Kaia ran toward the ocean. She heard Jesse shout her name, but the waves beckoned her, and she could see Nani zipping through the water to greet her. As she ran, she shucked her shorts, tank top, and slippers off until she wore only her swimsuit. The warm sand grated against the soles of her feet.
She reached the edge of the water and waded in. When the water was to her knees, she dove into the next white-crested wave. The warm water welcomed her in a loving, unconditional embrace. Nani bumped against her, and Kaia reached out and grabbed the dolphin’s nostrum. She closed her eyes and listened to the song of the sea whisper to her aching heart.
She’d always imagined what it would be like if her mother came back. In her dreams, she was able to coldly tell her mother she had no desire to see her. There was no pain in her dream, no wrenching agony of being torn between love and hate, betrayal and loyalty.
She put her feet down on the bedrock of lava and sand and stood. “God, be my foundation right now. I can’t stand this by myself,” she whispered. Nani nudged her knee, and she leaned down and ran her hand over the warm inner tube of dolphin skin. Nani rolled to one side and one eye stared up at Kaia as if to ask if she could help.
Kaia sank into the water and let the waves lap around her neck. Her knees scraped bottom, and she steadied herself then put both arms around Nani. The tears she’d managed to hold back began to mingle with the salt water on her cheeks. The little girl in her wanted to run back into the house and feel her mother’s arms around her. She’d lacked that all her life. Why would she want it when she’d always had the love of her grandparents though? That should have been enough.
She had dim memories of her mother. A faint fragrance of blossoms, a tinkling laugh, soft hands. Maybe that’s where these longings came from. Faye was very different from the image Kaia had of her mother. She remembered a ready smile and loving arms before her mother left. Faye was nervous and uncertain, not at all the confident, laughing mother.
But people change. Was her mother really as sorry as she claimed, or was it all a ploy? Tûtû kâne was getting older. Could Faye have come back to make sure she inherited the family property? Kaia wouldn’t put it past her. She had proven herself capable of anything.
She stayed in the water until her fingers turned to prunes. She could see Jesse sitting patiently on a piece of driftwood on the beach. Her cat, Hiwa, was at his feet. Giving Nani a final pat, she rose from the water and walked toward him. He stood as she came out of the water and handed her the shorts and top she’d discarded.
“Mahalo.” She pulled on her clothing and picked up her slippers. “Sorry I ran out like that.”
“I understand.”
His tone surprised her. “How would you know? You grew up with both parents. They’re still alive.”
“I understand that forgiving myself was harder than forgiving someone else. I had to face what I’d done to Christy and my son and let go of it.”
“I can’t.”
“I know. You’re afraid.”
Her eyes widened. He’d put his finger on it exactly. “I didn’t realize it until you said it, but I am scared. Scared I’ll let my guard down and learn to love her and she’ll betray me all over again.”
He nodded. “She’s going to have to earn your trust.”
“I don’t think she can.” Kaia started toward the house. “It will take more than a pretty smile and a casual ‘I’m sorry’ to make me believe her.”
“I’ll think about it,” was all she could say.
JESSE DIDN’T BRING UP FAYE TO KAIA AGAIN. HE FIGURED IF SHE wanted to talk about it, he’d listen, but there was nothing he hated worse than someone badgering him. Kaia surely felt the same. Faye was gone when they went back to the house, and Oke said nothing as Kaia stalked through the living room and down the hall toward the bedroom wing.
Oke shook his head sadly and went to the kitchen. Jesse crashed on the couch. After four hours of sleep, his cell phone awakened him. It was Jillian, who told him her flight was getting in tomorrow. Yawning, he promised to pick her up then stood and went to find Kaia. They needed to get moving. The danger facing them hadn’t diminished just because Kaia had personal problems.
Bane was in the living room talking in soft tones to his grandfather. Jesse glanced around but didn’t see Kaia or Heidi.
