Black Sands

by Colleen Coble

  They reached the bank. “See anyone watching us?” she asked.

  Tomi kept his gaze on the doors. “The black car parked in front of the fruit smoothie place.” He started to open the door, and Mano stopped him.

  “I’ll be a gentleman and hold the door open for you two ladies,” he said.

  Black Sands

  Tomi rolled his eyes, but stepped back and let Mano get the door. Inside, Annie glanced around. There were five customers. “The restrooms are down this hall.” She led the way past the water fountain to the ladies’ room. The building smelled of fresh paint and carpet from the recent remodeling. She liked the new seafoam green color that had replaced the institutional beige.

  The hallway was empty. “Wait here a minute.” She stuck her head inside and looked around the restroom, newly papered with hibiscus-print wallpaper. There were two stalls but no feet under them. She went back to the hall. “It’s all clear.”

  Tomi ducked inside. “Stand guard at the door.” He washed his face, whipped off the wig and dress, and stuffed them in his satchel. “Give me your dress.” She pulled it off, and he put it in the satchel.

  “I’ll see if it’s clear while you wash off the lipstick.” She stuck her head out the door.

  “I told a woman the restroom was full,” Mano told her. “She looked at me like I was a slug.” Though he was complaining, his grin told a different story.

  She chuckled, then motioned to Tomi, who was wiping off his mouth. “All clear.” They stepped out of the restroom and moved toward the teller window. They got in line behind a woman with two children. Mano began making faces at the baby on her shoulder and had the little girl giggling and hiding her face in a few minutes.

  The mother turned around. “You must be a dad to be so good with kids.”

  “Not yet,” he said.

  Annie couldn’t help but wonder what a child of theirs might look like. Mano’s gaze caught hers, and she looked away, wondering if he could read her thoughts on her face. She was such a dreamer.

  The woman in front of them concluded her business, and Tomi stepped to the window and produced his ID. “I’ve lost my bankbook on this account.” He slid the number to her. “It’s on a New York bank. I want to move the money to a new account before someone finds it and gains access to my funds.”

  The teller looked at his driver’s license and then back to Tomi’s face. She punched some numbers into the computer. After a few seconds, she frowned. “Let me get my manager.”

  Annie’s stomach tightened. Tomi’s complexion had paled to a sickly yellow. “Maybe I should get out of here,” he muttered.

  “No, it’s probably standard procedure,” Mano said. “Just hold tight.”

  The back of Annie’s neck prickled in spite of Mano’s soothing, matter-of-fact voice. She wanted to finish this and get outside to the sunshine. Tomi’s tension was getting to her. She glanced around but didn’t see anyone watching them. “What about when we leave? Won’t the men outside recognize us?”

  Tomi shrugged. “We can put the dresses back on.”

  “Or just run for the car,” Mano said.

  “Come on, come on,” Tomi muttered, glancing at his watch.

  Finally the teller came back with an older woman. Tomi’s face cleared. “Margaret, you can tell the teller who I am.”

  The woman’s eyes widened. “Tomi Tagama. I couldn’t believe it when my teller said someone came in yesterday claiming to be you. I called the police, but the man was gone by the time they got here. I froze the account and was going to call your sister.” She glanced at Annie, then back to Tomi. “I can’t believe you’re here and alive. What a happy day.” She reached across the counter and patted his hand.

  “Good thinking, Margaret. Thank you. Can I please transfer the money to a new account?”

  “Of course, of course.” She moved to the computer and began the transaction. Minutes later she had him sign several papers and then handed him a new bankbook. “Try to keep better track of this one,” she said with a teasing light in her eyes. “I didn’t know the navy paid so well, Tomi.”

  He winked at her. “It’s not my money. If I’d lost it, I would have been in deep doo-doo.”

  She chuckled. “I’ve missed you, Tomi. It’s good to see you resurrected. I’m sure your family is ecstatic. I’m surprised news of your return hasn’t spread all over the town.”

