House of the Hanging Jade by Amy M Reade Page A

on his mind. As unnerving as it was to think of an unknown person creeping around on the Jorgensens’ property, I hoped again for the millionth time that Dr. Doug’s death had been committed by a stranger. Anything was better than believing Dr. Doug had been killed by Lars or Barbie.
    I returned home and was skinning and cleaning the fish when Lars and Liko came in, laughing about something.
    â€œHi Kailani,” Lars said, still chuckling. “Got anything for a late lunch? We’re starving.”
    I made them plates of sliced tomatoes with a balsamic drizzle and grilled cheese panini . They talked as they ate together on the lanai, acting like they had been friends for years.
    When the kids came home, Marcus caught my eye and I winked at him. His secret was safe with me. Justine looked at me out of the corner of her eye and I smiled at her. Marcus must have told her that I knew he had tried to skip school.
    â€œDid you ask James about helping make poke ?” I asked him.
    â€œYeah. He said he’ll do it with us.”
    â€œGreat! When’s the sale?”
    â€œThe day after tomorrow. It starts first thing in the morning.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll make sure we have everything we need tomorrow, except for the fish. We can grab James really early the day of the sale and run over to the fish market to pick up fresh ahi, then we’ll come back here and mix it up.”
    Marcus smiled. “Okay.”
    Justine piped up. “Can I help?”
    I looked at Marcus. “All right,” he said, “but don’t say anything stupid while James is here.”
    She scowled at him. “I won’t.”
    I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing the monchong . After I was done I made grilled portobello mushrooms and a Greek salad to complete the meal.
    Liko, Marcus, and Justine dug into their dinner with surprising gusto. They seemed to enjoy the fish even more than I thought they would.
    While they were eating, Barbie came home from the office and joined the rest of them at the table. I hadn’t seen Lars since lunch.
    â€œHow are the lessons going, Liko?” I heard Barbie ask.
    â€œGreat! Right, Marcus?”
    â€œYeah. I’ve gotten a couple good grades this week.”
    â€œLiko, it’s all thanks to your help,” Barbie said sweetly.
    I couldn’t see Marcus from where I stood, but I had a feeling he was rolling his eyes. As good as Liko was, Marcus had something to do with his better grades too.
    Marcus and Liko did homework in the family room after dinner, since it was too windy on the lanai. They worked late into the evening on Marcus’s science project. Justine seemed content to be in the room with them, listening to music on her headphones. I took them all some popcorn right before Justine went to bed.
    Lars poked his head in while I was in the family room. “Liko, surf’s up tomorrow at Pohoiki. Want to go?”
    â€œSure!” Liko answered with a big smile.
    â€œCan I go sometime, Dad?” Marcus asked.
    â€œSure! Maybe over the weekend.”
    Marcus smiled happily and got back to work. He and Liko bent their heads over a science textbook and spoke together in low voices. Lars looked at me and nodded. He seemed to have made a new friend too.

Chapter 10
    T he next morning I made sure I had on hand all the ingredients we would need to make a spicy ahi poke . Marcus went to school—I walked to the bus stop with him and Justine and watched them both get on the bus—since I had told him that I wouldn’t help with the poke fund raiser if he skipped again.
    Liko came looking for me as soon as I got back. “K? Can I talk to you in your room?”
    â€œSure, Liko. Is everything okay?”
    He shrugged. “I guess so.” He helped himself to a cup of coffee and followed me into my den. He seemed to be in a pensive mood.
    â€œIs this about Marcus?” I asked quickly. “Because I talked to him about