by Kathi Daley
“Do you want to stop?”
I took a bite of the pastry, which really was very good. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to figure this whole thing out and part of me doesn’t want to know.”
“The only one left on our list is Roxy. I guess we can see what she has to say and then decide.”
“Yeah, okay. That sounds like a good plan.”
Roxy was the only female food truck vendor in the immediate area, although there were quite a few on the island overall. She was a native Hawaiian and had lived on the North Shore her entire life. Most of the time she knew everything that was going on with everyone, which made her a good source of information. Roxy’s clientele differed somewhat from the other vendors we’d spoken to because she served fresh seafood and gourmet salads rather than burgers and sandwiches. Because her customers were unlikely to want a burger for a buck—or any amount of money, for that matter—she hadn’t suffered nearly as much as her counterparts when Blaze showed up and opened shop.
“Hey, Lani. I have an ahi salad that’s to die for if you’re in the mood for something light,” the petite woman in a blue T-shirt and cutoff shorts informed me.
“That sounds really good.” I glanced at Luke.
“I’ll have one as well,” Luke added.
“It looks like you’re busy today,” I offered conversationally.
“I’m always busy. Gourmet trucks are killing it on the island. At least mine is. I know some of the guys have been struggling lately, though.”
“Speaking of struggling, I guess you heard about the burger-for-a-buck guy?”
Roxy nodded. “Everyone’s talking about it. I hate to see anyone end up shark bait, but he was bad news. Lots of folks who’d been friends their whole lives started bickering after he showed up. If you ask me, whoever offed the guy did us all a favor.”
“That seems to be the popular sentiment. I don’t suppose you have any theories as to who’s responsible for his untimely demise?”
“Theories, sure. Proof, not so much.”
“A lot of folks think Komo was behind the whole thing.”
“Komo? Nah. I would be surprised if that were true. Yes, Komo was very vocal in his anger toward the man. He had a petition going around to force him to leave the island. Not that it would have gone anywhere. I think the burger-for-a buck dude had connections. Komo might have been getting frustrated with his lack of progress, but he wouldn’t have killed the guy. He’s nothing but a big teddy bear.” I was relieved to hear Roxy’s assessment. Komo was a big teddy bear and it really was hard time to believe he would harm anyone. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. One minute I was certain Komo would never kill a man, even one he was so angry with, and the next I was just as certain he had.
“I don’t suppose you have a theory as to what Komo meant when he said he was going to get rid of the guy?” I asked.
“He didn’t say.”
“And you have no idea where he might be now?”
“Sorry. I really don’t.”
“If you do see him can you please tell him I need to speak to him? It’s urgent.”
Roxy shrugged. “Sure. Okay.”
Chapter 9
We were halfway through our salads when Brody called Luke to inform him that when he went to check on the horses he’d found Lucifer down. Luke told him to call the vet, then jumped up and headed to the truck. I’d never been a fan of horses, but I found I was as worried about Lucifer as I would have been if the animal that was ill was my dog. During the past year, the giant black horse with the huge dark eyes had wormed his way into my heart.
“I hope he’s okay,” I said as Luke sped toward the ranch, exceeding the speed limit by a good thirty miles an hour.
“Me too. He seemed fine when I checked on him earlier. In fact, he seemed better than he’d been in days. I can’t imagine what could have happened.”
“Maybe it’s not serious. Maybe there’s a simple explanation for everything that has been going on with him.”
Luke didn’t answer. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell by the tightness around his mouth that he thought whatever was going on was serious indeed. I wished there was something I could do, something I could say. But I didn’t know the first thing about horses, so I just sat quietly and prayed that the black stallion would be okay.
When we arrived at the ranch Luke went directly to the barn. The vet’s car pulled in shortly after. I knew I’d just be in the way, so as worried as I was, I went to the house. We hadn’t taken the dogs with us that afternoon and I knew they’d need to go out for a run, so I changed into my walking shoes and headed to the same bluff we’d climbed earlier in the day. I was halfway up when my phone rang.
“Hey, Janice. What’s up?”
“You have to do something about Tammy Rhea and Emmy Jean.”
“Okay.” I paused and waved the dogs back to me. “What do I have to do?”
“They’ve completely taken over my wedding. It’s like I have no say in any of the decisions.”
I should have seen this coming. I’m not sure why I hadn’t. The Southern sisters were both opinionated and pushy.
“Can you give me an example?” I asked as I started up the narrowest part of the trail.
“The flowers, for one. I told them that I didn’t want to worry about carrying a bouquet; that instead, RJ and I would both wear leis.”
“I love that idea.”
“Well, apparently the sisters didn’t because the florist just called to confirm a huge order of flowers for the day of the party; several bouquets as well as flowers for all the tables.”
I let out a deep breath. Partly because the news about the party was causing me stress and partly because I was out of breath from the steep climb.
“Why would the sisters care whether you carried a bouquet? I thought you were getting married at a justice of the peace, without guests, and then coming back to the ranch for the reception.”
