by Rose Smith
“I believe in angels,” agreed Caroline. “Sometimes they send us signs.”
“No doubt. I just hope Mikey followed my instructions. I told him to call Irene and Makoa Koskos if I got called in to the police station for duty.”
“I’m sure he will.”
“I hope so. Well, we’d better get moving,” Nalani said, gripping her javelin.“Ready?”
“Let’s go in the opposite direction of the pig noises,” Caroline suggested.
“Smart.”
~ Chapter 19 ~
“What’s going on here?” Hanale Kamehameha demanded from the police officer guarding the Kamehameha mansion’s grand hallway.
“Wait here, Sir.” The officer radioed for the Lead Detective. Once Sheldon came into the foyer, he took note of the man’s disheveled look. His sweatiness and dirt on his pants signaled he’d been doing something physical.
“Mr. Kamehameha, I need to speak with you. Come with me.”
“What the hell is going on here?” He again demanded, this time to Sheldon.
“I’ll explain,” Gage Sheldon told him. “Please come with me.”
Hanale Kamehameha followed Detective Sheldon into the kitchen.
“Can you tell me your whereabouts for the last two hours?” Inquired the detective.
“I’ve been out fishing. All day.”
“So, you’re saying you don’t know what went on in your home earlier?”
“What are you talking about?”
“We discovered a body in your backyard.”
“What? What body? Who is it?”
“I thought you might know the answer to that.”
“Do I look like I know the answer? Why would I be asking you?” He fumed.
“You know nothing about Jackson Richardson being in your garden shed?”
“Nothing,” stated Kamehameha. The detective noted the man’s lack of surprise.
“But you do know him. Your wife’s lover?” Pushed Detective Sheldon.
“Yes. He made himself known to me. Tried to blackmail me into paying him to keep quiet about Brianna’s baby.”
“That would be a reason for you to want to get back at him.”
“He’s the last of my worries.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Are you officially interrogating me? If so, I want to call my lawyer.”
“Understood,” Lead Detective Sheldon told him. He started making his way to the backyard, almost leaving Kamehameha dialing on his cell phone until something flashed on Kamehameha’s hand causing Gage to rush back into the kitchen. He grabbed Kamehameha by his shirt.
“Where are they? Where are Nalani and Caroline?” He demanded. Wolf rushed into the room and grabbed the detective, pulling him back.
“Look at the ring on his finger!”
When Wolf saw the horseshoe ring, he lost it, taking over where Gage left off. He grabbed a fistful of Kamehameha’s sweat-filled shirt.
“I swear to god, if you’ve hurt Caroline…if you’ve hurt either of them…”
“Get your hands off me!” The billionaire demanded.
Gathering himself, it was now Gage’s turn to keep Wolf from strangling the man.
He pushed between them. “Easy, Man. He’s already lawyered up.”
Wolf let go. He frantically raked his hand through his hair.
“We’ll find them. Detective Koskos put out a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) for Nalani’s black Prius. We’ll find them. And if anybody harms them in anyway,” he said, glaring at Hanale Kamehameha—“they will pay,” he reassured his friend.
Wolf nodded then took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Caroline’s number once more out of desperation, hoping against hope, she’d answer.
Lead Detective Gage Sheldon’s cell rang.
“Detective Sheldon.”
“Hi, Detective Sheldon. This is Dr. Hekekia.”
“Dr. H. What’s up?”
“Dr. Yung’s office called after they couldn’t reach her. Have you heard anything yet?”
“No, we have a BOLO out.”
“They brought the initial DNA results to my office. The preliminary saliva DNA evidence matches Hanale Kamehameha. I thought you’d like to know as soon as possible.”
“Definitely. Thanks Dr. H.”
He walked over to Hanale Kamehameha. “Turn around.” He began reading him his rights while snapping the cuffs onto his wrists.
“But my lawyer is on his way here.”
“Give me your phone. You can tell him to meet you downtown.”
