Unknown Victim, Kay Hadashi [inspirational books for students txt] 📗

way back into the bar after closing to have some sort of meeting with Chuck. He would’ve let you in because you were one of his girls. Maybe the meeting got heated, or maybe you just cold-cocked him with the stool, I don’t know. The evidence I have now has a barstool in your hands, with DNA and hair from the victim on that stool, and a dent in the back of his head that matches that of the stool leg.”

Holly tried wrestling away from his grip again. “Let me go!”

“Holly, what’s your real name?” Gina asked the girl, now writhing in Detective Kona’s grip like a snake.

Once again, she got the same two-word reply she always got from Holly.

“It’s Lisa, isn’t it?”

“How do you know that?” Holly hissed.

“You know all those other girls in Chuck’s corral, all your old workmates? Guess what? Not a single one of them likes you. In fact, they all ratted you out this week.”

“Rat on me for what?”

“It seems you’ve been bragging to the other girls about how you got rid of Chuck, once and for all. News like that makes it way through the neighborhood pretty fast, Lisa.”

This time, the curses placed on Gina were conjugated in peculiar, and personal, ways.

“Not today, thanks. You’re not my type,” Gina said, smiling at the girl. She looked at Harry, who looked like he was turning inside-out over the revelations about his girlfriend. “You were the one who whacked me in the head that night at the park, weren’t you?”

“It wasn’t me, honest. But I think I know who it was.”

“Why didn’t you come forward earlier?” Kona asked him.

“There’s been so much trouble at the bar lately. I’m about to lose my liquor license. I can’t afford any more police reports going through the system.”

“Who was it?” Gina demanded.

“Just some bar patron that knew Hughes. Chuck didn’t trust Hughes, and sent the other guy out to keep an eye on Holly, to make sure she got back to the bar.”

“But he found me already there helping Holly, right?” Gina asked.

Harry nodded with sadness on his face.

“Was he the one who put a bullet in Hughes’s head?” Detective Kona asked.

Harry nodded again. “That’s what I heard. By then, Hughes was high as a kite, and the guy took him for a ride and got rid of him.”

“A ride to the Ala Wai Marina?” Kona asked.

“I don’t know where, just that Hughes got a bullet put in his head. Good riddance, if you ask me.”

“Why?” Gina asked.

“Worst bartender ever. Clueless when it came to blender drinks, and those are the ones with the highest profit margin.”

“Are you willingly coming downtown to make a witness statement, or do I need to haul you in?” Kona asked Harry.

“I’ll come.”

“What about her?” Gina asked, nodding at Holly.

Detective Kona reached behind his back for a set of handcuffs. “Lisa Oshima, you’re under arrest for the murder of Charles Andover. There may be further charges in the murder of a man named Danny.”

When Kona took Holly, Ivy, Rose, or Lisa to his car for the trip downtown, Harry followed in his car. Once they were gone, Gina tried to smile apologetically to Kenzo, who had been watching from the patio door.

“Sorry you had to see that, and in your home.”

“Glad to see her go,” Kenzo said quietly. “Should’ve taken that guy to jail with her.”

“Why? He’s your brother.”

“Half-brother. Other half is no good, I tell you.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Gina followed her nose to the kitchen and spooned minestrone into three bowls. “I have a question, Kenzo. Who watches over your father when you’re working on the house?”

“You met Reiko earlier, yah?”

“The pretty one? I think she’s married to Brad, right?”

Kenzo nodded. “Another half-sister. She’s a nurse. Works night shift at the hospital, and stops in to stay with him while I’m at the house.”

“She’s Harry’s sister? They don’t look like each other at all,” Gina said.

“Another mother.”

“Wow. Your father really…never mind. Sorry.”

Kenzo shrugged. “No matter. He likes women.”

“I have the idea women like him, too.”

She took two bowls of minestrone with her into Bunzo’s bedroom, with Kenzo remaining behind in the kitchen to eat his.

“Fresh summer minestrone for you, Mister Tanizawa!” she said, setting the bowl in front of Bunzo.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

“My pleasure. I enjoyed cooking it.”

“No. Thank you for taking her away.”

“You heard us talking?” she asked.

He nodded in the direction of the wall. “Window was open.”

Gina chuckled. “Again, my pleasure. Now, it’s time for hanashi-banashi. Did I say it right?”

He gave her a thumbs-up.

Gina smiled, happy her little plan was working out so well. “Tell me about the girl in Italy again. I want to hear all about her.”

About The Author

Kay Hadashi

Kay Hadashi is the author of more than forty mystery, suspense, and adventure books, with women as main characters. Most stories are set in the Hawaiian Islands, and include Hawaiian and Japanese themes and characters. Please visit her website at kayhadashi.com.

Other Series by Kay Hadashi

June Kato Intrigue

Island Breeze

Melanie Kato Adventures

Maui Mysteries

Maile Spencer Mysteries

Honolulu Thrillers

Gina Santoro Mysteries

Visit Kay Hadashi at Amazon