Chapter Ten
Chandler, his right hand in bandages and having spent the night in a holding cell, was being booked by Kevin for assault and damage to church property. Kevin, while badly hurt and having suffered a concussion, as well as wearing casts around his legs and walking around in crutches, insisted on completing his shift and promised to return to the hospital for more x-rays as soon as he had finished with Chandler. Hank Hastings (Eric's brother-in-law), who was running the emergency room shift that night, was annoyed by Kevin's moxie but told the cop who was working with Kevin to make sure he did go back to the hospital as soon as the work was done.
Kevin, still in considerable pain but able to take notes as Chandler was taken out of his holding cell and in front of Kevin and Roxanne's desk, couldn't understand what could have possibly provoked such a highly regarded minister to lunge at a peaceable deacon.
"Look, I'm sorry, I was way out of line," admitted Chandler. "I could have handled it a lot better than I did."
"You're telling that to me?" snapped Kevin. "The ones you should be apologizing to are my wife, who's also the minister; and to Lou."
"I will, and I'll pay for the damages, if you'll just drop the charges."
"Lou doesn't want to press charges, he just wants an explanation. Actually, I do too. What were you two arguing about? For that matter, what were you doing there in the first place?"
"As a former associate minister, I'm still on the board of directors, so I went for the regular monthly meeting the deacons have before discussing church business with Lucy. Of course, she's on business right now with Roxanne, so Lou as head deacon was chairing the meeting last night. During a coffee break, I took Lou aside and I was talking about how difficult it was for Roxie and me to be raising a kid. Lou said I didn't have a clue, given that his son has autism and that our daughter, Catherine, is perfectly normal. Well, Kevin, she's not. My wife and I found out that she more likely than not has Asperser's Syndrome."
"I've heard of that. It can often mimic the symptoms of autism," said Kevin.
"Yes, it can," said Chandler. "Well, instead of telling him that, I just lost it. So I threw a roundhouse right. He was standing in front of the stained glass window behind Lucy's desk. He ducked, and my fist hit the window."
"You took it personally," said Kevin. "I can understand that totally. Luce and I get defensive when it comes to our kids. I know it's not the same, because they're developing normally, but if you and Roxie want to talk about it, we're here for you. We're your friends."
"Maybe not for much longer," said Chandler.
"What do you mean?" wondered Kevin.
"It's not really relevant to this right now, but Roxie and I are thinking about moving to a better job at another university in another city. Not that I don't mind being Dean of Divinity at Crawford – I love it. But we all need to make a fresh start – the three of us – and, um, and closer to a facility where Catherine can get the help she needs. The doctors tell me if she gets extra help early, she should be able to develop almost as normally as any other kid. So she won't have to go to a 'special' school or anything like that."
Kevin thought there might be something else, but he decided to let it drop – as well as hide the fact that he and Roxanne had had an affair. For his part, Chandler wasn't about to admit he and Lucy committed adultery too; he was still disgusted at himself, and embarrassed for his daughter's sake.
"You're free to go," said Kevin. "But I have to warn you, this will go on file. You get as much as a jaywalking ticket, and we will press charges against you for what happened last night."
"Thanks, officer. Have a good day." Chandler slowly got up and left. Kevin finished writing his report, and then was escorted by his replacement partner (also a woman cop) back to the hospital.
Back in Maui, Ruthie and Peter had taken about a few minutes to get over the shock of the morning news, which had come from a phone call from Annie (although how she found out they were staying there now, they weren't sure).
They ordered breakfast in bed, wearing housecoats when the food arrived but taking them off as soon as the door was closed. They spent the next half hour as nature made them, feeding each other eggs Benedict, bacon, native Hawaiian fruits and coffee while constantly kissing each other all over. They then put on only enough clothes to cover themselves, with absolutely no underwear beneath, and decided to take a walk around the island's main city, Kahului, then the famous black sand beaches and finally on the golf courses surrounding their hotel – their undercover "protectors" a discreet distance behind.
What amazed them was just how peaceful this place was compared to Oahu. Certainly, the main island of the state was a place of solitude on its own. But this island was even better than that – truly God's country, they thought. They also talked about the previous evening, and how this might be their last chance to get pregnant before school started in the fall. After that, they agreed, there would be no time at all to even consider having a baby – they'd be immersed in assignments and science projects.
