House of the Hanging Jade (8 page)

I heard his deep laugh. “
Ono
means ‘great'.”

“I like to surf, kayak, dive, snorkel. On weekends I'm on an outrigger team. We have races all around the islands.”

“Yeah! You can come watch anytime you want. That would be great!”

“No, I'm not married. No girlfriend, even.”

“The tattoos are Samoan. My family comes from Samoa. I have lots of aunties and uncles still there, so I try to get there often to visit them.”

I smiled to myself in the kitchen. It seemed that Liko would get along just fine at the Jorgensen house.

That night Liko came to visit me in my den after Marcus's homework was done.

“Sounded like dinner went well,” I told him.

“Yeah. Nice family. Dad doesn't say much.”

“No, he and Marcus are the quiet ones.”

Meli came and rubbed her face against Liko's hand. “Want to go kayaking tomorrow?” he asked.

“I should be able to. There isn't much prep for tomorrow's lunch and dinner.”

Liko and I spent three arduous but fun hours kayaking the next day before Marcus and Justine came home from school. I was in the kitchen fixing them a snack when my cell phone rang. I looked at the screen.

What did he want? I hadn't talked to him since our dinner at the Kona Inn. I hesitated a moment before answering, but I knew he would just call back if I ignored him. Besides, maybe he was calling to tell me he was going back to Washington.

“Hi, Geoffrey. What's up?”

“Hi, Kailani. I was wondering if you're available to get a drink tonight.” So he wasn't calling me to say good-bye.

“I'm sorry, Geoffrey. I'm helping plan a party that the Jorgensens are throwing, and I promised I would be around tonight to help,” I fibbed.

“Oh.” He sounded hurt. “Well then, how about tomorrow night?”

I knew he would just keep asking and asking until I agreed, so against my better judgment I said I would.

“Great! Where would you like to meet?”

I didn't feel like driving all the way to Kona Town to meet with him, so I decided to pick someplace close to the Jorgensens. Maybe he wouldn't call me again if he thought I would make him drive a long distance every time he wanted to get together.

“There's a place just up the road from here,” I answered. “It's a little place, but the locals love it. Does that sound okay?”

“Sure,” he said eagerly.

I gave him directions, thinking suddenly that perhaps asking him to drive up north had been a bad idea. What if he drank too much? What if he asked if he could stay with me? Then what would I do?

I pushed those thoughts from my mind and concentrated on getting the kids their snacks. I took a tray of veggies and hummus to the dining table where Liko and Marcus were already pulling out notebooks and pencils to start math homework.

“How was school, brah?” Liko asked Marcus.

“Okay, I guess.”

Marcus looked up at me as I was bearing my tray of veggies. “Gross. Vegetables again? Why don't we ever get chips anymore?”

“Your mom doesn't want me buying that stuff. You know that. I'll tell you what. Why don't you go to the farmers' market with me sometime? You can pick out whatever vegetables you want and I'll make something with them. Deal?”

He rolled his eyes. “I guess.”

I smiled at him and returned to the kitchen. I was chopping vegetables to make a soup for dinner when Lars came into the kitchen. “Rabbit food?”

“No, soup.”

“Do you know how to make lasagna?”

I grinned. “Yes, but when Barbie hired me she said no foods like that.”

He groaned. “I miss my heavy Italian meals. And my burgers.”

“Would you like to try vegetable lasagna? I have a great recipe.”

“Only if you're refusing to make a real lasagna with actual sausage.”

I laughed. “You'll like my version.”

He sighed and turned to go. “Hey, I think your friend Liko seems to be working out.”

“Liko is good with kids. I'm sure he'll help Justine if she needs it too.”

He returned to his office.

That night Barbie joined the family for dinner again, though Lars was called away to a meeting on O'ahu. As I walked to and from the dining table on the lanai I could hear her questioning Liko.

“Have you ever had a massage?”

“No, can't say that I have.”

“You should really come into the office sometime. We have a massage therapist who gives a great deep-tissue massage.”

“Sounds painful.”

She giggled in her high-pitched voice. “Oh, no. It's very freeing and rejuvenating. You'd love it.”

Was she
flirting
with him? Just weeks after her lover's death? And in front of her children? I was thankful Lars wasn't around to hear her.

Marcus spoke up. “What would he need a massage for?”

“A massage is very good for loosening up after kayaking. And for post–weight training. And I know Liko does those things, right?”

Liko nodded.

When had she seen Liko kayaking? Or lifting weights?

I didn't get a chance to ask him about it right away because I had to go meet Geoffrey. I got to the bar in Hawi Town right on time. Geoffrey was already waiting for me.

“I see you found the place okay,” I greeted him.

“Yup. No trouble at all. I left Kona a few hours ago just in case, so I've been in Hawi for a while. Just looking around. There are some really nice shops here.”

