Black Sands

by Colleen Coble

  “What information do the Iranians want, exactly? You haven’t been very specific.”

  “You know that tactical plan for how we would proceed if we ever found it necessary to invade Iran? They want me to write it all down for them.”

  “We’ll never invade Iran.”

  “You and I know it, but they’re not taking any chances after what happened in Iraq. And I can’t give them what they want, of course.”

  “No, of course not.”

  Mano nodded toward the bar. “And Kim? Where does he fit in?”

  “Kim?” Confusion clouded Tomi’s face. He blinked, and his expression cleared. “You mean Tab? He’s just the contact for the consortium that is building the theme park. Banos.”

  “You need to ask him about Leilani.”

  Tomi frowned. “The casino has nothing to do with Leilani, but I’ll ask him. First, I’ve got to get that money off my hands. It’s the key to getting us all out of this situation. As for Afsoon, I’ll work on talking dad into selling the house instead.”

  “Even if you give them the money back, they’re still going to want that information. They’ll do whatever is needed to keep you under their thumbs. It’s not going to be that easy, Tomi.”

  Tomi capped his water. “I’ll figure out a way.”

  Annie sat on the hard wooden chair the detective offered her, with Fawn beside her. A drunk bellowed to be turned loose from the corner where he was being interrogated, and a woman with a blouse cut to her navel leaned over the counter and tried to talk the officer into not booking her for prostitution. Two kids hauled in for vandalizing a deserted house cried for their mothers, then one vomited on the nondescript vinyl tile floor.

  “Where’s Sam?” Fawn asked in a frustrated whisper. “We’ve been waiting for nearly an hour.”

  “If he doesn’t come soon, we’ll just leave and call him.” Annie didn’t think he would be much help anyway. She didn’t know where to turn for answers. She chewed on her ragged thumbnail and tried to ignore the bedlam.

  Sam finally appeared in the doorway. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Come on back.” He escorted them to his office and pointed to two chairs that faced his desk.

  Annie glanced around at the jumble of papers on the desk and the stacks of files on the floor. She itched to organize it all for him, but she had to be content with moving the stacks that inhabited her chair to the floor before sitting down. “You saw the report about our garage being broken into?”

  “Sure did.” He rooted through his papers. “So these guys threatened the family? Any specifics about Leilani?”

  “No, but if they threatened to kill all of us, that surely means they have Leilani.” She half stood, then sank back into the chair. “They shouldn’t be that hard to find.”

  “You’d be surprised. We’ve got a whole raft of Arabs here on a tour right now. We’ve been talking to people. So far all we’re finding are tourists.” He narrowed his eyes and stared at her. “And why would some Arab men break into your house? I don’t get it.”

  She couldn’t tell him about Tomi. It was a mistake to have come here. “That’s what we want you to find out.” She rose. “Mahalo for your time, Sam. You’ve got my number.” Her knees nearly buckled when she stood. She had to get out of here before he became suspicious.

  He came around the end of the desk. “I hope to have some answers for you this week. Try not to worry.”

  He sounded kind and concerned. Fawn followed her to the door. Annie exited the police station like she’d been set free. “I don’t know what I was thinking to go there,” she muttered to Black Sands Fawn. “Of course he’s going to wonder why some Arab men would target us.”

  Fawn examined Annie’s face. “You need a break tonight. How about I come over and sacrifice myself on the Scrabble altar.”

  Annie laughed. “Again?”

  “I’d do anything to cheer you up.”

  “You’re a good friend.” Annie was tempted to say no. She wasn’t in the mood even for her favorite pastime. But Fawn was right— she needed to think about something else. She was helpless right now, at the mercy of the police investigation. Or lack of it would be more accurate. “Okay,” she said.

  Fawn waggled her eyebrows. “I’ll bring some granola bars and my juicer. I just picked some new grasses. Very healthy. It will put a sparkle in your eyes.”

  “More likely a pain in my stomach.”

  Fawn punched her in the arm. “You’ll love it.”