"By the way, Peter, I have to ask you about last night. It was great and all, but why were you so hungry last night?"
"You mean you don't know, Ruthie?" Peter looked at her, stunned. "Don't you remember what last night was?"
"It was our first night here in Maui." Ruthie said that rather hesitantly.
"Well, that too," said Peter, "but three years ago, last night, was the first time you and I made love. Remember at the summer camp?"
"That was last night – which I totally forgot about?" Ruthie shook her head in disbelief. That was one night she'd never forget; the night Peter deflowered her and she made him a man. "I only remember just how much of a mess we made, how clumsy we were! But it didn't matter, because we lost our virginity to each other; the first and last person we'd ever make love to."
"I'll never forget that night, because I knew only then and there just how beautiful you are," said Peter with authenticity. "Just being able to kiss you all over was thrill enough. To be able to become one human being with you was something totally different. I had no idea who was going to be my first; but after that night I knew you'd be my last."
"I know, and I'm grateful it was you," said Ruthie, leaning on her husband's shoulder.
"So, when do you think you'll know for sure? Like ... you know, if you're pregnant or not?"
"I guess we'll know about a week or so before we go home," said Ruthie. "If I'm late, then we're almost pregnant. Even if I'm not, I'll never stop loving you, Peter."
"And I'll always love you, Ruthie," said Peter. "When the time is right, you'll be ready. But after the wild night we had last, you'd better be!"
Ruthie kicked her husband in the shins, just slightly. Peter grabbed his wife by the waist, taking her down with him to behind one of the trees along the empty golf course greens, and the couple made out.
In Oahu, meanwhile, Lucy, Roxanne and Michaels were all numb over the news that Kevin had been attacked. They were relieved he was all right, but thought it might be more than just a coincidence that he got run over at the same time that both his wife and his beat partner were conveniently away and out of state.
The Glen Oak cops and Lucy, along with the 5-0 official, were going over the new information they had found. Yes, the campus did offer free remote internet access as long as the users were willing to put up with a lot of banner and pop-up ads. And yes, it was possible to access the campus server from any telephone on the island. The university was more than willing to turn over phone records to trace the source of the calls, but they needed more information from the authorities. Oh, and by the way, they wanted a search warrant too. So did the internet café on the Banzai Pipeline.
"No surprise there," said Lucy.
"But at least we're getting closer to solving this case," said Michaels.
"And figuring out why Ruthie and Peter haven't yet been attacked," added Roxanne.
"You've been a great help," said the 5-0, a native Hawaiian named Bishop. "We'll get this before a judge, and he or she should issue a warrant before the end of the day. Thank you again, all of you. If we need any more assistance, we'll get in touch with you. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the island and all we have to offer."
"Glad to be of assistance," said Lucy. "But you've got to admit, officer, things like this don't happen in Paradise."
"They're not supposed to, but they do," said Bishop. "We have the odd random attacks, but tourists are mainly mugged or get ripped off by street side vendors. I can't recall the last time so many people from out of state have been killed in such a systemic manner. And it's been a nightmare for the locals, too. Hotel bookings are already down 10% from where they should be at this time of year. Even a 2 or 3% drop in overnight stays is a disaster. Word spreads fast to the Mainland. They take us and our resources for granted; and when stuff happens here, they avoid us like the plague."
"I'll see you ladies back at the hotel," said Michaels. "I know you'll want to do some shopping here, as well as talk about what happened to Kevin, so go ahead without me."
Lucy and Roxanne hopped a bus to an open-air mall, and went to a Japanese restaurant. As lunch was served to them, Roxanne picked up her chopsticks, as did Lucy. They put them down, and back up again. Finally, Roxanne had enough.
"Lucy, I have a confession to make. I know this is the worst time and the worst place to tell you, especially after what happened back on the Mainland last night, but I've got to get something off my bosom."
"You're not the only one," said Lucy. "Tell you what, let's flip a coin. Loser fesses first. You make the call."
Roxanne called tails. She lost.
