"I don't believe my grandfather died of an accident." "I think he was killed." "Don't do this terrible thing." "I am on a case." " If you don't mind..." " But I do mind." "Someone tried to kill Jonathan Higgins after he talked to you about Sand island." " Someone was trying to kill you." " Me?" " trouble with a capital T." " Ice Pick?" "You got it." " I wouldn't like to meet you in a dark alley." " Don't be too sure." "Come on, come on, move it!" "welcome to Sand island." "We are your friends." "When is the blackout?" "There is none on Sand island." "If there is another air raid," "I don't think they'd mind if the camp was bombed." "These guards are so young, Goto." "They're civilians who replaced the army, so the soldiers could leave for combat." "Knock it off in there!" "I have to go to the toilet." "It is allowed, but..." "but you must be careful, Enoka." "Come." "I'II show you." "AII right." "Tenhut." "What are you doing?" "I said tenhut." "please, I meant no harm." "No harm, huh?" "No harm?" "I had two brothers." "I lost them both at pearl." "I'm not responsible for their deaths." "Maybe I'm not responsible for keeping you alive!" "Mr. Nakamura!" "Mr. Nakamura!" "Thank you, Audrey." "Nice to meet you, Mr. Higgins." " My pleasure, Doctor." " please." "You want to do an interview?" "Nothing so formal." "I was hoping to ask you about your experience..." "The fact that I have not held public office before in no way affects my ability to deal with the issues confronting our state." "actually, I'd hoped to discuss your experiences during the war." "I'm afraid I don't understand." "I'm researching a novel for Robin Masters based upon the Japanese experience in Hawaii during the war." "An article in this morning's paper mentioned you had spent some time on Sand island." "It was a Iong time ago, Mr. Higgins." "The war and Sand island are far behind us." "I realize that, but..." "Mr. Higgins, I prefer to look to the future because that is where our people will live." "If you'II excuse me, I've got a very hectic schedule." "I understand you're busy, Doctor." "Perhaps you know of other internees..." "Mr. Higgins, those of us unfortunate enough to be interned knew little of what was happening around us and wish to remember even less." "I have lost touch with anyone from Sand island." "I see." "Thank you taking the time to talk with me." "I'm running for public office." " I must always have the time." " Goodbye." "ReIiving old campaigns, Higgins?" "actually, no." "Mr. Masters asked me to do some research on his next novel, some of which is set in Hawaii during world War II." "It's already been written." "From Here To Eternity covers it." "Not the experiences of the Japanese who were interned here." " Do you know where my car keys are?" " Of course." " Where are they?" " None of your business." "Higgins, why did you take them?" "We have a deal." "I get unlimited use of the Ferrari." " And limited use of the wine cellar." " The wine cellar?" "I found two empty bottles of a very decent Château de Roi Bordeaux '57 in your rubbish." " You went through my garbage?" " The discovery was accidental." "But I find it offensive that you used them to wash down an order from something called Macho Taco." "Don't do this terrible thing." "I am on a case." "Now, if you don't mind..." "But I do mind." "Very much." "The very thought of a Château de Roi anywhere near a Macho Taco..." "civilized people must set some standards." "ultimately, it's all we've got." "Higgins, what am I supposed to drive?" " Anything but the Ferrari." " Oh." "Oh, I get it." "You're taking the car for yourself." "Are you sure you can handle it, old stick?" " It takes a strong arm..." " Magnum." "I have driven everything from rickshaws to RoIIs-Royces." "And I had been behind the wheel of dozens of high-performance sports cars" "long before you were a mere twinkle, thank you." "Thank you." "Oh, just for the record, Higgins," "I would never drink a Bordeaux with a Macho Taco." "It was a Burrito Machismo." "Fun's fun, but I was on a case, checking out the prospective son-in-law of one J. Rickley Schneider, one of the wealthiest men on the island." "He