Mahu Fire (27 page)

AFTER

Mike went back up to the ruins of the Hardings’ cottage to collect evidence, and I drove down to The Queen’s Medical Center to check on everyone who’d been taken there. As I walked in the emergency room entrance, I met Gary Saunders, with his petite Chinese wife. “Good job up there,” I said. I reached out to shake his hand.

He hesitated for a minute, but then he shook mine. “Sheila White’s on the third floor, with a uniform on the door.”

I nodded. “You keep this guy out of trouble,” I said to his wife, and she smiled.

Lieutenant Sampson was standing outside a curtain in the ER talking on his cell phone. He snapped it shut as I approached. “How’s Kitty?” I asked.

“Just a bad sprain. We’re waiting for her to be discharged.”

I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

“She put you in a very bad position, Kimo. I understand that, and she and I are going to have a serious talk about her future. I can’t see her entering the police academy until she learns some self-control.”

A smile quirked the edges of his lips. “I don’t think you’re exactly the person to teach her that, though.”

“Jim,” Kitty said from behind the curtain.

“You did a good job out there today, Kimo. I just want you to know that I’m proud to have you on my squad.”

“Thanks, Lieutenant. That means a lot.”

“Jim, can we go yet?” Kitty said.

“Self-control, Kitty,” I said, sticking my head around the side of the curtain. “All things come in time.”

She jangled her bracelets and I laughed.

I found Fran, Eli and Caitlin Harding in the OR waiting room. As I arrived, a young haole doctor in green scrubs stepped out. “Mr. and Mrs. Harding?”

The Hardings jumped up and Fran squeezed Caitlin’s hand. “Cole came through like a champ,” the doctor said. “He’s going to be in recovery for a while, but the bullet missed all his vital organs. Kids bounce back fast.”

I could see the relief in the Hardings’ body posture. I introduced myself to the doctor and asked if I could get the bullet for evidence. He went back in the OR and returned a moment later with the bullet in an emesis basin, drops of Cole’s blood splattering the mauve-colored plastic.

“So small,” Fran said, looking at it. “To cause so much damage.”

I pulled an evidence bag from my pocket and transferred the bullet. I couldn’t be sure but it looked the right size to match the Chief’s Special Airweight that had been used to kill Hiroshi Mura and Charlie Stahl. Fortunately Jeff White wasn’t the crack shot his sister was, or there might have been greater casualties up on the mountain.

Just then, the KVOL news began on the TV in the waiting room. My brother’s station did a great job covering the fire, with aerial shots and commentary from the Battalion Chief. Ralph Kim, a reporter who had interviewed me a few times, did a stand-up with my brothers outside Uncle Chin’s house.

“Our own station manager, Louis Kanapa’aka, was one of the courageous rescuers who stepped into the blaze searching for the two small children and two teens who were lost on the mountain,” Ralph said. “Mr. Kanapa’aka, can you tell us what it was like?”

Lui’s tie was artfully askew, his black hair slicked down with sweat, a smudge of soot on his white shirt. Haoa stood beside and a little behind him.

“It was awful,” Lui said. “I have enormous respect for the members of the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department who braved the fire. My own brother, homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, was one of the officers who captured the two suspects who set the fire.”

I braced for a recap of my coming-out story, but fortunately Ralph Kim skipped on to the history of the Whites and their ministry. “Birth records obtained from the state of Texas indicate that Jeff and Sheila White were brother and sister, not a married couple as they represented themselves. Gives a whole new meaning to the Church of Adam and Eve, doesn’t it, folks?”

He signed off and the coverage moved on. “Cole’s birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks,” Eli Harding said to me when the news was over. “We’d be honored if you and your brothers and the other officer who rescued him would be the guests of honor.”

“I think we’d all be pleased,” I said. “You just let me know the time and place.”

I took the bullet back to headquarters and dropped it at the ballistics department, then went back up to St. Louis Heights. My family was still clustered at Uncle Chin’s house. The gamblers were playing and Aunt Mei-Mei was cooking. Jimmy was in the back yard with a couple of my nieces and nephews, who were jealous of the role he’d played in the fire.

I called Mike. “I’m just finishing up here,” he said. “I’m starving. You want to get something to eat?”

“Why don’t you come back to Uncle Chin’s? There’s plenty of food and Aunt Mei-Mei keeps on making more.”

“I don’t want to intrude. It’s your family.”

“Intrude? You kidding? There’s a yard full of kids who will think you’re the biggest hero ever.” I took a breath. “And I’d like to see you, too.”

“On my way,” he said.

