Page 19 of Tiki Beach
Pua’s back was to me as she stood frozen in front of the dangling purse and cardigan. “You saw me, then.”
“We have it on camera, actually,” I confirmed. “That’s breaking and entering, plus mail theft—serious offenses.”
She turned slowly to face me, her expression a complicated mix of defiance and embarrassment. Her dark eyes flashed and her small mouth tightened. “I didn’t steal anything. I borrowed that note.”
“With lock picks?” I asked incredulously.
A flicker of pride crossed her face. “My grandfather was handy. He taught me when I was ten.” She sighed. “I know how this looks, but I can explain.”
“I’m listening,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.
Pua reached into her pocket and pulled out the cream-colored envelope, placing it on the nearby counter. “I wanted to know what was inside. After Pearl’s collapse and all the whispers around town . . . then this mysterious envelope arrives . . . I just needed to know what was going on.”
“So you went into my office, and when you realized I’d moved the envelope, you broke into the shack and took it?” The hurt in my voice was evident even to me.
“I was going to put it back!” She looked genuinely distressed. “I just wanted to read it. I was worried about Pearl too, you know.”
“That means you read it?” I asked, softening slightly at her obvious distress.
Pua nodded, rolling her lips in with embarrassment. “I steamed it open. Very carefully.”
Keone and I had done exactly the same thing. I was hardly a saint in the situation, but I wasn’t going to tell her that at the moment.
“And what did you make of the contents?” I asked.
“‘The time has come. The garden reveals all. The crane will fly once more,’” Pua recited. “Cryptic nonsense. But I think it has something to do with Pearl’s Heritage Tea Garden plans.”
“How do you know about that?” I asked.
Pua rolled her eyes. “Everyone in Ohia knows about it. Pearl talked about it all the time. It’s her passion project.”
“Well, I didn’t know about it until the tea party,” I frowned. If the project was such common knowledge, then the circle of potential suspects who knew about Pearl’s plans expanded considerably. “Did Pearl ever mention anything specific about the garden’s significance? Any historical connections?”
Something flickered in Pua’s eyes. “She did act strangely at bridge club last week. We were partnered together, and between hands, she kept muttering about ‘making things right after all these years.’ When I asked what she meant, she said something about stolen legacies and how the truth always finds its way.”
“Did she say anything more?” I pressed.
“No, but she mentioned a name—Santos. Said the Mayor’s family had built their fortune on other people’s misfortunes.” Pua paused. “I thought she was just being dramatic. Pearl can be that way.”
“I’m aware.” I picked up the envelope, confirming it was indeed the same one we’d examined. “Pua, this was wrong on multiple levels. You violated federal mail regulations, broke into private property, and tampered with potential evidence in what’s now an attempted murder investigation.” I was a hypocrite since I’d taken the envelope and steamed it open too; but I had to stop Pua’s snooping.
Pua’s eyes widened. “Pearl really was poisoned?”
“Yes, the police have confirmed it was oleander poisoning in the tea.” I might as well tell her; or she’d find out some other way.
Pua sank onto a nearby stool, her poise deserting her. “I had no idea it was that serious. I thought maybe she had a stroke or something.” She looked up at me, genuine remorse in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Kat. I swear I wasn’t trying to interfere with an investigation for any other reason but—I’m nosy and obsessed.”
I studied her face. My instincts told me Pua wasn’t involved in the poisoning. Just cursed with an excess of curiosity and a troubling disregard for locks.
Kind of like me.
Pua went on. “I’ll do anything to make it right. I can help with your investigation. I know things about people in this town—who’s connected to whom, who has grudges, who has secrets.”
I raised an eyebrow. “The coconut wireless gossip network could be useful. But this can never happen again, Pua. I mean it.”
“I promise, no more lock picking. Unless you need me to,” she added with a hopeful glint in her eye.
As if on cue, my phone chimed with an incoming text.
