The Yoshinobu Mysteries: Volume 2

by John A. Broussard

  “What about the chicken?”

  “OK. So it wasnt one hundred percent. But maybe we should be raising a few chickens.”

  Sid broke into a laugh. “I can see you now butchering one of them. And youd better not get any ideas about having me do it.”

  “We could get a few. Just for eggs, though.”

  “And to think it all started with your wanting a cat.”

  “There is something to be said for animals.”

  “Theyre reliable. Not like clients. Is that what youre saying?”

  “I guess. Something like that.”

  “And Isuppose youre thinking of our most recent client, our accused murderer.” Sid tried to catch the expression on Kays face, but the rapidly fading tropical light had already left it hidden in purple shadow.

  “Ive got some free time before lunch tomorrow. If OHearne comes in at nine, it will give me plenty of time to go out to the airport after he leaves. Can you make it?”

  “Yeah, providing your sleuthing doesnt take too long. Quals putting the finishing touches on the Moniz appeal, and he wants me to check out the case references with him. Thatll take up most of the morning.” Sid stood up and stretched. “Shows over,” he said, “Lets go in.”

  The phone was ringing just as Sid had found the evening paper and a place to sit among the cats on the sofa. Kay picked up the portable phone to hear a familiar voice. “Hi, Kay. This is your mole in the Napua PD.”

  To Sid, whod looked up inquiringly from his paper, Kay silently mouthed, “Corky,” walked over to an overstuffed chair, dropped into it and pulled her legs up under her, obviously making herself comfortable for a long chat. “Youre no mole, Corky,” Kay said. “Hank would never object to any of the information you pass along to us.”

  “Maybe. But hed much rather pass the information along himself. Lucky for me you act surprised when he tells you something Ive already told you. Which isn't saying he's not suspicious. All that may change though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Havent you heard? Chief Yamadas retiring.”

  “Ive known about his plans to retire for a couple of years. So?”

  “Well, the two years are up. Hes turned in his resignation, effective the first of July. But the big news is the mayor has sent a whole new departmental reorganization plan to the council. For one thing, she wants to fill those captaincy vacancies weve had on both sides of the island. Theyre the ones the Council has been too chincy to provide the money for.”

  “You think Hanks in line for captain?”

  “Right on. Rumble is the mayors going to bring in some young hot shot to fill Yamadas slot and then move up a couple of the lieutenants. So Hanks wondering about whether or not hell be offered the job, and wondering even more if hell take it if it is offered.”

  As Corky was talking, Kay could easily envision the new mayor promoting Hank, but wondered if she would have the courage to promote Corky to lieutenant. Sex barriers still existed, even when a woman was in charge. For her part, Kay felt few members of the Napua PD were more qualified or more competent to be homicide lieutenant than Sergeant Honda. “Why shouldnt he take it?”

  “Oh, hell! You know why, Kay. Hes an old fire horse. When word comes over the blower about a possible homicide, hes off and running for his car, siren on and lights flashing before he leaves the curb. He knows hell miss all that.”

  “Whats Toni say?”

  “Naturally, shed like to see extra money coming in. Theyre salting some away for the kids college, and a captains salary would make the nest egg grow a lot faster and fatter. But, you know Toni. Shes not about to make Hanks mind up for him. And Im sure shell be happy with whatever he decides. Anyhow, thats not what I called you about. Hank and I did some interviewing todayfriends of Charlie Dyer. Are you working on the Dyer case with Sid.”

  “Yes,” Kay nodded into the phone.

  “From what we can make out, she had only a small circle of friends here in Hawaii, all of them officers of Hawaiian Harvest and their families. We talked to…(Kay could hear the rustle of paper) Isobel Kim, Marketing VP; Richard Hanamoto, Personnel V and; Winston Hanamoto, his brother, who runs the accounting department. The president of the company, Joanilos Demos and his wife Zoe are over on Oahu. They took off on their yacht Saturday morning, but theyre due back, in the next couple of days.”

