The Bone Field by Debra Bokur

Author:Debra Bokur [Bokur, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2021-02-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Walter was clearly uncomfortable. He adjusted the bulky headset covering his ears, tugged at the collar of his police uniform, and glanced self-consciously toward a camera set on a tripod across from the table where he sat facing Chad Caesar. On Walter’s left, close by, a smiling young woman was making a last adjustment to the camera angle.

The heavy wood table that separated Walter from Chad was an oval covered by a thick, polished slab of dark marble. A glass shaped like a goblet, filled with water, had been placed in front of Walter’s chair, while an identical glass rested on the table in front of Chad. The wall to Walter’s right, also visible to the camera, was covered from floor to ceiling with colorful artwork. He recognized it as the work of a popular, up-and-coming Hawaiian graffiti artist whose art had been featured on the sides of buildings in O‘ahu. The bright backdrop was a swirling mélange of shapes and colors that surrounded a central cartoonish version of the famous Chiaramonti bust of Julius Caesar. Instead of Caesar’s face, a stylized likeness of Chad peered into the room. Running horizontally beneath the portrait was a banner that had been painted to make it look as though the letters were etched from stone, bearing the words I AM THE RULER OF THE NEWS in a Romanesque font.

Walter reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a square of white paper. He unfolded it and placed it on the table in front of him, next to his phone. The young woman finished fiddling with the camera equipment and smiled encouragingly at Walter, then gave Chad a thumbs-up. She counted down from three on her fingers, and then mouthed the word “Live.” Adjusting the microphone in front of him, Chad faced the camera, a huge smile on his face.

“Greetings, friends and followers! I’m both delighted and excited to tell you that joining me today is Captain Walter Alaka’i of the Maui Police Department.” He briefly flashed his smile at Walter, then grew serious. “We’re here, of course, to discuss the alarming news that there’s a serial killer loose in the vicinity.”

Walter twisted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. He glanced toward the camera, then back to Chad. “We’re live, right? People can hear us now?”

Chad smiled patiently. “Yes, Captain, we’re live. Viewers throughout the world have tuned in today, breathlessly anticipating what you have to share about the latest threat to our gentle life in Hawai‘i.”

Walter’s look was skeptical. “I’m not sure that you and I are living in the same Hawai‘i. And to our knowledge, there is no immediate threat.”

“How can you be so certain?” Chad’s response was quick, his voice taking on a tone of urgency. He leaned slightly over the table toward Walter, pushing the microphone forward so that it stayed in line with his mouth. “Dozens of bodies, all . . .”

“That’s incorrect. We . . .” Walter’s voice faded.

Chad gestured. “You have to keep the microphone close to your mouth, Captain.

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