Three
Annie’s legs wouldn’t support her, and she leaned against the doorjamb. Wilson made a noise and nibbled on her cheek. She rubbed the mongoose’s head. “What are you saying?” A sudden spurt of hope shot through her. Could Tomi be alive? Fear warred hope. What did the money mean? And why would Tomi let them think he’d died?
“I know this is a shock,” Mano said, his tone suddenly gentle. He took her elbow and guided her to the couch.
She sank onto the sofa. “How could he still be alive? The navy said he was dead.”
“He was assumed lost at sea. I thought I let go somehow. But I’m telling you the truth: I just don’t know what happened.”
When Annie was five, she got lost in the rain forest. She wandered in the brush for eight hours before her parents found her. The same panic rushed at her now, the sense of losing the landmarks, of wandering in a strange land where what was once familiar became distorted and menacing. If what Mano said was true, their lives were about to be turned upside down. Again. Hadn’t they suffered enough?
She reminded herself that Mano let go of her brother. Maybe this false hope was his way of dealing with the guilt. If Tomi were alive, he would have contacted her by now. “Have you told the navy about the money?”
He shook his head. He hesitated. “If Tomi is alive, he’ll be in big trouble with the navy. He’s AWOL, and if the money—” He shook his head. “I don’t want to tip them off yet.”
“How do you know he’s alive?” Just saying the word alive made her heart race. Alive, alive. Tomi might walk through the door any minute. Was it possible? She warned herself not to get her hopes up.
“He called me two nights ago.”
She wanted to believe him. But why would Tomi call Mano but not her? “You’re sure it was Tomi?”
His gaze dropped. “I think so. He said it was, and it sounded like him.”
Annie allowed the smallest hope to flicker a little stronger in spite of the trace of doubt in Mano’s voice. “What did he say?”
“He told me to bring the bankbook to you, that he’d get in touch with you to get it back.” Mano pursed his mouth, and a line of worry crept between his eyes. “I would rather not involve you in this, but I didn’t know what else to do. I had no idea Leilani was missing.”
“What makes you think she’s with Tomi?” Annie could only hope that was true. Her brother doted on Leilani. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her.
“It makes sense that maybe he got in touch with her.”
“Then what about this necklace?” She held out the delicate pendant.
“Tell me exactly where you found it.” His expression sharpened.
Mano had a way of focusing on a problem so intently that he gave her confidence. Almost against her will, she stepped closer to him and began to tell him about her afternoon. His dark eyes never wavered from her face. Maybe he could figure this out. Though she still wasn’t ready to believe everything he was saying, she allowed herself to lower her guard and hope he might get to the bottom of this.
“So no one else was on the lava shelf ? Had you been there long?”
“I was taking readings. We were there maybe an hour.”
“Annie Tagama, volcano cowboy.” He grinned. “Or I guess I should say cowgirl.”
If he only knew how ridiculous that was these days. She was a volcano coward now. He hadn’t said anything about her limp. Maybe he hadn’t noticed. “Do you suppose Tomi could have dropped it there on purpose so I’d find it? Maybe it was supposed to be a message.”
“What kind of message? Why wouldn’t he have just told me?”
“I don’t know. But it might explain the necklace’s presence.”
Mano nodded. “She’d never go out there, would she? She avoided the volcano like swimmers avoid jellyfish.”
“I know, that’s what worries me. I should have looked around a little more.” She glanced out the window. “It’s still light enough to see. Maybe I’ll run back over there.” Her gut clenched at the thought of going near that shelf again.
“I’ll go with you.”
He was always one to step into the gap, but she couldn’t let him. Not this time. “I’ll handle it. It’s my problem.”
“It’s mine too. Tomi is my best friend. And you and Leilani are like—like sisters to me. I’ve got a month’s leave coming. I’m staying until we get to the bottom of this.”