He tapped Hanale’s phone to redial the attorney’s number and put it up to Hanale’s mouth.
“Hello?”
“Sam, it’s me. They’re arresting me. Meet me at the police station.”
Sheldon called Koskos into the kitchen to update him.
“We’re taking Kamehameha downtown. Close things up here and come to the station as soon as you’re done. And call chief to let him know I’m bringing in Mr. Kamehameha.”
“Will do.”
Detective Gage Sheldon and Wolf drove Hanale Kamehameha to the Hilo Police Station. They charged the billionaire with the murder of his wife.
~Chapter 20 ~
Caroline jerked awake. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself, her goosebumps reminding her she was still exposed to the cool night air. She glanced at Nalani who was fast asleep at the base of the large tree they’d found to rest on.
Caroline went into the bush to relieve herself. On her way back, she heard a rustling behind her. She crouched down and crept back to the tree to wake Nalani.
“Shh. I heard something,” she warned. “Let’s hide behind that bush.” They tiptoed to the bramble and hid. Both remained perfectly still.
With his flashlight providing a beam cutting through the darkness, the gunman circled the tree. He snarled in frustration when he came up empty.
Nalani motioned for Caroline to crouch down even more. They flattened themselves behind the thicket.
He kept searching, using his light as a guide. Irked at the sheer vastness of where they could be—he stalked off.
Remaining as still as statues, Caroline and Nalani waited a few minutes, making sure the man was gone. “Let’s go this way,” Nalani whispered, heading in the opposite direction.
Sam Reynolds stormed into police headquarters. “Where’s my client?” He bellowed. “I demand to see Hanale Kamehameha!”
“Don’t worry, Sam,” Chief Cummings assured him, rushing from behind the reception desk. “He’s waiting for you in here. We’re keeping him comfortable.”
The man’s skin was so thin you could see blue snakelike veins popping out over his eyebrows. They seemed more prominent when he vented. “I can’t believe you arrested Mr. Kamehameha. You know he’s the most important man on this island! What flimsy evidence is this arrest based on, anyway?” He thundered while he and the chief made their way down the hall.
“DNA,” the gloomy-faced chief said evenly while opening the door to the room where the attorney’s client was waiting.
He swallowed hard. “Give us a few minutes.”
“Take all the time you need,” Chief Cummings told him. He closed the door.
About 20 minutes later, Attorney Sam Reynolds buzzed for the chief. “Hanale wants to speak to you—and you alone. I’ll be waiting outside the door.”
Chief Cummings sat across the table from the suspect. “Is there something you need to tell me?” He mumbled.
Hanale looked at his old friend. “I’m ready to put an end to all this. I just need one thing from you.”
“Name it.”
“Let me talk to the man they found in my backyard. You can let my lawyer back in here when I speak to him—but no police. I need to speak to him alone.”
Chief Cummings heaved a sigh. He knew this was against protocol, but he desperately wanted to trust his life-long friend. He took the gamble.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Wolf
paced the floor of Gage Sheldon’s office. “Sit down, Man,” Sheldon coaxed.
“I can’t.”
“The chief’s a friend of Kamehameha. If anybody can get him to tell us what happened to Caroline and Nalani—it’ll be the chief. I know he’ll come through.” He said it out loud, but it was if he were saying the last part to himself as much as he was to Wolf.
“Look! There’s a stream!” Caroline exclaimed. Both women made their way to it. They put down their sticks, cleansed their hands and eagerly scooped the water and drank it. Still cautious, they stilled themselves for a moment, looking around and listening for any sign of the gunman. After hearing nothing, they drank from the stream once more, gathered their javelins and continued moving into the depths of The Forbidden Island.
Sam Reynolds buzzed for Chief Cummings. “He wants to see you.”
Once again, the chief sat across from Hanale Kamehameha. “Are you ready to make a statement?” Hanale sat silent. “Do you want to cut a deal?”