  “It will now, I’m sure,” he said. Her laughter followed them toward the door. He paused and looked outside. Several olive-skinned men were approaching the bank. “Uh-oh, I’d better get out the other door.” He turned and bolted for the hallway by the bathroom.

  Annie ran after her brother, but he’d vanished out the exit door. She poked her head out, but all she saw was an empty alley. Mano joined her, and she slumped against him. “He’s gone.”

  He touched her elbow and guided her down the alley in time to see the men enter the bank. She glanced at the parked cars. “They all seem to be inside. Let’s make a run for it while we can.”

  Mano guided her down the street. “We probably better tell Sam that Tomi is back in town. He’s going to hear about it, and he’ll be furious we’ve kept him in the dark.”

  “I suppose.” Annie stopped. “We’d better figure out what we’re going to tell him though. We can’t tell him about the money.”

  “No, we can’t.”

  “We’ll just say Tomi was picked up by some Iranians and just now made it back to the States. It’s the truth.”

  It would have to do, but she knew Sam would be suspicious. “Lead the way.” They went down the street to the police station.

  Sam was at the front desk when they arrived. He smiled when he saw them. “I was just going to call you. I got a call from someone who said they saw your sister in Hilo yesterday with a man. She was laughing and seemed happy. It looks like I was right all along.”

  Annie closed her eyes then opened them again. “Thank you, God. Who was this caller?”

  “It was her friend, CeCe.”

  “CeCe? Why didn’t she call me? That makes no sense.”

  Sam shrugged. “She said Leilani asked her to get me to call off the dogs. I’m sure she knew I’d tell you.”

  “I don’t understand why Leilani didn’t call me. I’d better talk to CeCe.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  Annie turned, then remembered why they’d come in the first place. “There’s something else. I wanted you to hear it from me first.”

  “Oh?”

  “Tomi isn’t dead after all. He was picked up by some Iranians and just now made it back to us. Isn’t that wonderful?” She forced herself to gush to make sure Sam wasn’t suspicious.

  Sam’s face brightened. “You’re kidding me! Where is he?” His smile was genuinely delighted.

  “I’m not sure, but I’ll tell him to stop by and see you.”

  “I can’t wait to see him.” Sam beamed. “Great news all around for your family. I’m glad this has ended so well on both counts.”

  Annie could tell he was congratulating himself on being right about Leilani. But something didn’t sit right with her. She and Mano chatted a few more minutes, then exited the station.

  “We need to see CeCe now,” Mano said as soon as they stepped into the sunshine. “This stinks like dead mackerel.”

  Seventeen

  Annie glanced at her watch. “CeCe’s probably at lunch now. She and Leilani always used to go to the Kilauea Iki Overlook with their lunch. We could try there.” They got in the car, and passing through a shower in the rain forest, drove to the park. Several vehicles were in the parking area at the overlook.

  “There she is,” Mano said.

  CeCe sat on the stone fence. One foot swung carelessly back and forth as she talked to another young woman about her age. “And I told him no way was I going to give back the ring. If he was going to dump me, I was getting something out of the relationship. Of course that just made him livid.” She licked a piece of peanut but
ter from her thumb.

  “CeCe, we need to talk to you,” Annie said, breaking into the conversation before CeCe could draw another breath.

  CeCe’s eyes widened. “Annie. Hi.” She sounded breathless, and her giggle came out nervously. “What are you doing here?”

  “We just talked to Sam. He said you saw Leilani.”

  The other girl got up. “I’ll be in the car.” She hurried away as though she wanted nothing to do with the conversation.

  “That’s right.” Her head bobbed up and down.

  “Who was the guy she was with?”

  “Um, I don’t know. I didn’t recognize him.” CeCe looked away, back toward the rain forest surrounding the outlook.

  Annie grew cold, though the breeze was warm and fragrant. “What was she wearing?’

  “Uh, let’s see. That new red and black aloha top with black denim shorts. Those ones I’ve tried to get her to let me borrow.”

  Annie crossed her arms. “That’s not possible. That top is still in her room.”

