Moon over Maalaea Bay

by H. L. Wegley

  “Perfectly clear, Mr. James.” Nguyen’s eyes stared blankly, the look of confusion.

  Clear like mud, you ignoramus. “Nguyen, why did we stop using the Internet to coordinate our business? Why was Trader running his own cell service on the Olympic Peninsula?”

  “It was becoming too easy for certain organizations to track us.” Nguyen gave a wide grin with his answer.

  “And how did that sad state of affairs come about?” James waited.

  No answer from Nguyen.

  “Wasn’t it because of the work of a handful of brilliant people, like Jennifer Akihara, that collaboration over the Internet became much easier to detect? Before you answer that, Nguyen, tell me what Jennifer Akihara was working on when she detected the operation on the Olympic Peninsula?”

  “I’m not sure. Something about cell-phone communication?” The shar-pei look returned.

  “If you had been following all of the news after she broke up the operation in the Northwest like I told you to do, you would have known that she was working on cellular- and wireless-intercept analysis, preparing to do the same thing with wireless communications that she had done with the Internet. It seems those who support terrorists don’t want the communication mechanism they are now using to be compromised. They view taking Miss Akihara—now Mrs. Brandt—as a preemptive strike.”

  “I see.” Nguyen’s eyes widened. “Iran, VEVAK, Miss Akihara, terrorists funded by Iran—it makes sense. But why didn’t they take her before this? And some place where it would be easier to—”

  “Why do you suppose, you…” James paused before the insult left his lips. Nguyen was dense, but James still needed the man’s cooperation. “No one knew what she was doing until the story about her rescuing the abducted girls hit the media. The news media leaked the information, like they always do. That’s why I subscribe to several online newspapers, and it’s why I search them every day, as you should also be doing.”

  Nguyen nodded then frowned again. “What are you going to do about the five-million-dollar offer?”

  “Either way, these Iranians are bad news, and I refuse to trust them. You know what the prince will do if we sell to another something he wants badly—something we promised him?”

  The shar-pei frown returned.

  “That’s right, Nguyen. So what do you suppose I’m going to do? Would you cross the prince?”

  “No.” Nguyen shook his wrinkled brow. “He would kill us like—”

  “Like he has several others who have crossed him. I will turn down the Iranian’s offer. Hopefully, they will go away. With all of the government scrutiny of events on this island, perhaps the VEVAK will slither out of the heat and back under their rock, never to be seen by us again.”

  Nguyen was tapping his index finger on the table to a slow steady rhythm. “When are you planning to tell the VEVAK agent of your decision?”

  James smiled. “I’m not going to tell them, Nguyen. You are. Now.”

  Nguyen’s finger stopped tapping. His hand balled into a tight fist, then opened. Slowly, he reached for his cell phone.

  16

  Katie unfolded the map of Kihei in her lap and traced their route to the house as Granddad pulled out from Kukui Mall and headed north. “In about a mile we turn right onto Kauhaa Street. The house is in a residential area south of Kauhaa.”

  Granddad glanced her way. His look was warm, caring. “I promised Lee I would keep you safe, but I know how much you want to help find Jennifer. As he stipulated, you must stay in the car, but I’ll try to park where you can see what is happening.”

  Katie studied Granddad’s kind face. In the few weeks she had known him, he had become her confidant, her mentor in karate as well as in other areas of her life. “Thanks for thinking of me, Granddad. I love you.”

  It felt awkward to say it. Perhaps because it was the first time she had expressed her feelings so openly towards him. But it was true, so very true. He was like Jennifer…well, a male version. Maybe that’s why she grew to love this man so quickly.

  A grin spread across his face. “I love you too, Katie girl. Here’s Kauhaa. Where is our next turn?”

  “Take the second right, onto Laumakani Loop. Then we start looking for a tan house with a lot of vegetation around it. So, what story are you going to tell them?”

  Granddad shot her a glance. “I’m looking for my nephew who used to live at their address, and I thought the people living there might know where he moved to.”

