Maui Madness (Zoe Donovan Mysteries Book 7) (7 page)

By the time the rest of the gang had emerged from their rooms, we’d been notified by Malie that Pono had been taken to the station for questioning. According to Malie, who’d come over at Ellie’s insistence, Pono had gone sailing alone after arguing with Anton. He’d borrowed a boat on the island but decided not to return to the party, so he’d rented a slip for the night in the marina near his home. He’d run into a friend at the marina and the two had gone out drinking. Pono stated that he hadn’t gotten back to his apartment until well after midnight. The problem was that Anton had to have been put into the pit between eight a.m. and noon, and Pono hadn’t arrived at the marina until after four. He could easily have killed Anton and then sailed away before anyone knew he was missing.

Zak called and talked to Keoke
, who reported that Pono insisted he was innocent. The police didn’t have any physical evidence to keep him so would most likely let him go before the end of the day. Other than Pono, there were no other immediate suspects. Anton was a businessman who’d made enemies along the way, but it was determined that whoever put Anton in the fire pit had to have been on the island before the main group of guests arrived. The police had interviewed everyone, but no one stood out as a suspect.

“I can’t believe this has happened.”
Malie looked shell-shocked.

“I hate to bring up a delicate subject
, but I understand that you dated Anton before Leia became involved with him,” I said.

“Yes
, we dated,” Malie admitted, “and yes, I was hurt when he chose Leia. It’s the reason I didn’t go to the luau.”

“I’m sorry,” I offered. “I’m sure this must be hard for you.”

Malie nodded her head as she wiped away a tear.

“It seems you knew Anton pretty well. Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt him?” I asked.

Malie looked at me. “Why do you want to know? Are you working with the police?”

“Absolutely not
.” I looked directly at Zak, who simply rolled his eyes. “I’m just curious.”

“Zoe is sort of an amateur sleuth,” Ellie explained. “She doesn’t mean to be
, but somehow she seems to get caught up in things any time there’s a murder at home. She’s really very good.”

“She might be able to help clear
Pono,” Levi added. “If he’s innocent, that is.”

“You don’t think he’s innocent?”
Malie asked.

Levi shrugged. “How would I kn
ow? I’ve never even met the guy, but in my experience, if he walks like a killer and talks like a killer . . .”

“If
Malie says Pono is innocent, he is.” Ellie stuck up for her new friend.

“I’ve run into
Pono a few times when I’ve visited, and I have to say I agree with Malie,” Zak added.

“
Then we need to talk to Pono,” I said. “Maybe we can invite him to come over once the police are done with him.”

“I’ll leave him a message,”
Malie agreed. “I know it looks like he’s guilty, but I promise you that Pono would never hurt Anton. While it’s true he didn’t like the man, Pono would never hurt anyone, and he definitely would never do anything to cause this degree of pain to his sister.”

“
I believe you,” I offered. “One thing I’ve discovered along the way is that the person who appears to be the most likely killer rarely is. I’m not sure how we can help, but I promise you we’ll try. In the meantime, I’m starving. Is there a place to get a really big breakfast around here? We never did have dinner last night.”

“There are several good places in Lah
aina,” Malie said. “My favorite is Makani’s. My good friend Luana owns it with her husband, Palani. You might have met him. He catered the luau.”

“So he would have been on the island
early yesterday, before the other guests arrived, in order to set up?”

“Yes, he went over in the morni
ng along with several helpers. Do you think he might have seen something?”

“
Perhaps. Why did Keoke hire a caterer from Maui if the party was closer to Oahu?” I asked.

“Honestly
, I’m not sure,” Malie answered. “When I first heard that Palani was catering the affair, I thought it odd on several different levels.”

“
How so?” I asked.

“I think I’ll let him explain things to you himself.”

Lah
aina is a popular tourist town. The main thoroughfare is lined on both sides with inviting shops selling everything from fine art to Hawaiian-themed mugs and T-shirts. We parked two blocks from the main street and walked to our destination on crowded sidewalks past colorful displays of local wares that gave the area a festive feel. I noticed several shops I really wanted to check out after we’d had our meal.

One of the gift cards I’d won
thanks to my display of public humiliation was for a clothing store that carried everything from bikinis to sundresses. I couldn’t help but pause in front as we passed a display of colorful sandals. There were several pairs of neon flip-flops I was certain I really needed to have.

“Yellow or orange?” I asked Zak.

He paused to consider the selection. “Personally, I like the neon blue.”

“Really?” I scrunched up my nose. “I was leaning toward the yellow.”

“The yellow is nice.” Zak smiled.

“I see what you did there,” I
said once I realized that Zak had totally manipulated me into choosing between the yellow and orange by suggesting a color he knew I wouldn’t like.

He
merely put his arm around my shoulder and followed me into the store, where I ended up spending double the value on my gift card.

Did I mention that the shopping in Lahaina is to die for?

“So what’s next?” Zak asked as I emerged with my packages.

“Breakfast,” Levi s
aid firmly.

I wanted to buy souvenirs for my dad and mom and Harper
, but that could wait until after we ate. I had a feeling finding the perfect gifts might take a while. Dad was easy because he’d appreciate anything I bought, and there were lots of stores selling adorable outfits for babies, but I had no idea what to get for my mom. Somehow I didn’t think a Hawaiian print shirt or a pair of turtle earrings were going to make all that much of an impression on a woman who had traveled the world and shopped in the most exclusive stores everywhere she went.

