The Howling Cliffs

by Mary Deal

  The officers, digging and following the position of the left arm bones, reached the shoulder and clavicle. An officer pulled back the tarp and began clearing the soil in the area where it was judged the torso would lay. Hale worked in the direction of the head. The lower jaw bone and teeth were uncovered.

  The officer digging at the torso section uncovered more fabric remnants different from the purse. He glanced up at the Chief. “No respect, Sir.

  “What's that about?”

  “As far as I can tell, the remains weren't wrapped in that blanket, if that's what it was.” He directed the Chief's attention to the bag of remnants. “The blanket may have been thrown in on top. I'm getting black fabric remnants underneath all that.” He began to pull out more shredded material, lifting sticky soil with it. “The blanket's on the top, but see here.” He gingerly pulled at a piece of blackened cloth that fell apart. “This may be clothing. I don't see any of the blanket material around the sides. My guess is there won't be any underneath either.”

  Sara had looked closely. “Since this person was evidently buried face up, maybe the one who did the burying couldn't watch the face while throwing dirt on top of it, so they threw a blanket over it.”

  The officers working the torso lifted out black remnants and then the rib cage began to show along with the under wires of a bra.

  The Chief stepped closer, bent over and scrutinized where the officer pointed. “Cold-blooded pupule, didn't have the decency to wrap this unfortunate soul!”

  Sara couldn't stand quietly by. “The blanket may have held clues to how this person died, blood on it, maybe? That could be why it was thrown in with the body.” If the perpetrator was, in fact, Maleko, he didn't have to wrap a person he could bury in his yard. Six foot walls on three sides of the property were heightened with another foot or two of Thunbergia. The patio area was under the back of the house in a deep downward slope out of sight of neighbors' prying eyes and completely secluded from the street.

  “Oh my!” The officer working the head pulled aside bits of the blanket material. “What have we here?”

  Sara moved to stand near the top of the hole. Birdie inched up beside her. Sara felt great sadness knowing the person buried may have met a horrific end, otherwise there would be no need to hide the death. Bao leaned in over their shoulders.

  The officer at the skull area pulled at a mat of hair containing a rusting metal hair clip. As he gently coaxed it out, it easily came loose from the skull bone and unwound. It turned out to be long tresses of hair. Bright red hair.

  Bao went berserk. “Argh! Menehune Red!” He was instantly crying. His face contorted. He screamed. “Menehune Red!” He lifted one leg, then the other, like trying to run but couldn't move from the spot. His hands shook. “Ay-y-y!”

  “What's with him?” The Chief stood watching Bao losing control.

  Birdie quickly wound Ka'imi's leash around a support column, then wrapped her arms around Bao's shoulders and led him away. He settled down a bit but still screamed. “It's the mother! Menehune Red!”

  The Chief grimaced. “Somebody clue me.”

  “Maleko's mother had red hair.” Sara spoke because no one else really understood. “Bao knows that she used to be known as Menehune Red.”

  “Is that woman missing?”

  Bao collapsed to the ground, shaking, without taking his gaze away from the officer clearing dirt from all that long red hair. “Menehune Red, my friend. No can! No can!”

  Birdie remained beside Bao but she, too, could verify information for the chief. “Maleko claimed that his mother moved to the mainland. Her husband died in Honolulu when they lived there. She supposedly gave her belongings to Maleko and left The Islands.”

  “What we've found may prove differently.” Sara caught everyone's attention. She gestured toward the old rusted fridge, calling the Chief's attention to it in the side yard. “We've found valuable real jewelry in there. Bao has identified some of the best clothing the mother wore, laying in there deteriorating.”

  “How long ago did this woman allegedly leave for the mainland?”

  Bao had quieted somewhat. He needed to blow his nose and sucked air as he lifted a hand and counted on his fingers. “Three, maybe four year.” He tapped his finger tips again, re-counting. “Not five year.”

  Chief Akoni turned to the forensics officers. “So how long do you think that body's been down there?”

  “Not too long.” Hale would know that from forensic training and hopefully not from digging up remains regularly. “We'll have to do testing in order to get close to time of death.”

