by Skylar Cross
I don't blame her. I was way off my game. The brilliant boy who can lie his way out of anything was finally kicked down a notch.
Where is Sebastian? Is he looking for me? I doubt it. He and Valentina are probably in South America by now.
I'm going to find them and kill them. I'll do whatever it takes.
I'm not sure where that thought came from but it filled me with a vile thirst for revenge.
Part of me wished I never got in that Bentley on that hot summer night in Tampa five years ago. While Sebastian and Valentina were responsible for making me rich, they killed the very people who had shown me the most love I had ever known.
And I will kill them for it, I said to myself.
Then my logical mathematical mind kicked in. It would be a waste of my resources and time to find Sebastian and Valentina to kill them. The probabilities and odds stated that it would be better to use my skills to make a lot of money to provide for Kiri and her siblings, forgetting about Sebastian and Valentina.
But I could never forget.
"Whatever happened, it's destroying you," said Martine Decoud.
She was looking at me from the open hatch that led down into the kitchen.
I didn't say anything. I just glanced at her, then returned my gaze to the darkening horizon.
"That little girl saw something awful," she said.
"Kiri," I said.
"Yes, Kiri. She's the most beautiful little thing. She's been through something unspeakable. And I know you know what it is."
"I told you. Our parents died. The boat sank. It was traumatic. She needs help."
"Oh, she's going to get help. Don't you worry about that."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean I know someone who can help her. At probably the best place on Earth for her to go. Once we clear things up with the Tahitian authorities and figure out where she belongs, we're going to get her the help she needs."
"Really, Martine, I'm very grateful. But you don't need to do that for us."
"Don't think for one moment that we're doing it for you. We're doing it for her. Because whatever it was that shocked that little girl so much, it was your fault. And if I find out you ever hurt a hair on her head, I will personally kill you with my own bare hands. You got that?"
I looked over at her. Yeah, I believed her. Don't blame her, though. She's right. It is my fault. I could have saved Kiri's parents. I could have stopped the job before it got to murder.
After Martine Decoud went below decks, I saw Jacques Decoud glaring at me as he adjusted a sail.
He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Without words, his eyes repeated his wife's message.
Chapter 9
No storm troopers awaited me in Tahiti, which I half expected. We entered the Port of Pape'ete on a calm morning, the happy island bouncing along to its touristy rhythm.
Kiri still stared and stared. Every time I looked at her, I felt a stab in my heart. I had to make things right for her. I had to!
But first things first. We needed to get Kiri to a doctor. Then I needed to get my money, steal Kiri from the Decouds who will try to protect her from me, and bring her to Teva. I already had a fantastic but believable story to tell Teva, who I'm sure would buy it.
Once Kiri was secure back with her siblings, I would hightail it off the island and begin my new life. Part of which was to provide for the Huang children forever.
Step one was accomplished with ease because Kiri was the one thing that united me with Jacques and Martine Decoud.
While we waited for the doctors to examine Kiri, I scanned the local newspapers. No mention of the missing Huangs. No mention of a suspicious landscaper who is also missing. No nothing.
Very strange.
I ducked out for a few minutes onto the street, which I had come to know well in my time there. The bank with my money was across the street but I didn't dare go inside. I felt like a marked man. I was even wearing the same clothes as when I was last on the island.
At a pay phone, I called Vainui, one of the local girls who came to my hotel room for night-long romps.
"Hey, studley, where have you been?" she said.
"Away but thinking of you the entire time," I said in my charming voice.
"When can I see you? I want to give you your favorite present."
"I can't wait. But first, I need to ask you a favor."
After giving Vainui detailed instructions, I returned and sat with the Decouds in the waiting area.
A tall doctor named Aitu came out and asked Martine Decoud to come into the examination area. Jacques Decoud and I didn't say a word to each other as we sat together in the small room.
Fifteen minutes later, Martine Decoud emerged with Kiri, holding her hand.
"She's fine," said Martine Decoud. "She's in shock and needs help, but she's physically all right."
"Thank God," I said.
"Kiri and I are going to go shopping now, aren't we?" said Martine Decoud to Kiri. "We're going to get some new clothes. Maybe a doll to play with. Wouldn't that be fun, Kiri?"
Kiri just stared.
"Why don't you two go to the police and see if anyone has reported a little girl missing?" said Martine Decoud.
Jacques Decoud nodded. I followed him out.
Alone on the street as we walked, Jacques Decoud spoke the first words he had yet said to me.
"We're not going to the police," he said. "But we will tell my wife so."
