Maui Murders

by Kathy Callahan

  Layla phoned Dewey that night and updated him on all that had transpired during the day. He was happy to hear that Chris and Josie were doing the work; he thought they both were competent and honest people. She said she was dreading her shopping foray with Fiona, although she knew it was necessary.

  She told him Fiona was going to order all the restoration supplies from her Hilo supplier. She hoped he had everything on hand and didn’t have to order anything from the mainland, which would slow everything down. Fiona said he would FedEx them to her as soon as everything is available.

  Dewey said he thought Fiona the perfect person to help with the project; he laughed, saying she has a source for everything.

  CHAPTER 40

  Layla did not join Mr. Soo at Otis’s but had toast, yogurt, and coffee at six in the morning and, half an hour later, was opening up and airing out her home so things would be as fresh as possible when Chris, Josie, and Marty arrived. Promptly at 7:00 a.m., they arrived, carrying ladders and tools.

  Chris told Layla to return about 2:45 p.m., and she could assess what had been done for the day and ask him any questions, then close the house up when he and his crew left at three.

  Layla gave him her cell phone number and returned to Mr. Soo’s. Feeling a bit lost, she grabbed her charcoals and decided she would head to nearby Spreckle Beach for some sketching. It was a nice beach and would make a good display piece for the gift shop. A couple of hours later, she had sketched a rough outline of the area and knew what colors she would use to fill in, so she packed up her gear and headed back to Mr. Soo’s. Storing her sketching gear, she stood out on the front lanai, looking at her watch, counting down to her 2:45 p.m. deadline.

  At the prescribed time, she walked across the street, up the stairs, and into the house. She was shocked; all the screens were down in the kitchen and dining room. Some of the runners still remained, but she was very pleased at the progress made. Chris noticed her looking around as they began finishing up for the night.

  “Things went pretty fast today. It will take the majority of the week for the careful removal of all the screens. The problem will come in making and fitting the dowels to cover the holes made by the runners and the careful removal of the screens from the wood. Got to save that wood, some of it I’ve never even seen before, very exotic and the carving is something special. You may not have noticed, as it is so covered with soot. Let me show you a piece I cleaned slightly.”

  He led her to the kitchen to see a bottom part of a Shoji screen frame. “I’ve only cleaned it once, but look at these lotus flowers carved in the wood. I think most of the framework has hand carvings.”

  “I didn’t see that. It’s beautiful, so delicate. Chris, I appreciate your consideration for saving this beautifully carved wood. Is there anything I can do to assist any of you or make your job easier?”

  “No, right now, everything is going as planned.”

  Chris left, and Layla began closing the house. She walked around and was surprised at the amount of room there was once a majority of the screens were down. She finished locking up the house and headed back to Mr. Soo’s when the sheriff came driving by.

  “Well, Layla, has work started on your remodeling?”

  “Yes, Chris Elwood and crew were here bright and early this morning and did a considerable amount of work. I just finished locking up and was going back to Mr. Soo’s.”

  “What’s your procedure in unlocking and locking up?”

  “I open up the house and try to get some fresh air in before the crew arrives, and before they leave, I return and start locking up.”

  “I think you should reconsider how you open and close your house. I wish you would wait until Chris gets here to open up and start closing while he’s still here. Walk out of the house when the crew does. I’m still convinced that whoever killed the Okamotos is a local, and I don’t want anyone to become complacent in their security.”

  “Thank you, Sheriff. I never gave it a thought, but I see your point. It’s easy to forget about security when you live in a place like Paia. I will do as you suggest. Glad we have you looking out for us.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. Give my regards to Mr. Soo.”

  Layla was waiting on the lanai the next morning when Chris arrived. She explained to him what the sheriff told her about security, and Chris agreed it was a wise idea; a young woman on her own can never be too cautious.

