That girl never could sing,” Oke Kohala said. His smile stretched across his brown face. He rose and moved toward the house.
Jesse’s lips twitched. Kaia’s voice had carried over the waves, and he had to admit she sounded a little like a tern—all squawk and no tone. But he’d still felt the heart in her song. He watched Kaia come toward him like Ni`ihau, the Hawaiian goddess of the sea. Fanciful stuff, but she really was lovely. Her long hair was bound in a French braid that hung over one shoulder and nearly touched her waist. High cheekbones jutted out from the sweet curves and angles of her face. Shapely black brows made an emphatic statement over her large dark eyes fringed with thick lashes. Her full lips drooped with weariness. Her naturally tanned skin looked kissed by the sun, and her eyes were as soft and melting as a black-tailed deer’s.
Her eyebrows winged up when she saw him. “Good morning, Commander.” Dressed in white shorts and a turquoise tank, she seemed an extension of the Pacific behind her. “Have they found any more survivors?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not that I know of.”
“I thought I’d run over to the hospital later today and see if there is anything I can do.”
“You did plenty. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
A blush touched her cheeks, and she looked away. “Anyone would have done the same.”
“Not everyone has a dolphin to help them.”
Her eyes brightened. “Nani is remarkable, isn’t she? She’s so intelligent and knew what to do without being told.”
He took a deep breath. “That’s the other reason I’m here. I need your help. Yours and Nani’s.”
She frowned. “I don’t know what I could do to help the navy. Or is this personal?”
“No, this is for the navy, for your country actually.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Why does it sound like I won’t like it?”
At least she sounded amused. He took hope. “As a native of Kaua’i, I’m sure you’re aware of how important this new defense system is?”
She nodded. “Everyone has been talking about it.”
“The missile system we’re testing is vital to national security. It’s the best we’ve tested yet—until yesterday.” It revved Jesse to talk about it, and he leaned forward.
“Sounds exciting. But where do I come in?” She took a step back.
He realized he was getting into her personal space and retreated. “We’ve had some disturbing security leaks at the base—desks riffled, hard drives destroyed, things like that. The last breach left one sailor dead.” Kaia’s eyes widened. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that part. “We think it came from the sea. You and Nani could help patrol offshore to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
She was shaking her head before he finished. “I don’t want Nani in danger. She’s special. Nothing can be allowed to happen to her.”
“Nothing will. We’d put a camera on her and let her patrol the waters. If anything showed up, we’d be right there. She would never be asked to stop an intruder, just tag them like the dolphins did in the Persian Gulf War. Apprehension would be my job.”
“The whole thing is your job,” Kaia said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Count us out.”
“I can’t. I need you.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just not possible.”
He hadn’t expected such uncompromising refusal. She had to know how valuable dolphins had been to the navy in the past. They had cleared the shipping lanes of explosives during the Iraqi war in a fraction of the time it would have taken divers to do the same. Her dolphins could save lives and man hours. But Jesse could tell from the finality in her voice that he’d get nowhere being a nice guy. Her boss at Seaworthy Labs needed to agree to this anyway. Maybe he could get him to order her to help.
Three
Two days later, Jesse waved at Duncan Latchet, who stood outside Jo-Jo’s Clubhouse in Waimea. Jo-Jo’s made the best shave ice on the island, though the ramshackle wooden building that housed it was enough to scare away the tourists. Duncan already had his treat. Jesse’s mouth watered just thinking of his favorite—banana shave ice with macadamia-nut ice cream in the bottom. He’d missed it during the twelve years he’d spent on the mainland. The pale imitations they’d called Hawaiian ice were nothing like the real thing.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Jesse told his friend as he joined him with shave ice in hand. He scooped a bite into his mouth before sitting beside Duncan. Duncan was a year older than Jesse, but they’d played football together for the Red Raiders, the Kaua’i High School team. Duncan looked every inch his forty years and then some. His blond hair was thinning on top, and weary lines marked his mouth.
“No problem. You said it was important.”
“Yeah, I hate to have to involve you, but I don’t know what to do. I heard your brother just bought Seaworthy Labs, right?”