Tainted Fortune

Five

Five“Misty, you know about Bully’s business. You worked for him for ages. You must have a pretty good idea of what was going on.”

Lani leaned her elbows on a chair back, watching Misty May prepare breakfast at the kitchen bench in the Mays’ elegant Victorian. Bright California light poured in through expansive arched windows, picking up the kaleidoscope of fruit—yellow pineapples and bananas, vermillion oranges—displayed on the sideboard. Through the hallway, columned archways and an opulent crystal chandelier reminded Lani of the pictures of Napoleon’s palaces she’d seen in their children’s books.

This was how they lived in the prestigious part of Folsom Street, close to Mansion Row where the real-estate kings, bankers and silver-mine shareholders chose to reside.

It was Sunday morning, so the Spanish housekeeper had the day off. Misty stood with her back to Lani, chopping pineapple with fast and fluid wrist movements, the curved knife she was using similar to the ones used to trim sugar cane. It tapped out a regular rhythm on the wooden chopping board.

Misty was still the willowy elegant woman Lani had adored as a child, her blonde fall of hair framing high cheekbones, green eyes and an ivory complexion. Even now in her middle years her beauty was arresting, but her appeal wasn’t due to appearance alone. She reminded Lani of Hawaii’s tranquil Nene goose with its beautifully barred gray-and-white form.

She had an unattainable allure, an inner serenity that seemed indifferent to seduction. She was the calm at the heart of things, always flying ahead of the eye of the storm. After their mother’s death, Ani gave them her fierce protection, but Misty gave them a secure place to stand.

Like the godmother she was, Misty kept chopping as if Lani hadn’t spoken. That was another thing about her. She wouldn’t be hurried or rushed by anyone or anything.

“Misty? Who would want to do something like this? Did Bully have any enemies?”

Misty’s hand movements slowed, then stopped. She turned sideways on to the bench, fixing Lani with her unflinching gaze.

“Enemies? There were folks who didn’t get what they wanted from him, but enemies? I don’t know of any.”

“What about a jealous husband?”

Bully’s first wife had died years ago and he’d never remarried, but that didn’t mean he denied himself the pleasure of female company. Over the years he’d had a string of “companions”—high-class admirers, wealthy widows, desirable socialites, who saw him as a challenge—but as soon as they got their claws into him he detached and moved on. That’s what Lani had always believed, anyway.

Misty’s jaw tensed at the suggestion.

“Not a chance. Bully was careful about that kind of thing. And besides . . .” Her voice trailed off and she turned back to the chopping board.

Lani moved to stand beside her.

“Besides what? Was he involved with someone?”

Misty stopped the knife’s movement and her eyes narrowed.

“No. I think you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Lani leaned back from the chair and crossed her arms over her chest in frustration.

“Then what is going on here, Misty? People like Bully Pike don’t get stabbed in the chest in the street in the middle of town. Outside the Occidental, for goodness’ sake.”

Her hand flew to her mouth as a thought struck.

“Maybe it was a random attack. A robbery. Maybe some vagrant was attracted by his pendant.”

Misty’s already pale face went chalk-white and a light sheen of perspiration rimmed her top lip.

“His pendant? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t I mention it? His whale’s tooth pendant is missing. You know how he valued it. Looks like it’s been ripped from his throat. Kaleo noticed it. You could see the graze on the side of his neck where it had been pulled away.”

Misty clutched her waist. She bent over abruptly with a low moan.

“Misty! What’s wrong?”

“Sick. I feel sick.”

She stood again, one hand covering her mouth, her words distorted.

She stared at Lani with hollow eyes—as if she was seeing something far removed from the quiet kitchen. And then she dashed for the bathroom.