“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Daphne took that to heart. “Trust me, I feel the same way. But there are no guarantees, are there?” she stated honestly. “No woman wants to see her life come to an end by a serial killer. We can only try to outlast them while living our lives.” She realized it wasn’t as simple as that no matter how many times she said it. The female victims in her book were proof of that.

  “You’re right.” Kenneth spoke calmly. “You can’t hide under a rock. Just do me a favor—don’t let your guard down, even as you live that life. If something were to ever upend it...”

  His voice broke and Daphne instinctively reached across the table to touch his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not a quitter,” she promised him. “I have so much to live for.” You’re one of those things, she thought, in spite of not knowing where they were headed.

  DANGER ON MAUI

  R. Barri Flowers

  R. Barri Flowers is an award-winning author of crime, thriller, mystery and romance fiction featuring three-dimensional protagonists, riveting plots, unexpected twists and turns, and heart-pounding climaxes. With an expertise in true crime, serial killers and characterizing dangerous offenders, he is perfectly suited for the Harlequin Intrigue line. Chemistry and conflict between the hero and heroine, attention to detail and incorporating the very latest advances in criminal investigations are the cornerstones of his romantic suspense fiction. Discover more on popular social networks and Wikipedia.

  Books by R. Barri Flowers

  Harlequin Intrigue

  Hawaii CI

  The Big Island Killer

  Captured on Kauai

  Honolulu Cold Homicide

  Danger on Maui

  Chasing the Violet Killer

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Daphne Dockery—A bestselling true crime writer on Maui to research her next book, she enlists aid from a handsome detective who worked the case, while also trying to dodge a persistent stalker and being targeted by a serial killer at large.

  Kenneth Kealoha—A homicide detective for the Maui PD Criminal Investigation Division, he’s investigating a serial killer targeting attractive dark-haired women on the island. Can he stop the unsub from going after the Southern beauty who has captured his fancy?

  Jared McDougall—An ex-cop and expert in criminal background analysis, living in retirement. But could he also be a serial killer?

  Francis Hiraga—An ER doctor who is linked to both cases and may have knowledge pertinent to the current investigation.

  Marissa Sheffield—An obsessed fan of Daphne’s, who is intent on being in her life. But will the stalker go too far in her fixation on the true crime author?

  The Maui Suffocation Killer—Terrorizing the island by suffocating his female victims to death. Will Daphne fall prey to his homicidal tendencies?

  In memory of my beloved mother, Marjah Aljean, a devoted lifelong fan of Harlequin romances, who inspired me to do my very best in finding happiness and success in my personal and professional endeavors. To H. Loraine, the love of my life, whose support has been unwavering through the many wonderful years together; and the loyal fans of my romance, mystery, suspense and thriller fiction published over the years. Lastly, thanks to my fantastic editors, Allison Lyons and Denise Zaza, for the opportunity to lend my literary voice and creative spirit to the Harlequin Intrigue line.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from French Quarter Fatale by Joanna Wayne

  Prologue

  He’s hot, Jena Sutcliffe had to admit, as she admired from afar the tall, fit and handsome dark-haired man at Linc’s Tavern on Wharf Street in Lahaina, a happening town in West Maui in the County of Maui, Hawaii. She doubted he even noticed her, even if most considered her to be attractive and a good catch, with long and luscious raven hair and pretty blue eyes. But Maui was full of good-looking and sexy young women, many of whom seemed to be at the club that night and were all over him like an expensive suit. Or was that just her imagination? Jena turned her focus to another dark-haired hottie, who was sitting at the bar all by his lonesome and, like her, appeared to be taking it all in, as if to size up both the competition and the hot women. Again, he never seemed to lay his eyes on her, as she apparently wasn’t what he was looking for.

  His loss, Jena told herself dismissively as she sipped her Lava Flow drink and pushed back at the thought of wanting to get the attention of Mr. Hot Stuff. After all, what was it they said about the definition of insanity? Hadn’t she already been burned in the past by tall, dark-haired, handsome and virile men who looked like him? Why put herself through that agony again?

  Jena turned away from the man, content to finish off her drink and head home alone. She did need to get up early for work at a hotel, where she was an event planner. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet my sexy knight in shining armor at the next big event, she told herself while not holding her breath. She made her way through the crowded bar, imagining one of the knights in shining armor would follow, sweep her off her feet, and it would be the start of something great.

  By the time she left the place and climbed into her orange Subaru WRX, reality had set in and she drove home. Jena was unaware that someone had gotten into another vehicle and began to follow her.

  * * *

  IF HE HAD a dollar for every woman who never looked his way, underestimating him or just what he was capable of, he would be a very rich man right now. And then his true worth might be better appreciated. Until such time, he would allow his actions to speak for him and his victims would be forced to carry the brunt of it. Right to their early graves. And he would continue to have his revenge and take joy in the thrill of the kill. As well as the solace of knowing there was little that could be done to stop him. Not till he’d had enough of dishing out the type of pain that he had been given.

