Maui Murders

by Kathy Callahan

  “George!” she exclaimed. “What happened to your wrist? Are you hurt anyplace else?”

  “I hadn’t noticed the rope burn with everything else that was happening. Maybe some ointment on it when I change into dry clothes, then I’ll tell you all about our adventure.”

  Dewey approached Layla to introduce himself and reassure her she was safe. Layla saw him coming, backed up to a corner of the lanai, and screamed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re that bum I saw passed out by the tavern wall. Stay away from me.”

  Gently, Dewey said, “Yes, I was passed out by the tavern, which is not my usual state. Secondly, I’m not a bum. I’m a windsurfer, and I have independent means.”

  “Sounds like a bum to me,” Layla said, looking up gratefully as Annie came back outside.

  “I can’t believe you’ve let this person onto your lanai,” Layla said, looking at Dewey.

  “That’s Dewey. He’s like family to us. I’m Annie Boone, George’s wife. Let’s go inside and get you into some dry clothes. When we get back, I’ll fix you some breakfast and fill you in on what has happened.”

  Annie picked up one of the bags and Layla the other, then they went into the house.

  CHAPTER 9

  Kyle used garbage bags to fashion rain protection for himself, then double-wrapped his medical bag, giving it to the sheriff to carry so he could concentrate on getting the sheriff down the lanai stairs and up the roadway; not an easy task in normal weather, made much more difficult under the current conditions. They decided the sheriff would sit and scoot down the stairs, and Kyle would hold him around the midsection to get him up the road. Very slowly, they made their way up the roadway, Kyle stopping a couple of times to adjust his grip and catch his breath. Finally at the curb, the sheriff saw Danny sitting on the veranda and motioned him to come across the road and relieve Kyle of his burden.

  “My god, Sheriff, were you attacked?”

  “No, Danny, I slipped and got cut on some lava rock. The doc stitched me up before we left the Wong house. I want you to go tell Joe Wong I know he doesn’t have the lanai windows covered on his rental. And if he doesn’t get plywood on them within a couple of hours, the fine I impose will cost him half a year’s rental. I don’t want all that glass on my beach when waves begin to crash into that house. I know what I’m talking about. We just left that lanai, and it’s getting really bad.”

  “Impossible to phone Mr. Wong, but I can go over there and be back in twenty minutes, if that will help?” Danny asked, hoping that would keep him from going back into the market.

  “That will have to do. Get me inside and you can leave, but be back as soon as you can. We need you here.”

  Danny and Kyle helped the sheriff into the market. Danny left for Joe Wong’s, while the sheriff and Kyle handled things inside. Leading Kyle to the scene of the crime, he handed him rubber gloves and put on his own pair.

  Kyle gasped, not realizing the extent of the crime until he saw the gruesome slashing of the Okamotos. “Jesus, Sheriff, how could someone do something like this? It takes a very sick individual to commit this type of crime.”

  “Not going to argue with you there, Doc. I’ve not moved the bodies, but I have taken plenty of photos. What I need you to do, if possible, is to determine the time of death and to take fingerprints of the victims.”

  “I don’t have the proper probe a coroner would use, but I’ll do my best to give you a rough time of death within a couple of hours. Do you have a fingerprinting kit?”

  “Yes, left the kit by the counter. I’ll hop out and get it while you work on the time of death.”

  “That was easy. Mr. Okamoto’s watch broke, probably struggling, at exactly 4:11 a.m.”

  The sheriff nodded. “That would match with what Dewey said. It was 3:30 a.m. when he was in the market. Then Annie got here at about 6:10 a.m., which means our killer actually had a short window between the time Dewey left the market and the Okamotos were murdered. Could be he didn’t realize Dewey was even here or passed out over by the diner wall. Dewey might just be lucky he’s alive.”

  Kyle looked questionably at the sheriff. “Are you sure this Dewey person didn’t commit this crime?”

  “Quite sure. He passed out after smoking a joint given out at a bachelor party. He’ll never forgive himself now that he found out the Okamotos were murdered while he was sleeping it off.”

