“Sorry it took me so long.” He stepped inside. “I had another call from Tomi. He asked if I gave you the bankbook.”
Her emotions surged like the tide after a storm. “Did you ask him about Leilani?” She couldn’t help the hope that softened her voice.
Mano’s eyes softened. “Yeah. He started breaking up so I couldn’t tell what he said. My bet is that she’s with him.”
Annie let herself hope. A persistent voice inside asked why Leilani hadn’t called, but she ignored it. Tomi hadn’t called either. There was likely some good explanation.
“He said he’d be in touch soon.” He touched her chin with his fingers and tilted her head up so her gaze connected with his. She could smell the soap he’d used this morning, something sharp and sporty. She knew she shouldn’t welcome his touch, but the warmth of his fingers held her immobile.
He was too close. She jerked her chin out of his hands and stepped back. “Come to the living room. Father had better hear all of this.” Wilson squeaked in her ear, and she clutched him for comfort as she led the way. Her father had emerged from the office and now sat in his chair opposite the Mizuya cabinet, whose simple lines held the TV. He held a notebook and pen. His expression grew wary when his gaze rested on Mano. They had both thought Mano the villain too long to easily let go of their distrust, but she suddenly realized that if Tomi was alive, everything else Mano had told them must be true too.
She had to listen to him now, had to work with him on this. If Tomi was in trouble and had dragged Leilani into it, she had to do what she could to help them both. Irritation flashed through her. She was a scientist trained to investigate lava flows, not missing persons. She wasn’t equipped for a job like this. But so long as Sam continued to sit on his thumbs, she had no choice.
She sat on the couch with one leg curled under her and Wilson on her lap. The phone rang. She looked at Mano. “That might be Sam. I left a message for him to call about the smashed window.”
“Don’t tell him anything about your brother. Not until you talk to Tomi.”
She nodded and grabbed the phone. “Tagama residence.”
“Annie, you called?” Sam’s voice sounded distracted and a trifle irritated.
“Um, yeah, I found a smashed window in the garage. It looks like someone was trying to get in. And there were scratches on the lock at the door.”
“We’ve had a rash of vandalism out your way. Those rotten kids.” Sam sighed heavily. “I’ll send someone out to take a report, but I doubt we’ll find out who did it.”
“I—I wondered if it had anything to do with Leilani’s disappearance.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure. We’ve never had anyone try to break in before. I just thought it might be connected. Since the garage is attached, someone could gain access to the house more easily.” Saying it like that, it sounded inane and childish. Sam was likely to be suspicious and wonder why she’d called. The disinterest in his voice replaced her embarrassment with annoyance.
“Ask your neighbors. Someone broke into their garage and then into the house just last week. It happens, even here. Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you the minute I hear anything about Leilani. I’m swamped right now. I’m sure Leilani will show up. She probably found a new boyfriend who turned her head.” He was sounding more and more impatient.
He hung up before she could say anything else. It was probably just as well, if Leilani was with Tomi. If Annie only knew for sure, she could relax. “He’s not going to do anything.” She put down the phone and looked at Mano. “Tell Father what Tomi said,” she told him.
Mano sat in the armchair and began to tell her father about Tomi’s call. Wilson cautiously approached his leg and sniffed him. She smiled as the mongoose crept into his lap. Wilson didn’t like many people. She turned her gaze to her father and watched hope spring to life on his face. It matched that in her heart. For months it seemed their family would never recover from the blows they’d been dealt. Now things were topsy-turvy again, but in a way that made her think they could roll back the clock.
“Now, what about this breakin?” Mano asked, his gaze bouncing from her to her father and back again.
Annie rose. “It would be better to show you.”
Mano lifted Wilson off his lap and stood. Annie led Mano to the garage. She went to the broken back window. Some of the glass had fallen inside as well, but it didn’t appear the intruder had touched anything inside.
“He almost made it in,” Mano said. “Is there anything valuable here?”
“My father’s research.” She lowered her voice. “And that’s nothing groundbreaking.”
“Could it be someone looking for Tomi?”
“I don’t think he’d lead anyone back to us,” she said slowly. “I don’t want to believe that.”