Murder on Mokulua Drive

by Burrows-Johnson, Jeanne;

  “There’s been a change in plans,” I began. “Hale Malolo is full for at least tonight, so I think you’ll be coming to White Sands Cottage with me.”

  “Okay, Natalie,” replied Joanne. “We’ll finish up here and meet you and John in the living room in a few minutes.”

  When I re-entered the living room, I found John scribbling something in his notebook. I apprised him of the situation at Hale Malolo and told him of my idea to take Samantha home with me.

  “That’s probably better than the shelter. There are so many people coming and going from a place like that. We don’t know how the initial discovery of Samantha’s location came about. And with all the police vehicles coming and going in this area, I doubt that Luke and his associates know Samantha has returned to Mokulua Hale. Also, we’re going to take her out the back gate, so no one will see her from the front of either property. I’ve got a call into a couple of sources for securing a safe house, and I’ll let you know if there’s going to be a change tonight. Is Keoni at home now?”

  “I’m not sure, but he’s due back by this evening.”

  “I’ll give him a call and fill him in. We need to make sure the front of your house is secure, and if he’s not back yet, when I walk you and Samantha over, I’ll check to make sure everything is clear before I take off. You do know where Keoni’s gun safe is? Do you have access to it? And can you fire a gun?”

  “Yes. Yes. And yes. And even though I don’t like firearms, I know how to use them.”

  Within a short while, Samantha was settling into my guest room and John was on his way back to police headquarters to put several things in motion. I called Keoni to catch him up on our status.

  “JD’s given me an overview. I can’t believe what a day you’ve had,” said Keoni. “I’m glad my work has wrapped up and I’ll be home fairly soon.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “We’re fine here, with the new security system and all.”

  “Yeah,” he said sarcastically. “Like there’s no concern there’s been a hit man in the neighborhood—or that Miriam was murdered by mistake. Whatever triggered the hit hasn’t been dissolved by a little error like that. In fact, whoever’s behind all this may be all the more motivated to see the job completed!”

  I could not argue with that line of reasoning. After promising to remain indoors until he got home, I turned to planning an early cocktail hour with heavy pūpūs. Thank God I had discovered the fabulous deli offerings of Whole Foods and the freezer was full of several items I had been looking forward to sampling.

  Startled by her quiet footsteps, I greeted Samantha’s entry to the kitchen with a small squeal. “You’ll have to forgive me. I get jumpy when I think I’m alone and someone startles me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “It’s not you. I’m jumpy because Keoni expressed concern about our safety until he returns. Why don’t we go into the family room to enjoy some nibblies and a little liquid refreshment. I think we’ve earned it, don’t you?”

  “Anything you’d like is fine with me. I’m still so shocked by everything that I’m numb.”

  As we sat down on my folks’ old koa furniture, I thought about the other times when it had brought me comfort. The cushions may have changed every decade or so, but the old sofa and chairs still held the warmth of family.

  Samantha and I may not have had much to celebrate—except for the fact that she was alive—but we were soon well nourished and somewhat relaxed after drinking a bottle of Asti Spumante. When Keoni arrived, I was glad things were winding down without any disturbing events or revelations. Exhausted by the day and lulled by the wine, Samantha declined dinner and retired to the guest room for the night.

  Keoni and I opted to enjoy the view from the back yard during our twilight supper, so Samantha had my cell phone number programmed into the bedside handset. That way she could speak to us without exposing herself.

  Once again, I was spared from routine cooking by the continuing gifts of fresh produce and frozen delights. In addition to ample salads, I served some of the appetizers left from earlier, with a bottle Pinot Grigio. I was feeling no pain by the time we finished, but still appreciated the back rubs we shared before drifting into dreamless sleep in one another’s arms. Around eleven thirty, I heard the soft buzzing of Keoni’s cell phone. Within a minute he had hung up and turned to tell me John would be taking Samantha to a safe house in the morning.

