CHAPTER FOUR
After we said goodbye to Alexander and Kira, Lexie drove us back to my apartment. Once there, we strategized while Lexie tracked Chance’s location on her phone. We agreed it was best not to interfere unless Chance wanted help with the task of tailing Juliana. Consequently, our little band sat around like overanxious worrywarts.
The blip on Chance’s phone disappeared at just after midnight, at which point we all questioned our decision to leave Chance alone. What if this, what about that. Our collective bag of regrets grew heavy with concern. The most popular theory involved Chance’s phone running out of power. The alternative was something far worse, and the thought of Chance meeting with foul play before he’d even become a real PI had us all on edge.
By 12:30, Lexie was wearing a path in my tile flooring. The day had caught up with me, and I felt myself slipping lower on the couch. My eyelids drooped when Benni nestled into the crook of my shoulder. That was the last I remember until waking at dawn with a crick in my back and an urge to let the shower pelt my aching body with hot water for about two days.
I slipped away from Benni and put a pillow under her head. When I told her to go back to sleep and threw a blanket over her, she nodded and was out again.
While I worked out the kinks in my neck and back, I searched for Lexie. To my surprise, she was nowhere to be found. I cleaned up and, not knowing what else to do, snuck out to see if her car was in the lot. It was, but in a different spot than where she’d parked last night.
My next stop was Chance’s apartment. I peered through the open window and saw a cute couple spooning on the couch. “Thank God he’s okay,” I muttered.
Lexie opened her eyes and a smile spread across her face. She eased herself away from Chance, then out the front door. We walked toward the parking lot. Away from any open windows and the possibility of waking other tenants, we finally spoke. I asked the question nagging at me. “What happened after we fell asleep?”
“Sorry.” Lexie yawned, then rubbed her face with both hands. “I didn’t find him until about two. I tried to sleep after you and Benni dropped off, but I was too worried. I snuck out around one. He was in the lobby of the Pacific Hotel.”
“Is that where his signal disappeared last night?”
She nodded, suppressed another yawn, then glanced at her watch. “I’ll be late for work. I have to go.” She let out a sigh. “My keys are in the apartment with my purse.”
“Come on, let’s go wake him up. Why should he get to sleep?”
“No need.” Lexie beamed in the direction of the apartments.
No wonder her eyes lit up. It was Chance. He wore the same tee shirt and shorts as last night but held Lexie’s flowered cloth purse in his hands. If he wasn’t being such a nice guy, I might harass him about accessorizing with purple and red.
He scooped Lexie into his arms and kissed her. “I woke up and you were gone.”
“I’m going to be late for work. I have to go.”
“I know. You need this.” He handed over the bag and agreed to call her later in the day. When she drove away, he asked if we could watch the ocean from my lānai.
“Lovely idea, but I don’t want to wake up Benni, yah?”
“We can pull the chairs out onto the grass.” He cocked his head toward my apartment, then I followed him across the lot. “I lost Juliana in the hotel last night. She went in, got on the elevator. I don’t know which floor she got off on.”
I studied his face. Bloodshot eyes. Bags. Even his cheeks sagged. Unfortunately, he looked like I felt. “I’m amazed she didn’t catch on earlier that you were following her.”
“I stayed back a half block, but as Mr. Marlowe says, you never know what they know.”
Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t help but chuckle. A scammer was giving lessons to a wannabe PI on how to tail people. How twisted could life get? “Have you checked him out yet? Are you sure this Phillip Marlowe is legit?”
“I’m on it, McKenna. No worries.”
“Well, whatever Mr. Marlowe is, I agree with him this time. My money’s saying she didn’t notice you, otherwise she would have run. They always do.”
“They? You’ve tailed people before?”
We’d reached the spot where lava rock met the sidewalk. I paused and turned to face Chance. “Skip tracers employ a lot of talents to find people who disappear. I may have been out of the business for a while, but it’s like riding a bicycle.”
“You fall off a lot?”
