“Quit playing around and just give it to me,” Amelia scolded. She was in no mood for playing games. She somehow knew they would not be leaving for Howland Island today and that was painful to swallow.
“Okay,” Paul said timidly, never having been on the receiving end of a slight from Amelia and not liking it much either. “The Electra performed beautifully during the test flight this morning. I don’t think the engines have ever run so smoothly.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“Before the flight, I noticed the right oleo strut was out of sync with the left one. We fixed it before the flight, or so I thought. When we landed at Luke Field, it was out of sync again. That’s when Daric noticed it was leaking, so we’re having the valve replaced.” Paul tried to relay the information with as much positive spin as possible, but he knew what was coming next would not sit well.
“Can we still leave tonight?” Amelia asked bluntly.
“No. It took us over forty minutes to deliver fifteen gallons of fuel to the Electra’s tanks,” Paul blurted out and, then, waited for the explosion.
“What? That’s ridiculous.”
“We were siphoning the fuel through a chamois filter to remove any contaminants, which, by the way, we found. The truck driver said there was nothing wrong with his fuel. So, I called the Standard Oil Company and asked them to send a representative to Luke Field,” Paul tried to explain.
“When he finally got here, he was adamant that there was nothing wrong with their fuel. Then I asked the rep to pump some gasoline directly from the truck through the chamois, and it showed a deposit of sediment. He claimed the chamois we used was already dirty, and it wasn’t his fuel. Daric got a brand new chamois from inside the airplane and we tried the fuel test again. We got the same result,” Paul continued.
“The rep from Standard Oil was totally baffled. He couldn’t understand how his fuel could have become contaminated. I asked that the airplane be fueled with Air Corps gasoline. We had to wait to get permission from the Luke Field operations officer, Lieutenant Arnold, before we could proceed,” Paul said defensively.
“What next?” Amelia mumbled irritably. She had bitten Paul’s head off and through no fault of his own. He had made a brilliant decision to use a filter for the gas and, if he hadn’t, the flight would have been badly compromised. Not to mention the potential of crashing somewhere over the Pacific.
“While we were waiting, I got the latest weather report. Amelia, I think it would be better if you arrived at Howland Island late tomorrow instead of at dawn,” Paul advised hesitantly. “You could make it an all-daylight flight if you leave tomorrow morning.”
“All right,” Amelia reluctantly agreed.
“Look, Daric and I will stay here until all the fuel strainers are cleaned, the fueling is completed, and the plane is locked away in the hangar for the night. Lieutenant Arnold also offered to place a guard on the hangar overnight, which I accepted,” Paul said in an empathetic tone.
“Great, thanks, Paul,” Amelia said sincerely. “I’m sorry I snapped. I’m just frustrated with all the delays. It’s as if someone is trying to tell me this world flight isn’t such a good idea,” Amelia quipped light-heartedly.
“Nonsense,” Paul encouraged.
“Look, Mona has a big luau planned for tonight. So don’t be too long in getting back here. We wouldn’t want to disappoint her, now would we?”
“We’ll be along shortly,” Paul said as he ended the call.
* * *
Case had stolen a small motor boat to cross the harbor. In the future, Ford Island would be forever remembered as the main site of the Pearl Harbor attacks that occurred on December 7, 1941. The air fleet was stationed there and battleship row surrounded the island, making it a prime target.
Case avoided the docks and chose to pull the boat up on the gravel shore, hidden from sight amongst some small sage brush. He made his way across the field and paused to catch his breath only when he reached the back of the closest hangar, which, coincidentally, happened to be the final assembly hangar on the Army side of Luke Field.
68
After they had tucked away the Electra for the night, Paul and Daric left Luke Field. It was shortly after 4:00 P.M. when they were finally on the road, heading back to the Holmeses’ estate on Waikiki beach for the much-anticipated luau. At the corner of Fort and King Streets, Paul saw an interesting gift shop and had an idea.
“John, can you pull over here for a minute?” Paul instructed. “Come on, Daric. You said last night that all we were missing were the Hawaiian shirts. Since we’re having a proper luau tonight, it would be only fitting to go in traditional style.” He grinned.
Next to the Benson Smith Drug Store, a popular meeting place for the town’s socialites, was the Leilani Gift Shop. Chimes rang out as Paul and Daric entered the shop’s front door.
“Aloha,” a buxom woman greeted cheerfully. She was wearing one of the many floral-patterned dresses that the shop sold.
“Aloha,” Paul said, returning the greeting. “We’re looking for some men’s shirts and ladies’ dresses.”
“We have a nice selection of individual and matching sets,” she said. “Mila, come and help out.”
From behind a curtained door emerged a beautiful Hawaiian princess, or so Daric thought. She was breathtaking: a slender, well-defined delicate frame, with long black hair that seemed to dance and shimmer in the afternoon light. Her native complexion was flawless and her eyes darted shyly away when she realized she was the centre of some appreciative attention from a handsome young man.
Mila walked to Paul. She knew she was less likely to embarrass herself in front of him than with the more attractive younger man with unwavering eyes that followed her every movement. “How may I help you?” she asked demurely. Her voice was like a siren’s song to Daric.