“That’s what we decided, but Emmy Jean and Tammy Rhea have other ideas. They’re planning a big do. I wish we’d just gone ahead and eloped and never agreed to this party.”
“I’ll talk to them,” I promised.
“Why are you breathing so heavily? I haven’t caught you at a bad time, have I?”
The way Janice said bad time I knew exactly what she meant by it. Ew.
“As if I’d answer the phone if it really was a bad time. I’m hiking up the bluff with the dogs.”
“I see. So you’ll tell them no flowers and no guests I haven’t personally invited?”
“I’ll tell them.”
“If they can’t find it within themselves to remember that this is my wedding and therefore should be done my way, the party is off.”
“I’ll make them understand.”
“Thank you. RJ is waiting for me, so I should go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I hung up and slipped my phone into my pocket. I had a feeling my conversation with the sisters would have a stronger impact if I did it in person. I’d try to stop by to speak to them after work tomorrow. They did have a way of steamrolling over everyone when it came to social events, but Janice was right; it was her wedding and she deserved to have it her way.
When I arrived at the top of the bluff I sat down on a large rock and looked out over the sea. I knew if I waited long enough the sunset would be beautiful, but the hike back to the house was a long one and it would most likely be dark before I arrived. I found myself wishing I had thought to bring a flashlight. Of course watching a romantic sunset would be a lot more meaningful if I’d waited for a time when Luke and I could see it together. All this talk about weddings was making me think about Luke’s idea of a horseback wedding. I’d hoped he was kidding, but somehow I had the feeling he wasn’t. Not that I’d ever thought about Luke and me marrying. Okay, maybe sometimes. But if that was in our future it was a long way off, so there was no use worrying about the details now.
I glanced toward the house, which looke
d quiet. I knew Luke, the vet, and probably Brody were in the barn and would most likely remain there until any danger had passed. Waiting wasn’t my strong suit, but in this case it was probably the most helpful thing I could do. I was about to head back down the trail when Duke started to growl. I paused to listen, but all I could hear was the rustling of the shrubbery in the evening breeze.
I remembered the camp I’d found and realized I might not be alone. Should I check it out? I glanced back toward the ranch and then called the dogs to me. I really did need to get going if I didn’t want to get caught in the dark, and if there was someone lurking in the shadows it was probably best not to confront them.
I was almost back to the house when my phone binged. It was a text from Kevin: Shredder had just turned up at the complex. I hated to miss him if he was only stopping in briefly, as he had before, so I left a note for Luke, saying I was running back to my place for a few minutes. I debated interrupting him to tell him in person but decided that because I’d only be gone for a short time, the note would suffice.
I drove as fast as I dared and headed straight to Shredder’s place when I arrived at the condos. The unit was dark. I knocked anyway because I’d seen his car in the parking lot, but he didn’t answer. The sky had darkened by this point, but he might have taken Riptide out for an evening run, so I headed toward the beach. I didn’t see him, but I knew he tended to walk toward the right, so I headed in that direction. Maybe I should have brought Sandy. Sandy loved Shredder and had a sense when he was nearby. He probably would have found him in a minute.
I was about to turn around when I noticed a figure in the distance. All I could see was a silhouette, but it seemed man-size, so I went in that direction. I had just passed an area where trees grew close to the waterline when someone grabbed me from behind. My instinct was to scream, but the person who’d grabbed me had put a hand over my mouth.
I struggled until whoever it was whispered in my ear. “Lani, it’s Shredder.”
I stopped struggling.
“I’m going to remove my hand, but you can’t make a sound. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
Shredder took his hand from my mouth and stepped back. I looked at him and shrugged, as if to say what the heck?
He pulled me into the trees, continuing to speak in a barely discernible voice. “I need to meet with the man waiting down the beach. I’m hoping he didn’t see you, but if he did it’s important he doesn’t know we spoke. Wait here and I’ll come back.”
“What’s going on?” I whispered back.
“I’ll tell you after. Right now I need you to be invisible.”
Okay, I mouthed.
I watched as Shredder continued down the beach. I could see the man he was talking to gesturing and looking in my direction. Between the darkness and the cover provided by the trees I was certain he couldn’t see me, but I suspected he was asking about the woman he had seen earlier who had disappeared so abruptly. I didn’t know what Shredder was telling him, or what he had gotten himself in to, but based on his wild arm motions I suspected it was fairly serious.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it looked as if Shredder handed something to the man. They talked for another minute, then both turned and headed in opposite directions, Shredder walking toward me, the other man headed back down the beach.
“What was that all about?” I asked after Shredder joined me.
“We need to talk.”
“Do you want to go to your place?”
“No. Let’s just have a seat over there.”
I followed Shredder to the rock, sat down, and waited for him to fill me in.
“I saw you at the restaurant. I assume you were following me, or perhaps you were following Kensington,” Shredder accused.
