Moving the bones out of the way gently, she looked for something to use to keep Moe from reaching the tree stand. A la’au palau lay in the bottom of the chest, surrounded by dry leaves. The club was a short one—only about two feet long—but it would do. She grabbed it and rushed to where Moe’s hands were even now grasping for purchase to haul himself onto the platform. She could try stomping on his fingers, but her bare feet would inflict no damage. Holding the club aloft, she warned him first. “Climb back down, and I won’t hurt you, Moe. I don’t want to hit you, but I will if you don’t let go.”
Moe’s face tipped up, and he fumbled for the gun at his waist. She had no choice. Praying for strength, she brought the head of the stone club down on his fingers. He yelped but managed to hang on, though one finger began to swell, and she saw drops of blood where the stone had cut his flesh. She bit her lip at the sight but reminded herself he would kill her if he reached the platform. She raised the club again and brought it down on his fingers. He howled again, and this time he loosened his grip and began to slide back down the tree. His momentum accelerated, and he plummeted to the ground to join Logan, who was still prostrate on the wire grass.
Leia knelt on her hands and knees and peered at the two men. Moe lay motionless on the ground for several moments, then began to stir. He rolled onto his back, nursing his injured hands. His gaze connected with Leia’s, and she suppressed a shudder at the menace in his face. If he got his hands on her, he would kill her.
He fumbled with his gun, and she ducked out of sight. “I called the police, Moe. They’re on their way.” Her gaze fell on the club she’d used. The stone head had broken loose from the handle. It would be useless to her now if he tried to come back up.
A bullet cut through the branches above her head. He’d moved out from under the platform and was firing wildly. She scooted on her backside to a large branch and put as much of her body behind it as she could. Bullets continued to rain around her, then finally stopped. She peeked out from behind the branch, but she couldn’t see anything from here. She listened. She wouldn’t give a quarter for her chances of surviving the day. Her gaze fell back on the chest. Listening for furtive sounds from below, she scooted toward it. Maybe there was another weapon inside. The scent that rushed up to meet her when she opened the lid was that of tea. The dry leaves in the bottom were loose tea. She thought of her grandmother’s chant. Loose tea in the treasure chest.
The club she’d used on Moe suddenly looked familiar. She told herself that most clubs looked alike. The one stolen from the museum had a pakololio symbol on it. The shieldlike symbol was one that invoked the power to control the wind. The club lay on the platform floor. She’d know the truth if she picked it up and checked, but did she even want to know? She wished she could go back to yesterday morning, when things seemed so much more clear. Biting her lip, she reached out and picked up the club. The rock was smooth and worn on this side with no symbols. Running her hand over the worn wooden handle, she flipped it over with a decisive movement. The symbol almost seemed to glow on the head of the club.
She dropped it, and it thudded on the platform. It couldn’t be true. Her father couldn’t be a thief. She thought of all the things she’d been taught growing up—morals built on the foundation of the Scriptures. Truth, honesty, love for others. Had it all been a sham? She heard a sound and whirled to see Moe beginning to climb onto the platform.
Twenty-three
That was Ono. Leia called in. She’s at Koma’s cabin.” Bane slammed the phone back into its cradle. Ipo’s kitchen held most of the people who cared about Leia: her parents, Ipo, Malia, Eva, Mano, and Annie. “I’m going out there. Ono is on his way, but it will be nearly an hour before he can get here.”
“I’ll go with you.” Akoni followed him.
“Wait for me.” Mano jogged after the other two men.
Bane barely acknowledged the other men. His focus was on getting to Leia. She had to be okay if she’d called in, right? He tried to reassure himself. What was she doing back at Koma’s cabin?
“Did Ono say anything other than that she’d called?” Mano asked, his breath ragged as he ran to keep up with Bane.
Bane hadn’t wanted to say all of it in front of the women. “The dispatcher heard shots in the background, and the line went dead.”
Akoni put on a burst of speed and jogged ahead. His face was white and set. Bane had often admired the relationship between him and his daughters, but days like this showed how vulnerable love made a person. Was he ready for that? He suppressed a rueful sigh. It was too late. He was a goner and had been since the day he first met Leia. He’d paced the night away, and the turmoil had left his emotions cart-wheeling all over the place. Until last night, he hadn’t been certain which was worse—a life without Leia or one without children. Now he was certain that an existence without Leia wasn’t worth living.