Page 26 of Maliea's Hero
“Me, too,” Maliea responded. Then she pushed back, quickly brushed away the few tears she hadn’t been able to hold back and lifted her chin. “I need to get this done. Not only so that I can move on but so the department can as well.”
Andrea frowned. “Don’t you worry about the department. You take all the time you need.”
Maliea swallowed hard on the lump lodged in her throat. “Thank you.”
“Heather, the TA who’s been working with Taylor for the past year, has been sorting and boxing things in his office, but feel free to see if she missed any personal effects or packed anything you don’t want to keep. She’s been helping me go through your father’s things as well. We have a box of his things ready for you to go through at your own pace.”
Maliea nodded. “Thank you.”
Andrea’s gaze went to Reid. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
Heat filled Maliea’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. Andrea Peterson, this is Reid, my...friend.”
Reid didn’t blink at Maliea’s classification. He held out a hand and gave a brief smile. “Ms. Peterson, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The older woman took his hand, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. “Oh, the pleasure is mine,” she said. “I’m glad Maliea has a friend with her. Especially after losing her father and husband.”
Maliea glanced toward Nani.
“Don’t worry about my Nani-Boo-Boo,” Andrea said with a smile aimed at the three-year-old. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Maliea bit on her bottom lip, not wanting to say so much that her daughter picked up on her concerns but needing Andrea to know what had happened in the past twenty-four hours. She tipped her head toward the office door.
Andrea nodded and followed her out into the hallway.
Reid stood in the doorway, his attention split between the ladies and Nani.
As soon as they were out of earshot of Nani, Andrea asked, “What’s wrong?”
Maliea quickly filled her in on the break-in at her apartment and her car while parked outside Tish’s apartment.
Andrea’s eyes widened. “Why would someone break into your place and car?”
Maliea shrugged. “All we can figure is that they might be looking for something to do with the treasure my father and Taylor were researching. Maybe a map or my father’s notes. Did he have a journal he might have kept with his notes from the interviews he conducted in his research? Or maybe an online file where he kept his notes?”
Andrea’s lips twisted. “Heather and I went through everything on your father’s desk and shelves. We didn’t find a journal, notebook or anything like that.”
Maliea cocked a hopeful eyebrow. “Online?”
Andrea shook her head. “I’ve been through his files on his desktop computer and haven’t found anything like that, or anything personal. He was careful to set a good example for all members of the department. He used his department computer for department use only. He didn’t even put family birthdays or anniversaries on his work calendar. He had a laptop he carried in his briefcase that he used on his lunch break.”
“If he didn’t make notes or show his research, how was he able to get department funding for the flight to Niihau?” Maliea asked.
“That’s just it,” Andrea said. “He didn’t ask for department funding. He paid for the flight himself. He said he didn’t want to waste the university’s money on what might prove to be a wild goose chase.”
Maliea frowned. “What about the other interviews on the different islands?”
Andrea nodded. “All out of his own pocket. No money from the department. He loved his job here and didn’t want to risk it chasing a story that could prove to be only folklore.”
“Why didn’t he tell me all this?” Maliea whispered, feeling a bit betrayed. She hadn’t known her father nearly as well as she should have.
Andrea sighed. “He considered it a hobby, not an obsession. And he learned things about the islands and the inhabitants along the way he could use in his classes on Hawaiian history.”
Maliea glanced at the door where Reid stood. “I think he used some of that research in the bedtime stories he told Nani when he pulled Grandpa duty the nights I had to work a gig.” Her lips curled upward on the corners. “When I’d get home earlier than expected, I’d find him reading from the book he’d made for her. He’d filled it with tales of the islands and hand-drawn pictures of turtles and volcanoes. She loves those stories.”
Her gaze met Reid’s. “Are you staying here? I’ll only be in Taylor’s office for a few minutes, especially if they’ve already boxed his personal effects.”
Reid frowned. “Where is his office?”