| |
––––––––
MIKE YOUNG AND HIS partner Oshiro arrived in Lanai City the following morning. Both accompanied Jackie and me to the Maui County Police Department-Lanai. That's where we were meant to give our official statements.
We gave our videotaped statements to Detective Kawasaki. A Maui County assistant district attorney also attended. Kawasaki was a bit less brusque than he had been the night before. I assumed that was due to Mike's influence. The experience wasn't at all unpleasant. At the end of it, the ADA told Jackie and me that we were free to return to Honolulu. But, he said we'd need to come back for the court hearing about Adam Morton's death when the court scheduled it.
Mike and Oshiro had already concluded their business with Detective Kawasaki. They had flown to Lanai on an HPD helicopter. Jackie told them that they were welcome to hitch a ride back. Otherwise, they faced waiting for the HPD chopper to return for them. They were happy to accept her offer.
I drove us all back to the hire car agency and returned the Jeep. The agency driver then drove us to the airport. After completing her pre-flight checks, Jackie announced we were ready to depart. I got in back with Mike and Oshiro rode up front with Jackie. It was obvious to me that Oshiro was a bit miffed over the seating arrangements.
Jackie had outfitted us all with headsets. But, given the lack of privacy the conversation on the way back to Oahu was only small talk. Oshiro didn't speak at all during the flight. On our arrival at John Rogers Field, an HPD cruiser picked up Mike and Oshiro. Mike said he'd call me later before he left.
Jackie and I said our goodbyes after organizing a get together for a catch up later on the weekend. I rode the motorbike back to my hotel on Waikiki. I reckoned I had to turn the motorbike back and get one of my own soon since I was staying in Honolulu.
After arriving at the hotel, I was keen for a swim in the sea. With the case done, it was well past the time for me to start enjoying Hawaii. But there was the small matter of nine unanswered phone calls from Malone to be dealt with. In the last few voicemail messages, Malone had sounded a bit out of sorts with me. I didn't know why, but I dreaded telling Malone I wasn't coming back to LA. But to be fair, he deserved to know. I decided to pull up my big girl undies and make the call. I rang his mobile, and he answered straight away.
"How's it going?" I said.
"Well, hello stranger," Malone said. "I was just about to call HPD and make a missing person report."
"Yeah, nah, that won't be necessary," I said. "I'm all good thanks."
"Why didn't you return my calls? I was worried sick."
"Yep, so sorry about that," I said. "It's been a bit mad here. I've been all over the show."
"I expected you back after you told me about Douglas," Malone said. "I considered the case was over at that point."
I filled Malone in on the murders of Shaw's wife and daughter, and the theft of the ransom money. I explained how I'd felt responsible for finding Adam Morton and getting Shaw's money back. It had been something I felt was the right thing to do. Then I told Malone how things had come to an end.
"I can understand why you felt you needed to see things through to the end," Malone said. "But none of that was part of the case we agreed to take on. Not to mention I've been in contact with Douglas' attorney. He says it's unlikely the state will pay us for the casework Douglas hired us to do."
"Yep, no worries on that bit," I said. "Have Rhonda email me a statement for what we're owed. I'll see to it that a check is dispatched to the office straight away."
"How do you intend to do that?"
"I've already sorted it," I said. The State of Hawaii is getting Shaw's estate since he has no heirs. I've been in touch with a representative there. I reminded him of the state's responsibility to pay our fees as Shaw's heir."
"Then it seems the extra time you've spent there has been useful after all," Malone said. "When can I expect you back in LA?"
"About that, Ben, I won't be returning," I said. "I've decided to stay on here and am applying for Hawaii PI license. I'll be opening my own agency."
"Staying there? But why? T. J. I thought we have made a great team. In fact, when you got back, I was planning on offering you a partnership."
"That's so awesome of you," I said. "I do appreciate that as well as all you've done for me, but I have to do this for me."
"I never knew you were unhappy in LA?" Malone said.