wanted to be real sure as to what was marrying into his family." "Makes sense." "The kid was into growing things, probably something innocent." "But, on the other hand, if it was so innocent, how come his van had more security than Robin's wine cellar?" "The lock on the back was an Oppenheimer Regal Tri-Bolt, the kind of thing you'd expect to find on the gates at Fort Knox." "There's a handful of locksmiths and B and E guys who can finesse an Oppie." "And a decent private investigator here and there." " Magnum." " Higgins." "I know what you're thinking." "You couldn't possibly know what I'm thinking or you wouldn't have the nerve to come back here." "You know, Magnum, in various parts of the middle East they commonly hack off the hands of thieves." "Hey, come on, Higgins." "Higgins." "Higgins?" "An hour later, I came out of the closet and Higgins, and his scimitar, were gone." "With the Ferrari." "I hoped the sergeant major enjoyed his little Sunday drive." "Shh!" "would you mind?" "I've got to go find a vase." "colonel Wentworth?" "Is that you, colonel?" "Higgins, it's me, Magnum." "The radio's gone, sir." "The last mortar barrage knocked it out." "I've strung the lads out on the perimeter." "I'II be joining them, of course." "No, I insist, sir." "They're my boys." "I want to be with them to the end..." "Magnum." "I say, what are you doing here?" "Higgins, are you all right?" "Of course." "More importantly, how are things at the estate?" " No problems, I trust." " No." "No." "Just a little hassle with the insurance company." " hassle?" " They canceled the policy after your accident." " That was no accident." " I warned you about driving that car." "I couId drive that vehicle through the Khyber Pass blindfolded." " The bloody brakes went." " The brakes?" "I'm holding you responsible." " If you'd had it serviced..." " It was serviced last month!" "Topping off the tank and wiping the windscreen isn't what I had in mind." "Higgins, are you all right?" "It's my back." "I gave it a bloody good wrenching." " They can get you something for the pain." " Never." "Perhaps some water." "flowers?" "Magnum, you didn't?" "well, actually, no." "The..." "I don't believe I've ever received flowers before." "It's really very decent." "Magnum, is it possible that I've misjudged you?" "failed to look beyond the coarse, primitive facade to see your truer essence?" "Coarse, primitive facade?" "After all, you did pick the Château de Roi." "excellent choice." "Though I'd have recommended the Lafitte St. Jacques '62." "When I get back to the estate, you must allow me..." "Wrong room." "They're for Miss wells in 204." "The patient has been tampered with, Thomas." " The patient?" " That is my first impression." " You're sure?" " I couId be wrong." "But that happens so rarely it is only a distant possibility." "I will know more after I've had a chance to give her a thorough physical examination." " physical examination?" " You leave her with me." "I will know for certain in a couple of days." "Go on, go on." "She'II be fine." "Trust me." "If Victor was right about never being wrong, someone was trying to kill whoever was driving the car." "Normally, I'd say they were after me." "Then I noticed the article on Enoka." "Higgins had circled the bit about his stint at Sand Island and that rang a bell." "I couldn't figure out why." "Then I remembered the jelly." " Canyon Hospital." " Room 416, please." " Hello." " Higgins, it's me." "Something's gone terribly wrong at the estate, I can sense it." " Everything's fine at the estate." " It is?" "Yeah." "I've been sitting at your desk..." "What?" "If you so much as touch one item..." "I wouldn't think of it." "Listen, what do you know about Kirin Nakamura?" "Nakamura?" "I don't know anyone with that name." " What are you doing?" " Nothing." "Nakamura died at Sand island." "You've been rummaging through my research material." "You're drinking my French Cognac, aren't you?" "I wouldn't even dream of drinking it." "What about Richard Enoka?" "I spoke to Dr. Enoka this morning." " Did you ask about Sand island?" " As a matter of fact, I did." "You're eating at my desk." "I can hear