  He followed the Subaru to a condominium complex on Lower Honoapiilani Road, allowing her to park first while pretending to be just another tenant coming home. Perhaps from a night out on the town, like her. Only his presence was much more sinister than that. Quickly parking, he left his vehicle and surreptitiously made his way inside the building. He happened to catch her scaling the stairwell and followed, noting she went to the third floor.

  By the time he got there, he saw the door to her unit close. After making sure there were no prying eyes around, he walked up to the condo. Using his instincts that told him she was all by her lonesome, he rang the bell, calculating that she would at the very least be curious as to who he was. Hadn’t that proven to be true time and time again? Gullibility was always their downfall. Why should it be any different on this occasion?

  She did not fail, opening the door like clockwork and smiling at him as though greeting an old friend. “Can I help you?” she asked politely.

  He grinned innocently and replied in a deceptive tone of voice, “Yes, I believe you can.”

  Using a stun gun, he placed it to her skin and she reacted accordingly with the electrical shocks doing a number to her body and brain, giving him complete control of his latest victim as he entered the condominium to finish what he’d so cleverly and joyously started.

  Chapter One

  At 10:00 a.m., Daphne Dockery sat on an uncomfortable wooden chair in the Aloha Land Bookstore on Front Street in Lahaina, pasting a perfect smile on her heart-shaped face as she signed copies of her latest bestselling book, The Accident Killer. As an award-winning true crime writer, Maui, Hawaii, was the last stop on a late summer book tour to push the unsettling real-life story of serial killer Oscar Preston, who made the deaths of his fifteen victims appear to be accidents till the frightening truth emerged and he was made to pay for his heinous crimes. Daphne planned to take full advantage of the idyllic setting in paradise for some much-needed rest and relaxation away from her hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after a difficult year that included a bad breakup with her ex-boyfriend, Nelson Holloway, and a scary encounter with an obsessed fan, Marissa Sheffield. Thankfully, Marissa was now in jail and Nelson probably should have been, given his unfaithfulness and questionable practices as a hedge-fund manager.

  But Daphne hoped to put them behind her and focus on where she went from here as a newly single—but not necessarily looking for love and companionship—woman, thirty-two years of age, who had landed on Maui on a new mission. Apart from some fun in the sun and on the sand, along with taking a dip in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, she’d come to research her next book, tentatively titled A Maui Mass Murder. It was about a workplace love triangle on the island that resulted in a murder-suicide, taking the lives of five people last year, including a pregnant woman. The subject matter hit home for Daphne painfully. As an only child, her own father had snapped when her mother threatened to leave him and his abusive ways, resulting in him sh
ooting her mother to death before turning the gun on himself.

  Her own tragedy, when Daphne was only seven years old, set her on a course in which, as an adult, she wanted to delve into the backstory of violent criminals, criminality and victims to help others better understand the dynamics involved and learn to cope with it. After earning her Master of Arts degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Alabama and landing a job with a local news station as an investigative journalist, she needed greater autonomy to investigate hard-hitting stories and share them with the public on a larger scale. Hence, she turned to writing true crime books and found success there with seven bestsellers to date and had contracted for three more books with her publisher. This included the next crime topic Daphne had chosen to write about and had been approved by her supportive editor, Gordon Yung, at Lefevre and Weigel Publishing.

  But first, there’s still the matter of wrapping up one more book signing for my current title, she thought, as Daphne glanced down at the fresh flower lei that hung over a scarlet-and-black-printed faux-wrap dress on her five-seven slender frame, worn with comfortable-to-walk-in moccasin flats. She again put on her best face and twinkled big blue-green eyes at the tall thirtysomething man with a medium build and dark hair in a mushroom cut. He was wearing a red shirt adorned with sunsets and palm trees and loose-fitting black jeans. Slightly crooked but intense brown eyes with flecks of gold were locked on hers as he held the hardcover book in big hands to his chest.

  “Aloha.” She spoke in a friendly voice, wanting to break the intensity of their staring game, as if to see who would blink first.

  “Aloha.” He kept his own voice level. “Welcome to Maui.”

  “Happy to be here.” She wondered if he could say the same, judging by his anxious demeanor. Better get this over with, she thought, and move on to someone less intimidating. “Would you like me to sign your book?” Daphne assumed that to be the case, as he had waited in line rather than simply taking the book to the cashier to purchase.

  “Yeah,” he responded tersely, and handed it to her. “Make it out to Tommy.”

  “Okay.” She used the pen the store provided and scribbled his name on the blank first page, followed by her usual words: Thanks for taking the time to show up. Hope you find the read to your liking and pass it on to others interested in true crime. Daphne Dockery.

