by Nella Tyler
“She’s not there.”
“Not there? She must be. She left us on the beach to go to bed shortly after you left to see your foreman.” Ashlee was bewildered.
“What’s going on?” Beni wandered into the living room. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“Meg is missing,” Drake announced.
“Missing? How? When?” Beni said worriedly.
Drake told them what happened when he went to see his foreman.
“My God! Are you all right? You should see a doctor,” Beni exclaimed.
“I’m fine. Just a headache,” Drake muttered. “We have to find Meg.”
“Tell them where the treasure is. It’s the only way,” Ashlee said
“We have to let Lono know what has happened.”
“I will call Kai right now. He will inform his cousin,” Ashlee said. She ran back into the bedroom to get her phone.
Beni gave him aspirin and a glass of water. Drake swallowed the aspirin and water, then set the glass on the cocktail table.
“Thanks. Lono can trace the call to the kidnappers and find out where they are holding Meg,” Drake said.
“I hope Meg is all right,” Beni said worriedly.
“They won’t harm her until they know where the treasure is. And I won’t tell them where to find it until she is safe with us,” Drake replied.
“We hadn’t seen the Two Stooges for a while and we relaxed our guard. That was a mistake. I should have known they wouldn’t give up,” Beni sighed.
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. You’re human. I think this thing with Doug changed our focus a bit,” he said.
He sat on the couch and rubbed the back of his head.
“Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor,” Beni said as she examined the back of his head. “You’ve got a fairly large bump back here. I’ll get an ice pack for it.”
She went into the kitchen as Ashlee came out of the bedroom.
“I told Kai what has happened and he’s coming over. He will pick up Noah on his way,” Ashlee said. “How your head?’
“Beni is getting an ice pack for it. I’ll be fine,” he answered.
“As much as we’ve been warned to avoid danger, it still found us,” Ashlee muttered. “Now Meg’s life hangs in the balance.”
“She’s going to be okay. We just have to be meticulous in our plan to rescue her,” he said.
“Do you still think Doug and Denise are involved?” Beni asked as she came back with the ice pack. She carefully laid it over the lump on the back of Drake’s head and held it there.
“I do. Although the note included Denise’s name as a victim, I still think she in on it. It’s her way out if things go south,” he said.
“She can play the innocent when she’s probably the mastermind behind it all,” Ashlee responded.
“She’s a lot smarter than she lets on. There’s a sharp mind behind that dumb-blonde mask,” Beni remarked.
There was a knock on the door. Ashlee moved to answer it. After looking through the peephole she opened the door.
“Kai. I’m so glad you’re here.” She hugged him and he kissed her neck.
“Of course I would come,” he murmured.
He and Noah came into the suite. Noah moved to Beni’s side and gave her a quick kiss.
“Thank you for coming,” Beni smiled at him.
“You knew I would be here,” Noah replied.
“I will tell Lono when we’ve decided exactly what we want to do,” Kai said.
Noah sat beside Beni on the arm of the sofa while Ashlee and Kai sat on the floor on the other side of the coffee table.
“What are your thoughts, Drake?” Noah asked quietly.
“The note says I have forty eight hours to tell them where to find the treasure.” Drake pulled the note from his shirt pocket and gave it to Noah.
“Which means we have twenty-four hours to put our plan into place,” Kai said.
Drake nodded.
“Be still,” Beni scolded as she held the ice pack to his head.
“Sorry,” Drake smiled faintly. “It’s a matter of coordinating all of the moving pieces.”
“The curator, the FBI, and getting Meg back,” Noah said.
“Yes. We can’t have the FBI going in to detain Doug before Meg is released. Nor can we have the museum going in too early to collect the treasure,” Drake said.
“Lono will be able to help with that. It’s what he does. We’re going to have to rely on the professionals to do their jobs,” Kai said.
“That’s easier said than done when the life of someone you love is at risk,” Drake muttered.
“The best way to keep Meg safe is to let go, Drake,” Noah said. “Lono will get Meg out safely.”
“Maybe we don’t have to wait for Lono,” Drake said.
“What do you mean?” Ashlee asked warily.
“I’m supposed to call this number with the location of the treasure. Well, when I do so, I will insist that they free Meg before I tell them where it is,” Drake explained.
“It can be a simultaneous exchange at a location of their choosing,” Kai suggested. “Meg can be walking toward you as you tell them about the tunnel.”
“We could set up the transfer tomorrow. And the FBI can be waiting for Doug and his people when they go into the treasure room,” Noah added. “I like it.”
“So do I,” Drake said. “What about you, Kai?”
Kai nodded thoughtfully.
“It could work. It’s a good plan.”
“Then we have a plan of action. That’s such a relief,” Beni sighed heavily.
“And by this time tomorrow, Meggie will be back with us and this whole mess will be over,” Ashlee said hopefully.
Drake was quiet as the others talked around him. He could only hope that everything went exactly as they planned. But he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that engulfed him.
*****
Meg woke with a start the next morning. Something had awakened her. She sat up on the cot leaning on one elbow. She listened. Voices were coming from the outside. They sounded as though they were near her window.