Paul seemed to be oblivious to the woman’s captivating beauty. “We’re looking for some shirts and dresses. For myself in particular, I would like to see a matching set.”
“Follow me, please.”
Mila showed Paul a rack of matching Hawaiian outfits. Once he started rifflingthrough the items in front of him, he called over his shoulder. “Daric, get Mila to show you the women’s dresses and pick something out for Amelia and Dani.”
“This way, please,” Mila said softly. Then it hit her. “Did he say Amelia?”
“Yes, he did,” Daric whispered, leaning closer to watch as a reserved girl transformed into a captivated young woman in front of his very eyes.
“You know her? What’s she like? When is she leaving Honolulu? Are you going with her? Do you fly, too?”
“Easy, easy,” Daric said trying to calm her down. “As for your questions, the answers would be, yes, delightful, tomorrow, no and sometimes.” Daric hoped he had answered them in the correct order.
“I’m sorry,” Mila said wistfully, quickly turning her face away. “This way, please,” she said quietly, as she walked toward a rack of brightly colored clothing.
“These are the dresses we have. What sizes are you looking for?” Mila couldn’t meet Daric’s eyes.
“Let’s see, they should both be about the same size,” Daric smiled, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling in mirth.
“Mila, where are the men’s shirts?” Paul yelled from the back of the shop.
“To your left,” Mila replied. “I’ll be right there.”
“No need, I found them,” Paul said. “Besides, I think Daric could use your help.” He could see Daric was captivated by the young lady.
“I think this should fit Amelia.” Mila held up a beautiful plumeria floral-patterned black dress.
“Great, now I’ll need one for . . .”
“Dani, I know,” Mila snorted. If Daric didn’t know better, he could have sworn there was a hint of jealousy in Mila’s tone.
“Yes, but I think I’d like to get a matching set, too,” Daric said, baiting Mila to test his theory.
“This way,” Mila grumbled, as she led him to the back of the shop, where Paul had first started his shopping.
Daric couldn’t continue his charade any longer. It was having such a disagreeable effect on Mila and he so wanted to see the light in her eyes again.
“Since we’re twins, it might be kind of fun to relive part of our childhood, when our mom used to dress us alike,” Daric supplied.
Mila’s disposition changed immediately. He was right; she was interested in him.
“I think this would look great with your coloring.” Mila held up a plumeria hibiscus-patterned navy aloha shirt.
Daric couldn’t help noticing how close she was standing; her aroma was even more intoxicating. He looked down into the depths of her brown eyes. It seemed as if time had simply stood still, both lost in each other’s gaze.
Mila was the first to break the spell; she stepped back, a rosy tinge to her cheeks. “We also have the matching aloha dress, too,” she whispered.
“Great, I’ll take them both.”
“Come on, Daric, let’s go. We don’t want to be late for the luau,” Paul called from the cashier’s desk.
“Mama, this dress is for Amelia,” Mila said, when she placed Daric’s items on the counter to be rung into the till.
“In that case, it’s on the house.”
Daric and Paul took their bags of clothing and were heading for the door. “Give me a sec,” Daric said, turning back toward Mila.
“Would you be my guest at Amelia’s takeoff tomorrow morning? It will be early and I do mean real early. You’ll have to be there just before daylight. It’s at Luke Field,” Daric added.
“I’d love to.” Mila grinned shyly.
“If I get the opportunity and she’s not too busy, I’ll introduce you to Amelia,” Daric added.
There was that excited smile he wanted to see as much of as possible. “See you tomorrow, then.”
69
“I’ve been around the Electra almost twenty-four/seven since it arrived in Honolulu and I have yet to see Case,” Daric told his sister as they were getting ready for the evening’s luau.
“Maybe you scared him off,” Dani mumbled. She wasn’t really paying him much attention. She was turning in front of the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door, admiring her reflection. Dani was thrilled with the dress he had picked out for her and was impressed that it actually fit. The attention to detail was astounding, right down to the genuine coconut buttons; furthermore, the dress’s color brought out the blue in her eyes.
“Yeah, right,” Daric muttered.
“It just seems to me that, with all the issues we’ve had with the Electra, it can’t be simply equipment problems. I think someone’s been tampering with the plane,” he concluded.
“Have you talked to Paul about your suspicions?”
“No, not yet,” he replied, somewhat embarrassed.
“What are you waiting for? You were so determined to talk to him before we left Oakland . . . that was six days ago,” Dani chided her brother.
“I know. I guess I got busy. Besides, the Electra has been under close guard since it landed here. Someone’s been with it constantly. I don’t know how Case could have gotten access to the airplane without someone noticing,” Daric reasoned. “Maybe it’s not such a big issue now as it was back on the mainland.”
“Listen to you,” Dani chuckled, as she joined Daric in the living room.
“What?”
“You sound like a native: ‘mainland’.”
“And except for the color of your hair, you look like one. You look stunning,” Daric said admiringly.
“Well, you don’t look too shabby yourself. Care to escort a lady to a Hawaiian luau?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
70
Dani and Daric had no trouble finding the party. They needed only to follow the planted tiki torches that formed an illuminated path from the main house down to the beach.