“Wise guy.” I stepped gingerly on the lava rock to avoid falling off my flip-flops. The last time I slipped, my foot hurt for a week. “How’d she get away?”
The muscles in Chance’s right cheek tightened. “I intended to see where the elevator stopped, but she hit all the buttons. After that, I called the front desk, but they said she wasn’t a registered guest.”
“So you decided to stake out the lobby and watch for her.”
“Yep, I considered calling Kai this morning, but Juliana sounded pretty serious about keeping her out of this. I’m stumped. Got any ideas on how to find her?”
“Let’s get the chairs first,” I whispered.
While we were on the lānai, I peered inside. Benni was no longer on the couch. A moment later, she came through the bedroom door, her wet hair tied back. She'd also changed clothes. She poked her head out the slider and said, “I’ve got coffee on. It won’t be long.”
While we waited for our caffeine fix, Chance and I each settled into a chair. The first fingers of sunlight traced their way across the ocean. Near the shore, it was like watching topaz and jade light up.
“Sometimes I sit on the sand during sunrise,” Chance said.
“The sun rises behind us, Chance.” I pointed at the ocean. “That’s west. Well, southwest.”
“I know. I just like the colors of the water."
“Hmmpf.” We sat in silence for a minute or two. I agreed with him. I liked Mother Nature’s show, too.
“McKenna, I had time to do some research on Juliana Rollins last night while I was hanging out in the lobby. I confirmed the army fired her for her role in the patient scandal at Madigan Army Medical Center. There were a couple of different news stories on it, but her side was the higher ups used her as a scapegoat. One reporter claimed she was the one who exposed the scandal. Another said her role made her a pariah.”
Benni brought out three cups and joined us. “Oh, I love scandals. The juicier the better.”
“I don’t know if you’d call it juicy,” Chance said. “Either way, a lot of veterans were super angry because they say they were misdiagnosed. The reporter called the whole thing criminal.”
“Before there was an investigation?” I asked.
“Yep.”
“Where’s the reporter working now?”
“Podunk, Idaho.”
I raised one eyebrow at Chance. “Is that like Nowheresville?”
“Pretty much.”
“We have to find Juliana. It’s the only way to solve this case.”
“She’s a fugitive. And she doesn't want you looking for her.” Benni’s forehead wrinkled just enough for me to recognize the look I’d seen in our first meeting.
I was pretty sure the look meant she was nervous about something. I’d only known Benni a short time, but I already wanted to learn everything about her. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. One thing was certain, I would not be the one to tell Kai we gave up.
“I’m finding her," I said. "We’ll do a bit of online research, but we need a photo so we can go back to the hotel. It might also be time to enlist the help of the coconut wireless. If Alexander asks his family members in town to watch out for her, Juliana may turn up.”
I dialed Alexander’s cell at ten, but before I could even say hello, he was sputtering into the phone. “McKenna, Kai ran away again. You got any idea where she is, you bettah talk fast.”
“She went home with her mom and dad last night.” I held the phone away
and whispered to Benni and Chance, “Kai’s run away again.”
“I just got off the phone with June and she told me Kai left a note saying she was comin’ to see you. Tell the truth, brah, she been there?”
“No, she hasn’t.” At that moment, there was a knock on the door. I closed my eyes. As the saying goes, timing is everything. I didn’t need to open the door to know who would be there. “Hang on a second.”
Benni already had one eye to the peephole. Her jaw dropped and she spun to face me. She hissed, “It’s Kai!”
There are times when I hate being right. Now was one of them. I gestured at the door. “Let her in.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Kai Palikako entered the room and took immediate control. She’d changed out of last night’s black shorts and long-sleeved T into a pair of flowered board shorts topped off by a Nike rash guard shirt. Come to think of it, I was sure Chance had the same shirt, but in a much larger size. She flashed me a shaka sign as she hugged Benni and thanked her for opening the door.
When I explained what had just happened to Alexander, he volunteered to call her mother. Before I could say goodbye, Benni motioned for me to put Alexander on speaker.
“Hang on,” I said.