  “You don’t look like you’re seventy-two years old. More like fifty. Maybe you should say you’re looking for your estranged brother or sister. Be sure not to use your last name, because—”

  “Katie, you might beat me at chess almost every game, but your granddad is no fool.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. I just want so badly for this to work—to find Jenn.”

  “I know. So do I. And we will, Katie. We most certainly will.”

  When they turned onto the loop, Katie noticed that most of the driveways were lined with small palm trees and flowering bushes. With a little luck, they would be able to park near the house and still keep her hidden from anyone who might be standing at the front door.

  Granddad pointed ahead to their left. “That must be the tan house. I’ll drive by to—”

  She grabbed his arm. “Granddad, stop. Now.”

  He hit the brakes and pulled to the curb on the left side of the street, leaving a cluster of short palm trees between the car and the house. “What is it, Katie?”

  “That’s Anya ahead of us, walking towards the house.”

  “Maybe you should slide down in the seat. We can’t let her see you…yet.”

  “But we need to stop her before she gets into the house.”

  “I’ve got it all under control. You just stay out of sight, young lady. “

  Katie opened her window as she slid down in her seat but kept an ear near the window and an eye on the scene unfolding in front of her.

  Granddad stepped from the car when Anya turned from the sidewalk onto the walkway leading to the house. “Miss, can you please help me find someone?”

  Anya looked back at Granddad as he approached, but then frowned and stepped quickly towards the door. She twisted the doorknob. The door didn’t open.

  From her vantage point, Katie could still see them through gaps in the trees, and she could hear their conversation.

  “My brother used to live in this house. I was hoping someone here might be able to tell me where he moved.”

  Katie smiled. Granddad had taken her suggestion.

  Anya turned a cold shoulder to him and tried to open the door a second time.

  Seeing Anya again, Katie could feel Anya’s hands yanking her towards the van where other powerful arms had pulled Katie into a nightmare. At recalling those traumatic events, Katie’s feelings quickly mushroomed into rage at the thought of this girl doing that to Jennifer.

  Before she realized it, she was out of the car, running towards the house. She kept the trees between her and Anya until she reached a point near the house.

  Anya turned towards Granddad. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you. I think you should leave now.”

  Anya’s back was towards her. Katie slipped through the trees and approached Anya. “You mean you won’t help him.”

  Anya turned and gasped. “Katie!” Her eyes widened and she shrank back from Katie who was five inches taller than her and known at school for being exceptionally strong.

  “Katie.” Granddad’s voice grew stern. “Go back to the car now.”

  Instead Katie stepped closer. “You helped them take me and you helped take Jenn. You won’t take anyone again, ever.” Katie drove the heel of her left hand into Anya’s forehead, snapping her head back and exposing her throat. Katie’s right-hand was already balled into a fist, with her knuckles protruding. She swung her hand up in an arc that would deliver a crushing blow to Anya’s larynx.

  Katie released the jab with all her
strength, but an iron vice clamped on her wrist, stopping the jab before it gained its full power.

  “Katie! I taught you karate for defense, not to kill. You have shamed me.”

  Anya rubbed her head and the back of her neck, staring at the two people in front of her.

  Granddad’s face looked horrible, like someone in pain.

  It tore her heart to shreds.

  “And if you had killed Anya, how would that have helped Jennifer?”

  Katie eyes brimmed with tears. Without Granddad’s intervention, she would have killed the girl standing in front of her. How could I have done that? It would have been stupid. It would have been wrong.

  Anya’s eyes widened still farther, revealing a growing horror. “You mean she actually might have killed me?”

  “No.” Granddad’s gaze bored into Anya. “She most certainly would have killed you, and your death would not have been pleasant.” He looked at Katie. “Now you have two people to ask forgiveness from. Then you and I will talk about this.”

