Maui Magic

by Terry Ambrose

  A few bars later in the song, Benni turned back to face me. “Auntie is a sweet old lady. She worked hard all her life and we owe her respect. That’s why when she called and said she was desperate, I agreed to help. I was pretty sure that after you had a chance to adjust to the idea, you’d agree. I just needed to get you in the mood.”

  Our waitress passed by, her arms and hips swinging, her walk a series of fluid, synchronized movements. It was like watching sex in motion—not that it mattered. These days, no matter how little she wore or how sexy her strut, my heart was already taken.

  The other women in this place might be trying to look sexy, but Benni did it effortlessly. I was sunk. I couldn’t imagine my life without her and took a healthy swig from my glass.

  Benni’s eyebrows creased, and she leaned into me. “Are you okay?”

  I swallowed, nodded, and looked at her face. “No worries. I’m on board. Somehow, we have to get past these…”

  Benni parted her lips. Ran her tongue around the corner of her mouth and fingered her throat before letting her gaze linger on mine. “Distractions?”

  Oh, snap—was she seducing me? I couldn’t stop myself from following the path her fingers traced…from her face…to her neck…to…

  “You okay, brah?”

  I bolted upright in my chair. Jeez...what was I thinking? This was a public place, even if it was a dive. I glanced at the bartender. Cleared my throat. “I’m doing great.”

  He winked at me and planted both hands on the polished wood surface, then looked at Benni. “Anytime you want a job, sistah, you let me know. You could make good money here.”

  14

  I fumed as the bartender strode away, cursing myself for bringing Benni here. “He…he so much as called you a hooker.” I eased off my stool, but Benni put her hand on my shoulder.

  “McKenna...”

  “I…I’m going to make him apologize.”

  “Don’t let it worry you. Guys like him don’t matter. They don’t know any better. You’re willing to do battle to defend my honor. I’m touched.” She sighed when she glanced over her shoulder. “Believe me, there’s no need.”

  “What he said doesn’t bother you?”

  “I could take it as an insult—or as a compliment. I choose the latter.” A few strands of hair had fallen over her right eye. She brushed them back, winked at me, and laughed. “Besides, I don’t want some bully beating you to a pulp before I have my way with you.”

  Her almond-shaped eyes pleaded with me to let the subject go, but what did she really want? And what about me? I had a ring—did I have the courage to ask the question?

  “You’re doing it again.”

  I started at the sound of her voice. “Doing what?”

  Her voice was stern. “You’re over-thinking things. Back up the bus and let’s focus on why we came here.”

  She was right. No more difficult. No more dwelling on what I couldn’t control. “What if I have Chance teach me a few moves?” I glanced in the bartender’s direction. He still had his back to us, so I faked a halfhearted punch.

  Benni rolled her eyes. “My hero. Drink your wine, Bruce Lee, we’ve got questions to ask.”

  Another waitress snagged the bartender, and he went back to ignoring us while he drew a beer from the tap. The waitress stretched her neck from one side to the other as she leaned forward and waited. She wore her jet black hair straight and long and had on so much makeup she looked cartoonish. She’d drawn her eyebrows upwards with a slant, giving her the appearance of a cat. Black lipstick accented the image. With colorful tattoos covering her right arm from her shoulder to her hand, she blended perfectly with the decor.

  She glanced across the room to a dark booth bathed in dim red lights where a small man with stringy hair sat. The bartender passed the waitress a seltzer water and a beer. She sighed, then took the drinks to the booth.

  “She’ll sit next to her customer,” Benni said.

  The bartender raised a finger to indicate he’d be a moment. I watched the waitress slide into the booth. “How’d you know she’d do that?”

  “It’s how they make more money. Sit and drink. It’s what they do.”

  I turned to Benni. Dark eyes. Straight nose. Fine eyebrows. Did she ever have to…

  “No, I didn’t,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I never worked in a hostess bar. I was a lounge singer. That’s all.”

