Wedding Day Dead: A Murder on Maui Mystery Read online

  “He’s a control freak or something?” I asked.

  “Or something. You ready for your check?”

  “Sure.”

  Dolly went back to the computer and printed out my receipt. I pulled cash out of my wallet and laid it on the bar.

  “Keep the change,” I said.

  “Thanks.”

  “One more thing,” I said.

  I removed a twenty from my wallet and placed it on the bar where she could see it.

  “Just between you and me. How much did Jim dislike Panos?”

  “He hated him.”

  “Was that just because of Shae?”

  “Jim’s a real hothead. Worst I’ve ever seen. When he found out about Panos and Shae, he attacked Panos in the kitchen with a knife. He had to be held back by two other kitchen staff. That’s the reason he was fired.”

  “Did the police show up?”

  “No, Wes managed to convince Panos to drop it. It wasn’t a big deal to Panos anyway. He just laughed it off like he did everything. I actually think he enjoyed knowing he’d gotten Jim so riled up.”

  I stood.

  “Thanks for the information.”

  She shoved the twenty in her pocket as I walked toward the door. I exited the restaurant and debated whether or not to call Shae and wish her good luck on searching for a new job. I decided against it. I really didn’t want to get dragged into more drama that had nothing to do with the case. Selfish of me? Maybe.

  I climbed into my car but didn’t immediately start the engine. It had been an interesting lunch. I learned Wes didn’t have the guts to fire a hostess. I wasn’t sure if that translated to him not having the guts to attack Panos in the boat, though. It probably did. I also learned that Jim had a violent temper and apparently wasn’t above using his kitchen knives to go after another guy. That certainly earned him a place of honor on the suspect list, but there was a problem with labeling Jim as the killer. The timing was all wrong. If Jim did kill Panos, why did he wait until that night? It seems more likely that he would have killed him the same night he got fired from the restaurant, maybe even a few nights after that. Of course, I might not have been giving Jim enough credit. Maybe he was much smarter than that. Maybe he had the patience to wait. As far as I knew, the police never even considered him a suspect, and he now had the chance to become a restaurant owner with Panos out of the equation. It seemed like an ideal result for Jim, so I couldn’t dismiss him as a suspect.

  I started my car, but before I could put it in reverse, my cell phone vibrated. I recognized the number - Daphne’s. Let me guess. She needed to see me at once, and it had to be in person.

  “Hello, this is Poe.”

  “Poe, it’s Daphne. I was wondering if you had time today to swing by the house.”

  Told yah.

  “Sure, Daphne. I’m not too far from you now.”

  “Perfect. I’ll see you soon.”

  I ended the call and drove out of the parking lot of the View. It didn’t take a genius to know what she wanted to talk about, but I was curious to know why she didn’t want me continuing to interview people about Panos’ murder. It couldn’t be because she thought Hani did it. Anyone with half a brain would have doubts about the evidence, and Daphne impressed me as being a smart lady.

  The traffic was still light, and I made good time getting to her house. I rang the bell, and Daphne opened the door. She was wearing a low-cut white dress that looked fantastic against her tanned skin. She had a few inches of cleavage showing. It was difficult not to stare, and you know me well enough to know that I looked. Fortunately, she either didn’t notice or decided to give me a break. She led me to the living room, and we both sat down on the plush sofa.

  “Where’s Kalena?” I asked. “I was surprised when she didn’t open the door.”

  “She’s moved back to Hana to spend more time with her family. She was living here with us because there was no way she could do the drive every day.”

  “So she just quit with no notice?” I asked.

  Daphne nodded.

  “Just yesterday. I understand, though. It’s for the best, really. Panos needed her most. It didn’t make sense for her to stay now that it’s just me. Where are my manners? Can I get you anything? I need to start getting used to asking that question.”

  We call that rich people’s problems, I thought.

  “I’m fine. What did you want to see me about?”

  “I got a call from Aaron Tench last night. He said you and Alana came by to see him.”

  “That’s right.”

  “I don’t know why you would do that,” she said.

  “I would think the answer is pretty obvious. I thought he might have known something about Panos that I or even you didn’t know.”

  “But we agreed you were going to end the investigation. I even gave you a great deal of money for your services.”

  “You did, and I thank you.”

  I thought about telling her the Maui Animal Shelter also thanked her, but I saw no reason to make things even more tense.

  “Now you’re going to remind me you’re continuing my investigation for no money, so it shouldn’t be any of my concern,” she said.

  “Technically I finished your investigation when you asked me to, but someone else hired me.”

  “Let me guess. Alana.”

  “I’m not allowed to say. Client confidentiality and all that.”

  “I really don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

  “You know why. Hani didn’t do it.”

  “Detective Adcock thinks she did,” Daphne said.

  “Why do you have so much faith in him? Your mother told me you thought he was a buffoon.”

  “I regret that early judgment of him. I was so upset I’m sure I would have felt that way about any detective.”

  “I understand, but how are you going to feel if this thing goes to trial and Hani’s found innocent? Then we’ll have lost a great deal of time.”

