Kaia hadn’t checked the weather, but she turned to look over the water. Truly inclement weather could come from Kona winds. A faint dusting of clouds darkened the horizon, but that was no comfort. A storm could blow in quickly.
She realized the group had left her behind while she was woolgathering, so she hurried to rejoin them as they stepped into the mill. There were about seventy-five people inside, she guessed. The group she was trying to be part of stopped by a massive support beam, and she stood behind it. There wasn’t much lighting in this corner, which would help conceal her.
Nahele looked like he was about to begin to speak, but tonight she wasn’t interested in his inflammatory words. Her one goal was to find the man with the birthmark on his nose and discover his name. Then she was out of here.
Something about the tension in the room was getting to her. A strange vibration of danger put her nerves on edge.
Nahele climbed the machinery that served as a platform and began his harangue, but Kaia’s attention was riveted on the man who was revealed when Nahele moved. The big Hawaiian, nearly as huge as the machinery, was impossible to miss. The dim lighting revealed the birthmark on the side of his nose.
She spoke to the woman in front of her. “Excuse me,” she whispered. “Who is the big guy behind Nahele?”
“Shh,” the woman said in an annoyed whisper.
No help there. Kaia moved through the crowd, closer to where the man stood. She saw Mano in a group of four other men. He hadn’t seen her yet, and she wanted to make sure it stayed that way. She retreated into the shadows. Glancing around, her gaze connected with that of her coworker Jenny. Jenny’s eyes widened when she saw Kaia, and she gave an uncertain smile.
So Jenny was involved in this organization just as Kaia had suspected. Maybe she could get some information out of her. Kaia moved quickly to her side before she said anything. “Hi, Jenny,” she whispered.
“What are you doing here?” Jenny too withdrew to the shadows when several people gave them an annoyed look.
“I was about to ask you the same thing. I didn’t know you were interested in Pele Hawai′i. Mano never mentioned it.”
The tension between them seemed to lessen. Jenny smiled. “Oh, I suppose Mano talked you into coming. I’d forgotten he was a member.”
There were several shushes from people standing around.
“Let’s go outside,” Kaia whispered.
Jenny nodded reluctantly then followed her out the door. “I really wanted to listen to Nahele. I heard the organization is going in a new direction.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t know the details,” Jenny said.
Maybe she would know the guy’s name. “That big guy who hangs around Nahele, the one with the birthmark on his nose. Who is he?”
Jenny pressed her lips together. “Kim Aki. He’s Nahele’s son,” she said with obvious reluctance.
He was an Aki? Kaia hadn’t been expecting that. He looked like some kind of henchman. “He doesn’t look much like his dad.”
Jenny shrugged. “I think he’s adopted.”
“Are you involved with him?”
Jenny sighed. “We’re friends,” she admitted. “I’ve seen him a few times.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the first time I asked?”
Jenny shrugged. “That was our first date. I wasn’t sure if it would lead anywhere.”
“He looks scary,” Kaia said.
“He’s a sweet guy. He makes sure things run smoothly,” Jenny said. “Listen, I really want to hear this. Let’s go back inside.”
“You go ahead. I need to go to the bathroom.” Kaia nodded toward the porta-potty parked in the lot.
“Okay. I’ll be back where you first saw me if you want to join me.”
“Great.” Kaia waited until Jenny disappeared inside the rice mill then jogged back to her car. She nearly screamed when a dark figure moved out from behind her brother’s truck. She relaxed when she recognized Mano.
“You just robbed me of a year of my life,” she scolded.
“What are you doing here, Kaia?” His face was stern in spite of her teasing tone.
“I was about to leave.”
“You’re poking around in things that don’t concern you. I don’t want you to come back here.”
“I don’t want you to come here at all,” she retorted.
“I have to. It will be over soon.”
She stared into his face. “What’s going on, Mano? Can’t you tell me?”
“Not yet.” He took her arm and opened her car door then thrust her inside. “Get out of here, Kaia. I don’t want Nahele to see you here.”
She sat in the car and pulled her door shut then looked up at him through the window. “What about Kim Aki?”
Mano’s face changed. If she didn’t know her brother feared nothing, she would have sworn she saw fear.
“You stay away from Kim,” he said, leaning down to whisper. “He’s a dangerous man.”
“Then why are you hanging around him?” She wanted to shake her brother. Why wouldn’t he stop talking in riddles?
A hulking shadow moved behind Mano, and Kaia gasped when she recognized Kim Aki.