The Yoshinobu Mysteries: Volume 2 Page 3

  “You said something in your letter about handling only criminal cases? Isnt dealing with criminals awfully depressing?”

  “It isnt, really. Its always interesting to see what you can do for a client, especially one who figures hes in big trouble. Qual–hes the senior partner–has me pretty well indoctrinated. He thinks were dealing in the one area of law where the client can be run over roughshod by the courts, and often is. He says this is where the right to a fair trial is most apt to be denied, if the person doesnt have an adequate defense attorney representing him or her. The more serious the crime the person is accused of, the more difficult it is for the jury to be objective. Of course, I havent had anything more serious than a negligent homicide case, so far. Maybe Ill think differently, or just collapse altogether, if I ever have a murder case on my hands.”

  “Its hard for me to picture you defending someone charged with murder.”

  “Be careful, Ken,” Laura said with a smile, “Kay might be upset by what you're saying. Shes a strong feminist. She might figure youre saying a woman couldnt do a good job of defending a murderer.”

  Ken laughed. His laughs even nicer than his smile, Laura decided.

  “Theres no sexism intended. Its just that you seem to be such a gentle person. I cant see you defending a murderer any more than I could see you being a murderer. Thats no different than what I would say about myself.”

  Laura was to remember that remark.

  *** Watch yourself, Laura. This was a warning she gave herself as they left the coffee shop. The other three meetings had never gone beyond the airport, and for good reason. One of the men had smoked, another had found it impossible to do anything but talk about himself, and the third one had been so clearly chauvinistic Laura had not needed Kay to warn her off. Here she was taking Ken to introduce him around to her office mates. Was it just because she had not seen anything clearly wrong with him? Or was it she just wanted to find someone? Anyone? Or maybe she was beginning to feel the pangs of deprivation. She suddenly became uncomfortable at finding how comfortable she felt in Kens company.

  The usually expressive and welcoming face at the reception desk had narrowed eyes and an enigmatic appearance when Laura introduced Ken to Leilani. Even the white and yellow plumeria blossom in Leilanis hair did little to make her expression any more inviting. “I should warn you,” Laura said, “Leilani is convinced Im going to meet an ax murderer through the personal I ran. Shes sizing you up right now to see how well you could handle a double-bit.”

  “ Laura!” Leilani exclaimed in exasperation. “Thats not it at all. Its just that you could have your pick of any young man on this island. Why you should go shopping any place else is beyond me.”

  “That wasnt rehearsed, Ken,” Laura said with a laugh. “Leilanis estimate of me and my charms is matched by no ones, not even my mothers.”

  Ken smiled. “I think you show excellent judgment, Leilani. I do want you to know though, the nearest Ive ever been to an ax was when I almost cut my finger off with a hatchet, back in the days when I wasa cub scout. I havent touched one since.”

  Both Laura and Ken detected the barest hint of softening in Leilanis features as they moved off to Kays office.

  Sid and Kay were both there. Ken could feel himself being thoroughly evaluated. In turn he appraised the two young attorneys. Sid was difficult not to like in spite of what seemed to be a studied impassiveness. Ken felt Sid was far more ruled by his emotions than he let on. Ken was less certain of Kay. There was no question but that she was beautiful, by any standards, but especially in the exotic tropical sense of Hawaii travel brochures. Later, it came as a surprise to him to find her ancestors had all been Japanese. At the moment, he decided Kay was simply reserving her judgment.

  One thing he was certain of, both Sid and Kay were protective of Laura. It gave him a good feeling to see the emotion in her colleagues. Its nice to know my first impressions of Laura are being confirmed by people whove known her for a long time, he thought.

  As Sid and Ken engaged in small talk, Laura caught Kays eye. Was it disapproval? Concern?

  It was something else, something not about Kay but about herself. A long buried memory tugged at Laura. She recalled how when she was just a child, perhaps not even yet in kindergarten, she had found a stray kitten and had brought it home. Coming into the house with the warm and purring creature in her arms, she had felt glowingly happy. Suddenly, catching the expression on her mothers face, she had then become desperately afraid she would not be allowed to keep the tiny animal.

