by Toby Neal
Felcher’s face was turned toward her. His eyes were wide in a fixed stare, his color blanched. Pim Wat passed a hand quickly over his bloodshot orbs and closed them. She leaned in and dabbed spittle from his lips with her napkin. “There. You look perfectly rested, dear Burt. You should not have sold my daughter’s information to an assassin. She is special, and I need her.”
Pim Wat swiped the napkin over the table, over the upholstery, over everywhere she’d laid a hand or touched him, most especially around the rim of the coffee cup. The toxin was odorless, tasteless, and undetectable in the body—but it did leave a residue if not removed.
Her eyes moved constantly as she kept her body language natural, appearing to converse with a partner who couldn’t take his eyes off her.
And then, when every back was turned, every server busy and guest occupied, Pim Wat slid out of the booth, tucked the napkin into her little purse, and walked out of the restaurant.
Chapter Forty-Two
Sophie looked around the small but well-appointed space in downtown Hilo, the site of the new Security Solutions extension office. A Security Solutions SUV had met them at the airport and whisked them here. She was still a little in shock at how quickly things had been set up for their new location.
A picture window in the meeting area of their office suite framed a view of ruffled ocean, swaying palms, and the busy traffic that fronted downtown Hilo. Sophie liked the ambiance of the historic building with its high ceilings and shining dark wood floors.
Sophie had her own small office, and Jake another beside it. A third room, unoccupied, contained storage and file cabinets at the moment. The reception area was currently empty.
“This will do very well, Mr. Hamilton.” Sophie turned to face Connor, who’d been waiting in the SUV that met them at the airport. “Very kind of you to take time from your busy schedule to facilitate opening our new satellite location.”
“Anything to make sure my best operatives have all they need.” Connor leaned against the empty receptionist desk, his arms crossed on his chest. “I’ve put a temp agency on retainer. They can provide you with clerical support. Just give them a call when you’re ready.”
Jake emerged from the empty room in back where he’d been poking around. “We do need someone to answer phones, handle intake and manage our schedules and billing. Unless Oahu has enough work to keep us busy and can keep piping us cases...”
“Bix will funnel cases this way as they come through the Oahu office.” Connor hadn’t taken his dark eyes in those hipster glasses off Sophie. “But you two are responsible for generating enough new work on the Big Island to justify this extension.” He straightened away from the desk. “I’ll leave you to it. Sophie, a word before I go?”
“Of course.” Sophie followed Connor as he went into her work space and shut the door. He turned on a handy fan. The whir provided white noise as he stalked toward her. He removed his glasses and set them on the desk.
“There’s been activity on the WITSEC leak.”
Sophie’s brows drew together. “You got a report from the Marshals Service? They’re moving on our tipoff?”
“No. Felcher’s dead. Heart attack. Appears to be natural causes.”
Sophie covered her mouth with a hand. “That’s awfully...convenient.”
“Isn’t it?” Connor took a step closer. She didn’t feel his anger until he was standing so close they were almost touching. “You were making out with Jake on the plane.”
“Yes. He’s agreed to be my lover.” Sophie stared into Connor’s eyes, hidden by those contacts. “He makes me feel better.”
“You should be with me.” His voice was harsh. He gripped her arms. “I want you to be with me.”
“What you want is irrelevant.” She broke his grip, whipping her arms up out of his hands, stepping back. “You had your chance, Connor, and you broke my heart.”
“You said you forgave me.” He was still angry. Now she was, too.
“I did forgive you. I’m here, working with you, aren’t I? But that doesn’t mean I have feelings for you anymore.”
Connor spun away. Paced. Cursed in Mandarin. “Do you love Jake? If you love him, I’ll leave this alone.”
“I don’t know. I just know I need him right now.”
They were both breathing hard. She couldn’t help noticing their breathing had fallen into sync. He cursed again. “I hate this. I thought we were...getting somewhere, finally.”
“You did this to us, Connor. You.”
“I want to fix it. How can I fix it?” He whirled away, shoving a hand through his darkened locks.
“You can’t fix it. It is what it is.” She thought of Alika’s broken body, of his missing arm. Tears welled up. “None of us is getting what he or she wants.” She covered her mouth with a hand.
Connor stopped, looked at her. “Alika. That’s who you love.”
Sophie turned to look out the window. “He’s paid too high a price to be with me. I won’t see him again. Ever.”
“And Jake is...”
“Jake is necessary.”
“That sounds like love.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I just know I need him.”
They looked at each other a long moment.
“All right then.” Connor squared his shoulders, rolled them back. “If you need him, then you need him. I love you enough to want you to have whatever you need, even if it’s someone else. That’s what love is, Sophie.”
“I’m sorry,” Sophie groaned. “This hurts.”
“We won’t discuss this situation again—but let me know if it changes, will you? Because I want you, and always will.” Connor’s eyes could still see her soul, even with those contacts on. “We’ll meet soon, to discuss liaising with the CIA and a plan to penetrate the Yām Khûmkạn.” He blew out a breath. “I won’t be watching you anymore. You have Jake to protect you now.”
He walked out and shut the door a little harder than necessary.
