The Secret of Fire Island (Kristi Cameron Book 1)

by Cynthia Griffith

  She pressed her ear to the opening and giggled as she listened to the last of the “hula.” A moment later she could hear the soft strains of the praise chorus they were singing. “Oh, Steve—I’m so relieved! They’re okay! Now let’s get them out of there!” She wiped a tear from her eye and bent down to move a rock herself.

  A half hour later part of the wall went tumbling down. A gaping hole, big enough to crawl through, stretched from the ceiling to almost halfway down the rock slide. Steve lifted his wife so she could lean through. “Yoo-hoo!” she called. “Anyone home?”

  “Mommy!” “Dad!” “Hurray!” they heard as footsteps echoed across the rock chamber on the other side of the fallen wall. Kristi and Skeeter were the first to reach them, with the others only a step or two behind.

  “I knew you’d find us!” Kristi burst out triumphantly, trying to reach her mother. Little stones rolled down the rock heap and she backed off.

  “Is everyone, okay, Kristi? Did anyone get hurt?” her mother asked.

  “No, we’re all just fine! Except Michael, that is!”

  “Michael!” Kristi heard her father exclaim and then saw his head and shoulders appear behind her mother. “What’s he doing in there with you? Did he hurt you?”

  “No, no,” Skeeter laughed. “In fact, God took care of him with that earthquake. He squashed that guy like a bug!”

  “Mom, guess what! We found Leilani’s grandmother, too! She’s fine! Mrs. Manoa,” she called back over her shoulder, “let me introduce you to my mother!”

  Leilani’s grandmother stepped forward and reached for Rachel’s hand. “Oh, thank you, thank you for taking care of my Leilani and helping her the way you did! You have wonderful children! I am amazed at their spirit and trust in the Lord! It has actually been a blessing being trapped in here with them!”

  “We are so happy that you are alright, Mrs. Manoa!” Rachel said. “Leilani has been so worried about you!”

  “Where’s Michael?” Steve asked.

  “In the cave—tied up!” Skeeter said proudly.

  “Tied up!” Rachel said. “Wow, you kids really are resourceful, aren’t you?”

  “Not really, Mom. It was God who knocked him out. All we did was tie him up while he was still unconscious. Oh, and Skeeter stuffed his own yucky old sock in his mouth when Michael kept yelling nasty things at us,” Kristi said, patting her brother on the back.

  “He did, did he?” Steve laughed. “Well, maybe I’d better go check on nasty old Michael. But first, let’s get you all out of there! Mrs. Manoa, would you like to go first?”

  “Oh no! Take the children first, please!” she protested.

  Steve, Dan and Pete helped the girls first, and then Skeeter, over the rock pile and through the hole to safety. Rachel was waiting outside with dry towels and bottles of water. Last came Leilani’s grandmother, nimbly climbing over the rocks and sliding through the opening. She threw her small arms around Mr. Cameron and hugged him. She was half the size of Steve and barely came to his chest. “Thank you,” she said again with tears in her voice. “I can never repay you and your family for what you have done for Leilani and me.”

  “There’s no need to thank us, Mrs. Manoa. All the praise and thanks goes to the Lord.” Steve handed her over to Pete and then turned back to crawl through the hole leading into the cave beyond. Dan and Pete followed him.

  Michael Laird was lying on the ground near the entrance to the tunnel. He was tied up and gagged. His eyes glared at them above the handkerchief, and he struggled against the ropes that bound him.

  Steve stood over him, not saying anything for a moment. Finally he said, “So—Skeeter and the girls did this, huh? Good for them! I could throttle you, Mr. Laird, for what you did to Leilani and Mrs. Manoa—and for threatening my family! But no—I think I’ll just have to leave your punishment up to the authorities—and to the Lord.”

  He went on, “I’m flying my family off this island tonight, Laird. I’m going to leave you right here, tied up, just like you planned to do to Mrs. Manoa, and the rest of us, too. Oh yes! I heard about that! But don’t worry—I’m not like you. We’re not leaving you here forever to rot, as you so vividly put it! You’ll be spending tonight here alone—just you and the treasure and all these tikis here. I’ll be back in the morning with the police and then you’ll be exchanging this cave for a jail cell.”

