“Why did she come out here?”
“She recognized my name when I first arrived and went to the observatory to talk to me. When she was told I was out at the volcano, she followed me out here. She had a picture of my family.” Tears shimmered in Gina’s eyes. “To tell you the truth, I really didn’t want to hurt her. If she’d listened to reason, I would have let her go.”
“You couldn’t let her go. She would have told everyone,” Annie said softly.
Tears began to leak from Gina’s eyes. “You’re right. But she was a mother like me. I was already beginning to love you like a daughter, Annie. I hated to cause you pain.” The tears stopped. She straightened her shoulders. “It had to be done.”
“You made Mother write the suicide note, then threw her into the volcano.” Annie’s voice was choked. “You’ve got your revenge. You don’t need Leilani too.”
Gina shook her head. “I hadn’t planned to take her, but she was going to accuse my idiotic son of stalking her. I couldn’t let that happen. When I realized the akua moon was coming, it seemed perfect to save her for that. Besides, once Leilani is gone, we can build a new family. Your father, me, and Jason.”
“What about Tomi?” Annie asked. “And me?” She glanced up at Mano and discreetly showed him a pistol in her pocket. She must have found the one he lost.
Gina smiled. “He’ll be in jail where he belongs. I don’t want him dead. I want him to suffer for what he’s done.”
“And me?”
Gina frowned. “If you had just stayed out of things. You’ve spoiled it all. I really loved you, you know.” Her voice sounded pained.
“You loved me so much you tormented me with those strange phone calls. That was you, wasn’t it?”
Gina glanced at Jason, who scowled and looked away. “Jason has been a little jealous, I think. Is that what it was, Jason?”
“First Michelle, and then Annie,” he muttered. “You never loved me, Mother.”
“You’re just like your father. Weak and whining. I never wanted any sons. Only daughters. Strong daughters like me.” She looked back at Annie. “And like you, Annie. I never wanted to raise a man to mistreat women like my father did.”
Mano had put the pieces together. “You’re planning to frame Tomi for Noah’s murder, aren’t you? We already know your husband was the CEO of Banos before his death.”
Gina’s smile widened. “You’re smart, Mr. Oana. It’s the perfect plan. Much better than killing him. Once the gun that killed Noah is found among Tomi’s belongings, the police will know they’ve found their man.”
“Noah told me about lying for the casino. That was all going to come out, wasn’t it? So you had him murdered, and if you can frame Tomi, you’ll kill two birds with one stone. Your plan has a flaw, though. Did your stooge tell you that he lost the gun? The police have it. They’re going to figure it all out.”
Gina’s smile faded, and she glared at her son. “Is this true, Jason?”
He shuffled his feet. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”
Mano looked at Aki. “What’s your part in all this, Aki? Money?”
Aki shrugged. “Of course.”
“I despise incompetence,” she muttered. She looked at Annie. “Why did you have to come out here, Annie? You are so much like Michelle. You were her replacement in my heart. But I can’t let you live to tell anyone. I’m sorry. It didn’t have to be this way if you’d just kept your nose out of things.”
While Gina was talking, Mano began to edge closer to Annie. “I need to sit down,” he said. No one seemed to object, so he squatted beside Annie. Her arm moved slightly; then she pressed the gun into his hand.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Annie said, standing. “Just let Leilani and me go, and things will be like they were before.”
Gina laughed. “I can see you think I’m crazy, Annie. Maybe I am, but not in a way that makes me stupid. This is about revenge, not madness. You saw my statue of Nemesis. She’s my role model. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, isn’t that what your Bible says? Nemesis takes justice very seriously. And so do I. This is about justice for Michelle and Alex.”
“But why like this? You’re not even a religious person.” Annie moved toward Gina, then stopped when the older woman held up her hand.
“It seems fitting. And the lava will destroy the evidence. When the heiau is found, the police will naturally assume it’s the work of a cult.” She moved toward the altar. “But I don’t have any more time to chitchat. It’s almost midnight.”
She stepped to the left of the altar and smoothed the white layers of Leilani’s dress out.
“No!” Annie shouted. She jumped up and started toward the heiau. Taking advantage of the distraction, Mano leaped to his feet. Aki moved to intercept Annie. He grabbed her arms and wrenched them behind her back.