“Yes.”

“What would you like to drink?” he asked.

“Just a beer.”

“I think I'll have one too.” He called the bartender over and ordered. We took our drinks to a small table in the corner of the bar.

“So. How's work going?” he asked.

“Fine. I love working for the Jorgensens.”

“I hear you have a friend tutoring there now.”

I looked at him in surprise. “How did you know Liko is working there?”

“Liko? I didn't know his name. I found out because I paid a visit to your parents' bakery and I heard them talking about you.” He smiled proudly.

“How did you know it was my parents' bakery?” I was feeling a little trapped. What other information was Geoffrey trying to dig up in his free time?

“I knew the name of it. You mentioned it once, and you told me it's the only bakery in the town where you're from, so it was easy to find. That's how I figured out where you were working too.”

“Did you tell them who you are?”

“No. I just talked to them for a while. Told them I was from the East Coast. They showed me the ovens they use to bake the bread. Great setup they have there. And their house is nice. Pretty cool how the bakery is attached to it.”

I was finding this conversation decidedly unnerving. “You should have introduced yourself. I'm sure they would have appreciated knowing they were talking to my old boyfriend.” I put a slight emphasis on the word
old
.

“I thought it was kind of fun being a mysterious stranger,” he answered with a grin. “They had no idea!”

“Geoffrey, don't you think that's a little weird?”

“What's a little weird?”

“To go to my parents' business and pretend you just stumbled upon the bakery out of sheer luck?”

“That's not weird. It's fun. Don't be so uptight.”

I sighed loudly. “I would appreciate it if you don't go there again.”

“But their bread is really good. I'd like to get some more.”

“Good. I'll give you the names of a few stores in Kona where it's sold.”

“But I'll have to pay more at a store.”

“Geoffrey,” I snapped, “just don't go back, okay? It gives me the creeps.”

“Okay,” he said quietly, looking hurt. But it didn't last long. “What's Liko like?”

I looked at him askance. “He's funny and smart. His family are native Hawaiians. He and I have been good friends since we were kids. He's tutoring Marcus, the boy in the house where I work. But you already knew that.”

“Were you ever more than friends?”

I squinted at Geoffrey and shook my head. “No. Why?”

“Just wondering.” The silence settled between us for a couple minutes.

“How about now?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Is there anything going on between you and Liko now?”

“No!” I said a little too loudly. A couple patrons at nearby tables looked at us. I lowered my voice. “Geoffrey, that's really none of your business.”

“I just want to make sure you're safe, that's all.”

“I'm perfectly safe. I've known Liko for years. Much longer than I've known you. I think I should be going now. Speaking of going, when are you headed back to Washington?” I stood up to leave, putting money on the table for my beer.

“I haven't decided.”

“I'm sure they need you at the restaurant.”

“They're fine without me. Should I follow you home to make sure you get there okay?”

I shot him a freezing look. “No. I know the way and I'll be fine. Goodnight, Geoffrey.”

“G'night.”

I walked briskly to my car, which was parked a little way down the main road of Hawi Town. I looked back over my shoulder when I reached the car. Sure enough, Geoffrey was standing outside the bar, watching me go. I shuddered. What did I ever see in him?

W
hen I got home I flopped down on the couch in my den and reached for Meli. I was stroking her soft fur when there was a knock at my door. For a brief moment I was afraid it was Geoffrey, having followed me from the bar, then I bolted upright, my mind racing back to the morning Dr. Doug was found dead, but I gathered up enough courage to open the door a crack. Liko was standing there.

“Come on in,” I said with a sigh of relief.

“How was your date with Geoffrey?”

I grimaced. “He gives me the creeps, Liko. He knew all about you and he had been to my parents' bakery, and it was all so bizarre. I can't believe we used to date.”

Liko arched his eyebrows at me. “Sounds like he still thinks you're dating.”

I shook my head. “How could he? I couldn't have been clearer that I don't want him doing things like visiting my parents and following me anywhere.”

Liko pressed his lips together tightly. “Trust me. He doesn't think you two are finished. You want me to make it clear to him?” His eyes glittered brightly.

“No. Don't do anything. I can handle him myself. Hopefully he's going back to Washington soon and I'll never have to see him again.”

“You know where to find me if you change your mind, little sistah,” he said with a big smile, cracking his knuckles.

I shook my head as I hugged him goodnight. “Thanks, Liko.”

I was thinking about Dr. Doug's death again as I drifted off to sleep that night. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that his murder had been committed by a thwarted burglar. I almost hoped that was the case, since it would mean such violence would likely never happen again and the rest of us would be safe.

