Volcano was filled with cars. The volcano had been putting on a lavish display today. Tourists and kama’aina, long-time locals, had flocked to the park to see it, and most of them ate here before they hiked out. She grunted in irritation at her inability to find a parking space, then managed to snag a spot someone else was vacating.
This wasn’t like her. She told herself to lighten up, but she wanted to see her sister. And her brother, for that matter. Tomi still had a lot of explaining to do. She got out and went toward the bar where she was supposed to meet Mano. She saw a hand sticking out a car window and realized he was flagging her down. His new rental sat directly opposite the door to the bar.
As she neared the car, she realized he wasn’t alone. Tomi sat in the passenger side. She jogged the last remaining steps and climbed into the backseat. Maybe she was finally going to get some answers.
Sixteen
Annie’s face was flushed when she slammed the backseat door and looked at her brother. “Tomi. I’m so glad you’re okay. But you’ve got to tell me what’s going on.” Her voice was controlled, but there was determination in the slant of her chin.
Mano listened while Tomi launched into the story. Mano watched Annie’s face. It had to come as even more of a shock to her than it had been to him to find out that Tomi didn’t walk on water. She’d adored her older brother for so many years. This mistake Tomi had made was going to have an impact on the entire family.
Mano was beginning to see more and more how Annie had been taken advantage of by her family. Without her, the Tagamas would have splintered from selfishness. She gave everything she had to ensuring their happiness and comfort. Her beauty was understated and shone from within in ways he was just noticing. She was worth ten of her sister. He’d sure been a blind idiot.
What would she think if he seriously pursued her when this was over? He gave himself a mental shake. There was no time now for romance.
Annie’s eyes were clouded with confusion. “Afsoon is still alive? Are you sure she’s not just trying another tactic to entrap you?”
“She’s in trouble, Annie. I can’t turn my back on her.” Tomi pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ve screwed up a lot lately. I have to find a way back. I don’t much like the man I’ve become.”
“Our sister is in trouble too. She should be your first priority. Not Afsoon.” Annie’s voice was agitated.
“Leilani may not even be connected to this, Annie.”
“Then where is she?” Annie was nearly shouting. Mano had never seen her so upset. “You think it’s some coincidence that she would disappear at the same time you magically come back from the dead?”
“I don’t know. But you’ve got Mano to help you figure it out. Afsoon only has me. I have to help her.”
“I think you’ve got your priorities skewed,” Mano put in, struggling to keep his voice level. “We’re talking about your missing sister. She’s your responsibility too. I want to help, but step up to the plate, Tomi, and be a man.”
Annie’s shoulders slumped, and she leaned back against the seat, resigned to Tomi’s stubbornness. “Sam says there are a bunch of Middle Eastern tourists on the island this week. Do you know what these men look like?”
“I have no idea. I wish I did,” Tomi said. He rubbed his head. “You’re right, though, we need to find Leilani. I just don’t want to desert Afsoon.”
“How much money will you need to go get Afsoon?” Mano put in.
“A lot. Probably at least fifty thousand.”
Mano winced inwardly. “Do you have a plan?”
“Not yet. I’ll need to bribe people to help me.” He turned and looked into the backseat at his sister. “If I have to use some of the money in the account to pay it, I will. I’ll figure out what to do to replace it later.”
“You can’t do that,” Mano said. “Not if you want out of this mess.”
“I can’t abandon Afsoon.” Tomi banged his head against the window several times. “I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I got into this.”
Mano couldn’t either. Tomi had always had such a clear head. “What exactly did Afsoon say? Where is she?”
“She’s in Tehran. Staying with a childhood friend at the moment, but her father’s goons are looking for her.”
“Why? Surely her own father won’t hurt her.”
“You know better than that, Mano. Women are expendable in that culture. Her father is livid that she betrayed him and has vowed to see her dead.”
Mano sighed as his thoughts ticked through options. “Don’t do anything yet. Let me see if I can call in some favors and get her out.”
“Who’s going to get her out, Mano? We can’t ask navy people. They’ll want to know more than we can tell them.”
“I have some contacts I used when we were undercover. One of them is in Tehran. Asad. I helped him arrange to get his brother papers to come to the States. I think he might help.”
Tomi straightened. “I should have known you’d think of something. You always do.” He punched Mano on the arm. “Mahalo, buddy.”