Murder in Maui Read online

  MURDER IN MAUI:

  A Leila Kahana Mystery

  R. Barri Flowers

  Murder in Maui: A Leila Kahana Mystery is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright 2011 R. Barri Flowers

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Image Copyright Dwight Smith, 2011

  Used under license from Shutterstock.com

  Other Books by R. Barri Flowers

  FICTION

  Danger in Time

  Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay

  State’s Evidence

  Dark Streets of Whitechapel

  Dead in the Rose City

  Murder Past, Murder Present, Editor

  Persuasive Evidence

  Justice Served

  When Night Falls

  * * *

  NONFICTION

  Prostitution in the Digital Age

  Street Kids

  College Crime

  Female Crime, Criminals, and Cellmates

  The Adolescent Criminal

  Drugs, Alcohol and Criminality

  Sex Crimes

  The Prostitution of Women and Girls

  Murders in the United States

  Male Crime and Deviance

  Murder, at the End of the Day and Night

  Kids Who Commit Adult Crimes

  Runaway Kids and Teenage Prostitution

  Domestic Crimes, Family Violence and Child Abuse

  The Sex Slave Murders

  The Victimization and Exploitation of Women and Children

  Demographics and Criminality

  Minorities and Criminality

  Women and Criminality

  Children and Criminality

  Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country

  What Bestselling Crime and Thriller Writers Say

  About MURDER IN MAUI: A Leila Kahana Mystery

  “A police procedure of the highest order, mixing equal parts Sue Grafton and Jeffrey Deaver with a sprinkling of Patricia Cornwall at her best. MURDER IN MAUI is Hawaii 5-0 sharpened to a dark edge beneath the brilliant sunshine.” — Jon Land, internationally acclaimed bestselling author of STRONG JUSTICE and STRONG ENOUGH TO DIE

  “A masterful thriller set in the dark underbelly of Maui, with lots of fine action, down and dirty characters, and the vivid details of police procedure one would expect from an author who is also a top criminologist. A terrific read!” — Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author and co-creator of the PENDERGAST series of novels

  “A gripping and tightly woven tale you won’t want to put down. Flowers neatly contrasts the natural beauty of a tropical paradise with the ugliness of murder and its aftermath. Treat yourself to a vacation in Hawaii. You’ll want to return again and again.” — John Lutz, Edgar winner and bestselling author of MISTER X and NIGHT VICTIMS

  “From one of the best true crime writers around, R. Barri Flowers now has combined his impressive criminology credentials and literary talents to create Maui homicide detective Leila Kahana, a fascinating and complex heroine. Fans of CSI and Hawaii 5-0 will love this one and scream for more!” — Deborah Shlian, award-winning co-author of DOUBLE ILLUSION and DEVIL WIND

  “A combination of grit, action, and incredibly realistic police procedure. That’s the recipe that keeps me turning pages until the sun comes up. Author R. Barri Flowers dug deep into his extensive background as a criminologist to plot MURDER IN MAUI, a tale so genuine that even I was tempted to call for backup a couple of times.” — Lee Lofland, former detective, author of POLICE PROCEDURE AND INVESTIGATION, and founder of the Writers’ Police Academy

  “Flowers delivers the goods. An exotic setting, winning characters, and realistic procedural details make MURDER IN MAUI a sure hit with crime-fiction readers.” — Bill Crider, Edgar winner and New York Times bestselling author of MURDER IN THE AIR and MURDER IN FOUR PARTS

  “MURDER IN MAUI is a page-turning mystery featuring the debut of a fascinating character, Detective Leila Kahana. Leila is smart, funny, talented and on top of her game as a detective and police sketch artist. The ending definitely has me saying, More please, Mr. Flowers.” — Jan Grape, Anthony and McCavity winner and author of WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU and co-editor of MURDER PAST, MURDER PRESENT

  “MURDER IN MAUI is terrific. Gripping writing, wonderfully rounded characters you really care about, and vivid locations—this novel is a real and rare treat.” — Peter James, international bestselling author of DEAD SIMPLE and DEAD LIKE YOU

  “MURDER IN MAUI launches a series detective in a beautiful setting with a thoroughly puzzling mystery to solve. If you love Hawaii or a good head-scratching mystery, you’ll enjoy this book. Very entertaining.” — William Bernhardt, bestselling author of CAPITOL BETRAYAL and CAPITOL OFFENSE

  “Starts with a bang—literally—and drops you right into the deep end of murder. A by-the-book mystery that keeps the suspense taut and edgy.” — Joe Moore, international bestselling co-author of THE 731 LEGACY

  Reviews of Other Crime Fiction by R. Barri Flowers

  STATE’S EVIDENCE

  “Flowers once again has written a page-turner legal thriller that begins with a bang and rapidly moves along to its final page. He has filled the novel with believable characters and situations.” — Midwest Book Review