  “Sheriff, let’s get these bodies into the cooler. You aren’t going to be of much help with that leg. How soon will your deputy be back?”

  The sheriff looked at his watch. “About fifteen minutes, but I’m sure I can help.”

  “I’m the doctor, and I’m sure you can’t. We can’t run the risk of dropping them or doing any more damage to the corpses. We need to find something we can put the bodies on to haul them into the cooler.”

  “I saw a dolly back in the cooler. Do you think we could somehow use that?”

  “Take me where you saw the dolly.”

  The sheriff hopped to the cooler and pointed to a corner area where two dollies were kept.

  Kyle got the dollies out of the cooler, saying, “First off, I’m going to give you a shot for the pain. You’re wincing with every step you take. Secondly, we’ll wait for your deputy to get here, and he can help me get the Okamotos onto the dollies. I don’t want you opening those stitches and getting your blood all over the place.”

  “Reckon I’m not going to argue with you. Damn leg is hurting like a son-of-a-bitch. I’m worried about Danny’s ability to help. He got sick when I sent him in here initially.”

  “Tell him that’s his damn job. This is the last thing he can do for the Okamotos, and they deserve his best.”

  The sheriff was impressed with Kyle’s sternness, and he was right; it was Danny’s duty.

  Kyle found rubbing alcohol and cotton gauze on a shelf. He wiped the dollies down as best he could while they waited for Danny. He got several kitchen towels and took them along with a roll of duct tape. “I’m going to use the towels to secure the heads of the Okamotos and tape the towels on with duct tape. I don’t want the heads rolling around when we move them.”

  Ten minutes later, Danny returned. “Joe Wong didn’t want to go out in this storm, then I explained there had been a double murder, not mentioning any names and he wouldn’t want the murderer to hole up in his place since the doc and his missus were staying at the Boone’s. That did it. He got his sons, and when I left, they were loading plywood and getting ready to go do some nailing.”

  “Good work, Danny,” the sheriff said. “Now put some gloves on. You are going to help the doc load Mr. and Mrs. Okamoto onto these dollies and get them into the cooler.”

  Danny paled as the sheriff gave him the instructions. “Sheriff, I don’t know if I can do that. I got real queasy when I was in there the last time.”

  “Damn right you can do it, Deputy. It’s your duty.” Kyle snapped the sentence out and then apologized. “I’m sorry, they are the parents of a dear friend, and we need to get them into the cooler right away. Because of the damage to the sheriff’s leg, it is impossible for him to assist. We owe it to these folks to make this final effort for them.”

  “Right, Doc, sorry for acting this way, but I’ve never seen this type of thing. I’ve witnessed horrible auto accidents, surfing deaths, but this is so cruel and inhuman, I can’t understand something like this.”

  “You’re not alone there, Danny. I don’t think any of us can understand this. I’ve secured the neck areas, which might make it easier for you to view the corpses. We need to take them out of their lounge chairs, put each of them on a separate dolly, and get them in the cooler. Once there, I will need your help in getting their fingerprints. Are you OK with this so far?”

  “Sounds good, Doc.”

  In under an hour, Kyle and Danny had both bodies in the c
ooler and fingerprinted. Danny added more fuel to the generator, and the sheriff placed a “Crime Scene” sticker on the outside doorframe of the market. The sheriff let Charlene know what was accomplished, and that all were going to the Boone’s for breakfast.

  CHAPTER 10

  Annie led Layla to a guest bedroom to select something dry to wear. Layla took her wet clothes off and looked in a bag for dry clothes; she found bra, panties, white clamdiggers, and a white T-shirt that fell just above her waist. She slipped into the bra and panties, then turned to Annie and said, “If you will tell me where to put these wet things, I’ll hang them up.”

  Annie looked at Layla, letting out a small gasp as her eyes fell on the reddish C-section scar. “I didn’t know you had a baby.”

  Layla cast her eyes downward. “She didn’t survive. The C-section wasn’t in time, and the umbilical cord was wrapped too long around her little neck.”

