With no other choice in the matter and wanting some information, Naku obliged.

  "I know that Rex Lee, aka Isamu Sakuma, was an ATF agent working undercover when he was killed," Naku said.

  Kawachi reacted. "No sense denying it. We all feel a loss here, but life still goes on for the rest of us."

  "So you're working with the feds investigating arms trafficking on the island, as well as the increasing fatalities related to it?" Naku asked.

  "Yeah, we've joined forces trying to get the goods on the ringleaders so we can bring them to justice, while hopefully dealing a major blow to their operations on Maui."

  "Was Lee—or Sakuma—able to identify the ringleaders before he was killed?" Naku wondered. "Or make a case against anyone involved in the murder of Suzette Higuchi-Bordeau?"

  Kawachi kept walking. "We're still pouring through what he left behind, trying to piece together what he learned but never verbalized. As far as Higuchi-Bordeau's death, isn't that what you're supposed to be investigating?"

  Naku glared at him. "Why do you think I'm here? If you have something to say, just tell me and save us both the trouble."

  "All right," Kawachi said. "According to Sakuma, Patrick Bordeau's wife was gunned down by someone in the gunrunning organization—mainly to dismiss a debt and keep others in line."

  "You mean others such as Patrick Bordeau?" Naku asked.

  "I was thinking more like Tucker Matsumoto, Shawn Wilkerson, Clark Oldham, and Andrew Seki, as well as anyone else they've got under their thumb."

  "Do you know the name of the shooter?"

  Kawachi shook his head. "Wish I did. It was likely one of the underlings in the business, just doing a job as ordered to. Once we put the hammer on the big wigs, it shouldn't be too difficult to bring in those who are low on the totem pole and get them to talk—including giving us information on the Higuchi-Bordeau murder and her killer."

  Naku thought that made sense. Once some low level traffickers were offered deals in exchange for information that could put away their employers for a very long time, they would almost certainly capitulate to save their own necks. Whether he wanted to wait that long to get to the bottom of this was another matter.

  There was one other question he needed an answer to. "So where does Bordeau fit into the broader investigation?"

  Kawachi paused. "Let's just say that Patrick Bordeau and Suzette Higuchi-Bordeau have been persons of interest for some time now. Bordeau's fascination with guns and his role as a criminal defense attorney with working knowledge of the island's arms trafficking problem obviously made him someone we wanted to keep an eye on. Admittedly, his wife's involvement caught us by surprise, as did her untimely death—making us want to probe that much further into the Bordeaus' background. While we found both of them to be disingenuous and adulterers, their overall role in criminality did not rise to the level of prosecution, at least not while our attention was focused more on others with a much bigger role in illegal smuggling of weapons and ammunition."

  "So you're telling me that Patrick Bordeau's association with an undercover operative for the Justice Department was entirely by chance?" Naku asked dubiously.

  "What I'm saying is that Isamu Sakuma had his own agenda and discretion as an ATF special agent when he reached out to Bordeau," said Kawachi. "He certainly did not confer with our office about every move he made, nor would I have expected him to. My guess is Sakuma may have sought legal representation from Bordeau as a means to gain his confidence. Or perhaps it was to throw off those who may have been suspicious of him by seeking legal advice from someone who was well respected within the island's organized crime community as dependable when dealing with the law. Either way you slice it, Sakuma obviously got in over his head and was unable to get out before it was too late."

  "How many more people have to die before heads start to roll?" Naku asked, peering at him. "Or are you comfortable with the victims just being collateral damage while you seek to break up the arms trafficking on the island at any cost?"

  Kawachi stopped and faced him. "I'm never comfortable with anyone being killed, Naku. You should know that, having worked for me. But I have a job to do, just as you do. Sometimes people get hurt in the process. That doesn't mean we quit doing what we're doing if it's for the right reasons."

  "Are you sure you can still determine right from wrong these days?" Naku challenged him.

