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My Kind of Town

by Don Chapman

Thursday, October 4, 2001


The gambler

>> Queen's Medical Center

Sheets Ah Sun didn't know when, didn't know how, but his daughter Lily had been reunited with her cousin Quinn, son of Sheets' brother Mits. The brothers' families had not spoken in 21 years, since shortly after that fateful night in Waimanalo. And now Lily was angrily threatening to find out why they'd quit speaking. That would be bad for everyone, especially for Sheets. He could only shake his head, sitting there at the foot of his son Lance's bed in the ICU.

After 28 years of marriage his wife Grace, sitting beside Lance's bed, knew what Sheets was thinking. She was thinking the same thing. Grace didn't know all the details, of course. She hadn't been there that night. But she did know that after what happened to her most men would have abandoned her, probably blaming her. Instead, Sheets married her and when the opportunity arose avenged her honor.

Grace also knew that afterward Sheets and his brother Mits the cop decided it was best for all concerned if they never saw one another again. It was tough on the brothers, who before that had been practically inseparable. So were their families. Lily and Quinn, born just one month apart, had been raised almost as brother and sister until they were six. The one time Grace had asked about what had happened that night, Sheets cut her off, said it was better that she didn't know. For Grace, it was enough to know that her problem disappeared and that Sheets truly loved her. She would always be grateful.

What Grace didn't know is that something was bothering her husband even more than Lily's threat to find out why the brothers Ah Sun had quit speaking.

>> Royal Hawaiian Hotel

What a small world, Lt. Col. Chuck Ryan thought as Lily Ah Sun, her maid and the maid's daughter were seated several tables away from his at the Mai Tai Bar. They'd never met until today and he'd seen her twice, first while working out at the Honolulu Iron Works, and now here at the Royal Hawaiian.

On top of that, the maid Rosalita Resurreccion had the same last name as the guy Ryan's people were following. They'd have to keep an eye on Lily's home -- whenever Lily returned there. Lily said there'd been a problem, and the bandages on Rosalita's face bore that out.

Ryan was pondering what that problem was when he saw another familiar face -- one he'd seen in a packet of photos passed to him by a fellow agent minutes ago at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center -- approaching the bar, pushing a cart. Ryan turned away. Other people were watching Rey.




Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com



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