  Annie saw the tears welling in Layla’s eyes; she went over and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry. Losing a child is an experience that must be unbearable. God was gracious to us. Both our children were born without any problems. I’m sure you will try again and have beautiful children.”

  “I feel that everyone blames me for my baby’s death. Everything was normal until almost time for me to deliver.”

  “You carried her to full term?”

  “Yes, there was confusion because Kim Okamoto, my anesthesiologist, thought I had another hour before delivery, so he went back to his office. While there, he was called to an emergency. Kyle, being my husband, was not permitted to be my attending anesthesiologist. I felt a terrible pain and called the nurse who got my doctor. My doctor determined there was such distress to my baby, they would have to do an emergency C-section, and I was rushed into surgery. However, there was no anesthesiologist available. About eight minutes later, Dr. Hammond, who had been finishing up in another surgery, came and administered the anesthetic, and then they began the C-section. But it was too late. She was gone. It should not have happened. This was Georgetown University Hospital, one of the best in the nation. I was the wife of a noted doctor, but my baby was gone.”

  The pain in Layla’s voice told Annie that she blamed herself for something that clearly wasn’t her fault. She reached for Layla’s hand, squeezed it, and said, “You wash your face, then come back to the lanai. I’ll have coffee waiting for you, then you can decide what you want for breakfast while I fix George something to eat.”

  Annie got up and walked back outside. “Listen, guys, please don’t say anything to Layla about the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Okamoto. That poor girl recently lost a full-term baby in childbirth, and she’s in a delicate state of mind. Kyle should tell her what had happened.”

  Annie walked over and scooted next to George, who was stretched out on a chaise lounge. Annie put her head on his chest and whispered, “Honey, this has been a bad day for each of us, but I listened to that poor child and I realize how lucky we are. We have two great kids, and best of all, we have each other. I don’t think Layla and Kyle are getting along too well, and Layla is really suffering.”

  “Funny you sensed that, I got the same vibe over at the Wong place. Something was off, almost like he was ignoring her presence.”

  Layla walked out onto the lanai, looking pale and gaunt. Annie got up and poured her coffee. She walked back to George and asked him what she could fix him to eat.

  “You probably won’t believe this,” he said, grinning, “but I feel for pancakes.”

  “George, you never eat pancakes.”

  “I know, must be the weather. I’m just craving pancakes.”

  “Coming right up. Honey, how’s the wrist?”

  “I put ointment on it, and that took the sting out.”

  Dewey sat in his chair, mesmerized by Layla. She was so pale, her hair white blond, and she wore white pants and a white T-shirt. She reminded him of a delicate china angel that his parents put on top of the family Christmas tree. Delicate, fragile, like a whisper of a person; Dewey was aware he was looking way too intently at her. Annie had whispered to them about the loss of her daughter. He couldn’t believe she had lost a baby; how horrible that must be for her and Kyle. He was glad Annie had warned them not to say anything about the Okamotos.

  George was at the table digging into his pancakes; Annie served scrambled eggs and toast to Layla, then sat down with a fresh cup of coffee, and Dewey continued gawking at Layla. The wind and rain were hammering the well-protected lanai.

  Everyone gave a start as Mr. Soo thumped up the steps onto the lanai. “Hi, all. Yum, I smell food. Are we eating again so soon?”

  “No,” Annie said emphatically, “I just served George his breakfast, and this is Layla. She and her husband, Kyle, are staying at Joe Wong’s rental. The sheriff asked for Kyle’s assistance because Kyle is a doctor, and instead of being alone in this weather, we had Layla come stay here.” Annie was hoping Mr. Soo would not blurt out anything about the Okamotos, but she feared he would not be able to contain himself.

  “I have Mrs. Soo safely secured in our house and warned her not to open any of the sliders or doors unless she was sure who was out there. I feel certain she is safe. She will be sensible in this situation.”

  Dewey had gotten to his feet and was hoping to get to Mr. Soo before he said anything more on the subject. “Mr. Soo, come over here and sit a spell. Do you think Otis will open the diner today?”