When Daric and Dani reached the luau, everyone else was already there, all decked out in Hawaiian tapestry. Heads turned when the two of them came into the circle of light radiating from the fire pit.
“I must say, you two look very handsome,” Chris said approvingly.
“Whoever came up with the idea of getting the Hawaiian wear, thank you. I think everyone looks very festive for our luau,” Mona remarked delightedly.
Paul and Terry were wearing a matching set like Dani and Daric, but with a red background covered in palm fronds and hibiscus flowers. Harry’s was a brown shirt with cream palm fronds and Fred’s was black with calla lilies. Amelia had on a beautifully elegant black plumeria floral dress. And, finally, Chris and Mona Holmes wore their Hawaiian finest, not some inexpensive tourist souvenir.
“Come, grab a seat by the fire. We were just getting started.” As the gracious host, Chris stood and offered Dani his place.
The stars shone brightly in the eastern sky, but would soon be masked by a front rolling in from the west, signifying foul weather was imminent. But the weather for the luau, right now, was perfect.
The food was exceptional and abundant and the drinks were cool and refreshing. After dining, Paul and Terry headed down the beach, hand-in-hand, enjoying the splendors that paradise so willingly offered.
Harry noticed Fred leaving his seat by the fire to help himself to another drink. He knew it was now or never, for he had something he wanted to say to him. Harry quickly downed the rest of his drink to help him gain some courage and to give him an excuse to leave the fire, too.
Harry walked up behind Fred, startling him, which in itself gave him a weird sense of pleasure. “So, Amelia tells me you’re flying with us as far as Australia,” Harry mumbled matter-of-factly.
“Not only flying with you, but as the plane’s chief navigator,” Fred sneered, rubbing it in Harry’s face.
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re just extra baggage we don’t need. If we needed to take on another person, I’d prefer it be Paul; at least he can fly the airplane,” Harry shot back.
“Amelia doesn’t need any help flying, but from where I stand, she sure needs help with navigating,” Fred said antagonistically.
“Why, you arrogant piece of . . .”
71
“Excuse me, Mr. Holmes. This is Colonel John C. McDonnell, commander of Wheeler Field. He said it was urgent that he speak with Miss Earhart and Mr. Mantz,” John said smartly after escorting the commander down to the beach and interrupting an unpleasant confrontation at the makeshift bar.
“I’m sorry, sir. I told the commander you don’t like to be disturbed in the evenings, but the commander insisted,” John offered as an excuse for the interruption.
“Thank you, John,” Chris said, rising to greet the commander.
“Please come and sit.” Chris directed the commander to a vacant chair by the fire. “Paul is down the beach a ways. Daric, can you go and tell him the commander is here to see him?”
“Right away.” Daric sprang to his feet, throwing sand in the air as he raced down the beach. He didn’t want to miss anything the commander had come here to say.
“So, what brings you all the way out here, Commander?” Amelia asked.
“I’d rather wait for Mr. Mantz to return, if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” Amelia replied.
“Commander, may I offer you something to drink?” Mona asked, always being the gracious hostess.
“Juice would be fine, thank you.”
“Commander, while you’re here, I’d like to thank you and your men for all their hard work and the long hours they’ve spent on the Electra. Paul says the engines have never run so well,” Amelia said appreciatively.
&
nbsp; “You’re welcome, Miss Earhart.”
“Amelia, please.” The commander nodded in response.
By the time Mona had handed the commander his drink, Daric had returned with Paul and Terry in tow.
The commander stood and shook hands with Paul.
“Commander, what brings you out here? I would have thought you’d be tucked into a soft bed by now, considering you didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Nor tonight, it would seem,” the commander groaned.
“Why?” Amelia interrupted.
“I wanted to bring you this news in person, because right now I’m still not sure what it all means,” the commander started.
“Go on,” Paul urged.
“This afternoon, we discovered a body. Corporal Griffin was murdered, his neck snapped,” the commander said grimly.
“Oh my word,” Mona shrieked, momentarily interrupting the commander.
“When his body was discovered, his uniform was missing. He was found in a supply room in D Hangar, which is the hangar right beside the 75th Service Squadron’s hangar, where Miss Earhart’s airplane was stowed.” The commander paused for a moment before continuing.
“When we took the propellers over to Luke Field for overhauling yesterday afternoon, I left a corporal in charge of guarding the hangar containing Miss Earhart’s airplane. The corporal’s name was Griffin.”
“What are you getting at?” Chris was beyond curious.
“According to the coroner’s report, Corporal Griffin would have been dead for almost four hours when I gave him his orders, so it couldn’t have been him I left in charge.”
72
It only took a few seconds before Daric had put the pieces together. “It was Case!”
“Who?” Paul, Amelia and the commander all said in unison.
“You can’t be sure,” Dani jumped in.
“Think about it,” Daric blurted excitedly. “I saw him in the storage room in the United Air Services hangar back in Burbank. That’s where he passed himself off as a mechanic and actually told me his name was Rick Barak Case. I thought something was off at the time, so I hung back to see what he was up to. I watched him climb into an old blue Chevy pickup truck and drive away.”
Lost In Time Page 16