Page 25 of Vacation Friends

“I suppose. I mean, yes, it is noble,” she corrected. “It’s also very hard to live on the salary from that job in New York City. Josh convinced me to take a job in fundraising for a nonprofit that helps the elderly instead.”

“That also sounds noble.”

“I have to admit that I miss being on the battlefield.” She shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll go back to my old job.”

“It helps to be passionate about what you do.”

Which was why she sometimes wished she hadn’t listened to Josh and made the job switch.

Maddie swallowed hard and decided to change the subject. “And you work security?”

Brody nodded. “I do. I love it. The job gives me freedom to experience new places and meet new people—like on this trip.”

“I’m certainly glad you’re on this trip. I might not be here right now if you weren’t.”

He pressed his lips together in a solemn expression. “I’m just glad I was there at the right time.”

So was she. So was she.

Maddie stared at him another moment, hoping her gratitude showed in her gaze.

Adrienne returned to the table and apologized for taking the phone call.

“Work?” Brody asked.

“Yes. It was Logan, one of my colleagues in event planning. We were just hashing out a few details about tomorrow’s schedule.”

“How many are on your team?” Maddie asked.

“Just three. We did most of our planning beforehand, and the resort has been great about heading up the excursions and evening activities. But we still need to be around to oversee things. If anything goes wrong, then we’re to blame and our heads are on the chopping block. No one wants that.” She cut her eyes, as if half-joking and half-serious.

“I can imagine.” Maddie knew Josh was difficult to work for.

She’d shown up at the office one day in time to see him raking his administrative assistant over the coals. Apparently, she’d written down the wrong time for an important meeting.

When Maddie had talked to him about it afterward, he said greatness was found in the details.

He claimed that was what made him good at his job—that he demanded excellence from the people around him. Sometimes Maddie wondered if he took that to the extreme, however.

“Maddie Waters?” someone asked beside her.

She looked up to see a man with dark hair, graying at the temples, standing beside her. If fifty-something Anthony Hopkins was Polynesian, he would look like this man.

Something about his posture and button-up shirt indicated he wasn’t here on the company retreat. He looked too tired and his clothing too cheap.

“Yes?” She swallowed hard, a bad feeling already simmering in her gut.

“I’m Detective Kalani with the Kauai PD.” His gaze was as hard and unyielding as his voice. “I need to ask you a few questions.”

Maddie sat up straighter. “Questions about what?”

“About Jared Kline.”

Her heart pounded harder. “Yes, of course. I don’t know how much I can tell you, however. I didn’t know the man.”

His expression remained stony. “Would you like to go somewhere private?”

She glanced at Adrienne and Brody and decided that she’d like to stay here with her new friends. Somehow, she felt more secure with them. “No, I think I’m fine here.”

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