  "Maybe you should ask yourself the same question, Naku," he responded sharply. "In the process, you might also remember that none of this is personal. Don't make it that way for what I'm doing or for your own investigations. Now I have a meeting to get to. See you later."

  With that, Kawachi opened a door and went inside.

  Naku sucked in a deep breath and walked away. He realized it was incumbent upon him to keep a proper perspective, no matter how out of control this case seemed to be getting. Kathryn had a right to know whatever he could learn about her sister's death. But he wasn't about to go to an early grave himself to achieve that objective. Nor would he sit still and allow the politics of the feds, the prosecuting attorney's office, and local police to dictate his investigation as he sought the truth about the murder of Suzette Higuchi-Bordeau.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  When Naku got back to the offices of Eddie Naku Investigations, Vanna told him mysteriously, "There's someone waiting to see you in your office—"

  Curiously, he peeked inside and was surprised to see Kathryn's daughter, Madlyn. She was seated and busy texting someone.

  "Hey," he said, getting her attention.

  She looked up. "Hey."

  "What are you doing here?" He gazed at her. "Is your mother okay?"

  Madlyn lifted a brow. "Why wouldn't she be?"

  Naku breathed a sigh of relief. For a brief moment, he thought she might have been a victim of the person responsible for her sister's death. Especially given that he had not backed off the case, in spite of pressure to do so from both sides of the law. Would the traffickers dare target Kathryn or her daughter to get to him?

  "What's going on?" he asked, more than a little curious as to Madlyn's presence at his place of business.

  "I came to see you about my mom," she said tonelessly.

  Naku sat on a corner of his desk, near the chair she was sitting in. "What about her?"

  "Are you sleeping with her?"

  "Excuse me—?"

  "I asked if you and my mom were having sex."

  "That question is highly inappropriate," he responded sharply. "Your mother hired me to look into your aunt's murder. We're not involved intimately." He didn't feel good lying about it, but assumed this was what Kathryn wanted.

  "I know about my mother's affair with Uncle Patrick," Madlyn said straightforwardly.

  Naku raised a brow in surprise. "Look, whatever you may have heard—"

  "I've known about it almost from the beginning when I overheard her talking to him on the phone. Then the tension between her and Aunt Suzette that went on for months clinched it. Every time I saw Uncle Patrick, I could see it in his eyes. I hated how he came between them and didn't seem to care at all. I just don't get why my mother would be with someone who was obviously just using her till someone better came along and mess up things with her own sister..."

  Naku got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Why are you telling me this?"

  Madlyn batted her lashes. "Because my mom likes you," she said flatly.

  "As I said, we're not—"

  "I know what you said," she cut in. "I'm not an idiot. I know what's going on with you two. I only came here to say that my mother obviously has a history of choosing the wrong men. Maybe it'll end up being the same with you. All I'm saying is that if you just want to have fun with her while you're on the rebound or whatever, choose another woman for that and leave my mom alone." She stood up. "Oh, and by the way, if you're still on the case of trying to find my aunt's killer, I hope you don't give up until you have the answer—even if you and my mom stop seeing each other and she stops paying you for your services."

  Naku was speechless as she walked out. Obviously, Kathryn had greatly underestimated her intuitiveness, as was often the case with parents where it concerned their teenagers. As for his involvement with Kathryn, he had no idea how long it would last, or what her realistic expectations were. They were both adults and responsible for their own actions and choices. At the same time, he was sensitive to Madlyn wanting to protect her mother from bad choices. Did he belong in that category? Or had Madlyn succeeded in making him question that, while also motivating him to continue to investigate the shooting death of her aunt.

  * * *

  That night, Naku lay in bed with Kathryn. She had come over to his place with no apologies or conversation—other than to demand that he strip off his clothes, while she did the same, before seducing him with kisses and body contact. They made love and were still catching their breath afterward, when Naku said what was on his mind. "I got a visit from your daughter at my office today..."