A moment later, Alexander’s voice filled the room. “No, I gotta call June.”
“Alexander, it’s Benni. Look, I know what you want to do, but unless June’s willing to lock Kai in a cell, I think we need to look at alternatives.”
“What alternatives, Sis? We ain’t got no alternatives other than sending her home.”
Kai stepped up to the phone and spoke in her husky ten-year-old voice filled with bravado. “I can stay with McKenna.”
“No, you can’t!” I bellowed. “I don’t have room for another guest and besides, I don’t have parent-liability insurance.”
Benni glared at me as though I was a mosquito buzzing her in the middle of the night. Kai was doing the tween-eye-roll thing. And, Chance was stifling a laugh as he buried his forehead in his hand.
“You gone off your rocker, McKenna?” The pitch of Alexander’s voice rose a notch as he sneered, “Ain’t no such thing as parent-liability insurance.”
Why not? They had insurance for everything else. The bottom line was I had zero chance of avoiding having Kai as a houseguest—unless I came up with a Plan B. Fast.
“Well, it was only a figure of speech. Anyway, she can’t stay with me. Benni’s already here…” My voice trailed off as I looked quickly at her for confirmation.
She winced. “I have to leave tomorrow. A client flew in a few days early. It’s a friend of Cam’s.”
Chance settled back on the couch, his enjoyment at my predicament obvious. Again.
I groaned. Cam. Mr. Big Bucks Mega Rock Star. He’d been a monumental pain on his recent trip to the Big Island. Now he was referring my new girlfriend's business to his other mega-rock-star friends? I should be happy for Benni. This most likely meant her business, Girl Friday, would be booming for a long time. Soon, she’d be known as Hawaii’s personal assistant to the stars. But, would she still have time for me? I gave her a weak smile and a thumbs up.
“How about you, Alexander? Why doesn’t she stay at your place?” The minute the words were out of my mouth, I knew I’d made a fatal mistake. If the girl stayed with Alexander, she could still wind up hanging out here.
“Not happening, brah. Sorry, Kai, but I’m sure your folks gonna want you home.”
“But, Uncle,” Kai said. “When Juliana left, Mom and Dad had to call in a temporary nanny. She’s obnoxious. And she snores.”
“She fell asleep? On the job?” Benni knelt next to Kai and hugged her. “You poor thing!”
Kai melted into Benni’s embrace. How unfair, I thought. The kid was using up my hug quotient and getting my girlfriend on her side without even trying. I wish I’d have had Kai’s touch when I was her age.
I brightened when Benni looked at me. At least we had one day left.
Holding Kai at arms length, Benni gazed into her eyes. “Would you stay with your Uncle Alexander and not run away?”
The girl nodded solemnly and I knew exactly where this conversation was headed. Poor Alexander. Maybe he didn’t see it, but the writing was on the wall. Kai was going to be his problem for a while. And I had to figure out a way to avoid becoming the babysitter for the duration.
“Hey, Alexander, we’ve been friends for a while. I don’t want you to suffer more than necessary, so tell me, do you have any tours scheduled over the next few days? Maybe you could take Kai surfing?”
In between chuckling and texting, Chance flipped me a thumbs up. Perhaps he didn’t realize I could read the exchange on his screen.
—McKenna getting railroaded by Benni and Kai
—LOL you gonna help?
—doh, no way
I bit my tongue. Chance was acting like a little kid. He even spelled like one. Doh? Didn't he know adults spelled it duh? I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for Alexander to say something. Anything. After this was over, I had to sit Chance down for a serious conversation about what it meant to support your partner. He should be jumping in, offering ideas on how to get Kai back home. Instead, he was—he was doing what I’d do. Relishing in my discomfort. On second thought, scratch the conversation. It was time to abide by McKenna’s Skip Tracing Secret #8. If someone gets the better of you, let them enjoy the moment—and get even later. Take that, Mr. Doh.
