153 Aloha Avenue

Alex walked into the living room and picked up the television remote when he saw a copy of Pool House of Passion sitting on the coffee table. He picked up the book and began reading it.

She looked at her husband, �I�m sorry Cleveland, but I�ve been having an affair with our son�s best friend.� Cleveland started at Eleanor, �You�ve been doing what?� Eleanor turned from him and looked out the window at the pool house and the setting Hawaiian sun, �I�ve been having an affair with Rico, our son Gregory�s best friend and roommate.�

Alex closed the book, �That is intense.� He marked his page with a post-it note and then put the book back down on the table before picking up his keys and leaving the house to go check on things for Karen�s wedding in a few days.

As he stood in front of the house he took out his cell phone and called his son, stuck with once again leaving a message, �Peter, its your father call me back. I want to know if Abigail and Eddie will be coming to the wedding with you or not.�

Carmen sipped her fourth cup of coffee while she waited for Carlotta to show up; this was not good, not good at all. She thought as she once again glanced at the News Paper

Sensual Sun Press reveals John Adams as Raquel Davenport, but won�t reveal Virginia Covington.

�Carmen, what is God�s name is wrong?� Carlotta asked as she sat down across from her friend.

�This!� Carmen said holding up the front page of the Tribune.

�Oh no, Bradley is really gung ho about this whole thing.� Carlotta said as she sighed, �Not to sound bitchy but I�m glad this is his cover story rather then Paula going missing in the middle of a performance.�

Carmen sighed, �Sorry, I forgot you had a bigger problem.�

�Yes, well Julian is apparently hiring a private detective to find her.� Carlotta sighed, �Kate will be back performing once this scandal clears. Until then, I just don�t know what to do.�

�Well find something, or rather someone to focus on.� Carmen smiled.

�Is sex all you think about?�

�Perhaps if Alex paid attention to me, it wouldn�t be.�

�What went wrong there?� Carlotta tore off a piece of the paper and began folding it between her fingers.

�He�s too wrapped up in the resort, that�s what. Though there have been a few spurts of interest, his mind seems to be somewhere else.�

�Darling don�t worry, I�m sure that things will get back to normal soon.�

�I certainly hope so, I really do.�

Sam looked at the headline and then at the picture below it. His father, wasn�t a mystery novelist or anything cool like that. No instead he stared at news his father writes romance novels.

He went to the phone and dialed his brother Dan�s cell phone number and went directly to voice mail. He hung up and then tried his sister Abby�s cell phone, voice mail again. �Grrr!� he said in frustration before finally dialing his parents number.

�Adams Residence.� Spoke the calm voice of John Adams.

�Um Dad, it�s Sam. I have a question that might be a bit difficult.�

�What is it Sam?�

Sam released a long unsteady breath, �Are you Raquel Davenport, the romance novelist?�

�Why, why do you ask son?�

�Well Dad, you�re picture is on the front page of the Ginger Falls Tribune and on their website!� Sam distress was coming through.

�Are you serious?� John asked.

�No Dad, I�m just pulling this out of my ass. Of course I�m serious. You realize Abby has like every book you�ve written?�

�she does?�

�Yeah she goes through them quicker then a alcoholic can go through a handle!� Sam declared, anger in his voice, �Dad, why didn�t you tell us?�

John sighed, �I didn�t want to hear this disappointment in you�re voice.�

Sam shook his head as the alarm on his watch went off, �I have to go, I�ve got class in ten minutes. I�ll call soon, bye Dad.�

�And I can pick the dress up this afternoon at four?� Karen asked into the phone, �Wonderful, yeah I would like to double check all the alterations we�ve done considering the wedding is tomorrow morning. Yes I�ll see you at four then, bye.�

As she placed the phone back on the cradle Michael walked in and sat in the chair across from her. �Karen, are you sure about marrying this Jonathan guy?�

Karen sighed and rolled her eyes, �Mike, you and I have been through this already. I love Jonathan, I know all I need to know about him.�

Michael shook his head, �What do you know about him?�

�He used to live in LA, he�s a novelist his first book should be out soon.�

�And? What else do you know?�

Karen sat up straight and looked Michael straight in the eyes, �I know that he�s the best lover I have ever had.�

�Karen, listen to me, you don�t know him and there is no way you can love this guy.� Michael stood up and leaned his hands on her desk.

�You�re just jealous, that�s all this is. There is nothing you can do to stop me from marrying Jonathan tomorrow.�

�You�re so damn stubborn Karen, I wish I knew why I had wasted all this time on you when you won�t let common sense guide you.� Michael walked to the door of her office and looked at her, �And yet, I still love you.�

�Just leave Michael.� Was all Karen could say, she couldn�t even look at him, she just stared at her computer screen.

�Fine, this is how it�s going to end then.�

Hope walked into the diner and saw Julian sitting at the counter. She walked over to him slowly and tapped him on the shoulder, �Excuse me, are you Julian Price?�

He turned around; signs of a wicked hangover were in and around his eyes, �You Hope Jacobs?�

She nodded, �Yes I am. After we spoke last night I contacted several various sourced and what I�ve found so far it appears that Miss Winslow left the country last night shortly after her disappearance on stage.�

�This makes absolutely no sense.� Julian shook his head, �We were engaged, what would cause her to flee like this? Her dreams were coming true.�

Hope sat down next to him, �From what I�ve found so far, it appears she was connected to some huge crimes and criminals. The conclusion I�ve come to so far is that she�s running from being caught. I know you probably want to hop on the next plane out of here and look for her, but that would be your biggest mistake.�

�You�re telling me I should just stay here and do nothing?�

Hope nodded, �Yes, actually I am. I�m sorry but so far it doesn�t appear she wants to be found.�

Julian rubbed his eyes, �I just wish she had confided in me, rather then just running off like this.�

Devon looked at Legolas, �This is stupid, why do I have to be dressed as a Pirate?�

�Because Lad, this way she won�t recognize you. Now just go and give her this food and then she�ll pass out and we can prepare the next phase of the plan.� Legolas then opened the door and pushed a disguised Devon up the stairs.

Paula sat up when she saw the figure come up the stairs, �Who are you?�

�Eat Wench.� Devon said trying to speak like a pirate but it came out more like Irish accent. He put the plate down on the floor and slid it to her.

�What is it?�

�PBJ� was all he said as he backed up towards the stairs. �Eat Wench!�

�Who are you? Why are you doing this to me? My fianc�e must be worried sick.�

Devon drew the prop sword from him belt and aimed it at her, �Eat and shut up.� He said before going down the stairs.

Paula watched him, �Devon?�

A moment later the door slammed and she could hear several locks get turned. She reached over and picked up the sandwich and began eating it.

A while later she felt extremely drowsy and passed out.

�Hey Peter, you�ve got to help me out with something.� Eddie said as he pulled his roommate close to him in the middle of the living room.

Peter took a deep breath, �With what?�

�Well you took that social dance class freshmen year right? Well how did the salsa steps go?�

�Oh just like this.� Peter said backing away, feeling himself too aroused by the closeness Eddie had created. He did a slow example of the step and then felt Eddie pull him closer again.

�Just like this?� Eddie asked, stepping on Peter�s feet.

�Not exactly.� He said as he hopped over to the couch and sat down.

�Sorry.� Eddie sat down next to him. �I just don�t want to look like a total fool at your sisters wedding.�

Peter smiled, �You could never look like a fool. Now me and Abigail that will look silly.�

�Why?� Eddie cocked his head to the side.

�The height thing gets a little awkward on the dance floor, that�s all.� Peter lied.

�You�re joking right?� Eddie pushed Peter�s shoulder.