The Bone Field by Debra Bokur (top e book reader txt) 📕

She stood up, feeling shaky. “What are you doing here anyway? I don’t need a babysitter.” She looked around. “And where’s Hilo?”

Walter regarded her, a half smile on his face. “You were pretty out of it after the painkillers. The medics and the emergency room team sewed you back together. Hilo’s with your neighbors. The sister stopped by a little while ago and left you a big salad and some banana bread. Oh, and some fish stew, which was excellent.”

“You ate it?”

“Didn’t know when you’d wake up. Fish stew doesn’t keep forever, you know.” He patted his stomach. “Besides, keeping you safe is hard work.”

“So fill me in,” she said. “But first let me get a slice of that banana bread.” He rose to get it for her, but she shook her head, gesturing for him to stay put. She walked slowly to the kitchen counter, her body aching, and made a pot of coffee while Walter gave her the details that had been gathered during the arrest of Abraham Waters and his family. She poured a mug for each of them, and Walter came to carry the coffee and plates holding the bread back into the living room.

“Do we finally have a name for the pineapple man?” she asked, as she settled back down onto the sofa and Walter made himself comfortable in the armchair.

“We do. Joey Manu. He was only eighteen years old when Abraham murdered him. His parents are still alive, and are very happy to know that their son has finally been found.” He took a bite of bread. “According to Abigail, and a follow-up call Hara made with Manuel Raso, she and Joey became friends pretty quickly when they met at the plantation. She was still pretty young, being dragged around by Ruth. Joey and Abigail eventually planted a giant sunflower garden together near the office building at the plantation where’d they play, and everyone used to tease them about being sweethearts. Joey was four years older, though—plus he was gay. Abigail didn’t care. They were best friends, and they stayed friends even after the plantation shut down. When Joey found out that Abigail was pregnant, and then witnessed some of the interchanges between her and her father, he suspected who the father of the child was and urged her to tell the authorities.”

Walter went on to say that when Abigail refused, Joey became increasingly concerned, saying he was going to report his suspicions himself.

“He went out to Eden’s River to confront Abraham first, and that’s when he was killed. The refrigerator had already been pulled out of the kitchen in the break room back at the plantation, along with everything else, and Abraham used it to hide the body in the field. Because the plantation was pretty empty by then and was so close to the commune, no one saw anything.”

Kali listened, nibbling her bread and sipping from her mug. “Must have been tough to move.”

“Abraham had enough of a following by then. There were probably plenty of people at the commune to help move an old refrigerator without ever knowing what was inside. We don’t know yet who those people were or what they knew, but everyone who can be tracked down is being rounded up for questioning. That woman you met on Lna‘i—Anita—is supplying names. Hiding the other bodies didn’t require any help. Abraham, Ruth, and Linda Bragden could have handled that themselves.”

“And Matthew Greene? Was Linda Bragden part of that?”

“Not according to her statement, but that will be for a jury to decide.” He finished the last of his banana bread. “Damn. That woman next door—what’s her name? Birta?—is a really good cook. She’d make a great sister-in-law. And that Elvar is something else. He clocked both Ruth and Abraham, and managed to knock out the grandson while he was at it. And that’s before carrying you up the stairs and out of the house.”

Kali caught the sideways look he gave her, but she didn’t respond. She finished her slice of bread and took another sip of coffee. Walter watched her, his concern plain.

“You got whacked pretty hard, you know. You need to take it easy. In fact, that’s a direct order from a superior officer.” He shook his head, slightly amazed. “Your skull must be made of cast iron. I really don’t understand how you came out of this whole thing without a major concussion.”

“Well, people have been telling me my whole life how hardheaded I am,” she said, attempting a small smile. Her head throbbed, but she didn’t want Walter to leave. The guest bedroom door was propped open, so she went into the room, reaching for the cheerful stuffed horse sitting on the bed where she’d left it. She lifted it and carried it back to the living room.

Walter watched her as she sat back down on the sofa. She tossed the horse to him. He caught it, a look of surprise on his face.

“For me? Thanks, but I don’t remember asking for one.”

“Maybe one of the girls would like it? I bought it for Makena. You know, as a baby gift. I’d rather not see it around, but it’s kind of cute, and I don’t want to just throw it away.”

“Sure,” he said. “Suki will love it. She’s obsessed with horses. She keeps hinting at riding lessons. And she’s always eating carrots. She says it’s because horses like them.” He chuckled. “As though that’s going to convince either Nina or me that we need to add pony club to everything else we already have on our schedules. Suki gets her way a lot, being the youngest, but I’m playing the tough guy on this one.”

They sat together for a while, discussing the upcoming cultural festival, and the role each had to play. Walter was far more excited about the ukulele competition than she was about the hula demonstration.

“Hara got out of the drumming, didn’t he?” she asked.

“He lucked out, you mean.