Blood like the Setting Sun: A Murder on Maui Mystery

by Robert W. Stephens

  “What did he do that deserved justice?”

  “Charlotte was devastated, as she had every right to be. She went running to Eddie, and of course, he was there to comfort her. One thing led to another, and they started their affair. I found out about it. They weren’t exactly discreet, so I left him. They continued their affair afterward. I don’t know for how long because I moved back with my family here on Oahu. Charlotte got pregnant with Joe. Maybe she was already pregnant while I was still married to Eddie. I’m not sure.”

  “You didn’t stay in touch with your husband, even though you shared a son?” I asked.

  “Trevor came with me to Oahu. I wasn’t about to leave him with Eddie and Charlotte. He’d spend the summer months with his father on Maui, though. He eventually moved back there when he was a teenager.”

  “Why?”

  “Typical parent-teenager stuff. I was hard on him. I’ll admit that, but I wanted him to make something out of himself. I actually intended him to take over the Acker family business at one point, but the kid was lazy. He never wanted to do anything. I guess he moved back to Maui because he assumed things would be easier with his father.”

  “How long did Charlotte stay with Eddie?” I asked.

  “Not long. She was still pregnant when she went back to Millard. It was a hell of a scandal, but it’s been long forgotten by now. Charlotte was a survivor, too. She came from nothing, and she didn’t want to go back to nothing. She was still with Eddie when he left the Chambers hotel. I think she thought he would fight for it, but he didn’t. He told me years later he just wanted to be rid of Millard and start a new life with Charlotte. Once Charlotte realized Eddie was broke and not likely to provide her with the life she wanted, she asked Millard to take her back.”

  “Why would Millard take her back, especially if it was already a scandal?” I asked.

  “Because there was a bigger scandal on the horizon. Politicians do it all the time. They let one secret leak, so everyone could go crazy over it – while the real dirt stays hidden. I’m certain she threatened to go to the police, too. Millard would have been ruined forever. They both got what they needed. Millard stayed out of jail and Charlotte got to be the big-shot wife of a wealthy hotel owner. I saw in the news they’re about to sell that place to a large chain of hotels. That family will make millions, and to think it all started with my father simply giving them that piece of land because I begged him to.”

  I thought back to the notes Charlotte received. “You aren’t innocent. Who is the real monster? You know how this ends.” They had to be related to the “real dirt” Rebecca just mentioned.

  “What did Millard do?” I asked.

  I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know the answer, but Rebecca told me, and it made me sick.

  I barely made it back to the airport in time to catch the early-afternoon flight back to Maui. When I exited the airport in Kahalui, I found myself walking to the rental-car lot instead of the short-term parking area where I’d left my convertible. I remembered my lesson from the earlier case of following Doctor Peterson, and I rented the most boring sedan I could find. I even asked for a beige one. I know that wasn’t the official color. They always have something fancier like “desert sand,” but this thing looked beige as far as I was concerned.

  I drove to Lahaina and went to Harry’s. It was still too early for Patricia to be off work. I didn’t know her schedule, but if the wedding-planning business was as busy as she said it was, then she’d be at work until at least five or six o’clock, probably even later.

  I sat at the bar and ordered a scotch. My usual beer wasn’t going to be enough after what I’d heard from Rebecca Acker. The bartender asked me if I wanted something to eat, perhaps my usual order, which was a burger topped with lettuce, onions, and avocado slices. I told her I should have been hungry since I hadn’t eaten all day, but I wasn’t, so I just stuck with the scotch, which quickly turned into two drinks. I thought about calling Foxx and asking him to join me, but I really wasn’t ready to have a conversation with someone.

  Five o’clock eventually rolled around, and I drove the beige rental to Olivia’s wedding-planning company. Fortunately, there was a large window in the front of the business, and I could see Patricia working inside. I didn’t see Olivia or any other person. I turned the car off and just watched her work for about an hour. From time to time, I’d turn the car back on and crank the air conditioning, but otherwise, I kept the window rolled down and spent my time thinking about the case. I knew there was probably no way I would ever have learned the Chambers’ secret without Rebecca telling me, but now that she had, everything seemed so clear. It was really all right there, just sitting out in the open. I just had to confirm one more thing to be certain of all the players.

  Patricia left the shop about an hour later, and I followed her to a small grocery store a few blocks away. She was inside for no more than ten minutes. She left the store carrying two bags. Patricia climbed into her car and drove to a neighborhood in Ka’anapali. It wasn’t that far from where I lived with Foxx. She parked in the driveway and carried the groceries to the front door. She pulled a key out of her front pocket and let herself inside.

  It’s never a good idea to judge a book by its cover, as they like to say, but I had a hard time believing Patricia could afford to either rent or own that house. The neighborhood was fairly exclusive and close to the beaches. I didn’t know if she had family money like I did or not, but if so, why would she work as a personal assistant to Charlotte Chambers and then as another assistant to the granddaughter at a company that planned destination weddings?