  “I’m supposed to meet Mano in about an hour. How about you come over around seven? I’ll get some snacks on the way home.”

  Fawn made a face. “I’ll bring the food. You’re not a good judge of what’s best for your poor body.”

  “As long as we get more than just grass and granola bars.”

  “Deal.”

  Annie dropped her friend off at her car in the parking lot and drove to town to meet Mano. She hoped he’d found Tab Watson. Frustration and helplessness combined to make her feel out of sorts and ill-tempered.

  Volcano was filled with cars. The volcano had been putting on a lavish display today. Tourists and kama’aina, long-time locals, had flocked to the park to see it, and most of them ate here before they hiked out. She grunted in irritation at her inability to find a parking space, then managed to snag a spot someone else was vacating.

  This wasn’t like her. She told herself to lighten up, but she wanted to see her sister. And her brother, for that matter. Tomi still had a lot of explaining to do. She got out and went toward the bar where she was supposed to meet Mano. She saw a hand sticking out a car window and realized he was flagging her down. His new rental sat directly opposite the door to the bar.

  As she neared the car, she realized he wasn’t alone. Tomi sat in the passenger side. She jogged the last remaining steps and climbed into the backseat. Maybe she was finally going to get some answers.

  Sixteen

  Annie’s face was flushed when she slammed the backseat door and looked at her brother. “Tomi. I’m so glad you’re okay. But you’ve got to tell me what’s going on.” Her voice was controlled, but there was determination in the slant of her chin.

  Mano listened while Tomi launched into the story. Mano watched Annie’s face. It had to come as even more of a shock to her than it had been to him to find out that Tomi didn’t walk on water. She’d adored her older brother for so many years. This mistake Tomi had made was going to have an impact on the entire family.

  Mano was beginning to see more and more how Annie had been taken advantage of by her family. Without her, the Tagamas would have splintered from selfishness. She gave everything she had to ensuring their happiness and comfort. Her beauty was understated and shone from within in ways he was just noticing. She was worth ten of her sister. He’d sure been a blind idiot.

  What would she think if he seriously pursued her when this was over? He gave himself a mental shake. There was no time now for romance.

  Annie’s eyes were clouded with confusion. “Afsoon is still alive? Are you sure she’s not just trying another tactic to entrap you?”

  “She’s in trouble, Annie. I can’t turn my back on her.” Tomi pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ve screwed up a lot lately. I have to find a way back. I don’t much like the man I’ve become.”

  “Our sister is in trouble too. She should be your first priority. Not Afsoon.” Annie’s voice was agitated.

  “Leilani may not even be connected to this, Annie.”

  “Then where is she?” Annie was nearly shouting. Mano had never seen her so upset. “You think it’s some coincidence that she would disappear at the same time you magically come back from the dead?”

  “I don’t know. But you’ve got Mano to help you figure it out. Afsoon only has me. I have to help her.”

  “I think you’ve got your priorities skewed,” Mano put in, struggling to keep his voice level. “We’re talking about your missing sister. She’s your responsibility too. I want to help, but step up t
o the plate, Tomi, and be a man.”

  Annie’s shoulders slumped, and she leaned back against the seat, resigned to Tomi’s stubbornness. “Sam says there are a bunch of Middle Eastern tourists on the island this week. Do you know what these men look like?”

  “I have no idea. I wish I did,” Tomi said. He rubbed his head. “You’re right, though, we need to find Leilani. I just don’t want to desert Afsoon.”

  “How much money will you need to go get Afsoon?” Mano put in.

  “A lot. Probably at least fifty thousand.”

  Mano winced inwardly. “Do you have a plan?”

  “Not yet. I’ll need to bribe people to help me.” He turned and looked into the backseat at his sister. “If I have to use some of the money in the account to pay it, I will. I’ll figure out what to do to replace it later.”

  “You can’t do that,” Mano said. “Not if you want out of this mess.”

  “I can’t abandon Afsoon.” Tomi banged his head against the window several times. “I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I got into this.”