  “You can’t make the assumption she won’t get convicted. There’s a good amount of evidence against her.”

  “It’s all one level above worthless,” I said.

  “I need to be honest with you, and let you know that I may need to report your unauthorized investigation to Detective Adcock. I can’t have you messing up his case.”

  “Are you threatening me?” I asked.

  “Don’t look at it that way.”

  “How else am I supposed to look at it?”

  “I don’t want us to be enemies, Poe.”

  “I don’t want that either. I really don’t see how I’m harming anything. If Hani did do it, then she’ll probably be found guilty at the trial. But if she isn’t, and I can help find the real killer, then that can only help you and everyone else who cared for Panos.”

  Daphne smiled.

  “You’re right, of course,” she said.

  That seemed a little too easy, I thought.

  Daphne leaned over and picked up a glass of water off the table in front of the sofa. I feel safe in saying that we’ve established the fact I’m not an expert when it comes to women, but even I’m smart enough to realize what she was doing. She’d flashed me some serious cleavage on that lean forward. It was a cheap and obvious tactic, and I was a little pissed that she thought it would work. I will admit, though, that the view was spectacular, and a certain part of me instantly imagined myself taking her right there in the living room. Nevertheless, I am a strong man, at least most of the time, and I managed to maintain my dignity and reserve.

  “Do we have a truce?” she asked.

  She held out her slender hand.

  “We do,” I said.

  I shook her hand, and the warmth of her flesh against mine began to chip away at that dignity and reserve I just bragged about.

  Daphne looked at the clock on the wall.

  “Can I convince you to stay for dinner? I could make us some drinks. We never got a chance to really get to know each other outside
this dreadful case.”

  I wanted to stand and run out of the house, but my legs were so weak, I feared I might fall forward and crash face-first into the table.

  “I’m sorry, but I really need to get going,” I said.

  “You sure there’s nothing I can do to convince you?”

  “Some other time,” I said.

  I managed to pry myself off the sofa and made my way to the door. Daphne opened it for me. I turned to her to say goodbye and found her standing just a couple of feet from me. It was a clear invasion of personal space.

  “I’m glad we worked this out,” she said.

  “I am too.”

  I backed away from her and walked outside. I did my best to walk casually to my car. Once I reached it, I turned and waved goodbye to her. It was a close call.

  I left the house and drove to Wailuku, which is where the district court is located. Hani’s criminal arraignment was scheduled for that afternoon. I knew Alana would be there, and I didn’t want her to have to sit through it alone.

  I arrived at the courthouse early. Alana was already there. She was in the front row behind the defendant’s table. I slipped in the space beside her. She nodded to me. We sat through a few other arraignments that had been scheduled before Hani’s. It was amazing how fast they blew through those things.

  Then Hani was led out from the back and escorted to the table. She looked at Alana and me but didn’t say anything.

  A tall woman with dark red hair joined Hani at the table. She looked about forty-five years old. She had an air of confidence about her that was immediately apparent even to the most casual viewer.

  “That’s Mara Winters, Hani’s attorney,” Alana whispered to me.

  The attorney said a few things to Hani, and then she turned around and acknowledged Alana.

  “Alana,” she said.

  Alana shook hands with Mara.

  “Thanks for doing this for us,” Alana said.

  Mara nodded and turned back around before Alana could introduce me.

  Then the show began.

  The judge asked the prosecutor to outline the charges against Hani. He described the murder of Panos and the evidence against Hani. It didn’t take long considering there wasn’t much of a case, or maybe this just wasn’t the time to go too in depth. The judge asked Hani how she pled to the charges, and Mara Winters answered for her. Not Guilty.

  The prosecution asked the judge to deny bail. He pointed to the heinous nature of the crime and described Hani as a potential flight risk since she no longer lived on Maui. Mara Winters informed the judge that Hani still owned a house here and intended to relocate back to the island. She also described Hani’s strong ties to the community, including her sister, a local, respected police detective. The judge, however, agreed with the prosecutor and denied bail. The judge set a preliminary date for the trial. The gavel came down, and Hani was escorted out of the courtroom. The whole thing had been almost as speedy as the few cases that were before hers. There was an impressive efficiency to the event, but I couldn’t help but feel the wheels of justice were running over her in their haste.

  We followed Mara Winters into the lobby of the courthouse. Alana introduced me to her.

  “Are you surprised they denied bail?” I asked.

  “Unfortunately no. This judge is a tough one,” Mara said.

  “So what now?” I asked.

  “We start building her defense.”

  “What do you think her chances are?” Alana asked.

  “Good. We both feel the evidence is weak. I know this prosecutor. He’s not the best there is. I’ve beaten him the few times I’ve gone against him. I assume that’s why you asked me to represent Hani.”

  “I did my research,” Alana said.

  “I don’t doubt it. I need to get back to the office. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  Mara turned to me.

  “It was nice meeting you,” she said.

  “Pleasure to meet you as well. Wish it was under different circumstances,” I said.

  Mara nodded and headed out of the courthouse.

  Alana turned to me.

  “Thanks for being here,” she said.

