| |
IT WAS GLORIOUS TO greet the morning in my own bedroom. I woke up rested, having slept like a rock. I pulled open my light-blocking curtains, setting my bedroom ablaze with sunshine. My backyard still looked a little ragged. My Albizia trees hadn’t been the only casualties of the storm. The birds of paradise drooped, muddy puddles dotted the lawn, and one banana tree lay where it had toppled.
Waking in Donnie’s bed the past few days had been a treat, and I did miss it. But there was no grumpy stepson right down the hallway, and no off-limits, too-nice-to-use silverware in the kitchen. For the first time in over a week, I was finally home. And I had some things to cross off my to-do list.
Donnie wouldn’t approve of my calling Detective Ka`imi Medeiros, but he wasn’t there to stop me, and what business was it of his, anyway? I placed the call to the Mahina Police Department. Detective Medeiros wasn’t there. I debated leaving a message, and finally decided in the affirmative. If someone had an insight that would help me do my job better, I’d want them to share it with me. It was only fair to extend that courtesy to Detective Medeiros.
“This is about the incident at Art Lam’s farm,” I told the receptionist. “October twenty-eighth.”
“Oh, the papaya grove murder. Terrible, that thing.”
“Please tell Detective Medeiros to look at the blog of Bananawrangler-dot-com.”
“Banana what?”
“How about this. Just tell him to look into Randy Randolph of Seed Solutions. Randy Randolph.”
“Randy Randolph,” she repeated. “This is for who now?”
“Detective Medeiros.”
“Which one?”
“Ka`imi Medeiros. There’s more than one Detective Medeiros?”
“Ka`imi. Anything else?”
“That’s it. Thank you for your help.”
Better to keep it simple. Too bad Detective Medeiros didn’t have an email address.
“No worries, professor. You have a good day, ah?”
Professor? Had I told her who I was?
An enthusiastic hammering on my door signaled Emma’s arrival. I let her in and told her what I’d just done.
“You think the police haven’t already thought of Randolph as a suspect? They’re not stupid, Molly. Eh, you got some coffee?”
“I was so excited about calling Detective Medeiros that I forgot to make any. No wonder I’m getting a headache.”
I heard muffled music playing in my laptop bag as I brought out our cups.
“What’s the scary song?” Emma stared at my bag. “It sounds like a haunted house.”
“It’s Khachaturian’s ‘Masquerade Waltz.’ It’s not scary. It’s dramatic.”
“Oh, right.” Emma nodded. “Your revenge song.”
The caller was patient enough to stay on the line until I dug my phone out. The caller ID was blocked.
“Maybe it’s Detective Medeiros calling back.” I set Emma’s coffee down in front of her and switched on the speakerphone. “He realizes I might have something to contribute to this case.”
“Good morning, professor.” Randy Randolph’s voice squawked on the speaker. “Guess who?”
“Oh, gosh, I couldn’t possibly—”
“This is Randy Randolph. Aw, don’t tell me you forgot about me already. We had such a good time last night.”
“Mister Randolph. What a delightful surprise.”
“Call me Randy. So like I was saying, I think your research sounds really interesting. I’d like to get a chance to sit down and talk story. Hopefully without your bodyguard there.”
“Did he say talk story?” Emma said.
“Shh.”
“Who was that?” Randy asked.
“That’s Dr. Nakamura. She was at our table last night. She’s a biologist, and has done some research on transgenic organisms—”
“Ah, the little Hawaiian girl with the big—eyes?”
Emma vigorously pantomimed sticking her finger down her throat.
“Mister Randolph, were you thinking the three of us could chat sometime, over coffee?”
“I’m off island for the weekend,” he said.
“Probably on some quickie third world sex tour,” Emma muttered.
“What was that?” Randy asked.
“Static.”
“How about Monday?”
“This Monday? Day after tomorrow?”
“Come by my apartment around nine. I’ll be done with my workout by then.”
Emma wrinkled her nose.
“His apartment?” she whispered.
“It’ll be easier for you girls. I’m right in town. The Seed Solutions office is all the way out in Pohaku.”
“Sounds fine.” I ignored Emma, who was pantomiming retching on the floor. “We’ll see you then. What’s the address?”
“Why did you agree to that?” Emma asked when I had gotten the address and hung up.
“Because we’ve been ordered to be nice to our donors. What do you think would happen if I told Randolph to get stuffed, and then he went and complained to Marshall and Victor?”
“Wow, you’re a jumpy little rabbit this morning.”
“Emma, I got a negative vote from my department. I just got the registered letter last night. I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Pat, because I’m not sure where his loyalties lie now.”
“They all voted against you?”
“No, there was just one no-vote. But it wasn’t a unanimous yes.”
“I see. You have to stay on the administration’s good side now. Fine. But if Randolph answers the door in a velvet bathrobe, I’m outta there. Hey, I’m ready for a second cup.”
Emma drained her mug and handed it to me. I stood up to get refills.
“I’m calling Detective Medeiros again. I’m just going to let him know about our appointment with Randolph on Monday. I think it’s better if we keep him informed.”
“Good idea, Molly. You don’t want him to think you’re a loose cannon or anything.”