  Sara pointed to the furniture haphazardly tossed against the rock wall. “Look there too. All of this must have been his mother's expensive pieces.”

  Birdie stood again but remained beside Bao who clearly was in shock. “Maleko claimed he brought the furniture back from Honolulu since his mother didn't want to ship it to the mainland.”

  “So why wouldn't she take personal items and valuable furnishings with her if she relocated? Especially something as personal as jewelry?” It was more like a statement than a question, as the Chief's raised eyebrow showed he was having some doubts.

  The digging continued, slowly exposing the remains. Three officers continued working over the torso, with Hale at the head.

  Sara, Birdie and Bao sat at the picnic table. The wind began to rustle through the Thunbergia vines and the tall coconut trees in the neighboring yard on Maleko's south side. The sky darkened as ominous dark gray clouds approached from the northeast. Sara detected moisture building in the air. She was becoming acclimated to the subtle shifts in the unpredictable climate. A tropical storm was making its way in off the ocean. She, Birdie and Bao moved again to stand underneath the overhang just as the downpour arrived.

  Water dripped off the overhang. The trades blew it over the officers. A torrent of fat droplets pelted the ground, causing the weeds in Maleko's yard to droop. It turned Maleko's barbeque pit into a small pond. Soon, the entire group stopped work and crowded together under the far corner of the overhang.

  The rain passed over in twenty minutes, but not without leaving rivulets running down the sloped yard. The officers dusty uniforms were frightfully soiled from wind blowing the rain against them. Faced with such a critical situation, a little rain wouldn't stop them now.

  Hale had just uncovered more of the skull. “Ay! One big puka!” He motioned for the Chief to step closer. He pulled away more hair stuck in the clayish earth and kept digging around the skull.

  As the cranium was laid bare, a puka appeared on the left side; a gaping hole with several long cracks splayed from it. The Chief leaned over, supporting his weight with both hands on the tops of his knees.

  Finally the Chief straightened. “Given the circumstantial evidence around this resident here, we may now have a homicide on our hands.” He pointed quickly to Det. Lio and Sgt. Inoa. “Looks like you two have a new case. Keep me posted.” With that, he sauntered out of the back yard taking in the sight of the junk pile. He held his stomach again as he ducked under the yellow tape, then climbed into his sedan and drove away.

  Chapter 51

  The neighbor on the south side had returned home from work. Despite the yellow tape across the front of the property, the man came into the yard asking a lot of questions. He was quickly ushered away. Other neighbors milled about trying to see over the front fence. An officer was posted at Maleko's gate to keep out the curious and warn them all to return to their homes. With everyone talking on cell phones, it was likely the gossipers had gotten word out about what was happening in their cul-de-sac. It was good HAZMAT still had the area blocked, otherwise the curious would certainly venture into the area to see.

  Sara's thoughts focused on Maleko. If in swinging Leia in play he accidently tossed her over the cliff and, as a twelve year old couldn't face what he did, he would lie to keep the accident secret. Then her death wore on him and made him a bit off-center as he grew up. Further, if not a homi
cide and his mother simply had an accident, maybe fell or maybe was pushed hard and fell, he would cover it up like he did with Leia. No real proof of anything, other than Bao's exclamations, could be concluded pending analysis of the evidence. But Sara's suspicions were more than plausible, especially since someone up on that cliff with Leia had to assure the dog remained over the cliffside as well.

  Det. Lio got a call. He listened briefly and then doubled up a fist and threw it into the air. “We got him!” His lips pinched tightly together as he looked at Sara and the others. Then, into the phone, he said, “Yeah, bring the man here first. We need to question him while he's still feeling some fear.”

  In a matter of minutes, a patrol car rolled up and stopped in front of the gate behind Det. Lio's car.

