Double Cross. Terri Reed
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to try to hurt her to get back at her grandfather.
Ha! As if her grandfather would even bat an eye if anything were to happen to Kiki or her mother. The judge hadn’t been coy in making his feelings known over the years. The Brills had never forgiven or forgotten that their son Hunter had turned his back on the debutante they’d picked out for him.
Even to this day, Sophia Brill, Hunter’s mother, kept tabs on the woman who should have been her daughter-in-law. Kiki didn’t know how her mother put up with the Brill family.
Shaking off the unanswerable question, Kiki turned to Nik. “My father will be calling you about…something else.” She didn’t want to reveal anything more in front of Ryan.
Interest gleamed in Nik’s gaze. “I’ll look forward to hearing from him.”
Glad he didn’t press, she asked, “You’ll let us know if you find out who did this?”
He nodded. “Yes, as soon as I know, I’ll let you know.”
“Good.” She surveyed the mess. Not much to be done other than pick up the metal and sweep the paths and porch. The fertilizer wasn’t going to hurt anything.
The phone rang. Kiki sprinted back inside.
“Hello?”
“It’s me.” Hunter said. “This McClain fellow is who he says.”
Relief spread through her. At least Ryan wouldn’t be trying to kill her. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“Are you sure you won’t come home?”
Kiki closed her eyes. She missed her mother and father, but not the stress of not being good enough for the rest of the Brills. “Why don’t you and Mom come here?”
“You know we can’t. The judge needs me here.”
“Of course.” Kiki tried not to be bitter, but for her whole life, everything always revolved around the judge and what he needed. “Tell Mom I love her.”
“I will, dear. I’m also going to fax a photo of Tolar to the local police there and will send one to your e-mail. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Of course. Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen to me.”
“I love you, Kiki.” Hunter’s voice softened.
Kiki smiled. “I love you, too, Daddy.”
After they hung up, Kiki went to the front window of the house. Her gaze landed briefly on her island family as they still talked in the front yard, then her gaze moved on to where the forensic people were doing whatever they did at a crime scene.
A crime scene. Here on the farm.
The idea was so surreal, yet someone had blown up the fertilizer truck. Why? What could anyone possibly gain by doing such a thing?
She shook her head at the futileness of the question. Nik would uncover the truth. She’d trust him to do that.
She focused her gaze on the lush green fields of flowers—the striking bird-of-paradise, the rich reds of the ruellias and the pink ginger which she loved so much—that extended all the way to the rugged cliffs that dropped to a beautiful cove below. The Pacific Ocean’s soothing song could be heard crashing against the shore. A slight trade wind sent the colorful blossoms dancing in a bright display of pinks, reds and whites. A sight that never failed to bring a smile to Kiki’s heart.
The years of hard work and love that each flower represented filled Kiki with a fierce determination. This farm was her heritage, her birthright, and she would do anything to protect it, no matter how much money was offered. She couldn’t allow anyone to stand in her way.
Especially, not Ryan McClain.
The next morning, Ryan sat in a tall metal chair on the small lanai of his rented condo, contemplating his view of Keawakapu’s sandy beach. The churning surf beyond was breathtaking in the morning light. The happy sounds of children already enjoying the day drifted on the slight trade winds that didn’t cool the already humid temperatures.
Closer in, the lush grassy lawn which stretched from the back entry of the building to meet the sandy beach was filling with people claiming their lawn chairs with towels and other fun-in-the sun paraphernalia. The oval-shaped pool with its beautiful rock waterfall looked inviting as people who preferred the less harsh water of the pool to the ocean began splashing around.
Last night before turning in for the night, Ryan had taken a swim in the pool and found the non-chlorinated, nonsalty water very refreshing. He could get used to this lifestyle. Back home in Boston, the leaves would be turning and the air temperature falling.
He didn’t miss the cold. But since he had no intention of staying in Hawaii until it was summer again in Boston, he’d just as soon take advantage of the warmth of the tropical island now.
A knock at the condo door brought him to his water-sandal-clad feet. He’d dressed in board shorts and a body-hugging shirt called a rashguard to keep both the sun and the rough sand from doing damage to his very underexposed skin. He tugged at the high collar as he approached the door.
Expecting to see Pano, he was pleasantly surprised to open the door and find Kiki on his doorstep, looking very lovely in her bright pink shorts, matching tank top and flip-flops with little white daisys attached to the straps. Once again her dark hair was gathered in a braid falling over one shoulder.
He grinned. “Hi. This is unexpected.” But nice.
She gave him a stiff smile. “Pano called and asked if I’d bring you out. He had to work on the other side of the island early this morning and will meet us there.”
“Great.” Leaving the door open, he went to gather his belongings, including a small cooler filled with water bottles and snacks he’d bought at the grocery store last night.
“You’re prepared,” Kiki said as he joined her in the hallway.
He shrugged. “Always. Growing up, I never knew what my brothers were going to throw at me, so being prepared became a habit.”
They rode the elevator in silence, but Ryan couldn’t help but notice in the mirrored reflection of the walls how long and shapely Kiki’s legs were, or how defined the muscles in her arms were. She not only had a strong personality, but she was physically fit. He liked that about her.
Once outside the building, Kiki led him to a red Volkswagen Rabbit with the top down. Kiki climbed behind the wheel and put on a pair of sunglasses. Putting the cooler on the backseat next to another small cooler, Ryan climbed into the passenger seat. “You came prepared, as well.”
One side of her mouth quirked up. “Always.”
Ryan laughed and settled back to enjoy the ride. Kiki maneuvered the car through the Saturday-morning traffic of Kihei and soon they were buzzing along the Piilani Highway and past neighborhoods filled with older homes, past newer developments and stretches of undeveloped parcels of land dotted with swaying palms and other tropical flora. They seemed to be heading away from the coast and up a small incline.
“What does Pano do that he’d have to work so early?”
“He works for the state on a construction crew for the roads. Everyone complains when the work is done during high-traffic times.”
“Ah. Makes sense.”
The terrain shifted as they headed back toward the coast. More condominium complexes with manicured lawns dotted one side of the road while the other side had big, fancy hotels with pristine landscaping. Ryan caught brief glimpses of the ocean beyond. Jogging paths and bicycle lanes were full of people.
The condos eventually gave way to a sprawling golf course and an upscale-looking shopping center. A place he would have to visit before returning home.
Then the road curved and narrowed to a more residential area. They passed makeshift roadside restaurants and a