Alexander was outnumbered and caved after a few more weak attempts to pawn Kai off on me. I knew I wasn't off the hook, though. So, I’d been outmaneuvered by a ten-year-old yet again. This was turning into a really bad day. While we waited for Alexander to arrive, Kai snacked on Benni’s chips. At one point, Benni told her we didn’t have anything to drink other than orange juice, coffee, wine, or water. The little viper knew exactly who to target. She gazed at Chance with a pair of sad eyes guaranteed to turn his willpower to mush.
Chance sulked and sneered at me as he left. "I know what you're thinking."
You're darn right. I knew what would happen. If Chance didn’t have something for the kid to drink in his refrigerator, he'd be dashing to the store on a Coke run. I could just envision a red Ferrari racing through the streets of Honolulu in a dash to the nearest convenience store.
I snickered and waved him away without a word. He returned a couple of minutes later, a red can of Coke in his hand. A mist of condensation covered the can. It was just beginning to drip as he handed the can to the munching machine.
“The right brand, too.” Kai grinned at her latest benefactor. “I knew you had good taste.”
As Chance sat, I said, “Paybacks, buddy.”
“That was my last one,” he grumbled.
We all watched as a contented Kai munched on chips, sugar, and caffeine. By the time Alexander arrived, Kai had decimated the chips and drained the can.
She suppressed a burp and politely said, “Excuse me.”
The five of us put the phone in the middle of the dining table and sat.
Alexander said, “Dis a bad idea, McKenna. How we know she ain’t gonna be running over here all the time?”
“She promised me she wouldn’t run away. Right, Kai?”
Kai nodded. “I promise.”
Alexander shook his head as he dialed. June answered immediately. After a short round of introductions, Alexander popped the question. June exploded. Then, it got interesting.
“Mom,” Kai said. “Mrs. Tanaka fell asleep. She snores. She’s boring. Think of how much money you’ll save if you let me stay with Uncle Alexander. Besides, Uncle Alexander has agreed to take me surfing so I stay out of McKenna’s way.”
There was a moment of silence, then June said, “Watch out Alexander, she’ll be giving you lessons.”
“She already teaching me more than I want,” he said.
I snickered, boy was that ever true. We waited in quiet anticipation for June’s answer.
“If I agree to this Kai,
you have to promise to give up on this whole trying to save Juliana campaign of yours.”
Kai looked at the ceiling for a moment as though contemplating her next move. “Mom, I won’t give up on Juliana. But, I promise I’ll leave it up to the professionals. Will that work?”
Somehow, it didn’t sound much like Kai was giving up anything. From my perspective, June was just plain desperate for a way to keep her daughter happy. I couldn't blame her. I'd already lost too many battles with this kid.
“You can stay there until I find a new nanny," June said. "One who doesn’t snore on the job.”
When the call ended, Chance gave Kai a thumbs up. “Tell you what. The next time McKenna decides he’s going to raise the rent, I’m hiring you as my negotiator.”
CHAPTER SIX
We now had Kai thinking she had the adults exactly where she wanted them, which made it time for us to take control. In my mind, control meant Kai and Alexander would have a couple of pleasant days on the beach. They could surf, enjoy the sun, and eat shave ice. It was everything most kids would want. Why did I suspect Kai wasn't like most kids?
“What do you have so far?” She gazed at me, then Chance.
The kid wanted a report? For twelve cents? She must have learned the move from her parents, who were a couple of high-priced attorneys. The way they treated Kai, you'd never know they spent half their lives negotiating and the other half bullying the opposition. I suppose they suffered a fatal flaw when it came to dealing with Kai—they let their emotions override their common sense. At least, that was my take based on the phone call we'd just finished.
“I followed Juliana to the Pacific Beach Hotel last night, but lost her when she took the elevator,” Chance said.
“Hit all the buttons?” Kai had a smile on her face.
Chance nodded and the girl pumped her fist in the air.
“Taught her the elevator trick, did you?” I asked.
She beamed at me. “Maybe.”
“What else did you teach her?”
“Juliana doesn't do devious. In fact, she’s pretty straight. Let's go. I can take you to her.”
North Shore Nanny Page 3
