Mano didn’t answer. He wasn’t ready to go there. When he’d awoken on the boat, he was sure he’d saved his friend. The censure in his commanding officer’s eyes nearly killed him. He told Mano Tomi was presumed dead. At the time, no one knew what had happened, but Mano soon learned he’d suffered from his first diabetic reaction. The guilt plaguing him had almost done him in. All over a girl.
“A spy,” Annie whispered. “You didn’t give them more information, did you?”
“No, I got out of there with Afsoon’s help. She had some feelings for me even if she used me.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “She was killed helping me get away.”
“Oh no, Tomi, I’m so sorry.” Annie pressed his hand to her cheek.
“So they’re still after information from you?” Mano asked. “What information?”
Tomi looked away. “I need to get that bankbook and give them back their money. Then maybe I can go to the navy and see if I can get out of this mess. But if I go with that threat of blackmail hanging over my head, I’ll be court-martialed.”
“They’d lock you up and throw away the key,” Mano said.
Tomi nodded. “We have to get that money.”
Annie looked out the window. “There’s a car parked in front of the house. A big Lincoln.” Glass shattered in the window, and she sprang back.
“Get down!” Mano grabbed her arm and pulled her to the floor. Peering over the windowsill, he saw the black car speed away. He glanced at the shattered glass and saw a rock with a paper attached by a rubber band. “What’s this?” He grabbed the rock and pulled the paper loose.
Letters cut from magazines had been glued to make a collage of words. YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANT. The words gave him a chill. He heard Tomi groan.
“This is my fault—I’m putting you all in danger!” Tomi backed away, then turned and dashed out the door.
“Wait!” Mano ran after him but stumbled over a chair leg lying in the way.
Annie jumped up as if to run after him, but Mano grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Let me handle this.” He ran into the yard, but Tomi had disappeared. He went back inside the garage to join Annie. “He’s gone.”
“I’m scared.” She hugged her arms around herself. “Leilani is gone, and now Father is missing as well.”
“He might have gotten away. Let’s look around before we call Sam. Maybe there’s a clue to who did this.”
He took her hand, and instead of pulling away like he expected, her fingers curled around his. A warm feeling settled under his ribs. He squeezed her fingers, and she still didn’t let go. They walked around the side of the house to the backyard. The sound of the surf had a cold, angry tone, ominous as it boomed against the lava rocks. He didn’t want to suggest they look for Edega in the water, but Annie led him that direction.
As they neared the shore, he saw a figure sitting on the black sand. Edega had his back against a lava rock and was looking out to sea with a pensive expression.
Annie dropped Mano’s hand and ran forward. “Father, what are you doing down here? You scared me.”
Edega seemed older, shrunken somehow. He got slowly to his feet. “Some men broke down the door. We’re in trouble, Annie.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“I don’t think you do. They say Tomi must give them what they want, or they will kill all of us.”
Mano fixed Edega a cup of tea and lit some incense, hoping the familiarity of Edega’s favorite things would calm him. He waited until the older man’s hands quit shaking before he went to look for Annie. He stepped outside into the backyard and walked slowly down toward the water. Someone needed to be called, but he wasn’t sure who. The navy? The FBI? Which would be most likely to help them solve this mystery without putting the family in more danger? Tomi needed to ’fess up and face the consequences of what he’d done. This web was of Tomi’s own making.
Mano was still trying to come to grips with the realization that he hadn’t harmed his friend. But the fact remained that he could have. His disease had put his friend and the whole mission in jeopardy. He was going to have to make a decision soon about his career, if the navy didn’t make it for him. He loved the navy, and the thought of having to walk away from it made him feel he was sinking in black quicksand. Could there even be a future for him outside the navy? His case was under review, and while they might allow him to stay in the service, it wasn’t likely. And he’d definitely have to give up his beloved SEALS.
Maybe he could start a dive operation. He rejected the idea almost as soon as it was born. He couldn’t do anything where other people’s lives depended on him. If he harmed someone, he’d never be able to live with himself. He saw Annie sitting at the edge of the water. She sat clasping her arms around her knees. He felt as lonely and abandoned as she appeared.