  Before Mr. Soo left for his breakfast with Otis, Layla told him she would be taking him out to dinner tonight and decided to ask Annie and George to join them. It was too early to phone, and she was feeling antsy. She got her cell phone and dialed Dewey’s number. He answered immediately, “Layla it’s not Sunday. Is something wrong?”

  “Nope, just wanted to hear your voice. Can you talk a minute?”

  “For you, I can talk all day.”

  “I’ve got the crew at my house on their second day, and it’s amazing how fast things are going. They are doing a great job, and Chris has discovered that the framework holding the Shoji screens has delicate carvings, absolutely beautiful.”

  They continued talking for some time, and finally, Layla said she had better be going; she had some chores to attend to, and she would talk to Dewey again on Sunday.

  Phoning the Boones, she spoke with Annie and asked if they would like to be her guest for dinner tonight. Annie checked with George and he said that would be great, then asked where they were going. Would he need his tux?

  Layla laughed. “Tell George we’ll go someplace where Levi’s and T-shirts are the dress of the evening, unless, of course, he feels the need to wear a tux.”

  “Honey, George doesn’t even own a tux.”

  “Let me think,” Layla said. “I know, how about Bird’s?”

  “George, how does Bird’s sound?” Annie asked.

  “Great, not a better steak anywhere. I assume Mr. Soo will also be joining us?” George asked, now on the extension phone.

  “Yes, I told him before he left for Otis’s that dinner was out tonight and my treat. I bet he would enjoy a steak at Bird’s. George, could you call and order steaks for both Mr. Soo and me and whatever you and Annie want. Make it for 7:00 p.m. Does that sound all right?”

  “I’ll phone Byrd and place our orders, and the time is just fine. Only thing missing is Dewey. Have you talked to him lately?”

  “As a matter of fact, I just hung up talking with him before I phoned you. He’s fine and busy at work. We talked for quite a bit. It always makes me feel better after we talk. I’ll hang up now and let you two get back to whatever you were doing, and I’ll see you tonight. George, can you drive? I’m still not too good at night. It gets so dark here without bright city lights.”

  “No problem, I’ll pick you folks up at six, and we can have a beer before dinner.”

  “Great, see you then.”

  CHAPTER 41

  Tuesday before the big shopping day, Layla had given the keys to Chris and explained she and Fiona were off to Oahu to shop for appliances and furniture. Chris told Layla she was in for an experience she would never forget.

  The next morning Layla dressed in lightweight olive cargo pants, a pale yellow gauze blouse, and thick-soled sandals she found locally, ready to tackle shopping with Fiona. Her one concession to New York style was a huge designer tote that held among other things a bottle of water, oat bars, and Advil. She saw Fiona’s car and went down the steps to the street; taking a deep breath, she entered. “Good morning. It seems so early to be heading to the airport.”

  “Yes, but with all the pre–check-in regulations, getting there two hours early is always your safest bet. Once we get checked in, we can get a coffee.” Casting a downward glance at Layla’s outfit, Fiona continued, “I see you opted for the island casual look today.”

  “Well, we are on an island, and since I imagine you are going to have us run
ning around like crazy, I decided to dress for comfort. I think the main thing is the amount of the check I write. Speaking of dressing, you look more like you’re hitting the New York shops.” Layla eyed Fiona’s four-inch patent heels, tight black skirt, and white high-collar, long-sleeved blouse. She didn’t see her purse but felt sure it was a large designer tote.

  “I command more respect and attention, which, of course, is better for my client, when I enter a store dressed in non-island business-oriented attire.”

  “Whatever works,” Layla said with a shrug, hoping Fiona would get the message that she was not impressed.

  Leaving the Oahu airport in the rental car, Layla was amazed at the traffic. “I had no idea it would be so crowded this time of day, so different from Paia.”

  “Not everyone has gotten to work yet. We’ll get on the back streets in a minute and skirt around the traffic.”