you." "No, I am not eating." "What did he tell you about Sand island?" "Nothing at all." "WouIdn't discuss it." "Are you smoking one of my handmade Canary island cigars?" " Thanks, Higgins." " Magnum..." "In the islands, everything and everyone has some kind of history." "40 years had passed since Kirin Nakamura died, but I wondered if that accident had something to do with the one which almost killed Higgins." "However, Higgins wasn't paying me, while J. Rickley Schneider was." "It's tough, choosing between friends and money, and with luck, I figured I wouldn't have to." " You've got to be kidding." " It's just a couple of days, T.C." "You won't have to use the chopper, I promise." "Oh, good, that makes me feel a Iot better." " We'II work out something fair." " Fair?" "hello." "island Hoppers." "could you hold, please?" "It ain't gonna sound no better talking it to death." "If you don't mind, I have a business to run." "OK, we'II split the commission, 50-50." "80-20." "What?" "That is low, T.C. really low." "Take it or leave it, Thomas." "70-30." "After expenses?" "Uh, hello." "No, we're still shut down." "The parts will be in next week." "would you call back then?" "Thank you very much." " Mr. Magnum?" " Yes." "Nancy Nakamura." "I'm glad you could come." "Thanks." "You don't look much like a research assistant." "In fact, you don't look anything like one." " Sorry." " Don't be." "My dad's in the backyard." "He spends all his free time working on his bonsai." "He says it helps quiet his mind." "The other school of thought is it helps turn it off." "Dad, Mr. Magnum is here." "The man who phoned about Sand island." "About Grandfather." "You know anything about bonsai?" "No, not really." "In nature, the trees or plants that work hardest for survival reflect that struggle in its diminutive size and twisted shape." "To the Western eye, that appearance may be unpleasant." "But to us, the signs of that will to live is considered the most beautiful." "Dad, I don't think Mr. Magnum came to discuss some ancient art that doesn't have anything to do with what happened 40 years ago to your father." "That's quite enough." "I've read all the accounts of your father's death at Sand island, including the army inquiry and newspapers." " They reported it as an accident." " It wasn't an accident." "You know as well as I do, newspapers don't tell the truth." "Not all of it." " Just like some people..." " Nancy." "It's true." "You listen to people like Richard Enoka, you wouldn't know Sand island existed, and he was there." " Did he know your grandfather?" " Yes." "No." "Mr. Magnum, many people suffered during their internment." "Some died." "Those of us who survived are not unlike the bonsai." "We wear our suffering as a reminder." "To talk about it is unnecessary and painful." "Someone has to." "Or what's to prevent it from happening again?" "Nancy, this does not involve you." "My daughter should not have encouraged you to come." "I am sorry." "Oh, he is so wrong!" "I mean, he's my father and I Iove him, but..." "He's like so many people his age." "They wanna forget." " And you don't?" " Not for a second." "I don't believe my grandfather died of an accident." "I think he was killed." "I'm not willing to forget it." "Why are you so concerned about my grandfather?" "My friend was almost killed, and it had to do with what happened on Sand island." " I was hoping your father could help me." " I don't think so." "But there is a man, Saichi Goto, he was there." " He remembers." " I'd Iike to talk to him." "Domo arigato." "I can't eat the stuff." "Let me." "I don't think I'd Iike to meet you in a dark alley." "Goto thinks I should act more like a traditional Japanese woman." "Don't you?" "Goto... the night Kirin Nakamura died, did you see anything out of the ordinary?" "Everything at Sand island was out of the ordinary, Mr. Magnum." "Did you see the accident?" "It was dark." "We could not see too well." "We?" "There were others with you?" "What about the guards?" "Thank you, Goto." "Perhaps we can talk again sometime." "But, Thomas..." "Why did you stop?" "He was covering something." "He won't say anything with you