Page 39 of Tiki Beach
“She seemed confused, like she wasn’t sure where she was. I told her she was in the hospital, that she’d drunk some tea that was tampered with. She got agitated then, tried to sit up.” He paused, gathering his strength. “She grabbed my hand and said, ‘The truth is in the crane box. 1942. They’ll destroy it.’”
“Did she say who ‘they’ were?” Lei asked.
Kawika shook his head, then groaned at the movement. “I asked her, but she was fading. The last thing she said was, ‘Protected the land once. Will again.’”
“That’s when you called Lei?” I asked.
“Yes. I stepped into the hall to make the call—didn’t want to disturb Pearl. After, I stepped back into the room. That’s the last thing I remember clearly.” Kawika frowned. “Someone must have been watching, waiting for Pearl to wake up. They heard me on the phone and acted quickly.”
“The security footage confirms that someone in scrubs and a surgical mask entered Pearl’s room right after Kawika stepped out. Can’t make out details or gender, even. The camera angle doesn’t show the attack itself, but based on timing, they must have followed Kawika back into the room and struck him from behind.” She refocused on Kawika. “Did you recognize anything about your attacker? Height, build, anything distinctive?”
He closed his eyes briefly, concentrating. “I never saw them. But I remember . . . a smell. Right before I was knocked out. Something distinctive.”
“What kind of smell?” Lei was making a handwritten note on a small spiral pad.
“Sandalwood,” Kawika said, opening his eyes. “Strong. A cologne or aftershave.”
“Did the security cameras catch the person leaving?” Lei asked.
“Yes, but they kept their head down and face turned away from the cameras. They knew where the cameras were positioned.” Lei’s full lips firmed into a line. “They were waiting for Pearl to regain consciousness.”
“Which means they have someone at the hospital keeping them informed,” I said. “An inside source.”
“I’ve thought of that,” Lei said. “I’ve restricted access to Pearl’s medical information by having her name changed in the computer. I’ve switched out the security detail to officers from outside—people with no ties to Hana or the Santos family.”
Kawika shifted uncomfortably, his face tightening with pain. “What about the crane box? Do you know what Pearl meant?”
I explained what we’d learned about the sandalwood box carved with a crane that supposedly contained Takeo Yamamoto’s journal documenting Felix Santos’s crimes during the internment period.
“That’s why I brought you and Keone out here,” Lei said. “I wanted to speak in person and tell you we need to find that evidence before anyone else does. I’ve turned the drive over to our tech department, but I’m worried there’s something specific in that box that’s crucial.”
A nurse appeared in the doorway, her expression making it clear that our time with Kawika was up. “Mr. Pali needs rest,” she said firmly. “Doctor’s orders.”
Kawika looked ready to protest, but pain was evident in every line of his face. “Find the box,” he said as we prepared to leave. “Pearl risked everything to protect that evidence. Don’t let it be for nothing.”
“We won’t,” I promised. “You focus on recovering.” I remembered the loaf of banana bread, extracted it from my backpack, and placed it on his bedside table. “From Aunt Fae. She says hospital food is terrible for healing.”
The ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Wise woman. Tell her thanks.”
As we left Kawika’s room, Lei led us to an empty waiting area where we could speak privately. “I’ve got officers canvassing the hospital staff who were on duty last night, trying to identify our fake nurse,” she explained. “My gut tells me we’re dealing with a professional, possibly hired help.”
“The Santos family has connections,” Keone said. “And they’re not the type to do their own dirty work.”
“Except for David,” I said. “He was willing to confront me personally at the cultural center and burn those cranes. And what about Pearl?” I asked Lei. “Can we see her?”
Lei shook her head. “Doctors have her sedated for now. They say the brief period of consciousness is a positive sign, but they want to keep her calm and monitored.”
“We’ll focus on finding the crane box,” Keone concluded. “Any ideas where to start?”
“Pearl’s house,” I suggested. “We’ve already searched the cultural center. The logical place for something that personal would be her home.”
“Did you search the house, Lei?” Keone asked.
Lei nodded. “I have a warrant and I did a quick sweep, looking for anything that spoke to motive. Took all her teas and medicines into evidence to make sure they weren’t tampered with. But I never found a crane box.”
“Then that’s our next stop,” I said.
“I have to stay on this side of the island,” Lei said. “But I’ll get you authorized to do a more careful search out at her property.”