  “Anything interesting?”

  “Uh-uh. Dull and consistent. Consensus is Charlie played around some, and her husband didnt give a damn.”

  “Have you run him down yet?”

  “Jeezus! You missed out on the news. Morton Dyer was on the plane that went down off of Frisco.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah. The police photographer was the first one to hear about it. He was at the Dyer house this morning retaking some photos which hadn't turned out, when the phone rang. It was the airline calling to inform the bereaved. Chuck says it was kind of eerie telling them the next of kin had kicked off too.”

  “Doesnt Dyer have any other family.”

  “Nope. But Charlotte does, and Hank pulled his usual, about how a woman is better at informing relatives. God, but I hate this part of the job! I finally ran down her father, John Beaudoin, but I didnt get to talk to him. Her sister answereda Lamerne Mann. Actually, it wasnt bad passing the news along to her. No hysterics or anything like that, even after I told her shed lost a brother-in-law on the same day. Her and her dad are flying out. Theyll be here early tomorrow.”

  “Maybe it was just shock on her part,” Kay suggested as an answer to the sisters calm reception of the news.

  “I dont think so. In fact, I got the impression Lamernes main concern was to find out who died first, Charlie or her husband. And she seemed really relieved when she found out Morton Dyer cashed in before his wife did.

  ***

  OHearne gave essentially the same answers as he had to Sids questions. The only emotion he showed was mild annoyance when asked to repeat the events of the previous morning. Kay had listened to the tape they had made the day before and was watching for discrepancies. She spotted only one.

  “Wasnt there a car parked on the side road you went into by mistake?” she asked.

  “Oh yeah. Clean forgot about it.”

  “Would you describe it again.”

  OHearnes forehead creased deeply. “I really didnt get a very close look at it.”

  “You said it was a big car. Something looking like it belonged there. Is that right?”

  “Did I say that?I really cant be sure. I wouldnt want to bet any money on what it was. I was only interested in finding the right house at the time.”

  “Do you remember the color?”

  “Not really. It wasnt under a streetlight, you know.”

  ***

  It was almost a half an hour after OHearnes departure before Sid and Kay had the opportunity to sit and discuss their clients most recent interview. Moments after OHearne had stepped out the door, a Vietnamese woman with three young children in tow had burst into the office.

  It had taken the concerted efforts of Kay, Sid, Qual and Leilani to work through the language barrier, and then only with the help of a Vietnamese restaurant owner of their acquaintance doing the translating over the office speaker phone. As it turned out, her husband had been arrested for assault and, what with her deep-seated mistrust of the police, the woman had gone off in a random search for help rather than calling from the station. Someone, somewhere, had directed her to the law firm of Smith, et al.

  “Finally,” Sid said, as he sat down in Kays office, flipping over the pages in a sheaf of papers. “I havent even had a chance to look over this police report on the crime.” “What do you think about all the car business, Sid?” Kay asked.

  Sid looked up from his reading. “Car business?”

  “Yes, car business. Why was he so sure about the parked car last time, and so uncertain about it this time? If I hadnt called his attention to it, he wouldnt even have mentioned it.”

/>   “It probably doesnt mean a thing. You know as well as I do how stories change. There really werent any significant differences in what he said both times, and thats what matters.”

  Kay shook her head, partly in disagreement, partly from uncertainty, her eyes focused off into the distance.

  “He checks out,” Sid announced.

  Kays eyes refocused on Sids face as he went on. “Born in California. Stockton. Lived there most of his life. Parents and a couple of brothers still live in the area. No problems with the police. Three years of college. Quit and went into the army. Served three years and got married during that time. Discharged, following a truck accident during maneuvers. Ten percent disability because of resulting hip injury and limp. Went back to college after the army, but quit again and went to work for a trucking company. Several odd jobs, then with an air freight outfit in San Francisco. Nationwide Express. Stuck with them and moved up. Company transferred him to Oahu. Couple of kids in the meantime. Divorced about two years ago. Pays child support regularly. All pretty dull and straight forward.”