  “This legal thriller will have you on the edge of your seats. The courtroom scenes are unforgettable and very believable.... The author gets into the mind of the criminals and you’ll feel privileged to information that the other characters don’t know. State’s Evidence is a must have for any fan of suspense books.” — Shades of Romance Magazine

  “R. Barri Flowers’s book STATE’S EVIDENCE is a well-written thriller with an opening scene that would cause anyone to keep turning the pages. STATE’S EVIDENCE will make the top sellers list because it’s fast-paced, intriguing, satisfying, and I highly recommend it to you.” — Romance Reader At Heart

  “STATE’S EVIDENCE, the new legal thriller by R. Barri Flowers, is a mixture of murder, mystery, madness and mayhem. The story was well written and believable, and at times erotic. Flowers inflicted the characters with human flaws, among them the desire for love and revenge.” — RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

  “Just when you think you have figured the plot out, R. Barri Flowers throws another curve. One of my suppositions did prove out but was clouded by the red herrings being thrown around.... It was well worth the time taken to read it.” — Roundtable Reviews

  “STATE’S EVIDENCE has a varied, multicultural cast of interesting characters, both good and evil.... Plot is clever and intriguing with unusual twists, with the suspense escalating rapidly.” — Romance Reviews Today

  “An intriguing story of murder, madness and mayhem, with a slight blend of mystery. Flowers depicts believable characters in this suspenseful legal thriller.” — Romantic Times

  “R. Barri Flowers has written an electrifying and enthralling legal thriller that will appeal to readers of Nancy Taylor Rosenberg and Barbara Parker. The courtroom scenes are very realistic and the heroine is someone readers will empathize with and admire as a role model for minorities and women. STATE’S EVIDENCE would make a great action packed movie.” — Harriet Klausner

  JUSTICE SERVED

  “A clever mystery with many suspects.... Vividly written, this book holds the reader’s attention and speeds along.” — Romantic Times

  “An A+ suspense/mystery with a touch of heartfelt romance.... Is not just simply compelling, it also activates reader’s consciousness.... Powerful legal suspense is riveting.” — Fresh Fiction


  “This author weaves a magical web, as well as, a tangled one [and] wraps up the mystery thriller beautifully.... Will be recommending this title to many!” — Huntress’ Book Reviews

  “Justice Served is a model of crime fiction.... Flowers may be a new voice in modern mystery writing, but he is already one of its best voices.” — Statesman Journal

  “The magic behind R. Barri Flowers’ terrific suspense thriller is that the serial killer is in plain sight as the clues are laid out for the audience to determine.... Fans of police procedural serial killer thrillers will want to read this fine tale while anxiously waiting to follow the next investigation.” — Harriet Klausner

  “R. Barri Flowers has created a superb mystery.... There’s just enough romance and romantic triangles to keep the interest going. It’s a great book that any mystery lover will adore.” — RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

  “This novel has lots of twists and turns and is a very fast read with believable characters and a very tense setting.” — Midwest Book Review

  PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE

  “Compelling detective mystery.” — The Best Reviews

  “A superb legal thriller.” — Midwest Book Review

  “Raw, primal, thrilling, incredible—one of the best books that I have read. I was completely riveted from the first page.” — Romance Reader at Heart

  “It has all the aspects of a perfect mystery, and thankfully, it isn’t so predictable you figure out what’s going on.” — RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

  “An excellent look at the jurisprudence system.... will appeal to fans of John Grisham and Linda Fairstein.” — Harriet Klausner

  “Interesting ‘whodunit’ that kept me guessing until the end...found the story to be quite engaging with all around solid pacing, plot and delivery.” — APOOO BookClub

  “An absorbing legal thriller.... Flowers’ forte lies in the vivid well-developed characters he creates. The interactions of his characters and the conflicts that arise serve to make the story a compelling page-turner.” — Romance In Color

  “All the elements of a great mystery book, suspicions, red herrings, evidence and witnesses. If you are into mysteries, this would be the book for you.” — Romance Review

  “A story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.... A page turning story I couldn’t put down.” — Romance Junkies

  This one is for my wife and best friend, H. Loraine, and the great memories we share from many trips to Maui, which is arguably the most beautiful place on earth.

  And to my mother, who put me on the right track many years ago toward living my dream to become a writer.

  Lastly, to all who share my love for Maui and its many wonders. I hope this mystery novel captures the true spirit of the island, while giving readers a heart-pounding tropical police procedural to enjoy one page at a time.

  PROLOGUE

  The handgun was loaded methodically. Time for payback. Now they would know what it felt like to be humiliated. And only then could some peace of mind come.

  And just maybe a life again.

  First things first. There was a job to do and the doer was determined to exact some vengeance against those deserving.

