A Miranda and Parker Mystery
Amazon | FREE with Amazon Kindle Unlimited
Once again, Miranda and Parker are on their way to Maui.
Not for a second honeymoon this time.
For a murder trial
After which, they are determined to retire. For real, this time.
But when they reach the exotic tropical island, nothing is what they expected.
Once again, Parker’s life is at stake and so is Miranda’s.
Can they stop this vicious killer in time?
Or will their retirement start with death?
Amazon | FREE with Amazon Kindle Unlimited
CHAPTER ONE
Jonathan Ha’aheo sat alone at a table in the visiting room of the jail, drumming his fingers on the cheap laminate table bolted to the floor.
Two tables away another prisoner was talking to a little boy while his woman held a baby and smiled at him tearfully.
Sickening.
A few guards stood along the gray cinder block walls at the edge of the room keeping a sharp eye on things.
The good part was that the family reunion had their attention.
No one had noticed the wooden shank in his pocket. He’d spent months shaping it to a sharp point.
He wasn’t going to use it here. He’d kept in shape. Nobody bothered him.
No, the shank was for the trial.
His dumb shit public defender had told him someone very special would be there to testify.
That haole, Wade Parker.
The man who killed his father.
And in the courtroom, when Parker walked to the witness stand, that was when Jonathan would make his move.
He’d have just one chance. He’d have to be fast. The guards would shoot him. But if the last thing he ever did was stab Wade Parker to death, it would be worth it.
He heard shuffling.
A man was coming toward him accompanied by a guard.
His visitor.
He’d thought it was his lawyer, but this was somebody else.
Jeans torn at the knees, a dark aloha shirt, worn athletic shoes. Stringy dark hair, a short dark beard, a patch over one eye. He would have been scary, but Jonathan didn’t scare easy.
Who the heck was he?
He walked funny. Like he had a stone in his shoe.
He reached the table and sat down.
“Twenty minutes,” the guard said and moved to the wall to stand watch.
Jonathan stared at the man.
After a long moment, he spoke. “Hello, Jonathan. How are you?”
Haole accent.
Jonathan sneered. “How do you think I am trapped in this place for something I didn’t do?”
The man smiled smugly, as if he was all too familiar with that lie.
Jonathon studied his tan leathery skin.
Now he knew who this man was. Cho’s uncle. He lived on the mainland. And he was rich. His former toady must have sent him here.
Nice of Cho to give him some company.
“Your trial is tomorrow.” the man said.
“So?”
“The news stations say you’ll get life.”
Except he’d never serve it. “What’s it to you?”
Cho’s uncle glanced at the guard, turned a bit, and spoke under his breath. “I’m in need of a helper.”
Jonathan snorted out a laugh. What was this guy smoking? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He leaned in closer. “I understand you have certain…skills.”
Skills? Everyone knew what kind of skills he had. He had been the head of Huaka’i Po. The Night Marchers, the street gang named after an ancient legend that struck terror in the heart of every tourist and native.
Wait. He had no reason to trust this man. He’d never even met Cho’s uncle. Was he working for the prosecution? Was he trying to get more evidence against him?
Jonathan sat back and curled a lip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.”
His brown eyes glowed with intensity. He was serious.
Idly, Jonathan ran a fingertip over the surface of the table. “Maybe.”
“I would like to hone those skills.”
How was he going to do that? After tomorrow he’d be dead. “I don’t think I have room in my schedule.”
He chuckled. “I can take care of that.”
What the hell did that mean?
“I just need your cooperation. If you’re brave enough.”
He was plenty brave. He would show everyone how brave he was in the courtroom tomorrow.
Cho’s uncle got to his feet.
That was it?
“I hope you’ll consider my offer. It could be the chance of a lifetime.” He reached for Jonathan’s hand and shook it.
Then he turned and walked away.
Stunned, Jonathan stared at him until the guard came and took him back to his cell.
When the door was shut and the guard was gone, Jonathan went to the corner.
He had felt something when Cho’s uncle shook his hand, but the dumb shit guard hadn’t seen it.
Slowly he opened his fist.
On his palm was a piece of paper. He opened it. Instructions.
As he read the words, he began to shake. He couldn’t believe this guy. Was he for real? Was Jonathan ready to find out?
The chance of a lifetime.
Maybe, just maybe he would take it.