  Kathryn sat up. "What—?"

  "Yeah, I said the same thing." He paused. "She knows about you and Bordeau..."

  "How?" Kathryn's mouth hung open. "We were careful not to—"

  "Not careful enough, I'm afraid. She overheard you sweet-talking to him on the phone. I'm sure it didn't take much for her to put it together."

  Kathryn sighed. "Why did she come to see you?"

  Naku touched her soft shoulder. "She knows about us, too. Don't ask me how. She's concerned that I might end up hurting you like other men have. Madlyn was also afraid that I might quit trying to find out who murdered your sister if things didn't work out between us."

  "What did you tell her?" Kathryn voiced anxiously.

  "Nothing," he responded. "She bolted before I got a chance to reassure her that I would not give up on the case until it's completed. Or that you and I were still a work in progress, but we're both adults and sometimes things don't work out as part of the process, though not necessarily where we're concerned."

  "I'm sorry Madlyn came to you instead of me."

  "Don't be. Sometimes talking to parents can be the hardest thing for teenagers. I've been there."

  "I guess I should have been upfront with her about Patrick even when things went sour between me and her father. But it didn't seem fair to burden her with my problems."

  "She loves you and just wants what she thinks is best for you," Naku told her.

  Kathryn met his eyes. "Does that include you?"

  He grinned. "I'm not sure she thinks I'm the best thing for you."

  "What do you think?" she pressed.

  He took a moment or two before answering. It was pretty clear that Gayle had moved on, giving him a license to do the same without any regrets.

  "I think we seem to be doing fine spending time with each other—even if most of it is in bed."

  She kissed him. "Are you complaining?"

  He smiled desirously. "I wouldn't think of it."

  "Neither would I," she said, and was suddenly all over him.

  Naku didn't bother to think about what the future held as he made love to Kathryn. They could ponder the future another day.

  * * *

  In the morning, Naku went riding with Kathryn. She and horses had gotten along since she was a child, having been riding off and on ever since, along with Madlyn.

  By afternoon, Kathryn had gone home to clear the air with her daughter. She planned to take her shopping, which was Madlyn's favorite pastime, apart from guys.

  Naku turned his attention to his onetime informant, Kevin Texeira, who phoned to say that he had some information worth paying for. He agreed to meet Texeira at a bar on Lower Main Street in Wailuku called Rainbow Club.

  Stepping inside, Naku saw him at a table in the back, nursing a drink. He sat across from him, but wasn't interested in small talk right now.

  "What have you got for me?"

  Texeira gulped down some of his drink. "How about you give me the rest of the money first."

  "How about you give me something worth one fifty so we can complete our business."

  "All right," Texeira said. "I did a little snooping in my old haunts and the word is there's a dirty cop who's pretty much running much of the street level arms trafficking."

  Naku raised a brow with skepticism. It's not that he didn't believe some cops could be tempted by more money than they could make on the force. It just seemed too pat to take at face value.

  "Does this cop have a name?"

  Texeira frowned. "Not one that I can give you."

  "Too bad." Naku wrinkled his nose. "That doesn't help me much, especially since the whole thing may be a big lie. I'm not about to accuse someone on the police force of being dirty just on your say so with nothing to back it up."

  "Sorry, man, but there's only so much I can do without putting my neck on the line. I'm telling you what I was told from a reliable source, which I can't give you."

  "How about if I give you a name," Naku told him. "Andrew Seki."

  Texeira tensed. "I know him, so...?"

  "So is he your reliable source?" Naku narrowed his eyes. "I know Seki's an enforcer whose been working with other thugs in the gunrunning trade. He's also been a lackey for someone important in the business and wanted to stop my investigation cold by putting me on ice. Well, is it him?"

  Texeira scratched his chin. "Are you trying to get me killed, man?"

  Naku decided to give him the money to keep him talking. He took three fifty dollar bills out of his pocket and slid them across the table. "I'm trying to fatten your wallet. So tell me..."

