Page 21 of Tiki Beach (Paradise Crime Cozy Mystery #6)
Tiki trotted after me. “Oh no, you don’t,” I told the cat firmly.
“Hospital security is tight enough without trying to smuggle in a cat.” Tiki sat, wrapping her tail around her paws, and fixed me with a look that suggested she would magnanimously allow me to go without feline supervision this time.
“I’ll be back soon,” I told her. “Keep an eye on the house for me.” Addressing her like this had stopped feeling silly a long time ago.
As I got into Sharkey, as I’d nicknamed my white SUV, I called Keone. He had already heard from Lei.
“Meet me at the Hana airport,” he said. “We’ll take the project plane to Kahului.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Keone had a tiny three-seater personal aircraft he’d built himself from a kit. I’d ridden all the way to Oahu in it and lived to tell the tale. “That’ll shave off a few hours.”
I put the pedal down for max speed to the airport; fortunately the famously windy and narrow Road to Hana was deserted this early on a Saturday morning.
The sun was climbing higher, casting long shadows across the tarmac and illuminating the ocean and lush greenery that lined the coastal highway.
This was the kind of perfect Hawaiian morning that normally would have me feeling grateful and peaceful.
Instead, all I could think about were the few words Pearl had said—“1942” and “crane box.”
What old secrets were hidden there that someone would risk attempted murder, twice now, to keep buried?
* * *
The Maui Memorial Medical Center was bustling with activity when we arrived in a rideshare from the airport and hurried inside.
At the information desk, I identified myself to an officer I recognized from community events—Officer Palakiko, a young Hawaiian man whose usual friendly demeanor looked strained. “Detective Texeira is expecting you two. I need to see ID though.”
We showed our IDs. “ICU, third floor,” the officer directed.
The elevator ride to the third floor seemed interminable, but holding Keone’s hand made it better. When the doors opened, I could see Lei and an officer in conversation through the glass windows of a small waiting area.
“How’s Kawika?” I asked Lei as we approached.
“Conscious but hurting,” Lei answered, joining us. “Doctor says he has a concussion and needed stitches where he was struck. He’s in the room next to Pearl’s, under guard as well.”
“Can I speak to him?” I asked.
Lei nodded. “Briefly. I was about to get his official statement.”
We followed Lei down the corridor to a private room where another officer stood at attention. Inside, Kawika lay propped against pillows, a large bandage visible. His normally robust complexion was pale, but he managed a smile as we entered.
“The investigative team arrives,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Sorry about the dramatic summoning.”
“Save your strength, cuz,” Keone said, moving to stand beside the bed. “Lei said you spoke to Pearl before the attack?”
Lei took out her phone. “I’m going to record this for your statement, ok?”
Kawika nodded, then winced at the movement. “Yes. Okay.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “Pearl opened her eyes around four a.m. I was half asleep in the chair beside her bed. At first, I thought I was dreaming when I heard her.”
“What exactly did she say?” Lei asked.
“She seemed confused, like she wasn’t sure where she was.
I told her she was in the hospital, that she’d drunk some tea that was tampered with.
She got agitated then, tried to sit up.” He paused, gathering his strength.
“She grabbed my hand and said, ‘The truth is in the crane box. 1942. They’ll destroy it.’”
“Did she say who ‘they’ were?” Lei asked.
Kawika shook his head, then groaned at the movement. “I asked her, but she was fading. The last thing she said was, ‘Protected the land once. Will again.’”
“That’s when you called Lei?” I asked.
“Yes. I stepped into the hall to make the call—didn’t want to disturb Pearl. After, I stepped back into the room. That’s the last thing I remember clearly.” Kawika frowned. “Someone must have been watching, waiting for Pearl to wake up. They heard me on the phone and acted quickly.”
“The security footage confirms that someone in scrubs and a surgical mask entered Pearl’s room right after Kawika stepped out.
Can’t make out details or gender, even. The camera angle doesn’t show the attack itself, but based on timing, they must have followed Kawika back into the room and struck him from behind.
” She refocused on Kawika. “Did you recognize anything about your attacker? Height, build, anything distinctive?”
He closed his eyes briefly, concentrating. “I never saw them. But I remember . . . a smell. Right before I was knocked out. Something distinctive.”