Lahaina not only provides a wide range of shopping opportunities but a smorgasbord of restaurants as well.
Makani’s was a popular place right on the waterfront. We were shown to a table on the outdoor deck overlooking the ocean. The food choices were varied and included traditional Hawaiian offerings as well as the common breakfast items found at any restaurant on the mainland. Zak and Levi ordered a breakfast that included eggs, spam, sticky rice, and gravy, while Ellie and I decided to try the macadamia nut waffles. Malie opted for a fish and rice dish featuring local fish caught just that morning.

“What a beautiful spot to have breakfast,” Ellie commented as Luana poured us each a glass of fresh
-squeezed papaya juice.

“We were very lucky to get this location for our restaurant,” Luana
said.

“Zak and Zoe were at Keoke’s luau yesterday,” Malie informed her friend. “They hoped to have a word with Palani
because he was on the island as well.”

“
Did you know Anton?” Luana asked us.

“No,” Zak answered. “Keoke and I are friends and I know the family
, but it’s been a few years since I’ve visited, so I never did have the pleasure of meeting Leia’s fiancé.”

“Not to speak ill of the dead
, but you didn’t miss much by not meeting that snake.”

“You didn’t get along?” Zak asked.

“Anton wanted to buy this whole block of buildings. He had plans to build an oceanfront resort. There are six business owners in all. He’d managed to convince three to sell, but the rest of us have been holding out. It’s been a nasty battle, hanging on to what is ours, since the three who have signed contracts were beginning to put pressure on those of us who don’t care about the money he was offering.”

“
Was he offering a fair price?” I asked.

“Mo
re than fair. The three who signed contracts got double what their businesses were worth. As for us, we love our restaurant. Opening it has been our dream since Palani and I first met. We worked hard to make this a reality and have no wish to sell at any price.”

“I guess that put you in a tough spot,” Ellie sympathized.

“It did. The contracts the businesses signed were contingent on all six owners selling. If even one refused to sell, no one would get the money Anton was offering. Right now, we are not alone in our decision not to sell, but Palani was afraid that the other two business owners would give in. If they did, we would have little choice but to sell. I shouldn’t say it, but when we found out that the body in the pit was Anton’s, we actually felt relief. Maybe without him in the picture we can convince the others to hold out.”

“I wonder who
’ll take over Anton’s business now,” I mused.

“Anton owned a large corporation with many employees,” Luana answered. “
I know he had a partner as well, although I believe he works out of an office on the mainland. Still, I suppose they had a plan for such an event. I only hope whoever takes over the decision making for Maui is more reasonable than Anton.”

Luana stopped talking and looked toward a group that had just walked in
to the restaurant. “It looks like I have a new party to seat. I’ll send Palani out when he has a chance.”

“You don’t think
. . . ?” I asked after Luana walked away.

“I’m sure Palani had nothing to do with Anton’s death,” Malie assured us. “
Although I agree that he was an odd choice for Keoke to make when he hired someone to provide food for the event. For one thing, Keoke’s grandparents have a cook who lives on the island. A very good cook. It would have been easier and less expensive for him only to hire kitchen helpers. And then there is the matter of proximity. Keoke had to cart Palani and his helpers, and all of the food and supplies that were needed, a fairly long distance by seaplane. It would have made much more sense to hire a company out of Oahu if the cook couldn’t handle it.”

“You’re right
; Keoke’s choice of caterer does seem odd. Does Keoke know of the battle between Palani and Anton?” I asked.

“He does
, which is another reason why asking Palani to cater Anton’s engagement party made no sense.”

“Do you think Palani’s presence on the island was orchestrated specifically so he could kill Anton? Maybe Palani bribed Keoke or threatened him in some way to get the job.”

“No,” Malie said. “I realize how it sounds, but Palani is a good guy. He’d never hurt Anton.”

“What about the others
who went along to help?” Ellie asked. “If Luana and Palani are forced to sell, their employees would lose their jobs.”

“I don’t know who Palani brought with him yesterday
, but I guess it couldn’t hurt to ask,” Malie answered. “Though killing a man seems like a lot of trouble to go to just to keep a job.”

“True, unless the killer had another motive as well,” I added.

We stopped talking when a waitress brought our food. Not only did everything look delicious but the servings were generous enough to share. Or at least I
thought
they were. In the end, the golden waffles with homemade macadamia butter and warm syrup were so yummy, I ended up eating the entire plateful. At least we probably weren’t going to go diving today as planned.

The conversation drift
ed away from murder toward the long list of possible pastimes we might pursue while on the island. Ellie hoped to visit Hana, while Zak and Levi couldn’t wait to try out the surfboards in the storage room. Malie recommended watching the sunrise from Haleakala, while I was totally focused on the treasure hunt that, by necessity, had been delayed.

Palani came out to join us just as we were finishing our meal. He was tall and thin
, with a nice smile and a boyish charm.

“How w
as your food?” he asked.

“So good
.” I rubbed my stomach.

“Luana said you had questions about the luau yesterday
.”

“If you have a few minutes,” I
said.

Palani smiled at Malie. “Any friends of Malie are friends of mine. What would you like to know?”

“What time did you arrive at the island yesterday?” I asked.

“My crew and I arrive
d around seven-thirty.”

“And who did you bring with you?”

“Four of my employees: Darwin, Larry, Stephanie, and Alfonso.”

“Did any of the
m know Anton?”

Palani paused. “They all know
of
him due to the project he is working on, but as far as I know, none of the four are personal friends of his. Of course, I don’t really know all that much about the personal lives of my employees, so who knows?”