  Although Fiona used the word skirt, as far as Layla was concerned, she should have said roared through traffic. Until they got to their first stop, Layla sat with her hands pushed into the dashboard, and most of the time her eyes were closed.

  Fiona smiled, noticing Layla with eyes closed. “I learned to drive in Italy. Driving is very aggressive there.”

  “Oh” was all Layla could manage to utter.

  Entering the Pacific Sales section inside the Home Depot Store, Fiona was immediately greeted by a salesman, welcoming them both and asking how he may be of service. Fiona grabbed his arm and started walking toward the refrigerator section, leaving Layla in her wake. She spied a huge model, whipped out her measuring tape, and measured. “This will be perfect for your kitchen.”

  Emphatically, Layla replied, “No, this is not what I want.” Layla then walked to a more industrial-looking stainless steel model. “Fiona, could you measure this and see if it would fit?” Layla said with authority.

  “Certainly.” After measuring, Fiona said, “This will fit just fine. Is this the one you want?”

  Layla carefully looked inside, checked the various things she wanted, and told the salesman, Jim Marshall, it was what she wanted. After that, Jim and Layla went from section to section. Fiona rightly pointing out things Layla didn’t realize she would need, and they were able to purchase everything at the store. Layla wrote a very large check for her purchases.

  Layla was pleased to get that much done for the day and thanked Fiona for all her help. “Let me take you to lunch now.”

  “Heavens, we’re only getting started. If we have time, we’ll get something later. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

  “Great,” Layla said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

  Their next stop was a high-end designer furniture store. Fiona stormed in, high heels clicking on the tile, and waved, parade fashion, to several clerks. A woman dressed similarly to Fiona came out and buzzed her on each cheek. Fiona introduced her to Layla, and they were off in search of bedroom furniture.

  After seeing several rooms of furniture that were on display, Layla spotted a taupe-colored button-tucked suede headboard. “I want this. Will it accommodate a king-sized bed?”

  “Yes, either a king- or queen-sized bed will work perfectly with this,” the clerk replied. “What else will you want for your bedroom?”

  “Generous nightstands so I can load them with books, a good reading light, a clock, something durable and attractive.”

  “I have a three-piece set, but it’s only three pieces, and most people want more than that. The set includes two ample nightstands and a very large dresser. It’s a honey-colored lacquer imported from Italy. Beautifully made but not enough pieces for the American market. If you would be interested, we can offer you a very attractive price.” The clerk led them to a back area where the three pieces were covered in padding. Uncovered, Fiona and Layla began taking stock of the lovely Italian pieces.

  Layla looked at Fiona and gave a slight nod. Fiona looked at the price tags, got Layla’s attention when the sales clerk wasn’t looking, rolled her eyes, and smiled.

  “These pieces will work fine in my home. If you think I’m getting a good price on them, Fiona, I’ll take them.”

  Fiona turned toward the clerk and told her they would take them, priced as marked, along with her professional discount. The clerk readily agreed, wanting to get the pieces off the floor.

  They continued on, and Layla spotted a dining room table and chairs she knew were meant for her home. It would seat three on each side and one at each end. It was almost identical to one her family had in an informal dining room in their Hamptons home, a set Layla always felt comfortable using. The chairs were covered in a gaudy pattern, but they looked through the catalogue and found one that was perfect.

  Orders were placed, and once again, Layla wrote a large check. She wished the chairs didn’t have to be special ordered, but she couldn’t live with the fabric that was on the display chairs. A new table would also be arriving with the chairs, so everything would come directly from the mainland. Since Layla did not need a formal dining room to start living in her new home, she was fine with the wait.

  Back in the car, Layla turned to Fiona, asking hopefully, “Lunch?”

  “Not yet, I want to take you to a special store I often use. It’s a consignment store. I don’t know what we will find there, but I would be remiss if I didn’t take you.” As Fiona talked, Layla thought she was actually glowing. “This is a top-of-the-line store. They usually only deal in items submitted from million-dollar residents. So you can be sure you are going to see some spectacular pieces.”

