And his was not all that different from at least three others in the lot.
People attending the memorial began to leave. A few gathered in small groups to talk. Others walked toward their cars. Immediately, the Suburban slowed to a crawl. Over the rim of the dash, he could make out the back of the driver’s head through the tinted side window well enough to know he faced the church.
And he wasn’t alone.
There were two people in there with him.
They were little more than dark silhouettes, but they were definitely men.
After a few seconds, the oversized SUV accelerated on down the road. Jack knew it was a dead end. They’d be back.
They were, about thirty seconds later.
This time they drove into the lot, slowly as though scanning the vehicles. The SUV stopped when the teenagers crossed in front of its imposing bulk. The kids piled into a Toyota pickup that looked like it had seen better days.
Jack took advantage of the distraction and slipped lower in his seat.
He cocked his head so that he was able to see them with his left eye. The Suburban continued on around the turn. Into the row where he was parked.
He dug into the rolled up beach towel and removed the shotgun.
A last resort with so many people around.
The last thing he wanted was for another innocent to be hurt.
The Suburban inched past the cars.
He tightened his grip on the gun. And silently prayed for the second time that day.
Laughter erupted from the teenagers. The driver backed the pickup out of its parking spot and drove around the turn, coming to a stop behind the larger vehicle. The truck’s horn honked a couple of times. And then it honked again. Finally the Suburban drove out of the lot with the pickup not far behind.
It was clear to Jack that Crewcut had seized an opportunity to catch him unaware, perhaps Robert and Kazuko as well.
Clean the slate in one fatal swoop.
Instead, they had unknowingly become the prey.
He started his Jeep and accelerated after them.
The pickup load of teenagers and a convertible Mustang were between him and the Suburban when he reached the stop sign at Makena Alanui Road. There were only two directions Crewcut could go. Left being the likely choice.
He turned right. So did the pickup.
Jack followed at a discrete distance. He was confused by their direction of travel. He’d thought Crewcut would have driven back toward town. There was nothing in this direction but The Makena Resort, beach, several large estates, and the end of the line at La Perouse Bay. One route in, one route out.
The Suburban showed no signs of slowing down. But the pickup full of noisy kids turned into the parking lot for Big Beach. Which left Jack wishing he still had the truck between him and Takahashi’s thugs for a buffer. Now his Jeep and the big SUV were the only vehicles on that section of the roadway.
Crewcut had to know where he was going.
They drove past the mile-long beach and on into the stretch of blacktop where the ocean-front estates were located. Narrow, one-way traffic with random turnouts to allow people to pass, going in the opposite direction.
He kept his distance. There was no way he could lose them.
Not now.
Several estates in, a gate opened automatically and the Suburban turned in. He continued on past and stopped next to the water in a turnout a hundred feet farther down the road.
He adjusted his rearview mirror on the entrance, leaned back, and waited.
Thirty minutes passed. Then forty-five.
When they didn’t show, he decided they were in to stay. At least for a while. He started his Jeep, made the turn, and drove back the way he had come.
Now he knew where to find them.
CHAPTER 74
Jack opened the door to Kimo’s rental, took a step inside, and stopped. Robert and Kazuko sat on the sofa looking at him with solemn expressions. Deacon, too. Also two men, each with a dark suit jacket lying across his lap.
He worked his hand inside the rolled up beach towel and gripped the shotgun, but left it covered.
“Someone plan a party and not tell me?”
“What the hell, big brother.” Deacon jumped up and opened his arms for a hug. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
Jack offered his free arm to the embrace. “Of course I am.”
They separated and Jack looked at Robert who stood from his seat. “What’s this about? Who are these men? And I thought you were leaving?”
“Relax, Jack.” Robert motioned toward the two men who got up from their chairs. They wore the expression of someone in an important position. “These men are with Homeland Security. They’d like to talk to you.”
The taller of the two stepped forward with his jacket draped over his left arm and offered his right hand. “My name is James Greene. His is Sam Edwards.”
Both men had short-barreled automatics in holsters on their hips. Both snapped down. Jack released his grip on the shotgun and gripped the guy’s palm deep into the “V” formed by the thumb and index finger, tightened his grip tighter than he needed to, and gave it a firm shake.
“I’m really not in the mood for visitors,” he said. “What is it you want to talk to me about?”
“You’re not under investigation, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“The possibility crossed my mind. What about my brother and my friends?”
“We’re here because we want to talk to you about Dana.”
Jack felt a knot tighten in his gut and fought an urge to let the towel slip from the shotgun. “You implying she broke the law?”
“Not at all. But we do want to ask you a few questions.”
He studied the two agents, not sure how much to tell them. “You know I’m just now back from her memorial service?”
“We know that.”
“Then you won’t mind if I freshen up a little first?”
“Take your time.”
Jack carried the beach towel and shotgun to the breakfast counter and laid the bundle where he could get to the gun if need be. Robert had double checked the men’s identification. He’d bet his last dollar on that. But he also knew practically anything can be falsified.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
He took his time in the bathroom. When he came out, he noticed someone had brought a kitchen chair into the living room for him to sit in. It matched the ones Greene and Edwards were sitting in.