  Michael was violently shaking his head “no” and trying to shout through the gag in his mouth. Steve and the boys turned their backs on him, and looked around the cavern at the tiki figures carved into the walls, and the wooden crates still stacked in the chamber as they had been one hundred years before. They poked through the gold and jewels that lay spilt on the ground near the broken crate.

  Finally Steve motioned to Dan and Pete to go ahead of him and he turned back to Michael Laird. He removed the gag from Michael’s mouth and said, “You don’t deserve any mercy, Laird, but I’ll take the gag out for the night. You can yell all you want—there will be no one to hear but the tiki gods—and they won’t answer you, I’m afraid. Now, if you’d like to call out to the Lord—well He is merciful and He will listen.”

  “No way!” Michael Laird spat the words out hoarsely. “You can have your God! I don’t want Him!”

  “Well, I am sorry for you, then. Here, you can have a drink of water before I go. Enjoy it. It’s the last you’ll have until morning.” He poured some water from his canteen into Michael’s mouth. “Now, would you like your sock put back on your foot? It’s a bit soggy, I’m afraid. No?” Steve laughed. “Well, fine. Suit yourself.” He threw the sock onto the ground next to Michael and turned to follow Dan and Pete from the cave. “See you in the morning, Laird!”

  The air behind them was filled with curses and shouts as they crawled back through the hole in the tunnel. They were back in the glade with the rest of their family and friends a few minutes later.

  “It’s getting dark,” Rachel said as soon as they’d returned. “Especially here under the trees. We need to get back to the beach.”

  “You’re right. And we are flying out tonight, so we need to get the plane in the air before nightfall. Let’s go.” Just then the earth shook again and above the trees they could see the volcano belching billows of black smoke into the sky. A tree crashed to the ground behind them and rocks fell from the cliff into the pool below. Leilani and her grandmother clutched each other and the other girls held hands, trying to stay on their feet. Rachel reached for Steve, but fell before she could grab onto him.

  The earthquake finally faded away with a rumble. “Well, that wasn’t as bad as the first one, anyway,” Skeeter said with a grin as he helped his mother to her feet.

  “Dad, what about Michael Laird?” Kristi asked. “Are we just leaving him there in that cave? Is that safe to do with the earthquakes and volcano and stuff?”

  “We don’t have much choice, Kristi. He’s too dangerous to turn loose, and since we can’t all fit into the plane at once, I’m going to have to leave a couple of you behind for a few hours. There’s no way I’m letting that guy anywhere near any of you. I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about before we get back here with the police, as far as the volcano and tremors are concerned. This is very common on these islands, and the cave is out of harm’s way from the volcano. He’ll be okay, Kristi—at least until the cops get their hands on him! Come on, let’s get going!”

  _____________

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  _____________

  Aloha and Goodbye!

  The plane took off without Dan and Pete. The little Cessna 207 could not hold more than eight passengers safely, and the addition of Leilani and her grandmother to their party had increased their numbers to ten.

  “Dad, we’ll be fine,” Dan had persuaded his father. Mrs. Manoa was insisting that she and Leilani wait behind, but Steve was reluctant to leave them. “Pete and I are old enough to take care of ourselves! It will only be for a few hours, anyway, until you can ge
t back, and there’s no way that that Laird guy can get out of the cave and bother us.”

  “Sure, Mr. Cameron,” Pete added. “It’ll be cool to spend one more night on the beach, just Dan and I! We’ll be fine!”

  Steve looked at Rachel, who merely raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Well, okay then. We can’t waste any more time trying to figure it out. The sun will be setting in a few minutes and I don’t want to try to take off on this beach in the dark. I’ll be back early, boys—probably by 7:00 in the morning. It’s just a two hour flight. I’ll leave as soon as the sun rises—and I’ll bring the police back with me. As soon as I get your mother and Mrs. Manoa and the girls settled in the hotel, I’m going to the authorities.”

