“Then I guess it doesn’t matter where they stay for tonight or the next few days?” I asked.
“At this point, I think we need to ask what they want to do,” said Keoni.
“Is it okay for them to get some clothing and toiletries, John?” I asked.
“Yes,” agreed John. “But I’d prefer to take them over to Miriam’s one at a time.”
As though on cue, my cell phone rang. I had turned it off during my talk with John, and although I had turned it back on, I had not had a chance to check for messages.
“Hi, Nathan. What’s up? We’re winding down here. That’s a good idea. None of us is in any mood to face cooking a meal tonight. Why don’t you bring three pizzas with a variety of toppings, plus a salad? We’ve still got plenty of appetizers and wine.”
Ending the call, I turned back to Keoni who had already said goodbye to John. With a nod toward the front porch, Keoni led the way to the fountain where The Ladies were now seated.
“So, who’s ready for some wine and cheese, until Nathan arrives with pizza and salad for our supper?” I offered.
At the suggestion of food, Samantha smiled and Izzy stopped playing with the blue glass pebbles that line the bottom tier of the fountain.
“I take it the police are finished for today…at least with us?” asked Joanne.
Keoni nodded. “Yes, they still have some work to do at Miriam’s home, but they won’t be back today.”
Izzy sighed. “Auwē, I still can’t believe what has happened. We were all so happy last night…talking about the trips we were planning…after Miriam’s leg healed.”
Joanne added, “I just can’t believe anyone would want to hurt Miriam. In all the years I’ve known her—knew her, she never said anything mean about anyone. Even when she’d read about some despicable crime against women or children, she’d comment on the terrible things that must have happened to push someone into doing something like that. When she was giving speeches, even the small one I attended in Guam, you’d be amazed at the people who would come up to her and hug her and thank her for what she had done to make their lives better.”
Trying to reassure them, Keoni said, “I want you all to know that John Dias and his team will do a thorough job of looking into Miriam’s death. And with their success rate, there’s every reason to believe they’ll bring her murderer to justice.”
“I hope so,” added Samantha. “I don’t like to think that such a horrible person is wandering around the island.”
Not wanting to prolong the discussion that was making all of us feel a renewed sense of sorrow and anger, I called for everyone to regroup in the house.
“Why don’t you all freshen up in the guest suite upstairs, and I’ll start laying out the last of the odds and ends from last night. You’ll find towels, soaps and creams in the medicine cabinet and vanity drawers. Call me if there’s anything else you need.”
With that, I turned to preparing for an early meal. When Nathan arrived, he had brought the basics for our supper, and a couple of items for our pantry.
“I thought that with the company you’re having, you might be able to use some fresh produce,” said Nathan, setting down several grocery bags, in addition to his gift of dinner. “Here are some papayas, lemons and avocados from my yard and I stopped by Agnes’s Bakery for some cinnamon rolls.”
Always glad when anyone helps out in the food department, I quickly expressed my gratitude. “Oh, Nathan. Thanks so much. We’re still not sure about where everyone’s staying tonight, but I know this will all be eaten in the next couple of days.”
With a number of officials still visibly busy at Miriam’s home, I repositioned beverages and snacks for them on the lānai table while we ate indoors. Izzy then helped me reset the dining table. In the center we set trays with pizzas with a range of local delicacies: Maui onions; shiitake mushrooms; artichoke hearts; luau pork; and, teriyaki chicken. By the time we added a large bowl of niçoise salad and the last of the party leftovers, we were ready to sit down. With two bottles of Nipozzano Chianti and a pitcher of water, our gathering was an unsettling echo of the festivities of the previous evening.
We were all rather quiet as we seated ourselves around the table. Before placing her napkin in her lap, Izzy crossed herself and looked down for a moment. Realizing she was saying a prayer, I waited until she looked up to begin passing the wine.
“This may not be a time of joy, but I think it’s appropriate to toast the memory of your dear friend, Miriam Didión, who dedicated her entire life to supporting the cause of peace around the world,” said Nathan.
The simplicity of these words seemed to bring us all to a moment of reflection. As Keoni chimed in with a supportive “hear, hear,” The Ladies smiled slightly, with their thoughts turned inward at their various memories. In honor of both Miriam and my Auntie Carrie, I lit the large tuberose scented candle in the center of a protea arrangement. Perhaps, as we were feeling the sorrow of loss, Carrie was welcoming her friend Miriam to a new adventure on the other side.
Raising her glass once more, Joanne added, “And we want to recognize the kind support of Nathan, Natalie, and Keoni who are helping Izzy, Samantha and me get through this.”
“And the police who are helping resolve Miriam’s…death,” added Samantha.
As I looked around the koa table, I was glad I had been in a position to have Miriam’s Ladies seated together for at least one more meal. While no one seemed especially hungry, we spent at least an hour in the dining room.
As the room grew quiet, I announced, “There’s still quite a bit of Keoni’s cake.”
While the women demurred, Nathan and Keoni’s eyes lit up. “Nathan, why don’t you and I cut some cake. The rest of you can take your beverages into the living room.”
