“Should I report you for police brutality against my phone?” I asked.
“Do you always have a joke for everything?”
“Just where it concerns you.”
“I guess you’ve already collected your blood money from Mele Akamu now that she’s out of jail,” he said.
“My blood money?”
“You helped a killer go free. What would you call what she paid you?”
“I think you and I can stop playing games now. We both know she didn’t kill Eric Ellis.”
“No, but she killed my father. Doesn’t she deserve to go to jail for that?”
“My answer may surprise you. Yes, I think she should go to jail,” I said.
Detective Parrish said nothing.
“And what about Eric Ellis? He had nothing to do with your father’s death. Why did he deserve to die?” I asked.
“Sometimes people have to be sacrificed for the greater good. Besides, you don’t think Eric Ellis would have eventually turned out worse than Mele Akamu? Whoever killed him probably did the world a favor.”
“There was something I didn’t mention during the trial, nor did I tell Mrs. Akamu earlier today. I know you didn’t act alone. You had Stan Cross’ help.”
“Why would you say something like that?”
“He helped you lure Eric Ellis to his death. The phone records prove that. He also got rid of Daniel Davis once you two realized that I’d discovered the truth about Daniel’s fake dog.”
“That fool never should have gotten rid of that dog so quickly,” Detective Parrish said.
“It was an ingenious plan. You killed Eric right after you became a cop and then you had the body discovered weeks after you made detective. How did you guarantee that you’d get the case, though?”
Detective Parrish smiled but said nothing.
“By the way, I got Mele Akamu’s safe open on my fifth attempt. How many did it take you?” I asked.
“Three.”
“Aren’t you worried?”
“About what?”
“About Stan Cross. He knows the pressure is on you, especially after the story I told in court. He may think you’re going to cut a deal and flip on him.”
“If anything, Stan Cross should be worried about me. You should too. Just ask Eric Ellis,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t take your threats lightly. Have a good day. Maybe we can work your next case together.”
“A word of warning, Rutherford. When the end arrives for you, and it will soon, you’ll never see it coming.”
Detective Parrish kicked the broken pieces of my cell phone and then walked back to his sedan. I waited for him to drive off before starting my car.
I always played my music through my phone, so there was to be no more Pet Shop Boys for the remainder of the drive to the airport.
I parked my convertible in airport parking and walked to the arrivals area. I found the flight information and walked to the appropriate baggage claim. It took me another ten minutes to find the person I was meeting.
“There you are,” I said.
Sora Hu slipped his phone back into his pocket.
“I tried calling you a couple of times, but it went straight to voicemail.”
“Sorry about that. I had a little accident with my phone on the way here.”
I looked at the small roller suitcase at his feet.
“Is that all of your luggage?” I asked.
“Yes, I like to travel light.”
“Good, then we won’t need to smother it in grease to fit it in the trunk of my car.”
“Is Alana outside?” he asked.
“No, she’s going to meet us at Harry’s.”
“What about Hani?”
“She can’t make it tonight. She has two meetings at our event space in Wailea. Shall we head for the car?”
“Yes, of course.”
We walked into the parking lot and climbed into the convertible.
“Nice car,” Sora said.
“Thanks. I bought it off of Foxx when I first moved to the island.”
I started the engine and put the car in gear. I turned out of the parking lot, and we started the drive for Lahaina.
“Yuto asked me to tell you that a suite opened up at his hotel, so he upgraded you.”
“That’s nice of him. How are things between Hani and Yuto?”
“Nonexistent, I’m afraid. Hani has thrown herself into her work, so has Yuto.”
“They’re not talking at all?”
“Not that I know of. I think they’ve both moved on. I feel a little bad for saying this, but I think it’s probably for the best. There was a little too much drama going on between the two of them,” I said.
“All caused by me, I’m sure.”
“Not at all. I think your presence was the kick they needed to have a hard look at their relationship.”
“Maybe time will bring them back together.”
“I doubt that.”
“Why do you say that?”
I laughed.
“Because I know your daughter. She’ll never forgive Yuto for ending things with her.”
“You’re probably right.”
I watched as Sora looked off to the ocean as we made our way down Honoapiilani Highway.
“I never get tired of that view,” I said.
“How do you like living on Maui?”
“I love it. Should have done it years ago. How about you? Do you miss it?”
“Yes, which is why I’ve got a meeting lined up with a realtor tomorrow. She’s going to show me some condos.”
“Wonderful. Do Alana and Hani know about that?” I asked.
“I mentioned it to Alana in our last email.”
He paused a moment.
Then he continued, “You don’t know how surprised I was when I got Alana’s first email a few months ago. I thought she’d written me off for good, especially when she refused to see me on my last trip here.”
“It surprised me too.”
“What do you think made her change her mind?” he asked.
“I think it was a conversation we had about my parents. They’re both deceased, and I mentioned that I would give anything to have one more conversation with them.”
“Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome, but in all honesty, I did it for her.”
“I understand. What about Luana? How is she taking all of this?”
“Not well. She hasn’t spoken to
