Bane’s gaze met Leia’s. Short of manhandling Ipo into the building, he didn’t know what to do. He saw the same helplessness he felt reflected on Leia’s face. Looking back at Ipo, he saw she was getting more color in her face.
Leia took her grandmother’s pulse. “Let me see if the nurse will come out here.” She jogged to the clinic and disappeared inside. A few moments later she and the nurse came hurrying back to the car. The nurse took Ipo’s blood pressure first. Ipo flinched as the blood-pressure cuff expanded. The nurse listened through the stethoscope, then pulled it down around her neck. “Your pressure is a little low. You really need to be in the hospital where a doctor can check you out.”
“You’re the only doctor I need. I’m tired, Leia.” Ipo’s voice was querulous. “Take me home so I can rest.”
Leia sighed. “Let’s wait on the helicopter and see if the technicians can convince her,” she whispered to Bane and the nurse. “At least she’s lucid.”
“I’m not deaf—or dead yet. I can hear you. And they’re not talking me into going either.” Ipo took the water bottle from Bane’s hand and sipped it. “We need to go back to find the treasure. Or did we get it already?”
“No, we didn’t. But you’re in no shape to go traipsing through the jungle.” Bane shut the door and got in the car. Leia thanked the nurse, then went around and got in beside her grandmother in the back. By the time they got back to Ipo’s house, she was acting her normal self. She talked with Leia about making kapa and was telling her where to gather special berries to make dye. He didn’t know what to think. One thing was sure—they weren’t finding the treasure today.
T?t? insisted Leia cancel the arrival of the helicopter, and she reluctantly agreed. Her grandmother seemed fine now, and no one could force her into going in for treatment. Ipo agreed to tell her doctor about it at her visit later in the week, and Leia had to be content with that promise. Malia arrived to spend some time with their grandmother.
“You’re sure you’ll be okay? I promised Candace I’d stop by the dive shop while Kaia is out sightseeing with Mano and Annie,” Leia said.
“Go, go,” Malia said. “We’ll be fine. Leave Ajax with us. He’ll protect us.”
They took Leia’s bike to the pier and took the boat around to Kaunakakai, where they got Leia’s car. There was a familiar van outside the dive shop when they pulled up. “Hans is here.” Leia nodded toward the lettering on the side of the van. “He’s got a lot of nerve to bother her.” She jumped out and ran toward the front door. She heard shouting as she neared the door and put on an extra burst of speed. Before she could enter, the door flew open, and Aberg Hans barreled through. His face was even redder than usual, but he was smiling. He paused when he saw Bane behind her. Anger flashed over his face, and he brushed past Leia.
Bane blocked his escape. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t see a badge on your chest. It’s none of your business.” Hans tried to go around him, but Bane sidestepped into his path again. “Get out of my way, Oana. This doesn’t concern you.”
Candace came to the door. Her eyes were red, and her cheeks were wet. “He came to tell me he’s bought the building.”
“What?” Leia and Bane said in unison.
Hans was smiling again. “I want you out by next week. It belongs to me now, and I’m going to bulldoze it down myself.” His voice was ripe with satisfaction.
Leia directed a glance at Bane. “How could my mother do such a thing?”
A worried frown crouched between his eyes. “Is she in financial trouble?”
Candace leaned her head against the wall. “If she’d only told me it was for sale, I would have gone to the bank and tried to get a loan.”
“Look,” Bane said to Hans. “Let her buy it from you. Have a heart. She has to have a way to raise her baby by herself.”
Hans laughed. “I don’t think so. I heard you found the treasure ship. That will see to her needs. I’ve got all I want.” He stepped past Bane, and this time Bane didn’t block him. The big man strode to the van and drove off.
As the sound of the motor faded, Candace wilted even more. “What am I going to do?” She put her face in her hands.
Leia embraced her. “Maybe we can find you another building.”
“You know how impossible it is to find a waterfront—and how expensive.” She shook her head. “It’s over.” Candace wilted against the doorjamb.
Leia led her friend inside and made her sit down. Bane went to fix them all a cup of coffee. “I haven’t wanted to pry about your finances, but do you need any money?” She had a little set aside, not much, but enough to buy some groceries.
“I’ve got enough for now, but it won’t last long.” Candace tossed a tissue onto the counter, where it joined several other wadded ones. She put on a brave smile.
Money never lasted long here, not with the costs of living in Hawai’i. “Well, if you need some help, I’ll be glad to share what I have.”