8

LEI

Lei and Pono flipped a coin for which vehicle to take and ended up with her silver Tacoma. They drove to the address they’d obtained for the victim’s residence, a large house near the top of an upscale neighborhood in Wailuku Heights. The contemporary style home was complemented by mature tropical landscaping with a Buddha here and a fountain there.

Pono stayed in Lei’s truck, on the phone with the clerk of their go-to judge to get a warrant to search the house, as Lei exited the vehicle.

Stepping out into the wide driveway cobbled in smooth river stones, Lei turned to gaze out over the great central valley of Maui and across to Haleakala rising on the far side. The bay and harbor at Kahului were clear and visible below, and one could see way up the coastline on a clear day.

“A million-dollar view,” Lei mused. “If you’re alive to enjoy it.”

There was no car in the driveway, and two of the latest editions of the Maui Daily lay rolled on the porch. Lei walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. The warrant might not be necessary if someone was home to let them in and agreed to the investigation-related search.

No one answered, though Lei rang, then knocked, then called out. She tried to peek in a window, but closed drapes covered it.

She glanced around, then poked around the entry area, looking for a spare key under the WELCOME mat, above the door lintel, under the planters in the entry. Nada.

Truth was, they just didn’t know much at all about the victim, not even whether she had a roommate or significant other living with her.

As if on cue, Lei’s cell phone rang with a call from Katie. Lei moved into the shade of a poinciana tree and sat on an artfully carved rock bench facing a statue of Kwan Yin to take the call. “What did you find out about our victim?”

“Hey, Lei, how about answering your phone professionally?” Katie teased.

“Excuse me, Investigations Intern McHenry—what did you just say to your commanding officer?” The kid was definitely pushing the limits.

Katie cleared her throat. “Sorry. Yep, I found out some stuff about the victim. On the personal level, she’s single, been divorced for eight years. That’s when she moved to Maui and bought the house in Wailuku Heights. No children. No pets. Hobby is diamond painting, whatever that is. Not religious but gives money to the arts and human needs on Maui. Emergency contacts are her parents. They’re elderly and reside in an assisted living place in California.” Katie paused as if waiting for a response.

“So no relatives here for us to notify of her death,” Lei said. “Tell me who her closest connections on the island are.”

“Probably Goodwin’s partners at the law firm. It’s called Goodwin, Wilbur it’s one of those cottages made over into a business building.” Katie’s keyboard rattled in the background. “There are pictures of the attorneys together at social events, concerts, places like that. Their names are Maryanne Wilbur and June Keith. I’ll send contact info to your phone.” A moment later, Lei’s phone beeped with the names, numbers, and addresses of the two women, and also the firm’s office building address.

“Any security on Goodwin’s home?” Lei glanced around. “I haven’t seen an alarm notification sign on the grounds or in the windows. Wondering how hard it will be to get in if we can’t locate a key.”

“Nope, no security firm listed at her address in the community HOA roster and first responders’ info board. Also, Goodwin drove a blue Lexus SUV. I’ll send you the plate number.” Lei’s phone dinged with the incoming info.

“Let me see if we need to put out a BOLO on that,” Lei said, getting up from the bench. She walked back into the driveway and over to the closed garage, which held a fan-shaped glass insert in the middle of the rollaway door. She peered inside; though the view was distorted, the blue SUV was there. “Vehicle is on the premises. Goodwin was taken, then, either from here or somewhere else.”

Pono called out from the truck. “Judge Medeiros’s office is faxing a search warrant over to the station. We can search the house once we gain access.”

Lei threw him a thumbs-up and addressed Katie on the phone. “Anything else?”

“Do you want me to get into Goodwin’s work info? There could be a possible motive related to being a part of forcing through several development projects.”

Lei thought a moment. “Too soon. I want to see what we discover through boots on the ground interviewing. But save all that to the file.”

“How about her financials? Tax records? Her phone? Anything like that?”

Lei’s brows flew up. “Were you offering to hack an attorney’s personal accounts, Katie?”

“Not in so many words.” Katie sounded a little chastened at that.

“Glad to hear it. We will be able to get into Goodwin’s private information when we have proper authorization, which we’re on track for once Dr. G issues the death certificate,” Lei said. “But that was a good start, Katie. Keep going. Find out more about the artifacts and props found at the crime scene. Thanks.”

Lei ended the call and strode back to her truck. She got in beside Pono. “Let’s go over to the law office. We can do the death notification with Goodwin’s partners and see if they have an extra key to the house—or a will, or any instructions should Goodwin meet an untimely end. Then, we’ll swing by the station and pick up that warrant and return to the house to search it.”

Pono grimaced. “You know how I love a good death notification.”

“You big baby.” Lei elbowed Pono. “Grab that box of tissues in the back seat. I’m counting on you to prop up the lady lawyers that we have to inform of their partner’s death.”

“Any chance we could grab something to eat on the way?” Pono rubbed his loudly rumbling belly as they left Goodwin’s house. “This machine needs fuel.”

Lei rolled her eyes. “I guess we can do the drive-through at Wendy’s on the way to the law offices. Wouldn’t want my big bad partner to waste away. But no fried food or red meat for you—Tiare told me you’re watching your cholesterol.”

“Son of a . . .” Pono spluttered. His wife Tiare was a nurse as well as a wedding planner, and not a woman to be trifled with.

“You don’t want to finish that sentence,” Lei said serenely, pulling out of the driveway. “A nice salad with grilled chicken will be fine for both of us.”

Pono rubbed his mustache with a finger, pouting. “Let’s at least sit down inside.”

Once they were seated in the fast-food joint, plates of limp iceberg lettuce decorated with a little shredded carrot and grilled chicken strips in front of them, Lei pointed her plastic fork at Pono. “Tiare told me you had a heart thing over the weekend.”

“Ho, she wasn’t supposed to tell anybody.” Pono squeezed a packet of lite Italian dressing onto his salad. “Was minor, just a twinge. Got a little blockage, they say. Meds should help. No can get away with nothing with an RN for a wife.”

“I’m your partner.” Lei stabbed her salad, then leaned forward to point a forkful of lettuce at him. “You my braddah , Pono. You don’t get to die before I do.” Unexpectedly, tears stung her eyes and Lei cast her gaze down at her plate. “You about gave me a heart attack that time you were shot. Not about to go through that again.”

“Just a flesh wound—and you know I always wanted to be able to say I took a bullet in the line of duty.” Pono extended a thick arm. He flexed his bicep, making the scar that had torn through the triangles of his traditional tattoo ripple. “Anyway.” He thumped his chest. “I’m fine. Too much spam and macaroni salad is all. Need to clean out my pipes. They got me on meds until I do.”

“Any activity restrictions?”

“Nah.” But Pono’s dark brown eyes wouldn’t meet hers.

He was probably supposed to stay away from too much exertion. Lei resolved to check in with Tiare about specifics. She’d make sure her partner didn’t overdo in the meantime, something easier said than done.