  The worst part of the memory was she could not remember whether or not her mother had let her keep the kitten.

  Chapter 4

  Back in her office, Laura said to Ken, “I have an arraignment at two. If you want to come along, just leave your luggage here. Qual may be back from Honolulu by the time were ready, and you can meet him too.”

  While she was getting the materials together for the court appearance, Ken surveyed his surroundings. The office was a marked contrast to the one occupied by his firms attorney. Lauras included more space, but was otherwise far less opulent. The standard legal volumes lined the shelves behind her desk. The chair he sat in was large and had been made for relaxing. Instead of certificates and diplomas, the walls were adorned with small, attractive acrylics signed by what was evidently a local artist.

  When the two of them passed Leilanis desk on the way out, she looked up at them and grinned.“Craig just called. He says Qual phoned from Honolulu and wont be back until morning.”

  At first Laura was puzzled by the expression on Leilanis face, then she too broke into an answering grin.

  “Hes curious, isnt he?” she asked Leilani.

  Leilani nodded.

  “Tell him hes going to have to wait his turn for the final report,” Laura said with a laugh, and then turned to Ken. “Ever since I put in the personal, Craig has been wanting to know the latest.”

  “Its nice to know so many people are concerned about you, Laura,” Ken said, as they stepped out of the office.

  “I know,” Laura said. “You can see why I like working here so much. It took me a while to get used to it. After the impersonal atmosphere of Honolulu, it seemed people were prying into my life. Ive found out it isn't so. Instead, they're expressing genuine interest and concern.”

  Going out the outer door into the sunlight, Laura asked,“How does Napua compare to San Jose?”

  “Very favorably. Its amazing to be able to even think of walking somewhere rather than driving.” Waving a hand toward the plumeria and African flame trees lining the streets, he added, “Its also nice to be someplace where the litter is flower petals.”

  The case was handled quickly in an almost empty courtroom. Ken was startled at seeing the lovely woman who was the judge. Her coppery skin, jade-green eyes, and coal-black hair which, even though pulled severely back, complemented the beautiful face, were striking. From what Ken could see of the judges figure, it also went well with the rest of her.

  Sitting near the back of the room while waiting for her clients case to come up, Laura smiled at Ken. “I can read your mind. Ill bet youre wishing Lisa Raines was the one whod put in the personal.”

  “This island seems to be full of lovely young women,” Ken whispered, “and youre right up there with them, Laura.”

  “Thats blarney,” Laura said, “but the nicest kind of blarney.”

  Judge Raines quickly disposed of the first case, and Lauras client was next. Lisa smiled her recognition of Laura. Laura knew her client would probably assume the good will would extend to him. It did not. Lisa Raines went strictly by the book. The prosecutor had agreed to a plea of second degree burglary. Bail was set at a thousand dollars. Formal plea and sentencing was set for one week from the day.

  As they left the court, Laura said to Ken. “Now you can see why I felt so inadequate when I came back to Elima. Women like Kay and Lisa Raines looked like the models in Aloha Magazine, while I hadnt even had a haircu
t in a year.”

  “Laura, has anyone ever told you you have low self-esteem?”

  Laura grinned. “The only one who has is the psychologist I went to a few months back.”

  “What did the psychologist suggest as a cure?”

  “A personal ad.”

  “Do you think its going to work?” Kens eyes crinkled in amusement as he asked the question.

  After just a moments thought, Laura answered, “Im beginning to think it might.”

  *** Ken stopped to talk to Leilani while Laura stuffed some papers into her briefcase. He had the impression Leilani was definitely showing signs of mellowing toward him.

  “TGIF Leilani,” Laura said on the way out. “No Saturday work for me tomorrow. Ill see you on Monday.”

  On the street, Laura said,“Want to try a Lebanese restaurant?”

