The Bone Field Debra Bokur (novels for beginners .txt) 📖

the door banging open followed, and they saw him once again standing in the doorway.

“I nearly forgot my second plan,” he said, slightly breathless. “That fellow with the podcast show, the one that starred in that great television series, something about lights and Maui. Let’s get one of you on there as soon as possible. Dispel any fears about a serial killer, talk to the public; make a plea to anyone who might be able to help us with some information about the missing people those bodies belong to.”

Kali made a choking sound. She stared at Pait, then turned to Walter, speechless. Walter spoke into the void.

“Excellent idea, Chief. We’ll figure out who should do it.” He looked sideways at Kali. “Since he’s already blabbering about the discoveries on Lna‘i, and the newspaper coverage has people looking over their shoulders, worried about becoming the next victim, it would be a good opportunity to offer some assurance. Maybe even motivate somebody to reach out to us to offer a possible identification.”

“Excellent!” Pait turned away again. “Carry on, everyone!”

A moment later, Kali could hear the sound of gravel crunching beneath the wheels of Pait’s car as it pulled away. She turned to Walter. “Toss me those aspirin.”

Hara watched Kali and Walter nervously.

“Captain,” said Hara, hesitant. “I don’t understand . . .”

“What just happened?” Walter laughed, but the sound was humorless. “We used to call it the Pait Effect. The man can turn any scenario into a political maneuver. Genius, really.” He sighed. “Get used to it, kid.”

“That’s right,” said Kali. “Escape from a Pait plan is not only improbable, it’s likely impossible.” She patted her back pocket and turned to Walter. “For the record, I refuse to deal with Chad. And I’ve got the address for the farm worker Hara tracked down. He’s up-country over in Makawao. I’m going to go talk to him.”

Walter swiveled his chair to face her. “You just said escape was not an option.”

Kali took her canvas messenger bag off the back of her chair where it hung, then crossed to the door and opened it. “Escape? Hell, I’m flat out running away.”

CHAPTER 16

Kali followed the quiet main street of Makawao past its row of shops and galleries for the third time. The address she was looking for wasn’t where her directions indicated it would be. There was one main intersection that linked four roads leading away from the small town’s center, and Uphill Street wasn’t one of the names on any of the road signs.

She slowed the Jeep and pulled into a space painted diagonally on the pavement in front of the Star Shop. The cheerful, wood-shingled building was slightly dilapidated, with a wide, sagging front porch and glittering windows, the light reflecting off glass objects hanging from the window frames inside. It was unfamiliar to her, but it had been years since she’d spent any time in the small town.

She could hear singing as she walked across the threshold, her day bag swinging against her side. It was a woman’s voice, soft and caressing, the words to her tune sung in what Kali recognized as Spanish. She stepped into a space filled with gifts. There were small glass stars dangling from transparent strands of fluorocarbon fishing line attached to hooks in the ceiling above her head. The stars shifted slightly in the breeze, and the sunlight moved through them to create random prisms. Charmed, Kali smiled, and called out in greeting.

“Aloha,” she said, and the singing stopped. A slender, elderly woman with black hair streaked with silver came into sight from behind a display, holding a tray. Several glass kaleidoscopes rested on its surface. They looked handmade to Kali, and she caught her breath involuntarily at their beauty.

“Aloha,” said the woman. She saw Kali’s gaze had taken in the kaleidoscopes. “Pick one up,” she said, smiling. “Go ahead. Look out the window with it.”

Kali reached forward, choosing one that had a triangular tube base constructed from small, opaque glass panels. It felt substantial as she lifted it, filling her hand. At the end, there were more glass panels fastened on a central pin that allowed them to move in a circular pattern. She looked through the small viewing spot on one end, and spun the moving panels at the other end with one hand. Inside, small colored glass beads tumbled, unfolding in beautiful patterns against an interior mirror.

Kali lowered the kaleidoscope and replaced it carefully on the tray. The woman waited, then moved toward an empty space on a shelf next to a row of stuffed toy animals, and slid the tray onto its surface. She turned back to Kali.

“They’re extraordinary,” said Kali.

The woman smiled in gratitude. “Thank you. I’ve been making them for a very long time. Not so many anymore. But still. Some each year. They bring me great pleasure.”

Kali gestured toward the stars. “And these?”

“My little corner of the universe. A safe place filled with light and beauty. You have to create your own, you know. The forces of the world expect you to make an effort.”

Kali nodded. “Yes. I agree with you. But it seems the effort is overwhelming for a lot of people. I think maybe some of them just don’t know where to start.”

There was a momentary stillness as each woman considered what had been said. Then Kali spoke. “I’m sorry, I think I’ve been distracted by all of this beauty. I’m trying to find an address, but the road seems to be missing. It’s called Uphill Road.”

The woman laughed.

“That’s what local people call the Olinda Road.” She pointed behind her. “Because it goes uphill, you see. Into the high country. Who are you looking for? I know most of the houses in that part of town.”

“Manuel Raso. Do you know him?”

A small, shadowy frown swept across the woman’s face.

“Oh. That one.” She looked away briefly, her eyes brushing the small, barely moving constellations above her head. “I think he is a lonely man.”

Kali wondered at the