Bane rubbed his chin. “Maybe I’m jumping at shadows. I’d say something happened on the seabed to disorient him enough that he held his breath. Or maybe he just had some kind of stroke or seizure down there.”
“But where is his weight belt?” Leia tried to imagine a scenario where Tony was disoriented enough to shed his weight belt, but she couldn’t come up with anything that worked. The wind brushed her exposed flesh, and she shivered as chicken skin pebbled her arm. Her stomach growled. Bane’s answered with its own low rumble.
“Got anything to eat? Diving always makes me hungry enough to chew a gecko.”
“Check the small pouch of my backpack.” She watched Bane unzip the pocket and rummage inside. She grinned at his snort of disgust when he found her stash.
“What is this?” He read the label. “Fried nori? What kind of food is that for a hungry man? It looks like something your cat chucked up.”
“I like trying new things. It’s fried seaweed seasoned with a little chili pepper. It’s the newest thing from Japan. And it’s not fattening. You look like you’ve gained a few pounds since I saw you last.”
He tossed her backpack aside, and she nearly laughed at his narrowed eyes and tight mouth. She rolled her eyes instead. She’d rather have him believe she found him unappealing than for him to know her pulse throbbed like her boat’s engine at full throttle. “Try the nori. It’s good.”
“I don’t have any choice. I could eat Hina if I had a fire.” He glared at the cat.
Eva frowned and pulled the cat closer to her. “You can’t eat Hina. She’s part of our family.”
Bane’s mouth relaxed in a smile. “I’ll make do with the seaweed. Hina is probably old and tough anyway.” He dropped into a seat and began to shovel handfuls of nori into his mouth. His eyes widened.
“Not bad, is it?” Leia didn’t try to keep the satisfaction from her voice. She took off her wet suit and pulled on shorts and a top over her wet swimsuit. She squeezed the water from her braid and toweled it dry.
“You love to be right.” He offered her the bag, and she took a handful of the chips. “Let’s head back to shore and see how Candace is doing. How do you think she’ll handle this?”
“She’s a strong woman, but this would shake anyone.” Leia went to the helm and started the engine. “Tony was larger than life, and they were still newlyweds. It’s going to be hard for everyone who knew him. Okay with you if we stop by the peninsula a minute to drop off Hina?”
“Sure.”
She pointed the boat toward shore. “What about the search? Will you and his partner continue it?”
“Ron has a lot invested in this search already. He won’t want to give it up now. But it won’t be the same without Tony.” He pressed his fingers to his eyes and turned away.
She reached out to touch his rigid shoulder, but drew back. Her eyes stung, and she blinked rapidly. She’d finished with crying years ago, and as much as she liked Tony, she wasn’t about to start again now. Tears accomplished nothing except a headache. She’d learned that at age six. Gritting her teeth, she stared ahead at the sea.
Riding high on its bow, the craft cut through the waves toward the peninsula. The swells around Moloka’i moved under the boat and made for a choppy ride. They reached the dock, and Bane stepped up to toss a rope over the moorings. She averted her gaze from his strong brown legs and back. She grabbed her backpack and towel. Eva took Hina in her arms. Five other boats ranging from yachts to fishing boats bobbed in the harbor.
“Hang on, let me get this stable.” Bane pulled the rope tight, then leaped to the dock. He extended his hand.
Leia moved out of the way and let Eva take her place. While Bane helped her sister to the dock, Leia stepped ashore by herself. A cluster of men and women on the beach caught her eye. “What’s going on?” She nodded toward the crowd milling along the shore. Raised voices rumbled with an undercurrent of excitement.
Bane took the backpack from her unresisting hand. “Beats me. Let’s see.” He led the way down the gray boards of the pier to the beach. “Maybe a monk seal has come ashore.”
“Maybe.” The seals were endangered, but they sometimes lumbered to shore and sunned themselves on the golden sand. Eva held tightly to Leia’s hand as they walked along the sand. The crowd parted in front of her, and she peered through the opening. Her confident step faltered when she saw Pete Kone in the middle of the crowd. His hands planted on his hips, Pete seemed to be barring anyone from coming near a roped-off section of beach. About thirty-five, Pete was a well-known figure on the island. His passion was teaching young Hawaiians about the old ways, from fishing to hula to crafts. His influence had helped her decide to learn to make the kapa.
“Stay back,” he shouted at the crowd. “The police are on their way. I’ve called the DLNR as well.”