Oke saw him. “If you’re looking for your niece and my granddaughter, they are out working with Nani.”
“Alone?”
“Mano is with them,” Bane said.
That wasn’t much comfort. Mano was still under suspicion, and while Jesse didn’t think he’d harm his own sister, he wouldn’t put it past the man to allow Heidi to be taken.
He strode past the other men and looked out the window. He could see three heads in the waves, and the sound of Heidi’s laughter floated to him on the wind.
“They are fine,” Oke said. “No need to worry. Mano will guard them with his life.”
Jesse turned back to the other men. Maybe it was time for a heart-to-heart talk.
“How much do you know of what your grandson has been up to lately?” he asked Oke.
“I believe in my grandson,” Oke said. “I doubt there is anything you could say to shake that faith.”
Jesse winced. He wished he’d had someone who trusted him like that. It was a shame he was going to have to shatter that confidence.
“Mano has been attending meetings at Pele Hawai´i. He seems to have become a zealot for their cause.”
Oke’s white head bowed. “He’s young and impetuous. He’ll soon see past their rhetoric.”
“I’m afraid it’s gone beyond rhetoric. I believe the agency is behind the deaths and security breaches at the base, and I’m positive the men who tried to kidnap Heidi last night were Pele Hawai’i flunkies.”
“You’re saying you believe Mano is part of this conspiracy?” A slight smile touched Oke’s lips. “You don’t know my grandson. He has a strong streak of justice and compassion for those in need. He would never harm a child.”
“He might not have known about this particular ploy,” Jesse admitted. “But he’s deeper into this conspiracy than I think you know.”
“Let’s ask him,” Oke said. “My grandson has never lied to me.” He rose and went toward the door.
Jesse sighed and stood. His gaze met Bane’s. The other man shrugged. “I have to agree with my grandfather. I’ve been upset with Mano for getting involved with them, but he’s no murderer.”
Jesse hoped they were right. Confronted with his family’s concern, maybe Mano would help them.
He trailed behind Oke and Bane down the path to the sea. The salty air brushed his face and lifted the fatigue that still dogged him.
Kaia was laughing as they played keep-away with a beach ball. Heidi and Nani were in the middle while Mano tossed the ball back and forth with Kaia. The dolphin jumped in the air and nosed the ball over to Heidi.
Jesse’s gaze lingered on Kaia. Her face glistened with water, and her sleek black hair lay plastered to her back with the line of her face fully exposed to the golden sunshine. The curve of her cheeks and lips enhanced her dark eyes. He’d never seen anything more beautiful in his life. An ache he’d never felt tugged at him.
What he was beginning to feel for Kaia was different from the love he’d felt for Christy. Christy’s love had been gentle and comfortable. This was as wild and unpredictable as a Kona wind.
There was no time to analyze it though, because Oke called to his grandson. “Mano, can you come here for a minute?”
The young man tossed the ball Heidi had just thrown him to Kaia. “Be right there.” Striding from the water, he looked like a young King Kamehameha. Stocky with thick muscles, Mano looked confident and in control.
Dripping with water, he stood in front of them and looked at Jesse then back to his grandfather. His eyes were filled with trepidation. “Is something wrong?”
His back erect, Oke advanced toward his grandson. “Mano, you have never lied to me. I want to know about Pele Hawai´i. Are they involved in the break-ins at the base?” Oke’s voice was stern.
Mano looked down at the sand. His lips tightened and he glanced at Jesse. “Is this your doing, Matthews? Have you come here with your lies to turn my family against me?”
“That was not my intention,” Jesse said. “But I need to protect my niece. And your sister.”
Mano frowned. “I’ll protect my sister. No harm will come to her.”
Jesse noticed Mano said nothing about Heidi. “What about my niece?”
Oke interrupted. “Did you have anything to do with the kidnapping attempt on Heidi?”
Mano tossed his head in a proud gesture. “You would believe this haole?”
