by Al Boudreau
“Thank you, I appreciate your understanding. And about our meeting. Would you be willing to get together later this afternoon? That way I can include Richard.”
“Done. My priority is getting Amber back. You make the schedule. I’ll adjust mine.”
“Thank you,” I said. “You’ll hear from me as soon as Richard sets foot on the property.”
Chapter 3
I couldn’t help but smile as I spotted my long-time friend and associate Richard Kimball standing on the sidewalk, just outside the baggage claim area of Honolulu International Airport. I’d once heard Sarah describe Richard as the perfect combination of Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, a tall, lanky guy with thick black hair and heavy sideburns. He threw his hand in the air and gave me a big smile as I drove past and pulled up to the curb.
“How was the flight? Did you get your free Mai Tai?” I asked as I tossed his bags into the trunk of my rental car.
“Flying first-class is always good,” Richard said as he slapped me on the shoulder. “Yeah, they offered up their lousy cocktail, but I figured I’d wait for the real ones. Take Duke’s Waikiki, for instance. Now those folks know how to make a real Mai-Tai.”
“The Royal Hawaiian pours one that’ll make a believer out of you, too.”
“That they do,” Richard replied as we drove away from the airport, bound for Ko-Ahiku Resort. “I know first-hand. The Royal Hawaiian is where I spent my honeymoon with Emily.”
“That’s right. Forgot you two stayed there. How is Mrs. Kimball these days?”
“Oh, she’s fine,” Richard replied. “Just left for Paris yesterday afternoon with three of her girlfriends.”
“Paris, huh? Wow, the home security consulting biz must be going gangbusters to be able to foot that bill.”
“Yeah … right. Man, I love it here. The way the air hits you as soon as they open the aircraft door. Every time I come to Oahu I’m convinced I’ll never manage to climb back on the plane to leave. It’s truly paradise.”
I found it odd that Richard chose to sidestep my comment about his work, but I let it go. “Yep, paradise. That’s probably why a passenger jet touches down on one of Honolulu’s runways every 30 seconds or so. Nowhere else quite like it in the world. Too bad we’re here for work.”
“Well, yeah, but … you’re going to let me get in at least one round of golf, right?”
I shot Richard a sidelong glance. “Didn’t you say that’s how you met Ellis Odell?”
“Yeah. At the Riviera, right down the street from my office.”
“Sure, I’ll let you play a round. But take Odell with you. That way I can expense it.”
Richard laughed. “OK.”
“Out of curiosity, how does one end up playing golf with a drug dealer?”
“For your information,” Richard said, his voice taking on a defensive tone, “Odell started out as an oral surgeon. He got hooked on pain meds, and his business went down the tubes. With the exception of being able to prescribe meds, that is.” He shifted in his seat. “Anyway, he’d contacted me about designing a security system for his home. So I took him golfing. Wasn’t able to close him, unfortunately. But landing this case will make the money I spent trying to woo him all worthwhile.”
I nodded. “I’m surprised you rolled the dice on flying out here without knowing if I was going to take the case.”
“I didn’t see it as a gamble. I figured you’d take it. Besides, Odell paid for my flight, too.”
“I’m not sure why you felt so confident I’d sign this guy up, because I’ve got to tell you … I’ve been riding the fence about this one. And what’s worse? I haven’t shared the ugliest detail with Sarah yet.”
“You talking about the tracking implant?”
“Yep. The implant. You know, you really have to question the sanity of Ellis Odell for deciding to get involved with the reprobate who took his daughter. I mean, who in their right mind agrees to have a tracking device embedded in their child’s skin by a man who calls himself Tukor? As far as that goes, why would anyone put their trust in a man who won’t even reveal his real name?”
“You know the drill, Carter. Lure of easy money and all that jazz. Apparently, selling drugs really does pay.”
“Guess I just have different values. There are certain lines you don’t cross. Ever. Even if they offer you all the money in the world. I’ve never understood why people turn to crime when you succeed just as easily by doing respectable work.”