  I shuddered. “It’s scary.”

  “What? Being a singer?”

  “No, it’s almost like you can read my mind.” I took a deep breath and watched the bartender finish his cleanup duties. “Before we grill him, I want you to make me a promise. Trust me. Please don’t keep something from me just because you’re afraid I won’t react well.”

  She contemplated her wine glass with a vacant gaze and parted lips. After a few moments, she set her glass on the bar and examined my face. She leaned sideways with her elbow resting on the smooth surface and propped her chin in the palm of her hand. I found myself holding my breath while she held my gaze.

  “On one condition,” she said. “Can you do the same? If you think I won’t like something, will you still tell me the truth?”

  Uh-oh. This was it. The Big Decision. The moment when we professed our undying love and devotion. Or were we taking a different path? Starting to add more conditions? The Moment was happening in a dive like this? Impossible. The image of a confused man stared at me from over the bottles on the wall. It was my reflection in the mirror. Ugh.

  “We’re saying we both want honesty and trust. Yah?” I said.

  She nodded.

  “Um, I could do that if you’ll promise to forgive me when I mess up.”

  A move to my rear caught my attention. The bartender had stopped to get himself a glass of water, but was now returning.

  Benni sat up straight and smiled. “When you mess up? No if? Maybe we need a lawyer to track all these promises. Are you that worried?”

  Was I? Could the whole promise-me-this routine be a sign we weren’t compatible after all?

  “You two lookin’ pretty intense. You need refills?”

  I shook my head. “No worries,” I said while gazing into Benni’s eyes. “No worries at all.”

  She leaned forward and rested both elbows on the counter. “I worked in a cocktail lounge on the Big Island when I was young. I’m not sure I could do it again. What’s your name, anyway?”

  “Billy.” He arched an eyebrow at her. “Dancer?”

  She shook her head. “Singer. Jazz mostly.”

  I hooked a thumb at Benni. “She’s good, too.” Billy still looked like he was processing Benni’s news as I tried the photo-showing routine again. “Have you seen this guy here lately?”

  He took one glance and laughed. “You kidding? He’s one of my regulars. Every Tuesday afternoon he come here wid Mandy. They a regular item.”

  “Mandy?” Oh, no, it was true. I closed my eyes. Just as I’d suspected.

  “Sure, brah. Him and Mandy Kenoi ain’t no secret.”

  I frowned, not wanting to ask the next question, but knowing I had to. “Were they involved romantically?” How had Yoshiko not known? What if she did?

  “Not that kinda item, brah. They part of the Na Wai ‘Ehā project. Their group come meet here every week.”

  “Their group? Are you saying a community service group meets in a strip club?”

  Billy’s face scrunched up. He pursed his lips and shook his head vigorously. “Maui don’t got no strip clubs, brah. Dis a gentlemen’s lounge. I told you, we makin’ some upgrades.”

  Sure. And I was a black belt. It took all my willpower to avoid laughing. What did they do, get busted one too many times?

  Benni nudged me in the ribs. “McKenna, you’re used to O‘ahu. You’ve got all kinds of plac
es for groups to meet. It’s not as easy on the other islands.”

  “You got it, sistah. We all gotta be involved in the cause.”

  Billy turned and showed us the back of his T-shirt. He motioned at the words. “One Voice. Save Maui Water. Wailuku Consortium.”

  Whether I accepted a dive like the Pony Club as an upstanding part of the community or not was irrelevant. We needed information and Billy was our best option. The question was, would he give us anything of value? “You said Hisao and Mandy were an item. Why makes you so certain?”

  “Cause they was the leaders of the group.”

  “The Wailuku Consortium?”

  “Yeah, brah.”

  “I never heard of you guys.” Not surprising since I didn’t live on Maui.

  “We’re kinda small still. Hisao and Mandy was trying to get everyone to work together.”

  “In what way?” Benni asked.