Chandler, his right hand in bandages and having spent the night in a holding cell, was being booked by Kevin for assault and damage to church property. Kevin, while badly hurt and having suffered a concussion, as well as wearing casts around his legs and walking around in crutches, insisted on completing his shift and promised to return to the hospital for more x-rays as soon as he had finished with Chandler. Hank Hastings (Eric's brother-in-law), who was running the emergency room shift that night, was annoyed by Kevin's moxie but told the cop who was working with Kevin to make sure he did go back to the hospital as soon as the work was done.
Kevin, still in considerable pain but able to take notes as Chandler was taken out of his holding cell and in front of Kevin and Roxanne's desk, couldn't understand what could have possibly provoked such a highly regarded minister to lunge at a peaceable deacon.
"Look, I'm sorry, I was way out of line," admitted Chandler. "I could have handled it a lot better than I did."
"You're telling that to me?" snapped Kevin. "The ones you should be apologizing to are my wife, who's also the minister; and to Lou."
"I will, and I'll pay for the damages, if you'll just drop the charges."
"Lou doesn't want to press charges, he just wants an explanation. Actually, I do too. What were you two arguing about? For that matter, what were you doing there in the first place?"
"As a former associate minister, I'm still on the board of directors, so I went for the regular monthly meeting the deacons have before discussing church business with Lucy. Of course, she's on business right now with Roxanne, so Lou as head deacon was chairing the meeting last night. During a coffee break, I took Lou aside and I was talking about how difficult it was for Roxie and me to be raising a kid. Lou said I didn't have a clue, given that his son has autism and that our daughter, Catherine, is perfectly normal. Well, Kevin, she's not. My wife and I found out that she more likely than not has Asperser's Syndrome."
"I've heard of that. It can often mimic the symptoms of autism," said Kevin.
"Yes, it can," said Chandler. "Well, instead of telling him that, I just lost it. So I threw a roundhouse right. He was standing in front of the stained glass window behind Lucy's desk. He ducked, and my fist hit the window."
"You took it personally," said Kevin. "I can understand that totally. Luce and I get defensive when it comes to our kids. I know it's not the same, because they're developing normally, but if you and Roxie want to talk about it, we're here for you. We're your friends."
"Maybe not for much longer," said Chandler.
"What do you mean?" wondered Kevin.
"It's not really relevant to this right now, but Roxie and I are thinking about moving to a better job at another university in another city. Not that I don't mind being Dean of Divinity at Crawford – I love it. But we all need to make a fresh start – the three of us – and, um, and closer to a facility where Catherine can get the help she needs. The doctors tell me if she gets extra help early, she should be able to develop almost as normally as any other kid. So she won't have to go to a 'special' school or anything like that."
Kevin thought there might be something else, but he decided to let it drop – as well as hide the fact that he and Roxanne had had an affair. For his part, Chandler wasn't about to admit he and Lucy committed adultery too; he was still disgusted at himself, and embarrassed for his daughter's sake.
"You're free to go," said Kevin. "But I have to warn you, this will go on file. You get as much as a jaywalking ticket, and we will press charges against you for what happened last night."
"Thanks, officer. Have a good day." Chandler slowly got up and left. Kevin finished writing his report, and then was escorted by his replacement partner (also a woman cop) back to the hospital.
Back in Maui, Ruthie and Peter had taken about a few minutes to get over the shock of the morning news, which had come from a phone call from Annie (although how she found out they were staying there now, they weren't sure).
They ordered breakfast in bed, wearing housecoats when the food arrived but taking them off as soon as the door was closed. They spent the next half hour as nature made them, feeding each other eggs Benedict, bacon, native Hawaiian fruits and coffee while constantly kissing each other all over. They then put on only enough clothes to cover themselves, with absolutely no underwear beneath, and decided to take a walk around the island's main city, Kahului, then the famous black sand beaches and finally on the golf courses surrounding their hotel – their undercover "protectors" a discreet distance behind.
What amazed them was just how peaceful this place was compared to Oahu. Certainly, the main island of the state was a place of solitude on its own. But this island was even better than that – truly God's country, they thought. They also talked about the previous evening, and how this might be their last chance to get pregnant before school started in the fall. After that, they agreed, there would be no time at all to even consider having a baby – they'd be immersed in assignments and science projects.