I looked at him. His eyes met mine. Again I saw a reflection of my own self.
"Once we walk in," he said, "you will be arrested. You don't want to go to a French prison."
"Monsieur Decoud," I said, "I don't know what you–"
"Shut up! You are a liar, and not a very good one. But you care for that girl. For that reason, and for that reason only, I'm going to give you a chance to run."
Looking back now, what I should have done is tell Jacques Decoud that Kiri has a brother and a sister here on the island, likely being taken care of by Teva and the staff of Maru Huang's resort.
But at the time, I didn't trust him. The way I saw it, he couldn't know I had anything to do with the missing Huangs. I figured he would turn me in and I would be headed to a French prison.
I had another plan instead.
"You are wise beyond your years," Jacques Decoud said to me as we walked down Avenue du Prince Hunoi toward Nanuu Bay. "You have seen and done things. I know. You are a very young version of me."
"Of you?" I said.
"Yes, when I was eighteen I was much like you. I gambled, I deceived, I stole. That is what you do. Ahh, don't tell me you don't. I know a thief when I meet one."
"Monsieur Decoud, please don't–"
"Do not speak, boy! But heed my advice. Stop doing what you're doing. Get out now before it's too late. You don't want to end up in a French prison. That too, I know."
We had stopped at the end of the street and turned left toward the Place Vai'ete. As we did, I saw Vainui with her friend standing in front of a store window. She caught my eye for a split second then pretended she was shopping.
"Here's what's going to happen," said Jacques Decoud. "We're going to take Kiri back to the boat. Then you're going to disappear. I don't care how. But you're going to be gone. We will make certain Kiri gets the help she needs, even if we have to bring her to New York. Martine knows a prominent child psychiatrist there. But we are going to try to locate her parents here on the island first."
Then he'll find out I'm an accomplice to murder. No, I have to get Kiri and get away from him and Martine Decoud, no matter how good their intentions.
That decision would cost me.
We walked into the park. A huge 19th-century style clipper ship was docked right next to the park. We sat on a bench and waited.
I decided it was best to remain quiet. Every once in a while, Jacques Decoud would steal a glance at me from the corner of his eye. Vainui was nowhere to be seen. But I knew she and her friend were
still around here somewhere, waiting for my signal.
About an hour later, I saw Martine Decoud and Kiri crossing the street heading toward us. Kiri clutched a teddy bear with big brown eyes. Martine Decoud held a colorful bag. Full of new clothes for Kiri, I assumed.
Jacques Decoud stood up and walked to the street. I followed him.
"Martine, we've decided what to do," he said.
As I stood up, I put my hand behind my back and scratched. That was the signal to Vainui.
"Kiri has a lovely little new friend, did you see?" said Martine Decoud.
I smiled down at the lost little girl hugging the fuzzy bear. For a second, I thought I saw the spark she used to have when she jumped out from a hiding spot shouting "Ha ha!" but it faded quickly.
"Help!" shouted Vainui as she ran up to us. "Help!"
"Help!" shouted her friend.
The Decouds turned toward the two girls. Vainui had her hand on her head.
"We were just robbed!" she said. "There is a man chasing us! He assaulted us and stole our money!"
Martine Decoud had loosened her grip on Kiri's hand as she turned her attention to Vainui.
Which was just what I needed.
As the Decouds looked around for a man who doesn't exist, I grabbed Kiri and lifted her into my arms.
The small gray car stopped right next to me. I leaped inside with Kiri and the boy driving, a friend of Vainui's, sped off. I looked back and saw Vainui and her friend throw something in the Decouds' faces and then run back across the street.
The boy made a fast U-turn and slammed the car to a stop next to the two girls. On the other side of the street, the Decouds were wiping their eyes.
Jacques Decoud had started running toward us.
"Quick!" I shouted as Vainui got in the back with Kiri and me. Her friend got in front with the boy driver.
Just as Jacques Decoud reached the car, the boy stepped on the gas and we were away.
"What did you throw in their faces?" I said to Vainui.
"Pickle juice," she said.
"Where to?" said the boy.
I gave him directions to Maru Huang's resort.
Chapter 10
The tiny room was just big enough for a twin mattress Vainui had bought from a nearby store. Kiri looked terribly lost and forlorn sitting on it with her teddy bear and blanket.
Shit, why wasn't Teva at the Huangs' resort? Where are Narith and Dara?
We had gone there, but were greeted by people I didn't recognize. No Teva. No Narith. No Dara. All new housekeepers and staff.