He heaved a heavy sigh before he spoke. “No. You know I would never have killed Brianna. She may not have been perfect, but I loved her. It didn’t even matter that she was cheating on me. I would have easily forgiven her. But I’ll never get that chance. Watching that man in the kitchen back at Ainanani who was with Detective Sheldon got to me. He was so worried about his wife.”
“You mean Wolf—Matthew Steel?” Questioned the chief.
“Yeah. He reminded me how much I really loved my wife. I can’t do anything about bringing Brianna back, but I can put an end to this and maybe save someone else’s wife if it’s not too late. I’ll take you to them. I just hope they’re still alive.”
The chief called Gage’s office. Sheldon and Wolf drove Hanale Kamehameha to Ainanani Place.
Kamehameha ordered his speedboat captain to go to The Forbidden Island. Cutting through the Hawaiian waters with vigor, they raced far into the night.
“Did you hear that?” Nalani asked Caroline.
“What?”
“It sounded like a motor.”
Caroline stood still and listened. “I don’t hear anything.”
“I could’ve sworn I heard a motor revving,” said Nalani.
“You think the gunman might be heading back to Hilo?” Asked Caroline.
“If he is, we’ll be stuck out here.”
“What should we do? He’s not exactly gonna let us board the boat,” said Caroline.
“Maybe we can catch him off guard while he’s busy hoisting the anchor,” Nalani calculated. “It’s either take a chance or stay out here with the wild pigs and no shelter for who knows how long. Remember, no one knows we’re here.”
“Let’s go,” said Caroline.
They hurried back to the shores of the beach where they’d landed hours ago. Once they got close, they slowed their pace, careful not to run out into the open where the gunman could get a better shot. They hid behind some trees and surveyed the scene.
“It’s another boat!”
“What if the ones that brought us here called for reinforcements?” Cautioned Caroline.
“That could well be,” agreed Nalani.
“Can you make out any insignia? Does it look like a Hilo Police Boat? Maybe even the Coast Guard?”
“From what I can see from here, it doesn’t look like either.”
“We’d better stay put, for now, let’s wait it out.” Caroline said. “Hopefully it’s not more gunmen.” They settled behind a grouping of shrubs for cover and waited.
Suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere, the gunmen appeared in front of them. “Get up!” He ordered, motioning with his gun.
They both began to stand, slowly. Then, with lightning speed, Nalani grabbed her javelin and hurled it at him. It grazed his arm. The semi-second he grabbed his arm, Caroline snatched her javelin and dove at him, stabbing his foot.
His piercing cry rivaled the wild pigs they’d heard earlier.
“Run, Nalani, let’s go,” cried Caroline. They ran toward the beach—away from the man.
Undeterred, he jerked the javelin out of his shoe and ran close behind them. They no longer had cover. He had plenty of time and space to aim.
Running, Nalani looked back and saw him pointing his gun at Caroline’s back.
“No!” She cried out, slowing up to step between Caroline and the line of fire before the gun went off.
Two shots rang out in the darkness. Both women ducked. Then they slowed and looked. The gunman took three faulty steps then fell to the ground.
Out of the inky night, Wolf and Gage emerged from behind the lone gunman, both holding their guns.
“Matthew!” Cried Caroline, running to him. The couple hugged each other for dear life. Wolf showered his wife’s lovely face with kisses.
Gage walked toward Nalani. “Are you all right?” He asked anxiously.
“Yes, she said. We’re both tired and hungry,” but we’re all right. “How did you guys find us?”
“Hanale Kamehameha,” said Gage. “He brought us out here. That’s his speedboat.”
“Did he confess to killing his wife?” Questioned Nalani. “Caroline heard the man who was shooting at us talking with someone who told him to bring us out here.”
“It wasn’t Hanale Kamehameha,” Sheldon told both Nalani and Caroline as they made their way to the boat.
“Who was it then?” Asked Caroline.
“As soon as you go up, you’ll both see.”