  The next concern was my new car. Not knowing how long it would take to finalize everything with the dealership, I called Miriam’s home in the morning. The Ladies and I decided to follow through on plan B for a sunset cocktail hour at Hale`iwa Joe’s at Ha`ikū Gardens. Before Keoni and I left to pick up my car at the Kia dealer on Nimitz by the airport, Samantha had called The Ladies to thank them for everything they had done for her and departed with John.

  Since Keoni was free until the afternoon, I had him remain with me for the introduction to my new means of transportation. While I am comfortable with basic computer and cell-phone technology, some of the accessories on the Optima were difficult to absorb within so short a time.

  “The cool thing, Natalie, is that when you’re in doubt, you can call for help. If it’s a personal problem, you call me with the hands-free cell phone setup. If you’re lost or having trouble with the car’s equipment, you can use the on-board navigation and communication system to get help.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. I still have to remember which buttons to push for any of the systems to work.”

  “Well, are you comfortable enough to drive home? We can play with all your new toys when I get there this afternoon.”

  Feeling slightly offended, despite my own salvo at myself, I pushed back. “Of course I can drive myself home! I’m not that much of a basket case.”

  I could tell the saleswoman was not sure how serious our banter was, but she clearly wanted to complete delivery of the car and get me off the lot. After making sure my seat was adjusted for my height and the steering wheel for my arm length, Keoni gave me a quick kiss and waved goodbye. I did not have any challenges on the drive home. And since there was nothing on my schedule until sunset, I buzzed by Mokulua Hale to show Joanne and Izzy my new wheels.

  After expressing their congratulations on my pearlescent car, we talked about scheduling some all-girl day trips when Keoni was busy with clients. When I arrived home, I realized I had forgotten my garage door opener and had to get out of the car to manually key the control panel on the wall to allow me drive into the garage. Opening the kitchen door, I found Miss Una waiting by her empty food bowl. The expression on her face announced I was again remiss in my duties. I certainly had a lot to share with Anna. Maybe I should plan a play date for Miss Una at the condo with her mother Mitzy.

  CHAPTER 17

  All is flux, nothing stays still.

  Plato [427 BCE - 347 BCE]

  My current to-do list was rather short: feed the cat; make a smoothie for me; and, return calls to anyone who had activated my voicemail since I had left the house. Aside from that, I had several hours in which to beautify myself for a night out with my sweetheart. With all the commotion regarding Miriam’s death, not to mention the semi-final touches we had been putting on the cottage, we had not had time to enjoy the offerings of our new community. Following our outing with The Ladies, I figured we could take in a movie or maybe some live music at one of the local bars.

  The rest of the afternoon passed by easily, while I enjoyed a soak in the whirlpool bath, followed with a facial and re-coloring of my mani-pedi. I cannot deal with blue or green nail enamel, but I put a dazzling copper color on my toes instead of my usual vanilla frost. Slipping into a vintage Tori Richard’s dress, I pulled back my hair with a couple of antique amber clips. Then I fastened strands of Auntie Carrie’s chunky coral at my throat and wrist.

  Overcoming his initial di
sappointment that I had not waited to bathe with him, Keoni gave me a whistle in greeting and completed his toilette in record time. With him dressed in his birthday shirt and a pair of tan chinos, I felt we made a stunning couple. I had not gotten this dressed up since the last governor’s inaugural ball. Keoni might not be in a tux, but he looked very handsome and I was anticipating a wonderful evening.

  By the time we arrived at Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill at Ha`ikū Gardens, we had devised a strategy to depart politely from The Ladies early. This was the first time Joanne and Izzy had done anything social since Miriam’s death, and we hoped they could enjoy the evening. As though on a military operation’s timeline, the women were already seated in grand style with slice of a view of the gardens at a table that would put us in the front row for singer Ellsworth Simeona’s performance.

  Inviting us to sit, Joanne gestured toward a platter of coconut shrimp accompanied with the restaurant’s signature sauce of plum and honey-mustard, plus a pitcher of margaritas.

