Wedding Day Dead: A Murder on Maui Mystery Read online

  Foxx stood.

  “It’s cool for you to be angry. I don’t mean to imply that you shouldn’t. You should be pissed off. You should be mad as hell at Alana and that asshole Panos, but when you calm down, I still think you should see if there’s something left that’s salvageable.”

  Foxx looked at his watch.

  “I’m already late. I better go get Michelle. I hope you feel better, buddy. I mean it.”

  I nodded. Foxx turned and walked toward the back gate. I looked down at Maui the dog. He was asleep on his back in the shade. I could have sworn I heard him snoring.

  “Well, Maui, I guess it’s just you and me.”

  VI

  Panos

  I don’t remember when I finally fell asleep on the sofa that night. I do remember watching some god-awful science fiction film on TV about aliens or crocodiles or aliens fighting crocodiles. I woke up when I heard the back door open.

  “You feeling any better?” Foxx asked.

  I didn’t answer him.

  Foxx walked over to the sofa and sat down beside me.

  “How was the wedding?” I asked.

  “What wedding?”

  “Come on, Foxx.”

  “I mean it. What wedding? There actually has to be a wedding for me to tell you how it went,” he said.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “Panos was a no-show. He left Hani standing at the altar. It was awful, man.”

  “He didn’t show?” I asked. I wasn’t really sure I heard him correctly.

  “Everyone was in their seats. The harp was playing but no groom.”

  “What did Hani do?”

  “What do you think she did? She hid in the back the entire time. She was too embarrassed to come out.”

  “Did you ever find out what happened to Panos?”

  “No idea. Michelle took Hani back to her house. She said she’s going to spend the night there to help console her. I left and went to Harry’s for a few drinks.”

  “What about Alana?”

  “She was a no-show too.”

  Dear God. You know what I was thinking at that moment because you’re thinking it too as you read this. Things just went from bad to very bad.

  “I know what’s going on in that brain of yours, but she didn’t run off with the guy. I saw her on my way home,” Foxx said.

  “Where?” I asked.

  “It took me almost an hour to drive back from Harry’s. There’s some kind of incident at the marina. They had one of the two lanes blocked off in front of the entrance. There must have been at least ten police cars there with their lights flashing. I saw Alana talking to some cops when I drove by.”

  Foxx stood.

  “I’m gonna hit the sack. I’m exhausted. Have a good night, buddy. Things will get better in the morning.”

  Foxx left for his bedroom. I lay back down on the sofa. I didn’t have the energy to walk to my room. Maui the dog stayed with me.

  I woke the next morning when the doorbell rang. I waited for Foxx to answer it. I looked like shit. I hadn’t showered in two days, and my mouth felt like it had dirty socks in it. Foxx didn’t come out of his room, and the doorbell rang again. I figured it was Michelle, and he’d want me to let her inside, so I dragged myself off the sofa and stumbled to the front door. I swung open the door without looking through the peep hole. It was Alana. She was dressed in her work clothes, and her hair was much neater than mine, but she looked just as tired. I stood in the doorway and stared at her.

  “May I come in?” she asked.

  I stepped back from the door to let her pass. I didn’t say anything. We walked into the living room, and I sat back down on the sofa. Maui the dog ran up to Alana. She ignored him at first but then finally bent over to pat him on the head. Several long moments of silence went by. Neither of us knew what to say. Finally, Alana spoke.

  “I do want to talk about us, but there’s something else you need to know first. I wanted it to come from me before you heard it on the news. I really don’t know how to say this, but Panos was murdered at the marina last night.”

  “What?”

  “They found his body in the cabin of his boat. His throat was cut.”

  “Who did it?” I asked.

  “We don’t know. I was one of the detectives who got the call.”

  “So you’re the lead on the case?”

  Alana shook her head.

  “Not with my personal connection to him. Another detective named Glen Adcock got it. Unfortunately, he’s a first-class asshole.”

  “Panos is dead,” I said. I really couldn’t believe it.

  “Hani is going to move in with me for a while. She’s as torn up as you’d expect her to be.”

  “How are you?” I asked.

  “Not good.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say or do at that point. All of a sudden my relationship problems didn’t seem to matter.

  Alana shoved her hands into her pockets.

  “About us - I’m sorry. I really have nothing I can say to defend myself. I wanted to call yesterday. I dialed your number a million times only to hang up before it started ringing. I just didn’t know what to say.”

  I said nothing.

  “Panos came up to me on the dance floor. He said he wanted to talk to me in private. I didn’t know what he wanted. I had way too much to drink, and honestly, I didn’t care what he had to say, but he insisted that I come to the back office with him. He apologized for leaving me for Hani.”

  Alana looked away like she was reliving the conversation. I thought about saying something in response but thought better of it. She turned back to me.

  “I can’t tell you how long I waited for that apology, but when he finally gave it, it didn’t really matter. He said he still loved me, but he loved Hani too. He was still going to marry her, but he wanted me to know how he felt about me. That’s when he kissed me, and you and Hani walked in the room at the worst possible moment. If you had been one second later, you would have seen me push him away.”