there." "That's ridiculous!" " I've known him all my Iife." " exactly." "You just stay here." "You're treating me just like Goto." "Not exactly." "There's a little more, isn't there?" " It is difficult." " I know." "There were two guards." "They beat Kirin Nakamura and left him to die." "What do you remember about them?" "The sergeant I remember best." "He was bigger than the others, with light blue eyes." "And he held his club in this hand." " Do you remember a name?" " Sorenson." " No first name?" " I heard only Sorenson." "His eyes were cruel and cold." "I have never forgotten him and the others, or Kirin Nakamura." "I've given it a good deal of thought." "I think it only fair that you be held accountable for the cost of restoring the car." " The accident wasn't your fault." " You're bloody right." "Or mine." "Victor said somebody tampered with the brakes." "What?" "well, it's obvious, I suppose." "One of the criminal elements on this island has taken exception to you sticking your nose into their nefarious affairs." "actually, Higgins, I think somebody was trying to kill you." "Me?" " Me?" " Yes, you." "The morning you met with Enoka, did you go anywhere else?" "My God, Magnum, you sound like Perry Mason." "Come on, Higgins!" "If you must know, the lads and I took a turn by the ASCC show." "ASCC show?" "The AngIo-Saxon Canine Corps had their semi-annuaI competition." "I thought the lads might enjoy it." "Then I dropped them at the estate and went to see Enoka." " Just him?" " Yes." "What are you up to?" "I say, Magnum!" "Does the name Sorenson mean..." "Higgins!" "Oh... my..." "God!" "Higgins!" "They're off and runningl The field away to a beautiful start." "Attaboy!" "Let him go!" "Give him his head!" "This is heavy." "This kid has grown enough stuff to supply half of beverly hills!" "What's his name?" "My horse is going to the front!" "Go!" "Denny Jensen." "I've been on his tail for 24 hours." "This boy is buying gardening supplies like they're going out of style." "sprinklers, fertilizers, soil additives." "You name it, this kid is buying it." " Maybe he's into organic gardening." " Gardening, sure." "I dunno how organic." "Watch the seven horse!" "The seven..." "You..." "Dummy." "Piece of cake." "Hah!" " 80%/%." " 80%/%!" "If this guy's growing, he's probably selling." " I say we call the cops." " Uh-uh." "Not yet." "I don't want to set him up if he's innocent." "75%/%?" "OK." "But you are keeping a log?" "You can do it." "Come on!" "He's either driving all over the island at 90 miles an hour or hanging out at the Harbor Inn." "I won 20 bucks off him shooting eight-baII." " Shooting eight-baII?" " It's part of my cover." "Some cover." "playing pool and drinking beer." "I knew this P. I. stuff was a scam." "He's gonna make it, he's going all the way!" "Go, go, go!" " Oops, I gotta split." " The Harbor Inn isn't open yet." "The kid has lunch at the polynesian Paradise." "PoIynesian Paradise?" "Oh, don't worry, T. M. I have receipts for everything." "Dominic's Dream breaks downl" "The jockey's pulling him up." "He is out of it." "Hey, T.C..." "This place is expensive!" "What happened?" "The bum broke his leg." "If Ice Pick calls, tell him I moved to New Jersey." "Rick, I couId use some help." "Sure." "You and T.C. can do that P. I. stuff, anybody can do it." "Great." "I need you to help me find this guy, Sorenson." "I think he's between 55 and 60." "probably six feet tall." "Maybe even has gray hair." "He was in the Navy in honolulu during world War II." "Good." "There aren't too many of those guys around." " You got a picture?" " No." " You know what he does?" " No." "When was the Iast time anybody saw him?" "About 40 years ago." " Do you know anything about this guy?" " Um, he's Ieft-handed." "plays golf out in HanaIoa." "hell of a duffer." "First name is Fred." "Mr. Sorenson to the first tee, please." "Mr. Sorenson, tee-off in five minutes." " You're a guest of Robin Masters?" " Yep." "Gave him a lesson." "Had a hook that could have knocked out Jack Dempsey." "Sorenson." "would that be Fred Sorenson?" "Sure is." "plays here nearly every day." "I'II be darned." "I played at SpygIass with