  I only had to wait another fifteen minutes to get my answer. A second car pulled into the driveway and parked beside Patricia’s. Olivia got out of the car and walked to the front door. She also removed a key from her pocket and let herself in. Either the two ladies lived together, which seemed the likely answer, or one of them had given the other a key since they were such good friends - friends, by the way, who had only met a few weeks ago.

  The blinds were closed on the front of the house, and all the houses in this neighborhood were fairly close together. Most houses on Maui were unless you had serious money and could afford to not be right on top of your next-door neighbor.

  I didn’t think it would be possible for me to walk around to the side or back of the house without someone calling the police and reporting a suspected Peeping Tom. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been busted for that offense. Besides, I’d already gathered the information I wanted. Patricia and Olivia didn’t just work together. They were good friends, maybe even something more.

  I didn’t feel like driving back to the airport and fetching my car, so I drove the rental back to Foxx’s. Foxx was home, and I thanked him for watching the dog. I took the dog for a walk and thought about everything I’d learned that day. It was a hell of a lot of information, and I was still trying to put the pieces together. I got back to the house and grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator. I’d need to drink some water soon, and a lot of it.

  The doorbell rang a few minutes after that. Maui took off running toward the front door. I followed him. I looked through the peephole and saw Alana. I opened the door. She looked upset.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I’ve been calling you all day,” she said.

  I reached into my front pocket and pulled out my phone. I hit the home button on the phone and saw it was turned off.

  “That’s right. I had to turn off my phone when I got on the plane.”

  “What plane?” she asked.

  “Maybe you should come inside,” I said.

  I led Alana into the living room, and she and I sat down across from Foxx. I told them both about my trip to Oahu and the information I’d learned from Rebecca Acker. I also told them about following Patricia to the house in Ka’anapali and then seeing Olivia arrive at the same house.

  “I’m sorry,” Alana said.

  “For what?” I asked. />
  “I made fun of you for spending the night going through all of Patricia’s Facebook photos, but that’s really what clued you in.”

  Alana’s statement was only partially true. The only thing I’d known that morning was that something wasn’t right, but I already knew that after the murder of Charlotte. It turns out the elderly lady I’d first met at Mara’s office wasn’t that much of a mystery at all. Charlotte’s story was an old one. It was about greed and the willingness to look the other way to get the money and influence one wanted. Politicians did it every day. I shouldn’t really be surprised that Charlotte did it too.

  “Do you think Barry knows about this?” Alana asked.

  I didn’t answer Alana. I didn’t know the answer.

  Chapter 20

  The Final Interview

  Alana called Mara Winters that night to arrange a meeting with Barry. Alana suggested we conduct the interview at his home or Mara’s office instead of the police station. Mara recommended her office, so we met them there the next afternoon. Barry was already there by the time we arrived. I assumed he’d gotten there early to prepare with Mara. I had a feeling he already knew what we were going to ask him.

  I thought Mara might object to my presence, given that I wasn’t any type of law enforcement official, but she didn’t. Maybe she was worried she’d ruin what was left of our working relationship. I hadn’t talked to her since she told Alana she needed to be present for all interviews regarding the Chambers family. Mara had hired me to find who was threatening Charlotte. In my mind, that job extended to discovering who had subsequently killed her, but Mara had switched directions on me when she moved to defending Charlotte’s children. I knew she was in a tough position. There was no real evidence against any of them, and Mara certainly would have looked bad if she’d declined to represent them. The Chambers family was connected, and they could have easily damaged her reputation to other existing and potential clients. The rich have a way of sticking together.

  Mara led us into her office. Barry was already inside, sitting on the sofa. He stood when we entered and shook hands with Alana and me. We all sat down, and Mara opened the conversation.

  “So, Detective Hu, what did you want to speak to my client about?”

  I interrupted her, as was our plan.

  “Actually, do you mind if we wait a few minutes? I invited someone else to join us.”

  I had technically invited her, but it was Alana’s idea. She didn’t think she’d be able to get Olivia to admit to anything. I doubted I could either, especially after our last verbal sparring session. Alana thought, however, that she might lose her cool around her father, a man who was supposed to protect her but had failed to in spectacular fashion. There was also the potential of Barry getting angry when he heard Olivia’s responses. Our plan was simple - turn them against each other.

  “Who are we waiting for?” Barry asked.

  “Your daughter,” I said.

  Alana and I went silent while we let the panic build inside Barry. Olivia showed up five minutes later. Mara’s assistant led her into the office. Olivia was smiling when she entered. She looked like she didn’t have a care in the world. Alana, Mara, and I stood to greet her. Barry did not.

  “Thank you for coming Ms. Williams,” Alana said, and they shook hands.

  “You look familiar,” Olivia said. She paused a moment. “Oh, yes, I have seen you before, on Mr. Rutherford’s cellphone. He showed me a photo of you when he was in my office.” Olivia turned to me. “You’re right. She is quite beautiful.”

  Olivia smiled again, and we all sat down.

  Alana turned to Barry. “I’m wondering, Mr. Williams, do you know Rebecca Acker?”

  Barry shook his head. “I don’t recall anyone by that name.”

  “Do you, Ms. Williams?” Alana asked.

  “No.”

  “I’m sure you both know Edward Edelman’s name,” Alana said.