  Mano couldn’t either. Tomi had always had such a clear head. “What exactly did Afsoon say? Where is she?”

  “She’s in Tehran. Staying with a childhood friend at the moment, but her father’s goons are looking for her.”

  “Why? Surely her own father won’t hurt her.”

  “You know better than that, Mano. Women are expendable in that culture. Her father is livid that she betrayed him and has vowed to see her dead.”

  Mano sighed as his thoughts ticked through options. “Don’t do anything yet. Let me see if I can call in some favors and get her out.”

  “Who’s going to get her out, Mano? We can’t ask navy people. They’ll want to know more than we can tell them.”

  “I have some contacts I used when we were undercover. One of them is in Tehran. Asad. I helped him arrange to get his brother papers to come to the States. I think he might help.”

  Tomi straightened. “I should have known you’d think of something. You always do.” He punched Mano on the arm. “Mahalo, buddy.”

  “No problem. I haven’t done anything yet. I’ll make some calls.” He’d have to find Asad’s phone number first. It was back on Kaua’i. He might have to make a trip home.

  Tomi turned around in the seat and faced forward. “There’s another way to get some money if I have to have it. We’ve got an offer for the land, Annie. Three million dollars.”

  She gasped. “That’s not possible.”

  “A casino is coming in. We’re not going to want to live nearby anyway.”

  “Father will never sell. You know that. He loves his property.”

  “Isn’t he worried about the new magma chamber growing under it?” Mano asked.

  Annie shook her head. “He refuses to believe Jillian’s data. When he read the article Noah published, Father approved of the way Noah downplayed the danger.”

  “I’ve got to get to the bank.” Tomi opened the car door.

  “I thought you were afraid of being seen.” Annie sounded worried. She got out and went to stand by her brother’s open door.

  “I’ve got a disguise like you suggested. Let me go grab it, and I’ll meet you back here in half an hour.”

  The hug Tomi gave her seemed perfunctory to Mano. It must have felt that way to Annie too, because when she slid into the front seat, her eyes swam with tears. Mano reached across the seat and took her hand. She glanced up at him with a question in her eyes but didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

  “This is going to kill our father,” she muttered. “I don’t know how to tell him.”

  “Don’t. Let Tomi do it. This is his mess. You need to let him own it.”

  Annie was shaking her head. “He won’t tell our father. Tomi has never been able to handle disapproval. It will be easier if I break the news, and we discuss what can be done. But to a Japanese man, honor is everything. Father will feel our name is dishonored when he hears what Tomi has done.”

  “If Tomi gives back the money, he may only have to endure a dishonorable discharge for going AWOL.”

  “Only?” She gave a faint smile. “Father will never be able to accept it.”

  He hated to see the pain in her eyes. “I wish I could help somehow.”

  She laid her other hand over his. “You’re doing all you can to help me find Leilani. I’ll never forget what you’ve done.”

  “It sounds like you’re telling me good-bye.” He grinned, not sure if he was joking or not. Her expression was one of finality and resignation.

  “I can’t imagine why you’d want to associate with us anymore. Not after Tomi let you believe you’d left him to die on the beach. If you want to go home and forget all about us, I’d understand.”

  “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” A clean scent of flowers, maybe gardenia, drifted to his nose from the lotion on her skin. He badly wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss away her frown. Knowing she wouldn’t welcome an embrace from him, he released her hand and settled back against his seat. “Have you had anything to eat?”

  She shook her head. “I skipped lunch.”

  “I had a cheese stick, but I’m still hungry. How about a jerked-chicken sandwich?” He nodded toward the small café beside the car. “The sandwiches are pretty good here.”

  “I could eat a lu’au pig all by myself.”

  They got out of the car and went to the small open-air stand. The aroma of jerked chicken and teri beef made his mouth water. He ordered two sandwiches, fries, and mango tea. Annie tried to pay for hers, and he wouldn’t let her. “My treat. And a fruit smoothie for dessert. There’s a great stand just down the street.”

