California Schemin': Book One in the Malibu Mayhem Trilogy Read online

  Peril at the Beach

  Suddenly—

  “OWWWWW!!”

  Bess and I whirled around to see George hopping up and down on one foot.

  “George, what happened?” I asked.

  George clutched her other ankle. “I stepped on something sharp. It went underneath my sandal and pricked the side of my foot.”

  “Maybe a jellyfish stung you,” Bess said.

  Bess could be right, I thought. But when I saw a stream of bright red blood beneath George’s ankle, I changed my mind.

  “That’s no sting,” I decided.

  “Well, it was either that soda can ring, broken glass,” George said, her face turning ghost white, “or…or…”

  “Or what?” I asked.

  “Or that hypodermic needle?” George gulped.

  #1 Without a Trace

  #2 A Race Against Time

  #3 False Notes

  #4 High Risk

  #5 Lights, Camera…

  #6 Action!

  #7 The Stolen Relic

  #8 The Scarlet Macaw Scandal

  #9 Secret of the Spa

  #10 Uncivil Acts

  #11 Riverboat Ruse

  #12 Stop the Clock

  #13 Trade Wind Danger

  #14 Bad Times, Big Crimes

  #15 Framed

  #16 Dangerous Plays

  #17 En Garde

  #18 Pit of Vipers

  #19 The Orchid Thief

  #20 Getting Burned

  #21 Close Encounters

  #22 Dressed to Steal

  #23 Troubled Waters

  #24 Murder on the Set

  #25 Trails of Treachery

  #26 Fishing for Clues

  #27 Intruder

  #28 Mardi Gras Masquerade

  #29 The Stolen Bones

  #30 Pageant Perfect Crime

  #31 Perfect Cover

  #32 Perfect Escape

  #33 Secret Identity

  #34 Identity Theft

  #35 Identity Revealed

  #36 Model Crime

  #37 Model Menace

  #38 Model Suspect

  #39 Green-Eyed Monster

  #40 Green with Envy

  #41 Seeing Green

  #42 Secret Sabotage

  #43 Serial Sabotage

  #44 Sabotage Surrender

  Available from Aladdin

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ALADDIN

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  First Aladdin paperback edition June 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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  Designed by Karina Granda

  The text of this book was set in Bembo.

  Manufactured in the United States of America 0511 OFF

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Library of Congress Control Number 2011921046

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2295-7

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2296-4 (eBook)

  Chapter 1: Sunset Shocker

  Chapter 2: Uninvited Guests

  Chapter 3: Shore Disaster

  Chapter 4: Toxic Trouble

  Chapter 5: Spa Secrets

  Chapter 6: Behind Closed Doors

  Chapter 7: Waves and Warnings

  Chapter 8: Mystery Cruise

  Chapter 9: Sisterly Suspects

  Chapter 10: Cult Crashers

  Chapter 11: Challenges

  Chapter 12: Identity Revealed

  Chapter 13: High-Sea Sleuths

  Chapter 14: Unspeakable Acts

  Chapter 15: Rescue and Revenge

  SUNSET SHOCKER

  “Girls,” I said, smiling between smoothie sips. “I don’t think we’re in River Heights anymore.” “For sure,” George said. She raised her own raspberry smoothie glass and toasted, “To Malachite Beach!”

  “Playground of the rich and famous,” Bess piped up. “And now…us.”

  Leaning forward, I clinked glasses with my BFFs, Bess Marvin and George Fayne. The three of us were lounging on a deck overlooking the most awesome moonlit beach we had ever seen in our lives.”

  We’d been in Malachite for only a few hours, but I still wanted to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. Having the run of a California beach house for three weeks was a dream come true.

  George leaned back in her chair to prop her sandy feet on the deck’s railing. The first thing she’d done when we got to the house was kick off her sneakers and race down to the beach. Our own private beach.

  “Do I know people in the right places or what?” George asked with a grin. “Who can say their mom worked with Stacey Manning, event planner to the stars?”

  “Only you, George,” I teased. “And only about a hundred times.”

  Bess scrunched her nose as she studied George’s feet. “How about saying ‘pedicure’?”

  I laughed as George wiggled her feet in front of a horrified Bess’s face. Our dream vacation was going to be a blast, thanks to Stacey.

  Stacey Manning was truly an event planner extraordinaire. She planned parties and events for some of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood and all over the country.

  “Did you read about the Sweet Sixteen Stacey threw for those celebrity twins?” I asked. “The one aboard an actual refurbished pirate ship?”

  “You mean the party where each guest left with a full-size treasure chest filled with swag?” Bess asked.

  “Some swag,” George snorted. “I read online that those treasure chests were packed with MP3 players, diamond charm bracelets, and cameras.”

  “Don’t forget the gift cards,” Bess added. “To the hottest restaurants in Hollywood.”

  “MP3 players, diamond charms, and cameras?” I said. “Now I know we’re not in River Heights anymore.”