  The little plane started and took off without a hitch. Steve had been praying that the fuel they had taken from the airplane in the trees would still be good, and it was.

  Dan and Pete watched the Cessna disappear quickly in the dusky twilight and then high-fived one another. “Okay, dude, what’s for supper?” Pete asked as they turned to rummage through the boxes and cooler of food Rachel had left for them.

  Up in the air, Mrs. Manoa, Skeeter and the girls were asleep in the tiny cabin almost before Fire Island had faded from view. It had been a long, dramatic day and after settling into the comfy seats they were lulled to sleep by the drone of the plane’s engine.

  “You’re sure the boys will be okay?” Rachel asked her husband.

  He turned and gave her a quick smile. “Oh yeah! I’ll be back there in less than twelve hours. They’ll be fine, Rachel. Why don’t you just put your head back and go to sleep, too. We’ll be back in Oahu in no time!”

  When they arrived back on the island of Oahu, Rachel and Steve Cameron insisted that Leilani’s grandmother stay with them in the suite they had reserved. She felt that she and Leilani should return to her house.

  “You can take the boys’ room,” Rachel said, “and Skeeter can sleep on the hideaway in the living room for tonight. You can’t really go home yet, Mrs. Manoa. Leilani said it’s a total mess—torn up by Michael on the day he kidnapped you. Let us hire some people to go in and clean it up for you before you return home, okay? Besides, we’ll be on pins and needles tomorrow until Steve and the boys get back from Fire Island. It would help if you and Leilani would stay and keep us company. Please?”

  It was settled then, and they were soon relaxing back in the same suite they had had before. Steve left for the police station almost immediately. The rest of them ordered room service, more than ready for a late dinner. “Umm-umm,” Kristi said as she took another bite of mashed potatoes and gravy. The roast beef, vegetables and hot rolls had been scrumptious. “This is so good! To tell you the truth, Mom, I was getting kind of tired of hot dogs and sandwiches on the beach. Now, what’s for dessert?”

  Everyone, except for Rachel, was asleep in their beds when Steve got back from the police station, and still sleeping when he quietly left before dawn to fly back to Fire Island. Several detectives joined him at the airport and boarded the plane he was piloting. A large police helicopter was flying to Fire Island with them, carrying more police officers.

  Dan and Pete were waiting on the beach when the Cessna flew over. “Cool!” they both said as the helicopter landed near the little plane. Steve jumped out of the pilot’s seat and came towards them, followed by the detectives and other officers. He made introductions all around and then looked around the campsite.

  “Hey! I see you packed up the rest of the equipment and the tents! Good job, guys! Thanks!” Steve said. “Any problems during the night?” he asked.

  “Nope! Even old Ka Lua Pele was quiet all night long. We stayed here on the beach. We have no idea how Michael did.”

  “Well, these officers and I are going to check on him right now and bring him back. I want you two boys to stay here on the beach, okay? And, hey—would you mind loading this stuff into the cargo pod on the plane while I’m gone? We can head back to Oahu right away then when I get back.” Steve and the policemen disappeared through the trees.

  Dan and Pete loaded the cargo and then wandered over to the helicopter to take a better look. The pilot looked up from the book he was reading and gave them a grin. He was perfectly willing to spend the next hour answering their questions and showing them around. “Wish I could take you guys for a ride,” he said, “but we have to wait here. I would think they’ll be back anytime, though.”

  Five minutes later his prediction came true. Steve came out onto the beach first, followed by two police officers on either side of Michael Laird, who was now in handcuffs. Several other officers came out of the trees hauling some of the wooden crates that had been in the cave.

  “Come on, boys,” Steve called to Dan and Pete. “Let’s go. They don’t need us here anymore and I’m anxious to get back to Oahu. They’re going to bring the rest of the crates out of the cave and then they’ll be flying back, also. I’ll tell you about what happened in the cave once we’re in the air. Your mom and Skeeter and the girls are going to want to hear this, too, so I’ll just give you the quick rundown for now and fill you in on the details later. Oh, and by the way, I showed the police the airplane in the trees and told them about the pilot up there. They are going to handle it.”