  "Okay, you win." He stuffed the money in his shirt pocket and looked around nervously before turning back to Naku. "Yeah, we go back a ways. He likes to talk after having a few drinks, and I like to listen. But whatever you do from here, it can't blow back in my direction."

  "It won't," Naku promised. "All I'm trying to do is wrap up my case. If I can find out who the crooked cop is, maybe I can get some answers."

  Texeira rolled his eyes. "If you're counting on Seki selling out, forget it. People like him don't squeal—especially if it means having to deal with an angry, dirty cop."

  "If not him, maybe there's someone else in his inner circle that I can lean on," Naku suggested.

  "Good luck with that." Texeira emptied his glass in one fell swoop. "Oh, there is one other thing... I heard the dirty cop was banging Bordeau's wife before she met her Maker."

  Naku looked at him with surprise. "Are you sure about that?"

  "Never sure about anything—but that's what I heard. Why, you got a problem with that?"

  "No problem," Naku muttered thoughtfully, rising. He handed him another fifty as Texeira remained seated. "See you around."

  "Or not," Texeira said sardonically.

  It wasn't until he got back to his car that Naku pondered what he had just heard. A dirty cop was having sex with Suzette Higuchi-Bordeau. Detective Lloyd had indicated that she was having an affair with a married businessman. There seemed to be a clear discrepancy here. Or could Suzette have been involved with more than one man? It occurred to Naku that Lloyd may have been deliberately misleading him.

  Could he actually be the dirty cop who was sleeping with Bordeau's wife? If so, would he have ordered a hit on her—or done the dirty deed himself?

  Naku picked up the phone and called Vanna. "I need you to get me everything you can on Detective Ron Lloyd of the Maui Police Department."

  "Uh, okay," she said. "Should I ask why?"

  "It's better if you don't," he said, hoping this sudden suspicion he had would prove to be unfounded. "I'll wait to hear from you."

  "I'll get right on it."

  Naku hung up and started driving. There were a whole range of questions swirling through his mind about the homicide detective and his possible involvement with Suzette Higuchi-Bordeau as the lead investigator on the case. Not to mention his role in the arms trafficking probe and its relationship to a string of homicides, including Higuchi-Bordeau.

  Was Lloyd feeding me a load of crap just to throw me off the case? Naku wondered. Or was there someone else on the police force playing dirty ball?

  When Vanna called back, Naku eagerly answered. "What did you find out?"

  "A few things," she said. "Detective Ron Lloyd has been with the Maui Police Department for just over a year, after having spent the previous eight years with the Hawaii Police Department. Apparently, he got a transfer following some disciplinary action involving use of excessive force on an arrestee. Detective Lloyd is married and has three children. He lives in Pukalani."

  That last part was particularly interesting to Naku. It potentially put Lloyd well within reach of Suzette Higuchi-Bordeau, assuming they were having an affair, as well as the shopping center where she was murdered. Chance occurrence?

  "Did you come up with any issues or problems he might have had with the Maui Police Department?"

  "No, nothing. In fact, he recently received a commendation for rescuing a girl from a house fire while off duty. It appears he's held in high esteem within the department and the community."

  "That tells me that all that glitters is anything but gold," Naku said, unconvinced that the detective was squeaky clean as suggested since he left his troubles behind on the Big Island.

  "What do you think he's done?" she inquired.

  "Maybe nothing," Naku told her. "Or maybe everything." He left it at that. "Do you have his address?"

  After Vanna gave it to him, he hung up and headed for Lloyd's residence, unsure what he would find or do when he got there, but figured it was as good a place as any to start investigating the homicide detective.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The two-story cedar home was on a golf course on Liholani Street in Pukalani. Palm trees swayed slightly as if fanning the impressive residence. Naku wondered how Lloyd could afford such a place on his police salary. Did he or his wife come from money? Or was he pocketing extra income as an arms trafficker?