“Nothing wrong with that. I love a good fight.”
We stared at each other for a few seconds. He blinked first.
“Look, Pali, I’ve got to get home. My wife’s got dinner ready. So why don’t you just tell me what it’s going to take to get you to hand over the original note.”
“I never said I’d hand it over. I said I needed a few minutes with Doug in order to decide what to do with it.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ve had just about enough of your games. You know I could go to the police right now and show them the copy. One call to a judge and you’d be relinquishing the original or facing obstruction charges.”
“Yeah, but what about your client? Are you willing to risk your brother hating you for the rest of your life for betraying his confidence?”
He leaned back in his chair. “This feels a lot like extortion.”
“Nothing of the kind. All I’m asking for is ten minutes.”
He swiveled his chair to gaze out his office window. “First thing tomorrow. Same rules as last time.” He paused a moment and said, “And shut the door on your way out.”
It was the first time James and I hadn’t shaken hands or hugged upon parting. But then, I’d gotten my “get into jail free” card so I wasn’t about to stand on ceremony.
***
Finn listened patiently as I recalled the scenario over dinner. He’d picked up a pizza and I nibbled on a piece as I did my best to remember James’ exact words.
“This is no piece of piss, is it?” Finn often fell back on Aussie slang when the situation warranted. What he’d said was the dilemma I faced was complicated.
“Yeah, it’s tough. If Doug sticks to his guns I’ve got to respect it. But what he’s doing is wrong.”
He looked pensive. “You think she shot herself or she asked him to do it?”
“Does it matter? Either way she’s dead.”
“I think it matters a lot,” he said. “If she took her own life and he had nothing to do with it, then he’s completely innocent. If he popped her, then he’s probably at least guilty of manslaughter.”
I chewed on that thought for a moment. “True. But how will I find out what really happened?”
“Can’t help you there, love. But one thing I know is if anyone can get to the bottom of it, it’s you.”
When we went to bed that night Finn dropped off to sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. I, on the other hand, spent more hours than I’d like to admit fretting over what I’d say to Doug in the morning. Although it was good to know Finn had faith in me, it ratcheted up my stress level. Was he right? Was I seriously the only person standing between Doug and a life in prison? If I failed, chances were I’d never get a good night’s sleep again.
CHAPTER 29
James pulled up in front of my office and I dashed out the door to meet him. No sense making him park and come in since I was already banking on him being in a cranky mood.
As I slid into the passenger seat he growled, “You’re not even going to offer me a cup of coffee?”
“Oh, sorry. Would you like me to make some? I thought you’d want to get this over with.”
“That’s the problem with you, Ms. Moon. You think too much.”
I let that roll around in my head for a moment but didn’t reply.
The ride to Wailuku seemed to take forever since neither of us spoke. The traffic was bad. Every now and then James would mutter curse words under his breath at left-hand turners who held up the line, or a motorcycle who’d zipped in and out between the cars like an annoying housefly.
We parked and he got out, pulling his briefcase from the back seat before locking the car.
“You can’t take that in with you, you know,” I said.
He glared. “How’d I ever manage to practice law before you came into my life?”
“I didn’t mean to nit-pick. I just thought maybe you’d forgotten.”
“There you go thinking again.”
I straightened my shoulders and followed him inside. We went through the tedious admittance process: handing over ID, stashing our belongings, getting patted down and walking through a metal detector, before being escorted to a room painted the color of pea soup.
James gestured toward a chair on the near side of the metal table and I sat.
“Do you think they purposely chose this color?” I pointed at the wall. “Or do you think they just threw a bunch of old paint together to save money?”
The look he shot me could’ve etched glass.
Luckily, a metal door on the opposite side clanked open and a guard escorted Sifu Doug inside. He was wearing hand-cuffs and leg irons, which seemed excessive to me given the circumstances. He kept his gaze lowered, either in deference or humiliation, as the guard put a hand on his shoulder to lower him into the chair opposite us.
The guard barked a few rules, which were clearly posted on a sign inside the room, and then left.
“Aloha, Sifu,” I said.
Doug brought his head up. The look on his face seemed to say he was surprised to see me.
“Aloha, Pali.”
“I asked James to bring me here today so I could talk to you.”
Doug shifted his gaze briefly to James, but then settled it back on me.
“Did you do what I asked?”
“I did. That’s why I’m here.”
“Have you shared it with anyone else?” Doug seemed to be patently avoiding his brother’s presence.
“Only James and Finn. And I have Finn’s word it will go no further.”
He glanced back and forth from James to me. “Which of you has the item in question in their possession?”
“I do, Sifu.”
“Good. I want it to stay that way.”
James scowled but kept quiet.
Doug turned his attention to his brother. “I’d like a few minutes alone with Pali.”
“We’ve been through this before, bro. I’m the attorney of record. If I leave, she leaves.”
Doug hung his head as if considering his options. “Fine. But from this point on, I’m speaking to you as my brother and not my lawyer. Are we clear?”
James nodded.
“You read Lani’s letter, so you probably have a good idea of what happened.”
This time we both nodded.
