by Toby Neal
“Oh.” Lei walked out of the room. Just when she was getting used to having her father around and enjoying some home-cooked meals. Her gut clenched around the chili—maybe she wasn’t ready for him to go yet. “Didn’t you guys used to be called probation officers?”
“It’s a whole new system now. Private contract. We’ve been tasked with lowering your state’s recidivism rate, and so far our program’s showing very positive results. We’re looking forward to having your father as our guest.”
Guest? Mandatory guest by any other name.
“Are you sure you have space for him?”
“Sure as shootin’. I pulled some strings to get him out of your hair ASAP.”
Lei found her hand sliding into her pocket to rub the worry stone.
“How soon does he need to go?”
“Well, as soon as possible as he’s scheduled for some classes and a job profile workup tomorrow. Any chance you can get him here tonight?”
“It’s going to be tough,” Lei said. “I have some work commitments here, but I guess so.”
“Thanks. The duration of the restoration program is three months. By the end of that time we hope to have our clients established in a job and their own living situation. But he will still need your support and our monitoring for some time to come after that.”
“Of course,” Lei said. Well, at least her father would still be on the island, and maybe she could help him find something not too far away when his “restoration” was complete. “Okay. I’ll take him in and call you when he’s been dropped off.” The specialist gave her the address in Lihue and she shut the phone. She walked back into the kitchen.
“Dad, that was your probation officer with Aftercare Solutions. The halfway house is ready and they want you tonight, as you’re scheduled for some kind of job profile testing tomorrow.” She firmed the tremble in her voice. “Can you pack up while Jenkins and I make a quick run out through the parks?”
Her father poured her a refill of lemonade from a plastic milk jug he’d used to mix it up. His hand wobbled, but his voice was steady.
“Sure. I’ll be ready to go when you get back.”
“It’s three months, they say. They try to get you a job and set up with a place to stay by the end. It’s not like we won’t get to see each other,” Lei said.
“Yeah, I know.” He went back to the stove and stirred the chili. Jenkins cleared his throat and stood, placing his dishes in the old-fashioned ironstone sink.
“Thanks for the lunch, Mr. Texeira. It was delicious.”
“Welcome.” Wayne’s back was still turned.
Jenkins led her back out to the truck and they got in.
“Bummer,” Jenkins said. “The man’s a good cook.”
Lei laughed, a little bubble of tight mirth. They drove in silence to the first of a series of parks. There was a fairly big cluster of tents at Anini Beach, but none of them fit the profile of the campers they’d encountered at Polihale nor recognized photos of the missing.
Under the ironwoods next to the river, at the great swath of deserted beach called Lumahai, they found a family who’d met Tiger and his followers—but they didn’t know where they “hung out” when they weren’t at Ha`ena Beach Park or Polihale.
Back at the truck, Lei’s cell phone rang—Esther Ka`awai.
“Thought we were supposed to meet a half hour ago,” Esther said.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry,” Lei said, jumping into the truck and firing it up. “I got caught up in some canvassing and forgot. You said you’re in Wainiha? We’re only ten minutes away, and I got the go-ahead to have you work with us on this case.”
“Come alone,” Esther said, and hung up. Lei looked over at Jenkins.
“She said to come alone. This lady isn’t the kind you cross. How about you drop me off and go finish a quick run-through on the remaining parks? By the time you get back, I’m sure I’ll be done. I don’t expect you to find many people out there with the weather the way it’s been.”
In no time they were pulling off precipitous Wainiha Road into a muddy driveway. Three large brindled dogs encircled the truck, barking. Lei waited until the figure of a woman appeared on the deck on the second story of the elevated pole house.
“Come,” she said, and the dogs instantly withdrew. The woman made an imperious gesture and went back inside. Lei turned to Jenkins.
“Okay, be back in an hour.”
“Gotcha.”
