Hani looked at me as if I’d just pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat.
“How did you know? Did he call you?”
“I guessed because you specifically said a moment ago that you wanted a perspective that didn’t involve a Hu woman. Then you asked me to promise not to tell them. What else was it going to be?”
“Why do you always have to be such a know-it-all?”
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be.”
Hani said nothing.
“Well, are you going to tell me the details?” I asked.
“I saw him this morning.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“Yuto texted me my father’s phone number the day after the party. I called my father late last night. We met at the Whaler’s Village in Kaanapali.”
It was a crowded place with lots of people so Hani could easily walk away. Had she been worried her father would do something? I didn’t know and I didn’t ask.
“How did things go?”
“Fine.”
“That’s it? Just fine?”
“He apologized for staying away for so long. He explained to me why he didn’t come back sooner. I don’t know, Poe. I don’t think there’s anything he could have said that would make up for what he did.”
“Probably not. Are you going to see him again?” I asked.
“He wants to meet Ava.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. There’s a part of me that wants Ava to meet her grandfather, but I know it would hurt my mother. She might not ever forgive me.”
I didn’t think Hani was wrong in that assessment.
“Maybe it’s too soon to do that. Perhaps you should work up to it,” I suggested.
“I don’t know if I’m going to even see him again.”
“Do you want to see him again?” I asked.
“That’s the problem. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I do think I want to see him again, but I’m scared it will destroy my relationship with Mom and Alana.”
“I can’t speak for your mother, but I feel pretty confident that I know how Alana would react.”
“Yeah, she’d be furious,” Hani said.
“I don’t agree. I think she’d understand.”
“Does Alana want to see him too?”
“I don’t know. She said she doesn’t, but that might change.”
“Is that all she’s said?”
“Pretty much. She’s avoiding the topic, which I understand. I’ve tried not to press it.”
Hani said nothing.
“You’re also feeling guilty about Yuto, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Why would I feel guilty about him? He’s the one that pulled this stunt, not me.”
“Yes, but you also know that he had the best of intentions.”
“I thought you were on my side.”
“I am. I’ve never said this before, but I think of you as my younger sister. I’m always going to look out for you.”
“But you just said I feel guilty. You must blame me for something,” Hani said.
“No, but Yuto told me that you expressed to him more than once that you wished your father could walk you down the aisle. He was trying to make you happy. Yes, he shouldn’t have handled things the way he did, but he did his best.”
Hani looked around our wedding space.
“I’m supposed to get married here in just a few days.”
“Does that mean you’re still going through with it?” I asked.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“When was the last time you spoke with Yuto?”
“At the party.”
“You should call him. It’s not fair to keep him in the dark. Talk things out. I’m sure it will help.”
“I don’t know what to do,” she said.
“Do you want to marry Yuto? It’s really that simple.”
“But it’s not. We’re talking about doing something that’s supposed to last the rest of our lives. How can I go into something like that when I’m still angry with him?”
“Then postpone the wedding. Tell him you need more time to think things through,” I said.
“What about the guests?”
“Who cares about them?”
“My father said he met with you and Foxx at Harry’s. He actually said he liked Foxx. Can you believe that?”
“Well, that’s another giant mark against him in your book, isn’t it?” I asked, and I laughed.
“That’s not helping.”
“It’s not such a bad thing, Hani. Better that at least one of Ava’s grandparents likes her father. I don’t have to tell you how important it is that you guys at least try to get along. Ava’s relationship with Foxx is going to help dictate her relationship with every guy she meets. He’s her example of how a man is supposed to be.”
“God help her.”
“I know you don’t really mean that. You know she’s the most important person in the world to him. You’ve seen how they act around each other.”
“Yeah, he’s not such a bad father,” Hani admitted. “What did you think of my father?”
It was the one question that I’d hoped she wouldn’t ask, but she had.
“I had a similar reaction to you, although I’m sure it was nowhere near as intense. I’ve also disliked your father for what he did to you three, but the guy I talked to at Harry’s didn’t seem capable of doing that.”
“Was he tricking us?”
“If so, why? If he didn’t care, if he wasn’t interested in repairing the damage that’s been done, he would have stayed in Japan and never gotten on that plane,” I said.
“He’s here for two weeks. Did you know that?”
“He told me, so did Yuto.”
“I guess I have a big decision to make.”
“Yes, you do, but I think the other question is the more important one. Will you marry Yuto or not?”
Hani turned away from me and looked out toward the ocean.
“This is one of the most beautiful spots on the island,” she said.
“That’s the main reason I bought the place.”
Hani laughed. Then she turned back to me.
“Your little sister, huh?”
“Yep.”
“I’ve never had a brother. I guess you’ll have to do.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“I remember the first time I met you, Poe. You had this look of shock on your face.”
“I thought I was looking at twins.”