  “Oh, is it? Maybe she bought one like it.” Her voice faltered, and she stood and brushed crumbs from her shirt. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

  “You didn’t see her at all, did you, CeCe? Why would you lie to Sam?”

  “Don’t tell him.” CeCe’s voice rose. “Tab will . . .”

  “Tab Watson? He told you to lie?”

  CeCe nodded. “He wanted to get Sam off his back. He thought if you were convinced Leilani was all right, the cops would lay off.”

  Tab Watson. The last person to see Leilani alive. Nausea roiled in her stomach. Did that mean Leilani was dead?

  “Don’t say anything, please,” CeCe begged.

  “Why would you lie for Tab?”

  “Well, we’ve gone out a couple of times,” CeCe said.

  “I thought you said he didn’t appeal to you,” Mano put in.

  CeCe shrugged. “I lied, okay? He says he preferred me to Leilani all along, but Leilani was more forward, and he thought I didn’t like him.”

  “Oh brother,” Mano said, his voice heavy with disgust. “Let’s go, Annie.” He pointed at CeCe. “You tell Aki that if he’s hurt Leilani, I’m going to take him down.”

  “Who’s Aki?” CeCe asked as they walked away.

  Mano whirled. “Ask your boyfriend why he uses an assumed name. His real name is Kim Aki.”

  Annie could feel Mano’s anger coming off in waves. Was it because CeCe had said Leilani was a flirt, or was it because of the lies? She wished she knew what his feelings for Leilani were now. “What’s this about Tab Watson being Kim Aki?” She got in the car.

  Mano slammed his door. “Me and Aki have had a run-in before. He’s trouble, and I have a feeling he’s involved in this up to his neck. I’m going to have another talk with him later.” He glanced at his watch. “What about that place where Leilani and Tomi had their clubhouse? Let’s go check it out.”

  There was nothing better to do. She nodded. “It’s out toward our house.”

  He started the car, and she directed him. They were both silent as the town fell behind them. “There,” she said. “Turn here.” She pointed to a dirt track that was practically obscured by overgrowth. “Take this about two miles in toward the volcano.”

  “Seems too spooky a place for kids to hang out. This is on your property, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “At the northern edge.”

  He slowed the car, but it still jolted when it hit the potholes in the lane. “No one’s been out through here in a while. The last rain washed away any tire tracks.”

  “She could have walked,” Annie pointed out.

  “Leilani’s not exactly one for physical exercise. This is a long way back.”

  “I think I know my own sister better than you do,” she snapped. She looked away. He was going to think she was a shrew. She told herself she didn’t care what he thought of her, but she knew it was a lie. She cared. Way too much. “Sorry,” she said softly. She pointed. “There’s the lava tube they called their clubhouse.”

  He stopped the car and twisted in the seat to look at her. “Look, Annie, let’s get this clear between us. You’ve been prickly ever since I told you that I thought you were pretty. I’m not a womanizer. I don’t say things I don’t mean. When a man gives you a compliment, you’re supposed to say mahalo, not turn it into some kind of big production where you question his integrity.” He got out and slammed the car door.

  From the set of his shoulders, she could tell he was mad. Could he really be over Leilani? Was that even possible? She was afraid to hope. Her emotions were too raw to handle one more problem.

  She let her gaze travel over his husky build. Pure Hawaiian, full of the aloha spirit of giving, and passionate about the people and things he loved. For a moment, she let herself dream about what it would be like to be one of the things Mano Oana loved. It was too wondrous to fathom.

  Annie got out of the car and went to stand beside him at the opening to the cave. She touched his arm and felt the firm muscles under the skin. “Sorry, you’re right. I know you better than to think you’d lie to me.”

  He turned to look down at her. Before she could think about it, she reached up and touched his cheek, then stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips across his. She heard his swift intake of breath, then he caught her in his arms. She closed her eyes when his kiss gained in intensity. She’d never been so thoroughly kissed. In fact, the only time she’d been kissed by someone other than a family member had been in third grade when Johnny Choo kissed her for putting a Band-Aid on his leg.

  She wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of emotion that left her shaking when he finally released her. “Wow,” she whispered.

