Page 43 of Maliea's Hero
“Kanani Akamu was a real person who lived in Honolulu at the time of the great pirate raid and the storm.” He looked up into Maliea’s eyes. “Your father must have read about her in this article by the woman’s great-great-grandson.” He held out his phone for her to see the article.
As Maliea read the words, she frowned. “I always thought Kanani was a name he made up for Nani.”
Reid searched the internet with the name of Old Man Rangi. When nothing came up immediately, he added “1884” and “storm” to the search.
The name Ahe Rangi appeared in an article documenting the lineage of the Rangi-Manoa family from the 1800s through to modern-day Hawaii. Reid grinned up at Maliea. “Old Man Rangi was a real person as well.” Again, he handed the phone to Maliea.
She read the article and sank onto the end of the bed. “My father’s journal wasn’t the only place he documented his research. He included it in my daughter’s storybook.” Maliea took her father’s book from Reid’s hand, her face paling. “Whoever ransacked both apartments was looking for something. Do you think they were looking for this?”
Reid’s cell phone vibrated in his hand. He glanced down at the screen where Rex’s name was displayed. The man wouldn’t call him this late unless it were important. Reid answered the call on the first ring, “Bennet here.”
“I went out for a jog an hour ago and noticed a car parked on the side of the road not far from the cabins,” Rex’s voice came through the line in a whisper. “It was still sitting there when I got back from my run. The boys and I sneaked out the back door to investigate. Seems the car is occupied, and the guy inside has some kind of equipment pointed at your cabin. By the looks of it, it could be a listening device.”
CHAPTER 10
Reid pushed to his feet, his hand tightening around his cell phone. “Are you sure?”
“As sure as I can be,” Rex said. “The windows are heavily tinted, but I’m almost positive he’s using a listening device, and it’s aimed at your cabin.”
“What?” Maliea stood and moved closer. “What’s wrong?”
He pressed a finger to his lips. “Checking it out now,” he said softly into the phone. Reid switched off the lamp on the nightstand, plunging the one-room cabin into darkness. He crossed to the front window and eased one of the blinds down far enough that he could peer out into the night.
As Rex had reported, a car sat on the roadside.
“I see it,” Reid whispered into his phone.
Maliea came to stand close to him. She leaned her body into his and peered through the gap in the blinds.
She smelled fresh, like shampoo. The T-shirt she wore did little to disguise the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Reid’s groin tightened.
“Want us to pull him out for questioning?” Rex asked, reminding Reid of the situation outside the cabin.
Reid cupped his hand over his mouth and phone and whispered, “Get the license on the vehicle and call it in to Hawk. As for pulling him out, you don’t know what else he might have inside that car. He could be dangerous.”
“At the very least, we can shake him up and send him on his way,” Rex suggested.
“Do it,” Reid said. “I don’t like the idea that someone could be eavesdropping on us.”
“Going to do some movin’ and shakin’,” Rex said. “Out here.”
Maliea leaned close and spoke softly into Reid’s ear. “What’s happening?” Her breath was warm and soft against his skin, stirring desire to life in Reid’s veins.
He tried to focus on the vehicle outside the cabin, but to bring her up to speed, he had to position his mouth close to her ear and speak softly. “There’s a man in that car with listening equipment pointed at this cabin.”
Maliea sucked in a startled breath.
Before she could say anything, shadows detached themselves from the bushes and eased up to the back of the vehicle. Moving in sync, the three men leaned against the back bumper and bounced the car violently several times.
An engine roared to life, headlights blinked on, and tires spun in the gravel. The car shot out onto the highway and sped away into the night.
The men stood still for a moment as if watching the disappearing car. Then, as one, they turned toward Reid’s cabin and hurried to the door.
Reid opened it as they arrived.
Logan, Rex and Jones entered. Jones closed the door behind them.