  She handed the book back to him and, in keeping up with Hawaiian lingo said lyrically, “Mahalo.”

  “Back at you,” he said stiffly, and walked away.

  Wouldn’t want to get on his bad side, Daphne half joked to herself as the next person in line, a frail elderly woman with ash-colored hair worn in stacked layers approached. “Aloha.”

  “Aloha.” Her face creased with a smile. “I’m a big fan of your books. In fact, I’ve read every single one of them.”

  Daphne blushed. “That’s so nice to hear,” she told her genuinely, never taking such comments for granted with so many books for readers to choose from out there.

  “It’s obvious that you put your heart and soul into each book.”

  “I try to,” Daphne agreed, knowing this was what separated true crime narrative nonfiction books from criminology books, in essence. Being herself and freely prefacing each book with her own experience as a victim was what made her books popular and kept Daphne going as well in a cathartic sort of way. She took the book from her.

  “You can make that out to Olivia Righetti.”

  “Will do.” Daphne happily signed her book, feeling more confident that she wanted it for all the right reasons, as opposed to the last person perhaps.

  “Hope you enjoy your stay on the island,” Olivia said. “There’s a lot more to do than being cooped up in a bookstore signing books, you know.”

  Daphne chuckled. “I promise to take some time to explore the sights, sounds and spirit of Maui.”

  The woman crinkled her eyes and took Daphne at her word, and Olivia gave a little wave as she walked off. Daphne took a sip of her bottled water on the table, which included stacks of books spread out strategically, as her throat felt dry from talking. Never mind that her hand was sore from signing books. But she would never complain about something that was part of the process for success as a top-selling author and remaining high on the bestseller lists for nonfiction.

  “Nice to know you’re up for taking in what the island has to offer,” said a resonant voice that drew Daphne’s attention. She looked up into the very deep brown-gray eyes of a chiseled face that belonged to a most handsome Hawaiian man. His curly black hair was in a textured fringe cut that went agreeably with the rest of him, which included at least a six-foot, three-inch sturdy frame and long legs. He was dressed in casual attire apropos of Hawaiian living, consisting of a tropical print shirt, dark straight-fit chino pants and brown Venetian loafers.

  When she could get her mouth to move, Daphne chuckled and responded wryly, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  He grinned easily. “Good to hear.”

  As she tended to do when nervousness got the better of her, Daphne flipped her long and layered raven hair that was styled in a U-shaped cut. She managed to look past his good-looking face to the copy of her book he was holding. “Who do I make that out to?” she asked, if only to get back to the business at hand and not the man himself.

  He slid the book across the table up to her. “Ken should be fine and whatever else you’d like to say that I can brag to my buddies about.”

  Daphne laughed, trying to imagine him bragging about having a signed copy of The Accident Killer to anyone. Somehow, he didn’t seem the type to take such a thing too seriously. “You have yourself a deal,” she quipped. “Ken and a bit more to say mahalo for coming in today.”

  “Wouldn’t have missed the chance to pick up a signed copy of your latest true crime book as a serious fan of narrative nonfiction of this kind,” he insisted.

  “I see.” Guess my reach truly is far and wide, with a readership that apparently knows no bounds, she told herself as she signed the book and handed it back to him, realizing there were others waiting in line before she could call it quits and move on to the rest of her important agenda while on Maui. “Hope it lives up to your expectations.”

  Ken grinned from one side of his wide mouth that appealed to her all on its own as perfectly kissable were the circumstances different and amenable. “I’m sure it will. Have a safe trip back to the mainland whenever you return.”

  “Thanks.” Daphne smiled back and watched briefly as he headed to the cashier while wondering about his life story as, she assumed, an island resident. Was he single and available? Judging by his laidback clothing, trying to figure out what he did for a living was almost impossible, as in this tropical environment it could be anything from a business owner to a lecturer. Or maybe he was a resort worker or involved with technology. She supposed some things were best left to the imagination as Daphne welcomed the next book buyer before her, happy to see the line was starting to thin. Which meant she would soon be able to get the most out of her stay on the island, including her investigation into the mass shooting at the workplace.

  * * *

  HOMICIDE DETECTIVE KENNETH KEALOHA, a member of the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division branch of the Investigative Services Bureau, couldn’t seem to get his mind off Daphne Dockery, the stunning true crime writer he met earlier in the day at her book signing. In fact, if the truth be told, she looked even better in person than the photograph on the back of her book, The Accident Killer, which he fully intended to read with interest. But he couldn’t actually relay that to her in front of other book buyers, lest she get the impression he was trying to hit on her. Another place, another time, that might not have been too far from Kenneth’s mind, as she was definitely his type with the luscious and long dark hair, enticing aquamarine eyes and streamlined physique. But in this instance, he thought it was probably best that he kept this view of the gorgeous author to himself.