“What now? He hasn’t called yet,” Doug said urgently.
“He will. He only got the note last night. He’ll call,” Denise said.
“And if he doesn’t? You’re counting on the notion that he cares for Meg. What if he doesn’t?”
“He does. He won’t let her remain in danger and do nothing.”
“You don’t know that for a fact. We don’t know him,” Doug muttered.
“I know him well enough. He’ll do anything to get her back. I envy her,” Denise mused. “She has what every girl dreams of: a man who truly loves her.”
“I love you,” Doug protested.
“You love what I can give you,” Denise spat.
“If you feel that way about me, why are you with me?” Doug pouted.
“I’ve asked myself that very question a thousand times,” she said. I can only think that I saw something between us that wasn’t real. And convinced myself it was. But no matter. We’ll be going our separate ways when this is over”
“Separate ways? What do you mean? We’re in this together,” Doug protested.
“But not for the long haul.”
“But you said you love me? That you would stay with me forever,” he objected. “You need me.”
“Get over yourself. I won’t need you the moment this scheme is over. And I certainly don’t want you,” Denise scoffed.
Meg could hear her walking away. After a moment she heard a door open and footsteps coming toward her room. She laid back and closed her eyes. She didn’t want Denise to know that she overheard their conversation. Footsteps came into the room.
“Wake up, Meg,” Denise said loudly.
Meg slowly opened her eyes.
“Drake?” she mumbled as though she were disoriented.
Denise was mocking.
“No. Your superhero isn’t here. But I am e
xpecting his call.”
“I need to use the bathroom,” Meg said quietly.
“I thought you might. I’ll untie your feet. You’ll have to make do with your hands bound,” Denise said.
She untied Meg’s ankles. Meg stood up then fell back onto the cot immediately. Her feet were numb from the ties. She bent over to chafe them.
“Come on. Get up,” Denise said in annoyance.
Meg rose again and this time remained upright.
“In there.” Denise indicated a closed door inside the room.
Meg opened the door with her bound hands and saw a toilet and sink. It was surprisingly clean. She closed the door and looked around. There was a window, but it was too high up for her to reach it, even if she stood on the toilet. She sighed and took care of her needs then left the bathroom. Denise was sitting on a chair near the window. Meg moved to stand beside her. She glanced out the window as well and saw threes and water beyond it. It was the ocean. She looked down the road and saw a familiar café. And there was a dress shop next to it. She wasn’t far from the hotel; only a few blocks away. If she had the chance, she could make a run for it and probably make it back there before getting caught.
“Don’t even think it, Meg. If Doug had a clear shot, he would shoot you. And I really don’t want that to happen.”
“Is the money so important that you would risk your freedom, Denise?” Meg asked softly.
“It is. You think I have the perfect life. Rich, pretty. The world is my oyster,” Denise said. “But it actually is just the opposite. My world is dark and lonely.” Denise lit a cigarette and Meg pushed up the window. Denise laughed. “You can be such a prude.”
“I prefer not to die from second hand smoke. You really should quit,” Meg said.
Denise shrugged.
“I will. Maybe when I’m truly happy I won’t need cigarettes. But right now they fill a void that’s damned hard to live with.”
Meg sat on the cot.
“Why aren’t you happy, Denise?”
“Because I haven’t figured out what will make me happy. I went after Doug because I was jealous of you. I was positively green with envy,” Denise said. “You were so full of joy and I wanted it. I thought having a man in your life was the reason for that happiness. So I decided to take Doug from you. Little did I know I was doing you a favor by stealing him away. You were right when you called him a prick. He’s that and so many more despicable things.”
“Then why are you here with him committing a horrendous crime?”
“I needed him for the menial chores of the operation. I needed him to employ Larry and Moe and keep them in order, give them their instructions. I wanted to remain in the background as much as possible,” Denise explained.
“Until it was absolutely necessary to be seen.”
“Exactly. When those two fools allowed Beni to escape, I knew I had to show myself and get the project back on track. So we came to Oahu and booked a suite at the Tropics Resort,” Denise stated. “Saying at the same hotel would make it easier to keep tabs on you. It didn’t take long to figure out that you were on to the treasure. It was just a matter of following you. I knew eventually you would lead us to it. But when you put the padlock on the ancient door it put a spoke in our plan. So we had to change it a bit. Doing so landed you here with me.”
“And Doug is Mister West,” Meg said.
“Ah yes! Doug’s bright idea to use an alias. It seems a moot point now, doesn’t it?” Denise chuckled.
“Even if you get the treasure, how do you intend to get away?”
Denise stood.
“That, dear Meg, is my secret. I’ll bring you something to eat.” She then left the room.
Meg’s feelings about Denise were changing. There was definitely a lot more to Denise than she had previously thought. It was hard to be angry with her now.
*****
Meg followed Denise into the other room. She stopped and looked about. It was a fairly large space with a couch, two chairs, and a rocker by the fireplace. Meg was sure the fireplace was seldom used as this was Hawaii. Across the room was a round dining table for six and the kitchen was beyond that. Denise was in the kitchen and Meg moved to its doorway.
“Why not get out now before you do something really bad,” Meg said.