I took a plate of food from Liliha and settled down among my family, and when Mike arrived he sat beside me. It felt really good having him there.

   

I spent the day after the forest fire, a Friday, with Mike, making sure we had all our evidence in order, and on Monday I was catching homicide cases again. Within a few days, Sandra, Cathy and Robert reopened the Hawai’i Marriage Project, in new offices with better security. With the death of Wilson Shira his community group fell apart, and his widow issued a public appreciation to the police department for our role in bringing his killers to justice.

The Church of Adam and Eve closed down after Jeff and Sheila White were arrested. Both of them were in custody, awaiting psychological evaluations and eventual trial for the deaths of Hiroshi Mura, Wilson Shira, and Charlie Stahl. It looked like both would be behind bars for a long time.

The news implicated The Sandwich Islands Trust for their sponsorship of the Church of Adam and Eve, and Miss Emma Clark retired, putting Terri in charge as chairman of the board. She immediately began reviewing all the programs the Trust supported. The new job revitalized her and gave her a focus beyond Danny and just getting through the days.

Jimmy was pretty traumatized by his kidnapping and fiery escape. He remained with Aunt Mei-Mei and began seeing a psychologist and studying for his GED with a tutor. I was hoping that seeing him a hero on the news might have convinced his father to change his mind about Jimmy and invite him back home, but that hadn’t happened, and Jimmy didn’t think it ever would.

A couple of weeks later, I was back at The Queen’s Medical Center, in that same waiting room outside the OR. This time my mother, my brothers and my sisters-in-law were there with me, and it was my father on the table.

The doctors said this operation to reopen some blocked valves in his heart was routine, but it was still pretty tense there with nothing to do except imagine complications and loss.

I took a break and went outside. I was standing out on the sidewalk catching the sun when Mike pulled up in his truck. I looked around. “No fires here.”

“You’re always on fire.” He motioned me over to the open window of the truck, and we kissed. I didn’t care who was watching.

Then he opened the door and got out.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I came to sit with you. You told me your sisters-in-law were here with your brothers. I guess I ought to be here too.”

I felt like a sap, standing out there on South Beretania Street with my eyes welling up. Mike said, “If there’s H20 on the inside of a fire hydrant, what’s on the outside?”

I smiled. “Don’t know, but I’ll be you’re going to tell me.”

“K 9 P.” Then he put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Come on, let’s go in.”

And laughing together, we did.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NEIL PLAKCY is the author of
Mahu
,
Mahu Surfer, Mahu Fire, Mahu Vice, Mahu Men
, and
Mahu Blood
about openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka. His other books are
Three Wrong Turns in the Desert, Dancing with the Tide, The Outhouse Gang, In Dog We Trust, Invasion of the Blatnicks
, and
GayLife.com.
He edited
Paws & Reflect:A Special Bond Between Man and Dog
and the gay erotic anthologies
Hard Hats, Surfer Boys
and
Skater Boys.
His website is www.mahubooks.com.

Trademarks Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

America’s Most Wanted: FOX

Disneyland (Mickey Mouse): Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Dole: Dole Food Company, Inc.

Fiberglas: Owens-Corning

Gianni Versace: Gianni Versace S.P.A.

Ginch Gonch: Ginch Gonch

Honolulu Advertiser: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Lexus: Toyota Motor Company

Long’s: CVS Caremark

Longboard Lager: Kona Brewery LLC

McDonald’s: McDonald’s

MLB All Star Game: MLB Advanced Media, L.P.

Nintendo: Nintendo of America Inc.

Reeboks: Reebok International Ltd. is a subsidiary of adidas AG

Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special Airweight: Smith and Wesson Corporation

Suzuki Samurai: American Suzuki Motor Corporation

The Advocate: Here Media Inc.

Topsiders: SR Holdings

Toyota Camry: Toyota Motor Company

Volvo: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC

Walkman: Sony Corporation

Walmart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Will and Grace: Lionsgate Home Entertainment and NBC Studios

World Series: MLB Advanced Media, L.P.

YMCA: YMCA of the USA

Zippy’s: Zippy’s Inc.

MLR PRESS AUTHORS

Featuring a roll call of some of the best writers of gay erotica and mysteries today!

Derek Adams

M. Jules Aedin

Maura Anderson

Victor J. Banis

Jeanne Barrack

Laura Baumbach

Alex Beecroft

Sarah Black

Ally Blue

J.P. Bowie

Barry Brennessel

Michael Breyette

P.A. Brown

Brenda Bryce

Jade Buchanan

James Buchanan

Charlie Cochrane

Karenna Colcroft

Jamie Craig

Kirby Crow

Dick D.