  “Thats fine with me. I like any kind of Middle East food. Come to think of it, I like any kind of food.”

  “Dutch.” It was an assertion, not a question.

  “Sure.”

  “OK. I need to clean up and change.”

  Ken sauntered around the front room while Laura showered and hunted through her wardrobe for something appropriate. She wondered what he would think of her reading matter, of her collection of compact discs, of the pictures on her wall. When she came back into the room, she found Ken deeply immersed in one of the books.

  “Even attorneys are concerned about ethics,” she said, seeing the title of the book, The Law and Ethics.

  Ken frowned. “You know, Laura, you being an attorney is the one thing thats been bothering me.” The frown turned into a self-deprecating smile. “I guess my experience with lawyers has been pretty bad.”

  “Look at it this way. Being a lawyer is better than being an assault-rifle manufacturer. Besides, I really dont know anything about what you do except it has something to do with mathematics, and you sit in front of a computer most of the day.”

  Ken laughed. “I'll save what I do for our after-dinner conversation. Let me assure you, I think of myself as quite harmless.” He paused before adding, “But then look at e = mc2.”

  *** Sid and Kay had long ago made it an unspoken rule to leave office problems behind when playing tennis. With the Civic Center only a short distance away from the firm, they managed to play two or three times a week. Closely matched, they generally gave each other a thorough workout on the courts. Today had been no exception. They drove home afterwards in silence, relaxed and pleasantly tired.

  It was only after dinner when both of them were outside on their lanai, with the three cats for company, when Sid brought up the subject both of them had been mulling over. “He seemed like a nice enough guy,” Sid said, as he stretched out on a lawn chair. He was watching the green flash which this evening occurred for only a fraction of a second when the topmost speck of the blood-red sun dipped into the ocean.

  Sheena had settled on Sids chest after carefully checking the area to find the most suitable location for a nap. Bluebeards head was snapping back and forth as he tried to follow the flight of a bat swinging down almost within reach. John Samuel had been worrying a gecko who had saved himself by shedding a wildly gyrating tail. Its movements had successfully diverted the older tom from the main object of his pursuit. The tiny and now tailless creature was peering down from a safe perch, watching his recent tormentor. John Samuel was looking upwards at his lost prey, his own crossed eyes making him appear even more baffled than he probably was. The confused cat was still holding the twitching appendage in his mouth, but it was clear from his expression he felt he'd been duped.

  The days trades had died down to an almost imperceptible breeze, and Kay, stretched out on her own chair, had just drained the last of her decaf. Her silent reception of Sids remark made him turn toward her.

  “Dont you agree?” The question he asked was part statement. “ He seems to be all right,” Kay said. “At least I cant see anything obviously wrong with him. Lauras the one who bothers me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think shes already smitten, and smitten badly.”

  “How could she be?” Sid sounded skeptical. “She met him only a couple of hours before she brought him by the office.”

  “I know, but I could tell by the way she looks at him that things are moving fast, maybe too fast for her.”

  Sheena shifted her position as Sid shrugged. “I guess people have fallen in love at first sight. Its supposed to work, at least some of the time.”

  “Part of the reason for her running the personals ad was so she could avoid doing just that.”

  “If youre right about her, its too late now, but if it hadnt been him, it would have probably been someone else. How many replies has she gotten so far?”

  “One hundred and twelve letters, fifty or so emails, eleven phone calls, six faxes and one telegram from Saudi Arabia by noon today. Just think what would have happened if shed sent her personal to an internet matching service. The E-mail would have clogged the offices computers.”

  “Phew. I could have lost a dozen bets.”

  “Want to make believe you made another bet and you won this one?”

  Sheena looked bewildered as she suddenly found herself sitting on a lawn chair still warm from Sids body.

  Chapter 5

  “ This is as good or better than any Middle East restaurant in Silicon Valley,” Ken announced as they finished the last of their baklava. The two of them sat back, and looked across the table at each other, Laura with her cinnamon flavored coffee, Ken with an anise flavored black tea.