“I’ve already done something really bad. Your kidnapping would get me five to ten years, if not more.”
“If you let me go now, I won’t press charges,” Meg offered.
Denise turned to look at her. He face was hard.
“How generous of you. But letting you go will only leave me under my father’s thumb. And I will not suffer his cruelty and domination a minute longer. So you will have to remain with me until you or Drake tells me where the treasure is.”
There was a high table with two matching stools in front of the window. Meg moved to sit on one of the stools. She thought about telling Denise what she wanted to know. By now Drake would have brought the police into the situation. And they would have secured the treasure. So it really wouldn’t matter if she gave Denise the information. She was confident that Denise would let her go if she did.
“All right. I’ll tell you,” Meg said resignedly.
“Well, you’ve finally have seen the light.”
Meg looked up to see Doug leaning against the doorjamb. He regarded her insolently. Meg couldn’t wait to see the police put the cuffs on him. He was repugnantly and evil and deserved to spend a very long time in prison.
“Shut up, Doug!” Denise snapped. “Go on, Meg. Give us the location of the treasure.”
Meg shook her head negatively.
“How do I know you will let me go after I tell you? What’s my insurance that I will be set free?”
“You have my word,” Denise replied. “I promise to let you go.”
“That’s not good enough, Denise.” Meg said.
Denise’s phone rang. She looked at the viewer.
“It’s Drake.” She pulled a device from her pants pocket and attached it to the top of her cell. “Hello.”
Meg realized that the device distorted Denise’s voice. Meg was amazed at Denise’s ingenuity. Of course, Denise had the money to buy whatever she needed to pull off this enterprise. Denise listened to what Drake was saying.
“Twelve o’clock. Parking lot on sixth and Lahani Road. No cops,” Denise said sharply. “If you want to see Meg alive you had better follow my instructions.” She then disconnected the line. She took the device from her phone and grinned smugly at Meg. “This is a handy little device.”
Meg rolled her eyes at her.
“What did he say?” Doug wanted to know.
“We will meet him at the parking. I will call him at noon and he will give us the location of the treasure as Meg is walking toward their vehicles,” Denise said.
“We’re not really going to be there, are we?” Doug exclaimed.
“No. Larry and Moe will deliver her to the parking lot. We won’t be anywhere near there. If they bring the police, the only people they might catch are those two thugs,” Denise said.
Doug grinned broadly.
“Excellent plan. You think of everything.” He tried to kiss her neck. Denise moved away from him.
“I always do. Go tell your friends what they have to do,” she ordered.
He frowned at her but left to do her bidding. Denise turned back to the counter to prepare breakfast. Meg watched Denise and prayed she would keep her word and let her go.
*****
“It’s set?” Ashlee asked.
Drake dropped his cell phone into his pants pocket.
“It’s set. We meet them at noon in the parking lot on sixth and Lahani Road.”
“That’s not very far from here,” Noah said. “Do you think that’s where they’re holding Meg?”
“No. They wouldn’t tell us where they are. Even Doug is too smart for that,” Drake returned.
“They were using a voiced distorter. And the phone is a burn
er. I couldn’t trace it,” Lono said.
Kai had told his cousin about their situation and he had arrived at Drake’s suite with his tracking equipment. Ashlee observed Lono closely. He was a good-looking Polynesian man of about six feet with thick, black hair. His muscular physique was evidence of his profession. She could see the resemblance between the two cousins. They even had similar voices. Over the phone, you wouldn’t know which one you were talking to.
“Thank you for coming to help us, Lono,” Ashlee said.
“No worries. Everything is in place. FBI agents are making their way down the tunnel as we speak; along with the museum curator and his team. They want to briefly inspect the property before transporting it,” Lono said.
“So when Doug and Denise arrive to steal the treasure, they will be caught,” Beni said.
“Yes. My focus is on making sure Meg is returned to us safely,” Lono said. “Six snipers will be in position on rooftops to cover all areas of the parking lot. I will take cover on the ground along with three other agents. If there’s a problem, we can handle it. Meg will be safely returned to you.”
“Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams couldn’t set it up any better,” Beni chuckled.
Lono laughed.
“They couldn’t do half as well.”
For the first time, there was lightheartedness in the room. Drake felt confident that they would get Meg back safely. But he still felt a niggling uneasiness. Maybe it was just nerves. It wasn’t every day that he was involved in a hostage exchange. While everyone was talking, he pulled Lono out to the balcony.
“What’s wrong, Drake?”
Drake pushed his hand through his hair.
“I can’t shake this ominous feeling. Something isn’t right.”
“Everything is in place for the exchange. Try not to worry. We will get Meg back,” Lono said confidently.
“I don’t doubt it.”
“Then what’s bothering you?” Lono asked curiously.
“I can’t put my finger on it. Something feels off. Almost as though what we’re doing is too easy. It’s like the other shoe will eventually fall,” Drake explained. “I know it doesn’t make sense. But that’s how I feel.”
“And I take your instincts seriously. You’ve been working from your instincts since this whole thing started and they haven’t led you astray. We won’t discard them now,” Lono said seriously. “I’ll have my men do some checking.”