  Sid paused and looked over the desk at the attentive Kay. “He doesnt much sound like a murderer, does he?”

  Kay ignored the question. Looking at her watch, she said, “Its about time for my walk.” She reached for the phone, adding, “And if I want to get into the Dyer house, Id better give Jeff Bentley a call.” As she spoke, she watched Sids face to see his reaction. Sid had a jealous streak, and Jeff Bentleys name tended to uncover it. Long before her own relationship with Sid, Kay had had a brief but torrid affair with Jeff, a corporation attorney on Elima. Even after all these years, Kay could see just a hint of tightening about Sids lips.

  While waiting for her call to go through, she smiled and said, “Jeffs really on the wagon, these days. I hear hes become a Christian Scientist, and as straight-laced as they come. Next thing you know, hell be getting married and raising a family.” Her smile became mischievous as she asked,“Isnt it time for you to go check those case references with Qual?”

  Sid pretended not to hear, seemingly concentrating on the OHearne file.

  The receptionist at Jeffs office finally managed to put her through, and Kay flipped on the speaker switch for Sids benefit.

  “Hi, Kay. Nice to hear from you.”

  There was a different quality to the voice. Kay wondered if she would have recognized it had he been the one calling her.

  After a few snatches of small talk, Kay told him the reason for her call.

  “Good thing you called, Kay. The First National has already gotten a seizure order. The loan officer was more than a little relieved to find out he wouldnt have to do any evicting. But now hes concerned about someone vandalizing the place, and other creditors have joined in the order. Theyve got a security guard out there making sure the Mercury stays in the garage and the furniture doesnt get eased out. Ive got the key and can show you around. And this will be a chance for you to meet my fiancee, by the way.”

  Kay threw an amused look over at Sid who seemed oblivious to the conversation and totally immersed in the OHearne papers.

  She had barely set the phone back into its cradle when it rang. Corkys voice boomed over the speaker. “Hey, Kay, waitll you see what showed up this morning. Phew! Lamerne Mann is something else again. And her two brats are double something else. If Juni ever shows signs of growing up that way, Ill hang him up by his thumbs.”

  “Wheres she staying? Id like to talk to her.”

  “Thats what I called you about. Shes staying at the Malalani, but shell be by the station at noon to fill us in on Charlottes background. Ill ask Hank if you can sit in.”

  “I cant make it then. Will she be around at one.”

  “Hard to say. She said shes going to the airport to pick up Morton Dyers car after she leaves here.”

  “Maybe I can arrange to meet her after shes through with her interview. Ill call around noon.”

  “Sure thing. Ive got a feeling Hank will be only too happy to pass her along to you.”

  As Kay hung up the phone, she looked over at Sid. Both knew Corky had encountered her fair share of strange beings during her years on the force, so both had the same thought. Lamerne must really be something else!

  ***

  The last time Kay had seen Jeff Bentley, he had been a very obvious recovering alcoholic, nervously substituting a cigarette habit for the drug his doctor had told him was killing him. Now, even the tobacco was gone. Something of the old Jeff was back again, the Jeff she had been attracted to many years back.

  There had been a series of stages, a succession of Jeffs. First, the young corporation lawyertall, slim, handsomeambitious and already succeeding in fulfilling his ambitions, though never completely to his satisfaction. Then came the next stagelong after Kay and he had gone their separate waysthe heavy drinker and workaholic, caught up in sports cars, women, hours of pouring over tedious documents to find the missing comma, and making money almost as fast as he was spending it. And next, the lush. At which stage, Jeff had been on the knife edge of losing everything, his reputation not the least of the losses, but something had pushed him toward sobriety. Kay had never learned the exact cause but, clearly, the road had been rough.

