Death in Paradise

by J. E. Trent

  “Your father wouldn’t sell to Mr. Lau at any price because he knew he would ruin the Village. Your father viewed the island as sacred and fought to preserve it.”

  “Mr. Jennings, I have one question. Why didn’t my father renew the lease now?”

  “He didn’t have enough money to make the infrastructure improvements the landowner required before they would renew. Your father could have borrowed the money, but he didn’t want to be owing anything to anybody. Instead he was doing the improvements piecemeal as he had the money. He could be so stubborn sometimes,” Mr. Jennings said.

  Jessica smiled. “You’re singing to the choir, Mr. Jennings. My father’s middle name should have been stubborn.”

  “In the last few years, he had become a fierce adversary of mainland developers who came to the island and tried to turn it into Waikiki. Your father’s guests at the Village loved him. Real estate developers hated him with a passion because he turned up at every county council meeting and fought them every step of the way. He wasn’t going to let them pour concrete over paradise without a fight. I’m sure there’s a long list of real estate developers that are glad your father is no longer around to fight them,” Mr. Jennings said.

  “Why does this Mr. Lau want to buy the property so bad?” Jessica asked.

  “For one reason, its beach. The Ming’s beach is full of lava rocks. If the Ming can take over your father’s property, they can use the Aloha Village beach and bulldoze the rest of the place. And there is one more thing.”

  The old lawyer leaned back in his chair. “Something you should know about Mr. Lau. He’s a Chinese billionaire from Macau, and he’s been buying property all over Hawaii the last couple of years. I suspect he would like to turn the Ming and Aloha Village into a casino if gambling ever gets legalized here. He owns half the casinos in Macau and is looking to expand his gambling empire to Hawaii, from the news articles I’ve read.”

  Mr. Jennings sat straight up in his chair and looked Jessica in the eye. “He’s connected to the Triads is what I’ve heard on the coconut wireless, so be very careful with this guy.”

  Jessica left the law office on a mission. Investigating Mr. Lau would be her new job while she waited for the NTSB report to come back with the cause of the crash. Mr. Lau had a motive, a means, and a good reason to want her father dead. If Jessica knew one thing for sure, there were people in this world that would kill for any reason to get what they want. And Mr. Lau had millions of them. If it turned out Mike Murphy’s plane crash had been the result of sabotage, instead of an accident, he would be the prime suspect.

  It was time to call Uncle Jack to see what he knew about this Mr. Lau.

  8

  Marlin Fishing

  After Jessica left Mr. Jennings’s office, she drove out to the harbor to see if Uncle Jack was on his boat, the small fishing yacht he’d lived on since he’d retired. He didn’t answer his cell phone, as usual. Jessica knew he had gone to Hong Kong earlier in the month, but she thought he should be back by now.

  Uncle Jack had the connections to find out information she couldn’t about Mr. Lau. Even though Jessica hadn’t talked to Uncle Jack yet, she knew without asking that he’d be deep into the investigation of his brother’s death by now. Uncle Jack, suspicious by nature, came from the Ronald Reagan school of “trust but verify.”

  Uncle Jack had retired from the Naval Investigation Service unit at Pearl Harbor. His life now pretty much consisted of going fishing and keeping an eye on Kiki and Koa, two dolphins trained by the Navy for special ops. The dolphins had come from a pod off the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawaii before the Navy had trained them for special ops. After closing down its dolphin program in Hawaii, the Navy had returned them to the area and released them back into the wild.

  Since Jack Murphy had a top-secret security clearance, the Navy had asked him to keep an eye on them, which consisted of monitoring their location via the GPS tracking devices the Navy had implanted in them. Little did the Navy know, Jack used Kiki and Koa to help him catch fish. When word got out, it kept Jack’s charter business as busy as he wanted.

  Jessica pulled up to the slip of the Hui Hou, Uncle Jack’s thirty-five-foot Cabo. It surprised her to find Uncle Jack and Sam Stewart sitting in the cockpit drinking beer. What was going on here? But Kona was a small town; it wouldn’t be unusual if they were friends or something. Maybe they’d gone fishing. Uncle Jack wasn’t the only one in the family that was suspicious by nature. That was a trait that made them both such good investigators.