Ethan Day

Diana DeRicci

Jason Edding

Angela Fiddler

Dakota Flint

S.J. Frost

Kimberly Gardner

Roland Graeme

Storm Grant

Amber Green

LB Gregg

Drewey Wayne Gunn

Kaje Harper

Jan Irving

David Juhren

Samantha Kane

Kiernan Kelly

M. King

Matthew Lang

J.L. Langley

Josh Lanyon

Clare London

William Maltese

Gary Martine

Z.A. Maxfield

Timothy McGivney

Lloyd A. Meeker

Patric Michael

AKM Miles

Reiko Morgan

Jet Mykles

William Neale

Willa Okati

L. Picaro

Neil S. Plakcy

Jordan Castillo Price

Luisa Prieto

Rick R. Reed

A.M. Riley

George Seaton

Jardonn Smith

Caro Soles

JoAnne Soper-Cook

Richard Stevenson

Liz Strange

Marshall Thornton

Lex Valentine

Haley Walsh

Missy Welsh

Stevie Woods

Lance Zarimba

Check out titles, both available and forthcoming, at www.mlrpress.com

THE TREVOR PROJECT

The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives though its free and confidential helpline, its website and its educational services. If you or a friend are feeling lost or alone call The Trevor Helpline. If you or a friend are feeling lost, alone, confused or in crisis, please call The Trevor Helpline. You’ll be able to speak confidentially with a trained counselor 24/7.

 The Trevor Helpline: 866-488-7386

On the Web: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

THE GAY MEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT

Founded in 1994, The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, non-profit organization founded by a gay male survivor of domestic violence and developed through the strength, contributions and participation of the community. The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy and direct services. Understanding that the serious public health issue of domestic violence is not gender specific, we serve men in relationships with men, regardless of how they identify, and stand ready to assist them in navigating through abusive relationships.

GMDVP Helpline: 800.832.1901

On the Web: http://gmdvp.org/

THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/GLAAD EN ESPAÑOL

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

On the Web: http://www.glaad.org/

GLAAD en español: http://www.glaad.org/espanol/bienvenido.php

SERVICEMEMBERS LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).The SLDN provides free, confidential legal services to all those impacted by DADT and related discrimination. Since 1993, its inhouse legal team has responded to more than 9,000 requests for assistance. In Congress, it leads the fight to repeal DADT and replace it with a law that ensures equal treatment for every servicemember, regardless of sexual orientation. In the courts, it works to challenge the constitutionality of DADT.

SLDN Call: (202) 328-3244

PO Box 65301 or (202) 328-FAIR

Washington DC 20035-5301 e-mail: [email protected]

On the Web: http://sldn.org/

THE GLBT NATIONAL HELP CENTER

The GLBT National Help Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and those questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity. It is an outgrowth of the Gay & Lesbian National Hotline, which began in 1996 and now is a primary program of The GLBT National Help Center. It offers several different programs including two national hotlines that help members of the GLBT community talk about the important issues that they are facing in their lives.  It helps end the isolation that many people feel, by providing a safe environment on the phone or via the internet to discuss issues that people can’t talk about anywhere else.  The GLBT National Help Center also helps other organizations build the infrastructure they need to provide strong support to our community at the local level.

National Hotline
:
1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)

National
Youth Talkline 1-800-246-PRIDE (1-800-246-7743)

On the Web: http://www.glnh.org/

e-mail: 
[email protected]

If you’re a GLBT and questioning student heading off to university, should know that there are resources on campus for you. Here’s just a sample:

US LOCAL GLBT COLLEGE CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS

http://dv-8.com/resources/us/local/campus.html

GLBT Scholarship Resources http://tinyurl.com/6fx9v6

Syracuse University http://lgbt.syr.edu/

Texas A&M http://glbt.tamu.edu/

Tulane University http://www.oma.tulane.edu/LGBT/Default.htm

University of Alaska http://www.uaf.edu/agla/

University of California, Davis http://lgbtrc.ucdavis.edu/

University of California, San Francisco http://lgbt.ucsf.edu/

University of Colorado http://www.colorado.edu/glbtrc/

University of Florida http://www.dso.ufl.edu/multicultural/lgbt/

University of Hawaiÿi, Mānoa http://manoa.hawaii.edu/lgbt/

University of Utah http://www.sa.utah.edu/lgbt/

University of Virginia http://www.virginia.edu/deanofstudents/lgbt/

Vanderbilt University http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lgbtqi/