“No time. Let’s get this over with.” Moe took her arm and shoved her forward.
Leia staggered but couldn’t maintain her balance. She fell face forward into the thick vegetation. Inhaling the scent of the wild-flowers, she protested when Moe hauled her to her feet. “Please, I can’t go on. I have to rest.”
He swore and let her fall back to the ground. “Fifteen minutes.”
It was bliss to ease the tension from her muscles. Her mouth was dry, but she was too tired to ask for water. She needed to think, to plan. She shouldn’t waste these precious minutes on unconsciousness, but it was hard to wrap her mind around any possible solution to her dilemma. One thing in her favor was she knew the area. If she could get away from the men, they would have trouble following her through the forest. Her eyes closed.
Moments later she was jerked to her feet. “Time’s up,” Logan said.
She nodded and began to move forward. She had to recover her strength. Praying as she dodged the thick trees and shrubs, she came to the path that led to Koma’s cabin. “This way,” she said.
“That leads to where the old man lived,” Moe said. “We’ve come back to where we first took you.”
“We should have made her tell us when we were here before,” Logan grumbled. “I just want to finish this and get out of here.”
“We’re here now. Just shut your yap so we can get this over with. I can’t wait to get back to civilization.”
Leia’s steps lightened now that the end was in sight. She hurried along the path. From here she could see Koma’s cabin. It looked deserted. She stepped around the edge of the cabin. “It’s back here.”
“You’re getting smart now. No games,” Moe said.
Leia was practically running by the time she hit the backyard. She didn’t want to be alone with either of the men. While they hadn’t made any advances, she didn’t like the way Moe looked at her. She reached the base of the tree where Koma had built his meditation platform. She put one foot in the fork of the tree and began to climb.
“What are you doing?” Moe grabbed her arm and yanked her back. “I told you—no funny stuff.”
“It’s in a chest in the tree stand,” she said. “I’ll get it for you.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
“It’s there. Look, what do you have to lose? Just let me get it so I can go home.” His green eyes, as clear as glass, locked with hers. She found it hard to believe a man with such beautiful eyes could be all evil. “Please, I just want to get this over with.”
He dropped his hand. “Logan, go up with her.”
“I can get it. I don’t need any help.” Leia’s hope began to slip away. With someone up there with her, she had no chance of escape.
“You’re too eager to give us what we want. I don’t trust you.” Moe jerked his head toward the tree. “Get going, both of you.”
Leia closed her eyes briefly, then turned and began to climb the large monkeypod tree. She easily scrambled to the top. Logan grunted as he hauled his bulk from branch to branch. She glanced around and saw the chest. At least it was still here. She would have been in a lot of trouble if it had been missing. Logan clambered onto the wooden floor and lay gasping on his stomach. Leia heard a meow and looked up. Hina jumped to her shoulder. A rush of joy flooded her. At least she wasn’t alone anymore, even if it was just her cat.
Logan sat up. “Keep that thing away from me. I hate cats.”
It wasn’t just dislike she saw on his face, but pure terror. Maybe she could use it. He backed away, his gaze riveted on Hina. With a sudden movement, Leia scooped Hina up and tossed him at Logan. The man threw up his hands and stumbled back as the cat extended her claws. Logan shrieked like a woman and batted at the air, and the cat fastened on his shirt, then released her claws and dropped to the floor of the platform. Logan took another step back—this one into thin air. With a scream, he disappeared from view.
Leia winced when she heard him thump on the ground. “Mahalo, Lord,” she whispered. She rushed to the edge and peered over. Moe was kneeling over his unconscious partner. He glanced up at her and brandished the gun. “Get down here with those artifacts.”
