-ette in an electric blue swimsuit riding it like a cowgirl at the rodeo, and of the skeleton that was the lone occupant -- in the afternoon version of the Star-Bulletin.
The babe-ette was Dr. Laurie Tang. She picked up her towel, nodded toward the showers. Gomes followed her past the crowd gathering to see the sub. Gomes was enjoying the view when she suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned. Had she felt his eyes on her?
"Those photos!" Laurie said, "Oh my God, they're going to be in the paper."
"Definitely. You might even push your boyfriend off the front page." Laurie resumed walking, Gomes with her. The morning edition had a photo of Sen. Donovan Matsuda-Yee-Dela Cruz-Bishop-Kamaka, Laurie's boyfriend and the reason Gomes was here to speak with her, looking wild-eyed and angrily throwing a bottle of beer at Johnny B. Goo, and later talking with Gomes.
Only one of the showers was unoccupied. Gomes nodded toward it, Laurie turned on the cold spray and stepped in. Gomes tried not to stare. And failed. What a great figure, what a pretty face. And what an idiot Sen. Donovan Matsuda-Yee-Dela Cruz-Bishop-Kamaka was for fooling around on Laurie with Serena Kawainui. Eyes closed, Laurie tilted her head backward into the spray, shook her hair, ran her fingers through it.
Laurie ducked her head out of the cold spray. It was invigorating, but enough was enough. She opened her eyes and saw Gomes watching her, and a warm shiver started in her stomach and volted through her. "Your turn."
She grabbed her towel as Gomes stepped into the spray. While toweling off, Laurie kept an eye on Gomes, inwardly sighed at the way his bulging chest and arm muscles gleamed in the sunshine and spray. Donovan had never affected her like this. That was more of an intellectual and social match. Donovan saw great first lady potential in Laurie, and she rather liked the idea too. But Gomes, ai-yai-yai. She'd tingled when their bodies touched earlier. She wanted those strong arms around her, and to bury her face in that big chest.
What had come over her? Biology? Chemistry? Both? Yes.
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com