  The three of us stopped talking to watch the setting of a deep orange sun. As it slowly sank behind the ocean, I thought of my boyfriend, Ned, back in River Heights, wishing he was at my side. But as much as I missed Ned, I wouldn’t trade this awesome getaway for anything. Even detectives like us needed a little vacay now and then.

  “Hey, George,” Bess asked. “Did Stacey lend us this epic house just because she worked with your mom?”

  “Not really,” George said. “Offering us the house was Stacey’s way of thanking my mom. When Stacey goofed up during an event years ago, my mom covered for her.”

  “Really?” I said, surprised. “I can’t imagine Stacey goofing up any party.”

  “What did she do?” Bess wanted to know.

  “Her first day on the job, Stacey placed an ice sculpture next to the flambé station,” George said. “The sculpture had a m
eltdown, and so did their boss.”

  “Not a good way to start a job,” I said.

  “Was Stacey fired?” Bess asked.

  “She might have been if Mom hadn’t taken the blame,” George explained. “Mom always had a soft spot for newbies.”

  She stretched back lazily in her chair before adding, “Mom hadn’t heard from Stacey in years. So she was totally surprised when Stacey called last week.”

  “Better late than never,” I said, smiling.

  Stacey had given us the use of not only her house, but her car, private beach, and a stocked fridge.

  But as cool as our temporary Malachite house was, we were in California—and that meant places to go and things to see.

  “Don’t forget, you guys,” I reminded. “I want to do all the touristy stuff while we’re here. Universal Studios, Venice Beach—”

  “Rodeo Drive,” Bess cut in. She flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder and smiled. “We have to do Rodeo Drive as soon as possible.”

  George rolled her eyes at the mention of L.A.’s famous and expensive shopping district.

  “Bess,” George complained. “Stacey Manning left us her house. Not her credit cards.”

  “Okay, Miss Low Maintenance.” Bess sighed. “What do you plan to do—stare at a computer all day, as usual?”

  “Actually,” George said, turning toward the ocean, “I’d like to go surfing.”

  Surfing was definitely on my list. Especially since Stacey had left us three new boards.

  “Maybe I’ll tag along, George,” I decided.

  “While you work the California waves,” Bess said, “I’ll work on my California tan.”

  Tan? I stared at Bess as if she had three heads. “Bess, you know baking in the sun can be dangerous, even with globs of sunscreen on.”

  This time Bess stared at me as if I had three heads.

  “Sunless spray-tanning,” Bess pronounced the words carefully. “Remember, this is L.A.”

  It sure was. As I glanced up at the darkening Los Angeles sky, even the stars seemed brighter. And speaking of stars…

  “Do you think we’ll see any major celebs while we’re in Malachite?” I asked.

  “Hope so.” Bess smiled.

  “Not me,” George said before taking a noisy slurp of her smoothie. “Who cares about celebrities unless they invented Facebook or Twitter?”

  Bess stood up and leaned over the railing. She twisted her head to check out the houses along the beach.

  “Maybe, just maybe,” she said slowly, “some of those famous celebrities are living near us.”

  Bess could have been right. Stacey’s house wasn’t as huge or grand as the other mansions or villas. But it was on the most famous star-studded beach in the world.

  “I’m not sure of our other neighbors,” I said. “But that mansion right next door seems to be some kind of spa.”

  Bess spun around. “Did you say spa?” she demanded. “How do you know there’s a spa next door?”

  “I read the sign as our taxi drove by,” I said. “It said something like ‘Roland’s Renewal Retreat and Spa.’”

  “Talk about having a photographic memory,” George said, smiling at me. “I’m impressed.”

  “So am I—about the spa,” Bess said excitedly. “You guys, we have to go there at least once for mani-pedis.”

  “As if I’m the spa type,” George scoffed. “What would I need a manicure for?”

  “For starters”—Bess picked up George’s hand—“they can probably scrape those calluses off your fingertips. The ones you get from all that keyboarding.”

  “Keyboard” was George’s magic word, as was any word that had to do with computers—which is why it was still so hard to believe Bess and George were cousins. Not only did they look totally different, everything they did and liked was as different as Malachite Beach and River Heights.

  Bess, George, and I hung out on Stacey’s deck until the cool Santa Ana winds made us shiver.

  “Time to go inside,” I said, standing up.

  “I’m coming too.” Bess pulled out her phone and checked the time. “I have to catch my favorite guilty pleasure on TV.”

  “Who cares about TV when we’re on vacation?” George asked.

  “Me,” Bess replied. “There’s no way I’m going to miss Chillin’ with the Casabians.”

  I shuddered but not from the cool night air. I knew Chillin’ with the Casabians was a reality show about three super-glam sisters famous for being famous. I also knew from experience that reality shows were bad news.

  “Oh, Bess, wasn’t being on Daredevils bad enough?” I groaned.

