White Ginger

chapter 4



When Arne next pulled up in front of her cabin in the long shadows of early morning, she raced down the stairs to his jeep, even before he had time to alight and grabbed his arm. “Was anything taken? Have the police caught anyone yet?”

He raked a tanned hand through his hair as he led her back to the veranda and dropped onto the seats they had occupied at dinner the night before. A lock of raven hair fell over his forehead and shadowed eyes.

“Not yet. And nothing was taken as far as I have been able to check, but they threw my gear around and caused quite a bit of damage. Funny though. I don’t think they found whatever they were looking for.”

Amelie held her breath as she recalled her own thoughts on the subject last night. Preoccupied in the retelling, Arne continued.

“Forensics found a piece of cloth snagged on a nail inside, just below the window. And there was a smear of blood so they got a DNA sample. The thief caught himself on the nail when he slid through the window.”

He stood and walked to the railing, looking off into the distance for a moment, and then brought his gaze back to her. His thoughts seemed to be on something other than the break-in.

Looking up at him, with the sun shining so brightly on the verdant growth around her cabin and the world so fresh and alive, Amelie wished he would take her into his arms again. She ached to feel his lips drawing from her willing ones the pleasure they had shared all too briefly. The melting sensation each time they touched was proof he stirred a strong physical response in her, but they connected on a deeper level. Their relationship was instinctive, elemental.

Predestined.

Why had that word sprung into her mind?

She stood slowly and walked across to join him at the railing. He smelled of lime and sandalwood. Heat rose in her body at his nearness and she leaned in close, aching to wrap herself around him again.

“About last night…” His voice was hesitant, and he touched her hair lightly but maintained his distance. There was tension in the set of his shoulders, and a wariness in the way he looked at her. A pit opened in her stomach and her heart sank. Holding her breath she fought down panic.

Please don’t say you regret last night. Please don’t say it!

* * * *

He took her hand, brushing his thumb across her knuckles and looked down into her eyes. How could he have grabbed her the way he had last night; how could he have lost control so quickly?

They’d known one another barely two weeks and he’d pulled her down onto the couch intending to make exquisite, passionate love to her. Exactly what he’d promised himself he wouldn’t rush into. Fool that he was, he’d probably lost her.

Looking at the uncertainty on her face now, he couldn’t believe he’d rushed her. Reason disappeared in the face of his desire for her. Would she trust him again?

“Amelie, I’m really sorry. I never meant to rush you.”

An uncertain half smile touched her lips and she surprised him.

“I didn’t feel rushed. In fact, I really enjoyed last night. Oh, and don’t worry about not collecting your sitting fee. I’ll finish paying whenever you’re ready.”

“My sitting fee? I meant–”

Her smile grew. He grinned and relaxed as the weight lifted from his shoulders.

Holding his breath, he held out his hand to her.

“Can I collect another installment now?” She took his hand and he pulled her closer, reveling in the warmth of having her in his arms.

“Never let it be said that I welsh on my debts.” Amelie ran her hands up over his chest to his shoulders.

He’d been sure he’d blown it last night. Now, he vowed to stay in control of his emotion around her, at least until she was sure of herself and her feelings. And he would work to ensure he was the new man in her life.

The only man.

Slowly, he lowered his head to hers, offering a kiss soft and full of promise in the bright light of the new Hawaiian day.

After a moment, she pulled away and, with a half smile, drew back from him. Immediately, he released his light hold on her arms and smiled ruefully.

“Payment deferred until a more convenient time?”

“And I always pay my debts.” She took his hand and led him into the lounge. “Something’s been playing on my mind. I was looking through your reef footage after you left last night. I’m not one hundred percent certain, but I saw something in a few frames that looked out of place. Would you look at it and tell me what you think?”

She fast-forwarded to the moment when the strange shadowy shape had first appeared in the picture.

“There. It doesn’t look like the rest of your monitoring equipment.”

She advanced frame by frame until both image and resolution reached optimal size and then paused. He studied the image, wondering how he could have missed a box of that size. His gut tightened. That last unscheduled visit to the reef had provided evidence after all, but not what he’d expected.

As she explained the light, the angles, the refraction of the water, the positioning of the shape and its relationship to his camera, he understood the extent of her knowledge. His little blonde beauty was full of surprises.

She turned to face him. “Well, what do you think it is?”

