Just then, the KVOL news began on the TV in the waiting room. My brother’s station did a great job covering the fire, with aerial shots and commentary from the Battalion Chief. Ralph Kim, a reporter who had interviewed me a few times, did a stand-up with my brothers outside Uncle Chin’s house.
“Our own station manager, Louis Kanapa’aka, was one of the courageous rescuers who stepped into the blaze searching for the two small children and two teens who were lost on the mountain,” Ralph said. “Mr. Kanapa’aka, can you tell us what it was like?”
Lui’s tie was artfully askew, his black hair slicked down with sweat, a smudge of soot on his white shirt. Haoa stood beside and a little behind him.
“It was awful,” Lui said. “I have enormous respect for the members of the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department who braved the fire. My own brother, homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, was one of the officers who captured the two suspects who set the fire.”
I braced for a recap of my coming-out story, but fortunately Ralph Kim skipped on to the history of the Whites and their ministry. “Birth records obtained from the state of Texas indicate that Jeff and Sheila White were brother and sister, not a married couple as they represented themselves. Gives a whole new meaning to the Church of Adam and Eve, doesn’t it, folks?”
He signed off and the coverage moved on. “Cole’s birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks,” Eli Harding said to me when the news was over. “We’d be honored if you and your brothers and the other officer who rescued him would be the guests of honor.”
“I think we’d all be pleased,” I said. “You just let me know the time and place.”
I took the bullet back to headquarters and dropped it at the ballistics department, then went back up to St. Louis Heights. My family was still clustered at Uncle Chin’s house. The gamblers were playing and Aunt Mei-Mei was cooking. Jimmy was in the back yard with a couple of my nieces and nephews, who were jealous of the role he’d played in the fire.
I called Mike. “I’m just finishing up here,” he said. “I’m starving. You want to get something to eat?”
“Why don’t you come back to Uncle Chin’s? There’s plenty of food and Aunt Mei-Mei keeps on making more.”
“I don’t want to intrude. It’s your family.”
“Intrude? You kidding? There’s a yard full of kids who will think you’re the biggest hero ever.” I took a breath. “And I’d like to see you, too.”
“On my way,” he said.
I took a plate of food from Liliha and settled down among my family, and when Mike arrived he sat beside me. It felt really good having him there.
I spent the day after the forest fire, a Friday, with Mike, making sure we had all our evidence in order, and on Monday I was catching homicide cases again. Within a few days, Sandra, Cathy and Robert reopened the Hawai’i Marriage Project, in new offices with better security. With the death of Wilson Shira his community group fell apart, and his widow issued a public appreciation to the police department for our role in bringing his killers to justice.
The Church of Adam and Eve closed down after Jeff and Sheila White were arrested. Both of them were in custody, awaiting psychological evaluations and eventual trial for the deaths of Hiroshi Mura, Wilson Shira, and Charlie Stahl. It looked like both would be behind bars for a long time.
The news implicated The Sandwich Islands Trust for their sponsorship of the Church of Adam and Eve, and Miss Emma Clark retired, putting Terri in charge as chairman of the board. She immediately began reviewing all the programs the Trust supported. The new job revitalized her and gave her a focus beyond Danny and just getting through the days.
Jimmy was pretty traumatized by his kidnapping and fiery escape. He remained with Aunt Mei-Mei and began seeing a psychologist and studying for his GED with a tutor. I was hoping that seeing him a hero on the news might have convinced his father to change his mind about Jimmy and invite him back home, but that hadn’t happened, and Jimmy didn’t think it ever would.
A couple of weeks later, I was back at The Queen’s Medical Center, in that same waiting room outside the OR. This time my mother, my brothers and my sisters-in-law were there with me, and it was my father on the table.
The doctors said this operation to reopen some blocked valves in his heart was routine, but it was still pretty tense there with nothing to do except imagine complications and loss.
I took a break and went outside. I was standing out on the sidewalk catching the sun when Mike pulled up in his truck. I looked around. “No fires here.”
“You’re always on fire.” He motioned me over to the open window of the truck, and we kissed. I didn’t care who was watching.
Then he opened the door and got out.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I came to sit with you. You told me your sisters-in-law were here with your brothers. I guess I ought to be here too.”
I felt like a sap, standing out there on South Beretania Street with my eyes welling up. Mike said, “If there’s H20 on the inside of a fire hydrant, what’s on the outside?”
I smiled. “Don’t know, but I’ll be you’re going to tell me.”
“K 9 P.” Then he put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Come on, let’s go in.”
And laughing together, we did.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NEIL PLAKCY is the author of Mahu, Mahu Surfer, Mahu Fire, Mahu Vice, Mahu Men, and Mahu Blood about openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka. His other books are Three Wrong Turns in the Desert, Dancing with the Tide, The Outhouse Gang, In Dog We Trust, Invasion of the Blatnicks, and GayLife.com. He edited Paws & Reflect:A Special Bond Between Man and Dog and the gay erotic anthologies Hard Hats, Surfer Boys and Skater Boys. His website is www.mahubooks.com.
Trademarks Acknowledgment
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
America’s Most Wanted: FOX
Disneyland (Mickey Mouse): Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Dole: Dole Food Company, Inc.
Fiberglas: Owens-Corning
Gianni Versace: Gianni Versace S.P.A.
Ginch Gonch: Ginch Gonch
Honolulu Advertiser: Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Lexus: Toyota Motor Company
Long’s: CVS Caremark
Longboard Lager: Kona Brewery LLC
McDonald’s: McDonald’s
MLB All Star Game: MLB Advanced Media, L.P.
Nintendo: Nintendo of America Inc.