  “Yeah,” George said. “We almost got killed working on that case—and being on that show.”

  But Bess shook her head and smiled.

  “Chillin’ with the Casabians isn’t like Daredevils. It’s good, goofy fun,” she insisted. “And you just never know what Mandy, Mallory, or Mia will do—or wear—next.”

  “Or what dumb thing they’ll say,” George said.

  “Does that mean you’re going to watch Chillin’ with the Casabians with me?” Bess teased George.

  “I’m going on Stacey’s computer,” George said. “I’m pretty sure I can make it run even faster than it already does.”

  I stopped in my tracks to stare at George.

  “Excuse me, Queen of the Cyberzons,” I joked. “But we’re on vacation, and vacation means no work. Period.”

  Bess cast a sly glance my way. “No work?” she asked. “Does that mean no mysteries, either?”

  Good question. But as much as I loved solving all kinds of mysteries, I also loved having a little time off.

  “No mysteries,” I said firmly. “I don’t know about you, but this girl detective is hanging up her spyglass for this vacation.”

  “You might as well.” George shrugged. “What’s the worst thing that could happen in a place like this?”

  Bess pointed to her wind-whipped hair and said, “A bad hair day?”

  I gazed out at the moonlit waves rolling gently onto the beach. Bess and George were right. Malachite Beach was nothing but peaceful and serene. No wonder celebrities and millionaires called it home. Who wouldn’t want to live in such a perfect place? But just as I was about to turn toward the door—

  FLASH!!

  “Omigod!” I gasped as bright red flames shot up on the beach. “You guys—our beach is on fire!”

  UNINVITED GUESTS

  “How can a beach be on fire?” George asked. But when she saw the flames, her dark eyes popped wide open. “Whoa! Somebody must have tossed a cigarette butt on some driftwood.”

  “Call the fire department,” I said, trying hard to stay calm.

  “On it,” Bess said, digging into her pocket. “I’ll text 911.”

  “Don’t text, call!” I said, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

  George leaned against the railing for a closer look. She then spun around and grabbed Bess’s arm just as she was about to press the last digit.

  “Don’t!” George told Bess.

  “Why not?” Bess cried.

  “Because it’s not that kind of fire,” George said quickly.

  Bess and I turned toward the flames still shooting up from the sand.

  “Um, flames…smoke?” I said.

  “Looks like a fire to me,” Bess insisted.

  “It is a fire,” George explained. “A bonfire.”

  Bess and I looked again. Squinting, I made out four silhouettes sitting on blankets near the fire. The bonfire.

  “You’re right!” Bess smiled with relief as she pocketed her phone.

  “But this is Stacey’s beach. Her private beach,” George reminded us.

  She was right. A private beach meant no trespassing. And setting up a bonfire on private property was definitely trespassing.

  “Come on,” I said, waving my hand in the direction of the beach. “We’d better find out who’s down there.”

  Bess, Geo
rge, and I climbed down from the deck and walked across the sand toward the bonfire crackling near the shore. As we got closer, the four figures came into view—two girls and two guys, probably in their late teens or early twenties. The girls had long, dark hair and were wearing hoodies. Not your typical sweatshirt hoodies, but ones studded with crystals and trimmed with faux fur. Two picnic baskets overflowed with breads, fruit, and drinks.

  We stopped about ten feet from the fire. The partyers were shrieking playfully as flaming embers shot in their direction.

  “Stiletto-heeled boots?” I whispered as one girl kicked her feet in the air. “On the beach?”

  “Yeah, but check them out,” Bess said about the guys, who had long, layered hair. “They’re total hunks, no matter what they’re wearing.”

  “Who cares what they look like?” George said. “They’re still partying on a private beach. Who do they think they are?”

  Bess shook my arm as she gave a little gasp. “I think I know who they are,” she said. “But it’s too dark to be sure.”

  A bright light flashed in the corner of my eye. I turned to see a woman wearing a ball cap and carrying a clipboard rushing toward the bonfire. Stumbling behind her were two guys, both wearing backward caps. One held a TV camera on his shoulder. The other gripped a dangling mike.

  “They’re filming something?” I wondered out loud. “On the beach?”

  “Listen up, everybody!” the woman called to the group. “I want Mandy and Mallory to argue over who forgot the marshmallows. Then we’ll do a one-shot of Mandy complaining how Mallory always forgets everything.”

  “Who says I forget everything?” one of the girls argued. “Why do I always have to be the airhead, Bev?”

  “Because you are?” the other girl teased.

  “It is them,” Bess hissed excitedly. “It’s Mandy and Mallory Casabian. The guys are their boyfriends, Devon and Ty.”

  “Casabian?” George asked. “From Chillin’ with the Casabians?”

  “What a coincidence, right?” Bess whispered. “Mandy is the oldest and a total know-it-all. Devon and Ty are surfers and aspiring Abercrombie models. Devon already greets customers at the door.”