Darrow shrugged. “Whatever. As long they’re allowed to leave Honolulu.”
“I’m going to be expected to prosecute the Ala Moana boys, you know. I certainly have no desire to, particularly knowing what I do about Lyman and Kaikapu.”
Darrow’s smile turned sly. “You won’t be able to prosecute without your complaining witness.”
Sitting so far forward, he seemed about to tumble off the sofa, Kelley said, “So you’ll advise Thalia to leave the Islands?”
Darrow looked at his pocket watch. “I will. In fact, I’m expecting her in just a very few minutes…. Would you care to stay to pay your respects?”
Kelley, twitching a smile, rose. “I think I’ll pass on that morbid pleasure, gentlemen…. Don’t get up, I can see myself out.” He went to Darrow and extended his hand; the two men shook hands as Kelley said, “I won’t stand in your way on this. You can expect my cooperation…as long as you make sure Thalia Massie is off this island as soon as possible.”
Darrow nodded gravely, then lifted a gesturing hand. “Understand, I’ll be making some public statements at odds with our private agreement. I’ll be outraged that my clients have been denied the full pardon they so rightfully deserve…that sort of malarkey.”
Kelley chuckled. “Well, you can expect me to bray like a mule about taking the Ala Moana boys to trial…. Of course some people will suggest that, having prosecuted Joseph Kahahawai’s killers, I in good conscience should step down. You know what I may do? I might suggest to the press that the man to prosecute that case is the man who so eloquently defended the wronged family: Clarence Darrow.”
A smile tickled Darrow’s lips. “You wouldn’t…”
Kelley was at the door. “I may be seized by an uncontrollable impulse.”
And he was gone.
Darrow was chuckling. “I like that Irishman. Hell of a prosecutor.”
Leisure folded his arms and leaned back. “He wasn’t happy, but I believe he will cooperate.”
Darrow began to make a cigarette. “He’s a man of his word. He’ll cooperate. And I don’t believe any of us are happy.” He looked up. “Nate, do you feel gypped out of the glory of nabbing the man who raped Thalia Massie?”
“No,” I said. “I had the pleasure of knocking some of his teeth out, even if I didn’t quite manage to break his goddamn jaw.”
Leisure was laughing softly, shaking his head. “Where’d you find this roughneck, C.D.?”
“On the West Side of Chicago,” Darrow said as his slightly shaking hands did a nice job of dropping tobacco into the curve of cigarette paper. “That’s where America turns out some of its best roughnecks.”
A knock at the door brought Ruby Darrow out of the bedroom; she was straightening her hair, smoothing her matronly gray dress, saying, “Let me get that, dear.”
It was Thalia, of course, and she was accompanied by Isabel. Thalia wore a navy blue frock with white trim, Isabel the blue-and-white-striped crepe de chine from the Ala Wai, both in cloche hats, carrying clutch purses, two stylish, attractive, modern young women; but they also wore a cloak of unhappiness. Thalia seemed jittery, Isabel weary. They stepped inside, Thalia first, digging in her purse.
Darrow, lighting his cigarette, got to his feet, and so did Leisure and I. Thalia was moving toward us, handing a stack of telegrams toward Darrow.
“You simply must see these, Mr. Darrow,” she said. “Such wonderful support from people all over the United States…”
“Thank you, dear.” He took them and said to his wife, “Would you put these with the others, Ruby? Thank you.”
Ruby took the telegrams and Darrow turned to Leisure and said, “George, would you mind accompanying Mrs. Darrow and Miss Bell for some refreshments in the lobby? I recommend the pineapple parfait.”
Leisure frowned. “You don’t want me here when you speak to—”
“Mr. Heller and I have a few details to discuss with Mrs. Massie that I think would be best served by…a limited audience.”
Leisure seemed vaguely hurt, but he knew his place, and his job, and took Ruby by the arm and led her to the door. Isabel looked at me with an expression that mingled curiosity and concern; we never had connected last night.
I threw her a smile and that seemed to console her, and then Leisure and his two charges were gone, and Darrow was gesturing to the sofa for Thalia to sit.
“My dear, there are several things we need to…chat about. Please make yourself comfortable.”
She sat on the sofa, her slightly bulging eyes darting from Darrow to me, as I sat next to her, but not right next to her, giving her plenty of space.
“Is something wrong?” she asked. “Please don’t tell me you think Tommie and Mother are actually going to have to serve any…prison time.”
“I think we can avoid that,” Darrow said, “with your help.”
Relief softened her expression and she sighed and said, “I’ll do anything. Anything.”
“Good. Does my cigarette bother you, dear?”
She shook her head, no.
“Fine, then. Here’s what I need to ask of you…”