He spun the chair around and straddled the seat with his arms resting on the top edge of the backrest. “All right gentlemen, talk.”
Greene took the lead. “We’d like you to describe your relationship with her.”
“You know what it was or you wouldn’t be here.”
“Please, Mr. Ferrell. Robert assured us you would be willing to cooperate.”
Jack looked at Robert.
“Dammit, Jack.” Robert rocked forward. “You need to talk to these men.”
“And you already have?”
“Enough that I believe it’s best if you answer their questions.”
Jack didn’t like the way this was going, but he trusted Robert not to lie to him. And it was possible he would learn something in return.
He looked at Greene, and said, “I assume—since Dana was a member of the Coast Guard—you know all about her?”
The agent’s stoic expression didn’t change. “We want to hear what you have to say.”
Jack decided to keep his response simple. Information they should already have if they were who they said they were. “We met last year and spent time together until she got a promotion and was transferred to Alaska. We met again when we snagged Ichiro Makoto’s body and brought it in to the Coast Guard Station at Maalaea Harbor. We rekindled our relationship, and if you’ve read the report, you know what happened after that.”
Edwards took over. “Would you say that the two of you had an intimate relationship?”
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��You’re asking if we slept together. Why do you need to know that?”
“We want to know if your relationship was such that she would confide in you.”
“Confide in what?”
“Her work day. Cases. Details about things that had gone on. That sort of stuff.”
“You talk like she was some kind of covert operative.”
“Did she mention anything about doing undercover work?”
Jack gave both men a long look. “You need to tell me where this is headed or we’re done.”
It was Greene’s turn again. “Let me put it to you this way . . . hypothetically, of course. Suppose Ms. Mores, in the course of her work, learned of improprieties within the Coast Guard. Would she confide in you about that?”
“Maybe . . . I don’t know. I believe she would.”
“And she didn’t mention any . . . improprieties?”
“No.”
“Would she have confided in anyone else? A friend?”
“About improprieties?”
“Yes.”
“Doubtful. She was quite professional when it came to her job.”
Greene and Edwards looked at each other. Edwards shrugged. Greene stood and redirected his attention on Jack. “We appreciate your cooperation.”
Jack got up from his seat. He wasn’t ready to just let them walk off. Not without knowing what was behind their questions.
“Dana’s dead,” he said. “My friends and I are up to our necks in the shit going on with Chiharu Takahashi. Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?”
“In fact I insist on it,” Robert said, as he rose from the couch.
Deacon stood up but didn’t say anything.
Greene slipped on his suit coat and shrugged his shoulders into it, and paused. He looked at Jack, and said, “I wish we could. But I will say this. Dana was working for us. Her promotion and transfer to Alaska was part of it. So was her transfer back here three months ago. Those improprieties I mentioned—she believed someone of rank in her station was covering up drug trafficking between the islands.”
Jack retook his seat. “Three months ago?”
“She didn’t tell you she was back?”
“No. In time it probably would have come up. I was just so glad to have her in my life again I never asked the question.”
Greene waited a moment, then said, “I suggest you go to the mainland with your friends.” He handed Jack a card with a phone number on it. “And in the meantime, if anything comes up, or if you think of something we should know, call. We can be reached twenty-four seven.”
Jack stared at the card, read the number without it registering, and shook Greene’s hand. Then he walked the two agents to the door and watched them drive away.
What had she gotten herself into?
CHAPTER 75
Jack turned from the door and noticed everyone was standing. Even Kazuko. She’d been content to sit and listen. Now she was on her feet.
He combed his fingers through his hair. “That was interesting.”
“Dana and I talked about so much,” she said. “But she never even hinted at something like this.”
His mind kicked back into gear. He hadn’t been happy to see the agents from Homeland Security, but he was glad to see his friends. And he was both happy and surprised to find Deacon had flown to Maui without telling him.
He looked at his brother, and said, “Seeing you here shocked the shit out of me. I wish I’d known you were coming.”
Deacon smiled. “Robert called me yesterday. He was worried about you. I told him not to say anything about me coming and got the only available seat on a red-eye to Maui. Arrived this morning.”
“Which reminds me.” Jack looked at Robert. “How’d you end up with Greene and Edwards? I thought you were leaving today.”
“Did you really think I’d run out on you?”
“The thought did cross my mind.”
“Kazuko and I went to the church for the memorial, but arrived there late. We saw you sitting in the back row away from everybody else and decided you wanted to be alone. We listened from the doorway and left early. When we got back to the boat, those two agents were waiting onboard. They wanted to talk to you. When I told them you weren’t staying aboard, they started asking questions about you and Dana. Similar to the ones they asked you.”
“Didn’t it seem odd they came to us with that?”
“A little. I assume they had their reasons. Men in their position rarely explain the motivation behind their actions. Quite honestly, I’m surprised they told us as much as they did.”
“I guess I wasn’t so trusting.”
“I have a feeling you were less than honest with them.”