It took him several moments but he reached the same conclusion as Amelie. “You’re right. Whoever broke into my equipment store was probably after this footage. They can’t be sure what I saw and might have captured.”

“Is this sufficient proof?” Amelie asked.

“It’s man-made and definitely not mine.” Arne thought for a moment. “I need to consult with Terry Danbury and let him see this. He’s head of the reef research program at the university. Luckily, he’s due to visit tomorrow. I think he’ll agree it doesn’t belong there.”

How had he missed seeing the box? Where had his brain been while he was supposed to be checking data?

Right back here with Amelie.

Amelie touched his arm. He looked down into her eyes, feeling the connection between them more strongly than ever.

He had to get his head back in the game. The situation was becoming serious if someone was willing to break into his shed to stop him. “What about the police? Shouldn’t they see this too?” Amelie pressed her hands together over her stomach. Arne nodded.

“I’ll drop this memory card off to Jeff Jessup, the local policeman, on our way out to the airport. He can keep it in the police safe until tomorrow. I’m betting that whoever owns that box suspects I captured footage of it yesterday.”

“How could they know?”

“It’s easy for anyone to find out when I’m going to the reef from the harbor master’s log. Yesterday was an off schedule visit. Perhaps someone hadn’t hidden something and now they’re scared that I’ve got evidence of something that shouldn’t be there. I’ll have to go out to the reef again as soon as I can.”

“Will you take someone out with you? You won’t go alone, will you?” Amelie watched him intently.

“I’ll take care, but it’s better if I don’t drag anyone else into this just yet. Now, I think we’d better be moving if we’re going to do the return trip today. You want that new car, don’t you?”

* * * *

The trip into the city was, for a time, overshadowed for Amelie by her concern for Arne’s safety. Why wouldn’t he take sensible precautions, like having someone with him to keep an eye out for interlopers at the reef? She didn’t want him to go alone, but what right did she have to tell him what to do? She bit her thumb, worrying a chip in her nail.

Arne had invited her out to dive and see for herself what the world of the reef was like. Her stomach churned at the thought of the creatures inhabiting that underwater world. She shivered. No, she couldn’t do it.

“Amelie? You’re far away in your thoughts. Is everything okay?” She met his concerned gaze then squared her shoulders. With far more to worry about than her, he was still considerate of her.

Arne would probably throw up all sorts of objections to her presence on his boat if he thought there was the least possibility of danger. He might even refuse outright to take her, in which case she wasn’t sure what she could do. But she would insist on accompanying him if he wouldn’t consider taking anyone else. With that decided in her own mind, she settled down to make the most of his company.

After delivering the camcorder card to the police, Arne drove with an almost carefree abandon through long green tunnels of trees beneath the towering bulk of the volcano. He talked about growing up in the islands, and of his friend, Jimi and they were soon at the esplanade in the city.

Arne had arranged to meet his friend, Jimi, for an early lunch at The Bayside Inn before they collected Amelie’s car.

“We’ve been friends since junior high school. We even considered going into some sort of partnership before I decided I wanted to do research in marine biology. Jimi preferred business. He worked his way up through the ranks until he purchased this franchise. He’s made a real success of it. Last year, he married his senior coordinator. They’re expecting their first child soon.”

They pulled into a parking lot at the front of a restaurant that resembled an old whaling boat, complete with flags fluttering from a mast and rigging. Arne ushered Amelie through the doors of the dining room. Retro in design, pictures and models of whaling ships, old-fashioned schooners, fishing nets and floats decorated the walls and ceiling. Ambient lighting added to the sensation of walking through a watery world.

Amelie followed Arne between empty tables to the far corner where a huge Hawaiian man sat by the window. As Arne approached the table, the man glanced up then surged out of his chair to envelop Arne in a bear hug.

“My good friend, it’s been too long since you sat at my table and enjoyed my hospitality,” he said in a booming voice. “What can have kept you from your soul friend?”

Arne stepped back and the man continued before he could introduce Amelie.

“Ah, now I see why you have not had time for your old friend.”

“Jimi, Amelie.”

Jimi took her hand gently in his, bowing gracefully for one so large and, raising it to his lips, he gallantly kissed her fingertips. “Welcome to Kauai. I see my good friend has found the most beautiful woman in these islands.”

Arne shot back a reply, “After you had married the other one.”

