Poe's First Law: A Murder on Maui Mystery

didn’t have the dog on a leash and the dog took off. When he found the dog, it had a bone in its mouth. The radius bone to be exact. Whoever killed Eric Ellis dug a shallow grave. It was only a matter of time before the rain exposed parts of the body.”
“How was he killed?”
“A single gunshot to the back of the head, execution style.”
“Before we go any further, I need to make sure you’re aware of something. I was contacted by a client to look into this murder. This could be considered a conflict of interest,” I said.
Detective Parrish didn’t immediately respond.
Then he asked, “Could this new client be considered a suspect?”
“Probably, but I feel confident they didn’t do it. I wouldn’t have taken the case otherwise.”
Okay, that wasn’t technically true since I’ve been guilty more than once of working for a crooked client. In fairness to me, I didn’t know they were guilty at the time, although I’d probably suspected it on some level.
“Are you always right about your client’s guilt or innocence?” he asked.
“Unfortunately, no.”
“So, you have no way of knowing if this new client, let’s say her hypothetical name is Mele Akamu, might be guilty?”
That was interesting, I thought. The fresh-faced detective wasn’t as green as he’d initially tried to appear. Or had I simply assumed he was? One sometimes judges without realizing they’re doing so.
“What makes you think it’s her?” I asked.
“You’re not going to confirm or deny it?”
“Not yet. I’m more intrigued as to why you tossed out that name.”
“Is this some kind of test?”
“No and forgive me if it comes across that way. I enjoy learning how others solve puzzles. That’s all.”
Detective Parrish took a sip of his coffee. Then he put the cup back down on the table.
“I heard rumors that Mayor Akamu was somehow involved in your wife’s last major investigation. I also heard rumors that his grandmother, Mele Akamu, intervened. I doubt that she went to Detective Hu directly. My guess is that she did the next best thing. She spoke with you and you passed along whatever information she wanted to get back to the police.”
I smiled.
“Is something funny?” he asked.
“No, nothing funny. I just realized the irony of this conversation.”
“What’s ironic about it?”
“Nothing about this conversation in general. It’s a specific question you asked a few seconds ago. You asked me if I was testing you. You had a bit of aggression in your voice, as if I’d offended you.”
“I’m a new detective, fresh off the boat so to speak. People are going to underestimate me.”
“And that would be their mistake, not mine.”
“Are you going to tell me what was ironic about my question?” he asked.
“Something tells me that you already know. You found out that I’d been approached by Mele Akamu again, and you assumed, correctly I might add, that it was about Eric Ellis. But you didn’t open this conversation with that knowledge. Instead, you tested me. You wanted to see how far I’d go before letting you in on that little secret, or maybe I wouldn’t have told you at all.”
Detective Parrish shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s a small island, but you already noted that.”
“Yes, it is,” I said.
“Are you willing to tell me what she said? Which choice will you make? Consultant for the Maui Police Department and husband of its best detective, or private investigator for Mele Akamu?”
“Thank you for the compliment on Alana. I happen to agree with you. Many of my cases have put me in a tough spot, especially with Alana and other detectives, but I don’t believe this is one of them.”
“How’s that? Mele Akamu is my number one suspect.”
“And I can understand how she would be. Eric Ellis worked for her and he was privy to many of the details of her business. I can see how that would make him vulnerable, but I don’t think that vulnerability is just with her. There are others, perhaps Mele Akamu’s enemies. Maybe Eric Ellis crossed one of them.”
“What are these business details you’re talking about?” he asked.
“I don’t know. You may not believe that, but it’s the truth.”
“You’re right. I don’t believe you.”
“I understand. We don’t know each other, and I just admitted that I’m doing a job for Mele Akamu.”
“Does your wife know that?”
“First of all, what is said between my wife and I is none of your business,” I said.
“And second?”
“It’s still none of your business.”
“I’m sure you must have asked Mele Akamu who she thought had killed Eric Ellis, especially if she’d declared that she didn’t do it.”
“You’re right. I did ask her that and she told me that she didn’t have a clue.”
“You bought that?”
“No, I didn’t buy it, but I didn’t think that meeting was the time to press her. I need to learn more about the case. You’re only going to get so many shots with Mele Akamu. Better to be prepared.”
“So many shots? It sounds like you’re out to get her.”
“I’m not out to get anyone. I’m only interested in the guilty party being brought to justice.”
“And if that’s Mele Akamu?” Detective Parrish asked.
“Then she should go to jail. What did you think I was going to say?”
“When word got out that I was being promoted, Detective Kalani offered to take me to lunch to celebrate. We had a long conversation about you.”
He paused a long moment, apparently waiting for me to ask him how that conversation went. I didn’t.
“She warned me about you,” he continued. “She said that you undermined her on several occasions.”
“Did she also tell you how I helped her solve some of her toughest cases?”
“No, but I assumed there was a reason she kept calling you.”
“I like Detective Kalani and I don’t have one bad word to say about her.”
“Good. I have another question for you. Why in the world would you be willing to work for one of Maui’s biggest criminals?”
“I’ve already answered that question. Is there anything else you want to say before I leave? It’s obvious that