“That would be fine until you had to go to work,” Malia pointed out. “But I could help you. Most of my job is done at home anyway. I can string leis anywhere. T?t? could help me.”
“We’ll think about it.” Leia dreaded confronting her mother. Her mother had formed her ideas decades ago, then slapped a per-manent coat of shellac on them. She opened the door and stepped into the dark house. If Leia moved in, the first thing to go would be the curtains. She stopped when her gaze met Bane’s, and Malia nearly bumped into her.
He rose from the sofa with a fan of cards in his hand. “We were just playing Go Fish. Eva was whopping me. Are you all right?”
She wanted to run into his arms, and it was only by a thin string that she managed to hang on to her composure. “I’ve had better days,” she said, raising her voice over the sound of her grandmother’s singing. T?t? rocked in her chair and stared at the wall as she sang.
“What did Detective Ono have to say?”
“He found bullet casings, cigarette butts, and footprints. And a watch someone dropped.”
“He thinks Leia might be in danger,” Malia put in. She glanced at her watch. “My parents should be home. I’d better call them and tell them what happened.” She went toward the kitchen. “I’ll call your parents too.”
Bane’s gaze focused on Leia. “Does he think the shooter was aiming for you?”
“Of course not. He’s just looking at the fact I was nearby when Tony was killed, and now Koma. It’s coincidence though.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Bane put down his cards and came toward her. He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I’ve got an idea. We need some extra help diving. An earthquake swarm ripped a crack in the seabed close to the wreck. We have to move fast or the site may slide off into the abyss. You’re an expert diver. Ron will pay you well, and I can watch out for you.”
“I’ve got responsibilities at the clinic,” she protested. “And I’ve offered to help Candace as well.”
“It wouldn’t be long—just until the police wrap up this investigation. No one will harm you out on the boat. Besides, if Candace realizes we’re so close to finding the treasure, she’ll want you to go. She could use the money.”
She thought about it a minute. “Now might be a good time to take a few days off from work. I’d like to find the treasure for Candace’s sake.” She told herself her excitement about the dive had nothing to do with the fact that she felt alive in Bane’s presence and wanted to bask in his attention.
The stars shone like pearls in a blue-velvet sky. Leia inhaled the scent of the sea deep into her lungs and felt its power relax her muscles. Malia’s father had agreed to let her take T?t? home with her tonight while Leia and Bane went to get Candace’s permission for Leia to help with the dive.
“I need to stop by the ship and drop off Ajax. Do you mind?”
She shook her head. “I was glad to see him when I got to T?t?’s.”
“You’re not fooling me. I know, you hoped he’d run off by now.” Bane’s grin told her he was aware of her distaste for the canine. “I don’t know what you have against poor Ajax.”
The dog thrust his head between them and whined at the sound of his name. Leia leaned down and rubbed his head. “Oh, you mean you’ve never noticed how he acts like we’re all here to serve his every whim? You spoil him terribly. Human food, filtered water, a featherbed.” She shook her head. “You’re a mess, Bane Oana. That dog has gotten you wrapped around his finger, er, paw, in just a year. He was a spoiled puppy when I last saw him, and now he’s even worse.” She gave Ajax a final pat. She actually liked the dog, but Bane didn’t seem to realize Ajax was a dog and not his child.
“You just don’t like the competition.”
She crossed her eyes at him, thankful he couldn’t see her silly gesture in the dark night. “I thought Ajax would have forgotten me.” Hina was struggling to get to the dog, but Leia kept a firm grip on her. The cat eventually gave up and settled into a nap.
“I doubt it. You’re unforgettable.” His voice took on a husky tone, and he reached over and grasped her hand.
The touch of his warm hand sent a shock along her arms. It was a perfect night for romance. The heady scent of the sea mingled with Bane’s cologne. She needed to be careful. It would be easy to drop her guard on a night like this. She withdrew her hand, feeling a stab of regret. She didn’t want to hurt him, but it had to be this way. She saw him hunch his shoulders over the boat’s controls. She turned her gaze away.
He didn’t say anything more until he moored at the big research vessel. “I discovered my plane had been sabotaged. I forgot to tell you.”
“A bomb?”