Page 34 of Deadly Sacrifice

Captain Omura’s perfect brows drew together. “Do you have anything on Steinbrenner and Noble? Addresses, recent activities?”

Katie nodded, tapping a few keys. “Steinbrenner’s clean as far as criminal records go. Lives on the west side, up in Kapalua. He’s like . . . a gazillionaire developer. He specializes in building getaways for the one-percenters, and has a reputation for trampling over local rights, culture, and history in the process—at least, according to the blogs I read. He’s the head of this development group, and their plans are pissing off the locals.”

“Could be this guy is next,” Pono rubbed his mustache with a thick forefinger. “And some might say he had it coming.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Captain Omura said. “Katie, tell us about the other team member, Beck Noble.”

“Noble is the project manager—and you know what that is, right?” Katie whipped her head around to pin each of them with a stare. “Right?”

“Why don’t you remind us, McHenry,” Lei said. “So we all know what you’re thinking.”

“In construction development, it’s a liaison position. The project manager works between the client, who’s paying, and the contractor, who’s the actual boots on the ground—to keep a job moving. Noble is a regular dude, a retired contractor. No big money in his back pocket. He has a few minor blemishes on his record—DUI, some aggressive behavior complaints from a former employer registered with the Department of Consumer Affairs. He’s currently residing in Kihei.”

Lei leaned forward, her mind racing. “We need to warn these guys. If this killer is targeting the development team, they could be in danger. In any case, we need to interview them. The brick is definitely part of the message the killer was sending, and it connects these people—the first concrete evidence we’ve found.”

“Agreed,” Captain Omura said. “This is serious enough for immediate action. Pono, coordinate with Dispatch. Send patrol units to their addresses to warn them and do extra sweeps of their neighborhoods. We’ve had a long day, and this is just an update—so you can go home after.”

“Understood,” Pono said, standing up. “Lei can share what Dr. Gregory passed on to us, and what we picked up at the Kleftes residence. See you ladies tomorrow.” He left.

Lei filled the Captain and Katie in on their visit to the Kleftes mansion and the tox report from Dr. Gregory. “We brought back a couple of USB drives and some documents that looked related to Kleftes’s work. I thought Katie could look through them; they’re in the evidence room.”

“On it, boss,” Katie said, hopping up. “I’ll go by evidence and pick up those USB drives. See you all tomorrow.”

“Don’t stay too late,” the Captain said. “I’m watching the overtime budget for the whole department this month. We got dinged by the state recently, so you’re going to have to call it a day after this, too, Lei.”

“But not me, cuz I’m a barely paid slave intern still on probation!” Katie bopped out the door, way too fresh after such a long day.

“What about motive, Captain? Any ideas why someone would target this development team?” Lei said as she rose to her feet. “And dress these murders up with all that Hawaiiana? Pono thinks that part is fake. He said he has a feeling about it.”

“No ideas yet. But it’s clear these murders were carefully planned and executed. They’re happening fast to keep us off-balance.” Omura flicked glossy red fingernails. “Now get out of the building within the hour. Whatever else is going on will have to wait until tomorrow.”

* * *

As Lei left the office,the weight and exhaustion of what she’d seen that day settled over her. Lei’s thoughts were a series of snapshots: the crime scene on Haleakala, the visit to the Kleftes house, the news of tangible connections from Katie.

Driving back through Kahului, the urban landscape blurred past, amber streetlights coming on as night fell.

Who were these potential victims, and how had they attracted the rage made clear in the way the victims were executed? Pieces of a puzzle were coming together of a killer with a vendetta tied to the land and its development.

Was it enough to send the patrol officers to pass on a watered-down message? Or should she make personal calls now to warn the remaining members of the development group? Speak to them about Goodwin and Kleftes herself?

Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel, her wedding ring clicking on the plastic, a physical manifestation of her internal debate.

The responsibility weighed heavily; but so did the need to follow protocol and the Captain’s directions about overtime. “Too strong to be coincidence, but does two make a pattern?” Lei wondered aloud. “The captain thought it was serious enough to send out units.” She sighed. “That ought to cover it.” Even so, her conclusion didn’t sit right.

As she turned off Hana Highway, navigating the narrow, winding road that led toward her family’s compound in Haiku, she rolled down the windows, trying to reconnect with the present. The lush greenery of the rainforest seemed to close in around her, the scents of damp earth and wild ginger filling the night air. She struggled to clear her mind; her family deserved her full attention.

Yeah, it had been a long, intense couple of days, but she was off now. Time to let it go.

Lei pulled up to the wooden gate that protected their home and inputted her code. The retractable barrier slid open—a modern convenience that never failed to feel reassuring. That, and the tall wooden fence surrounding the property, reinforced a feeling of leaving the world behind and being cocooned in safety and privacy.

She drove toward the house, a welcoming sight with its sprawling, single-story structure nestled among tropical plants. As soon as she stepped out of the truck, the family’s Rottweiler, Conan, bounded to greet her with an enthusiastic whine and wagging hindquarters. His large, muscular form was intimidating to strangers, but to Lei and her family, he was an affectionate giant. She bent down to ruffle his thick, dark fur and rub his sensitive ears. The Rottie’s happy rumblings brought a smile to her face despite her preoccupation. “Who’s the best boy? Conan, that’s who.”

“Mama!” Rosie’s high-pitched call lightened the evening like a sunbeam. Lei straightened up just in time to catch the little girl as Rosie launched herself into Lei’s arms.

“Hey, sweetie.” Lei lifted Rosie and spun her around, eliciting giggles that brought an answering grin to Lei’s face; her energy was coming back by the minute.

As she came up onto the porch carrying Rosie on her hip, Stevens emerged from the house, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and a dish towel thrown over one shoulder. “That’s my favorite look on you,” Lei teased. “You’ve still got it, babe.”

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