Lei got out and climbed the stairs on the outside of the house to a deck with a panoramic view of rain-pummeled Wainiha Valley. She watched the truck pull out with a little pang of apprehension, then turned to face sliding-glass doors.
They opened and Esther stood there, a smaller woman than she’d appeared from below. Long silver hair wrapped around her head in a coronet, and a colorful muumuu brushed the floor. Sharp brown eyes assessed her from a broad, impassive face.
“Come in,” she said.
Lei slipped off her shoes, as was done in Hawaii, and entered the great room. Lauhala matting covered the floors, and graceful old pieces of koa furniture formed a seating arrangement around a coffee table made of an aquarium filled with Japanese glass ball fishing floats. An oval of beveled glass formed the top.
“My grandson made it for me,” Esther said, seeing Lei’s eyes on the unusual table. “He makes his own furniture designs.”
“I like it. He’s talented.”
“Thought you might. Have a seat.”
Lei sat. She’d brought her backpack with the confidentiality agreement she’d printed out beforehand.
“I got the go-ahead to have you consult on the case. Before I can tell you anything about it, I have to have you sign this confidentiality agreement. Standard stuff for any outside expert we bring in.”
“Fine,” Esther said, taking a pen from a mug by the old-fashioned dial phone. The older woman signed, and sat back in her aloha-print chair.
“Don’t you want to read it first?”
“Not particularly.” There was a stillness about Esther, a calm but vibrant energy Lei could feel. The kahu’s dark eyes gleamed with intelligence in the dim light. “What do you need to talk to me about?”
“The case? Well…” Lei took a breath, not sure where to begin.
“No. What do you need to talk to me about, personally?”
“I don’t know. I thought you were consulting on the case.”
“I consult on a lot of things and I am here for you, not the case. So what do you need to know?”
Lei took a breath, let it out. What the hell.
“I’m confused. There are two guys. I don’t know which one I’m supposed to be with, or if it’s neither of them.”
“What does your heart say?”
“No idea,” Lei said. “You said that before, and I don’t know what you mean by it. There’s no clear answer. One of them I love. We were engaged, and yet when it came time for the wedding, I panicked and ended up here because this is where my transfer came through. Then I met this other guy…” Her mouth turned up in an involuntary smile. “Hot guy—a player, not my type at all. But he seems to like me, and there’s something there. Something that could be pretty fun. I’m tempted to find out. Then Stevens reappears and I feel guilty…” Her voice trailed off as she remembered the amazing shell necklace she was still wearing. Her fingers came up to touch it.
“And there’s a third person,” Esther prompted.
“No.” Lei shook her head. “There’s this weird but nice guy. He gave me this necklace and I need to return it. But that’s not anything.”
“It’s something.” Esther put her hand out. It was weathered, as if she spent time gardening or working, but her palm was softly pink. “Let me see that.”
Lei took the Ni`ihau shell necklace off and put it in Esther’s hand. Esther covered that hand with her other one, closed her eyes. Opened them, gave the necklace back.
“This necklace carries a lot of mana,” she said. “Power. It’s good
protection for you. You should not give it back.”
Lei laughed. “Not like I want to, but my aunty raised me not to accept expensive gifts from strangers. I don’t know; I’ll have to see if I can find Mac first.”
“Mac Williamson?” The older woman’s eyes sharpened. “I know him. He’s one of my students, a haumana studying the culture.”
“Huh. Well, what do you think about these guys and me?” Lei said. “It’s embarrassing, but I need advice.”
“Make no sudden moves,” Esther said. “You are someone who makes snap decisions, and now is a time to proceed slowly and with caution.”
“Thanks. I’ll do that. It’s a start. So what do you know about the disappearances on the North Shore? You said you might know something about it.”
“I hear things. Nothing solid, just rumors. That there is a cult that uses people in their rituals.”
“Oh my God, you heard that? Why didn’t you go to the police?”
“With a rumor? Just gossip about the homeless disappearing. I have nothing helpful.” She made a flicking gesture. “Is this the case you want me to consult on? What is the tie to the Hawaiian community?”