  I wanted to tell her that it didn’t seem that way to me, but now definitely didn’t seem like the time for a debate. Panos was dead.

  “Yesterday morning I went by Hani’s house and apologized to her, and I backed out of her wedding,” she said.

  “So you had time to apologize to her in person, but you couldn’t even send me a text message?” I asked.

  “I love Hani. She’s my sister, but you mean more to me. I couldn’t stand what I had done to you. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but it was easier to face her than you.”

  “What now?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. I think I just need time.”

  “Time for what?”

  “To figure out what to do,” she said.

  I wasn’t sure what she meant. A million questions ran through my mind. Did she not want to be with my anymore? Did I want to be with her? Where do we go from here?

  Alana said she needed to go and be with her sister. I walked her to the door. She turned to me once she got out on the porch. We just looked at each other for several seconds. I thought she wanted to tell me something else, but she said nothing. She finally nodded and walked to her car. I stood in the open doorway and watched her drive away.

  Maui the dog ran between my legs and took off down the street. I called to him, but he completely ignored me. I spent the next five minutes chasing the little guy down and praying he wouldn’t get hit by a car. I finally caught him when I cornered him between the neighbor’s house and his backyard fence. Maui rolled on his back. I couldn’t believe the audacity of this guy. He expected a belly rub after making me run him down. I picked him up and carried him back into the house.

  Foxx came out of the bedroom a few minutes later, and I told him about Panos. We both sat in stunned silence for what seemed like an hour. Foxx called Michelle. She’d just heard the news on television and was already on her way to see Hani. Bad news does travel fast.

  The next
few days were a complete blur. Panos’ murder was all anyone talked about. I didn’t know if the police were making any progress, and Alana didn’t call to give me any updates on the case or Hani’s condition. I wanted to call myself but was worried about intruding. Besides, Foxx kept me somewhat up-to-date. Michelle had been spending a lot of time with Hani. She said Alana wasn’t there most of the time, and Hani didn’t want to be alone. I assumed Alana was helping with the murder investigation despite her connection to the deceased. It was about five days after Alana’s visit that Panos’ sister, Daphne, called me.

  “I’m so sorry about your brother,” I said.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  I wasn’t about to ask her how she felt. It seemed like a stupid and obvious question.

  “The reason I’m calling is that my mother is in town. She’s requested to see you.”

  “Your mother wants to see me? I don’t understand.”

  “I really would prefer not to get into it over the phone. Would it be possible for you to come by the house tonight around seven? Her flight arrives later this afternoon. I’d like to give her a few hours to rest before she meets with you.”

  “Of course. No problem,” I said.

  “Good. I’ll text you my address.”

  I hung up the cell phone and slipped it back into my pocket. I didn’t have the slightest clue why Panos’ mother would want to see me. I’d certainly never met the lady. I didn’t know why she would even know about my existence.

  I went on a long run that afternoon to try to clear my head. I’d been doing that every day since the news of Panos’ murder, but the runs didn’t seem to make a difference, at least not in erasing the fog that was my brain. After the runs, I’d walk the dog for a cool-down and to get him some exercise too. I was glad for Maui’s presence. He was the only positive thing in my life right now, even if he was always demanding attention.

  I took a shower right before heading to Daphne’s home. I put on nice clothes, a pair of pressed khaki pants and a linen shirt. I showed up at her house exactly on time. The house was two stories and had to easily be three thousand square feet. It also sat on an acre of ocean-front land. I had no idea what a piece of property like that cost, but it must have been in the millions.

  The door opened before I could ring the bell. I was greeted by a Hawaiian woman who looked to be in her late sixties. She was on the short side, and I believe the polite term in referencing her size is “pleasantly plump.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Rutherford,” she said.

  “Good morning,” I said.

  I entered the house, and she closed the door behind me. The house was as impressive on the inside as it was on the outside. Dark, rich wood covered the floors. Large tropical plants and flowers were tastefully placed throughout. The decor reminded me a little bit of the lobby of the View, and I wondered which place inspired which.

  “My name’s Kalena. Mrs. Laskaris is waiting for you in the back.”

  She led me down the front hallway. We rounded the corner, and I saw Daphne. I walked up to her and hugged her. We weren’t close by any means, but it seemed and felt like the appropriate thing to do. I told her again how sorry I was about Panos. She thanked me for coming over to see her and her mother.

  “I’ll see him to the sitting room,” Daphne told Kalena.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “It was nice meeting you, Kalena,” I said.

  “Nice meeting you, Mr. Rutherford.”

  Kalena left, and Daphne took over guiding me to the back of the house.

  “One of the bedrooms here is for our mother. She visits at least once a year. Her sitting room is in the back.”

  “Kalena seems like a nice woman,” I said.

  “Yes, she’s been with us since we moved to Maui. Panos hired her. She does a little bit of everything for us.”

