Twenty
Mano jogged to keep up with Sam. Rain drizzled on his face and ran in rivulets down his neck. They’d parked at the road and had to walk through thick rain forest along the trail to Kim Aki’s shack. Mano’s shirt was drenched from brushing against the dripping tree ferns. Though Sam really hadn’t had any choice after the navy honchos learned Aki was back in the spotlight, Mano decided to be diplomatic. “Mahalo for letting me tag along, Sam.”
“Cut the crap, Oana. I don’t want you here, and you know it. Just don’t get in my way.”
“So much for an olive branch. You wouldn’t even know about Aki if I hadn’t told you. You might show a little gratitude.”
“Gratitude? For a wild-goose chase? So an enemy of yours is here under an assumed name. Big deal. That probably has nothing to do with Leilani running off.”
“He was the last person to see her. Another thing you should know—I saw him outside Noah’s cabin the other day. You don’t want to believe Tomi had anything to do with Noah’s death any more than I do. What if Aki killed him?”
Sam stopped and turned to face him. “And you’re just now telling me?”
“I forgot until now.” His face burned. He hated these memory lapses more than anything.
Sam snorted. “Likely story. I don’t want any more interference in my cases. First you get involved in Leilani’s disappearance, and now this.”
“Don’t forget about Leilani now that Noah is dead. Something has happened to her.”
Sam held up thick fingers. “One, she’s done this before, Oana. Two, there’s been no ransom note or anything else that would lead us to think foul play was involved. What makes you all so sure this stunt of hers is unique? And three, people have seen her since she disappeared.”
He should tell Sam about CeCe’s lie. A shadow moved up ahead before he could tell the officer. Mano squinted. “There’s Aki now.”
Sam turned and thrashed forward through the last bit of forest. “Mr. Aki, I’d like to have a word with you.”
Kim Aki whirled and crashed through the tree ferns that lined the path. Mano sprang after him, but Aki knew the area better and vanished in a stand of koa trees that towered over the underlying vegetation. He and Sam thrashed through stag’s tongue, woodfern, and ’olapa for fifteen minutes before giving up.
“What a waste of a morning,” Sam grumbled.
They returned to the squad car, and Mano glanced at the detective’s face. He was finally beginning to realize that Sam did care about the Tagama family, but he was genuinely worried about his other cases. “How about we settle our beef here and now? If we can’t be friends, I’d at least like to be civil.”
Sam slung himself into the car, and Mano got in on the passenger side and shut the door. Sam gripped the steering wheel.
“We’re never going to be friends, Oana.”
“Leilani has dumped both of us. There’s no reason for us to be at each other’s throat. She’s moved on. Happens to the best of us.”
“I think she would have married me if you hadn’t come into the picture with your flashy uniform and smooth ways.” Sam flexed his fingers.
“If she was going to be flighty, wouldn’t you rather find that out before you married her?”
Sam glared at Mano “You knew she was dating me.”
Mano knew he should have an answer for Sam’s accusation, but he didn’t. He shrugged. “Look, we could argue this all night. She burned us both. Can’t we put her behind us?”
Sam blinked, and the florid color faded from his face. His jaw flexed, and he turned to stare out the window. “It’s a little late now.”
“Better late than never.”
“I’m fine now,” Sam said. “I’ve got a new girl, and I don’t have time to waste on looking for Leilani Tagama. She’ll turn up.” He started the car and put the transmission in gear.
“Can we call a truce?” Mano asked.
“I guess. Leilani trashed us both pretty well. She didn’t stay with you long either.”
“About a month.” Mano grimaced at the reminder. He’d been so stupid over that girl. She taught him not to trust a pretty face. As Sam pulled out, Mano’s thoughts wandered to Annie. She might be an exception. He saw a movement from the corner of his eye and craned his neck to look. Aki’s face disappeared back into the brush.
“Stop!” Mano shouted. “Aki is there.”
Sam wrenched the steering wheel and pulled to the side of the road. Mano jumped out and ran into the thicket of Hawaiian huckleberry. Sam followed, thrashing and cursing as he got caught in a tangle of climbing screw-pine vines. Ahead of them, Aki stumbled over a mound of a’a and went tumbling into a tree fern. He staggered to his feet, but he’d lost his advantage. Mano tackled him.
“Calm down,” Mano panted. He wrestled Aki’s hands behind him, which was no easy task, because the man had to outweigh him by sixty pounds.