“Tutu kane, how can you say that? You of all people? The oyster beds are gone because of politicians. You can no longer find more than a handful of pearls. Our islands were annexed by the United States without a treaty, the U.S. lied to the United Nations and said we had become a state, and our heritage has been systematically stamped out. Even Clinton formally apologized for the overthrow of the Hawaiian government.”
Oke smiled. “I couldn’t hold my breath now long enough to grab a handful of sand twenty feet down. Change is sometimes hard, Mano, but you can never go back. You romanticize the old Hawai’i, but you forget the hardships and bloodshed our ancestors endured, the human sacrifice they committed. We are Americans now. I fought in World War II as an American. I would not go back, even if I could.”
Mano gave the rock in his hand a hard toss. “Things would be better if we were self-governing.”
Oke rolled his eyes. “That makes as much sense as putting a myna in control of your boat.” He smiled and patted his grandson on the arm then stood and walked to the last group of tourists.
“Tutu kane doesn’t understand.” Mano stood and kicked sand over the last of the fire. “I wish someone in the family would listen to me.” He turned and his gaze caught hers.
The last thing Kaia wanted to do was attend a political meeting that promoted Hawai’i’s secession. Looking into Mano’s face, though, she knew she had to do something. “I’ll go with you.”
“You will?” His eyes widened.
She frowned. He sounded almost disconcerted. She’d thought he would be thrilled. “As long as you don’t expect me to keep quiet if they start spouting nonsense about leaving the United States.”
“Just listen, okay? Don’t make any judgments. And don’t offer your opinion. And really, you don’t need to go. I was just aggravated with Bane.”
She sighed at his anxious tone. He was probably afraid she’d embarrass him. “I said I would go, so I’m going. Will there be talk of secession?”
“Yes, but try not to get riled about what they say. Just listen and don’t make a scene.”
“Of course I won’t make a scene. But I’m an American, Mano. So are you. I love my Hawaiian heritage, but I love America too.”
The sound of a motor mingled with that of the rolling surf, and Kaia turned to look. Jesse waved to her from the helm of a small white craft that glowed in the moonlight. She stood, brushing the sand from her legs. Her hair was probably a wreck from the wind, and she felt sweaty and unkempt. She wished she had time to brush her teeth. She needed all her courage to face the confident Jesse Matthews.
Heidi spotted him and raced to greet him. “Uncle Jesse!”
He lifted her in his arms and swung her around. “Having fun?”
“I’m having the best time,” she proclaimed. “Did you find the bad guy who shot at us?”
“Maybe.”
His gaze sought Kaia’s. He stared at her as if he were trying to see inside her head. Whatever he had come to tell her, she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like it.
“Heidi, why don’t you go fix your uncle a plate of roast pig?” she suggested.
“Okay.” Heidi slid from Jesse’s arms. “I’ll be right back.”
Kaia waited until she was out of earshot. “Let’s hear it. Did you find the man?”
“I’m not sure. A diver washed ashore. I wondered if you could look at a picture and identify him. He was dressed in black like the one who attacked you, though that doesn’t tell us much since so many wear black. We recovered a dart gun from the bottom of the ocean as well.” He fished in his pocket.
“He’s dead? He was very much alive when I saw him last. Drowned?”
Jesse shook his head and held out a group of Polaroid pictures. “Shot with a dart in the stomach. The autopsy will show what poison was used.”
She took them but couldn’t bring herself to look yet. “You’re saying there was more than one diver out there?”
“We don’t know yet. We don’t even know if this man is connected with the one you saw. Take a look.”
Mano joined her. “I heard you about got my sister killed today. I don’t want her doing this anymore.”
“I’ll make sure she’s protected.” Jesse’s voice was steady, and he turned to face Mano.
The two men looked like two sea lions about to butt heads. Kaia put her hand on her brother’s arm. “It was no big deal, Mano.”
Jesse’s fists uncurled at her soft tone. “Don’t worry. Really, I’ll make sure she’s protected.”
Conscious of his intent gaze, Kaia turned away and stared at the photos in her hand. She had to look at them. “Got a flashlight? It’s hard to make out in the dark.”
“I’ve got one.” Jesse jogged to the boat and came back with a light. He trained it on the photograph.
Kaia studied the man. The Hawaiian face was square and swarthy with thick lips and nose. The man had a goatee, and she tried to remember if the man who’d attacked her had sported facial hair. Everything had happened so fast, it was hard to remember. “The build seems right. But I didn’t get a good look at his features. He looks familiar though.”
She’d seen this guy somewhere. The knowledge played hide-and-seek at the edge of her consciousness. Mano crowded her to look at the photo as well. He drew in a sharp, quickly smothered gasp.