him last year." "The Pro-Am, huh?" "Yeah." "I'd love to give him a chance to win back that grand that I took from him." "could you pair me off with him?" "Uh, as a matter of fact, he's looking for a partner." "It's kind of slow today." "That's great." "I'm gonna tell Robin how helpful you've been." "Mr. Magnum." "Your green fees." "My green fees?" "Right." "My green fees." "That's $45." " There you go." " Mr. Magnum." "It's $22.50 for the cart." "I Iove to walk." "Fred." "Thomas Magnum." "Looks like we're playing together." "Are we?" "The pro said you needed a partner." "You mind?" "No." "You play much?" "No." "well, I used to, but then business picked up." "I conduct all my business out here." "That's some life." "What line of business?" "Import-export mostly." "Some real estate investment." "Somehow I figured you for a Navy." "Navy?" "No way." "closest I came to the military was the civilian guard during the war." " Go ahead." " Oh, thank you." "Southpaw, huh?" "Must be difficult finding decent clubs." "No." "Not at all." "Been a while." "MuIIigans?" "Yeah, baby." "Dinner at your place at eight." "Hey, that..." "Oh." "I can't make it." "I'm working this really big, important case." "I'II have to take a rain check." "No rain check?" "Oh, baby, come on." "Look..." "T.C., T.C." "would you hold the phone for just a minute?" " I need your help." " What are you doing bothering me?" "I'm running a business here." "I'm in trouble." "please?" "Keep it away from me." "I got enough of it for myself." " I'm talkin' trouble with a capital T." " And that rhymes with P and..." "Ice Pick?" "You got it." "You know the horse race?" "I need cash quick or I'm gonna be pushing coconuts up in Maui." "Oh, wow." "OK, how much?" " Two big ones." " Two big ones." "No, no, no." "Big ones." "Uh, maybe we can work out something." " Baby, hang on for just a minute." " What are we gonna work out?" "You know that kid I've been tailing?" "Denny Jenkins." " He's going to a rock concert." " I'II do it." "Are you sure now?" "Those kids are crazy." "What they call dancing, we used to do behind the gym." "I'II do it." "I can't pay you cash." "I'II cut you in on the action between me and Thomas." "I gotta have the cash." "I need it right away." "OK, forget it." "AII right, all right." "I'II do it." "OK." "I'II cut you in for 20%/% of my 75%/%." " 75 of the 75." " 30." " 60." " 40." "50." " AII right, I'II split the difference with you." " You got it." "When do I get the money?" "T. M. says it's in the mail." "Forget the mail." "I've gotta have your guarantee that I get it." " OK, you got it." " Thanks." "Here." "Get to work." "hello, baby." "Yes, dinner at your place at eight." "hello?" "hello?" "Sorenson had beaten me so badly that he invited me back the next day." "Except this time I thought I'd bring my own gallery." "We were 40 years from Sand Island but I knew it was as recent as yesterday for men like Goto." "There." "That's him." "Which one, Mr. Magnum?" "You wait here, I'II go talk to him." " Was it him?" " Yes." "I've been waiting for you." "It's the only gun I own." "I use it for target shooting and Sorenson wasn't the target." "He wasn't killed with this anyway." "He was shot from long range." "You'd have to be pretty damn good to hit him with this." "How did you find out about Sorenson?" "I've been following you." "You can't get rid of me that easily." "I went to Goto with his name." "He finally told me how my grandfather died." "And you followed us again today." "With the gun." "Hoping to find the courage to kill him myself." "But it's one thing to want to and another thing to pull the trigger." "As it turns out, I didn't have to decide." " Did you see anything?" " No more than you." "One minute he was getting into his car, the next he was dead." "It's strange." "I thought I'd feel elated or something." "Instead, I just feel numb." "Does that make any sense?" "It makes no sense at all." "Sorenson and Enoka?" "Sorenson's thrown some lucrative business deals Enoka's way." "And contributed bucks to his election campaign." "Strange partners." "Prisoner and his guard." "And Sorenson has an axe to grind with the Japanese." "He