A Hole in One Murder by Kay Hadashi

Author:Kay Hadashi [Hadashi, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Dozens of photos were taken of the dignitaries, almost all of them with Takeda right in the middle. He seemed to be enjoying the attention, especially since most of the people crowding into the pictures with him were women. While Melanie had Trinh as her Vice Mayor, Governor Santos also had mostly women in her entourage. A state senator and representative, and even one of Hawaii’s US Senators had tagged along with the governor to meet with visiting cabinet member from Japan. Each of them had their chance to be photographed with all the others, personally and in groups. Just the photograph session and all the handshaking was exhausting, and they hadn’t even had dinner yet.

The dinner was held at one long table, with Takeda in the middle and the others spread long to each side in descending order of importance. Melanie was fifth down the line, with Josh next to her and Trinh on the other side of him. Cassandra had taken a spot not far away, as had Takeda’s bodyguards, and Governor Santos’ pair of security. Even Nakatani had found his way to the dinner, milling around in the background. At least Melanie had someone different to talk with during dinner, one of the state representatives from Oahu.

At one point, Josh leaned over and whispered in her ear. “The governor has her pair of tough guys, and Takeda has his four ruffians, but you’re the only one with a real Secret Service agent.”

“Good thing we do,” she whispered back, hiding her mouth with a napkin. “All these politicians, and none of us seem to like each other.”

“How can you tell?”

“Phoniest smiles I’ve ever seen. Trinh looks like she’s ready to strangle someone.”

After two hours of slow-motion eating, the gathering began to break up. The governor and the other Oahu politicians had a commercial flight back to Honolulu, and Takeda had a flight to Washington on his Gulfstream. Once Trinh decided to go, that left Melanie, Josh, Cassandra, and Detective Nakatani alone in the small banquet room.

“Well, that was exhausting,” Melanie said, tossing down her napkin.

“I almost laughed when Governor Santos asked Takeda what he thought of Maui, and he answered there was too much gunplay.”

“In a way, there is.” Melanie told the story about when she and Trinh went to the gun range the week before, discovering the man with the illegal assault rifles. “I’m not sure of who exactly is supposed to be invading Maui, other than newlyweds and retirees looking to soak up some sunshine in the middle of winter. I like them. It’s the jokers pretending to be GI Joe that I find annoying.”

When waitstaff came to collect plates, Nakatani watched closely. “Melanie, I know this is your place. Would you mind much if I took a few of the plates and silverware into evidence?”

“To what end?”

“I just want what Takeda used, and what his bodyguards used when they ate in the other room earlier. I’d like to check out their fingerprints.”

“Okay with me, as long as it’s legal, and I get the stuff back in one piece.

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