Murder in Maui

by R. Barri Flowers

  Connie met her eyes. “Douglas called to see if I wanted to go to a movie.”

  Leila glanced at Seymour and back. “Are you telling us you were involved with Douglas Brennan?”

  “No, but he was hoping that might change. I told him, as I did when Larry was alive, that I wasn’t interested in a relationship with him.”

  Seymour wondered if that was because she was already involved with someone, such as Kenneth Racine.

  “Was that all you talked about?” He recalled the cell phone records showed the call lasted fifteen minutes.

  “He wanted to know how I was holding up after Larry’s death. I told him I was just trying to move on with my life.”

  “And have you?” Seymour asked with an eye on Kenneth.

  “I don’t think I like what you’re suggesting,” he said. “Connie and I are just friends, nothing more. If you can’t respect that...”

  “We have no problem with your friendship,” Leila interceded. “Our only interest is in solving three murders that are clearly connected. I’m sure you both have alibis for the time Douglas Brennan was killed.”

  Kenneth moved closer to Connie. “I’m sure we do, Detective. I’m also sure that whoever killed my colleagues is still out there hoping to stay under the radar while you go around in circles interrogating innocent people like us.”

  Seymour held off lecturing him on how a homicide investigation was conducted. He hoped for both their sakes this issue was not revisited under circumstances neither were likely to enjoy.

  * * *

  At six p.m., Rachel was at her desk clearing up some paperwork and thinking about how nice it would be if Greg were still alive and they could be out doing something fun.

  But that wasn’t meant to be, no matter how unfair.

  “You’re still here?”

  Rachel looked up at Lt. Ortega. “That makes two of us.”

  “It’s what I get paid to do. What’s your excuse?”

  “Just doing a little catch up work.”

  “Seems like you’ve been doing a little too much of that lately.”

  She sniffed. “Has to be done some time.”

  “Just not so often on your own time,” he said.

  “It’s not like I have that much to do outside the job.”

  He favored her with a sympathetic look. “That’s what concerns me. Why don’t we step into my office?”

  Rachel wasn’t really in the mood for any fatherly advice. But she couldn’t exactly turn down his request. Could she?

  “Sure.”

  She followed him into the corner office.

  “Have a seat,” Ortega said.

  Rachel sat in one of two chairs behind his desk and watched him remove a bottle of scotch from a drawer.

  “I keep this for special occasions. Will you join me for a drink?”

  With her taste buds sorely in need of some alcohol, she didn’t have to think about it twice. “I’d be happy to.”

  “Good.” He poured the amber liquid into two glasses, handing Rachel one. “So how have you been doing?”

  “I’m fine,” she pretended.

  “I don’t doubt that, as far as being able to do your job. But what about inside?”

  Rachel sipped the scotch, allowing it to drain down her throat. “If you’re asking how I’m coping with Greg’s death—it has been two years.”

  “Yeah and you’ve never really talked about it.”

  “What’s there to say?”

  “How you feel would be a good place to start.”

  She fought back tears. “I feel like it should’ve happened to someone else, not Greg.”

  “It did happen to others,” Ortega said gently. “Greg just happened to be one of many unfortunate soldiers who left here before their time.”

  “So what am I supposed to do?”

  “Deal with it. There’s no other choice.”

  Rachel tasted more alcohol. “I know. But it’s just so...hard.”

  “You’ve got a good support team here. If you need help, all you have to do is ask.”

  She recalled her therapist spouting the same words. Problem was, Rachel wasn’t sure what to ask for, other than the impossible. Bringing Greg back to life.

  “Thanks for the talk.” She resisted finishing off the drink in Ortega’s presence.

  “Anytime.”

  She got up. “Think I’ll head home now.”

  Ortega sipped scotch. “Yeah, it’s about that time. I’ll walk you out. Maybe you’ve got a new angle on our elusive doctor killer that Kahana and Seymour somehow overlooked.”

  Rachel wasn’t sure about that. They seemed to be doing a good job taking the lead in this investigation. She sensed it wouldn’t be long before they had someone in custody.

  For now she was glad to have the job to focus on, instead of Greg and what they were missing.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Leila watched Seymour for a moment while he slept in her bed. He was snoring slightly. She had a mind to wake him to join her on her morning run, but since that wasn’t his thing he would only slow her down.

  Leila was still adjusting to having a man in her life again, though she wasn’t sure how long it would last. Seymour seemed to like her well enough, and they got along on the job and in the bedroom. But since Seymour was soon to be divorced and older than her, she was realistic enough to know they may not be in sync forever.

  But so what?

  She was happy with the way things were right now. When Seymour felt otherwise, Leila was sure he would clue her in.

  After tying her running shoes, she headed out. If Seymour was still asleep when she got back, maybe she would join him in bed for some morning sex after a shower.

  It was a cool morning by Maui standards and Leila enjoyed having the wind at her back as she ran on the beach. Though she tried to be just another early riser getting her exercise, the current case was never far from Leila’s mind.