“I don’t need anyone to protect me,” Sophie muttered. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and stared out at the view. Her broken ribs ached.
Just keep breathing. Breathe, breathe, breathe. It will get better someday.
Jake opened the door. “What was that about? Hamilton seemed pissed off.”
“It’s nothing. We’re meeting tomorrow.” Sophie didn’t turn.
Jake came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her stiff body close, tucking her head in beside his chin. His warmth surrounded her, his strength supported her. Gradually Sophie relaxed, sinking into him with a little sigh, closing her eyes, letting go.
“Want to break in this desk properly?” His voice was a sexy rumble beside her ear.
She laughed. No one made her laugh like Jake did. And in the war against her inner darkness, laughter was a sword.
Turn the page to keep reading book eight of the Paradise Crime Thrillers, Wired Fear!
Wired Fear
Paradise Crime Thrillers Book 8
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chapter One
Day One
Revenge was best seasoned with anticipation.
Akane Chang opened the locked metal box his cousin handed him. His favorite weapons lay nestled in dense foam: a combat blade in a scabbard, a sleek Ruger 1911 semi-auto pistol with a box of ammo.
He took the knife out of the box and drew it from its sheath. He waved it back and forth. Blue fire gleamed along its honed edge.
So many good times with that blade…
Akane glanced at his cousin, District Attorney Alan Chang, a man with a lot to lose if his role in helping Akane escape ever came to light. Alan Chang had provided access and intel to members of their crime syndicate, who’d sprung Akane during transport to the county jail after his trial.
“I’m only doing this because I
think the family needs you.” Alan wet his lips. “This can’t ever come back on me.”
“Of course, it won’t come back on you.” Akane smiled. “I owe you. And it’s good to have me owe you.”
“What’s your plan?” Pearls of sweat dotted the DA’s forehead and his eyes hadn’t left the blade as Akane played with it.
“Better that you don’t know.” Akane tested the blade’s sharpness on a callous on his thumb. The skin sliced off as easy as butter.
“Well then. Your new ID and some cash are right over there.” Alan pointed a latex-gloved hand toward a wallet resting on the apartment’s side table. “Don’t call me. Don’t contact me.”
“Surprised you didn’t wear a hair net and crime scene booties when you came to visit,” Akane mocked.
Alan stared at him resentfully. “I was never here, you understand?”
Akane didn’t respond. Alan Chang was in a handy position as DA. That position would be even better if he got a judgeship—and while he still wanted something, Akane had leverage on him. Didn’t mean they had to like each other.
“Good luck.” The DA left as silently as he’d come, locking the door.
Akane loaded the Ruger, enjoying the click of the heavy cartridges as he filled the magazine, the smell of gun oil, the solid heft of the pistol in his hand. He’d felt so powerless throughout the trial. No more.
He had a revenge list half a dozen names long. His brother Byron’s name would have been right at the top if someone hadn’t already offed him. Now that Byron was out of the way, that bitch female investigator and her asshole partner who’d testified against him had moved up.
But first he needed to keep his eye on the ball and make sure his position as head of the family was locked down. To that end, he had messages out to the leaders of the Changs’ gambling, drug dealing, and prostitution networks. Once he was in charge on the Big Island, Akane could take all the time he wanted to hunt down those who’d done him wrong.
Akane got up and checked the condo’s refrigerator. Empty but for a bottle of Aloha Shoyu. Nothing in the cupboards but a can of macadamia nuts. He opened it and popped a handful into his mouth while staring out the window at the condo’s view of Waikiki Harbor and the ocean beyond. The clang of wind in rigging and the squeak of boats in their moorings made an odd kind of music. A friend of a friend owned this place, and if he hadn’t been hungry and bored, he wouldn’t have minded being stuck here until he figured out how to get back to the Big Island undetected.
A few minutes later, a coded knock at the door brought Akane to undo the heavy locks to friendlier company than his starchy DA cousin.
Lee Chow, his right-hand man for many years, stood in the doorway with one arm around a brunette, the other around a blonde. “Yo, boss! I brought good times.”
“Nice! Go get comfortable, ladies.” Akane cocked his head, indicating for the women to enter. The women sashayed past Akane into the front room. He tugged Chow inside, out of earshot, and spoke with his back to them. “What do they know about me?”
Chow’s battle-scarred face scrunched in a frown. “The bitches only know that you’re an important dude that wants to party.”
Akane glanced over at the scantily dressed women, whispering and cooing as they took in the apartment’s spectacular downtown view. “Well, they’re right about that. I do want to party.” He grinned, thinking of the surprises he had in store. “Hope you told them about my alternative tastes.”
“Naw, boss. None of my business.” Chow kept his gaze down, respectful. The man had never had a clue about Akane’s jungle hunting ground outside of Volcano Park, a secret he hadn’t shared with anyone but those involved. Having it all come out at trial was humiliating, not something Akane was sure how to turn to his advantage.
But Chow’s vote of confidence by bringing the women was promising.
“Thanks, Lee. You can leave now. Go get us some booze, food, bleach, a big sheet of plastic, and some duct tape.”
Chow whipped his head up, eyes wide.