  She fingered one of her earrings, which seemed to captivate Billy. He and I both watched, which left me wondering how she stole so much attention with such a simple action.

  “They wanted to get all the groups on the island to speak with one voice. The first project was Na Wai ‘Ehā. The idea was to get the rivers opened. They set up a treasury and everything.”

  “Why did they need a treasury? The rivers have been flowing since 2012. I thought the cause ended with that big court case? Earthjustice, right? It lasted years, didn’t it?”

  “Ten long years, brah.” The muscles in his jaw tightened and his cheeks twitched. “That was just the first step. The plantations only had to open some of the rivers and they still got to divert water. We want the rivers restored—mauka to makai.”

  Why hadn’t I asked more questions when Hisao had talked about this? Because he never really had. He was an intense man. Passionate. And held his cards close. This information did not bode well for him.

  “You’re aware Mandy’s dead. Right?” I said.

  Billy’s expression fell. “Yah. Big tragedy. I ain’t sure how that gonna affect things.”

  “I can see how the group might be going through some tough times. One of the leaders is dead. That’s hard on any organization.” Especially if the other was headed to jail.

  “Why you got an interest?” Billy glanced down at the fifty on the counter.

  “We’re looking into Mandy’s death. Investigating, you know?”

  He pondered my revelation for a moment, then said, “The next meeting gonna be tomorrow afternoon. This ain’t gonna be no normal meeting. Yah?”

  I’d be willing to vote Billy the King of Understatements for that one. “Oh?” With the open-ended question hanging in the air, I waited. Benni did too.

  Billy must have decided it was time to claim his money, because he leaned forward, looked right, then left. “I ain’t one of those who like to spread rumors, but since you investigating—this just between you and me, brah. Something ain’t right with the finances.”

  Benni shot me a sideways glance. She had one eyebrow raised. Yeah, more bad news.

  “What’s that mean?” I asked.

  “There might be some money missing. Everybody gonna be pointing fingers cause nobody wanna take the blame. I kinda think Mandy was behind it, but it might have been Hisao. Ain’t no real solid facts. You know, brah?”

  “What time tomorrow is the meeting?”

  “Two-thirty. Gonna be quite a showdown. You need a refill now?”

  “Yeah, I do. The kid at the table’s paying. Put it on his tab.”

  15

  Billy grabbed his white towel, dried the surface where our glasses had been, and left us to get more wine. His swagger reminded me of a man raised on the streets—the kind who lived by the mantra of never appear weak. Always show you can handle yourself.

  With my eyes still on him, I leaned toward Benni. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “We’re going to the meeting tomorrow?”

  “One Voice, here we come.”

  The dark wood of the bar was well-lacquered. The surface felt cool and smooth to the touch, almost…elegant. But, everything else screamed sleazy. So, how did this place double as a community meeting room? I supposed it would remain one of life’s great incongruities. What did they do with the purple filters on the overhead spotlights during the day? How weird that upstanding citizens would sit in purple and red leather booths to discuss the future of Maui’s water.

  As near as I could tell, The Pony Club suffered from an identity crisis. Wailuku was the Maui county seat. It wasn’t really a small town. I’d expect this kind of incongruity in the little towns, but here? Whether this was a bar, a brothel, or a neighborhood church was none of my business. Nor did I care.

  Billy returned with two glasses of wine, we thanked him for the information and returned to our table. I did a quick check for the man who’d been watching us, but he was no longer around. The only evidence he’d been there was a glass of beer and a crumpled up napkin. Weird guy. I was glad he’d left.

  On our way back, we crossed behind two men who ordered from the blonde waitress. One had salt-and-pepper hair, the other was balding. The trio seemed to know each other well. I couldn’t help but wonder how often the men came in or what percentage of their paychecks they spent here.

  Lexie had moved next to Chance and occupied the seat I’d used earlier. She was leaning into him; he had his arm draped over her shoulder as they chatted and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked.

  “I asked Chance if he wished I hadn’t come along.”