  “He might considering all that is going on at Okamoto’s Market, but he will probably stay home because of the storm. Annie, good thing you and George can be counted on to feed us strays.”

  Layla began looking at the various faces, but no one was returning her inquisitive stares. “What happened at the Okamoto’s Market?”

  “You don’t know?” Mr. Soo began. “Someone came in the early morning and killed them both by slitting their throats.”

  Layla quickly rose from her chair, tipping it over. She grabbed at her neck; what little color she had completely drained from her face. “What are you saying? Kyle and I dropped them off at their market last night after riding over with them on the airplane. My god, those are Kim’s parents you’re talking about.”

  Annie rushed to Layla’s side and got her to sit back down. “I’m sorry. I thought it best to wait and have Kyle tell you, but what Mr. Soo said is true. They were murdered last night, and Kyle is helping our sheriff with the investigation. Our local doctor can’t get back from Hana, and the county coroner can’t get here because the roads are washed out.”

  Layla grabbed Annie’s arm and looked at her beseechingly. “I really liked Mrs. Okamoto. She was so kind and a very good-hearted person. Does Kim know about any of this yet?”

  “No, it’s impossible to reach Kim, and if that was possible, there is no way for him to get here in this weather. The sheriff decided to wait and contact Kim when he’s able to get to Maui. Kyle has requested he be the one to speak with Kim,” George added.

  “Of course, Kyle should be the one to speak with Kim,” Layla said a slight edge in her voice. “I’m sorry, Annie, I’m unable to eat any more. Thank you. It was delicious.” Layla got up and sat in a chaise lounge away from the group. She tucked her feet under her, turning her back on everyone, lost in her own world of thought.

  Except for the noise of wind and rain, lanai activity had settled down. Annie was tucked into George on another chaise; Dewey sat facing Layla’s back, so he could jump at a moment’s notice in case she needed anything; Mr. Soo sat at the table, happily munching on Fritos, enhancing each with bean dip.

  The calm was broken when the sheriff’s voice broke through. “Damn it, Danny, I can make it up the stairs on my own. Don’t even think of carrying me! I’ll hop up one stair at a time and lift my bad leg up with my hand. You stand in front and the doc will stand behind in case I slip.”

  “George, fire the grill up. You’ve three hungr
y men here,” Danny called.

  Startled, George woke up and realized with the comfort of Annie next to him, he had fallen asleep. She too had dozed off. He gently kissed her cheek and whispered into her ear, “Honey, the next wave of hungry people are here. Time for us to get back to our soup kitchen chores.”

  Annie hugged George to her, saying, “I would rather stay right here and have you whisper in my ear, kiss my cheek, and forget this day ever happened.”

  “That would be much better than reality. Unfortunately, my love, that isn’t going to happen. Let’s get up and take care of these guys before they decided to start cooking on their own.”

  “Good to have you all here safely. Sheriff, sit here.” George pulled out a chair. “And the rest of you, find a seat at the table. We have steak, bacon, eggs, pancakes, and even hamburgers if you like. What will it be?”

  “Steak and eggs for me, I’m starved,” the sheriff said, stretching his leg out and rubbing his straining calf muscle.

  “Sounds good, me too,” Danny agreed.

  “Bacon and eggs will do for me, George,” said Kyle.

  “Best I can do is scramble the eggs and grill some toast. Let me know if you want cheese in those eggs,” George said to the group.

  They all agreed on cheese in their eggs and toast. Annie and George began getting food on the grill when Mr. Soo chimed in, “As long as you’re at it, I’ll take a hamburger, please.”

  George and Annie grinned at each other, both knowing Mr. Soo never missed an opportunity to have a hamburger.

  Dewey walked over to the group and was introduced to Kyle. He asked if there were any new developments and was told what they had accomplished at the market, and there was nothing new to report. Danny mentioned he would need to get fingerprints from Dewey and Annie once things had settled down for elimination purposes, orders from the county sheriff.