“I don’t disagree, my friend, but desperation has a way of clouding one’s judgment. Drugs and drink. They skew your priorities until you run out of good choices.”
“I suppose. But most things in life involve decisions, right? When you start making poor ones, that’s where the problems start.” Richard responded with laughter, which made no sense to me. “What’s so funny about that?”
“See those two vehicles?” he asked, tipping his head toward two pickup trucks next to us. Both vehicles had a slew of teenagers in the back, their hair and clothing flapping in the wind.
“What about them?” I asked.
“You know what those are called, don’t you?”
I shrugged.
“Hawaiian station wagons,” he blurted out.
“Perfect. That’s a new one on me,” I replied, confused by why Richard had dropped our previous discussion the way he did. “No offense, but you seem a little off. Everything all right?”
“What? Yeah, fine. Anyways, carrying passengers like that would be illegal in any other state,” Richard added. “They do things a little differently here.”
“Speaking about doing things differently,” I said, “Sarah asked that I hire her brother Andrew for the case.”
“Sarah has a brother?”
“Well, half-brother. It’s a long story.”
“Oh-kay. What is he? Ex-military? Retired cop?”
“Accountant,” I replied.
Richard chuckled. “You’re joking, right? Does he have any experience?”
I hesitated. “I doubt the guy has ever even held a weapon in his hands.”
Richard’s chuckle turned into a full-on roar. “Quit messing with me, Carter,” he finally said. “Like you’d really allow a greenhorn to stumble his way through a dangerous case like this.”
I kept my eyes focused on the road ahead, Richard’s smile slowly fading away in my peripheral vision. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. You’re serious,” he said, his tone now far from jovial.
“Sarah thought Andrew could help. I doubt she would’ve given us her blessing to take the case otherwise. And the guy needs a job.”
“What, does she not like him or something? He could get himself killed. Or worse, get us killed.”
“I know, I know. I’ll come up with a way to keep him out of the line of fire,” I replied.
Richard stared out the window for a moment. “I guess I’m okay with that.”
I gave Richard a weak smile as I slowed down for the off-ramp to Ko-Ahiku Resort. The landscape immediately changed from brown grass and scrub brush to manicured lawns and multi-tiered rows of vibrant tropical flowers.
“You’re kidding me … we’re staying here?” Richard inquired, his concerns about Andrew’s involvement in the case suddenly shelved. “I figured Odell for a man of means, but I had no idea he could afford to put us up in a joint like this.”
“I don’t see us spending much time lounging around this place,” I said. “Besides, we reach some sort of an agreement with Odell and he might tell us Ko-Ahiku Resort isn’t our base of operations anymore.”
“Did you have to pop my fantasy bubble so quickly?” Richard asked.
“We’re meeting with Odell at The Surf Rider. It’s on the tenth floor, so you’ll get to bask a bit longer. Just don’t get too comfortable.”
Richard shook his head. “I don’t have any concept of what the term too comfortable means, but I hope to live long enough—and make enough money—to figure it out.”
I slowed for
the speed bump marking the ramp to the multi-level parking garage, the facility located below ground. I held my keycard up to the reader and the automated gate shot upward, granting us entry. We parked in our designated spot and rode the elevator to the ground level.
“Guess the folks who designed this place didn’t want anyone to forget where they were,” Richard offered as we stepped out of the elevator and headed through the corridor to our room. “The artwork, carvings, old photographs … they did a nice job here.”
“Part of the mystique,” I replied. “Most of these suites are timeshares, but they have a dozen or so to sell outright as condos. They’re asking three mil for the keys to the waterfront units, so they’d better have some exotic amenities to go along with it, right?”
Richard shot me a look like he was choking on a golf ball. “Three million dollars?”
“Yep, according to the sales brochure I glanced at, anyways. And they had the nerve to put the $1,500 per month maintenance fee down in the fine print. That’s a bill that probably goes up every year. And just like paying rent, it never goes away.”