They climbed up the stairs and came face-to face with Brianna Kamehameha’s killer.
~ Chapter 21 ~
She glared at them with venomous eyes as if they were mere servants who’d disobeyed her orders, instead of two women she was trying to have eliminated to keep her secret. Then she turned her anger on her son who was sitting across from her.
“You were going to let that woman ruin our bloodline! She was trying to pass that bastard baby off as yours!” Queen Kamehameha spat out.
Hanale Kamehameha looked broken.
“I knew how much my mother hated her, but I never thought she’d kill her,” he said, sadly. He shook his head.
“Two of her minions helped her carry all this out.” Detective Sheldon told Nalani and Caroline while he sat them down and gave them each a blanket to warm themselves.
“One was a servant at the mansion and the other was his brother. The queen promised each of them $10,000. The horseshoe ring Caroline saw is a family crest. The queen gave it to her servant as a down-payment. Hanale didn’t recognize his servant’s brother, but he put two and two together once he found out the man had killed Jackson Richardson.”
“Jackson Richardson, the one in jail?” Asked Nalani.
“Yeah, he escaped,” Gage explained, “but the servant’s brother murdered him. Hanale talked to him at the station and got him to confess to everything.”
“That’s how we found you two,” said Wolf.
“We’re sure glad you did,” Caroline told him. Wolf put his arm around her and smiled.
“While the preliminary DNA matched Hanale Kamehameha, final test confirm it was the queen,” explained Lead Detective Sheldon. His phone rang. He excused himself and walked to the opposite side of the boat to take the call.
“That was Makoa. Irene just went into labor!” He shouted. He went over and spoke to Hanale who had the captain take the boat to Hilo Hospital. Sheldon radioed for a police unit to be waiting there to take Queen Kamehameha to the station.
After checking both of them, the doctor in the emergency room gave Nalani and Caroline a clean bill of health. They all went to Irene’s room to get a look at Makoa “Gage” Koskos—all 6 pounds and 6 ounces of him.
“I can’t believe I’m a father,” said Makoa, watching his wife hold the adorable bundle.
“And I can’t believe I’m a godfather,” exhaled Gage. Everyone laughed at the two men.
“Thank you, both of you for giving him my middle name. I’ll be the best godfather on the planet!” He assured the cou
ple, shaking little Makoa’s rattle in front of him.
“We know you will, Gage,” said Makoa. Irene nodded.
“We’re so happy for you all,” said Caroline. Matthew smiled.
“Definitely,” chimed Nalani. Then she said, “Irene, I’m sure you’re as tired as we all are. We’re gonna get outta here and let you guys have some private time. Thanks so much for letting Mikey stay with Irene’s mom tonight.”
“Oh, no problem. Mom loves having him over. Remember, tomorrow, she’s taking him to school so you can sleep in.”
“Please thank her for me. I’ll be there when he gets out of school tomorrow afternoon.” The group said their goodbyes and left.
3 days later:
Nalani picked up Matthew and Caroline. Then the group went by headquarters and picked up Gage. Nalani drove them to the tree memorial park.
“This means a lot to both of us,” said Caroline to the boys
“We’re glad you two are here to share it with us,” said Nalani.
Both girls took the tree seeds and planted them in the spot with the beautiful koa wood plaque they’d had engraved with their dear friend, Lisa Matthews’ name. A lovely living tribute.
They both said a prayer for Lisa. Then they hugged each other. Caroline and Nalani walked up to Matthew and Gage with tears in their eyes. Matthew cocooned his wife and Gage held Nalani while she cried.
After a little while, Matthew told Caroline, “I told Gage all about Lisa. We’d both like to say a prayer for her.”
Nalani and Caroline held hands as Matthew and Gage each knelt and said a prayer for Lisa. Then Nalani had each of them sign the memorial postcard with a photo of the plaque that she planned to mail to Lisa’s parents.
“It’s time to go,” said Caroline.