“I love her as much as anyone can love someone, you know that, right? Her last wish was that the kids never know what she did so this is how I want it handled.”
James leaned in. “But what about DJ and Maia? They’re barely teenagers. They need you.”
“I’ve thought of that. And that’s why I’m going to have you draw up a custody agreement for me. I want them to live with Kaili.”
“That’s not how it works, man. If you’re incarcerated the court will decide where they live, not you. And there’s a good chance they’ll be put in foster care. They’ll be split up and bounced around the system like three-day-old fish. They’ll think their dad killed their mom and how do you think that’ll go down? My money’s on DJ becoming a thug and Maia sleeping with any dude who’ll give her a little attention.”
Doug’s expression hardened. James was laying it on a little thick, but I had to agree.
In a softer voice, James said, “You’re not in charge here, bro. If you don’t listen to me, your entire ‘ohana will blow up. You in prison, your kids in foster homes, your sisters and brothers conveniently forgetting to visit you or include your kids in ‘ohana events like birthdays or Christmas. This lie isn’t worth it, man.”
Doug chewed his bottom lip. “But I want to do right by her.”
“I know you do.”
We sat in silence for a few seconds before the guard poked his head in and barked, “It’s time for my break. You done in here?”
Doug sent me a pleading look.
“I can’t see any way around this, Sifu,” I said. “You’re going to have to let me give it to them.”
“Correction,” said James. “Tell her to give it to me.”
Doug hung his head and gave a barely perceptible shake. “Sorry, bro. I can’t.”
The guard entered and stood behind Sifu Doug. “Time’s up. Any last words?”
Doug got up from the table, chains clinking. As he shuffled out, he didn’t look back.
***
“That certainly screws the pooch,” James growled as we pulled out of the jail parking lot. “But here’s the deal. I took an oath to uphold the laws of the state of Hawaii and to provide the best legal counsel I can. There was no mention of going along with every stupid thing a client wants me to do.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying my brother doesn’t get the last word on withholding evidence.” He paused and looked over at me. “And neither do you.”
“Didn’t we already have this conversation?”
“We did. But there’s no way I’m going along with this.”
“We both know Doug pretty well. If you go against him, he’ll never forgive you. Your ‘ohana will be forced to choose sides.”
“So be it. I lose either way.”
For the rest of the ride back to Pa’ia we said little, each lost in our own thoughts and what-ifs. He pulled in front of my shop and stopped. As I got out I said, “Can you give me until tomorrow?”
“What for? It’s not gonna get any easier. In fact, the cops and the court are already going to censure me for not being forthcoming. I seriously don’t need it to slide into ‘obstruction’ territory.”
“It’ll be on me, not you. I’ll testify I didn’t find the note until today. Or better yet, I’ll have you draft me an affidavit to sign.”
“Great. We can add ‘endorsing perjury’ to my disbarment violations.”
“Just one more day, James. If I don’t have something for you by tomorrow morning, I’ll hand it over. I’ll claim I came across the suicide note after talking to Doug today.”
“You know, it’s days like this that get me dreamin’ of buying a food truck. Spend my days stokin’ a grill and cookin’ up a mess of huli huli chicken. I’d park down by the beach.” His face softened as he stared listlessly out the windshield.
“I know there’s a way to make this work,” I said. “I just need a little more time.”
I went inside but walked right through and out the back. The answer I was looking for wouldn’t be found within the four walls of a bridal shop. As Einstein would say, I had a duty to act.
CHAPTER 30
I called Steve’s cell while driving home. My car has BlueTooth so I wasn’t breaking any laws, but it was still distracting.
“I’m in the car so this needs to be quick. Where are you?”
“At the house. I’m just about to leave, though. I’m supposed to shoot some golfers down at the Blue Course in Wailea.”
“Can you call and postpone it for half an hour?”
“What’s up?”
“It’s a matter of life and death. Well, not exactly death, but the next thing to it.”
“What’s going on, Pali?”
“Half an hour. That’s all I’m asking.”
He agreed and my next call was to Detective Glen Wong. I had to leave a message, but he called back a few minutes later. He was much more agreeable than the last time we spoke.
My third call was to Kaili, Doug’s sister-in-law.
“Aloha. This is Pali Moon. I came to your house last week and talked to DJ.”
“Sure, I ‘member you.”
“Can I come by your house in an hour or so? I’ve got something I think you’ll want to hear.”
“Why don’t you just tell me?”
“No, not on the phone. I’ll bring lunch for you and the keiki. What do you like?”
“Don’t matter what I like. The keiki all like plate lunch with chicken from that drive-in place down in Kahului. Tell them double mac salad. I got five keiki here, you know.”
“Let’s make it noon. It’ll take me a few more minutes to get from Kahului to your place.”
I figured chicken plate lunch was more Kaili’s choice than the kids, but kept it to myself. Any woman wrangling five kids under the age of fourteen over summer vacation deserved to be indulged.
I made one final call. It was the most important call of all, but unless everything else fell into place it would amount to nothing.