“Wait, what? Just for the maintenance fee? That’s more than my monthly mortgage payment.”
We reached the door to our suite. “It’s pricey,” I said as I swung the door open and motioned for Richard to enter. “But you’ve got to admit … the place is pretty swank.”
Richard took three steps into our temporary living quarters and stopped in his tracks. “Wow! If I had the kind of money it takes to own one of these suites I’d probably be living here full-time.”
“I doubt either of us has to be concerned with making a decision like that any time soon,” I replied.
“That’s for sure.”
“You planning on taking a shower before we go to meet with Odell?” I asked.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Okay. Well, your room is through that door over there. Our suite has two separate bedrooms, each with its own master bath. I gave you the bigger bedroom.”
Richard smiled and disappeared into his room as I dialed up Odell. Straight to voice mail. “Mr. Odell, this is Carter Peterson. Richard’s here, and we’re ready to head up to The Surf Rider whenever you are. Give me a call.”
I activated the switch to raise the privacy screen hanging over the sliding window-wall, then opened our space up to the outdoor tiled lanai. Richard’s reaction was bound to be entertaining once he got a load of our magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean.
I took a seat and watched a group of people playing in the waves when I heard the wail of sirens in the distance.
One after another, the piercing warnings of multiple emergency vehicles filled the air. I’d been around so many accident scenes in the past, I could now gauge the number of vehicles responding just by the sound. I was sure a minimum of six units had arrived, each coming to an abrupt halt close by.
“What on earth is all the commotion about?” Richard asked, his inquiry immediately followed by someone banging hard on our door.
“Carter! You in there?” I heard someone shout. It sounded like Ellis Odell.
Richard opened the door a crack as I stood up and headed back inside. Odell seized the opportunity and blew past, clearly shaken. A black backpack hung from his shoulder.
“It’s not good. It’s really not good,” Odell mumbled, as if in a daze. “I need a drink. You have anything?”
“Sorry,” I replied. “Haven’t been to the store yet.”
Odell fumbled with his phone then placed it against his ear as he paced back and forth from the lanai to the kitchen bar. “Kaholo? Ellis Odell. I’m in 108. Cancel my table and bring me a bottle of Glenlivet 12, as soon as possible, please.” Odell placed his phone and backpack on the kitchen bar and paced a bit before heading out to the lanai. He sat down on the edge of one of the recliners facing the ocean.
I looked at Richard, who shrugged and made his way toward the lanai to join Odell. Just as Richard was about to take a seat, Odell jumped up and began pacing again.
“Mr. Odell,” I said, “what’s going on?”
“One of Tukor’s bullies was dogging me. When Tukor finds out what just happened there’s no telling how he’ll react.”
“What exactly did happen?” Richard asked, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
Odell remained silent.
“Mr. Odell, what about this bully of Tukor’s?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe the guy’s been tailing me for days. But he tried to grab me as I was crossing the street. Right in the middle of the crosswalk. One lane of traffic stopped. The other didn’t. I barely missed getting taken out by a delivery van. Tukor’s guy wasn’t so lucky.”
“That explains the sirens,” I said.
“When the van driver hit Tukor’s guy, the impact sent him flying out ahead of the van. The driver hit his brakes, but it was way too late. I took off, but from what I could see when I looked back, the guy ended up being pinned underneath the van.”
“This is bad. Why did you leave the scene?” I asked.
“I panicked,” Odell said.
Richard folded his arms across his chest. “If this Tukor character has your daughter, why would he send one of his men to come after you?”
Odell shot Richard a filthy look. “Because he’s furious with me. Why do you think Tukor kidnapped Amber in the first place?” Odell hung his head and broke down.
Richard gave me a subtle shake of his head, eyebrows raised. Apparently, he had no clue what Odell was talking about either.
“I’m confused,” I said. “You need to elaborate.”
Odell pulled out a stool and took a seat at the kitchen bar. He rested his elbows on the counter and cradled his forehead in his hands.