Akane guffawed at Chow’s stricken expression. “Just kidding. Me and the girls are going to have some fun. Come back soon with enough booze and food, and I might let you join me.” He shoved Chow out and shut the door on his lieutenant’s worried face.
Chapter Two
The dancers whirled across the stage in perfect unison, the stomp and slide of bare feet on the stage emphasized by a hypnotic Hawaiian chant and the thump of an ipu gourd. Fern headdresses gave a feeling of royalty, emphasized by swirling capes of long black hair whirling around their hips. Full skirts, covered with an additional layer of ti leaf, both concealed and enhanced every crisp, defined movement as the dancers told a story through their bodies. Even security specialist Sophie Ang, unfamiliar with hula, could feel the mana, Hawaiian spiritual power, vibrating through the performance.
As the action came to a crescendo and ended with the dancers’ arms raised high and heads bowed, Sophie’s eyes prickled at the beauty and pathos. Watching on the small screen of the phone the client held was mesmerizing; Sophie couldn’t imagine how intense it would be to witness such a spectacle up close, in person. “Thank you for showing me that video. It really helps me to understand why the Merrie Monarch Festival is such an important cultural event here in Hilo.”
A mixed Hawaiian Asian female who looked approximately thirty years old, the client wore the kind of fitted floral-print muumuu that indicated a service industry job. A name tag over her left breast spelled out KIM KAUWA. Sophie whisked a price tag off one of a pair of chairs in front of her desk, new since they’d opened the Security Solutions extension office two weeks ago. “Please, come sit down. Can we get you something to drink?”
“No. In fact I can’t stay long.” Kim’s eyes darted nervously to the door, where Sophie’s partner Jake Dunn lounged, arms crossed on his chest.
“Jake, come in and join us. Let’s all get comfortable. Tell us how we can serve you.” Sophie was getting better at the social niceties, though it was still a mental effort to grapple with the mechanics of engaging with others after so many years behind a computer.
Kim took a seat, her purse clutched close. “I looked up your business online. The website said Security Solutions had a brand-new location here on the Big Island, and I just…wondered if you might be able to help me. Us.”
“That’s what we’re here for. Helping people.” Jake extended a hand and Kim shook it briefly. Seated, he was still an intimidating sight, his muscular torso packed into a black polo-style Security Solutions logo shirt that left no doubt that he spent a good deal of his free time at the gym.
Jake made small talk with Kim while Sophie scanned the intake form the woman had filled out in the lobby with their receptionist, Felicia.
Kim was thirty-eight years old, lived in Hilo, and worked for the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board as well as Hawaiian Airlines customer service. She was also a volunteer organizer for the famous annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival that was taking place soon in Hilo. Under “Needs that bring you to us,” Kim had listed, “confidential concerns regarding the Merrie Monarch Festival.”
Sophie looked up and met the woman’s dark brown eyes squarely. “Before you get into telling us about the situation that brings you here, and I gather it’s sensitive from the way you filled out the form, let me assure you that this initial consultation is completely confidential. We will not disclose anything about your work with our agency to anyone. But perhaps you should know a little bit more about what we do so that you can make an informed decision.”
Sophie described the various programs that Security Solutions offered, from the patented artificial intelligence “nanny cam” software installed at high security locations to regular security and alarm monitoring. Bodyguarding, kidnap rescue, and private investigator services were also available, wherein she, Jake, or both, served as private detectives working on behalf of the client or a lawyer.
“That’s what I need. Private investigation.” Kim knotted h
er fingers together over her purse. “I’m representing the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Board in this situation. We give a big grant to the Festival every year. I’m also one of the organizers. Well, it seems some of the Festival’s money is missing.”
Any investigation that could be done online, such as tracking a money trail, was a strength for Sophie, and she exchanged a glance with Jake. “Tell us more.”
“It’s all very sensitive. The event is so culturally important that even asking questions about something like where the money went…well, I could get plenty of pilikia.” Kim slipped into pidgin, the Hawaiian creole dialect Sophie was becoming familiar with.
“Don’t know pilikia, but I get the feeling it’s not good,” Jake said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the police with your concern?”
“Oh no. No!” Kim recoiled. “Everybody is related to somebody on this island and has connections—word would get out we’re looking into it for sure if I went to the Hilo PD, and we just aren’t ready with anything concrete.” She took a deep breath, obviously calming herself with an effort. “Let me begin at the beginning. The reason I chose Security Solutions was that you’re new in town, and no offense, but you’re haoles.” She looked Sophie up and down, clearly taking her golden-brown skin into consideration. “Outsiders. That’s what haole means, and that’s what I need. A confidential team, with no local networks, to dig into where the money’s going.”
“How much money are we talking about?” Jake leaned forward, dark brows knit over steely-gray eyes.
“A hundred grand. That’s just the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s money. There might be more that’s missing, I don’t know. The Merrie Monarch competition is supported by a lot of bigger businesses such as Hawaiian Airlines. I work for them too and liaise with their charity office to facilitate support of the Festival.” Kim coughed a little, hiding her mouth with a hand. “Maybe I need something to drink, after all.”
