Toby Neal: Blood Orchids

“You’d be surprised,” he said. “Animals can be closer than family.”

“This one is family.”

She didn’t notice when he left the kennel, closing the door softly.

Nagata was waiting for her on the worn little porch when she drove up. She hurried to join him on the top step.

“So far your story is checking out about what went down in Volcano Park. Lieutenant wants you on admin leave until this whole thing gets sorted out.”

“That sucks. I’m going to go nuts with that much time on my hands. What’s happening with the Chang thing?” Lei rubbed the black stone in her pocket as she talked with the detective.

“We’ve had Anela picked up in California. Ross is flying back there to interview her. The local PD in San Rafael don’t know enough about the situation to get us what we need. Ray Solomon’s stable in the hospital and has admitted to doing the stalking campaign.”

She’d thought as much, but it was good to have it confirmed.

“Anyone been able to find out anything about Kwon?”

“Yeah. He’s in Lompoc Federal Prison for molesting some kids.”

Lei rocked back as she absorbed this, standing on her porch. The weak sunlight of an overcast day gilded the tilted aluminum pole of her mailbox, the chipped cement steps, little rag of lawn. She was disappointed Kwon was out of reach. Part of her had fantasized pointing her Glock at his crotch and pulling the trigger.

“We still don’t know how much the other Changs are involved in this and if Healani Chang has authorized any further action against you. Lieutenant would like you to come to the county safe house,” Nagata said, adjusting his dapper button-down shirt as he went down the steps.

“No. They’re sending Keiki home tomorrow, and she needs to be in familiar surroundings,” Lei said, adjusting her sling as she walked down to the sidewalk beside him.

“Yeah, we know how you feel about that dog,” Nagata said with a twinkle, as he got in the unmarked Bronco. “Okay. We’re sending a uniform out to do sweeps by your house.”

“Thanks.”

She watched him drive away with a tremendous feeling of relief. She was almost sure whoever was left in the Chang conspiracy would think twice about messing with her now that she’d shot Ray. Lei hurried up the stairs into her cottage as Nagata drove away, punched in the code and re-activated it behind her.

Sighing, she went to the kitchen and ran herself a glass of water, drank it at the sink, then went and took a shower. Feeling a little better, she sat down at the little Formica kitchen table wrapped in her robe.

It was taking a lot of showers to feel like the blood had finally been washed off.

Stevens had left behind the file he had been studying last night. It was full of photocopied records on various members of the Chang crime family. She perused the records on the patriarch, Terence “Hatchet” Chang.

His rap sheet had close to fifty different drug, racketeering, and trafficking charges, many of which had been dismissed. Eventually he’d been convicted of felony drug trafficking and second-degree murder. His cause of death three years ago was listed as homicide.

No assailant name was listed on the criminal report, but Lei knew that name was Wayne Texeira and so did the Changs. She looked at the next of kin-Healani Chang, 221 Olomua Avenue in Hilo-the crime boss was guardian of the teenage boys she and Pono had brought in for tagging, and their neighborhood wasn’t that far from hers.

I wonder what would happen if I just went there and talked to her, checked up on the boys… Send her a message I’m on to them. I might be able to clear this whole drama up myself.

Hiding out at the house was just not Lei’s style.

Galvanized, she changed into running clothes, strapping on the shoulder holster with the old Glock since her new one was at Ballistics. She filled the pockets of the windbreaker with handcuffs, cell phone, and badge. Not that she was investigating or anything..

Lei got in the truck, feeling the hum of adrenaline in her veins as she turned the key. She remembered Stevens’ lecture at the restaurant about taking care of herself, and felt a stab of guilt or maybe apprehension-none of the team working her case would think this was a good idea. But if she could just talk to Healani, maybe it could all be cleared up.

Lei threw the truck into reverse and pulled out before she could change her mind.

The Chang house was in an older, poorly-maintained neighborhood. It was a dilapidated plantation style that had been added onto until it sprawled in all directions, filling a large corner lot. Several expensive cars were parked on the strip of dry, weedy grass, and a pit bull in the side yard barked ferociously as she pulled over onto the curb in front.

“Hey!” A dark figure appeared at the iron latticework security door as Lei got out. Her hand settled on the Glock. “What you doing in our neighborhood?”

She faced the house. Several other shadowy figures had clustered around the one addressing her.

“You talking to me?” Lei put cop in her voice.

“I said, what you stay doing here?” A reedy timbre-one of the teenagers.

“Coming to talk to Healani Chang. You got a problem with that?”

The door opened. It was the lanky kid she had run down in the alley. He was wearing a red do-rag on his head, gang colors.

“This is harassment,” he said. Three other teens came out, ranging behind him, their arms folded over their chests as they tried on attitude.

“Chill out.” Lei took her hand off her gun, opened her arms. “I just want to talk to your grandma. Is she home?”

“What you like with her?”

“Nothing. Just saying hi, and hope you boys are staying out of trouble.”

Her nonaggressive stance and calm voice were working.

One of the boys turned and yelled back into the house, “ Tutu! Get one cop out here like talk to you!”

A few seconds passed and the screen door creaked shut behind an older woman in a scarlet muumuu, frowning as she wiped her hands on a dishcloth. She made shooing motions.

“What you boys doing? Get back in the house!”

The teenagers scattered, only Do-rag pausing to give Lei the finger behind his grandmother’s back.

Lei waited as the Chang matriarch came down the steps and stood a few feet away. She reminded Lei of a beautiful warship’s figurehead after it had been through some long campaigns. She folded arms on an impressive chest and gave a good staredown.

“You Wayne’s girl,” she said. Healani Chang knew exactly who Lei was.

“Yes.”

A long moment passed.

“Someone been making trouble for me. I like you make it stop,” Lei said in pidgin.

“You think I care?” Healani Chang laughed, a rusty cough. Lei stared into the woman’s rich, chocolate-brown eyes.

“Please.” She softened her voice. “I just want it to end. I got no beef with you. The cops will be all over you folks if they aren’t already.”

Healani said nothing, staring at her unblinking.

Lei turned away at last. It had been worth a try.

“Wait.” The older woman’s voice was husky, as if from smoking or yelling at the teenagers. “It was Ray, and that other girl Anela in the Mainland. Thought if they made trouble to you, took you out, I’d recognize them and give ’em a part in the family business. It was never going to happen. I told Ray if he kills a cop he brings trouble for all of us.”

“Glad you see it that way,” Lei said. Her ironic tone was lost on Healani.

“I was never going give nothing to Terry’s bastards,” Healani spat. “No matter what they did.”

“The cops took Anela into custody and Ray will have trouble ever shooting anyone again. Know anything about Charlie Kwon? Any way he was involved?”