Annie couldn’t help but wonder what a child of theirs might look like. Mano’s gaze caught hers, and she looked away, wondering if he could read her thoughts on her face. She was such a dreamer.
The woman in front of them concluded her business, and Tomi stepped to the window and produced his ID. “I’ve lost my bankbook on this account.” He slid the number to her. “It’s on a New York bank. I want to move the money to a new account before someone finds it and gains access to my funds.”
The teller looked at his driver’s license and then back to Tomi’s face. She punched some numbers into the computer. After a few seconds, she frowned. “Let me get my manager.”
Annie’s stomach tightened. Tomi’s complexion had paled to a sickly yellow. “Maybe I should get out of here,” he muttered.
“No, it’s probably standard procedure,” Mano said. “Just hold tight.”
The back of Annie’s neck prickled in spite of Mano’s soothing, matter-of-fact voice. She wanted to finish this and get outside to the sunshine. Tomi’s tension was getting to her. She glanced around but didn’t see anyone watching them. “What about when we leave? Won’t the men outside recognize us?”
Tomi shrugged. “We can put the dresses back on.”
“Or just run for the car,” Mano said.
“Come on, come on,” Tomi muttered, glancing at his watch.
Finally the teller came back with an older woman. Tomi’s face cleared. “Margaret, you can tell the teller who I am.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Tomi Tagama. I couldn’t believe it when my teller said someone came in yesterday claiming to be you. I called the police, but the man was gone by the time they got here. I froze the account and was going to call your sister.” She glanced at Annie, then back to Tomi. “I can’t believe you’re here and alive. What a happy day.” She reached across the counter and patted his hand.
“Good thinking, Margaret. Thank you. Can I please transfer the money to a new account?”
“Of course, of course.” She moved to the computer and began the transaction. Minutes later she had him sign several papers and then handed him a new bankbook. “Try to keep better track of this one,” she said with a teasing light in her eyes. “I didn’t know the navy paid so well, Tomi.”
He winked at her. “It’s not my money. If I’d lost it, I would have been in deep doo-doo.”
She chuckled. “I’ve missed you, Tomi. It’s good to see you resurrected. I’m sure your family is ecstatic. I’m surprised news of your return hasn’t spread all over the town.”
“It will now, I’m sure,” he said. Her laughter followed them toward the door. He paused and looked outside. Several olive-skinned men were approaching the bank. “Uh-oh, I’d better get out the other door.” He turned and bolted for the hallway by the bathroom.
Annie ran after her brother, but he’d vanished out the exit door. She poked her head out, but all she saw was an empty alley. Mano joined her, and she slumped against him. “He’s gone.”
He touched her elbow and guided her down the alley in time to see the men enter the bank. She glanced at the parked cars. “They all seem to be inside. Let’s make a run for it while we can.”
Mano guided her down the street. “We probably better tell Sam that Tomi is back in town. He’s going to hear about it, and he’ll be furious we’ve kept him in the dark.”
“I suppose.” Annie stopped. “We’d better figure out what we’re going to tell him though. We can’t tell him about the money.”
“No, we can’t.”
“We’ll just say Tomi was picked up by some Iranians and just now made it back to the States. It’s the truth.”
It would have to do, but she knew Sam would be suspicious. “Lead the way.” They went down the street to the police station.
Sam was at the front desk when they arrived. He smiled when he saw them. “I was just going to call you. I got a call from someone who said they saw your sister in Hilo yesterday with a man. She was laughing and seemed happy. It looks like I was right all along.”
Annie closed her eyes then opened them again. “Thank you, God. Who was this caller?”
“It was her friend, CeCe.”
“CeCe? Why didn’t she call me? That makes no sense.”
Sam shrugged. “She said Leilani asked her to get me to call off the dogs. I’m sure she knew I’d tell you.”
“I don’t understand why Leilani didn’t call me. I’d better talk to CeCe.”
“Go right ahead.”
Annie turned, then remembered why they’d come in the first place. “There’s something else. I wanted you to hear it from me first.”
“Oh?”
“Tomi isn’t dead after all. He was picked up by some Iranians and just now made it back to us. Isn’t that wonderful?” She forced herself to gush to make sure Sam wasn’t suspicious.
Sam’s face brightened. “You’re kidding me! Where is he?” His smile was genuinely delighted.
“I’m not sure, but I’ll tell him to stop by and see you.”