Page 1 of Wired Target

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Day 1

Back to work after six months of maternity leave, investigator Sophie Smithson tightened her hold on the sissy strap of a heavy-duty Ford truck as it bumped through a red dirt pothole on the way to Oahu’s scenic bird sanctuary at Ka‘ena Point.Marcus Kamuela, a detective with Honolulu Police Department, gripped the wheel tightly as they hit another chuckhole.“Good thing I was able to get this permit for us to drive out to the sanctuary, or we would have had to walk all the way to the crime scene.”

Sophie glanced at Kamuela.The detective’s jaw was tight, his brown eyes intent behind mirrored sunglasses as he navigated the rough road through the state park toward the windswept, most northwestern point on the island.“This was one of my favorite run-hike routes before the babies were born.”

“Ka‘ena Point’s popular, even though it’s a two and a half mile hike each way, with no shade, water, or facilities.”

“I enjoy this trail,” Sophie said.“I’ve been hoping to do it again.But given that we’re on the clock, driving is more efficient.”

Wedged behind Sophie sat her colleague Pierre Raveaux, his knees folded high in the truck’s narrow passenger seat.“Going out to the scene in person is always a good starting point on a case,” he said.“Merci beaucoupfor making the time to show us the area.”

“The client waited for me to come back to work before moving ahead with contracting Security Solutions,” Sophie said.“We appreciate you being willing to work with us.”

“Honolulu Police Department’s glad for the help at this point because we haven’t had time to give this case the man-hours it needs, even though public outrage has created pressure.As you know, I work in the Homicide Division, and this was a crime involving animals ...or birds, I should say.”Beads of sweat had formed on Kamuela’s broad brow despite the truck’s air-conditioning, and he swiped a beefy, tattooed forearm across his forehead.“Nobody can understand why someone would sneak into a nature preserve and kill twelve adult Laysan albatrosses and smash their eggs.”

“I understand the press are calling it the Moli Massacre,” Raveaux said.“Molibeing the Hawaiian name for the Laysan albatross.”

“Yes, and that’s why HPD put me on the case rather than letting the Department of Land and Natural Resources be the only agency to investigate.According to the experts I interviewed, damage to future generations of this endangered species is hard to calculate exactly, but huge,” Kamuela said.

Sophie shut her eyes, trying not to imagine the scene that had met the sight of park staffers the morning after the savage attack on the peaceful birds at their nesting grounds had taken place.“This is cowardly of me, but I’m glad there won’t be much to see three months later.”

“The park rangers cleaned up the mess.”Kamuela’s jaw was tight.“The photos will be grisly enough for you to review.I’ve seen some dark things in my time, but this was one of the worst.Give me a crime involving humans any day.”

Sophie gazed out the window at the passing scenery to distract herself.Ka‘ena Point was a dry area of the island; no large trees broke up the rolling sand dunes, sparkling turquoise ocean, and scrubby bushes that dotted the arid landscape.

On the left, towering cliffs in bold red volcanic soil studded with boulders and a few wind-batteredhaole koaandkiawetrees set off the ocean’s fringe of yellow-white coral beach and aquamarine surf over barrier reefs.

Gruesome case aside, it was exciting to be back in the field after the last three months spent exclusively in the company of her boyfriend Connor, nanny Armita, toddler Momi, and infant Sean.Armita, Momi and Sean awaited Sophie at her home in Kailua, but she’d had to say a wrenching goodbye to Connor when she left his private island of Phi Ni in Thailand.

Even now, the ocean she gazed at reminded her of his sea-colored eyes ...

“I’m assuming you will let us review the surveillance video, too,” Raveaux said from behind Sophie.“I did a quick scan of your case file, which mentions that two male perpetrators were visible in the footage.”

“You’re welcome to review it further, but the perps knew the park’s cameras were recording and where they were located.The killers wore bandannas over their faces as well as ball caps on their heads.Other than being able to ascertain that there were two males, both less than six feet tall, one skinny, one heavy, there isn’t much to go on.We couldn’t even make out skin tone in the low-quality feed.”

“Those details show premeditation, though,” Sophie said.“The Moli Massacre was not an impulse crime.”

Kamuela glanced at her; Sophie was struck as she’d been in the past by the man’s handsome Hawaiian features, and how fierce he looked when he frowned.“I can’t promise that I’d be able to follow due process if I got my hands on the perps.In our culture, themoliare some of our most revered`aumakua, guardian spirits of the ancestors.We treat these birds with utmost respect.”He blew out a breath.“Albatrosses are large but have little fear of humans.From what we could tell from the scene, they did not defend themselves.”

Sophie looked out the window again.Even murders she’d worked didn’t get to her like the slaughter of these rare birds; apparently Kamuela felt the same.

The detective and investigators reached a red dirt parking area at the end of the road.A tall chain-link fence with a turnstile gate and an information kiosk marked the entrance to the sanctuary.

Kamuela parked the truck, pointing to the high barrier.“Private citizens raised funds to fence this entire section of the park to protect themoli’snesting grounds.That fence keeps out mongooses, pigs, and feral cats, which would disturb the birds and feed on their eggs.Unfortunately for the birds, it’s designed to allow humans to pass through.”

Sophie got out of the cab of the truck, flipping the seat lever so that Raveaux could climb out as well.Raveaux dusted down his trousers as he straightened up from the cramped quarters.He wore a battered but quality pale straw fedora and a pair of Ray-Ban aviators with a white linen shirt; Raveaux was always a notch better dressed than anyone else.Their mutual friend, forensic auditor Hermoine Leede, called Raveaux’s elegance “the Paris factor.”

The three donned backpacks containing water and their crime kits.Kamuela held aloft a large plastic bag.“Might as well pick up some trash while we’re at it.”

They proceeded through the turnstile and walked along a well-worn path between sturdy native bushes and clumps of grass.A boulder-strewn beach they navigated was empty and stunning; gentle waves lapped against golden sand studded with white coral.

Brisk wind tugged at Sophie’s curly hair, still thick and long from pregnancy.She swung her arms as she walked, enjoying the strength she was rebuilding; the physical effects of carrying, birthing, and feeding a baby were no small feat for any woman, even the fittest.

Kamuela interrupted Sophie’s rumination with a touch on her shoulder.“Look.”

The three of them paused, gazing at a meter-high albatross standing majestically on its nest, a large, speckled white egg balanced between sturdy yellow webbed feet.

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