  “Not knowing how you like your drinks, I ordered both plain and salt-rimmed glasses,” she declared with a grin.

  “I hope you’ll like the pūpūs I ordered,” said Izzy. “In addition to the shrimp, there’ll be Thai fried calamari and ahi spring rolls.”

  “It sounds divine,” I responded, growing hungry at her recitation.

  “Shall I do the honors?” offered Keoni, nodding toward the pitcher.

  As Joanne and Izzy smiled with pleasure, Keoni served our drinks, with me being the only one who chose a glass without salt. Just as he finished pouring, another platter of food arrived. After Izzy toasted us for our assistance in meeting the Ladies’ latest challenges, Joanne made another in honor of Miriam. By the time we were half way through the delicious food, Ellsworth Simeona had taken the stage.

  With his delightful sense of his audience, quick-paced delivery of Hawaiian lyrics, and a falsetto many women singers would envy, we were hooked for the duration of his performance. Any thoughts of our going somewhere else that evening evaporated. After a while, Keoni ordered tempura crab rolls, blackened `ahi sashimi with pickled ginger, and a ranch dipping sauce. To accompany this, Joanne ordered another pitcher of margaritas and some hot sauce.

  During an intermission, Joanne leaned over and said, “I know we were going to discuss Miriam’s memorial, but I don’t think it’s going to work tonight. Why don’t you come for tea with Henri’s cousin Juliette Young tomorrow and later we can discuss Miriam’s service.”

  “That’s a good idea, Joanne,” I replied. “Maybe she’d like to help with the planning.”

  “We already asked her what she’d like us to do, and she didn’t seem interested in anything except what she could have to take home with her,” said Izzy.

  “Once she’s at Mokulua Hale, she may feel more connected to Miriam,” suggested Keoni.

  “I hope you’ve both followed what Miriam wanted you to do—select some things you can enjoy in memory of her before Juliette takes anything,” I said.

  “At Christmas, Miriam gave us jewelry she had acquired during her years of travel. But except for a couple of shawls and sweaters, none of her clothes would fit me,” said Izzy, with a giggle in her voice and a tear in one eye.

  “What about you, Joanne? You’re taller. There must be at least one mu`umu`u that would fit you?” I suggested.

  “To be honest, we just haven’t been able to go through anything yet. Why don’t you come over early tomorrow and help us look through Miriam’s things before Juliette arrives?”

  I agreed and we continued to enjoy the music a while longer. After Keoni escorted The Ladies to their mini-van, we drove to Kailua Beach Park for a romantic stroll before the ten p.m. closing time. At that hour, parking near a beach access was easy. We locked my purse and Keoni’s wallet in a hidden compartment, then took off our sandals and headed toward the water. With his pants rolled up mid-calf and my short dress, we thoroughly enjoyed the soft wet sand between our toes and the star-studded sky overhead.

  Pausing to hug me closely, Keoni asked, “So, what do you think of life in windward O`ahu?”

  “I love it! I don’t know how I ever thought living in Waikīkī was Island living.”

  “Honey, you were never in Hawai`i long enough as an adult to get bored with the fun of living in one of the world’s best tourist spots! Plus you had Nathan’s family and your friends to remind you of real Island living whenever you were in the mood to venture outside Waikīkī.”

  “I guess you’re right. And since I’ve retired, there’s been so much going on. First I was getting settled into my condo full time. Then there were Ariel’s murder, Auntie Carrie’s death, and remodeling the cottage…not to mention Miriam’s death.”

  “Well, things are settling down now. We’ll soon get our lives into an enjoyable groove. With your new car, you can zip into town to see Anna and your other Waikīkī chums whenever you want. Before long, we’ll start taking advantage of all the great things there are to do on O`ahu, as well as the neighbor islands. You’ll see; everything is starting to come together, sweetheart.”

  * * * * *

  When I arrived at the back door of Miriam’s cottage in the morning, I found Izzy scurrying around to make sure everything was ready for the upcoming eleven-thirty tea time.

