The End, and beyond

Officer Quinn Ah Sun and Detective Sherlock Gomes, on the fallen Lu Wi like hungry dogs on red meat, had him cuffed within seconds of the moment he hit the ground.

Note to readers Thus ends Lama on the Lam, which began Feb. 2. On Monday we begin the fifth book in the My Kind of Town Series, Tubers. Preview: 'Tubers' involves the mystery of Kamehameha the Great's final resting place, a money mad developer, a ruthless artifact collector, a beautiful scientist and the creatures who live in the lava tubes that run between islands.

The FBI guys arrived and took away the last of the Te-Wu operatives in Honolulu. Others would come, to continue spying on Hawaii's military bases and trying to steal research secrets from local business and universities. But for now, the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa and the newest living Buddha, Elizabeth Resurreccion, were safe.

Su Lik could only shake her head as they led her former lover away. "I told you!" she shouted to him in Mandarin. "You should be free, like me! With me! You let Communists make you blind and numb your heart!"

Then, in English, she slipped a hand inside Kona Weathers' arm and whispered, "I no like miss my Kona days."

What a good day this was turning out to be, the Chaminade student thought. Help prevent a murder and arrest a spy, get the beautiful girl, all before lunch. She kissed his cheek.

Lu Wi bowed his head, knowing he'd screwed up just about every way possible.

Then they all went inside for a sumptuous vegetarian meal Lily Ah Sun prepared and later, as Lily had promised, the lama and anyone else who brought a swimsuit jumped in the pool -- including his elderly mentors, Rinpoche Rimshot and the monk Lawang. First time for everything.

Later, the extended family sat down and it was decided that Elizabeth would go with Lama Jey back to the Himalayas of India, where she would enter a monastery founded by the woman she was reincarnating, Sam-yung Kunzang Dechen, and study the way of Cho. Bodhicita would join her. Lama Jey would be at the monastery nearby.

At first Rosalita wanted to accompany her daughter, but Lily pointed out that Lama Jey had left home at 3, and he turned out pretty good. Besides, this would give Rosalita a chance to go to college and earn the nursing degree she dreamed of. Lily offered to pay for everything, in exchange for Rosalita continuing to clean and cook. They'd need the help, Lily said, "since I'm pregnant."

"What?!" Quinn blurted. "Omigod! A baby?! Lil, I love you!"

Lastly, the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa would grow in wisdom and grace, travel the world and inspire thousands to seek their own Buddhahood and the way of peace.