Read Online Maui Madness (Zoe Donovan Mysteries Book 7) by Kathi Daley - Free Book Online
Authors: Kathi Daley
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Levi couldn’t wait to try out the surfboards in the storage room. Malie recommended watching the sunrise from Haleakala, while I was totally focused on the treasure hunt that, by necessity, had been delayed.
Palani came out to join us just as we were finishing our meal. He was tall and thin , with a nice smile and a boyish charm.
“How w as your food?” he asked.
“So good .” I rubbed my stomach.
“Luana said you had questions about the luau yesterday .”
“If you have a few minutes,” I said.
Palani smiled at Malie. “Any friends of Malie are friends of mine. What would you like to know?”
“What time did you arrive at the island yesterday?” I asked.
“My crew and I arrive d around seven-thirty.”
“And who did you bring with you?”
“Four of my employees: Darwin, Larry, Stephanie, and Alfonso.”
“Did any of the m know Anton?”
Palani paused. “They all know of him due to the project he is working on, but as far as I know, none of the four are personal friends of his. Of course, I don’t really know all that much about the personal lives of my employees, so who knows?”
“But you ha dn’t seen any of the four speaking to Anton?”
“No, I ha dn’t.”
“And who else was on the island at that time?” I asked.
Palani frowned. “You seem to have a lot of questions. Are you working with the police?”
“No,” I answered. “My friends and I are just trying to help figure out what might have happened. It seems Pono is the only suspect at this point. It will help his case if we can give the police someone else to look at.”
“Keoke and Pono wer e at the pit tending to the pig when I arrived,” Palani said. “Keoke’s grandmother was in the garden picking flowers for an arrangement she was working on, and his grandfather was watching television in the study. I know Leia and Anton were there, as well as their friends, Jeffrey and Cora. I never did run into Anton or Leia. I assumed they were getting ready for the big day. Jeffrey and Cora joined the guests in the yard once they began to arrive at around two, but I don’t know where they were prior to that.”
“Keoke mentioned household staff?”
“There is a live-in housekeeper as well as a gardener and a cook on the estate. I believe all three were on-site, although the only staff I spoke to was the cook. Her name is Gretchen. She has been with the family for a long time and wanted to keep an eye on her kitchen while my people and I were preparing the feast Keoke ordered.”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way,” I began. “The food you prepared is some of the best I’ve ever had, but why did Keoke hire you to cate r the party if his grandparents have their own cook?”
Palani looked surprised by the question. “I’m not sure. Keoke approached me about the job several weeks ago. We discussed a menu and other specifics , such as the time commitment and transportation to and from the island. Luana and I do well, but there is little profit margin in a restaurant such as ours, so when I heard the price Keoke was offering for a day’s work, I jumped at it. I didn’t really stop to wonder why he would ask me to provide the food rather than having his grandparents’ cook do it.”
“Do you think Gretchen was capable of handling such a large party?”
Palani shrugged. “Keoke’s grandparents have parties all the time. Perhaps Keoke wanted her to have a day off to enjoy the festivities, although she didn’t seem very happy to be left out of the food preparation.”
“ Is there anyone you can think of who might want Anton dead?” I wondered.
“Besides me and Pono? Yes. The man was n’t popular. There are a lot of people who will rejoice at his passing.” Palani looked at Malie. “I’m sorry, Mal. I know how you felt about him, but you know what I say is true.”
“ It’s okay. I understand,” Malie said, although she looked sad all the same.
Palani looked back at me and continued. “If what
Palani came out to join us just as we were finishing our meal. He was tall and thin , with a nice smile and a boyish charm.
“How w as your food?” he asked.
“So good .” I rubbed my stomach.
“Luana said you had questions about the luau yesterday .”
“If you have a few minutes,” I said.
Palani smiled at Malie. “Any friends of Malie are friends of mine. What would you like to know?”
“What time did you arrive at the island yesterday?” I asked.
“My crew and I arrive d around seven-thirty.”
“And who did you bring with you?”
“Four of my employees: Darwin, Larry, Stephanie, and Alfonso.”
“Did any of the m know Anton?”
Palani paused. “They all know of him due to the project he is working on, but as far as I know, none of the four are personal friends of his. Of course, I don’t really know all that much about the personal lives of my employees, so who knows?”
“But you ha dn’t seen any of the four speaking to Anton?”
“No, I ha dn’t.”
“And who else was on the island at that time?” I asked.
Palani frowned. “You seem to have a lot of questions. Are you working with the police?”
“No,” I answered. “My friends and I are just trying to help figure out what might have happened. It seems Pono is the only suspect at this point. It will help his case if we can give the police someone else to look at.”
“Keoke and Pono wer e at the pit tending to the pig when I arrived,” Palani said. “Keoke’s grandmother was in the garden picking flowers for an arrangement she was working on, and his grandfather was watching television in the study. I know Leia and Anton were there, as well as their friends, Jeffrey and Cora. I never did run into Anton or Leia. I assumed they were getting ready for the big day. Jeffrey and Cora joined the guests in the yard once they began to arrive at around two, but I don’t know where they were prior to that.”
“Keoke mentioned household staff?”
“There is a live-in housekeeper as well as a gardener and a cook on the estate. I believe all three were on-site, although the only staff I spoke to was the cook. Her name is Gretchen. She has been with the family for a long time and wanted to keep an eye on her kitchen while my people and I were preparing the feast Keoke ordered.”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way,” I began. “The food you prepared is some of the best I’ve ever had, but why did Keoke hire you to cate r the party if his grandparents have their own cook?”
Palani looked surprised by the question. “I’m not sure. Keoke approached me about the job several weeks ago. We discussed a menu and other specifics , such as the time commitment and transportation to and from the island. Luana and I do well, but there is little profit margin in a restaurant such as ours, so when I heard the price Keoke was offering for a day’s work, I jumped at it. I didn’t really stop to wonder why he would ask me to provide the food rather than having his grandparents’ cook do it.”
“Do you think Gretchen was capable of handling such a large party?”
Palani shrugged. “Keoke’s grandparents have parties all the time. Perhaps Keoke wanted her to have a day off to enjoy the festivities, although she didn’t seem very happy to be left out of the food preparation.”
“ Is there anyone you can think of who might want Anton dead?” I wondered.
“Besides me and Pono? Yes. The man was n’t popular. There are a lot of people who will rejoice at his passing.” Palani looked at Malie. “I’m sorry, Mal. I know how you felt about him, but you know what I say is true.”
“ It’s okay. I understand,” Malie said, although she looked sad all the same.
Palani looked back at me and continued. “If what
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