We’ll see what we can find out,” Sam said. He slipped his notebook back into his pocket. “I might check out Aloha Shores.”
The Aloha Shores area was home to a different sort of residents. With no running water and no electricity, the people who called the subdivision home still lived the hippie life. It was rumored that the greatest contingent of witness protection–plan people lived there.
“What makes you think they could have anything to do with this?” Mano asked.
Sam shrugged. “A few groups there engage in some pretty wacky things. This qualifies, don’t you think? Last I heard, one group was meeting to build a heiau to Ku. Maybe that’s what this is.” He swept his hand toward the remains on the altar.
Mano shook his head. “But why here if they’re worshiping Ku? Pele is the volcano goddess.” He had never been to Aloha Shores, but he might poke around out there himself.
“Who knows what people like that think? Tomorrow is Saturday, so maybe I can find some residents at home.”
“Mind if I tag along?” Mano asked.
“This is my turf. I’ll handle it.” Sam’s gaze held a trace of hostility. He followed Mano and Annie toward the SUV.
Sam had always been territorial, but Mano wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Please, Sam?” Annie put her hand on the detective’s arm. “Let us come.”
Sam’s face softened. “Okay, if it means that much to you, Annie.” He glanced toward Mano. “Let’s see if Leilani comes home tonight. If not, we’ll head out tomorrow morning.”
Annie had little to say as they returned to the Tagama house. Mano didn’t know how to comfort her. He’d never been good with words. She drove methodically, her gaze never leaving the road. She still hadn’t regained her color.
She parked behind his rental car. “Still think Leilani is with Tomi?” she asked.
“That’s hardly a unique top,” he said.
“True.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I’m just not going to worry about it until we hear from Tomi. Maybe you’re right.”
“You didn’t say anything to Sam about the call from Tomi or the money?”
“No, and you’re not to say anything either,” she ordered. “Once we hear from Tomi, I’ll figure out how to handle this.”
He grinned. “Whatever you say, boss. Though Sam might have an idea of where to look for your brother.”
She nodded and looked out the window. He got out and went to his car. He needed to talk this through with someone. Good thing his sister was on the island. He drove along the road to Jillian’s house, where Kaia was staying. The topography changed from bare lava fields to rain forest, then to tropical greenery. He followed the coast for five miles.
He turned into the driveway and honked to alert Jillian. Since she’d been separated from her husband, Jillian had been easily spooked out here, Kaia said. No one answered the door, so he wandered down to the water and found the two women sitting on a lava rock outcropping. This inlet had little sand, though the snorkeling was good.
Kaia waved to Heidi, Jillian’s eight-year-old daughter, who was romping in the water with Nani, the wild dolphin who had begun “talking” to Kaia. “Don’t go too far out,” she called. She turned, and her gaze met Mano’s. “You’re later than I expected.”
“Yeah.” His sister’s gaze scrutinized his face. He stared at her, willing her to realize he needed to talk to her alone.
“What is it?” she asked.
So much for women’s intuition. “Later,” he muttered.
“Watch me, Kaia!” Heidi grabbed Nani’s dorsal fin and let the dolphin pull her through the water.
Kaia’s face registered awareness that something was wrong. Before Mano could decide how to get her alone without arousing Jillian’s curiosity, a figure shadowed them. Mano looked up to see a stocky man with a neatly trimmed beard. He was staring at Jillian as though he’d like to gobble her up. The man had a neck as thick as a sumo wrestler and broad shoulders to match. His dark auburn hair was shaggy and fell over his broad forehead. He blinked, and his sea green eyes met Mano’s gaze.
Jillian turned. Her gaze traveled up to rest on the man’s face. She gasped. “Noah?”
Noah Sommers? Mano had heard all about how the man had deserted his wife and child and published Jillian’s research under his own name. Mano’s hackles rose.
Noah jammed his hands into his pocket. His smile seemed anxious. “Hi, Jillian,” he said.
The color left Jillian’s face. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Scrambling to her feet, Jillian brushed the sand from her legs, then grabbed her coverup. “Noah. To say I’m surprised to see you would be an understatement.”
Mano exchanged a glance with Kaia. He gave a slight shake of his head at the protectiveness he saw in her face. This wasn’t her battle to fight.