"By the way, Peter, I have to ask you about last night. It was great and all, but why were you so hungry last night?"
"You mean you don't know, Ruthie?" Peter looked at her, stunned. "Don't you remember what last night was?"
"It was our first night here in Maui." Ruthie said that rather hesitantly.
"Well, that too," said Peter, "but three years ago, last night, was the first time you and I made love. Remember at the summer camp?"
"That was last night – which I totally forgot about?" Ruthie shook her head in disbelief. That was one night she'd never forget; the night Peter deflowered her and she made him a man. "I only remember just how much of a mess we made, how clumsy we were! But it didn't matter, because we lost our virginity to each other; the first and last person we'd ever make love to."
"I'll never forget that night, because I knew only then and there just how beautiful you are," said Peter with authenticity. "Just being able to kiss you all over was thrill enough. To be able to become one human being with you was something totally different. I had no idea who was going to be my first; but after that night I knew you'd be my last."
"I know, and I'm grateful it was you," said Ruthie, leaning on her husband's shoulder.
"So, when do you think you'll know for sure? Like ... you know, if you're pregnant or not?"
"I guess we'll know about a week or so before we go home," said Ruthie. "If I'm late, then we're almost pregnant. Even if I'm not, I'll never stop loving you, Peter."
"And I'll always love you, Ruthie," said Peter. "When the time is right, you'll be ready. But after the wild night we had last, you'd better be!"
Ruthie kicked her husband in the shins, just slightly. Peter grabbed his wife by the waist, taking her down with him to behind one of the trees along the empty golf course greens, and the couple made out.
In Oahu, meanwhile, Lucy, Roxanne and Michaels were all numb over the news that Kevin had been attacked. They were relieved he was all right, but thought it might be more than just a coincidence that he got run over at the same time that both his wife and his beat partner were conveniently away and out of state.
The Glen Oak cops and Lucy, along with the 5-0 official, were going over the new information they had found. Yes, the campus did offer free remote internet access as long as the users were willing to put up with a lot of banner and pop-up ads. And yes, it was possible to access the campus server from any telephone on the island. The university was more than willing to turn over phone records to trace the source of the calls, but they needed more information from the authorities. Oh, and by the way, they wanted a search warrant too. So did the internet café on the Banzai Pipeline.
"No surprise there," said Lucy.
"But at least we're getting closer to solving this case," said Michaels.
"And figuring out why Ruthie and Peter haven't yet been attacked," added Roxanne.
"You've been a great help," said the 5-0, a native Hawaiian named Bishop. "We'll get this before a judge, and he or she should issue a warrant before the end of the day. Thank you again, all of you. If we need any more assistance, we'll get in touch with you. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the island and all we have to offer."
"Glad to be of assistance," said Lucy. "But you've got to admit, officer, things like this don't happen in Paradise."
"They're not supposed to, but they do," said Bishop. "We have the odd random attacks, but tourists are mainly mugged or get ripped off by street side vendors. I can't recall the last time so many people from out of state have been killed in such a systemic manner. And it's been a nightmare for the locals, too. Hotel bookings are already down 10% from where they should be at this time of year. Even a 2 or 3% drop in overnight stays is a disaster. Word spreads fast to the Mainland. They take us and our resources for granted; and when stuff happens here, they avoid us like the plague."
"I'll see you ladies back at the hotel," said Michaels. "I know you'll want to do some shopping here, as well as talk about what happened to Kevin, so go ahead without me."
Lucy and Roxanne hopped a bus to an open-air mall, and went to a Japanese restaurant. As lunch was served to them, Roxanne picked up her chopsticks, as did Lucy. They put them down, and back up again. Finally, Roxanne had enough.
"Lucy, I have a confession to make. I know this is the worst time and the worst place to tell you, especially after what happened back on the Mainland last night, but I've got to get something off my bosom."
"You're not the only one," said Lucy. "Tell you what, let's flip a coin. Loser fesses first. You make the call."
Roxanne called tails. She lost.