  Stuffing the gun in a pocket, the soon-to-be-killer downed the rest of a glass of liquor before heading for the door.

  It was a relatively quiet evening by Maui standards, what with the constant throng of tourists practically taking over the island. This was a good omen. No need to draw undue attention or have to take out someone who didn’t deserve to die.

  The doer got into a vehicle and began the drive down Mokulele Highway toward the South Shore.

  Arriving in Wailea, the car was parked not far from the Crest Creek Condominiums.

  Then came the wait, certain they would show up. After all, their routines had been studied and memorized.

  Ten minutes later both arrived in separate BMWs. The tall, handsome man left his car first and casually looked around as if lost before heading toward a condo.

  The woman waited an appropriate amount of time before stepping out of her car. She was attractive and leggy with long blonde hair.

  She joined the man in the condo.

  It didn’t take much to imagine what they might be doing inside, having already witnessed it firsthand.

  She was the loud type; while her lover was more focused on rough actions speaking for him.

  Glancing at a watch, the doer decided it was time to get this over with.

  Moving quickly toward the condo, the doer resisted the temptation to look around in the dim light, knowing this small impulse alone might cause someone to hone in on a passing stranger.

  Pausing at the unit and listening carefully for any sounds within, there was nothing perceptible due to the thick walls, which would work well for the purpose in mind.

  The gloved hand turned the doorknob, slowly opening the door.

  Inside two goblets of wine sat on a table in the living room. Clothes were strewn about the hardwood floor as if they couldn’t get them off soon enough. Muffled sounds could be heard upstairs.

  The doer climbed the steps, moving steadily. The master bedroom was just down the hall. Laughter and moaning grew louder, along with the frenetic movement of bodies.

  The two were on the bed naked having sex. She was on top, galloping like a stallion, while he had one hand clamped firmly on her breast and the other gripping a buttock.

  Removing the gun, a few brisk steps toward the pair followed. Before they were even aware of another presence in the room, it was too late. Bullets were systematically pumped into the pair until the killer was satisfied there was no life left in the room other than one.

  ONE

  Leila Kahana had been with the Maui County Police Department for seven years, working in the Criminal Investigative Division as a detective and composite sketch artist. She’d joined the homicide squad three years ago and had seen her share of murder victims in various types of positions, ranging from fetal to awkward to dangling. But none made her olive skin flush like the present victims. A Hawaiian man and white woman, both in their thirties, were naked and locked in coitus; the woman slumped astride the man.

  Identified through their driver licenses as Doctors Larry Nagasaka and Elizabeth Racine, both had been shot at point blank range in the head and the woman had bullet wounds in her back. The two were literally lying in a pool of their own blood.

  The call had come in this Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. with a report of gunfire at the Crest Creek Condominiums, one of the new and expensive developments in the exclusive Wailea Resort. Neither victim lived at the residence that, according to records, was owned by the Medical Association of Maui.

  “Looks like they went out with a bang, no pun intended,” her partner, Detective Sergeant Blake Seymour, said as a police photographer took pictures of the decedents.

  Leila winced, hoping Seymour didn’t notice how uncomfortable she felt seeing the victims locked in the sex act. Not that she had anything against sex, other than being without for the past six months. It just seemed like some things should remain private and not exposed for everyone to see. Or at least not a bunch of gawking law enforcement personnel.

  But then Leila didn’t imagine the pair knew they would be murdered at the worst possible time. Or best, depending on how you looked at it.

  “I guess we can pretty much rule out murder-suicide,” she said, as there was no murder weapon found anywhere near the bodies. Not to mention they were shot multiple times and in difficult positions, making it all but impossible that either victim could have been the shooter.

  “I agree. Not unless one or the other was a glutton for punishment and Houdini at the same time.”

  Leila wrinkled her nose. “There was no sign of forced entry either. And it doesn’t look like anything was taken. Once you get past their messy remains and clothes scattered around, the place is immaculate. Not exactly evidence of a burglary.”

  Seymour flexed his latex gloved hand and lifted a shell casing
, dropping it in a plastic bag. “Someone invaded the place all right, and found exactly who they were looking for. The question is, under what circumstances and who got the jump on the lovers?”

  Leila made it a point to never try and get inside a killer’s head too soon. The evidence had a way of leading them down the right path, even if less than straight and narrow. She looked again at the victims.

  “No reason to believe they were expecting company. Obviously it didn’t deter the killer. Whichever way you slice it, this was definitely personal.”

  “Sure looks that way. Whoever did this definitely wanted to make a statement. They didn’t have a fighting chance.”

  “So we’ll fight the fight on their behalf.”

  Leila stepped aside as the photographer took pictures of the corpses from a different angle. She believed the killer not only wanted to execute the pair, but humiliate them, too.