  Sara peered toward to driveway from the side yard and gasped as her knees almost gave way. Birdie joined her and grabbed onto her arm and then stifled her own surprise. Bao came up behind almost bumping forcefully into them. It was Maleko! Maleko was who was driving the black truck and caused that horrific accident and who ran away. Sara began to shake. Was it Maleko driving the black truck that ran her off the road? Was it Maleko who pushed his sister over the cliff and then tried to do away with anyone to hide his evil deeds?

  Birdie was shaking too. “Oh, Sara… oh, Sara!”

  How much might Hien know about all that had happened starting back about ten years earlier. For that matter, how much did Bao know?

  Maleko, handcuffed behind his back, struggled in the rear seat. He screamed incoherently and banged his head against the side window. The officer jumped out of the patrol car and rapped his knuckles on the window to get Maleko's attention. Maleko looked totally disheveled, rage clearly evident.

  Det. Lio and an officer went to the car to talk to Maleko. No way would Sara and Birdie miss this and crept within ear shot but remained inside the fence with Bao talking to himself in Chinese behind them.

  The officer answered the question Det. Lio would surely ask. “He's been Mirandized.”

  When Maleko saw Sara and Birdie, he went berserk again. The officers opened the car door to stop him from banging his head against the glass.

  When the officers finally had him calmed down and turned sideways in the seat, facing out, Det. Lio began. “Do you have anything in your back yard that you want to tell us about?”

  Maleko only looked dumb. “Wha…? No got! Leave my house!”

  “Have you hidden something in the back?”

  “No got! You come go now!”

  Det. Lio leaned on the car door. “I'm afraid we can't do that. You need to tell us what you've got hidden back there.”

  Maleko, barefoot after having lost his flip-flops, suddenly kicked at Det. Lio who jumped out of the way of his long legs. Though handcuffed, Maleko, wearing shorts and a tank top, was quick to leap from the car and ran kicking wildly and screaming like a madman.

  “My house! No stay my property!” One of his arms was wrapped in white gauze with blood seeping through, possibly injuries from his bout with the vicious neighbor dog. Or maybe the forensic dog in training got in some good practice.

  An officer tackled him. Both landed at the side of the house in site of the forensic team digging that hole deeper and deeper.

  Maleko caved in. He began to cry. “Get dog! Get dog! No stay!” He kicked and screamed.

  Det. Lio kept his distance. “Secure his ankles!”

  While two officers did their best to hold Maleko on the ground, another officer ran to a patrol car and returned with a handful of plastic ties. Maleko's ankles were finally bound. They sat him up as he cried and begged them to leave.

  “Do you want to tell us now?”

  “Ainokea!” Maleko sniffled and then spat at the detective's feet.

  Det. Lio signaled to Officer Makamai and other officers still digging. “Maka, you men, keep at it.”

  Maleko suddenly noticed his picnic table and benches which had been moved out into the yard. “No move!” He screamed, throwing spittle. “My table. I eat.”

  Maleko tried to stand and groaned and gurgled like a madman. He threw his body at Det. Lio and fell instead, writhing in anger and rage. “You stop! My property!” His nose was running. He wiped it on his bare shoulder. “You stop go!”

  Det. Lio pinned him to the ground. If Maleko was put into the patrol car again, he might kick until he broke a window and might cut his bare feet and legs, or his head. Kauai had no safe padded van or wagon for violent prisoners. With crime being low on the island, the police never really had any prisoners they couldn't control.

  Maleko sat on the ground whining like a baby. At one point he leaned over and blew his nose like some people do by closing one nostril and blowing out the other. Maleko did it from both sides at once. Then he wiped each side of his nose on his shoulders.

  Sara cringed and turned away.

  Bao had quieted. “One crazy, this Maleko, yah?”

  A moment of truth came to mind. Hoping he wasn't involved, Sara silently asked forgiveness for suspecting Bao of anything. “I have a feeling we're about to find out just how crazy.”

  Det. Lio gave an order to move Maleko to his front steps out of sight of the digging to keep him quiet.

  Two officers lifted him by the armpits and dragged him since his ankles were bound.

  Maleko objected and kept screaming for them to leave. “No hide! My table! I no hide nothing!” He struggled like a maniac, screaming frequent outbursts heard all the way to the back yard.