“Not about Dana. I don’t suppose you brought some beer with you?”
“We can get some. What didn’t you tell them?”
“I think I know where Takahashi’s goons are hiding out. I walked to my car ahead of everyone else. There was little reason to stick around as far as I could tell. But I did sit there for a time, getting my mind right. A minute after people started to leave the church a black Suburban drove by nice and slow. The occupants’ heads were turned—not that I could see them all that clearly through the tinted glass—but I could see enough to know they were mighty interested in who was walking out of that church.”
Robert nodded. “They were looking for you.”
“I’d say they were looking for us.”
“That’s what I meant to say. We were kind of wondering when they’d make their move. Takahashi’s thugs no doubt know Fast Times is berthed at Maalaea Harbor, but with the heat on they’ve avoided it. It’s logical they took advantage of the opportunity to catch us all together at the memorial.”
“Honestly.” Kazuko sighed. “I thought they’d given up on us.”
Robert put his arm around her and pulled her close. “We both wanted to believe that.”
“We’re still witnesses,” Jack said. “We have to remember that. Fortunately, the attempt to catch us at the church didn’t turn out the way they expected. Long story short, I followed them to one of those ocean-front estates south of Makena Beach. A walled-in front with a lot of privacy. I watched the place for about forty-five minutes. They never left, which leads me to believe they’re staying there. Probably figuring out the next move as we speak.”
“Let me guess. You chose not to tell Greene and Edwards about what happened this morning because you have a scheme in mind that you don’t want them interfering with. You plan to take care of those goons, yourself. Don’t you?”
“That was my intention all along. Nothing’s changed.”
“I’m sure I can’t talk you out of it so I won’t even try.”
“And neither will I,” Deacon added. “You can count on my help. Only . . . who are we talking about?”
Jack was stunned by the question, “I forgot you don’t know. The three goons Robert referred to are thugs working for a particularly bad woman named Chiharu Takahashi. It’s because of her we’re in this fix.”
“Robert told me a little bit about what’s going on. The necklace and all.”
“Did he happen to mention these men tried to kill us? More than once.”
Deacon arched a brow at Robert. “I’m afraid he failed to mention that. So it’s personal for you. That’s what you’re saying.”
“Exactly.”
Robert said, “Now that Deacon is up to speed on your vendetta to get even, let’s fit the facts together. Takahashi hatches a plan to sell her prized black diamond to a rich Korean, murder his crew, sink his yacht, and recover the diamond. We stumble into the middle of her plot when we snag Ichiro Makoto’s body. Only we don’t know it. We ask a couple of questions and she sends her thugs to find out what we know and scare us off. It turns out Ichiro Makoto is the sister of Chiharu Takahashi’s concubine, Maiko. Who, in anger over her brother’s death, comes to us to inform on her boss. They kill her for it and then come after us for knowing too much.”
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Jack interrupted, “I think you can jump forward from there.”
“Gladly,” Robert said. “Homeland Security gets involved and agents Greene and Edwards approach us to find out if Dana told us about a covert investigation she was conducting into improprieties on the part of a ranking Coast Guard officer. It’s obvious there’s a connection.”
“And I think I know what it is,” Jack said. “The Coast Guard officer, whoever he is, has connections with Chiharu Takahashi. And through Dana’s investigation, the feds have known about her for some time.”
“I agree,” Robert said. “The question now is, why are they concerned about what Dana might have told us?”
Nobody spoke up. Jack didn’t like the answer he came up with.
But it could very well be the only one that made sense.
“I don’t like saying this, but they might be trying to kill two birds with one stone.”
“If you’re correct, it means they are content to let us hang out to dry until they do.”
“That’s why Agent Greene, in his own sweet way, suggested I leave the islands.”
“Which means you wouldn’t get your shot at Crewcut and those other two bastards.”
“You two talk like you have it all figured out,” Kazuko said. “What if their questions have no bearing on anything we’re involved in at all?”
Jack shrugged. “Then it won’t matter.”
She shook her head. “Then you plan to go forward with this vendetta of yours, regardless?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER 76
All four of them sat huddled over the kitchen table staring at a piece of blank paper. They each had a beer. Jack held a pencil.
“Bear with me,” he said. “I’m a bit of an emotional wreck right now, but I have a pretty good recollection of how the place was laid out. Robert, you and Kazuko have seen those houses down there, but Deacon, you haven’t. So try to follow along the best you can.”
“I’ve seen you draw,” Deacon said. “I’m sure I won’t have any trouble.”
Jack sketched as he talked. “The roadway out front is paved and narrow, strictly one car at a time. It curves in a bit toward the ocean, rises slightly at the gate, and then slopes down on the south side of the property to an undeveloped area with access to a rocky shoreline. The entire front of the estate is walled with no on-street parking. Lava a foot thick, six feet high, in some places taller. There is a twenty-foot section near the far end that is slatted chain-link fencing overgrown with ivy. Trees and bushes line the inside of the wall. The gate is wood, six feet high and ten or twelve feet wide. It opens in the middle and swings inward.”
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