Chapter 15

15

As the day of the Christmas charity event arrived, excitement buzzed through Ohia—but the Queen’s Ornament had not yet shown up.

When I got off work that last afternoon before the holidays began, giving me four days off in a row, my shoulders were tight with tiredness from how hectic the day had been. So many cards, packages, and good vibes had passed through my hands that day—but it had taken the starch out of my collar, as Aunt Fae would say.

I glanced over at Opal and Artie’s to see that the general store was festooned in lights and decorations, a process that became more elaborate each day as the month unfolded. Artie sat on the porch in his favorite chair, playing carols on his guitar as Opal dispensed free eggnog and punch from a table beside the door. Today was a Christmas Eve that was only going to get more exciting as we went to the community center in New Ohia State Park for the auction event and party.

Somehow, I had to dig deep and get more energy, because I was the auctioneer—a role I didn’t look forward to any more now than when Aunt Fae had assigned it to me.

Pua had already gone home to feed her dog Sassy and change for tonight’s event as I locked the post office’s glass exterior doors and folded up the newly created educational exhibit showcasing the Queen’s Ornament. Elle and I had crafted the exhibit on a big piece of folding foam core board. Pua and I had directed postal customers to check it out as they came and went.

The display showcased photos from the era of the overthrow, a picture of Queen Lili?uokalani with her two favorite guardsmen, ancestors of the Pahinui and Namolo families, along with archival pictures of the ornament. At the bottom, a large, printed statement, signed by Artie Pahinui, declared his intention to donate the ornament to the Bishop Museum in accordance with the Queen’s wishes. Surprisingly, this statement was also signed by Malcolm Namolo, who’d readily agreed to this compromise on behalf of his family. In smaller script, off to the side, was Leilani Akana’s signature as director of the Hana History Museum. I’d obtained it in person the day after my conversation with her. Upon reviewing the documents Dr. Hale had unearthed, she too agreed that the Bishop was the right place for the precious artifact.

Up at the top of the display was a golden hook where the conspicuously missing ornament was intended to hang.

As I folded the display up to take to the event, I suppressed a shiver of apprehension.

How would it look to have the centerpiece of the event sitting there empty?

“The night is young,” I said aloud, tucking the folded board under my arm. “We’ve done the best we could to find the ornament and set things up. Now we just have to trust.”

Tiki, sitting outside on the top step of the post office, let out a loud meow to let me know she heard me talking aloud, and of course assumed I was addressing her.

I exited the back door, and there my cat was, winding herself around my ankles to greet me. “You must have known I’m a little worried that ornament hasn’t turned up yet,” I told her. “I was so sure someone would have turned it in by now.” Tiki rubbed her head against my black pants, sprinkling them with orange and white hairs.

I didn’t mind because I knew she wanted to reassure me I was still loved even if I’d failed as a private eye in this case.

“Thanks, Tiki.” I scratched behind her remaining ear. “Now let’s go up to the community center and put this up, then home to get ready for the auction. I can’t wait to get up in front of everyone to see if I can get them to outbid each other.”

Tiki hummed a loud purr and whacked me with her kinked tail.

“Very reassuring,” I said, and we set off for home on foot.

Stretching my legs as I pep-stepped past the artificial waterfall to the community center, I began to get some energy back. Even if the ornament remained lost, we could still have a fun event and raise some money for the new community room.

The former exercise space where the auction would be held was transformed into a wonderland of lights, decorations, and tables, where Elle and Aunt Fae were setting up the silent and regular auction items.

Outside on the concrete skirt around the pool, tables for a buffet dinner and a small stage for the music and dancing were also being assembled by volunteers. The place was a beehive of activity.

Aunt Fae beamed as she greeted me with a hug. “With all that’s been going on this week I’ve hardly seen you.”

“I know. But you’re going to see plenty of me when I’m up there.” I pointed to the small, raised dais and lectern with a gavel Elle had set up for my auctioneer duties. “Now, where do you and Elle want this display?”

“Right here.” Elle pointed to a table beside the dais. “That’s where each item will be placed while it’s being bid on. The Queen’s Ornament display will be open behind them. Before and after the bidding, you can tell everyone about it.”

I walked over and opened the display. “Only, so far, the ornament has not been returned. I’m getting worried. The clock is ticking.”

“You have to have faith,” Aunt Fae said. “Now, we’re all set up here. Let’s get home and shower and change. It’s going to be a long, fun evening.”

“But let’s leave the display outside,” Elle said. “On the stage. That way, if the person who took it comes back to return it, they can do so without being obvious.”

I moved the display board out to the stage and set it up where no one coming into the area could miss it. Aunt Fae and Elle put finishing touches on the auction area and locked up the former gym room. The three of us walked up the road toward our houses.

“I sure hope this works,” I said glumly. “I feel like a failure for not finding who took the ornament. I have suspicions who might have done it, but not enough to accuse anyone.”

“Faith! Remember?” Aunt Fae said. “You solved the mystery of the ownership of the ornament and where its future should be. Maybe even healed an old feud between two families. If you’re wrong about why the ornament was taken, whoever did it is going to feel mighty guilty.”

“People are basically good,” Elle said as we walked up the gently curving road toward our brightly lighted homes. “Sometimes you have to take a chance and hope for the best.”

“What choice do we have?” I said grumpily.

Elle and Aunt Fae elbowed me, one from each side, and I had to chuckle at that.

A couple of hours later, after the sunset had faded and left an indigo belt of stars over our beloved little town, Aunt Fae and I walked back down to the clubhouse area. I spotted early attenders: my favorite Red Hat ladies Edith, Josie, Clara, and Pearl were clustered around the punch bowl. Each of their fancy holiday hats was a sight to see: Edith’s witch-style topper was wreathed in tiny lights, Josie’s dyed coconut frond hat had new bobble trim, Clara’s was a brilliant silk turban, and Pearl’s geisha-style headpiece was a wonder of crystals, dangles, and enamelwork.

The band was tuning up their Christmas carols as we approached. I smoothed down my little black satin dress with the hidden gun pocket, the same outfit I’d worn to a hundred state events in Washington, D.C. during my years as a Secret Service agent. I’d left the gun locked up at home, but donned a lei of tiny sparkle lights to festive-ize the outfit.

Aunt Fae, on the other hand, had gone all-in with a holiday look, wearing her new favorite ugly sweater. This one had a Menehune in a Santa hat on it. Decorating his little round belly was a flashing light where his ‘ piko ’ or bellybutton, would be, and his wide grin was accented with sparkling white rhinestones.

“I’m so hoping the thief has done the right thing,” I said as we approached the clubhouse. My heart was pounding so that I pressed a hand over it. “I’m afraid to look.”

“I’ll check the display,” Aunt Fae said, and trotted forward, her red cowboy hat aglitter in the bright lights around the pool.

I paused to calm myself beside the building until Aunt Fae returned, her expression downcast. “Nope. The hook on the display is empty.”

“Darn it.” We both went around the corner. Aunt Fae unlocked the gym room with all the auction items inside, hollering a greeting to the band and the Red Hat ladies.

I was trained to notice objects out of place, and as I stepped through the glass slider, I spotted a cardboard tissue box on the ground.

My pulse picked up once more. Could the Queen’s Ornament be hidden in that humble box?