  Katie choked back a sob. “Anya,” she reached for Anya, but the girl jumped backward, banging into the door. “Anya, I won’t hurt you. Please forgive me. I don’t know how—”

  “You two are crazy.” Anya shook her head, frowning as her gaze darted from Katie to Granddad. “You try to kill me, and then you want me to forgive you? What are you doing here? Don’t bother explaining. I’m out of here.” She turned to step by Katie, but Granddad’s arm shot out and his hand clamped on the top of her shoulder.

  When the muscles in his arm flexed, Anya yelped and grimaced, but she stopped moving.

  “Be still and I will not hurt you.” Granddad spoke in a menacing tone Katie had never heard him use. “But you will tell us about my granddaughter, Jennifer. If you don’t, I am tempted to let Katie do whatever she chooses to you.”

  “No. You don’t have to do that. I’ll—”

  “No more.” Granddad’s voice had grown as cold as ice, giving Katie a chill just to hear it. “No more delays. Answer my questions. First, who is in the house?”

  “No one. I’m locked out. I think everyone left.”

  His icy voice and stare assaulted Anya again. “Where is Jennifer?” He squeezed her shoulder.

  Katie winced when Anya’s face contorted in pain. Granddad had demonstrated that painful pressure point to her.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Anya. But you must answer me now.”

  When Katie’s composure returned, she realized that this cool nineteen-year-old girl she had first met at school, a girl who could pass for fifteen, wasn’t so cool after all. She looked vulnerable, helpless, even pitiful.

  Maybe Anya didn’t want to do the things she had been doing.

  Where had that thought come from? Katie’s emotions rebelled at this suggestion. Realizing Anya obviously had chances to escape while attending school with her, Katie’s anger threatened to explode again. She stared at Anya and her gaze traced the tight lines on Anya’s face and saw the horror reflected in her eyes. Compassion for this wayward girl melted Katie’s anger.

  “They took her.” Anya’s voice was soft. She stared at the ground, avoiding eye contact.

  “When?” Granddad’s voice grew even colder.

  “Please don’t do that again.” There was complete resignation in her face and voice. “I’ll tell you everything I know.”

  “Then do it now.”

  Anya took a deep breath then blew it back out. “I walked to the coffee shop on Piikea. It was early, about 6:00 AM. They must’ve taken her while I was gone.” Anya’s tone suddenly grew caustic. “They didn’t even bother with me. I guess they planned to abandon me or send someone back to deal with me later. You know, something like you started to do, Katie.”

  Granddad’s voice maintained its threatening timbre. “Where did they take Jennifer?”

  “They didn’t tell me all their plans.” She turned her empty hands palms up.

  Granddad’s gaze bored into Anya’s eyes. “But they did have her at this house early this morning?”

  “Yes. They held her here since yesterday evening.”

  “Anya,” Katie’s voice had a sharp edge on it, “I won’t kill you, but Jennifer’s life is at stake, so we will use extreme measures. Do we need to start using them now?”

  “No. But if I tell you anything more, they’ll kill me. They’ll probably kill me for what I’ve already said. It doesn’t matter where I go, they’ll track me down and kill me, and it won’t be pleasant. Not the way they’ll do it.”

  Katie had tried to hang onto the anger she felt towards Anya, but the girl’s vulnerability and a growing realization of the depravity of the men who controlled her had eroded it away leaving only pity.

  Anya’s gaze again darted from Katie’s face to Granddad’s. “They…they talked about moving her to a boat. Not in a harbor. I think it was a yacht anchored somewhere on this side of the island.”

  “Whose yacht?” Granddad demanded.

  “That’s all I know.”

  Air blasted from Granddad’s lungs. “And why should we believe you?”

  “Because…I think Katie will kill me if I don’t tell you everything I know.”

  Katie studied Anya’s eyes. There was anxiety, but at least she met their gaze. “She’s telling the truth, Granddad.”

  Granddad stepped close to the frightened girl.

  Anya shrank back.

  He stopped his advance and gave her his penetrating stare. “One more question, Anya. Was Jennifer harmed in any way?”