The Mini flew up the rises and hollows of Hali’imaile Road, bottoming out on a couple of the steeper dips. I hoped this wasn’t one of the few days each year the Maui Police set up speed traps Upcountry. I didn’t need any more points on my driving record and today of all days I couldn’t afford the time it would take to try and talk my way out of it.
Steve waved from the front porch when I pulled up. The tires skritched as I brought the car to a quick stop and bailed out.
I clomped up the stairs and Steve handed me a glass of tropical ice tea. “You just rob a bank or something?”
“No, but I need your help. Your friend Glen Wong said he’d join us in a few minutes. I think I may have come up with a plan to save Doug Kanekoa.”
“Okay. Fire away.”
“No, if you don’t mind I’d like to wait for Wong. If he won’t go along, I’ll need to consider Plan B.”
“Which is?”
‘Which is not the one I want to go with.”
At that moment Wong arrived in his big Ford sedan. It’s a standard-issue cop car without the bells and whistles. Literally. The thing is an unadorned white Crown Vic with no light rack, no exterior markings whatsoever, and the ugliest excuses for wheel covers ever devised by a major automotive company. Rumor was Maui county officials bought the cars at a fleet auction when a big-city mainland police department upgraded to newer models.
To his credit, Wong popped out of the car quickly. But then, if I had to drive that thing I’d hastily put as much distance between myself and it whenever possible. I stared out at the sad-looking car and recalled my own years of suffering from vehicular embarrassment. For almost five years I drove an ancient Geo Metro, a brand and model that didn’t last much longer than that Samsung phone that burst into flames on airplanes. It was a sickly green color and even when I washed and waxed it, which was happened about as often as a solar eclipse, it looked grubby and forlorn. It was one happy day when I was finally able to drive my new red Mini Cooper off the lot.
“I hope this doesn’t turn out to be one of your famous wild goose chases, Ms. Moon,” Wong said by way of greeting.
I ignored the snarky comment. “I appreciate you getting here so fast.”
He looked at his watch. “I’ve got somewhere I need to be in exactly forty minutes.”
“Hi Glen,” said Steve.
Steve and Glen share a similar, albeit discreet, lifestyle. Anyway, Wong is discreet. Steve wears his LGBT status like a rainbow badge of honor. But although social acceptance of differing lifestyles and viewpoints is a much-cherished Hawaiian norm here in the islands, there are still some hold-outs. And certain individuals, especially those in public service, often prefer a clear separation between their personal and professional lives.
The two men shook hands and Steve offered to get him water or ice tea. The detective chose the tea, and once Steve had cleared the door Wong turned to me.
“You’re down to thirty-eight minutes.”
I nodded. “You told me to find some evidence and I did.” I handed him the second copy of the suicide note.
As he read, Wong scrunched up his face like a little kid trying to phonetically work out a string of unfamiliar words. “This for real?”
“I’m pretty sure it is.”
“Why hasn’t Kanekoa’s lawyer brought this in?”
“He doesn’t have it. I do.”
“Why’re you holding on to this? I thought you and James Kanekoa were friends. And from what I hear you’re almost ‘ohana with his client, Doug.”
“That’s true.”
Wong checked his watch again. “Thirty-five minutes.”
“James knows ab
out it but I’m keeping the original because, as you can see, Doug’s wife didn’t want her kids to know she’d committed suicide.”
“So? She’s dead. I think her voting rights terminated when, or maybe I should say, if, she wrote this note and then pulled the trigger. This needs to be brought to the attention of Detective Ho.”
“This isn’t the only thing I’ve got.”
A beat passed between us, and Wong checked his watch one more time. “Do I need to keep reminding you that time is passing?”
“No, sorry. It’s just that I’m trying to figure out the best way to phrase this.”
“Spit it out, Ms. Moon. Remember, the Kanekoa case isn’t even mine. I’m pretty sure there’ll be plenty of time for wordsmithing once the evidence is all out in the open.”
Steve came out with Wong’s drink. “Sorry it took so long. I had to make a fresh pot of tea. What’d I miss?”
I recounted my trip to Walmart where I’d learned Lani had been prescribed a series of drugs associated with late-stage cancer.
“But you have no corroborating evidence from a doctor?” Wong said.
“Not yet.”
“I’m willing to overlook the obvious procurement of information under false pretenses, namely you masquerading as the victim, but the court will not. It’s called ‘fruit of the poisonous tree,’ Ms. Moon. Before I’m willing to bring any of this to the attention of Detective Ho or anyone else you better come up with something that’ll hold up.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Good.” He stood. “Then I guess I better be going.”
I reached out and touched his forearm. He pulled back as if I’d zapped him with a jolt of electricity.
“Can I ask you a favor, detective?”
He blew out an exasperated breath. “What now?”
I made my request and he said he’d think about it. He skidded out of the driveway throwing up a fury of dirt and gravel. As soon as the dust settled I hopped in my car and careened down the highway toward Kahului.
CHAPTER 31
Kaili shuffled quickly out to my car as I pulled into her driveway. It was more activity than she’d displayed during my last visit, but then, this time I was bringing lunch. She was wearing the same red and black mu’u mu’u she’d had on before.
Isle Be Seeing You (Islands of Aloha Mystery Book 9) Page 20