  Fiona was greeted like an old friend by a lovely older lady, who was very gracious when introduced to Layla. Although there were wonderful pieces of furniture and art pieces, Layla did not see anything that she could envision in her home. Fiona suggested they check out the back area where items were kept that had not sold within the allotted time and were going back to the original owner.

  That’s where Fiona spotted the largest sofa Layla had ever seen. It was a huge sectional in an eggplant color, and she could not determine what the fabric was. She asked and was amazed to find out it was made of water buffalo hide. Fiona explained it would look fabulous in the living room and would eliminate the need for any other furniture, except one large chair and tables. Layla sat down on the sofa, surprised how comfortable and cozy the hide felt. She began to visualize the picture Fiona painted and agreed it would be quite a talking point.

  Fiona worked her magic on the price, and since it was set to go back to the owner, a call was made, and another $500 was deducted from the price. Before leaving, Layla spotted several small items she wanted and was able to take those with her. Fiona made all the final arrangements, and Layla wrote another check.

  Settling into the car, Layla asked her usual question, “Lunch?”

  “No, dear, we’ve got to get to the airport, turn the car in, and go through security. Wonderful shopping day!”

  “Want an oat bar?” Layla asked.

  “No, thanks, I get so excited on these shopping trips, I’m not able to eat a thing until later in the evening.”

  At the airport, Layla got a latte and a sandwich. After eating, she realized how tired she was; on the short flight to Maui, she slept soundly.

  Layla told Fiona to go ahead and stop at her house as one of her purchases was for Annie, and she wanted to take it to her. Layla thanked Fiona for all her help, guidance, and professional discounts. They both laughed, and then Layla remember she should find out how things were going to get to Maui.

  Fiona explained she arranged with a warehouse to store items until they hear from her to send them over to Maui. She would arrange with each store for a particular delivery date then let the warehouse know. She told Layla she had used this particular warehouse and delivery system before with excellent results.

  Annie saw Layla dragging up the back stairs and opened the door to let her in. “Lord
, you look exhausted. Want a beer?”

  “Yes, please. That woman wore me out, and she pranced around in four-inch heels, didn’t eat all day, and said she was exhilarated once it was all over.”

  “Told you about her, was I right or what?” George asked.

  “I’ll never doubt your judgment of people again, George. I think every bone in my body is beginning to ache.”

  Annie sat a beer on the counter for Layla, then asked, “Show us what you have in the bags.”

  “I bought you something for your dining room chest. Sorry, Annie, I never liked that wicker basket you use for fruit, so I found this terrific chrome basket, which really looks like silver but without the problem of polishing.”

  “It’s lovely, and it will make a perfect replacement for that old basket,” Annie said, taking the basket and heading for the dining room.

  “Can I have the basket?” asked George. “I can really use it in the garage. I’ve had my eye on it for quite a while.”

  “You’ve had your eye on it for the garage?” Annie asked puzzled. “Well, certainly, you can have it.”

  George walked over and took the fruit out of the basket for Annie who arranged it in her new basket. He grabbed the straw basket, uttered “Neat,” and was off to the garage.

  Annie shook her head and looked at Layla, saying, “Men.”

  After leaving the Boones’, Layla made her way slowly to Mr. Soo’s who was sitting on his lanai, having a cup of tea. Once she had made it up the stairs, she smiled weakly at Mr. Soo, offering him her other sack. “I bought something for your lanai.”

  “Thank you. You look very weak. Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “No, thanks, I need food.”

  Mr. Soo took the bag Layla offered and looked inside, a puzzled expression coming over his face.

  “This is a candle. I’m not too comfortable with candles. Too much chance for accidents and fire.”

  “Yes, I agree, but this is a flameless hurricane lamp candle for your lanai. You use batteries and turn it on and off with a button on the bottom. You may run low on batteries but no fire.”