MURDER IN PARADISE

“Good news, Ella!” exclaimed Jake as he watched Ella enter the pre-production department of the California Studio.

“Well, are you going to tell me, or do I have to pry it out of you?” teased Ella.

Jake laughed, “We received the green light for our adventure film. Since you are the best scout location manager in the business, you are going to Hawaii.

Looking through her mail, she responded, “Okay! Thanks! When do I leave?”

Jake declared, “You can set your own schedule as long as you have the photos and locations for the film on my desk by the 8th of January. Tentatively, the schedule shows filming to begin close to the end of February.”

“Nice deadline!” uttered Ella.

Recognizing her sister’s handwriting, Ella immediately opened what appeared to be a holiday card. Falling into her chair, Ella could not believe her eyes. Surprisingly, it was a wedding invitation, Ella was stunned and dismayed. Her fraternal twin sister, Emma, was marrying Logan.

“Whose Logan!” she muttered to herself. According to the invitation, the wedding would be held on the 20th of December in a small intimate chapel in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"Is everything okay?" asked Jake.

“Yes, I guess! Just! Ah! My sister is getting married in Fairbanks, Alaska in nine days,” replied Ella.

Checking his calendar, Jake suggested, “Go to Fairbanks for the wedding. Then afterward, fly to Hawaii and start scouting and photographing locations.”

“You know, I’ve always wanted to spend Christmas in Hawaii. I love the Hawaiian Christmas song too! I’ll give my travel agent a ring after lunch,” gushed Ella.

***

Arriving at Fairbanks Airport, the temperature was well below zero. Actually, it was -50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Carrying an extra parka and mittens, Emma was prepared for Ella’s arrival. From a distance, Emma spotted Ella walking into the airport corridor. Upon seeing each other, they ran into each other’s arms.

Leaving the airport, Ella oohed and ahhed over the brilliant, dancing green light in the Alaskan sky with blue and violet lights joining the green light creating a spectacular Northern Light show.

Once at Emma’s home, she gushed, “Logan is a marine biologist and earned his degree last year from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After the break-up in May, Ella, that’s when the ice breaks here in Alaska, we will be moving to San Diego. Hopefully, we will have a chance to see each other more often.”

Ella nodded her head in agreement. Looking at a picture of Emma, Shelly, and herself, she wondered aloud, “Will Shelly be one of your bridesmaids?”

“Funny you should ask! Yesterday, Shelly called me. Explaining that there was a family emergency on Oahu, she wouldn’t be able to make it,” answered Emma.

Ella cried, “Speaking of Oahu, I’m leaving for the island right after the wedding.”

“Would you check on Shelly?” queried Emma.

Ella soothed, “No problem! It will be fun catching up with Shelly!”

Obviously, the chapel was absolutely beautiful with the Christmas greenery and the hugest poinsettia plants that Ella had ever seen. Outside the Chapel, snow sparkled, appearing like zillions of diamonds on the ground. It was a fairytale wedding in a frozen land.

Indeed, Ella couldn’t help but think that Emma and Logan made a handsome couple.

As planned, Ella left Fairbanks right after the wedding. Before leaving Emma gave Ella a business card with Shelly’s phone number on the back. Promising Emma that she would give Shelly a call once she arrived on Oahu.

***

Upon her arrival at Honolulu International Airport, Ella was given a flower lei which was customary. Walking to the nearest payphone, Ella dialed Shelly’s number.

After several rings, Shelly answered, “Hello!”

Nervously, she said, “Hey Shelly, it’s Ella!”

“It’s been ages! Where are you?” blurted Shelly.

Ella quickly announced, “I’m here on Oahu!” Can we meet for dinner?”

“I can meet you at Canlis around 7 P.M.,” whispered Shelly.

Ella agreed, “See you then!”

Picking up her rental car, she headed directly towards her hotel. After checking in, Ella had plenty of time to rest before dinner.

At Canlis, Ella had a glass of wine at the bar as she waited for Shelly. At first, Ella didn’t recognize her high school friend who was wearing an auburn wig and big white sunglasses.

After greeting each other, Ella inquired about their table for two. The hostess picked up two menus and led Shelly and Ella to a corner table.

“Perfect!” mumbled Shelly.

Ella’s intuition kicked in and sensed that something was wrong with her high school friend whom she hadn’t seen in way too many years.

Shelly confided, “You probably are wondering about the disguise.”

“Yes!” admitted Ella.

“Ugh! Where do I begin! I married a man who I though was perfect. Of course, I believed all his lies and bull****; and now, my life has turned into terror and torment. I discovered he was a drug dealer and a member of The Camp. The Camp is a crime syndicate that controls narcotics, gambling, prostitution, and loan sharking on the Hawaiian islands. I’m…I’m an informant and it looks like I will have to testify at the trial set for January. In fact, the Attorney General promised to finalize my divorce right before the trial,” babbled Shelly.

Ella consoled, “Oh my Shelly! I wish there was something I could do.”

“You can. Please tell Emma the truth that I could not leave the island under judicial orders,” urged Shelly.

“Are you ready to order?” asked the waitress.

Ella declared, “I’ll have the Mahi Mahi, baked potato and a Caesar salad please.”

“I’ll have the same,” insisted Shelly.

After dinner, Ella went into all the details of her trip, explaining that her scouting assignment would end on the 30th of December.

Before leaving Canlis, they decided to have brunch at Michel’s at the Colony Surf Hotel on Kalakaua Avenue on Sunday.

Over the next few days, Ella drove around the island. It was a wonderful working Christmas Holiday.

On Sunday, Ella and Shelly had a marvelous brunch at Michel’s and were able to sit next to the window that overlooked the beach and the Pacific Ocean.

During brunch, Shelly was even able to suggest some locations on Oahu that Ella had missed.

On the 29th of December, Ella was wrapping up the work and made arrangements to have lunch at the Red Vest with Shelly. After having an enjoyable lunch, they walked to their respective cars in the parking lot.

Naturally, Ella was headed to her hotel to prepare for her departure, and Shelly was going to her attorney’s office. Shelly was in the lead car with Ella trailing behind her. Both were about to turn right. However, the light was red with a no right turn on a red signposted. When they received a green light, a gunman appeared and fired his gun at Shelly.

Three shots rang out. On the third shot, the clouds opened up with a torrential storm coming down in blinding sheets of rain.

In slow motion, the gunman turned towards Ella’s rental car. Luckily, the sudden downpour caused the gunman to flee.

When the police arrived, Ella was sitting behind the wheel of her rental car. Understandably, she was in shock that her friend was murdered, and her lifeless body was in the car ahead of her.

With Ella’s sharp eye, she was able to identify the gunman from the police photos. Unfortunately, the police determined the gunman escaped and flew back to the mainland.

Unsettling and scary, the experience had a profound effect on Ella, and it was the cause of Ella’s nightmares.

***

On a bright and sunny day, in December 1995, Ella was scrolling the internet. She came upon what she thought was a familiar face. There were two photos, one from 1972 and the other taken in 1980. Ella knew it! It was the gunman. Realizing it was the gunman, her heart pounded irregularly, and her palms were beginning to sweat.

Continuing to read, the story confirmed that he was the gunman twenty-three years earlier.

As her whole body trembled, she sighed, “Oh my, they got him!”

Ella read that he was incarcerated in 1980 and died in prison five years later. She left out a sigh of relief.

Finally, there was closure. Now that it was over, Ella prayed that her nightmares would end.

Writer's notes: Thank you for reading my green light challenge story. Aloha!