Page 15 of Tiki Beach
“Well,” Ilima said, breaking the silence as her son cut the engine, “that was a waste of time.”
“We learned a lot, actually,” Mr. K said. “We confirmed the box is missing, which means someone else knows about the documents. That’s big.”
“And we know Pearl was poisoned,” I added as we exited the vehicle. “That’s significant.”
“What would be significant is having actual evidence in our hands,” Ilima huffed. “I still can’t believe Kawika refused to let us search the house. His own family!”
“He was doing his job,” Keone said. “You’d be proud of him if it were anyone else’s privacy he was protecting.”
Ilima’s expression softened. “You’re right, of course. Integrity is a Kaihale family trait.” She sighed dramatically. “Even when it’s inconvenient.”
As we reached the porch steps, my phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was from my Aunt Fae: “Maile is here visiting. She’s asking when you’ll be home for dinner. Also, Tiki knocked over my fern AGAIN and is giving me the evil eye from atop the refrigerator. Rescue me from this feline overlord?”
Maile was a foster child I’d helped find a home for with Rita, one of our Red Hats. We served as backup aunties when Rita needed a night off. I showed the message to Keone, who grinned. “Feline overlord. That’s about right.”
“She’s probably feeding Tiki fancy tuna from the can while composing dramatic texts,” I said. I quickly typed back that I’d be late, to please have dinner with Maile without me, and not to worry about the cat’s demands.
When we entered the shack, Keone flipped on the lights and headed straight for the coffee maker. “I think we need caffeine for this strategy session.”
“Make it strong,” Ilima instructed, settling onto her chair with the same elegance she’d display on a throne. “We have much to discuss.”
I moved toward the file drawer where I’d hidden the mysterious envelope, eager to show it to Ilima. “Before we get started, there’s something you should see.”
My words dried up as I pulled open the drawer. Where the cream-colored envelope had been carefully placed, there was nothing but a stack of file folders and a forgotten granola bar wrapper.
“It’s gone,” I whispered, my stomach clenching; I’d eaten that beef stew too long ago. “The note is gone.”
Keone abandoned the coffee preparations and joined me. “Are you sure this is the right drawer?”
“Positive.” I rifled through the folders, thinking it might have slipped between them. Nothing. “Someone’s been here while we were gone.”
“What note?” Ilima asked, leaning forward.
As Keone explained about the mysterious message addressed to “The Keeper of Secrets,” I examined the lock on the file cabinet drawer. No signs of forced entry.
“The shack was secure when we arrived, wasn’t it?” I asked, trying to remember.
Keone nodded, his mouth tightening. “I unlocked it myself.”
“Then whoever took it either has a key or nefarious skills,” I concluded.
“We should check to see if anything else is missing,” Keone said, moving toward our case file drawer.
A quick inventory revealed that nothing else had been disturbed—not our computer, not our case files, not even the petty cash we kept in a shortbread cookie tin labeled “Bail Money” (Keone’s idea of detective humor).
“They knew exactly what they came for,” I said, sinking into my chair. “The question is, how did they know it was here?”
“We have a leak,” Ilima declared. “Someone is tracking your movements.”
Before we could follow this disturbing thought, my phone rang. The screen displayed “Detective Texeira,” and I quickly answered, putting it on speaker.
“Lei, you’re on speaker with me, Keone, and Ilima Kaihale,” I said by way of greeting.
“Good.” Lei’s voice was crisp and professional. “We got the results back on your tea samples, Kat. Preliminary testing confirms high concentrations of oleander toxin. Someone definitely poisoned that tea.”
“Then Pearl was deliberately targeted,” I said.
“Looks that way. The concentration was high enough to be fatal if she’d consumed more.”