  The Hui Hou had just come in from a half-day trip down to Red Hill to troll for marlin. Jessica checked herself in the mirror and touched up her lip gloss before getting out of the 4Runner. She walked toward the slip of the Hui Hou and waved at Uncle Jack and Sam as she approached the boat.

  Jessica smiled and gave Uncle Jack a big hug and then gave Sam one, too. On the mainland, she would never have hugged Sam, but in Kona, it was the local style to hug even acquaintances in most social settings.

  “Long time no see, Uncle,” said Jessica.

  “Well, that wouldn’t be the case if you would move back to Kona,” Uncle Jack said sarcastically. Sarcasm was Jack’s specialty. Most of the time, he meant it in a good way–unless he didn’t like you. Then he had a whole special brand of it.

  “Did you guys go fishing today, or just drink beer and talk story?”

  “Sam caught Old Smokey, but he got off the line. Just like he always does. Grab something to drink out of the cooler. There’s plenty of stuff in there besides beer,” said Uncle Jack.

  Jessica opened the cooler and grabbed a can of cold Japanese green tea. She popped the top open and took a sip.

  Sam looked perplexed. “You mean that fish had a name?”

  “Yeah, as soon as he jumped out of the water, I could tell it was Old Smokey by the big chunk missing out of his fin, right next to the tag. I also knew you had a snowball’s chance in hell of reeling him to the boat. Many a fisherman in Kona has tried to reel Smokey in, and none have succeeded. Except for one guy,” said Uncle Jack.

  “Who’s was that?” Sam asked.

  “My brother, Mike. He tagged Smokey and let him go.”

  There was a silence among the three for a moment, then Sam lifted his beer toward Jack and Jessica. “To Mike Murphy.” And the three of them toasted.

  “Jack, I had a great time fishing with you today. And, Jessica, it was a nice surprise to see you again. I’d stay longer but I have to head back to Aloha Village.”

  Sam shook hands with Jack and hugged Jessica. But this time there was something electric when they embraced. They both felt it. And they both tried to ignore it. Before getting in his rental car, Sam walked over to a plumeria tree and plucked a red blossom off a low-hanging limb. He took a moment to inhale the fragrance then turned and walked back to the Hui Hou. With a smile he handed it to Jessica, then turned and walked down the dock toward the parking lot.

  She placed the flower above her right ear. “Thank you, Sam,” Jessica said as he walked away. She stood still and watched him, and before Sam got into the car he looked back and smiled.

  “Interesting,” said Uncle Jack. Jessica smiled like she hadn’t in a long time and ignored Uncle Jack. But there was something about Sam that drew Jessica to him whether she wanted to admit it or not.

  * * *

  “Are you ready for coffee? I picked up a fresh bag of roasted Makua. It’s excellent,” Uncle Jack said.

  “Sure, why not?” Jessica said as her mind came back into focus.

  “Follow me inside to the galley. I’ll grind it up, and we can talk story.”

  When Jack opened the bag of fresh Kona coffee beans, the aroma filled the galley and saloon of the Hui Hou. Jessica and Uncle Jack both breathed in deep and sighed almost in unison as they enjoyed the heavenly fragrance.

  In the galley, Uncle Jack glanced at Jessica and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

  “Earlier today, I went to see Dad’s attorney c
oncerning his estate,” Jessica said, as she took a seat at the breakfast bar and sat up straight on the stool, as she watched Uncle Jack grind the coffee beans. “He told me some things that make me think we need to take a closer look at Dad’s death. Are you familiar with Mr. Lau at the Ming next to the Village?”

  Uncle Jack nodded, as he poured water into the coffeemaker. “Yes, he’s been on my radar for a while.”

  “I don’t suppose your trip to Hong Kong had anything to do with him, did it?” Jessica asked.