  Today, Jeff looked surprisingly young. The suit he wore was expensive but not extravagant. The woman he was with was a far cry from the flashy variety of his oatsowing days. Plain, dressed rather unfashionably, Shirley Mariones would turn no mans head. But the young Filipina had a nice smile. Young? Kay rethought her original impression. Shirley was probably in her mid-thirties, but there was an aura of innocence about her which made her seem surprisingly youthful. All-in-all, Kay decided Jeff had made an amazing turnaround in his life.

  They had agreed to meet at the Dyer house. Kay arrived first and had been able to convince the guard, though only with some difficulty, how there was no need for her to wait out on the street. The same guard accompanied them closely on their tour of the house and grounds. Jeff grinned, saying, “The loan officer put the fear of God into the security company. They can see themselves paying for everything from a missing garbage can to some stolen heirloom.”

  Kay had read the description of the bedroom, and this was the first place they gravitated to. Chalk marks still visible on the pale blue rug, it was easy to visualize the body crumpled on the floor. Shirley slipped out of the room while the two attorneys talked.

  “Any idea why she was killed?” he asked.

  “I was going to ask you that, Jeff. I know the Dyers were flat broke, but was there insurance or something equivalent which could make money a motive?”

  Jeff shook his head. “Nope. Morton had a big life insurance, but hed borrowed on it as much as he could and then allowed the payments to lapse. There was none on her.” Jeff nodded toward the chalk marks. “On the other hand, I can see some burglar figuring there was a gold mine in here,” he continued, waving his hand to indicate the plush surroundings.

  The two of them were still discussing possible motives when they rejoined Shirley in the hallway.

  “Care to come along with us for lunch?” Jeff asked, as they were standing outside on the enormous lava slab serving as an entryway, while a relieved security guard closed the door behind them.

  Walking over toward Jeffs small Honda, Kay answered, “Thanks just the same, but Ive got a crowded schedule. There is something you could do for me, though, if you have a few extra minutes. Would you drive me over to the airport and drop me off?”

  Jeff glanced over at her car. “Sure.” His eyes asked a question.

  Kay smiled. “Im checking out my clients alibi. I want to find out how much time it took him to walk here from the airport.” After obtaining a grudging permission from the guard to leave her own car in the driveway, Kay changed to comfortable walking shoes and went off with Shirley and Jeff.

  Chapter 6

  Situated near the airport, Kula Hill would ordinarily not have been considered the ideal location for an exclusive development, but
the sharply rising backbone of Elima behind the low hill guaranteed no flight path would come anywhere close to its multimillion dollar homes, so the proximity to the airfield was a plus rather than a minus.

  Kay looked up at the development from the airport parking lot and decided fifteen minutes was probably a fair estimate of how long it would take for a fast walk to get her there. The sky was clear, the trades tempered the tropical sun which showed little evidence it was midwinter, and Kay had brought along a broad-brimmed straw hat to protect her from its rays. The walk was pleasant but, even though her frequent tennis matches with Sid kept her in condition, she soon felt the incline up the hill in the back of her calves.

  Checking her watch as she approached Opihi Place, Kay decided she had pretty well confirmed OHearnes timing. Even at a fast walk, fifteen minutes was about the best time one could make. With his limp, she decided, twenty minutes is probably an even better guess.

  Before turning into the cul-de-sac, Kay looked across the main road at another culde-sac, paused, and crossed the road. “Mamo Place,” the sign read. From the south side of Mamo she could easily see the entrance to the Dyers driveway, and the south side was where the ephemeral car of OHearnes first story had very likely been parked. Kay wasnt sure if she had added to the mystery or chipped away a small chunk of it.

  *** It had taken more than a little persuasion, but the guard finally allowed her in when she reached the Dyer houseand only under his close supervisionto use the house phone since her cellphone battery had died..

  Corky sounded exasperated.

  Kay smiled into the phone. “Bad, huh?”

  “Worse. And boy is she pissed because she cant get into the house. She acts as

  though were personally responsible for the crime and the lockout. Now shes on the phone in the other office trying to run down a locksmith to make her a key for Morton Dyers car at the airport.”

  “Does she have a right to it?”