  He watched Annie as she ate. She devoured every morsel, then licked the sauce off her fingers. His fascination with her grew. He’d always heard that beauty was in the eye of the beholder, but he thought anyone should be able to see how lovely Annie was. The light in her eyes tugged at him, and he watched the curve of her lips and the slim line of her throat.

  “You’re staring,” she said. A blush stained her cheeks.

  “Sorry.” He collected himself and glanced away. “You’re so pretty it’s hard not to.” He glanced up in time to see a rush of red wash over her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze. She stood and went toward the car without answering. She got into the passenger side and slammed the door.

  He went around to the driver’s side. So much for pursuing her. Last night’s date must not have affected her like it did him. It was obvious she had no interest in him beyond the help he could offer to find Leilani. Feeling more disappointment than he’d expected, he got in and fastened his seat belt.

  Annie struggled with the guilt she felt. Last night, she’d almost become her sister. She didn’t want Mano if he saw her as an extension of Leilani. The silence between them stretched out. She saw Tomi’s familiar form loping toward the car. He carried a black satchel.

  Opening the back door, he flung himself inside the car. “I’ve got to change.” He pulled out a loud mu’umu’u and dropped it over his jeans and shirt. Taking out a long wig, he tugged it over his hair. “Can you put some makeup on me?”

  “All I have is lipstick.” She wished she had the makeup Fawn had given her. Annie rooted through her bag and pulled out the maroon lipstick she’d dropped in her purse that morning.

  Tomi pulled away from her. “That’s too dark. It will be hard to wash off.”

  He had a point. “How about just a touch?” He nodded and submitted to her dabbing a bit of color on his lips. “You need some, uh, shape to you,” she told him. She suppressed a chuckle.

  “Got it covered.” He pulled out two small pillows and pulled up the dress, then stuffed the pillows under his T-shirt. Tugging the dress back into place, he preened. “What do you think?”

  “You look hot,” Mano told him. “You’d stop traffic.” He winked at Annie.

  Annie covered her smile with her hand. “Don’t encourage him,”
she said. “How are you going to get them to give you the money? The name on the account is a man’s.”

  “That’s where I need you.” He pulled out another dress. “We’ll look like sisters when we go in and will stand out. Then we’ll go into the ladies’ room and pull off the dresses and stroll to the teller window as brother and sister. No one will be the wiser.”

  “You can’t go into the ladies’ room!”

  “You can scout it out and make sure no one else is in there. Mano can stand guard.”

  “Oh, that will look good.” Mano’s grin stretched across his face. “I’ll look like some pervert staking out the women’s restroom.”

  “You fit the part, buddy.” Tomi punched him in the arm.

  Annie smiled to see them falling back into their old camaraderie. “It might work. There’s rarely anyone in the restrooms.” A giggle welled up, and she clapped her hand over her mouth, but it bubbled out anyway. “We’re going to look ridiculous!” She grabbed the dress he handed her and pulled it over her head.

  “I’m going with you,” Mano said. “It will look natural for me to be escorting you.”

  They all got out of the car and began to walk toward the bank. Annie glanced at Tomi out of the corner of her eye. “You’re walking like a man,” she hissed. “Try a more fluid motion. Don’t stomp.”

  “Yeah, sway your backside,” Mano said. Tomi’s swagger changed a bit. Annie began to laugh. “Your boobs are falling,” Mano said with a fake leer.

  Tomi grinned and hiked up his pillows. “Just get me to the ladies’ room and out of this gear.”

  “Walk between us,” Mano suggested. “Maybe no one will notice you walk like a sailor.”

  “I am a sailor,” Tomi retorted.

  Mano grinned and linked his arm with Tomi’s. “Want to rest your head on my shoulder, darling?”

  “You’re sick,” Tomi hissed.

  Both men were laughing. Annie giggled. Maybe they could find their way across this lava bench of intrigue and danger to the way things used to be. She had to cling to that hope.