  “OK. Im ready,” Laura said.

  Ken raised his eyebrows.

  “Im ready to have you tell me what you do to stay alive. Keep in mind I never got

  beyond one class in college math, and then just barely. So youll have to be patient and youll definitely have to keep it simple.” “ The easiest way to explain is to start by telling you about the company. There are four of us…equal partners. Im the software man, and Ill come back to what I do in a minute. Patrick Crosbys the hardware man. It was his invention, really just a roughly sketched-out idea at the time, but it became a basis for our company. Clayton Heinicke is the businessman. Hes the one who does marketing, or will be doing it when we get going. Hell take care of purchasing, and hell just generally manage the business. Saul Epstein is our attorney. There are so many legal complications, contracts, patent rights and other shenanigans the other three of us figured we had to have an attorney. Clayton recommended Saul.”

  Laura could detect an undercurrent of resentment at this point. “I take it Saul is one of the reasons for your current attitude about attorneys?”

  “Right you are,” Ken said with a smile. “Lets say Saul is not my favorite person. Maybe its just personality differences. From the outset, I had the feeling he was out to make a killing, and cared about nothing else. Its hard to pinpoint. Clayton probably has the same attitude, but somehow I dont resent it in him. It could be just the fact Clayton is a long time acquaintance, while Sauls a comparative stranger. Even though were all partners, we just dont see much of Saul.”

  Ken shook his head and said, “I guess it is just a matter of personality. Im not really used to someone as brash as Saul. Now, Pats like I am, so far as the company is concerned. Theres so much in the way of satisfaction from the work itself for both of us, that the money is incidental, or would be under other circumstances for Pat. Im not rich, but I have enough royalties coming in from the earlier software I created to keep me from starving. Ive even been able to pay child support out of what Im getting. Naturally, both Pat and I wouldnt mind making a bundle. Pat needs to get rich, in fact. His wife has leukemia, and the hospital bills have all but wiped him out.”

  “Leukemia!” Laura exclaimed. “How awful. Whats the prognosis?”

  “Its bad. She needs a bone marrow transplant, and they havent been able to come even close to a match. Ive never seen two people so much in love. Of course, here's an
instance where love makes matters worse. Pats suffering as much as Andrea is, and she knows it.”

  “Do they have any children?”

  “Uhuh. Thats one good thing. I guess Im really the only family man out of the four. Saul was married, back fifteen years ago, when he was just a kid. His wife took off with the baby shortly after they were married, and he hasnt heard from her since. He remarried about the time we set up the business. He has a nice wife, by the way. I must say I wonder what she saw in Saul.”

  Ken paused, then laughed. “There I go again. Im letting my personal prejudices show. Theres really no reason why Noelle shouldnt be attracted to him. As for Clayton, hes got a couple of divorces behind him. At least theyre the only ones I know of. There are no kids. He says hell never marry again. Just love „em and leave „em.”

  “Thats not your attitude, I hope,” Laura said with a smile, only half joking as she said it.

  Ken shook his head and, with an answering smile, said, “Hardly. In a way, the opposite is my problem. Clayton tells me Ive got a left brain thats nothing but computer chips, and a right brain thats a soggy, romantic blob of mush. Even back in high school, I couldnt bring myself to date a girl just on the possibility Id be able to bed her down. Maybe thats why I fell so hard when I met Ruth. She had the kind of standards I had, and seemed to appreciate my not coming on strong. Your psychologist would probably say I was love-starved by then.”

  “Tell me about Ruth.”

  “Theres really not much to tell. The personal ad right above yours described her almost perfectly. „Warm, attractive, outgoing, intelligent. The only thing missing in the ad was it didnt say what the woman wanted. Ruth wanted someone who would give her onehundred per cent of his attention. I should correct what I just said. She didnt want it. She had to have it. Well, Claytons at least half correct, and maybe my left brains dominant.