  Anya shook her head. “She was tied with restraints. They’re not comfortable, and they drugged her once to make her sleep for a while, but she looked all right when she woke up. I think Jennifer will be safe…well, until they sell her.”

  Katie stepped toe-to-toe with Anya. “When do they plan to sell her?”

  She tried to read Anya’s face. Was that sadness? Maybe Anya was putting on some kind of act like when she pretended to befriend Katie at school. “Anya, when do they plan to sell Jenn?”

  “The Amber Alert has caused a lot of problems. I heard them say they’d sell her as soon as they got a chance.”

  17

  Katie studied Anya’s face, trying to read her heart. Katie’s Bible said reading people’s hearts was God’s domain, but she had to try. There were questions she wanted to ask this girl. Dozens of them. Like, how could she help these men capture girls?

  Granddad’s cell rang. “It’s Lee. Katie, I’m turning on the speakerphone so you can hear.”

  “Granddad, I’m on my way over to meet you. There was no one at the house in south Kihei. What did you and Katie find?”

  “We found Katie’s, uh, friend, Anya.”

  “Anya? What about Jennifer?” Lee’s voice rose.

  “They moved her, Lee.”

  Silence.

  “Where?”

  “You need to come over here. When you get here, we will fill you in. The house is the fourth or fifth on the left side of Laumakani Loop. We have…detained Anya, and she may be willing to cooperate, so it’s time to call the police.”

  “I should be there in two or three minutes. Then I’ll call Detective Ramirez.”

  After Granddad closed his cell, Anya stared at the ground and shuffled her feet. In a few moments, she looked up at Katie. “He’s going to call the police when he gets here. I wonder what they’ll do with me?”

  “It depends,” Katie said, once again studying the face of this girl who helped human traffickers. “It depends on why you help them. How can you do that, Anya? Destroy another girl’s life for…” She couldn’t verbalize that cruel, perverted reality.

  Katie’s question appeared to strike Anya like a blow. She looked away from Katie and clenched her jaw. “I have to do whatever they want…anything.”

  Katie glared at Anya. “That’s not true! You had chances to escape while you were at my school. You could have told the—”

  “No! You don’t understand!” Anya’s face
contorted in terror. “The things they would do to me if—” Anya shuddered. After her gaze dropped to the ground, her voice softened. “Helping them was better than what they made me do at first. You don’t have a clue what it’s like to be…to be sold…over and over and over again—” Anya choked back a sob. Tears overflowed her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks.

  Could she trust Anya, or was this another act like when she pretended to be her friend at school, before helping those goons kidnap her? Katie’s mind said, “Don’t trust her.” But her heart pulled her in another direction.

  As the events Anya described played out in her mind like a scene in a movie, the painful wrenching of Katie’s heart erased the final traces of anger. She looked into Anya’s tear-filled eyes and saw a girl that she might have become had Jennifer and Lee not risked their lives to save her. Katie reached out for Anya. This time the girl fell into her arms.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Anya spoke between sobs. “They’ll kill me anyway. I’ll talk to the police.”

  Granddad opened his mouth, studied Katie’s face, closed it again, and stepped away from the two girls.

  “They won’t be able to hurt you anymore. The police can help you, Anya. We can help you. I know the FBI agent in charge of the investigation. But best of all, God can help you.” Katie couldn’t believe she’d said that. One moment, she was ready to kill this girl. The next, she wanted to introduce her to God. Please, Lord, forgive me for…You know…for all of it.

  Anya pulled her head back, glanced at Katie’s face, and dropped her gaze to the ground. “After all I’ve done, God probably wants me dead, too.”

  Katie couldn’t let their conversation end on that sour note. “No. That’s not what God wants.” She paused, waiting for Anya to respond.

  Silence. No eye contact.

  “Please, Anya, look at me. This is important.”

  Anya wiped her cheeks and slowly raised her gaze to meet Katie’s.

  Katie tried to give her a warm smile. “As soon as we get a chance to talk, I’ve got some really good news to share with you.”