“That’s what everyone says when they see Alana and me together. I don’t see it, though.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I guess I better get home. I have some decisions to make.”
“Good luck.”
“Remember, not a word of this to Alana. Got it?”
“I got it. But keep this in mind. You should tell her yourself. I think you both could help each other get through this. There’s no reason to keep it a secret.”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it.”
Hani hugged me, which she almost never did. Then she turned and walked out of the building. I stayed on the deck for a few more minutes and was about to leave when my phone rang again. I looked at the display and saw Alana’s name.
“Hey, Alana.”
“I ran into Josh Parrish this morning.”
“Oh, yeah? How did that go?”
“He semi-apologized.”
“Semi-apologized? What does that mean?” I asked.
“He said he regretted how things went down yesterday.”
“Did he specifically say that he regretted arresting me?”
“No. He kept things generic. He said he wanted a good working relationship with me and asked if we could start over.”
“What did you say?”
“I said yes. No reason to make an enemy.”
“Understandable.”
“Besides, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to ask who the eyewitnes
s is. He couldn’t very well say no after asking me for a fresh start,” she said.
“Smart play. Who is it?”
“Any guesses?”
“It would have to be one of her enemies. Sorry, I know that’s an obvious guess.”
“Maybe, but it’s a wrong guess. Then again, you might be right after what I heard later. The eyewitness is Oleen Akamu, Tavii’s wife.”
“You said she might be an enemy. What else did you hear?” I asked.
“After Josh gave me that name, I made a phone call to a woman I know in the mayor’s office. She’s known to be tuned into the gossip. She said the word is that Tavii and Oleen are getting a divorce. I asked her why and she said she’s heard several different stories, adultery being the main one. She said she also heard that Oleen already moved out of their house.”
“So, Oleen left Tavii and then decided to seek revenge on the Akamu family by turning on Mele Akamu?”
“It would seem so. The question is, is Oleen Akamu telling the truth? Did she really see Mele and Samson murder Eric Ellis?” Alana asked.
“That is the question, isn’t it?”
“How did your meeting with Daniel Davis go?”
I gave Alana the rundown on my meeting, including my suspicions that Daniel Davis didn’t own a dog.
“Why in the world would he lie about that?” Alana asked.
“I have a crazy theory that he’s part of the set-up against Mele Akamu.”
“A five-year set-up?”
“Foxx made that exact same point.”
“Sorry, Poe, but I’m going to have to side with Foxx on this one. If someone wanted Mele Akamu that badly, they’d have found a way to get her a long time ago.”
I didn’t respond. Alana and Foxx were probably right, and it didn’t make much sense to keep debating the point.
“I expect you’ll hear from Mara Winters later,” Alana continued. “Mele Akamu and Samson Opunui go before the judge today.”
“What’s your guess? Will they be granted bail?” I asked.
“No chance. I suspect she’ll never see freedom again, especially now that we know who the eyewitness is. A jury is going to have a hard time overlooking that testimony.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Is this the point you back out or are you going to keep going?” Alana asked.
It was a very good question, I thought. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a good answer.
17
The Butler
I called Foxx immediately after I got off the phone with Alana. I recommended that we take a divide and conquer approach to the Eric Ellis investigation. Foxx’s mission was to find where Oleen Akamu had moved to. My goal was to meet with Samson.
I’m sure you’re wondering why my internal debate on whether or not to continue with the case had lasted all of a few seconds. There’s an easy answer to that question. There was an intriguing mystery to solve and I wasn’t about to walk away from that.
I realized a while back that I rarely did these cases for the client who hired me. I did them for myself to bring the truth to light. Someone, and I was willing to concede that it might have been Mele Akamu, had murdered Eric Ellis. That person needed to be brought to justice.
I left the wedding venue in Wailea and drove back to the jail in Kahului since visiting hours were about to start. I didn’t think I’d get any more useful information from Mele Akamu, but I thought talking with her butler was worth a shot. After all, he doubled as her enforcer.
Yes, it was a long shot at best. I didn’t think he’d turn on her for a second, but I also thought I might have a chance at convincing him that I could best serve him and his boss if he gave me more information. What is that I hear? Laughter coming from you? Don’t worry. I don’t blame you one bit.
The weather was still quite nice, and I enjoyed listening to more music from Dave Brubeck. After arriving at the jail, I was escorted to the visitor area. I was already seated at the table when a guard brought Samson out. I studied him as he approached. He didn’t express any sign of surprise when we locked eyes. Was that a good sign? I didn’t know.
“Hello, Samson. How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine,” he said, and he sat on the other side of the table from me. “Have you seen Mrs. Akamu today?”
“No, are you worried about her?”
“She can handle herself, but it seems strange not being able to serve her.”
“How long have you worked for Mrs. Akamu?”
“Maybe fifty years or so.”
“How is that possible?”