The next morning Barbie didn't go into work at the usual early hour. She said she had an appointment at home, so she ate breakfast with the kids and Liko before school. The kids left in semidarkness, but Barbie and Liko stayed at the dining table, talking as the sun rose over the Kohala Mountains behind the house, painting the sky with strokes of purple, then pink, then orange, finally brightening to a brilliant blue. They lingered over coffee and fresh fruit and toast, laughing and chatting like old friends. I didn't join them, but I could see and hear them as I was sitting in a chair with a cup of coffee on the lanai right outside the kitchen. Lars sat down with them for a short time to have a quick bowl of cereal, then left, saying he was going surfing.

“You surf?” asked Liko. He must not have realized that Lars owned a surfing clothing company.

Lars grinned. “Every chance I get. You?”

“I love it!”

“You want to come with me? I'm going over to Honoli'i.”

“Yeah, brah! Let me get my stuff.” Liko pushed back from the table and left at a slow jog back to the guesthouse. Barbie looked annoyed.

“Will you be back before the kids get home from school?” she asked Lars acidly.

“Yes. I have work to do right after lunch. We'll be back by early afternoon.” He turned and left.

Barbie wandered to the kitchen to refill her coffee mug. “I don't understand why people love surfing,” she said with a sigh as she pulled up a chair next to mine. “What's the attraction?”

I smiled. “It's the adrenaline rush. And the challenge. Surfers are always looking for higher waves, longer barrels. It's fun.”

“You surf?” she asked with surprise.

“I used to surf a lot. Now I prefer kayaking.”

“Lars likes both. And anything else that keeps him out in the water.” She paused. “I'll see you for dinner, Kailani.” I didn't know whether her appointment had been canceled, but she left shortly afterward for work.

I decided to head out to a local market to see what fresh fish I could cook that evening for the family. As I drove my car up to the main road, I saw a slight movement out of the corner of my eye. I hit the brakes and got out of the car. I walked slowly over to the low, thick trees by the side of the road and the bushes moved suddenly. I jumped back in a fright.

“Marcus! You scared me! Why aren't you in school?”

“You won't tell my parents, will you?”

“I don't know yet. What are you doing out here?”

He kicked the dirt. “I just didn't feel like going, that's all.”

“There must be a reason. What's going on?”

“I don't know. Nothing, I guess. I just didn't get on the bus this morning.”

“Did Justine go to school?”

“Yeah. I made her promise not to tell.”

“You shouldn't do that to her. It puts her in a tough spot.”

“Oh, yeah? What about my tough spot?” he asked.

I was confused. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I hate school and I hate living here and I hate everything.”

I didn't know what to say. I wished Liko were there to help, to take charge of this troubled young boy.

“Marcus, I'm just heading over to the fish market. Want to go? You can help me pick out something for dinner. We can talk on the way.”

“I hate fish.”

I smiled. “Have you ever tried
monchong
?”

He shook his head. “Never heard of it.”

“Let's see if they have any at the market and I promise you'll love it.”

He sighed. “Might as well. Are you going to take me to school?”

“If you want me to. But you'll have to explain what's going on if you don't want me to tell your parents about this.”

He scowled. “Okay.”

He got into the car beside me and we drove to the fish market. He remained silent until we walked in.

“It stinks in here.”

“That's the smell of the ocean and very fresh food—I love it.”

He walked around, looking at all the offerings from the sea. I walked straight to the cooler where I had seen
monchong
previously. There was a fresh supply of it, gray-brown and glistening. I picked out two fish and pointed them out to the woman behind the counter. She smiled and said “Very nice choice.”

Marcus came over to stand next to me. “Do you have to take the scales off and everything?”

“Yes. It's not as bad as you think.”

He looked at me doubtfully. I scanned the counter of chilled
poke
under glass. “I'll also take a half pound of your spicy ahi,” I told the woman. I turned to Marcus.

“That'll be my lunch. Do you like
poke
?”

“Never had it.”

“You can try some of mine. It's so good.”

“It's raw fish, isn't it? Aren't you afraid of getting sick?”

“Not when it's this fresh and gorgeous. Look at it—it's firm and red, exactly the way it's supposed to look.”

“We're supposed to be having a
poke
sale for school.”

“Like a fund raiser?”

“Yeah. I'm not doing it, though.”

“Why not?”

He shrugged. “Don't know how to make
poke
.”

“I'll help you.”

He hesitated. “I don't know.”

“Do you have some friends who'd like to help us?”

“Nah. Well, maybe one. My friend James.”

“Invite him over and we'll make
poke
. It'll be fun.”

“I gotta think about it.”

I paid for the fish and our lunch, grabbed two sets of chopsticks from the counter by the register, and we left. I drove to an overlook north of Hawi Town and pulled in.

“Now, try this,” I instructed Marcus, handing him the plastic container of
poke
and a set of chopsticks.