  “I can’t talk about it.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

  Uncle Jack pretended he didn’t hear her and fussed about in the galley until the coffee was ready. Jessica moved to the couch. Uncle Jack followed with the coffee and sat next to her. He turned toward her, and looked her straight in the eye.

  “I can tell you one thing for sure—my brother was obsessive about his airplane maintenance. The chances of him crashing due to a mechanical failure or pilot error are almost zero in my book. It’s possible that’s what happened. But I doubt it.” Jack stared into his cup of coffee. “When do you go back to LA?”

  “I’m here only until the paddle out, and then I have to go back and finish working a case.”

  “Do you still have contacts in the Kona PD?”

  Jessica nodded. “Most of them I don’t trust, but I have one that I do.”

  Uncle Jack finished the last sip of his coffee and stood up to take his cup to the galley. “Keep their number handy. We may need them. The last contact I had there retired.”

  9

  Sam’s Bungalow

  Bungalow number seven sat on the edge of the beach surrounded by tropical plants and flowers of every color, providing privacy. It had the best view of the ocean of all the bungalows at Aloha Village. Sam walked in and headed straight for the refrigerator, grabbing a cold beer. With beer and cell phone in hand, he went out front to the lanai, sat down on the chaise lounge and leaned back. He took a swig of his ice cold brew and looked out at the ocean, and relaxed while going over what just happened at the harbor–with Jessica.

  It had been a great day of fishing on the Hui Hou with Jack Murphy. But meeting Jessica again had been the highlight of Sam’s day. He loved her exotic look; half Japanese on her mother’s side and half everything else on her father’s, otherwise known as hapa Hawaiian. She was one of the most beautiful women Sam had ever seen. At first, he’d thought he should put his feelings aside and wait for a more opportune time to pursue a relationship. But then he realized life was short, and there was no time to waste.

  Sam barely knew Jack Murphy; they’d only met once before because of Mike. Mike had talked about his brother working for the Navy as an investigator. But that was all Sam knew, other than Jack had retired, moved to Kona and started a charter business.

  Sam had hoped he would learn more about Mike’s death during the fishing trip. But Jack always played his cards close to the vest and didn’t give up anything, so Sam wasn’t too surprised. It had been worth a try, not to mention, he had almost caught a grander.

  The story about Mike Murphy’s airplane crashing on takeoff was all over the news, they all said it was an accident. But almost everyone who knew Mike suspected it wasn’t. Even though Mike was in the hospitality business, he had made a lot of enemies over the years fighting developers from the mainland. Sam added his name to the list of nonbelievers and wanted to help the family, in any way he could, to find the truth.

  Sam picked up his cell phone from the table and dialed his assistant in California. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hi, Melissa, it’s Sam, I’m coming back next week like I planned. But I’m not staying long.”

  “Oh? Is there anything you would like me to take care of before you arrive, sir?”

  “Yes, put the house in Newport Beach on the market. It’s time. I’ll be coming to pick up the things I want from the house, and Mr. Jangles. If it were just the stuff, I’d ship it, but I’m not shipping the cat,” Sam said.

  “Anything else?” Melissa asked.

  “Yes, donate all of Jamie’s things.”

  “Are you sure?” she questioned.

  “I’m sure,” Sam said without hesitation. He’d never liked the Newport house much, but it had been Jamie’s favorite, and he hadn’t been ready to let it go until now.

  Sam had just been going through the motions these last few years, he stayed busy with the day-to-day operations of his global empire. It had been five years since Jamie’s death, and Sam had been alone all that time. He’d had no interest in other women until he’d met Jessica.

  * * *

  The next morning, Sam lay in bed and listened to the sound of the ocean and the chorus of exotic Hawaiian birdsong outside his bungalow. He propped his head up with two pillows and looked out at the ocean. The sea breeze flowed into the bedroom, past the open sliding glass door and flooded the space with the scent of gardenia.

  After the nine minutes of meditation he always did first thing in the morning, he thought about his plans for the day. First, he’d take a morning swim in the ocean, and then he’d eat breakfast at the Marlin House.