She ducked back so he couldn’t see her and scooped Hina into her arms. Her pulse was pounding, and her mouth went dry. He could easily shoot up through the boards, and he just might hit her. She looked around for branches that would allow her to climb higher or would mingle with those from another tree so she could travel through the treetops, but the ones above her head looked too spindly to support her weight. Her gaze landed on an object at her feet. A cell phone. She picked it up with two fingers and looked at it. How did it work? She examined the tiny buttons. Praying for a signal, she flipped it open and looked at the display. It made a beep and dots appeared on the tiny screen. She dialed 911 and prayed. Gingerly holding it out from her head an inch or so, she listened. It was dialing! A miracle straight from God.
A dispatcher answered, and Leia cupped her hand over the phone. “Send help to Koma Hamai’s old cabin. Hurry.” A shot ricocheted off the underside of the floorboards. Another splintered the wood and erupted near her feet. She dropped the phone and moved as quietly as she could to another part of the tree stand. The dispatcher continued to talk, and Leia could hear the voice from here. Probably Moe could as well, because he continued to fire into the wood near the phone. A bullet connected with the phone, and it finally fell silent.
“Look, come on down. No hard feelings,” Moe called.
Leia could hear him circling below her, then his voice moved away. He went out far enough to look up into the tree stand. She clung to a twisted branch and tried to blend in with the leaves. The thick foliage must have been hard to see through, because he went back under the tree stand, and she heard him grunt as he began to climb the tree. She was trapped here. In spite of his comment about no hard feelings, she knew she was in for big trouble if he reached her. Looking around for a weapon, she went to the chest and opened it. In the bright light of day, she realized the bones inside were human. She hadn’t taken time to look closely before.
Had she accidentally been right? Was this box full of the stolen artifacts? She didn’t want to believe that her father would have taken something so valuable, but the real possibility was staring her in the face. She thought back on what had been taken. It would take something much larger than this small chest to hold it all. The thought comforted her. She didn’t know what this chest contained, but it couldn’t be the missing artifacts.
Moving the bones out of the way gently, she looked for some-thing to use to keep Moe from reaching the tree stand. A lâ’au pâlau lay in the bottom of the chest, surrounded by dry leaves. The club was a short one—only about two feet long—but it would do. She grabbed it and rushed to where Moe’s hands were even now grasping for purchase to haul himself onto the platform. She could try stomping on his fingers, but her bare feet would inflict no damage. Holding the club aloft, she warned him first. “Climb back down, and I won’t hurt you, Moe. I don’t want to hit you, but I will if you don’t let go.”
Moe’s face tipped up, and he fumbled for the gun at his waist. She had no choice. Praying for strength, she brought the head of the stone club down on his fingers. He yelped but managed to hang on, though one finger began to swell, and she saw drops of blood where the stone had cut his flesh. She bit her lip at the sight but reminded herself he would kill her if he reached the platform. She raised the club again and brought it down on his fingers. He howled again, and this time he loosened his grip and began to slide back down the tree. His momentum accelerated, and he plummeted to the ground to join Logan, who was still prostrate on the wire grass.
Leia knelt on her hands and knees and peered at the two men. Moe lay motionless on the ground for several moments, then began to stir. He rolled onto his back, nursing his injured hands. His gaze connected with Leia’s, and she suppressed a shudder at the menace in his face. If he got his hands on her, he would kill her.
A bullet cut through the branches above her head. He’d moved out from under the platform and was firing wildly. She scooted on her backside to a large branch and put as much of her body behind it as she could. Bullets continued to rain around her, then finally stopped. She peeked out from behind the branch, but she couldn’t see anything from here. She listened. She wouldn’t give a quarter for her chances of surviving the day. Her gaze fell back on the chest. Listening for furtive sounds from below, she scooted toward it. Maybe there was another weapon inside. The scent that rushed up to meet her when she opened the lid was that of tea. The dry leaves in the bottom were loose tea. She thought of her grandmother’s chant. Loose tea in the treasure chest.