  We entered the back room. There was a small book shelf on one wall. The other walls were covered with family photos. The entire back wall of the sitting room was glass and offered a magnificent view of the ocean. Someone had opened the sliding glass door, and a cool ocean breeze blew through the room. I could see why Daphne’s mother would want to spend as much time here as possible.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked.

  “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

  Daphne smiled.

  “I’ll go tell Mother you’re here.”

  Daphne left. I walked over to the wall of photos. There were several shots of what I assumed was Panos as a boy. There were also photos of Panos and Daphne as teenagers, both smiling and laughing. I couldn’t help but feel horrible for Panos and his life cut-short.

  “He was such a wonderful boy. Always running around. Always the center of attention.”

  I turned to see Panos’ mother standing in the doorway. I guessed her to be in her late sixties to early seventies, but she still appeared strong and vibrant.

  “Hello, Mrs. Laskaris,” I said.

  I expressed my condolences for the loss of her son, and she was gracious in her acceptance. She led me over to the two chairs by the back windows, and we sat down. The ocean breeze felt good. I expected Daphne to return, but she never did.

  “Thank you for coming to see me on such short notice. I won’t be in town very long, just long enough to claim my son’s body and bring him home.”

  “So he’s to be buried in California?” I asked.

  She nodded.

  “We have a family plot on our property. I intend to bury him beside his father. He and Panos loved each other so much. It seems only right they should be together now.”

  She paused, looked out the window, and then turned back to me.

  “Panos said he built this room especially for me. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do love this view.”

  “It’s quite remarkable. I never get tired of looking at the ocean,” I said.

  “I assume you wonder why I’ve asked you here,” she continued.

  I nodded.

  “Have you met this Detective Glen Adcock?” she asked.

  “No, Alana mentioned his name to me a few days ago, but I’m not part of the investigation in any way.”

  “I’d like to change that,” she said. “My daughter is under the impression the detective is an idiot.”

  “I can’t speak to that. Like I said, I’ve never met him.”

  “Panos’ killer must be found, and I have no faith in the local police.”

  “I’ve had some interaction with them. I don’t think you should feel that way.”

  “I’m a businesswoman, Mr. Rutherford. It’s called ‘limiting the risk.’ I’d like to have a second team working the case. That’s why I asked for you.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand,” I said.

  “I had a long conversation with Daphne about you. She told me how you solved that case involving the murdered artist. She said the police you speak so highly about falsely imprisoned your friend, and you were the only one who believed in his innocence. She said you seemed like a very smart man.”

  She was really laying it on thick, I thought. Part of me was flattered. Part of me was annoyed by the obvious manipulation.

  “I want to hire you to find my son’s killer,” she continued.

  “I appreciate your confidence in me, Mrs. Laskaris, but that’s not something I do. It was sort of a one-time thing.”

  “Panos was my only son. You must do this for me. I’ll pay you for your efforts.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not for hire.”

  “Nonsense. Everyone is for hire.”

  The woman was persistent. I’ll give her that.

  “Daphne will be your assistant. She’ll report to me each night on your progress.”

  “I don’t like having to refuse you, but this isn’t something I can do.”

  “Did you like my son?” she asked.

  It would be beyond rude of me to tell her the truth, but my hesitation still told her everything.

 
“I didn’t think so,” she continued. “Is that why you won’t do this for me?”

  “I didn’t know Panos well. We spent very little time together. The simple fact is I wouldn’t have the slightest idea where to begin an investigation regarding your son. I don’t know any of his connections, and I have no idea who might have wanted to harm him.”

  “Daphne knew him better than anyone. She’ll help you with those details.”

  “I’m not a professional. I only took on Foxx’s case out of desperation because no one else believed in him.”

  “I’ll pay you half your fee upfront. The other half will be paid when you deliver me the name of his killer.”

  I turned from Mrs. Laskaris and looked out the window. It was another beautiful day on the island. The sky and ocean were as blue as they’d been that day I sat on the dock with Alana before our sailing trip with Panos. Alana was probably doing whatever she could to help with Panos’ case, even if she’d been forbidden to by her department. I thought back to my flight to Maui. I was so anxious to arrive because I knew Alana would be waiting for me at the airport. I wasn’t sure exactly what changed my mind to help Mrs. Laskaris in that minute of staring out at the ocean. Maybe I thought I had something to prove to Alana. Maybe I had something to prove to myself. I turned back to her.

  “Very well. I’ll get started first thing in the morning,” I said.

  “How much is your fee? I’ll write you a check now before you leave.”

  I stood.

  “My fee is zero. I’m doing this to find a killer, not to profit from the dead. Again, I’m sorry for your tremendous loss.”

  Mrs. Laskaris nodded, and I left the room. I headed to the front door and saw Daphne waiting for me.

  “Is it safe to assume you’ve agreed to her request?” she asked.

  “So you knew what this was all about?”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t mention it on the phone. She asked me not to.”

  “I understand. Please write a list tonight of who you think may have wanted to harm your brother. We’ll start interviewing them in the morning. I’ll be back at nine o’clock.”