Choreographed Crime (Miss Demeanor 3) Read Online Free Page B

royalty.”
    He offered her a beer.
    “No thanks. I have to drive home.”
    “Technically, you don’t have to.”
    “I plan to though, so could we get started?”
    “All right, Miss Private Eye. Let’s get started.” Queen Lili jumped to his lap and Lama stroked her back.
    “How well did you know Floriano?”
    “He ate my food almost every day, but he didn’t always come to the truck himself. Sometimes Edward picked up lunch for everyone and sometimes Clarissa. I only saw Floriano about once a week.”
    “Clarissa, the prima ballerina?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you know if he had friends other than the ballet folks?” Maile tapped some notes into her iPad.
    “Me, I guess. I never heard him talk about anyone else.”
    “Did you ever hear anyone talk badly about him?”
    “Some of the ballet folks thought he was conceited, but you don’t off somebody for that.” Lama slouched in his recliner. “Maybe he did kill himself. People do sometimes, you know.”
    Maile dropped her iPad into her lap. “I’m stuck, Lama. I want to help Floriano’s mother, but you might be right. Maybe he did commit suicide.”
    “Are we done with the questions? I’d like to show you something.” He looked at his watch.
    “Done for now, I guess. What do you want to show me?”
    “We have to take a short drive to get there. Are you game?”
    “Why not?” She followed him out the front door. He led her to a red Mustang convertible.
    “Nice ride.” She snapped her seatbelt on and Lama eased the car down the street.
    He shifted the gears expertly and she leaned back to enjoy the ride. Fifteen minutes later he parked on the street and they got out.
    “What’s the name of this place?”
    “Kerry Park.”
    He reached for her hand and she let him lead her. She could see the lights of Seattle and the top of the Space Needle.
    “This is one of the most beautiful views of the city, day or night,” Lama said.
    “It is beautiful.”
    “When I think about Hawai’i, I think about surfing. When I think about Seattle I think about this view and all the city has to offer. I thought you might like to see the skyline from here.”
    Maile squeezed his hand and he smiled and led her back to the car. Back at his apartment, he invited her to stay and eat. It’d been seven hours since she ate the teriyaki burger and she felt hungry, so she agreed.
    Lama whipped up a Spam loco moco . The smell of the rich brown gravy drew Maile into the kitchenette. “Thanks for showing me the skyline. It reminds me I live in a beautiful place. It’s not Hawai’i, but Seattle has its own charm.”
    He turned from the stove and looked at her as if he adored her. On impulse, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him until her lips ached.
    When he released her, she helped herself to a beer.
    “I thought you didn’t want to drink and drive.” Lama looked over his shoulder as he stirred the gravy.
    “Who’s driving?” Maile smiled and raised her eyebrows.
    ****
    The next morning, Maile woke up with a throbbing headache alone in Lama’s bed. She tiptoed into the living room and found Lama curled up on his couch with a blanket draped over his torso and Queen Lili tucked under his arm.
    She started to count how many beers she’d consumed the night before. “Ugh,” she said aloud when she realized more than five. At least she had her clothes on. No hanky-panky. And even if she wouldn’t have minded a little hanky-panky with Lama, she wanted to at least remember the hanky-panky when the time came.
    She knelt by the couch and kissed him awake. “I have to go. Do you have any aspirin?”
    He sat up and when Queen Lili strode to her food dish, he pulled Maile onto his lap. “Head hurt?”
    “Yeah. Remind me to stop at three. I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.” She stood up, then sat back down immediately and held her head in her hands.
    “Coffee will help. I’ll make you a cup for the road.” Lama walked to the kitchenette and came