  “Except for making the tea itself, everything is laid out in the dining room. The china looks so lovely with the flowers Joanne cut this morning. I hope Juliette feels as though she’s sharing a part of Miriam’s life,” said Izzy.

  I smiled and tried to support her positive expectations. “Of course I hope you’re right, Izzy. But you told me Juliette was Henri’s second cousin and that she’s a lot younger than Miriam. If they only met a couple of times, she may not relate to Miriam’s life at all.”

  “I know we need to be careful not to judge her. Miriam’s death may have caught her by surprise. Imagine waking up one morning and being given a trip to Hawai`i to learn about a relative you barely knew. Miriam may have been a part of Juliette’s mother’s life, but she probably wasn’t part of Juliette’s,” added Izzy.

  Concurring, Joanne said, “You’re right. After all, her mother was Henri’s younger cousin who came to the U.S. as a war bride when she was barely twenty years old.”

  “Well, it seems to me that you’ve done all you can to make her feel welcome. Even if she didn’t know her cousin, Juliette might treasure some of Miriam’s belongings and pictures of the life she and Henri built together.”

  In the short time we had, Joanne and Izzy took me on a tour of the house. As we went through Miriam’s suite of rooms, Joanne commented on her friend’s recent bout of household organization.

  “You know, it’s almost as though Miriam knew she didn’t have long to live. She’d been going through all of her pictures, keepsakes and files. It seemed like every week she was sending off packages of her memories to former colleagues and people like me, whom she’d met briefly during her travels.”

  “Several packages went to the United Nations Archives and some to non-profit organizations,” added Izzy. “Miriam told me they contained photos and notes on work she’d done through the years she had been with them.” Obviously proud of the woman she had known as an employer and friend for decades, she concluded, “And I know there were also newspaper articles and film and videos of her speeches.”

  Working quickly, we soon completed going through the closets, dressers, and other drawers that held Miriam’s personal belongings. I was glad to help Joanne and Izzy select items they could enjoy throughout their twilight years.

  “I think you both know I’ve had to go through this process myself in the last year, so I know how hard it is. You mustn’t feel like you’re invading Miriam’s privacy or being greedy or self-centered. She wanted you to have some of her favorite things, so you’ll remember her with joy.”

  When the front bell sounded
, everything was ready for the day’s main event. After introducing herself to the middle aged, and pursed lipped woman, Joanne said, “And this is Natalie Seachrist; her Aunt Carrie was your cousin’s neighbor for many years.”

  The woman smiled blandly and shook my hand limply. As the three of us moved into the living room, I saw Juliette surreptitiously wipe her hands on the sides of her double-knit suit. Joanne politely tried to interest her in the albums Miriam had assembled so carefully throughout her life. There was little response and clearly no interest. Fortunately, Izzy arrived with her teapot in hand, saving us from an embarrassing gap in conversation. Inviting us into the dining room, Izzy tried to make each of us feel the warmth that was the hallmark of every visit to Miriam’s home.

  For the most part, I sat back and watched as The Ladies tried to engage Juliette in explorations of Miriam’s life. But their efforts were to no avail. The only responses they garnered were incomplete answers to their questions about Juliette’s family…delivered through a pinched mouth. The woman’s dull eyes scanned the room, but gave no indication of appreciation for anything she saw. At least she was polite enough to thank them for their hospitality, but she might as well have been eating week-old packaged goods and tea brewed from used tea bags.

  After Juliette declined a second cup of tea, Joanne looked across at me, registering that she had finally gotten the unspoken hint. “Perhaps you’d like to see some of Miriam’s personal things that have been left for you to consider taking home.”

  “Yes. That would be good,” responded Juliette, with the first sign of enthusiasm since her arrival. “I thought maybe I could use her suitcases for whatever I might, uh, take home.”

  “That’s a good idea. Those bags carried Miriam around the world so many times, it seems appropriate for you to use them to carry mementos from her life back to your own home,” agreed Joanne.