“We don’t know yet. We just got our first confirmation that there may actually be foul play involved.” Lei explained what they had so far with the May/October pattern and the discovery of the hand. “I thought you might know something about the slipper and the stones left at the latest disappearance site.”
“We sometimes use stones as an offering. We wrap a ti leaf around a stone and leave it out of respect at sacred places. What kind of stones were these?”
“Not native.” Lei described them.
“Sounds more like a haole witchcraft thing,” Esther said disapprovingly. “I follow Christ, and so do my students. We don’t use anything but our native materials.”
“So you’re a Christian.”
“Does that surprise you? I’ve already been praying for you.”
Lei threw her hands up. “It just all seems kind of weird. I’m still thinking you use a crystal ball or something.”
“Now you are just being disrespectful.” Esther folded her lips into a disapproving line. Lei felt those dark eyes measuring her and finding her wanting. “There are mysteries, but God’s word is always truth.”
“I know that, Aunty. I’m sorry.” In Hawaii one respected elders, especially kupuna such as Esther, even when they were confusing, elliptical, and maybe even a little psychic. Lei’s Mainland upbringing had made her a little rusty.
Esther appeared mollified by Lei’s apology. “I need to see those stones. Feel them. They may tell me something.” She stood. “Call me when you can bring them to me.”
“Thank you.” Somehow Lei wasn’t surprised to hear the rumble of her truck pulling up, the barking of the dogs as Jenkins arrived. “I’ll call you soon.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lei turned into the parking lot of the restoration center, a two-story, false-front building in Lihue’s old downtown area. Dusk had fallen, and the truck’s headlights reflected off the mirrored glass doors. Attempts had been made to fix up the place by the shiny paint, and a new lighted sign hung above the entrance.
“Ready?” she asked her father as she turned the truck’s lights off.
“As I’ll ever be.” He reached back and took his duffel from the backseat, and they got out. Wayne pulled the front door open and they stepped into a well-lit reception area. A young woman behind a half-moon corner desk stood up to greet them.
“You must be Wayne. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” She came around, her hand extended. They shook. “I’m Shellie Samson, Aftercare Coordinator. I’m the social worker here.”
“Good to meet you,” Wayne said. “I’m Wayne Texeira, and this is my daughter, Lei.”
Lei stepped forward. “Sorry we’re so late. I got the call about two p.m. and still had a lot of work to do.”
“Not a problem. I actually sleep here at the center when I’m on shift. Why don’t you follow me, Wayne, and I’ll show you your room and orient you on the building and our schedule for tomorrow.”
“Well, so far this is an improvement over the past when we just kicked our ex-cons out to the curb and told them to check in with a PO,” Lei said with forced heartiness. “What do you think, Dad?”
“It’s fine.” His weather-beaten face looked strained. She blinked hard as she hugged him, squeezing his tall, wiry frame. He didn’t let go of her either.
“Bye, Dad. Call me anytime, and I’ll stop by to visit when I’m in the area.”
“I’ll miss you,” he said in her ear. She nodded and turned away abruptly.
“Bye. It was nice meeting you, Shellie.”
Lei pushed out through the glass doors to the truck, refusing to cry. He’d been gone from her life for so long, and it felt too soon for him to be gone again. After their long separation, she was surprised at the ease they’d found with each other.
He’s a resilient man, and he’s going to do fine here, she told herself firmly.
She pulled out and got on the road for Hanalei, a ninety-minute drive when conditions were optimal and there was no traffic, and let her mind wander back over the rest of the afternoon after Jenkins had picked her up from Esther’s house.
Jenkins hadn’t found any further witnesses, nor anyone who knew about the disappearances. His drive through the wet North Shore of the island had got his clothes muddy and her truck filthy. Later, Fury had called to have Lei and Jenkins watch tomorrow’s scheduled interview with Jazz Haddock.
