Annie forced herself to stand as tall as her five feet two would allow. “Monica, can’t we be civil? We’ve never been friends, but at least we could work together. Have I done something to offend you?”
Monica folded her arms over her chest and glowered. “I’m a better volcanologist than you, but you’re the one who gets the cushy projects and all the praise. I’ve just had it. Ever since you got hurt you act like you’re entitled to special consideration. Get over it! So you got hurt—big deal. That’s the reality we face every day in our jobs. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen—or in this case, the lava field.”
Annie absorbed Monica’s words in silence. Did she have an attitude of entitlement? She was ashamed to admit to herself that maybe she did.
“Oh please, wipe off that expression of shocked hurt.” Monica brushed by her abruptly. “You’re not a child, Annie. Grow up and do your job.”
“You’re right,” Annie heard herself saying. Monica’s eyes widened. Annie turned and bolted for the parking lot. Tears leaked down her cheeks as she ran. Once she reached the safety of her SUV, she leaned her face into the steering wheel and took several deep breaths. She’d been failing everyone lately. She couldn’t measure up to everyone’s expectations. Not her family’s, not her coworkers’, not even her own. She didn’t know how to fix everything. The burden was too great.
She fumbled with her key and jammed it into the ignition, then drove toward home. How would she get her life in order? Why were things going from bad to worse? She had no answers, only questions. Her thoughts drifted wistfully to Mano and Fawn. They both had such self-confidence. Was it because of their faith? Her own was anemic. Once, she’d had great plans about what she’d do for God, but the last few years her focus had been on her work. But that was okay, wasn’t it? She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Mano stopped to get a shave ice. He ordered the diabetic rainbow flavor with sugar-free macadamia-nut ice cream on the bottom. Oh for the good old days when he could eat the real thing. The shave-ice stand would be a good place to ask for information about Tab Watson. Everyone frequented here, and usually the workers knew the patrons by name.
When the fresh-faced blond girl brought his order, he pulled a napkin out of the holder and then leaned against the counter. There was no one else in line, so he took his time. “You worked here long?”
The girl’s eyes brightened, and the smile she sent his way was obviously meant to intrigue him. “Over a year. I haven’t seen you here before.”
“I’m just visiting. Do you know Leilani Tagama?”
The girl’s smile clouded. “Yeah. Sad about her going missing.”
“I’m looking for one of her friends. Tab Watson. You know him?”
“Sure, everyone knows Tab.” The girl grimaced. “He’s a weird one.”
“In what way?”
“He’s always talking about Pele and Ku and the old religion. Gives me the willies.”
“Any idea where he lives?” Mano considered going to the Shark Head Bar tonight, but if Tab was a bouncer, he might not have time—or inclination—to talk.
“You some kind of cop?”
Mano shook his head. “Just a friend of the family’s.”
The suspicion in her eyes faded. “He lives in a house in the Aloha Shores subdivision. I’m not sure which one. But you can ask.” She giggled. “For all the good it will do.”
As Mano had discovered, residents of the subdivision were remarkably close-mouthed. Who knew how many of them were in the witness-protection program? In any case, they weren’t about to rat out one of their own.
He thanked the girl, took his shave ice, and went to the car. Though it was probably a useless effort, he drove out to the subdivision in search of Watson. The lava fields that stretched up the hillsides were beginning to feel like home to him, as often as he’d been here lately.
A woman was weeding a small herb garden at the first house when he pulled onto the access road. Mano stopped and rolled down his window. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I’m looking for Tab Watson. Could you tell me which house is his?”
She didn’t even look up. “Sorry, don’t know him.”