A burly security guard escorted me off the premises and out onto the street. I walked back to the tiny gray car and got in.
"What happened?" said Vainui.
"They weren't there," I said. "Everybody is gone."
We had rented a room in downtown Pape'ete under Vainui's name. I figured that by now the Decouds had gone to the police and reported me. They would be searching the hotels.
But here in this tiny room in the middle of the city, rented with the money Vainui retrieved from my bank across the street, they were less likely to find me.
"I won't leave you, Kiri," I said to the damaged little girl with the teddy bear who sat staring. "I'm going to take care of you. Everything is going to be all right."
"Where is my Mom and Dad?" she said.
Holy shit!
Those are the first words she had said since the last time she jumped out from behind a bush and shouted "Ha ha!" at me.
But how do I answer that question?
"They've gone away for a while, Kiri," I said.
She started to cry.
Shit.
"I want my Mom and Dad!" she said, going into full tears.
Vainui came into the room at that moment. Thank God.
"Oh, you poor little thing," said Vainui as she took Kiri up in her arms and held her. That seemed to work.
I went out into the hallway. I wasn't good with kids. I knew how to be a kid, but I certainly didn't know how to take care of them.
Kiri asked about her parents. That means she didn't see Sebastian kill them. I'm glad of that at least. Unless she's repressing it.
What should I do?
I wanted to take a long walk to think things out fully, but the Decouds are out there looking for me along with the police. If I walk out that door, I'll go to prison.
I've got to get Kiri off the island and back to the United States! I've got to get her some help. I also need to find someone to take care of her while I locate her brother and sister.
Hopefully they're safe, with a relative or somebody else. What happened to them? Who are all these new people at the Huangs' resort? And why is there no mention of the missing Huang family anywhere?
A day later, I had the beginning of a plan in my mind.
But I was too late.
The police found us.
They came storming in with guns, scooped up Kiri, and arrested Vainui and me. On the ride in the police van, I reached into my pocket, removed the locket, and stuffed it into Vainui's jeans.
"Hold onto this for me," I whispered in her ear.
At the local station, a woman translator was assigned to get my statement. She brought Kiri into the room with me.
Kiri ran to me when she saw me and hugged my leg.
I almost cried right then and there. I patted her head and told her everything was going to be all right.
The woman translator asked me a few questions. I did my best to charm her, but my fear of French prison got the better of me. All I could do is spit out the same lame story about Kiri having been adopted by my parents, who drowned at sea.
The woman seemed a tiny bit sympathetic after she saw the way Kiri clung to me. She allowed me to hold Kiri's hand as she led us across the compound where we were being held. She explained that the magistrate wanted to interview me himself.
"Are you going to translate?" I said.
"He speaks English," she said.
As we walked across the compound, Kiri looked up at me.
"Are my Mom and Dad here?" she said.
Shit, I hate this.
"No, Kiri," I said. "They're not here."
"But I want my Mom and Dad! Why can't I see them?"
Then she started to cry again.
Shit, I don't know how to handle this.
"Oh Kiri, not now," I said. "Please don't cry now. Just stay quiet while I talk to these people. Please!"
We reached a squat building with a brown steel door. Two guards with guns stood on either side of the door. The woman opened it.
I crouched down and met Kiri eye to to eye.
"Now just be quiet and don't say anything, okay?" I said. "We're going to be all right. You and me. I'm going to take care of you, I promise."
"But what about my Mom and Dad?" Kiri said.
I looked around, biting my lower lip. I brushed Kiri's cheek with my hand.
"We'll find them," I said. I couldn't think of anything else to say. "Together. You and me. Okay? It's going to be all right."
I patted her head and kissed her forehead. I wrapped my arms around her and she hugged me.
"Hey!" said the woman. "Let's go!"
I stood up and we entered the squat square building with the brown steel door. The door slammed shut behind us.
Inside sat the magistrate at a desk. A fan hummed beside him. The window behind him had bars but no glass.
I sat in the chair in front of him. Kiri stood at my side, holding my hand.
"Passport, please," said the magistrate.
I handed him one of the passports Vainui had retrieved from the bank for me. This one had my real name on it.
"Where were you born?" he said.
"The United States," I said.
I looked over at Kiri. I saw tears starting up again. Well at least she isn't just staring anymore. I patted her head, hopefully stemming the flow.
"Where in the United States?" said the magistrate.
"Fort Knox, Ke
ntucky," I said, telling the truth for once.
"How did you get here?"