  His dark eyes regarded her with amusement and something she thought might be tenderness. “I think I’d like to try that again when we have more time.”

  Heat flared in her chest and spread to her face. “Fawn and I have a big Scrabble tournament on for tonight. Want to come?”

  “Can I get you in the moonlight afterwards?”

  “Maybe.” She smiled, her heart as light as the honeycreeper that soared from the tree above her head.

  Mano walked along the rough a’a lava rock toward the lava tube. Black gravel crunched beneath his boots. Little vegetation had returned to the area, and the sparse landscape was like another world. Light shone from the other end of the hollow tube and illuminated the length of the enclosure. Filmy roots dangled like spiderwebs from the ceiling.

  “I can see how this would be intriguing to kids.” He stooped to enter the tube.

  “Watch the stalactites,” Annie warned. She pointed to the rock formations that hung like black icicles from the ceiling. The floor was flat and level with high water marks on the walls.

  Annie pointed out a depression in the side of the lava tube. “Look, someone has been here.”

  Blankets, a cooler, and some Styrofoam cups lay on the smooth floor. Tucked away like this, they almost escaped Mano’s notice. There was nothing to indicate who the items belonged to. He glanced at her. She wore a closed expression, and he wondered about her childhood and how she’d lived in the shadows of her more flamboyant siblings.

  He smoothed the blanket out. “This is our clubhouse now. Sit down.” He sank onto the blanket and folded his legs in front of him, Indian-style. “I’ve got a macadamia-nut protein bar we can share for our little picnic.” His alarm beeped on his watch, and he shut it off.

  A smile tugged at her lips, and the distant expression vanished from her eyes. “You’re nuts.” She joined him on the blanket. “You didn’t even check for scorpions or lava spiders.”

  “They wouldn’t dare interrupt our good time.” He unwrapped the protein bar, broke it in two, and gave her the bigger half. “A repast fit for a princess.”

  She tucked a strand of silky black hair behind her ear and accepted the candy. “Sugar-free. I didn’t know you were a health nut.” She smiled at him. “And Leilani was always the princes
s. I was the wicked witch.”

  “You’re too pretty to be a witch. They have crooked teeth and warts.” The dim light inside the lava tube cast a misty, ethereal halo around her. It seemed like he’d just met her, and yet he knew her so well. All the qualities he’d seen subconsciously were no longer hidden from him. She took a bite of her candy bar and didn’t answer, and he knew he’d embarrassed her again. He wondered when she’d last had a compliment. “Your father must be very proud you chose to follow in his footsteps,” he told her.

  She met his gaze. “Tomi was the one who was supposed to do it. Father groomed him from the time we were small. But Tomi has no patience for the meticulous work of geological studies. It bored him.”

  “And you love it.”

  She nodded. “The earth holds so many secrets. It’s my job to tease them out, to coax the stones and strata into revealing our past and how the earth came to be.”

  “I don’t think I’d have the patience either. I just turn to the Bible and know that God created it all.”

  She leaned her head back against the smooth, black wall. “It’s exciting to see how the Bible lines up with science.”

  “It’s science’s job to line up with the Bible.”

  She blinked. “Uh yeah, sure.”

  He wondered what her spiritual life was like. He knew her family attended church, but science had always been more important than anything else to the Tagama family. He started to say something else, but Annie held her finger to her lips.

  “Shh.”

  “What is it?” he whispered.

  “I heard something. It came from the back.”

  They both got up and crept to the back opening of the lava tube. It was barely large enough to crawl through. A thud came through, faint and to the left of the lava tube. “Let’s check it out,” Mano whispered. He wiggled through the opening, then helped Annie step out of the tube. “I think it was this way.”

  Annie’s breathing quickened, and he knew she was scared. And no wonder. The light was going now, fading fast with the coming of twilight. The sound of the waves crashing on the rocks beyond the hill sounded like a dragon gnashing its teeth. Hardly anyone ever came out here. It was Tagama land, though they never would have stopped a casual tourist from strolling the grounds.