Maui Madness (Zoe Donovan Mysteries Book 7) Read Online Free Page B

extinguished, was back in my best friend’s eyes. We’d purchased a freshly baked baguette at the market that we’d never served, so I sliced it up and arranged it artfully on a plate with locally made cheese. I poured tea into a tall pitcher with ice and then brought everything out to the table on the patio, where we could dine with an unobstructed ocean view.
    “ Malie’s work is so interesting.” Ellie grinned. “She gets to work outdoors in this beautiful setting every day.”
    “Have you lived on the island your entire life?” I asked.
    “Born and raised. As was my father and grandfather and his father before him.”
    “I love my mountain , but it really is beautiful here,” I admitted. “So what exactly does your organization do?”
    “ Hawaii is home to a number of environmentally sensitive species, including humpback whales, monk seals, sea turtles, and dolphins. Our group participates in the health of our ecological system by educating people, monitoring endangered species, and organizing coastal cleanup projects, among other things. Most of our members are volunteers, and my job is to recruit and organize the volunteers for our area.”
    “ Malie is having a small group meeting tomorrow. She invited me to attend,” Ellie informed me. “I was hoping we could have the meeting here so I could keep Charlie company while you and the guys are at the luau.”
    “It’s a small group of people, all residents and all very responsible,” Malie assured me. “There will be between six and eight of us at the most. We’d planned to have the meeting at my apartment, but the view from this patio is much more inspiring.”
    “I don’t see why that would be a problem,” I answered. “I’d love to attend myself , but I promised Keoke I’d attend the luau, and he’s been so great to us.”
    “Keoke is a generous sponsor of our organization,” Malie informed me. “He gives not only of his time but of his money. We are very lucky to have his support. His cousin Pono is also a valued volunteer as well as my best friend. He will be attending the luau tomorrow and so will miss our meeting, but I promised to fill him in. Be sure to introduce yourself. Pono gets involved in the political side of what we do, so he has a tendency to lecture anyone who will listen, but under the gruff exterior is a man with a heart of gold.”
    “I understand that tomorrow’s celebration is in honor of Pono’s sister and her new fiancé,” I said.
    Malie frowned before answering. “Leia has become engaged to a developer who moved to the Islands a few years ago. I’m afraid that Pono and Anton don’t really get along.”
    “Really? That must be difficult for Leia.”
    “I suppose.”
    I couldn’t help but notice the guarded look that came across Malie’s face.
    “Personality conflict?” I prodded. I realize the issue of Anton and Pono’s relationship was really none of my business, but you know me; I like to dig around in everyone’s relationships. Perhaps that’s because it keeps me from having time to look too closely into my own.
    “ Anton is a nice enough man, but he doesn’t fully understand the fragile environment in which we live, or the long-range damage that can be inflicted if sensitive land is disturbed,” Malie answered, although her comment seemed canned. “I understand that environmentalists and developers must learn to coexist, so I make every effort to provide education and guidance where I can, but Pono is more apt to fly off the handle and organize a sit-in or vandalize building sites if he believes our wildlife is being threatened. Pono and Anton have butted heads on more than one occasion, most recently when Pono convinced a judge to issue an injunction preventing Anton from breaking ground on the new resort he is trying to build on the south shore. Anton is appealing the decision, but for now, I guess it’s causing him quite a large headache because he’s taken on some pretty big investors