  Three people dead and a killer at large. Obviously the unsub was out for blood and had no qualms about spilling as much as necessary to achieve the objective behind the killings. Leila had yet to figure out exactly what that was. But something told her this wasn’t over yet.

  Someone else likely had an X on his or her back, just waiting to be pummeled with bullets when least expecting it.

  Unless they could stop the killer before it was too late.

  As Leila began her cool down, she thought about Gabe Devane. She hadn’t pegged him as a killer. But those were the types to be most concerned about. With some other suspects either cleared or on hold, it was time to dig a little further into Gabe’s background in relation to the Medical Association of Maui to see if there was more there than met the eye.

  When Leila entered her house, the aroma of coffee hit her nostrils. She found Seymour in the kitchen, dressed and making breakfast.

  So much for morning sex. Maybe this afternoon.

  “You’re up,” she said.

  “It was hard to sleep while you were out working up a sweat.”

  “Remind me to bring you with me next time.”

  He grinned. “I can think of better ways to work out.”

  “You would.” She had a mind to put that to the test, but resisted the challenge. “I’m going to jump in the shower.”

  “Don’t take too long, or I might have to join you.”

  She gave him a sexy smile. “Be my guest.”

  “I already am.” Seymour favored her. “I’ll take a rain check on that for when we have more time to do it right.”

  Leila accepted that at face value rather than as a brush off. They did have something a little more important on the agenda this morning than another round of sex.

  Like trying to get the bead on a killer.

  * * *

  Seymour drove toward the Medical Association of Maui offices, trying to keep his mind off his personal life. As much as he wished to be back with Mele, that didn’t seem to be in the cards. Leila, on the other hand, was very muc
h in the picture. She kept him feeling young and energetic.

  Could they keep it up? Did she want more than he could possibly give her out of this relationship?

  He turned his attention to Gabe Devane. So far they had nothing on him that rose to the level of serial murderer. What didn’t they know? Did he own a gun?

  Seymour eyed Leila. She was wearing glasses and studying a folder containing information on the case.

  “Anything interesting in there?” he asked.

  “Well, there’s a lot of interesting stuff about Gabe. He graduated from Harvard Med School, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, is a well-regarded surgeon, and was the medical director of the Medical Association of Maui until six months ago. That’s when the trail gets thin. All that’s known publicly is he resigned.”

  “So he’s a disgruntled ex member of an exclusive organization?” Seymour turned into the parking lot.

  “Sure looks that way. We’ll have to find out if it gets any worse than that.”

  He agreed. “Hope they’re forthcoming inside, even if it means breaking the code of silence against one of their own.”

  * * *

  “We just need a few minutes of your time,” Leila told the most recent medical director turned CEO, Agnes Piimauna, as they walked into her office. Unless it took longer.

  “It’s quite all right.” Agnes shook back thick crimson hair. “Everyone is stunned over Douglas’s death, especially coming so soon after Larry and Elizabeth were killed.”

  “We have reason to believe they were all killed by the same person.” Leila doubted this came as a shock to her, given the press had covered the serial killer angle almost nonstop ever since Brennan’s death.

  Agnes furrowed her brow. “Why on earth would anyone want to do this?”

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Seymour said. “At this point, we think it’s a good possibility the killer may have come from within your ranks.”

  “Douglas and I speculated on that before his death. Neither of us could come up with anyone who seemed capable of committing cold-blooded murder. Especially with all our members abiding by the Hippocratic Oath in doing what we can to preserve life, not take it away willfully.”

  “Even with the best of intentions, I’m sure you realize that some in your profession can fall off the wagon, so to speak, and decide it’s not so bad to kill people for their own purposes.”

  “I suppose, but I think you may be going down the wrong path.”

  Leila looked at her. “What can you tell us about Gabe Devane?”

  Agnes arched a brow. “He’s a fine surgeon and former member of our association.” She paused. “Surely you don’t think Gabe has anything to do with this?”

  “He probably doesn’t,” Leila said, though far from certain on that. “We still need to cover all our bases and he happened to come into view. Can you tell us if he and Douglas Brennan were close?”

  Agnes swallowed. “I wouldn’t exactly say they were bosom buddies. They had their differences.”

  “What kind of differences?”

  She hesitated. “Well, both were vying for CEO of the association earlier this year before Douglas received the appointment.”

  “I take it that didn’t set too well with Devane?” Seymour met her eyes.

  “No one likes to lose, Detective. Even if there were no real losers insofar as both were practicing doctors first and foremost.”

  “I’d say there was one real loser here, since Brennan is dead and Devane very much alive to maybe take another crack at the top spot. I imagine you might have something to say about that?”

  She smiled thinly. “I certainly wouldn’t kill Gabe or anyone else for this job. It’s not worth it.”

  “Too bad everyone doesn’t think as you do when it comes to getting ahead—sometimes at all costs.”

  Leila stood between the two. “Maybe you could tell us how Douglas ended up as CEO? Was he considered the more qualified candidate for the job?”

  Agnes sighed. “Basically it came down to a power play. Douglas had the right people on his side and won.”