“Watch how you say that. I was born on Kaua’i.” Jesse said. He tried to keep his voice mild. Mano was cornered, and it would be easy to provoke him to a fight.
“Do not evade my question, Mano.” Oke reached out and gripped his grandson’s arm. “Tell me the truth.”
Mano gave Jesse an angry look then gently pried his grandfather’s fingers from his arm. “I can’t talk about it now, Tûtû kâne. I have an appointment.” He strode off toward the house.
Jesse saw disillusionment in Oke’s face. He wished he could reassure the old man, but Mano’s behavior spoke for itself.
“I’m going to the meeting tonight, Tûtû kâne,” Bane said. “If Mano is involved, I’ll find out.”
Oke straightened. “Until then, I choose to believe in my grandson.”
Jesse tried not to look at the way love and fear vied for control of Oke’s face. He hoped the old man wouldn’t be too crushed when the truth came out.
Jesse glanced at his watch. Two o’clock. They had several hours before they needed to be back at the boat. He waved to Kaia, and she spoke to Heidi and they both came in on the next wave.
“Let’s go get some lunch,” he told her.
“I’ll change. What about Heidi?”
Jesse hesitated. He didn’t dare leave his niece. “We’ll take her with us.”
She took Heidi’s hand, and they went to the house to change. Jesse stood outside and watched Bane digging the pit for Friday night’s lu’au. He saw a glint from the basalt rock cliff behind Kaia’s brother. Squinting, Jesse tried to make out what it was but couldn’t. He had some binoculars in the Jeep. He rummaged in the glove box and found them. The hillside leaped into focus as he brought them to his eyes, and he saw a man with a rifle. The gun was pointed toward Bane as the man sighted down the scope.
“Get down!” Jesse dropped the binoculars and tackled Bane. A bullet plowed in the sand. It would have struck Bane if not for Jesse’s quick actions. Another bullet struck the piece of driftwood to Jesse’s left. Crouching to make themselves as small a target as possible, Jesse and Bane ran for the Jeep and knelt behind it.
Jesse flung open the car door and reached under the seat for his gun. Bane grabbed up the binoculars lying on the ground. He squinted as he stared through them. Jesse waited to see where the shots were coming from.
“He’s leaving,” Bane said. “In a blue car. I can’t tell what kind from here.”
“Let me see.” Jesse took the binoculars, but the car was kicking up too much dust to make out a license number.
He put down the binoculars and looked at Bane. “I’m not sure it’s safe for you to go to the meeting after all.”
Bane shrugged. “I’m not afraid.”
“I’ll go.” Kaia stood on the porch. Dressed in white shorts and a red top, she looked too fragile to take on a sniper, but her dark eyes were cool and determined as she stared at Jesse. “I heard the shots. I’ve been to one meeting already. A woman can blend in better anyway. There are more women there than you might imagine.”
“Not someone who looks like you,” Jesse said. “You’d stand out in any crowd. I’ll go.”
“Oh sure. A haole like you will blend right in,” she scoffed.
She didn’t say the word haole like a slur, so Jesse knew she meant only that he was fair skinned and blond. “And a woman will blend? Not likely.”
“There were other women there. No one will notice me,” she insisted.
“Nahele will recognize you.”
“I’ll stay to the back of the crowd. There are lots of shadows in the mill.”
Jesse didn’t see how that was possible, but he could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t going to listen to reason. “I want you to be wired if you go,” he said. “I’ll get the equipment from Steve.”
“I’m not wearing a wire. Where would I hide it?” She shook her head. “I won’t stay long. If I’m not back to the boat by eight, you can come looking for me.”
“I don’t like it,” Jesse said.
“Me neither.” Bane scowled and shook his head.
“Neither of you will change my mind. Nahele won’t see me.”
“What if Mano sees you?”
“Mano would die before he let anyone harm me.”
Jesse could only hope and pray she was right.