  When Sam walked in the front door of the restaurant, he headed toward his usual table in the corner. It surprised him to see Jessica already sitting there, sipping tea. Sam walked right up and sat down as if they had planned to meet. Jessica had her head buried in the newspaper, engulfed in a story about the Hawaii reefs dying from the effects of global warming, and didn’t even notice Sam had sat down. When she looked up, their brown eyes met, and Jessica peered into Sam’s for a moment as if two long-lost souls had reconnected.

  Jessica said nothing. Sam smiled and said, “Good morning. I’ll move to another table in a moment. I sit here every morning, but it’s obvious you got here first. Unless you’re willing to share?”

  Jessica smiled back and then continued reading the paper.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Sam said, as he picked up a menu. He didn’t need to read it, he had it memorized and ordered the same thing for breakfast every morning. But he figured he’d hide his face in it until he could think of what his next move would be.

  That morning, Loana was the server and walked up to their table.

  “Good morning, Mr. Stewart. Mahi-mahi and eggs as usual?” she said.

  “That would be great, Loana.”

  Loana disappeared back to the kitchen to put in Sam’s request.

  “Good thing you studied the menu,” Jessica said as she folded the paper and set it down on the table. Her brown eyes looked straight at Sam, and she asked, “You knew my father well?”

  “I did. We were good friends. We both liked boats and muscle cars. Your father and I would sit down at the Castaway Bar and talk story for hours about who had the faster car or canoe. And this whole thing just makes little sense.”

  Jessica nodded in agreement.

  “I’d like to help you find out the truth of what happened to your father in any way I can. While I’m not an investigator like you are, I do have something to contribute,” Sam said.

  Jessica’s eyebrows rose a little. She wondered how he knew she was an investigator. She doubted Uncle Jack would have told him. Hmmm, maybe Jasmine.

  Sam noticed Jessica’s surprise and added, “Your father mentioned it a few times. That’s how I knew.”

  “Sam, I appreciate your offer, but I work best alone.”

  Sam wasn’t used to people telling him no. He thought for a moment and then asked, “Does that apply to your personal life too?”

  “What makes you think I’m alone?”

  Jessica took a sip of her tea as Loana came to the table with Sam’s breakfast. Sam sliced into his fish, and just before taking a bite, he said, “No wedding ring. And I asked one of my spies here at the resort.” Sam smiled as he chewed his fish.

  The coconut wireless was one thing they didn’t have when she was in LA. There were no secrets in Kona. Everyone knew everyone, and they all s
eemed to know each other’s business. She didn’t miss that part of living in a seaside village one bit.

  “What do you think about having dinner?” Sam asked.

  “I have it most nights,” Jessica answered, as she grinned.

  “I mean us,” Sam said with all the courage he could muster. This was difficult for him, and she wasn’t going to make it any easier.

  “It was nice to see you again, Mr. Stewart.” Jessica stood up from the table to leave. “I’m sure you’re a nice man, but I don’t have time right now to get sidetracked. I have to find out what happened to my father.” She grabbed her sunglasses off the table and walked out the front door of the Marlin House.

  Sam couldn’t believe he had just been shot down over what he thought was friendly territory. This just didn’t compute. Women threw themselves at Sam all the time. He was the heartbreaker. Not the other way around. Game on, he thought.

  10

  Simmy

  As she made the short walk back up the hill to Mike’s bungalow, Jessica thought about Sam. She felt there was something between them and wanted to explore that feeling more. But her priority was to handle her father’s estate and find out the truth about his death. As she walked up to the bungalow, she saw a car parked in the driveway, and the front door was open. It appeared as if someone was loading the car with things from the bungalow. Jessica walked in the front door with a fair amount of caution and came face-to-face with Simmy, who attempted to carry a painting out the door. It was her father’s favorite and had been in the family since Jessica was a child. Her father had gotten it on a trip to Japan, when he’d met Jessica’s mother for the first time.