  “It was no problem.”

  Then Alana broke down. It was completely unexpected, and it came without warning. She’s a tough woman, stronger than anyone I’ve ever met, but it was only a matter of time before the emotions overwhelmed her.

  I pulled her against my chest and wrapped my arms around her. She sobbed. I didn’t know if people gawked at us or not. I really didn’t care. I wanted so badly to tell her something that would make her feel better, but I had nothing.

  XVI

  An Interesting Turn of Events

  The next morning I decided I needed another heart-to-heart with Hani. I preferred Alana not be there because I thought her presence had an influence on Hani, but I didn’t want to go behind Alana’s back either. I sent her a text message and let her know what time I was going to see Hani. She wrote me back and said she’d meet me there. So much for a private meeting.

  On the drive over, I thought about my encounter the day before with the lovely Daphne. I couldn’t figure out why she tried to seduce me. It wasn’t too overt. She didn’t actually kiss me or anything, but it was an obvious flirtation to anyone with half a brain.

  Part of me wanted to believe she simply found me irresistible, but the less egotistical side of me knew she wanted me to end the investigation. But why? Every indication told me she loved her brother and wanted his killer to spend the rest of his or her life behind bars. I couldn’t fathom she actually thought Hani was that person.

  I wondered, though, if I was fooling myself. Did I want Hani to be innocent because she was Alana’s sister? I didn’t know if this investigation and my potential success at it was just my way of convincing Alana I was the guy she should be with. I thought back to the rehearsal party and the kiss I saw Alana share with Panos. My mind was flooded with questions. Could I get past that kiss? Could I learn to trust Alana again? Can we ever trust anyone 100 percent? What happens if you trust someone 95 percent? Is that really trust?

  Unfortunately, none of these questions were answered by the time I got to the jail. Interestingly enough, Alana wasn’t there. I waited several minutes and then sent her another text message. I got no reply. I waited for a few more minutes and then went inside.

  Hani seemed different this time. It was way more than the baggy orange suit. I noticed during my visits with the jailed Foxx that there seemed to be different emotional stages of being imprisoned, much like there are stages of grief.

  The first stage is the freak-out mode where you can’t believe you’re actually being arrested. It usually kicks in the moment they slap the handcuffs on you, as if everything up to that point was merely a threat you believed the police officer had no intention of carrying out.

  The second stage happens after you’ve been booked at the police station. You’ve just had your fingerprints and your mug shot taken, and now you’re pleading with everyone you know to somehow magically get you out.

  The third stage is desperation. You’re in jail, and you’re surrounded by drug dealers, thieves, rapists, and derelicts of society. You know you don’t belong, at least you think you don’t belong, and you hope there’s still a chance for someone to get you out soon. You beg people for updates and convince them that there’s got to be some option for freedom that everyone’s simply overlooked. Maybe you think there’s a magical piece of evidence that will be revealed. Maybe you pray the cop will find the real culprit.

  The fourth stage is a combination of resignation, depression, and a general feeling of hopelessness and despair. It’s finally sunk in that you’re not getting out any time soon, and you feel like the weight of the whole world is crushing you. That’s the stage Hani currently seemed to be in. She looked even smaller now. She was defeated, like someone who put every nickel she owned on black and the wheel came up red. She was quiet, and she had trouble lookin
g at me.

  I sat down in a chair opposite her in the visitation room. We sat in silence for a few moments. I fought the urge to ask her how she was doing. The answer was obvious, but we always seem to feel the need to ask the question.

  The visitation room was crowded and noisy. I had taken a quick look at everyone when I entered. There was lots of emotional devastation to spare. Most of the imprisoned women looked hard. I didn’t know how Hani was going to make it. Hani eventually thanked me for coming and asked where Alana was. I told her I didn’t know but assumed some unexpected police business probably kept her away.

  “I met with Aaron Tench,” I said.

  Hani nodded.

  “How well do you know him?” I asked.

  “Not well. I only met him a few times.”

  “Really? I thought he and Panos had been best friends.”

  “I wasn’t really around Panos that much here on Maui. We really didn’t start dating until I moved to L.A.”

  “So Panos just decided to visit you in L.A. and things took off from there?”

  “Something like that,” she said.

  “Come on, Hani. Alana’s not here. Tell me how it really happened.”

  Hani hesitated.

  “I’m not going to judge you,” I continued. “I really wouldn’t care under normal circumstances, but I need to understand the dynamics of everything.”

  “You won’t tell her?” Hani asked.

  “No. I’m not here as Alana’s spy.”

  “I was with Panos a few times when he was dating Alana,” she said. “I met him when Alana invited me to a party he was throwing. We hit it off, and he asked for my number.”

  “And then you eventually left Maui, and he followed you?” I asked.

  “Basically.”

  Hani’s a clever lady, I thought. By getting Panos to follow her, she eliminated the competition, and she made herself more desirable by playing hard to get.

  “I’m sure you knew about Shae and the other women. Why did you stay with him?” I asked.

  “Because I loved him,” she said.

  “Daphne thinks you were only interested in Panos for his trust fund.”