Read Online Banana Split by Josi S. Kilpack - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Josi S. Kilpack
Tags: cozy mystery
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to forensics, and the toxicology reports will still be a few more weeks, possibly longer.”
“Undetermined? I guess I assumed she’d drowned.” When she had said clues, she’d meant things like a book of matches from a nightclub she’d been at—but then that wouldn’t have lasted in the ocean.
“Or she was already dead before she entered the water,” Officer Wington added. “Again, the autopsy reports are under review right now to determine a conclusive cause of death. Once a body’s been in water a certain period of time, you can’t tell if the water in the lungs actually caused their death.”
“When I was in the hospital, someone told me she was a drug addict.”
“That’s what brought her to Kaua’i—a rehab facility in Waimea.”
“But she was from O’ahu originally, right? Why did she stay here after rehab?”
“She indicated to me that she came to Kaua’i with the intent to stay in order to keep a distance from the places where she’d lived and used. After rehab, she became active in a local church and got a job. She also has a son in state custody and was working toward reunification.”
The obituary had mentioned Noelani’s church, but Sadie’s attention was caught by his first words. “You spoke to her? You knew her?”
“I met her a few months ago in connection to another case, unrelated to this one as far as we can tell.”
What case? There wasn’t anything on public record, meaning Noelani hadn’t been arrested. Something had put her in arm’s reach of the law. But what?
“However,” Officer Wington continued, “when we searched her things, we found marijuana, which was a violation of her parole and leads us to the possibility that she may have discovered the drug scene here on Kaua’i. The fact that no one has come forward to admit having been with her when she died is another indication that she could have been using again. Are you familiar with the terms ‘body dump’ or ‘party drop’?”
“No,” Sadie said. “What is it?”
“Sometimes when a group of people are using drugs and someone ODs, they panic and drop the body somewhere. In a person’s car, on the side of the road, or, if they happen to be on an island, such as this one, they’ll sometimes throw the body in the ocean. Dumping the body is the best way to avoid an investigation because there’s typically very little evidence to tie the body back to anyone else involved. There was no obvious cause of death, which leaves us with that theory until we get the reports back.”
“Oh,” Sadie said. The thought of people just dumping the body of a friend made Sadie slightly sick to her stomach, but she shook herself out of it.
“We typically don’t get much information about the circumstances leading to the death, since coming forward puts the people involved at risk of facing significant charges.”
It made sense, in a really horrendous way. “Do you know when she died? Was it the last night anyone saw her?” Sadie asked, realizing she hadn’t been taking notes. She quickly scribbled a few words— unknown cause of death, former case, Waimea rehab, body dump, party drop.
“We think so. The medical examiner estimates she was in the water several days, but it’s hard to calculate exactly how long.”
“Who was the last person to see her?”
“A coworker Ms. Pouhu called to cover her shift at the motel where she worked. Ms. Pouhu said she’d be back in a couple of hours. No one saw her again, at least no one who’s willing to say so.”
“Where did she work?”
“Sand and Sea Motel in Kalaheo. She had temporary housing there as well but, we understand, was looking for an apartment, which can be difficult to find on the island.”
Sadie wrote furiously.
“And I guess you don’t know why she was so far from Kalaheo that night.”
“She’d borrowed a car from the employee who covered for
“Undetermined? I guess I assumed she’d drowned.” When she had said clues, she’d meant things like a book of matches from a nightclub she’d been at—but then that wouldn’t have lasted in the ocean.
“Or she was already dead before she entered the water,” Officer Wington added. “Again, the autopsy reports are under review right now to determine a conclusive cause of death. Once a body’s been in water a certain period of time, you can’t tell if the water in the lungs actually caused their death.”
“When I was in the hospital, someone told me she was a drug addict.”
“That’s what brought her to Kaua’i—a rehab facility in Waimea.”
“But she was from O’ahu originally, right? Why did she stay here after rehab?”
“She indicated to me that she came to Kaua’i with the intent to stay in order to keep a distance from the places where she’d lived and used. After rehab, she became active in a local church and got a job. She also has a son in state custody and was working toward reunification.”
The obituary had mentioned Noelani’s church, but Sadie’s attention was caught by his first words. “You spoke to her? You knew her?”
“I met her a few months ago in connection to another case, unrelated to this one as far as we can tell.”
What case? There wasn’t anything on public record, meaning Noelani hadn’t been arrested. Something had put her in arm’s reach of the law. But what?
“However,” Officer Wington continued, “when we searched her things, we found marijuana, which was a violation of her parole and leads us to the possibility that she may have discovered the drug scene here on Kaua’i. The fact that no one has come forward to admit having been with her when she died is another indication that she could have been using again. Are you familiar with the terms ‘body dump’ or ‘party drop’?”
“No,” Sadie said. “What is it?”
“Sometimes when a group of people are using drugs and someone ODs, they panic and drop the body somewhere. In a person’s car, on the side of the road, or, if they happen to be on an island, such as this one, they’ll sometimes throw the body in the ocean. Dumping the body is the best way to avoid an investigation because there’s typically very little evidence to tie the body back to anyone else involved. There was no obvious cause of death, which leaves us with that theory until we get the reports back.”
“Oh,” Sadie said. The thought of people just dumping the body of a friend made Sadie slightly sick to her stomach, but she shook herself out of it.
“We typically don’t get much information about the circumstances leading to the death, since coming forward puts the people involved at risk of facing significant charges.”
It made sense, in a really horrendous way. “Do you know when she died? Was it the last night anyone saw her?” Sadie asked, realizing she hadn’t been taking notes. She quickly scribbled a few words— unknown cause of death, former case, Waimea rehab, body dump, party drop.
“We think so. The medical examiner estimates she was in the water several days, but it’s hard to calculate exactly how long.”
“Who was the last person to see her?”
“A coworker Ms. Pouhu called to cover her shift at the motel where she worked. Ms. Pouhu said she’d be back in a couple of hours. No one saw her again, at least no one who’s willing to say so.”
“Where did she work?”
“Sand and Sea Motel in Kalaheo. She had temporary housing there as well but, we understand, was looking for an apartment, which can be difficult to find on the island.”
Sadie wrote furiously.
“And I guess you don’t know why she was so far from Kalaheo that night.”
“She’d borrowed a car from the employee who covered for
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