Chapter 41: Kent stared at the DLNR agent, stone-faced, as the man staggered out of the trees, dripping sweat. “What kind of interagency cooperation is this, Detective? You trying to ditch me?”

“We had to follow the dogs at the pace they set,” Kent said.

Mahuiki gestured to the garden, the empty hut. “But our witness isn’t here.”

“Fine. She doesn’t need to be,” Bill Chin said, stalking across the clearing. “Our agency has jurisdiction over any squatter dwellings. Even on private land, if it’s co-managed by the county, as Waimalia is. I’m going inside. I’ll gather evidence regarding this unauthorized development.”

Chin reached the front door and flipped up the simple latch that held it closed, stepping inside.

Kent and Mahuiki followed more slowly, and Kent held up his phone. No Service. If only there were more signal, Kent would’ve called the district attorney and double checked if any evidence found in such a search was admissible. He’d err on the side of collecting anything likely.

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