“Her father hired me to take care of her. She was just a little girl. I wasn’t much older.”
“Did her father start the business?” I asked.
“He did. Mrs. Akamu took it to new heights.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“It was no secret that he wanted a son to take over for him one day. He and his wife only had one child, though. You have to remember that this was many years ago. Women were not expected to be able to do the work of a man. Mrs. Akamu proved him wrong.”
“Just curious. Did her father ever acknowledge that?”
“I think he did in his own way.”
“How many children did Mrs. Akamu have?”
“She had one son. He and his wife died several years ago in a car accident.”
“Was Tavii their only child?” I asked.
“He was.”
“I’m sure you can guess why I’m here. Things aren’t going well for my investigation.”
“You’re referring to the eyewitness, I assume.”
“Your attorney told you about that?”
“No, Mrs. Akamu got word to me earlier today.”
Samson had been right. She could handle herself.
“She also told me who the eyewitness is.”
“What do you think about that?” I asked.
“It’s impossible for her to have seen it since it didn’t happen.”
“What do you know about Oleen’s relationship with Tavii?”
“It’s over as far as I know.”
“What’s the reason?”
“She discovered his affairs. Perhaps I should clarify that. She finally decided that she’d had enough of them. Tavii always assumed that he had her fooled. He didn’t,” Samson said.
“Did she ever tell you that?”
“She didn’t have to. It was obvious.”
“Did Mrs. Akamu know about her grandson’s affairs?” I asked.
“She knew and it bothered her. She would never have accepted that from her husband, not that she ever had reason to worry. He worshipped her. He never would have strayed.”
“Do you think Oleen is saying she saw the murder to get back at the Akamu family?”
“Yes, and it’s a brilliant plan.”
“What makes it brilliant?” I asked.
“She could have accused Tavii of killing Eric, but she didn’t. She went after Mrs. Akamu because she’s the more dangerous adversary. With Mrs. Akamu locked up, the business is unprotected. I know you have a basic understanding of Tavii’s skills. He’s not up to the task.”
“So, the company fails under Tavii’s leadership and he loses everything.”
“He’s already lost his political career through his own recklessness. There will be nothing left for him.”
“And Oleen? What does she get?”
“That’s the one part of this that I haven’t figured out. Oleen doesn’t have her own money. She and Tavii have relied on Mrs. Akamu to essentially run their lives. She will lose everything too,” he said.
“Tell me, Samson, who do you think killed Eric Ellis? Was it Lee Walters? That’s who Tavii pointed me to.”
“Lee offered to kill Eric for Mrs. Akamu. I’m sure he didn’t tell you that.”
“Why would he make that kind of offer? I thought they were best friends,” I said.
“They were, but Lee felt betrayed by Eric. He told Mrs. Akamu that he w
ould kill Eric for her if she let him back in. She refused.”
“Do you know why?” I asked.
“She liked Eric, maybe even loved him like a son. I doubt there was anything Eric could have done that would have made her order his death.”
“What about you? Did you feel the same way about him?”
“I only have one job and it’s the one I was hired for fifty years ago. Protect Mele Akamu. I would have killed Eric had he posed a real threat to her. He didn’t.”
“I thought he knew intimate details of her business,” I said.
“There are many layers to it. Eric only saw what she was comfortable with him seeing, nothing more.”
“Did Mrs. Akamu hire me to help keep her from being convicted or because she really wants to know who killed a man she once saw as a son?”
Samson said nothing, which I suspected was an answer on its own. Mele Akamu’s plan was straightforward, yet I’d only seen parts of it. I would deliver her the name, if possible, and she would send Samson before the police ever had a chance to arrest the killer.
“Mrs. Akamu has people of her own who can do what I’m doing, but she doesn’t trust them. That’s why she hired me. She thinks this is an inside job, doesn’t she?” I asked.
“She doesn’t know, but it’s a possibility. I was looking on my own years ago when Eric disappeared. I didn’t find anything.”
“Did she have you look at Tavii?”
“She would never ask that of me,” Samson said.
“But you looked anyway, didn’t you?”
“I did. I didn’t think he murdered Eric, but now I’m not so sure. Oleen’s accusations have changed my mind somewhat.”
“Because if Tavii did murder Eric, then she might have known about it.”
“It’s possible. Oleen is far more observant than Tavii realizes. The man is a fool who somehow thinks he’s smarter than everyone else in the room.”
“What about Stan Cross, the man who had the argument with Eric the same day he was killed?”
“He’s a strong possibility. That’s who I would look at if I were you,” Samson said.
“Any advice for when I go to talk to him?”
“You can’t go at him directly. You’ll get nowhere. You may even get yourself killed. I’m sure you know he won’t volunteer any information. You’ll need to come up with a good reason for him to communicate with you.”
Poe's First Law: A Murder on Maui Mystery Page 13