  “No, I’ve never heard of him,” Olivia said.

  “He was Millard Chambers’ original partner,” Barry said. “I never met him, though. I believe he died years ago.”

  “Rebecca Acker was married to Mr. Edelman at one point. Mr. Rutherford here went to see her yesterday. She told him several interesting things,” Alana said.

  “What does any of this have to do with my clients?” Mara asked.

  “It goes to the motive of Mrs. Chambers’ murder,” Alana said.

  She waited for Barry or Olivia to say something, but they didn’t. Mara didn’t say anything, either.

  “When did you know?” Alana asked Barry.

  “Know what?” Barry asked.

  “The answer to who killed your mother-in-law.”

  “I assure you if my client knew who murdered Mrs. Chambers, he would have immediately contacted the police,” Mara said.

  “Under normal circumstances, I would probably agree with you, but we all know that when it comes to matters of the family, doing the right thing can often be thrown out the door,” Alana said.

  I studied Olivia for her reaction. The smile was gone from her face, but she’d replaced it with a look of concern - not panic, mind you, but something that easily passed for sincere worry for her father. Her performance was magnificent, and I considered standing, applauding, and shouting, “Bravo!”

  “Are you implying that Mr. Williams had something to do with the murder?” Mara asked.

  “Not at all. But he knows who did it,” Alana said.

  “Did Bethany tell you, or did you figure it out on your own?” I asked.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Barry said.

  “Did you know about what happened to your wife, or did she keep that to herself? I would understand if she kept it hidden. It wasn’t her fault, but I’m sure she felt an amount of shame,” Alana said.

  Barry looked away, and I knew for certain that Bethany had told him.

  “I would appreciate it if you would get to the point, Detective,” Mara said.

  “The man was despicable,” Barry said, and he turned back to us. “I didn’t know what he had done. I swear to you I didn’t know. I never would have left her with him.”

  I continued to watch Olivia. She still had the look of sincere concern. There wasn’t a trace of anger, and I was beginning to worry we’d fail.

  “Why didn’t you go to the police? The man had molested your daughter,” Alana said.

  “I wanted to, but Charlotte threatened us. She said Millard would be arrested, and the business would be ruined. She said we’d all be out on the street. I told her I didn’t care. I told her I’d rather be on the street than see that man go free.”

  “What changed?” I asked.

  Barry didn’t answer.

  “It’s okay, Father. You can tell him,” Olivia said.

  Barry still didn’t say anything.

  “It was my mother,” Olivia said. “She convinced him not to go. She said her father would never do it again. She said they needed to put it behind them and keep working at the hotel. It would be the family’s security for the future.”

  “How do you know all of this?” Alana asked.

  “My mother told me years later,” Olivia said.

  “Were you angry with her?” Alana asked.

  “Of course,” Olivia said.

  I turned to Barry. “Bethany knew what was going on, didn’t she? It had happened to her when she was a child,” I said.

  “I hated her for it,” Barry admitted. “I actually took Olivia, and I left. Bethany and I were separated for a month, but she kept begging me to come back. She said it would never happen again. Olivia missed her mother. Charlotte came to see me while Bethany and I were separated. She told me that Bethany would have no choice but to file for divorce and the courts would give her primary custody. She said it made more sense for me to return, so I could be a constant presence in Olivia’s life. I threatened to fight them in court, but she said the Chambers family had the money to outlast me, and they did.�
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  Charlotte had worked it all out, I thought. She had put Barry into a no-win situation and gotten her way. It was all to protect the family legacy and their money.

  “I told Mara this morning that I don’t want any of it,” Barry said.

  “Any of what?” Alana asked.

  “The inheritance. Bethany left me everything, but I’m giving it all to Olivia. Joe had no one to leave anything to, so half of his shares would have gone to Bethany. I’ll make sure Olivia gets those too.”

  “You’re trying to buy Olivia’s forgiveness?” I asked.

  “No,” Barry said.

  “As regretful as all of this is, I still don’t see what it has to do with Mrs. Chambers’ death,” Mara said.

  “How long have you known Patricia?” I asked Olivia.

  “Since my time in California. I met her while working on a music-video production.”

  “She told me she’d only met you at Charlotte’s funeral and that conversation led to you offering her a job with your new company.”

  “Patricia is sometimes embarrassed by our relationship. It’s true that society has come a long way, but she still feels uncomfortable talking about it. We lived together in L. A. She followed me to Maui when I decided to move back.”

  “So you were the one who introduced her to your grandmother?” Alana asked.

  Olivia nodded. “My mother mentioned one day that grandmother was looking for an assistant. I knew Patricia hadn’t been able to find anything and was frustrated by that, so I recommended her.”

  “It was a convenient way to get her inside the house,” I said.

  “Why would I need her to get inside?”

  “To learn things. To know her habits, where and when she went, what she liked to eat and drink,” Alana said.

  “It was my grandmother’s house. I could go over there anytime I wanted,” Olivia said. “Or I could have simply asked her what I wanted to know.”

  “You’re still not telling us how this relates to Charlotte’s death,” Mara said.