lost two brothers at pearl." "What could two guys like this have in common?" "Two minutes, then I call my lawyer." "Go ahead." "call him." "I'd be happy to give a deposition." "You're working for the opposition." "It's a political dirty trick." "Murder and blackmail go way beyond political tricks." "What's your lawyer's number?" "Look, it's all over." "Sorenson's now dead." "Kirin Nakamura is long dead." "And so is Sand island." "Perhaps we should let them all rest in peace." "Besides, of what importance is this now, particularly to you?" "Someone tried to kill Jonathan Higgins after he talked to you about Sand island." "Someone?" "Or me?" "You're about the only one left." "Not the only one." "There's me and Goto." "We both saw Nakamura being beaten to death as Goto described to you." "Goto phoned me." "Our friendship and our silence have endured many years." "Does Goto know about your deals with Sorenson?" "Goto's a simple fisherman." "He wouldn't understand." "My dealings with Sorenson were purely business." "The other guard died on Guam." "Goto believed Sorenson perished there also." " until yesterday." " Let me ask you something." "If I had been blackmailing Sorenson, why would I kill the goose which lays the golden egg?" "You're running for office." "If Sorenson decided to talk..." "And risk revealing himself as the murderer he was?" "How very unlikely." " You couldn't be sure of that." " Granted." "But neither can you be certain of everything you've said." "One thing you can be certain of." "If I had killed Sorenson, I would tell you here, alone." "And there wouldn't be a damn thing you could do about it." "You must excuse me." "I have to get back to the office." "Ah." "I hope you're registered to vote, Mr. Magnum." "Good day." "Enoka was very convincing." "Until I remembered he was a politician." "There was only one person who had nothing to gain by lying." "Unfortunately, it was also clear I was headed in a direction" "I really didn't wanna go." "Thank you." " You knew I was coming." " Yes." "You must have been surprised that Sorenson was alive." "Yes, but that is over now." "Sand island is finished." "Where is he?" "Goto, help me." "Goto, this man is the only thing standing between us and freedom." "Use the gun." "What kind of freedom are you talking about?" "Sorenson's dead." "If you shoot me, you disgrace and diminish the memory of Kirin Nakamura." "Goto." "Remember Sand island." "I have not forgotten Sand island." "Use the gun, Goto!" "Don't be an old fool." "I am old, but you are the fool." "And the coward." "I am not afraid to face the consequences of my silence." "Anything less would dishonor me." "And Kirin Nakamura." "T.C.?" "T.C.!" "Hey..." "Don't hurt the rent-a-tux." "In fact, here's the bill for it." "What are you all dressed up for?" "The wedding." " What wedding?" " Denny and elizabeth are getting married." "Married?" "J. RickIey Schneider is letting his daughter marry a..." " Orchid grower." " Orchid grower?" "That's what he was growing." "Some rare orchid." "I got onto it, had a Iong talk with J. RickIey, the old boy was delighted, so were the kids." "What's that ringing?" "Hey, aren't you gonna ask about my shoulder?" " Hey, what's that ringing?" " It's Higgins." "He's back." "Ooh, Victor phoned about the car." "It was a faulty brake-Iine after all." "Magnum, is that you?" "I hurt my..." "Magnum." "Magnum." "I say, Magnum." "Magnum." "Didn't you hear the bell?" "Dr. IboId said I mustn't strain myself, at all, for at Ieast a fortnight." "Does that include your voice?" "He explained it to me very thoroughly." "apparently, it's some sort of severe trauma to the back." "You know how these things are." "I'm beginning to get the picture." "At any rate, I'II have to depend on your services for a while." "Higgins, I've been shot!" "The first order of business is to feed the lads." "They're ravenous." "Don't worry." "I've got just the thing for them." "A little broiled chicken with butter and garlic sauce would be nice." "actually, no." "I've still got the rest of that takeout order from Macho Taco." "ShouIdn't be too old." "Macho Taco?" "For the lads?" "Don't you dare."