  Det. Lio reached for his phone. He explained the situation to someone on the line. “We need that hug-me out here right away.” After he hung up, he called one of the officers over and talked low. “Be ready to transport the prisoner. We have a hug-me on the way.”

  Bao leaned close with his forehead crinkled in disbelief. “ 'Hug-me' he say?”

  Sara whispered. “That's a straight jacket.”

  “Gee, Sara.” Birdie also whispered. “You should have been a cop.”

  A short while later, Sara was surprised to see a shiny new high-performance SUV appear with all the requisite Police Department markings and logos. This was the first one she had seen such a vehicle that hinted that crime on the island might be on the rise and better vehicles were needed for the transport of suspects. A sad thought for such a peaceful island.

  A another officer delivered the straight jacket. It was in the nick of time. It took five officers to hold Maleko. His wrist cuffs had to be removed to get him into the straight jacket, his arms into the sleeves and the sleeves tied behind him. Maleko's ire and strength hadn't subsided as he struggled. His ankles remained bound, causing him to fall when he got an arm free and took a swing at the officers. Maleko seemed tireless. The sweaty and exhausted officers looked as though they had been through a complete physical workout while fully clothed.

  Sara hadn't realized her extreme tension, but felt it dissolve when she realized Maleko could hurt no one again. As the SUV carried him away, she pondered how some people could become lost in their lives. She had always detected something strange and malicious in Maleko that seemed to fester just below the surface. She passed it off, thinking to give the guy the benefit of the doubt since she knew little about him. Yet, Birdie had been right about the tenants in his attic being in constant turmoil.

  Chapter 52

  Sara walked over to Birdie's driveway to retrieve the morning newspaper. After a night of heavy rain, the trade winds blew gently creating a heavy humid coolness. Though the newspaper was delivered in a biodegradable plastic bag, rain water had seeped inside. Reading the headlines, she stopped momentarily, scanning an article before entering Birdie's gate. Birdie was in the back yard doing the first things she did every morning. “Hey, look at this, Birdie.”

  Birdie looked up from potting a new plant. “Good morning, Sara.” She smiled widely and feigning disinterest in the newspaper. “Hey, your chin is healing nicely.”

  “Thank goodness that plastic surgeon knew what he w
as doing.” She had removed the heavily soiled chin guard and knee bandages and washed the surgical areas. A brief visit to the doctor the previous afternoon said she was healing perfectly. “If Huxley sees how bad this fall might have been…” Sara grimaced.

  “Coffee's ready.” She nodded toward the newspaper. “What have you got?”

  “It's gruesome.”

  The headline said Hikers Find Missing Woman's Body. A young couple hiking to the Waimea Post Office caught sight of what looked to be a large turquoise colored cloth laying in a fallow weed infested sugar cane field. Buffalo grass and wild cane plants in the abandoned fields stood over five feet tall. The recent heavy rains bent down the tallest growth exposing the brightly colored item.

  When the couple went to view what might have been illegally dumped, they found a body.

  The rain also destroyed any evidence of finding footprints or tire tracks. There were signs the woman may have been raped. Though no semen samples were identified, she had massive bruising in her genital area. Petechial Hemorrhage in the eyes was evidence that she had been strangled. No ligature or ligature marks were found. Judging from the bruise marks on her throat, it was thought the killer used his bare hands.

  The article went on to say the woman's roommate identified the body, her clothing and the turquoise beach towel. The victim's family had been notified but no names were listed. The police released no further information.

  “Here, read the rest.” She let Birdie have the paper while she went to help herself to the Kauai coffee that Birdie switched to from the Kona blend. She made a mental note to purchase some for herself. Sara returned to the patio with her steaming mug.

  Birdie had spread the partially wet newspaper on the patio table. “It's all coming together.”

  “The remains in Maleko's yard didn't make the front pages.” Sara took a sip of coffee. “The police must really want to keep it hush-hush as long as possible.”

  “Didn't make the inside pages either.”

  “But follow that front page article where it continues on the inside. It confirms a lot of things.”