“What kind of smell?” Lei was making a handwritten note on a small spiral pad.
“Sandalwood,” Kawika said, opening his eyes. “Strong. A cologne or aftershave.”
“Did the security cameras catch the person leaving?” Lei asked.
“Yes, but they kept their head down and face turned away from the cameras. They knew where the cameras were positioned.” Lei’s full lips firmed into a line. “They were waiting for Pearl to regain consciousness.”
“Which means they have someone at the hospital keeping them informed,” I said. “An inside source.”
“I’ve thought of that,” Lei said. “I’ve restricted access to Pearl’s medical information by having her name changed in the computer. I’ve switched out the security detail to officers from outside—people with no ties to Hana or the Santos family.”
Kawika shifted uncomfortably, his face tightening with pain. “What about the crane box? Do you know what Pearl meant?”
I explained what we’d learned about the sandalwood box carved with a crane that supposedly contained Takeo Yamamoto’s journal documenting Felix Santos’s crimes during the internment period.
“That’s why I brought you and Keone out here,” Lei said. “I wanted to speak in person and tell you we need to find that evidence before anyone else does. I’ve turned the drive over to our tech department, but I’m worried there’s something specific in that box that’s crucial.”
A nurse appeared in the doorway, her expression making it clear that our time with Kawika was up. “Mr. Pali needs rest,” she said firmly. “Doctor’s orders.”
Kawika looked ready to protest, but pain was evident in every line of his face. “Find the box,” he said as we prepared to leave. “Pearl risked everything to protect that evidence. Don’t let it be for nothing.”
“We won’t,” I promised. “You focus on recovering.” I remembered the loaf of banana bread, extracted it from my backpack, and placed it on his bedside table. “From Aunt Fae. She says hospital food is terrible for healing.”
The ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Wise woman. Tell her thanks.”
As we left Kawika’s room, Lei led us to an empty waiting area where we could speak privately. “I’ve got officers canvassing the hospital staff who were on duty last night, trying to identify our fake nurse,” she explained. “My gut tells me we’re dealing with a professional, possibly hired help.”
“The Santos family has connections,” Keone said. “And they’re not the type to do their own dirty work.”
“Except for David,” I said. “He was willing to confront me personally at the cultural center and burn those cranes. And what about Pearl?” I asked Lei. “Can we see her?”
Lei shook her head. “Doctors have her sedated for now. They say the brief period of consciousness is a positive sign, but they want to keep her calm and monitored.”
“We’ll focus on finding the crane box,” Keone concluded. “Any ideas where to start?”
“Pearl’s house,” I suggested. “We’ve already searched the cultural center. The logical place for something that personal would be her home.”
“Did you search the house, Lei?” Keone asked.
Lei nodded. “I have a warrant and I did a quick sweep, looking for anything that spoke to motive. Took all her teas and medicines into evidence to make sure they weren’t tampered with. But I never found a crane box.”
“Then that’s our next stop,” I said.
“I have to stay on this side of the island,” Lei said. “But I’ll get you authorized to do a more careful search out at her property.”
As Lei made the call, Keone pulled me aside, his expression serious. “Kat, we need to be careful. Whoever attacked Kawika won’t hesitate to come after us if they think we’re close to finding the box.”
“I know. But we can’t back off now.”
“Just promise me you’ll stay close,” he said, his eyes holding mine. “No solo heroics.”
I decided not to remind him I was the former Secret Service agent trained for combat; he was feeling protective, and it was sweet. “Same goes for you,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “We’re in this together.”
Lei rejoined us, tucking her phone away. “Officer Mahelona will meet you at Pearl’s house. He’s been instructed to give you full access and assistance.”
“Thanks, Lei,” I said. “Any word on the drive’s contents?”
“Too early yet.” Lei’s wildly curly hair was escaping its ponytail. She pulled an elastic band off her wrist and bundled it tighter on top of her head. “I’ve put a rush on it, but it might be hours before we know what’s on there.”
“Then we focus on the crane box,” I said. We took a further moment to fill her in on our research at the museum and discovery of the military ID hidden under the plumeria tree.
“This is all pointing to motive and something larger in play, but I still don’t have anything hard I can act on,” Lei said. “Keep me updated. And watch your backs. Whoever did this is still out there, and they’re getting bolder.”