‘I remember this man. He did things for them. He wanted to be like them and they told him stories. He was in the Air Force, I think, but something happened to his eyes and he couldn’t fly any more.’
‘Do you remember his name?’
‘I’m embarrassed I don’t. He came around to the parties. He was like a hanger-on. When they ran out of beer or rum they would send him to town.’
She slowly shuffled through the stack and Raveneau saw the younger woman in the hollows of her cheeks. Her eyes were lined, her features less distinct now, but she was still beautiful.
‘Are you looking for the two younger men you talked about?’
‘I am, but I’m not seeing them. One of them was careful not to let Matt photograph him. The other one didn’t seem to care but I don’t see him either.’
‘But they both came with Krueger?’
‘That’s what I remember, but I don’t know if it’s right. I associate them with Alan. They were sort of detached though and one came by more than the other, and then the other didn’t come by at all any more. They weren’t from the island.’
‘What were their names?’
‘Hmmm… I’m terrible at names.’
‘Was Alan called AK?’
‘Only by Jim, it was a joke about a gun. It was some joke between them that went back to the war in Vietnam. They were all in that together. Thomas was the serious one. He was the most damaged by whatever he did in the war. Jim had done things too he regretted and tried different ways to make them go away.’
‘The younger men in these photos weren’t in the Vietnam War.’
She looked up at him, dark eyes studying him. ‘You’re very interested in them,’ she said. ‘Why?’
‘I’m fishing. I’m looking for connections.’
‘Where is Matt now?’
‘He lives with Casey on the ranch and calls him Uncle Casey.’
‘So he didn’t get away. I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘He’s talking about moving. He’s got a business he’s working on.’
‘Will you give him my card and ask him to call me?’
‘Yes.’
She handed Raveneau a card and went slowly through all of the photos again, this time keeping many of her thoughts to herself. When she laid the photos down Raveneau told her about the videotape.
‘Would you be willing to watch it?’
‘How long is it?’
‘A couple of minutes but very graphic.’
La Rosa touched his arm and Raveneau handed her the car keys. Ito was talking again as la Rosa returned with the laptop.
‘Everybody, except me, called him Captain or Captain Frank. He was meant to be in a uniform, but also to be barefoot. He was not afraid to be who he was. I learned a lot from him. People said, he is your father’s age. He’s too old for you, but for me it was lucky I met him. He taught me how to live without fear.’
Ito turned quiet as la Rosa booted up the laptop.
‘Will I be able to forget this video later?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Then I want to sit quiet for a few minutes.’
Raveneau and la Rosa didn’t talk. Raveneau opened the tray and laid the CD in. He turned to her and she nodded. Then with something close to happiness in recognizing an old friend she said, ‘That looks like Alan but it’s not a very good video.’
‘No, it’s not good quality, but watch the man with him and I can freeze the screen at any point.’
As Krueger was shot she bowed her head, gasped, and wept. She didn’t watch the rest and then was quiet and didn’t say anything for several minutes. La Rosa started to fold down the computer screen to shutdown the laptop. Raveneau quietly reached and stopped her. He could tell. He knew. When Ito spoke again it was without looking up.
‘I have to watch again.’
‘You see something?’
‘I think so, in how he walks.’
Both the shooter and Krueger continued toward the pylons and as she leaned toward the screen and studied the man she said, ‘His last name was Gray or something like that. Colin was his first name, Colin Gray, only I’m not sure that Gray is right. He was one of the two younger men who I think came first with Krueger.’
‘Is he the one who came around more or less?’
‘More, and you should ask the one who was in the Air Force who was also my age and whose name I can’t remember. He knew him, too.’
‘Shay.’
‘Yes, that’s right, Shay. So you really are a detective.’
She tried to smile but was too shaken.
‘How sure are you, Aolani?’
She reached and rested her hand over his. He felt the warmth of her palm as she said, ‘It’s the walk.’ She stared at the screen. ‘I am sure. That’s him.’
FIFTY-FOUR
Coe called as they rose out of Hilo on the Saddle Road. Raveneau put him on speaker phone. The reception wasn’t great, but they could hear.
‘We’ve got an agent along the highway outside the property. He’ll move in when you do. How long before you get there?’
‘At least three hours. We’ve got another stop to make.’
‘Where’s that?’
‘Bradshaw Air Base.’
‘Does he know you’re coming?’
‘His commander does and we’ve got something else. Elizabeth will tell you. She just got off the phone with the state police here.’
‘OK.’
‘Matt Frank shot and killed an intruder last year, a man who entered Casey’s house through an unlocked door at night. He was unarmed. Frank claimed the man started to attack him and he shot him in self defense. One bullet went through his palm and into his jaw. The state police believe he had his hands up, but the shooting was ruled self defense.’
‘Self defense is what you’ll get if you come into my house in the middle of the night,’ Coe said, showing a different side.
‘Point is,’ Raveneau said, ‘we don’t know about him. The agents should be aware. I’m pretty sure he debated taking a shot at me the first time I was here.’
‘I’ll get the word to them. Call when you leave the air base.’
‘You got it.’
As Raveneau ended the call he said, ‘I’m thinking there’s something wrong with this whole Glock story.’
‘Ballistics matched.’
‘Right, but did Casey know the gun was coming to us?’
‘Why would he want us to have the gun?’
‘I don’t know why; I can’t think of a reason why.’
After a quiet, la Rosa asked, ‘What are we going to do with the coconut water can?’
‘Overnight it home and ask the Feds to expedite DNA.’
‘That’s pushing it.’
‘I know.’
After a pause she changed the subject and asked, ‘Is that Bradshaw Air Base coming up on the left?’
‘Yeah, and this is the little park on the right where I was when he drove out.’
As they turned in at the gate at Bradshaw Army Air Field Raveneau did as the lieutenant colonel running the base instructed him. He showed his ID and gave his name, nothing more, and the guard didn’t ask any questions. He said, ‘Welcome to Camp Pohakuloa,’ and then directed them to the old Quonset where Shay was sequestered.
‘Where’s the air field?’ la Rosa asked, and Raveneau pointed out the airstrip.
‘That’s it?’
‘They’re not about flying here. They test artillery and do live fire exercises. That Lava Road you found for me is on the other side of the base outside the fence. It’s for tanks. He’s in this Quonset hut right up here, third one down. The lieutenant colonel said he’d be here. We’re about ten minutes late. I’m going to apologize and then show the lieutenant colonel the photo enhancement comparison the FBI did.’
When they got out of the car the air smelled of dust and the sulphureous pungent smell Raveneau associated with lava rock. Inside the Quonset hut it was cooler and dark. Somewhere further down and outside the building an air conditioning compressor hummed and vibrated. Shay was in a room alone. He sat at a chair at a table waiting with his hands resting on his thighs. He looked anxious and confused.
‘Are those the photos?’ the lieutenant colonel asked.
Raveneau handed them to him and watched him read the FBI notes and then look at the profile comparisons. When he looked up he said, ‘He was arrested yesterday shortly after we talked. He’s had no communication with anyone since but seven phone calls this morning.’