“Let’s just say Tukor wasn’t too happy when his men busted into that veterinary clinic and found me and Amber in the back. The vet was so scared, he just took off. I froze. No idea what to do, with Amber lying there, arm opened up …” He took a moment to compose himself before adding, “When Tukor’s men saw that bloody tracking disc lying next to her on the operating tray … that was it. They grabbed her and the device. I tried to stop them, but they pulled her out of there and she was gone.”
Chapter 4
I stepped out onto the lanai and motioned for Richard to join me while Ellis Odell wept in the kitchen. “What have you gotten us into, Richard? I mean, seriously. An animal doctor operating on a young girl’s arm?” I was doing my best to keep my voice down, despite my anger. “Sarah will have me in a noose when she catches wind of this whole hot mess. When I said I’d partner up with you on this one, my understanding was the job involved finding a missing girl. Not dealing with a den of lawless maniacs.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry, I had no idea about that episode, either,” Richard replied. “Odell conveniently left it out of the conversation when we discussed his case.”
“Yeah, well, he left it out, and now I’m out.”
Richard pursed his lips and gave me a long stare. “Carter, please. We’re already here, and … and you told this guy we’d take his case. Don’t you think we should see it through? We’ve certainly dealt with worse.”
“I guess you’re not hearing me. I’m too old for this crap. Sarah did her best to talk me out of it. If I’m being honest, I feel like a damn fool for not listening.” I turned to extend an apology to Odell, along with the bad news.
Richard caught my elbow and held me back. “Tell you what. Keep half of my fee. Please. Just take the case.”
“You think this decision is about money?” I asked. “My relationship with Sarah, that’s what’s really important to me. She’s my partner. And she’s not going to go for this.” I took a deep breath and massaged my temples. “This is bad, Richard. We’re way out of our league, and you know it.”
Richard reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. “Carter, I’m nearly broke.”
I looked at Richard as if he had three heads. “What?”
Richard ste
ered me toward the outer edge of the lanai, well out of earshot of our troubled guest. “I didn’t want to have to share this with anyone—especially you—but I made some piss-poor investment decisions not too long ago. Now they’re beginning to bite me in the backside. I’m in real trouble here, Carter. I need this one.”
I clenched my jaw and fought the urge to launch one of the lounge chairs off the lanai. I seldom felt anger. In fact, my temper was nearly non-existent. But my relationship with Sarah had always been off-limits when it came to making sacrifices for work. I’d promised myself never to risk doing damage to the bond we shared, and I wasn’t about to start today. “This is on you, Richard. Call Sarah. Tell her every detail about this case. Confess your situation to her. If you talk her into giving us her blessing, we move forward. She shuts you down, I’m out.”
“Geez, Carter, I …”
“Take it or leave it,” I said and stormed off toward the bedroom. I slammed the door shut, angrier with myself than I was with Richard. I took several deep breaths and opened the fancy hanging shade over the sliding door of my room to reveal the beautiful beach beyond. I couldn’t help but think about how messed up was it to feel so stressed out in a place where most people didn’t seem to have a care in the world.
Our lunch plans had changed, I was starving, and I needed to blow off some steam. I rummaged around in my suitcase for a pair of khaki shorts and the one subtle, black, short-sleeved Hawaiian shirt I owned. I changed into my tropical clothes, then slipped into the brand new pair of leather flip-flops Sarah had given me right before I packed my bags. My tourist’s outfit complete, I headed through the sliding door toward the lanai. In my peripheral vision I could see Richard talking on his phone. I kept walking and stepped off the lanai, bound for the deli down the street.
“Carter, hold up. Sarah wants to talk to you,” Richard said as he approached with his cell.
“Hey,” I said into the phone.
“Carter, it’s bad enough some selfish jackhole would embed a tracking implant in the arm of a thirteen year old girl. But her own father went along with it? And she was operated on by a veterinarian? Did you know about any of this before?”