“True,” Jimi agreed. “But you and I always did have the good taste and sense to settle only for the best.” Her cheeks warmed under his open admiration and she fiddled with her serviette. “So,” he said settling back into his seat, “What fool ex-employee of mine gave you a car so completely unsuited for your requirements?”

Drinks were ordered when the waiter returned with water for their table, beers for the men and a pineapple juice for Amelie. She didn’t want to find herself drowsing on the drive back to Kaleialani.

There was little conversation as they enjoyed a seafood platter of succulent prawns, scallops, fish fillets and calamari with a garden salad, which Amelie suspected was in deference to her presence. By the time they finished picking at fresh local melons, pineapple and mangoes, their coffees arrived.

“You are here for three months? And you enjoy what you see?” Jimi leaned back, a coffee cup almost disappearing in his huge hand. His intelligent face showed interest and something akin to expectation as he waited on her reply.

“It’s one of the loveliest places I’ve seen, and as for enjoying it, who could resist what is so compelling.” Irresistibly her eyes were drawn to Arne’s face before she lowered her lashes to conceal her thoughts. Jimi chuckled. Had she given away her interest in Arne? Her cheeks heated at the thought.

They sat chatting for a while over coffee until Jimi sighed.

“Well, back to the office, eh? We must collect your car for you. Will you ride with me, or do you prefer the company of this pirate to that of a baron of business?” The men looked at one another, and then Arne grinned and Jimi’s huge frame shook with laughter. “Oh, you don’t think I see you stealing the brightest gold from under the noses of everyone in these islands! Come, my friend, give me the pleasure of Amelie’s company while you collect your bits and pieces from the depot.”

With good grace, Arne relinquished Amelie’s arm to Jimi, a wry smile settling on his face. “I’ll call by this evening to see all is well with the car this rogue is offering you,” he told Amelie before turning to Jimi. “And tell Lucy I’ll call in to see her on my way home.” He turned on his heel and, with a brief wave in her direction, rounded the corner to where they had parked two hours earlier.

Jimi led the way to his SUV, mercifully parked in the shade so that, when they climbed inside, it was relatively cool in the early afternoon heat. He made small talk while they drove back to the airport garages.

Amelie considered her dilemma. What if Arne refused point blank to take someone with him when he returned to check the reef? It was evident Arne and Jimi were close. She suspected if Jimi asked, Arne would listen to him. He might not be able to dissuade Arne from going alone, but perhaps he could help convince Arne to take her with him.

“So Arne’s positive the break in happened because he made that unscheduled visit to the reef.”

Jimi tapped his fingers along the top of his steering wheel. “And with your discovery on the footage of unauthorized equipment, someone is going to be getting twitchy about their illegal activities. Hmm, how about making copies of the footage and leaving them with a lawyer for extra security?”

“That’s a good idea too. But, Jimi, I don’t want Arne to be alone on the reef. Someone is getting desperate. Arne should have another pair of eyes out there. I’ll go–if he won’t take anyone else.”

Jimi turned in to the garages behind the airport arrivals lounge and drove through the security gates with a lazy wave of his hand to the guard on duty. They stopped beside an open industrial door through which Amelie could see numerous vehicles. Jimi opened her door and offered his hand. “You really care for him, don’t you?”

“I–” She pressed her lips together then nodded. It was pointless denying it to Jimi. “Yes, I care for him.”

“And I will suggest the common sense in taking someone on the trip to the reef. Now, I’ve selected a new Subaru Outback with GPS that will be more suitable to the driving you’re likely to be doing. Please tell me if you don’t like the look of this one.” He gestured for her to precede him inside and then led her to a deep blue station wagon. Metallic blue paint glinted where the corner of sunlight touched the bonnet, and there was a cargo barrier in the rear. Jimi was not just replacing a faulty car; he was offering her the use of a top-of-the-line brand new vehicle.

“It looks fabulous, Jimi. This is very kind of you. It’s a much better car than the one I booked though. Are you sure?”

His hand stopped her flow of thanks and he shook his head.

“This is the car for you, Amelie. Trust me. Now, you and Arne have to come and have dinner with Lucy and me soon. I’d love for her to meet you. The two of you will get on famously.”

“I’d love to. I’ll check when it’s okay with Arne. And, Jimi?” Resting her hand on his shoulder, she reached up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”