  “Does that include you?” Seymour asked.

  She blinked. “If you must know, I was pulling for Gabe. I felt he had the leadership qualities this organization needed.”

  “Too bad that view wasn’t shared by everyone.”

  “Isn’t that usually the case?” She gazed at him.

  “Whose side of the fence were Larry Nagasaka and Elizabeth Racine on?” Leila asked with more than curiosity.

  Agnes looked away. “Actually they backed Douglas.”

  “How did Gabe take it?” Leila asked, glancing at Seymour.

  Agnes faced her. “Well, obviously he was upset. Who wouldn’t be? That hardly meant he went after Liz and Larry.”

  “But he did resign as medical director afterward?”

  Agnes nodded. “Gabe thought he might be able to form a rival organization for medical practitioners. Unfortunately this town isn’t big enough to support two such groups.”

  Seymour took a step forward. “So Devane not only lost a heated battle to his rivals in the organization, he came up short as well in a bid to compete with it. Sounds to me like he had some scores to settle.”

  Agnes shook her head. “You’re wrong. Gabe’s not a killer.”

  Leila wanted to believe that. If only because most killers could care less about stopping muggers. There was always a first time to go against the grain.

  “Did he make a veiled threat against any of them?” she asked the CEO.

  Agnes chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Maybe Gabe did accuse them of collusion and threaten to get back at them, but I’m sure he was just caught up in the moment.”

  Leila wasn’t so sure about that and by the look in Seymour’s eyes, it was clear he felt the same.

  Suddenly Gabe Devane had moved to the head of their suspect list.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Ferguson ran his hands through Gina’s hair as she held him steadily in her mouth, slowly building to an orgasm. He marveled at how she had the ability to arouse him more than his wife did. What was it about paid sex that got him up? He couldn’t explain it, other than maybe feeling relieved of the pressure to perform or seeing it as a way to escape the boredom of routine sex.

  When the surge came, Ferguson closed his eyes tightly and grabbed Gina’s head, holding her in place till the climax had come and gone.

  He stepped away and pulled up his slacks. “You were great, as always.”

  She wiped her mouth, rising. “It’s my job to be great.”

  Removing money from his wallet, Ferguson slid it down her cleavage. “There’s a little something extra there. Why don’t you buy yourself something nice?”

  Her eyes crinkled. “Maybe I will.”

  “I have to go.”

  “To your wife?”

  “To my job.”

  Gina gave him a direct look. “What’s her name?”

  Ferguson paused. He preferred to keep his personal life out of this. But what the hell. “Brenda.”

  “What does Brenda think about your being a cop?”

  “Not much most of the time,” he admitted.

  “You should tell her there are worse things to be.”

  Ferguson cocked a brow, assuming she was referring to her own way of making a living. “I doubt that would make any difference to her. Being a cop’s wife isn’t right for everyone.”

  “So why not quit?” Gina batted her eyes.

  “And do what?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “Wish it were that simple.”

  She touched his cheek. “Nothing is ever simple. But it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

  “I’ll make you a deal. You stop turning tricks and maybe I’ll retire from the force.” He didn’t think for one minute she would take him up on that.

  She ran a hand down his chest. “Is that what you really want? Who would take care of your special needs?”


  Ferguson felt turned on. “Good point. So we’ll keep things as they are for both of us and make the most of it.”

  “Does that mean you’d like a little something extra?”

  He grinned. “Maybe some other time.”

  “You know where to find me.”

  Did he ever, which was part of the problem.

  * * *

  Gabe went jogging and thought briefly about how he and Linda used to do this together till things went sour. It was just another piece of bad luck that had turned his year upside down. If he could change history, he would. Since that wasn’t possible, he had to live with the consequences for better or worse.

  The one good thing to come his way lately was Brenda. She was fun and kept him going in bed. But while sleeping with a married woman had its advantages for a busy surgeon with little interest in playing the dating game, it was also a dead end street. Little chance Brenda would ever leave her husband for him. Gabe wasn’t sure he’d ever want her to.

  Still, it would be nice to just be able to call her anytime. Only she hadn’t given him her number, preferring not to take any chances on the husband finding out.

  And so Gabe was left to see Brenda only when it was convenient for her. Fortunately she had thus far made it more than worth his while in the absence of Linda in his life.

  When he got back to the condo, Gabe was approached by a group of police officers. Leading the way was none other than Detective Kahana.

  * * *

  Leila could see the startled look on Gabe’s face, as if she were the last person he expected to see again under less than sociable circumstances. But now that their case had unexpectedly pointed in his direction, there was no other choice in the matter.

  “What can I do for you, Detective?” he asked.

  She met his eyes. “We have a warrant to search your place.”

  “What on earth for?”

  “We’ll know when we find it.”

  “Am I a suspect or something?” He wrinkled his nose. “You don’t think I had anything to do with Douglas’s death?”

  Leila took a small breath. “Let’s just say you’re a person of interest.”

  “That’s absurd.”

  “In that case, you have nothing to worry about. Right now, we simply want your cooperation. We don’t need it.”