Apparently Mr. Haddock was not too happy about coming in, though he couldn’t know how seriously they were taking him as a suspect. What a long day, and tomorrow looked equally so. She stomped down on the gas for a little speeding to shorten the drive.
Her cell rang.
“Texeira.”
“Are you going to be able to make it for dinner?” Alika. She’d completely forgotten he’d invited her.
“Of course. I’m on my way.” She actually was very close to his turnoff. “Can I get a swim first?” Memory of his pool made her itchy with longing.
“Sure.”
Ten minutes later she rang the bell at the spectacular model home. He opened the door wearing his board shorts and a smile.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” They just grinned at each other for a long minute; then he trailed his hand down to take hers. “Come on in. I’ve got things cooking.”
“Can we swim? I’m dying to get in that pool.” She held up her suit and the cotton robe he’d loaned her last time.
“Sure. Why don’t you go out to the pool and I’ll check the oven. White or red wine?”
“White.”
He padded away and she went to the bathroom, changed, then walked to the open sliding doors. The underwater lights were on in the pool, the Portuguese tiles shimmering cobalt under the clear water. Spotlights played up the fan palms and red torch ginger of the landscaping. Lei dove in.
Alika came to the door, a glass of wine in each hand, backlit by the kitchen light. He set them on a side table.
“How about a race?”
“Can your ego take losing?” He dove in, came up beside her.
“We’ll have to see about that.” Lei grasped the side of the pool and braced her legs against the wall. “On your mark. Go!”
She blasted off the side explosively, unleashing all the pent-up energy and frustration she’d felt throughout the day. Her arms churned and legs kicked, and she did an underwater reverse at the end, blasting across the pool until she hit the ledge on the far side.
Alika was already there, his muscular arms spread in a parody of relaxation across the pool edge.
“Ready for dinner?” He didn’t even seem winded.
“Bastard.” He turned his face away, and she said, “I’m sorry. I forgot.”
“Gonna need more than that.” She swam over to him, looked into his eyes—they’d gone dark. She brushed her lips tenderly ov
er his, a reminder of their first kiss in the underwater bar, a kiss all about promises.
“You gonna tell me why that word gets to you?”
“Usual reason. My mother wasn’t married when she had me—and my father wouldn’t acknowledge me.”
“Shit. I put my foot in it.”
“Yeah, you did, but I know you didn’t mean it. How about you kiss me and make it better?”
“Tell me more first.”
“It was the usual story. They met in college. He was a white guy, well connected. She didn’t know he was married. She came home, dropped out of school to have me. She married Shawn Wolcott, and he adopted me. He’s been all the dad I could want.”
“I’m sorry. Again. I’ve got some scars from the past too.”
“Tell me about them.”
“Maybe another time. I’m hungry.”
“You came to the right place.” He turned and heaved himself out of the pool in one fluid movement, wrapping himself in a towel. She hoisted herself out a little less gracefully, and he held out a towel. She dried off quickly, then wrapped herself in the robe, scooping up the wine and following him into a kitchen redolent with tasty smells.
He reached into the oven, pulling out a roast in a deep pan, surrounded by small whole red potatoes and garnished with rosemary sprigs. He used a pair of forks to transfer it to a cutting board and brought a carving knife to bear on one browned end. Lei’s mouth watered.
“Oh my God, I’ve died and gone to heaven.” She inhaled a waft of rosemary and spices. He smiled and filled their plates with potatoes, green beans, and slices of pink, perfectly done beef. He carried the plates to the dining room table, a great slab of mango wood set with two places.
Lei took a bite of the roast, closing her eyes in ecstasy.
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Glad you like it.” They ate in silence until Lei’s rumbling stomach began to settle down.
“So.” Alika sat back and swirled the red wine in his glass. “How are you liking our third date?”
“Third?”
“First—poolside frolics. Second—the lighthouse benefit. Third—dinner at my house. I’m working on a fourth, something I think you’ll like.”