Once we were alone, I asked Nathan’s opinion on where The Ladies should spend the night—and for whatever days it took for the police to complete their investigation of Miriam’s property.
“As you know, Nathan, I only have the one guest room, plus a daybed in the office. I just don’t know whether it would be best for the women to remain together or not?”
“You’re being very generous to offer them shelter. But they’re adults, Natalie. I think you should leave it up to them. And speaking of that, don’t forget that I can take one or more of them over to Hale Malolo for at least tonight,” he responded.
Despite their earlier declarations of not wanting it, Nathan and I cut several slices of cake. In the end, everyone but Izzy opted to have a piece. Having glimpsed her baking habits, I knew she was not watching her slim waistline. She had probably had her fill when sampling each stage of her rich concoction to ensure the cake, filling and icing all came out perfectly.
As I re-entered the dining room, Keoni gave me a certain look. He and I had reached a point in our relationship in which we were developing a private non-verbal system of communication. Clearly, he knew I had had a conversation with Nathan about The Ladies’ circumstances and nodded once to indicate his support for whatever I had decided.
“I want you ladies to know that before he left, John Dias said that he may not need to speak with you again for a couple of days. So, once you’ve gathered whatever belongings you need from Miriam’s cottage, you’re free to go wherever you wish—as long as he knows how to get in touch with you. Keoni and I have one guest room and the day bed in the office to offer you, but I don’t know how you would feel about staying with us.”
Nathan added, “Before you decide, please know that the women of Hale Malolo will also be glad to offer all of you a place of rest and recuperation.”
Izzy, who was usually the last to speak, replied immediately. “You know I was getting ready to spend a couple of weeks house-sitting for my niece Malia down the road. I gave her a call before we sat down to dinner. She’d already heard about what happened from another neighbor and has suggested
I move in a couple of days early. So I’ll just get a few things from Miriam’s and go over to Malia’s for a while.”
“Well, if you’re sure you’ll be comfortable and it won’t be a burden for her,” I replied, relieved to learn I’d have one less houseguest to care for.
“I’m sure one of the Lieutenant’s staff can help your get whatever you need,” affirmed Keoni.
“I’d just as soon go back to Hale Malolo. I already know most of the women and their kids, and it doesn’t look like anyone will need me here any time soon,” declared Samantha in a wistful voice.
Obviously not wanting to inconvenience us, Joanne offered to move to a B and B. “Oh, no, Joanne. Our guest room is sitting empty,” I hurried to say. “It might be good if you were here—close enough for John Dias or his sergeant to ask any questions that might arise.”
“Well, if you’re sure I won’t be a bother. I’ll gladly help in any way I can to find out who did this to Miriam,” she said.
With living arrangements completed, Keoni called John to have an officer escort each woman to Miriam’s cottage. The first to go was Samantha, since Nathan was going to take her to Hale Malolo. Given the lateness in the day, she did not take all of her things. Despite knowing she would be returning at some point in the future, her departure from Izzy and Joanne was tearful. Next, Izzy went to gather some personal things, and with John’s permission, her favorite frying pan and a couple of cooking utensils. With Joanne staying with me, there was no need for her to bring very much.
Soon Izzy and Samantha had departed and Joanne was getting settled in the guest room. Keoni and I then collapsed on the front porch with tall glasses of cinnamon tea to enjoy the lingering lavender hues of twilight.
“Oh, Keoni, I can’t believe the day is finally over. How did you ever live through decades of days like this?”
“I never thought about it that way. It’s like anyone’s life; you live each day as it comes. Bit by bit, you find your groove and the days just meld together, one into the next. I’m sure it was the same for you, my love.”
Shaking my head, I squeezed his hand in continuing admiration for the life he had lived as a homicide detective. Clearly we had both known tragic moments in our lives, and I was so glad to have him there beside me, sharing in this one.
Soon darkness enveloped our corner of the world, and we watched a blanket of flickering stars fill the sky. With the fragrance of flowers surrounding us on nearly every side, it almost seemed possible to turn Life’s clock back. As I reviewed the day, I thought about my latest vision. I realized that most of the time, usually only two or three of my senses are present in my visions—sight and hearing.
In the case of my vision of Miriam’s murder, there was an additional element at play—the cloying aroma of a lavender candle. By the time I stood with Joanne in the doorway of the murder scene, the candle had burned almost to the end. However, the sweet fragrance lingered on, as though Miriam were offering me a flower.
When wispy clouds occluded our view of a perfect quarter moon, we decided to go back inside. Taking our glasses into the kitchen, I looked around and realized I had not seen Miss Una since setting out her morning food. When there was no response to my calling her, I began checking all of her favorite hiding spots on the ground floor. Next I went upstairs where I checked the linen closet and behind the claw foot bathtub in the bathroom.
Just as I had given up my quest and prepared to join Keoni in the bedroom, I saw a faint light coming from the slightly opened door of the guest suite. I approached on tiptoe to keep from disturbing Joanne if she was asleep. Hearing the beautiful strains of a Frédéric Chopin concerto for viola and piano, I nudged the door gently. Directly in front of me, Joanne was sleeping upright in bed with a book lying across her chest. Above, on the headboard, Miss Una lounged with a front paw extended downward onto Joanne’s head. Opening one eye to bid me good night, my darling kitty made it clear she was on personal guard duty for the night.