“Kekoa told me she saw you visit the man in bungalow six, who she suspected was a fed. You have this whole mysterious past going on, so I was curious. I knew Kensington had a reservation at the steak house, so I went there too to see who he met for dinner.” I decided not to admit I’d been in the man’s room and had been hiding under his bed when he’d made a phone call referring to a new lead. “Why were you meeting with him?”
“He’s just an old friend.”
“Really?” I asked, a tone of doubt evident in my voice.
“Really,” Shredder insisted.
“So where have you been all week?”
“Around.”
“Around where?”
“Just around.” Shredder let out a frustrated groan. “I know you’re curious, but in this case I really need you to leave things alone. Digging around in the wrong place could very well get you killed.”
“Tell me what’s going on and I won’t have to dig.”
“Lani, please. I’m not asking,” he warned, “I’m telling you to leave this alone.”
“Telling me?” I said in a high, screechy voice. “Who do you think you are, my mother?”
He just looked at me. I could see he was considering the situation. At some point he must have realized I was never going to let things go because his expression softened into one of resignation.
“I’ll tell you what you want to know, but you can’t tell anyone else. Not even Luke.”
I hesitated. I didn’t like the idea of keeping things from Luke.
“Promise me or I won’t talk.”
“Okay.” I sighed. “I promise.”
Shredder sat down next to me before he began. “Kensington is on Oahu to investigate a tip he received that at least one of the precious gems we know were stolen from various locations around the world ended up here. His source indicated the gems were being smuggled into the States a little at a time via one of the surfers on the professional circuit.”
I paused to let that sink in. Shredder’s big secret had to do with a smuggling ring? “So Kensington is CIA? Interpol?”
“That’s classified.”
“And you’re helping him with his investigation?”
“In a way. Kensington needed an inside man to check things out, so he asked if I’d be willing to enter the surfing competition being held this weekend and do a bit of snooping. I agreed.”
“So are you CIA?”
“No. Not CIA.”
“Do you work for someone else?”
“Not anymore.”
“Who did you used to work for?”
“That’s classified,” he repeated.
“Why did you quit?”
“Several years ago my partner was killed and I was injured during an operation. After my partner died I realized life was short, so I decided to retire. Given the covert nature of the division in which I was involved, the real me had to disappear.”
“What’s your real name?”
“Classified.”
“Are you making all this up?”
Shredder winked. “That’s classified as well.”
“Okay, whatever. The guy you just met on the beach…was that Kensington?”
“No, that was someone else.”
“Who?”
“Classified.”
I rolled my eyes. I had a feeling Shredder was enjoying our little game, but I’d come about to the end of my patience. “So is that it? You’re just going to enter the competition this weekend and see what you can find out?”
“That’s about it.”
Talk about anticlimactic. I felt like there was lots more to this, but I wasn’t sure what it could be. “If the only thing that’s going on is that you’ve agreed to enter a surfing competition to help this Kensington guy out, where have you been?”
“Classified.”
“I have a very real feeling you’re messing with me. There has to be more going on.”
“Look, I’ve already told you more than I should have. Please just let me do my job. Stop following me, stop following Kensington, and stop digging around in Whitmore’s death.”
I frowned. “Whitmore’s death? What does Whitmore’s death have to do with this whole
thing?”
Shredder didn’t answer. I had the distinct feeling he was regretting bringing Blaze into the conversation.
“He was part of the smuggling operation,” I realized and said so aloud before Shredder could answer. “The surfers were smuggling the stolen gems into the country and Whitmore was fencing them. His food truck was just a front for the fencing operation. But why him? And why here? Why even smuggle the gems into the country? Sounds risky. Why not just fence them overseas or wherever it was they were stolen from?”
“You ask too many questions, and in this case questions can get you dead. I need you to promise me that you’ll stay out of this.”
“The gems aren’t being exchanged for currency, are they?” I asked, completely ignoring the frantic expression on Shredder’s face. “The gems are the currency. Whitmore was brokering an exchange for something else. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I think this conversation is over.”
“Whatever Whitmore was selling must have been worth a lot to someone to set up such an elaborate system. First the gems had to be stolen and then they had to be smuggled onto the island and then they had to be transferred to whoever had whatever it is someone wanted so badly. It has to be information or intelligence of some sort. I bet it’s a threat to national security. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Are you NSA?”
Shredder didn’t respond.
“It really doesn’t matter. How can I help?”
Shredder let out a frustrated groan. I looked directly at him, and he suddenly looked a lot more formidable than I’d ever seen him. It occurred to me that my quiet, easygoing friend was hiding a very serious and somewhat scary side I’d never known he had.
“The surf competition is open to amateurs who qualify,” I continued. “The qualifying round is tomorrow. I have some vacation time saved up and I’ve been thinking about trying a local competition, so I’ll find someone to cover for me at the resort. If I can make the cut I can help you spy.”
“You’re going to do this no matter what I say, aren’t you?”
“I am. If you’re a smart guy—and I think you are—I’m sure you’ll realize it would be best to work together. Maybe we should come up with a plan to meet.”