"It wasn't that I was unhappy. It's seemed my life has been on hold ever since I lost David. I reckon it would be good for me to make a new start in a new place. Hawaii seems a good place for it."
"What about your house here and your belongings? Aren't you at least coming back to settle your affairs?"
"Nah, I'm not," I said. "I can handle all that by phone and email I reckon. I'll settle the lease with my landlord. Then I'll organize a mover to pick up my things and put them in storage for now."
"This comes as quite a shock," Malone said. "I've come to depend on you, and to count on you when I've needed help with cases."
"Thanks for saying that," I said. "But, this is something I have to do. I hope you'll try to understand, Ben. And, if you should you need me for a case, I'm only a six-hour flight away from LA."
"I won't pretend I'm happy about it, but I do think I understand," Malone said. "So, best of luck T. J., and you know you can always call me if you ever need anything."
"Thanks for that, Ben," I said. "I have to go now. I have so much to get sorted. Your friendship has always meant heaps to me, and always will. Take good care, and say hello to Jaime for me when you see him."
"Okay, T. J., guess it's goodbye until I see you again," Malone said.
"See you," I said. We disconnected from the call.
I dabbed at the tears with my fingers. It had been harder to say goodbye than I'd even expected. But to be fair, I knew it would be hard which is why I'd put off calling Malone. Still, it was a relief to have it behind me. Now, I could concentrate on building my new life in Honolulu. I wasn't at all certain my feelings for Malone would ever change. But, it seemed living 4,000 kilometers away from him, and not having to see him almost daily would be a bit easier.
After getting undressed, I put on my togs and sarong. I grabbed my sunnies and a beach towel and was about to walk out the door when my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw it was Mike, so I answered.
"How's it going?" I said.
"Great, just wanted to see what you were up to," Mike said.
"I'm about to pop down to the beach for a swim," I said.
"Sounds terrific," Mike said. "I also was calling to see if we were still on for dinner tonight."
"Sure we are," I said. "I hadn't forgotten."
"Pick you up at seven?"
"Yep, perfect," I said, "I'll be waiting for you in the lobby."
"Okay, see you then," Mike said.
"See you."
I tossed the phone on the bed and left the room for the beach. It was an awesome sunny day. I had a swim and then relaxed on the beach. It was time to work on a long-delayed tan. As I lounged about in the Hawaiian sunshine, I tried to work through some of the issues from the last couple of weeks. As far as the money went, I couldn't say I felt guilty for taking it, actually.
The case had been a mare's nest. I felt I deserved to be well paid for the time I'd spent on it. I'd not only done what Shaw had hired me to do, but I'd also taken care of the man who had killed his wife and daughter. To be fair, it could be argued almost $250,000 was a bit more than I deserved.
On the other foot, I was putting the money to good use. I was helping Jackie, and Malone was getting paid. Of course, I had made up the story about the state paying him for Shaw's case. I'd be paying it from Shaw's money. I had also incurred the medical bills. I was responsible for paying the hotel bill that Shaw meant to pay. I couldn't imagine the Hawaiian politicians would have found a better use for the money. And, it had to be said that the state was already getting a windfall in the form of Shaw's entire estate. Mike had told me that he'd heard that Shaw had been worth at least a couple of billion. I reckoned I could only be trying to rationalize it all, but no I wasn't going to feel guilty about the money.
The other thing I thought about was Mike. I intended to give him a fair chance. He wasn't some sort of consolation prize. Mike wasn't Ben, but he was a good and decent man in his own right. I saw some potential there for a lasting relationship. I supposed time would tell if I was right about it.
I also thought about Jackie and how happy I was that we had met. She was a cool chick, and I knew we were on the way to building a solid friendship. Having a man I liked, and a new friend already seemed to bode well for my decision about moving to Hawaii.
I swam in the sea and sunned until after five and then I went back to the hotel to get ready for my dinner date with Mike.