  Rachel, Mrs. Manoa and the teens waited nervously for their return. After a light breakfast of Danish pastries, fruit, juice and coffee on the balcony they could not wait in the suite any longer.

  Rachel had just gotten off the telephone with a cleaning company about taking care of the mess in Mrs. Manoa’s home when Kristi came to her. “Let’s go down to the beach,” she suggested to her mother. “It’s a beautiful Hawaiian day—let’s not waste it!”

  “Great idea, Kristi! Get your suits, everyone! I’ll leave a note for your dad and the boys so they’ll know where to find us when they get back.”

  Rachel took Leilani and her grandmother shopping in one of the hotel’s little shops for a few things to wear. All they had with them were the clothes they’d been wearing for days on Fire Island. The young people were playing in the waves, while the two older women lay on the beach in lounge chairs under an umbrella, when two detectives came out of the hotel looking for them.

  “Mrs. Manoa?” they asked. “We need to talk to you and your granddaughter about Michael Laird and what he did to you. Could you come with us, please? We can talk in the hotel.” Leilani and her grandmother nervously followed the detectives into the hotel, grabbing their cover-ups and sandals as they went.

  It was noon before Steve, Dan and Pete walked into the lobby of the hotel. Mrs. Manoa and Leilani were just finishing with the detectives. They met near the huge fire pit in the center of the lobby. “Everyone’s out on the beach, Mr. Cameron,” Leilani told him with a smile. “We’ve all been so nervous all morning. Did the police take Michael away?”

  “They sure did, Leilani! I don’t think you’re ever going to have to worry about him again! Come on—let’s go get the others and I’ll tell everyone all about it.”

  Kristi was the first to see them as they walked out on the sand of the beach. “Dad!” she yelled, and came running. “Boy, am I happy to see you two guys!” she said to Dan and Pete. “I’m glad to see old Ka Lua Pele didn’t get you—or nasty old Michael Laird, either!”

  Skeeter was right behind Kristi. “Hey, you guys!” he shouted. “Glad you’re back! You made it by lunchtime, too! You know what, Dad? I’m—”

  “I know, I know, Skeeter—you’re starved! Well, you know what? So am I! Why don’t we all grab a couple of those tables by the pool and get some lunch from the Tiki Hut? We’ll tell you all about what happened on Fire Island this morning while we eat.”

  Twenty minutes later they were all gathered around the tables digging into their burgers, fries, onion rings and salads. “Umm, I’m going to miss these Lava Flows when we get back,” Robyn said as she sipped a large pink and icy tropical drink.

  “Okay, Daddy,” Kristi said. “We’re still waiting to hear
what happened when you got back to Fire Island this morning! Were you guys scared staying on the island by yourselves last night?” she asked Dan and Pete.

  “Nah,” Dan answered. “Actually we had a good time without a bunch of girls chattering our ears off!” Kristi threw a French fry at him.

  “We had a few more little earth tremors,” Pete said, “but nothing too serious. It was dark so we couldn’t see what the volcano was doing. We weren’t worried about it at all, though.”

  “Well, I think old Michael wasn’t quite as relaxed and happy as you guys,” Steve said with a grin. “When the police officers and I went into the cave this morning he was practically crying like a baby! It seems that second earthquake just before we left the waterfall yesterday knocked some more rocks down into the tunnel and he thought he was buried alive. Then he wasn’t too thrilled about spending the night with all those tikis. After a while he began to think they were talking to him and he was scared out of his wits! It didn’t help when the torches all burned out and he was in pitch blackness before we finally showed up this morning. He was really excited to see us! He was actually happy when the police put the handcuffs on him and led him away!” They all laughed.

  “Mrs. Manoa, the police took the crates with the treasure with them,” he continued. “They said there will be a hearing as to what will happen to the treasure, but that there will probably be a finder’s reward for you once it is decided.”

  “Yes, the gentlemen who were here this morning told me the same thing. I am not worried about it. I never felt that the treasure belonged to me, anyway, even though Leilani and I are both direct descendants of Queen Lili`uokalani. Many of those pieces should be in museums, I am sure.”