The club she’d used on Moe suddenly looked familiar. She told herself that most clubs looked alike. The one stolen from the museum had a pakololio symbol on it. The shieldlike symbol was one that invoked the power to control the wind. The club lay on the platform floor. She’d know the truth if she picked it up and checked, but did she even want to know? She wished she could go back to yesterday morning, when things seemed so much more clear. Biting her lip, she reached out and picked up the club. The rock was smooth and worn on this side with no symbols. Running her hand over the worn wooden handle, she flipped it over with a decisive movement. The symbol almost seemed to glow on the head of the club.
She dropped it, and it thudded on the platform. It couldn’t be true. Her father couldn’t be a thief. She thought of all the things she’d been taught growing up—morals built on the foundation of the Scriptures. Truth, honesty, love for others. Had it all been a sham? She heard a sound and whirled to see Moe beginning to climb onto the platform.
Twenty-three
That was Ono. Leia called in. She’s at Koma’s cabin.” Bane slammed the phone back into its cradle. Ipo’s kitchen held most of the people who cared about Leia: her parents, Ipo, Malia, Eva, Mano, and Annie. “I’m going out there. Ono is on his way, but it will be nearly an hour before he can get here.”
“I’ll go with you.” Akoni followed him.
“Wait for me.” Mano jogged after the other two men.
Bane barely acknowledged the other men. His focus was on getting to Leia. She had to be okay if she’d called in, right? He tried to reassure himself. What was she doing back at Koma’s cabin?
“Did Ono say anything other than that she’d called?” Mano asked, his breath ragged as he ran to keep up with Bane.
Bane hadn’t wanted to say all of it in front of the women. “The dispatcher heard shots in the background, and the line went dead.”
Akoni put on a burst of speed and jogged ahead. His face was white and set. Bane had often admired the relationship between him and his daughters, but days like this showed how vulnerable love made a person. Was he ready for that? He suppressed a rueful sigh. It was too late. He was a goner and had been since the day he first met Leia. He’d paced the night away, and the turmoil had left his emotions cart-wheeling all over the place. Until last night, he hadn’t been certain which was worse—a life without Leia or one without children. Now he was certain that an existence without Leia wasn’t worth living.
The three men didn’t say another word as they rushed along the path to Koma’s cabin. As they neared the clearing, Bane put on another burst of speed, but Mano grabbed his arm. “Wait. There’s no way Ono could have gotten here yet. If there were gunshots fired, the guys who got her may still be around. If we go rushing in there, we may put her in more danger.”
Bane didn’t want to stop to think and be cautious. He wanted to see Leia’s smile, but he knew his brother was right. He slowed and stopped. Just over the rise, he could see the roof of Koma’s house. “We probably should have brought some kind of weapon.”
Akoni didn’t say anything, but he stepped into the forest and bent over to pick up a stout stick. “I used to be proficient with one of these when I was young. I think I can hammer someone in the head with it.”
Bane nodded, and he and Mano found their own sticks. “We’ll spread out and find her. Mano, you circle around the front. Akoni and I will circle to the back. I’ll take the west side, and Akoni, you can take the east.”
The older man nodded and held the stick in both hands in a warrior stance. Bane wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley. He imitated Akoni’s grip on his stick and moved cautiously around the side of the house. He passed the outhouse, then backtracked and peered inside. Empty. He resumed his trek into the backyard. He caught a glimpse of movement and whirled to see Akoni stalking around the other side of the house. They nodded to one another and continued to scout out the terrain.
The jungle marched along the property about thirty feet from the back side of the house. Bane heard a sound and peered around the corner. He stifled a gasp when he recognized Logan’s red hair. No wonder Westerfield knew everything they were up to. Logan sat on the ground gazing up into the tree, and Bane spotted another man’s boots at the top as the guy struggled to pull himself onto the platform. He heard Leia scream. Without thinking, he launched himself into the backyard. Bellowing, he reached the base of the tree. He scrambled up the ladder and grabbed the man’s ankle.
