Free Wedding Day Dead: A Murder on Maui Mystery by Robert W. Stephens Page B

of yours right off,” Foxx said. “What have you done? Three marathons this week?”
    I smiled.
    “How are you Michelle?” I asked.
    “I’m okay. I’ve spent most of the week at Alana’s. Hani’s been living there.”
    “How is she making out?”
    “Like you’d expect. The police have been coming and going and always asking her the same questions.”
    That didn’t make any sense, but I just decided to let it go.
    “I’m sure she’s glad you’re there for her. It’s really nice of you,” I said.
    “It’s not a problem.”
    “How is Alana? I assume she’s been at work the majority of the time.”
    “Yeah, she hasn’t been home that much, and when she’s there, we can’t get much out of her. Hani keeps asking her about the case, but all Alana says is that they’re still working it. Between you and me, I don’t think they have any idea who killed Panos,” she said.
    “Well, she has to keep everything to herself. It’s just police policy. She can’t even tell family members.”
    “I understand, but it’s more than that. She’s just really frustrated with that detective. Alana seems to make sure she’s at the house when he comes by to interview Hani. I don’t know Alana as well as you guys do, but it doesn’t take a mind reader to see she’s really annoyed with him.”
    “Alana will set him straight. She’s one tough cookie,” Foxx said.
    Michelle looked up at me and smiled.
    “You know she talks about you all the time.”
    “Who?” I asked.
    “Alana, of course. All she says is ‘Poe this’ and ‘Poe that.’ She really thinks the world of you.”
    “Have you two had a chance to talk?” Foxx asked me.
    I shook my head.
    “Not since the day after they found Panos.”
    “Maybe you should give her a call,” he suggested.
    “I think she needs more time.”
    I told Foxx and Michelle about my conversation with Panos’ mother and how I intended to start on the case the next morning.
    “Please don’t say anything to Hani and especially Alana,” I said to Michelle. “I know she wouldn’t want me interfering with a police investigation.”
    “But you’re going to do it anyway,” Foxx said.
    I nodded.
    “Good for you. It will get you off that damn sofa.” Foxx smiled.
    “Do you know where you’re going to start?” Michelle asked.
    I told her how I’d asked Daphne to write up a list of people she thought didn’t like Panos. I had no idea how long that list might be. I knew Wes, the co-owner of the restaurant, certainly was mad at Panos, but was he angry enough to cut his throat? Then there was Makani, Hani’s old boyfriend. Panos thoroughly humiliated him at the rehearsal party. Had Makani gotten his revenge later that night? Those were just two people I accidentally found out about in only a week of being around Panos. Logic said there were probably many more, maybe even dozens more. The man was a force of nature who had to have attracted as many detractors as admirers. Finding his killer would not be easy, even if I could identify him or her at all.

VII
    Detective Adcock
    I got up early the next morning and tried to remember all the little tricks I had learned while interviewing people during Lauren’s murder investigation. I was about to leave for Daphne’s house when the doorbell rang. I was hoping it might be Alana, but it was some guy I’d never met.
    “Hello, can I help you?” I asked.
    “Yes, I’m looking for Mr. Rutherford.”
    “That’s me.”
    “I’m Detective Glen Adcock. May I come in and ask you a few questions?”
    The detective was in his late fifties. He was average height and a little heavy - even for his age. He had salt-and-pepper hair. His most distinguishing feature was easily a pair of fuzzy black eyebrows. They were so long and thick that they threatened to migrate across his forehead and join the hair on top of his head. I found it difficult not to stare at those caterpillars. Since they were obviously right above his eyes, I could only