Aloha Betrayed by Donald Bain, Jessica Fletcher Page A

followed by a succession of thunderclaps. We both looked up.
    “That’s some storm coming our way,” he said, tucking my book inside his jacket under his arm.
    “So Detective Kane warned me.”
    “You were saying,” he said.
    “Oh, yes. It’s true that the police think Mala was the victim of a tragic accident, but I understand enough doubt exists to keep the case open.” I watched his face carefully.
    “Doubt? Who has doubts?”
    “I wouldn’t really know. I’m a newcomer here.”
    He laughed. “Doubts! It’s absurd.”
    “Is it? You said a moment ago that Mala was a pain to many people. I think that’s how you put it.”
    “Sure. Everybody knows that. She and her group of bleeding hearts have kept the telescope project from going forward. They’ve been standing in the way of progress at every step. That telescope is good for Maui and for Hawaii in general—bring in lots of money, create jobs, do good things for the island, especially the native population—but nobody could get through to her. She was a pain in my a— Never mind. Every time progress was made, she and her lawyer friends would file another suit in court and everything came to a standstill again.”
    “She was passionate in her beliefs,” I said.
    “Obstinate, you mean, inflexible, like everyone else who agreed with her. We tried to talk sense into them, but it was useless, and—”
    More lightning and thunder interrupted him, and a sudden strong gust of wind sent my hair flying.
    “Mr. Reed,” I said, “when you say that ‘we’ tried to talk sense into them, who do you mean?”
    “The committee,” he replied. “Everyone with a stake in the telescope belongs to it: our elected officials, the university, businesspeople, everyone. We’ve been fighting Kapule’s group from the beginning. Maybe now that she’s dead, things will ease up and it can go forward.”
    The callousness of his attitude startled me.
    Charlie must have sensed that his comments might be offensive and covered it with a laugh. “Now, don’t take me wrong,” he said, “I’m really sorry that she died. Beautiful girl. Aside from our differences about the telescope, I liked her, liked her a lot.”
    “I’m sure she would have been happy to hear that.”
    I heard my name called and looked back to see Mike Kane headed in our direction, waving his arm.
    “I think Detective Kane and his family are getting ready to leave. You’ll have to excuse me. It was nice to see you again,” I said, not sure that it was.
    “Same here, Jessica. Thanks for signing the book.” He thumped his fist on my novel underneath his jacket.
    I intercepted Mike and we walked back to where people were hastily packing up supplies.
    “Sorry to interrupt you,” he said, “but once the rain comes this stream will be overflowing within minutes. Can be dangerous. I saw that you were talking to Charlie Reed.”
    “Yes. He had me sign one of my books. I met him last night on his catamaran.”
    “The sunset cruise.”
    “Yes, it was a lovely experience.”
    “He talk about the telescope and Mala Kapule?”
    “Just now, yes. He was no fan of her efforts to stop its completion.”
    Mike gave a snort. “That’s putting it mildly. He’s one of the biggest financial supporters of a so-called committee that’s been fighting her group every step of the way.”
    “Sounds as though there are some very powerful people on that committee. I’m sure they have a lot more money than Mala and her supporters do.”
    “True, but from what I’ve heard, she was some tenacious lady.”
    I helped Mike’s family and friends pack picnic supplies in the cars and had delivered my final load when the rains came, a torrent, sheets of water being tossed about by the increasing wind.
    “Just in time,” Mike said as we ducked into his SUV. His wife was in the car that had brought her to the cookout, and she waved at us as we joined a procession of vehicles leaving the valley.
    “I’m sorry that you