Pulling the door close to the jam, I went to join Keoni who was already asleep. I crawled into bed, grateful to lie down snuggled against the man I had come to love. It seemed I had barely fallen asleep when I felt Keoni rubbing my arm briskly and realized I was moaning.
“Natalie, Natalie, wake up!”
Shaken to some awareness of my surroundings, I turned into Keoni’s arms.
“Mm. Mm.”
“It’s OK, Natalie, you’re OK.”
“Mmhm. Mmhm,” I murmured again, trying to rouse myself to full consciousness.
“What were you dreaming about, sweetheart? You kept say, ‘the smell…the smell…. How am I going to describe the scene if I can’t mention the smell?’”
Coming fully awake, I rolled onto my back. “Oh, that. Well, sometimes I have dreams about places I’ve reported about.”
“Like a rock climbing wall on a cruise ship at Rio de Janeiro‘s Carnival, or the Mo`ai on Easter Island? What’s that got to do with smells you find frightening and can’t report about?”
I touched the line of his jaw with my index finger. “Well, you’re right about my reporting on Carnival…from nearly everywhere in the world… and things like the Mo`ai . But you know that’s not all I used to cover. Every once in a while I ended up in places that didn’t fall under the category of travel and leisure.”
Wrapping a finger around a lock of my hair, he merely said, “I see.”
I shivered slightly as he blew my hair off the nape of my neck and traced the curve of my tricep to the crease on the inside of my elbow.
“And sometimes, I even had a brush with history.”
“Okay.”
“Like Nairobi, August 7, 1998.”
The movement along my arm stopped.
“I was scheduled to cover a pair of celebrity tourists who were supposed to spend a couple of weeks volunteering at the renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. There’d been some kind of snag with their visas, and I was accompanying them to the U.S. Embassy to help straighten it out. I’ve never been so grateful for a flat tire. You see, our cab hit a sharp pothole about a quarter of a mile from the embassy’s gate and because we were delayed, we missed being victims of the late-morning bombing.”
“Oh, God, Natalie.”
“Just a few minutes and a several meters, and instead of reporting on the news, I would have been a footnote in the news. As it was, I went from writing a two-part fluff piece on the growing popularity of eco-tourism, to live coverage of a world-shifting tragedy.”
As I continued my story, Keoni returned to massaging my arm soothingly.
“The event kept me in that country for an extended period, as I covered the aftermath of the event for cable news. I never did make it to Masai Mara, where I’d anticipated getting paid to enjoy some extended R and R.”
“I had no idea Natalie. You’re always so upbeat about your career as a travel journalist.”
“Well, most of the time it was a big holiday, for me, as much as the tourists I was covering. But occasionally there was an unexpected change of schedule.”
I paused and sighed, gathering the energy to continue. “It really was the smell, you know. That mix of burning buildings and furnishings; chemicals… and… the bodies.”
“No wonder you’re familiar with police and government ops.”
“Mmhm. But I don’t understand what Nairobi has to do with my seeing a man taking aim at Samantha in a forest. There wasn’t any forest near our Nairobi embassy,” I muttered, already falling back to sleep in the safety of his arms.
Knowing there was an abundance of cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit available to Joanne, Keoni and I slept in the next morning—at least until Miss Una came scratching at the door to reaffirm that locked doors were not acceptable. Once we were ready to face the day, each of us spent nearly an hour calling everyone who had left voice messages on our cell phones or the landline. S
ome of the calls came from friends who wanted to express their delight with Keoni’s party. Others came from neighbors who conveyed their shock at the murder in our neighborhood.
With Keoni being a retired homicide detective, quite a few of the callers in the second category were hoping to learn inside details about Miriam’s murder. Since we had missed most of the news broadcasts in the last twenty-four hours, we did not know what information was already public knowledge. Clearly, neither of us wanted to reveal facts that John Dias, or other officials, preferred to keep under wraps. Therefore, we kept our comments on the tragedy to a minimum, claiming that we, like our callers, were dependent on reports provided by the media.
Sensitive to our concern for her, Izzy had left a polite message assuring us she was fine and helping Malia pack for the family’s upcoming vacation on Kauai. When I got around to touching base with Nathan, he informed me that Samantha had passed a peaceful night at Hale Malolo. While horrified by what had happened to Miriam, she had commented she was back to square one in determining what she would do next.
CHAPTER 12
The time will come when diligent research over long periods
will bring to light things which now lie hidden...
Seneca the Younger [4 BCE - 65 CE]
Eventually I entered the kitchen in search of something to eat. Looking out the window, I found Joanne sitting on the lānai with a magazine, as she did mid-morning at Miriam’s home.
“Hi. How did you sleep last night?” I inquired as I walked out the back door.
“Wonderfully…once I had settled in with a book. With everything that happened yesterday, I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep at all, but that wasn’t the case. In fact, I slept so soundly, I never noticed Miss Una was keeping me company ‘til this morning.”
Murder on Mokulua Drive Page 14