  “And what did you say?” I eyed Chance, dying to hear his answer.

  “I told her I brought her along so she could get some wardrobe suggestions.”

  “Typical man.” Benni glanced at me. “And what about you? Do you wish I’d dress like the girls here?”

  “I have an old back injury. And I’m not sure my heart or body could take the strain. Nope, I like you just the way you are.”

  Chance and Lexie moved apart and rested their elbows on the table. It looked like we were going to compare notes. Benni and I took the vacant chairs, and we all closed ranks around the table. My chair rocked a bit from side-to-side. Oh, great, it was uneven.

  “That one was mine,” Lexie said. “Now you know why I moved. Tag, you’re it.”

  I sneered at the chair, then looked at her. “I don’t suppose you want it back?”

  She shook her head. “No way.”

  “So, McKenna, what did you find out from the bartender?” Chance asked.

  The dingy atmosphere seemed less noticeable as Benni and I relayed Billy’s story. When we were done, Chance and Lexie exchanged a look of surprise.

  “That’s different from what we heard,” Chance said.

  “The waitress talked?”

  “Aimee. And yeah, she talked.”

  “She’s a businesswoman through and through,” Lexie said.

  “How much did it cost you?” I chuckled.

  “More than the fifty I gave you. But, it was worth it. One of them is lying.”

  “Oh, what a surprise.” I looked around the room, shook my head, and said, “The bartender’s a dirtbag. My money’s on him as the liar. What did Aimee say?”

  Chance grimaced. “The names match up. Aimee recognized Hisao and Mandy. But, according to her they were romantically involved. She said she caught them making out once when they thought no one was around.”

  He gestured with a tilt of his head toward the booth in the corner. Dark. Out of the way. Things were not looking good for Hisao.

  “Wow,” Benni said.

  “Double wow,” I added. “Mrs. Nakamura’s not going to be happy with her grandson-in-law. I wouldn’t want to be him when she hears this news. And poor Yoshiko, she’ll be devastated.”

  “It gets better,” Lexie said.
“Tell them.”

  “No, you.”

  Lexie giggled and pushed Chance’s shoulder. “No, you.”

  “Knock it off, you two.”

  Benni smacked me on the shoulder. “They’re cute. Be nice.”

  Aimee went to the table where Mr. Creepy had been sitting. She cleared the half-empty glass, wiped the table, and then came to stand near Chance, one hip cocked so it rested against his shoulder. “Anything else, hon?”

  We all shook our heads and Aimee pouted.

  “What happened to the guy who was sitting over there?” I gestured at Mr. Creepy’s corner table.

  Aimee shrugged. “Left, I guess. He must’ve started coming in recently, yah? Sure I can’t get you another beer?” She gazed at Chance.

  When he declined, she took in the rest of us. “Wine?”

  We held up our almost-full glasses. Her pout deepened, and between the makeup and the face she made, it looked like her face might crack. I put her in her mid-twenties, pretty without the war paint. But this way? She came across as a slut for hire.

  As she walked away, I said, “If she’s in business, there’s only one thing she’s selling.”

  “That girl’s got plans,” Chance said. “She wants to go to college in LA. Get away from ‘the life’ as she calls it. She’s ambitious and will do anything to make it happen.”

  “Obviously,” I said. “Maybe ‘for sale’ is the image she wants.”

  Benni turned and watched Aimee saunter away. “If you’re running a business, you need the right storefront.”

  “And a big for sale sign,” I said. “Got it. So what else did you learn? Spill.”

  “Mandy was a newcomer to this whole save-the-rivers cause. Aimee said she was from the mainland. She also overheard Billy, your bartender friend, refer her to a guy who makes fake IDs.”

  I glanced across the room at Aimee, then looked back at Chance. “So if Aimee told you the truth…”

  Chance raised his glass and winked at me. “Mandy Kenoi could be a fake identity. Maybe the dead girl isn’t who anybody thinks she is.”