My Kind of Town
>>Cartwright Field Siren song
The ambulance from Queen's shrieked down Lusitana; HFD's rescue truck wailed back from Keeaumoku. The harmony of a disharmonious moment.
But HPD solo bike Officer Quinn Ah Sun couldn't hear anything coming from inside the tinted-window Town Car that was overturned on the first base line. He keyed his helmet microphone: "Solo 27, ambulance and Jaws are on the scene. Since this is the senator's car, it's also potentially a state deal. Better alert the Sheriff's Department."
The relationship between Honolulu's two rival law enforcement agencies is not always so convivial. But Quinn played by the first rule of survival as a public servant: Cover your okole.
The ambulance crew prepared for the worst while the Jaws of Life went to work on the senator's supine Town Car like it was a can of tuna.
>>Honolulu Soap Co.
Lily's office phone rang with a single tone -- an inter-office call.
"Oh, Lily, I'm glad you're in." Her father. "If you have a couple of minutes to talk ..."
"Of course."
"I'll be right there."
"Wonderful!" Lily said.
But she wasn't at all sure that it would be. In her heart, which was now revving with a fuel-injected mix of adrenaline, hope and dread, she believed she was most qualified to assume control of the Honolulu Soap Company now that her father was talking retirement. She had proved that she knew business from the way she built up Ola Essences. She was the best thing for the parent company too.
Yes, her brother Laird was about to graduate from Stanford Business. Yes, one day he is going to be a businessman. But right now all he knows is books and theories. He doesn't know about the real world. But I do. I've been a business woman for years. And have you checked the bottom line lately?
>>Eden Off Kuhio
"But I hate politics," Lance Ah Sun said, pouting. "All I want to do is live my life, with you."
Greg had to smile. "Lance, if it wasn't for politics, there would be no gay rights of any kind. Politics makes our life together possible."
Lance frowned.
"We need bodies there, Lance. The hate crimes bill is coming up for a final vote at the Capitol. We need to show strength. Please come to the demonstration. Sweetheart, stand with me on this!"
Lance had never felt so torn in his life.
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com