“Do I have to?” he whined.

“Yes. Hurry up, because I'm starving!”

“Okay, okay.” He fumbled with the chopsticks. “How do you use these things, anyways?”

I showed him how to place his fingers so the chopsticks would stay in place, then he clumsily maneuvered them to pick up one small piece of the fish. He squeezed his eyes shut and put it in his mouth. He started to chew slowly.

“Well? What do you think?”

He continued chewing, then swallowed and said, “I don't know. Can I have another piece?”

“Sure.”

He took another piece, a little bigger, and ate it. “This doesn't taste like fish. It's not bad.”

I grinned. “That's the great thing about
poke
. The fish doesn't have a strong flavor, so you're able to taste the seasonings. All you taste of the fish is a delicious freshness.”

He had a third piece, then handed me the container. “It's pretty good,” he admitted.

“Why don't you finish it? I can get some more for myself on the way back to the house.”

“No, it's yours. I'll eat the lunch you made this morning.” He pulled the small padded cooler out of his backpack.

I settled back in the driver's seat, admiring the sweeping view of the Pacific and waiting for him to get his lunch out. Once he started eating the cheese sandwich I had made for him, I asked my first question.

“So, what were you doing in the trees beside the road?”

“Nothing. Really. I was just waiting in there until the bus came and dropped Justine off. Then I was going to walk into the house with her.”

“You were just going to hang out there all day?”

“Yeah. Where else was I supposed to go?”

“How about school?”

“The kids in my classes are all jerks.”

“What about James?”

“He's not a jerk, but he's not in any of my classes.”

“How do you know him?”

“He lives up the road. He rides my bus.”

“So the kids are all jerks. Any other reason you didn't go to school today?”

He was silent for a full minute. “I don't know,” he finally said with a sigh. “I just don't care about it.”

“Does it have anything to do with Dr. Doug?” I asked gently.

He only hesitated for a moment. “Maybe. I'm sick of the cops asking questions, I'm sick of my parents not talking to each other, I'm sick of living here. I want to go back to California. I had lots of friends there. I was one of the cool kids. Here I'm just a loser
haole
with rich parents.”

I changed the subject. “What's the
poke
sale for?”

He shrugged. “The school. There's not enough money in the budget for lots of things, so the school has to raise its own money.”

I nodded. Not enough money for lots of things—like a job for Liko, like Hawaiian-culture classes. “So why not get involved? Join clubs, meet people. Maybe the kids in school just need to get to know you better.”

He shrugged again. “Maybe.”

“Anything else going on?”

“Nah. That's pretty much it.”

“What do you think of Liko?”

He hesitated again. “He's cool. He's a good math teacher and my parents like him. He even helps Justine sometimes.”

“I'm glad. He likes being a tutor. Maybe you and he could go surfing or kayaking together sometime.”

He nodded. “That'd be cool.”

“You want me to take you back to school?”

“I don't know. Okay.”

I smiled and handed him the container with the remainder of the
poke
. “Here. Finish this. I'm full.”

He accepted it with a “thanks” and finished it. “That's pretty good, actually,” he said with a shy smile.

“Told you.”

I dropped him off at school and watched him walk inside, his backpack hanging off one shoulder. I felt sorry for him. Being a teenager could be so hard, and he had the added stress of Dr. Doug's death weighing on his mind. As unnerving as it was to think of an unknown person creeping around on the Jorgensens' property, I hoped again for the millionth time that Dr. Doug's death had been committed by a stranger. Anything was better than believing Dr. Doug had been killed by Lars or Barbie.

I returned home and was skinning and cleaning the fish when Lars and Liko came in, laughing about something.

“Hi Kailani,” Lars said, still chuckling. “Got anything for a late lunch? We're starving.”

I made them plates of sliced tomatoes with a balsamic drizzle and grilled cheese
panini
. They talked as they ate together on the lanai, acting like they had been friends for years.

When the kids came home, Marcus caught my eye and I winked at him. His secret was safe with me. Justine looked at me out of the corner of her eye and I smiled at her. Marcus must have told her that I knew he had tried to skip school.

“Did you ask James about helping make
poke
?” I asked him.

“Yeah. He said he'll do it with us.”

“Great! When's the sale?”

“The day after tomorrow. It starts first thing in the morning.”

“Okay. I'll make sure we have everything we need tomorrow, except for the fish. We can grab James really early the day of the sale and run over to the fish market to pick up fresh ahi, then we'll come back here and mix it up.”

Marcus smiled. “Okay.”

Justine piped up. “Can I help?”

I looked at Marcus. “All right,” he said, “but don't say anything stupid while James is here.”

She scowled at him. “I won't.”

I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing the
monchong
. After I was done I made grilled portobello mushrooms and a Greek salad to complete the meal.