The man swore and kicked out at him. Bane hung on, pulling down on the man’s foot. He heard Leia scream again. Looking up, he saw the man had hold of her leg and was dragging her back with him. “Kick him in the face,” Bane yelled.
Leia scooted back, then her free foot connected with the man’s nose. The guy yelped and let go of her leg. Bane gave another tug, then he and the man both fell back to the ground. Bane lay winded, but Mano pounced on the man. Akoni towered over Logan, who cowered on the ground.
The other man pulled a gun from his waistband. “Back off,” he ordered Mano.
Staring at him, Bane realized the man was the diver who had come at him with a knife in the underwater cave. He recognized the vivid green eyes.
The man gestured with the gun. “Help him up,” he told Akoni. Akoni hesitated, then hoisted Logan to his feet. Mano put his hands in the air and took a step back. The other man struggled to his feet and began to back away. “Get down here, or I shoot your boyfriend,” he yelled.
“Don’t do it, Leia,” Bane said. “Stay back.” He glared at the man. “She’s not coming down.”
The man swore. “Get going,” he told Logan. Logan limped toward the trees. The other man turned and ran into the jungle behind him. Mano started to go after him, but Bane grabbed his arm. “Don’t risk it, not with that gun in his hand. Let Ono go after him.”
Mano nodded, and the men looked into the tree. Bane saw Leia peering down at him. Her face was scratched and streaked with dirt, but he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. He wanted to rush up the tree and grab her, but he forced himself to stay cool. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.”
Her eyes widened, then she smiled, and her dimple appeared. “I’m too tired to hoist you up. But come up here. I want to show you something.”
He’d never been much for climbing trees, but he wanted to touch her, to know she was all right. He scrambled up the tree faster than he would have imagined possible. He rolled onto the platform and bounded to his feet. Looking behind him, he saw Akoni putting his foot in the fork of the tree to follow. Leia opened her mouth to say something, but he swept her into his arms and held her against his chest. “I thought I’d lost you,” he murmured into her hair.
She clung to him, burying her face against his shirt. Her tears soaked through the fabric, and he realized she’d wanted to stay strong, but his appearance had stripped her defenses.
“You’re my hero,” she gulped. “I had nothing left to fight him with.”
“You’re okay,” he said, hugging her tight. “I’ve got you.” He heard a s
ound behind him. “I was hoping to get a kiss as my reward, but your dad is climbing up,” he whispered, pressing his lips against her brow. “But I’ll take a rain check.”
She grew still, and her heaving sobs stopped. She pulled away, wiping her face with the back of her right hand. “Makua is here?” she whispered.
His hands were still on her shoulders, and he could feel her trembling. He frowned. Was that dread on her face? He turned. “He’s right here.” Akoni’s hand grasped the last branch, and he practically rolled onto the platform. Lines of concern and love etched his face. He held out his hand to his daughter, but Leia took a step back. Bane’s gaze swept back to her. He didn’t under-stand her reaction.
“Keiki, you’re all right.” Akoni rushed to grab his daughter, but she held up her hand.
“Wait, Makua. Don’t touch me. You have some explaining to do.” She made a sweeping motion with her hand toward a rough wooden chest.
Akoni stared. He opened his mouth, then shut it and wet his lips. “I can explain,” he said.
Leia stared at her father. She’d thought she knew him so well—from his strength of character to his faithfulness to his family. Now she was looking at a stranger. The dark eyes that stared back at her were filled with desperation. And love. She couldn’t look at the love on his face. Was it even real? “These are some of the artifacts that were stolen under your watch. Where are the rest?”
Her father dropped his gaze. “Buried in an underwater cave.”
“Why, Makua?” she whispered.
He raised his eyes to meet her gaze again. “I found out they were going to be sold to Westerfield. He would split them up and sell them off. I couldn’t let that happen. They deserved to have a decent burial. Even the display at the museum always bothered me. The remains should never have been taken from their burial site to be gawked at.”
“Why not just take the bones and bury them? You could have left the other things for display.”
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