Reeboks: Reebok International Ltd. is a subsidiary of adidas AG
Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special Airweight: Smith and Wesson Corporation
Suzuki Samurai: American Suzuki Motor Corporation
The Advocate: Here Media Inc.
Topsiders: SR Holdings
Toyota Camry: Toyota Motor Company
Volvo: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Walkman: Sony Corporation
Walmart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers International, Inc.
Will and Grace: Lionsgate Home Entertainment and NBC Studios
World Series: MLB Advanced Media, L.P.
YMCA: YMCA of the USA
Zippy’s: Zippy’s Inc.
MLR PRESS AUTHORS
Featuring a roll call of some of the best writers of gay erotica and mysteries today!
Derek Adams
M. Jules Aedin
Maura Anderson
Victor J. Banis
Jeanne Barrack
Laura Baumbach
Alex Beecroft
Sarah Black
Ally Blue
J.P. Bowie
Barry Brennessel
Michael Breyette
P.A. Brown
Brenda Bryce
Jade Buchanan
James Buchanan
; Charlie Cochrane
Karenna Colcroft
Jamie Craig
Kirby Crow
Dick D.
Ethan Day
Diana DeRicci
Jason Edding
Angela Fiddler
Dakota Flint
S.J. Frost
Kimberly Gardner
Roland Graeme
Storm Grant
Amber Green
LB Gregg
Drewey Wayne Gunn
Kaje Harper
Jan Irving
David Juhren
Samantha Kane
Kiernan Kelly
M. King
Matthew Lang
J.L. Langley
Josh Lanyon
Clare London
William Maltese
Gary Martine
Z.A. Maxfield
Timothy McGivney
Lloyd A. Meeker
Patric Michael
AKM Miles
Reiko Morgan
Jet Mykles
William Neale
Willa Okati
L. Picaro
Neil S. Plakcy
Jordan Castillo Price
Luisa Prieto
Rick R. Reed
A.M. Riley
George Seaton
Jardonn Smith
Caro Soles
JoAnne Soper-Cook
Richard Stevenson
Liz Strange
Marshall Thornton
Lex Valentine
Haley Walsh
Missy Welsh
Stevie Woods
Lance Zarimba
Check out titles, both available and forthcoming, at www.mlrpress.com
THE TREVOR PROJECT
The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives though its free and confidential helpline, its website and its educational services. If you or a friend are feeling lost or alone call The Trevor Helpline. If you or a friend are feeling lost, alone, confused or in crisis, please call The Trevor Helpline. You’ll be able to speak confidentially with a trained counselor 24/7.
The Trevor Helpline: 866-488-7386
On the Web: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
THE GAY MEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT
Founded in 1994, The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, non-profit organization founded by a gay male survivor of domestic violence and developed through the strength, contributions and participation of the community. The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy and direct services. Understanding that the serious public health issue of domestic violence is not gender specific, we serve men in relationships with men, regardless of how they identify, and stand ready to assist them in navigating through abusive relationships.
GMDVP Helpline: 800.832.1901
On the Web: http://gmdvp.org/
THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/GLAAD EN ESPAÑOL
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
On the Web: http://www.glaad.org/
GLAAD en español: http://www.glaad.org/espanol/bienvenido.php
SERVICEMEMBERS LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).The SLDN provides free, confidential legal services to all those impacted by DADT and related discrimination. Since 1993, its inhouse legal team has responded to more than 9,000 requests for assistance. In Congress, it leads the fight to repeal DADT and replace it with a law that ensures equal treatment for every servicemember, regardless of sexual orientation. In the courts, it works to challenge the constitutionality of DADT.
SLDN Call: (202) 328-3244
PO Box 65301 or (202) 328-FAIR
Washington DC 20035-5301 e-mail: [email protected]
On the Web: http://sldn.org/
THE GLBT NATIONAL HELP CENTER
The GLBT National Help Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and those questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity. It is an outgrowth of the Gay & Lesbian National Hotline, which began in 1996 and now is a primary program of The GLBT National Help Center. It offers several different programs including two national hotlines that help members of the GLBT community talk about the important issues that they are facing in their lives. It helps end the isolation that many people feel, by providing a safe environment on the phone or via the internet to discuss issues that people can’t talk about anywhere else. The GLBT National Help Center also helps other organizations build the infrastructure they need to provide strong support to our community at the local level.
National Hotline: 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)
National Youth Talkline 1-800-246-PRIDE (1-800-246-7743)
On the Web: http://www.glnh.org/
e-mail: [email protected]
If you’re a GLBT and questioning student heading off to university, should know that there are resources on campus for you. Here’s just a sample:
US LOCAL GLBT COLLEGE CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS
http://dv-8.com/resources/us/local/campus.html
GLBT Scholarship Resources http://tinyurl.com/6fx9v6
Syracuse University http://lgbt.syr.edu/
Texas A&M http://glbt.tamu.edu/
Tulane University http://www.oma.tulane.edu/LGBT/Default.htm
University of Alaska http://www.uaf.edu/agla/
University of California, Davis http://lgbtrc.ucdavis.edu/
University of California, San Francisco http://lgbt.ucsf.edu/
University of Colorado http://www.colorado.edu/glbtrc/
University of Florida http://www.dso.ufl.edu/multicultural/lgbt/
University of Hawaiÿi, Mānoa http://manoa.hawaii.edu/lgbt/
University of Utah http://www.sa.utah.edu/lgbt/
University of Virginia http://www.virginia.edu/deanofstudents/lgbt/
Vanderbilt University http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lgbtqi/
Mahu Fire Page 27