Crammed in the back of the cab, Dante watched the farmland fly by in a blur. It was a little over an hour before Albert pulled into a parking spot at the State Airfield. The attendant yawned as he unlocked the door, letting them in.
“The traffic controller’s still getting his coffee. He should be here soon though,” the teenager told them. Then he sat down in a chair beside the door to wait, his hoodie zipped and pulled over his eyes.
The three men nodded curtly and moved out onto the airfield. The plane was in the hangar, ready for take-off thanks to Bob’s friends. Bob ushered them onboard, then he began testing everything in preparation for take-off. Once he was satisfied, he radioed the tower. The sleepy voice on the other end didn’t give them much comfort, but Bob didn’t have much of a choice.
They taxied for a few minutes, lifted off smoothly, and began the long flight to the Hawaiian islands.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Laurie
Laurie was cold when she woke up. She felt around with her eyes still closed, but Dante wasn’t there. She opened her eyes. Sunlight streamed in through the window. There wasn’t a clock in the room, but she guessed she must have slept late. She smiled as she remembered why. Then she stretched. She lay with her eyes closed for a few minutes, but the cold got to her, and she rolled out of bed.
After dressing, she paused to stare at the top of her dresser. Some of Dante’s things were missing. His coat was gone. Agitation settled in her chest, but she tried to put her troubled mind to rest. He loaned some of his things to Bob, or maybe there was a camping trip in the works. She would find out where he was when she went downstairs. She threw her hair back into a ponytail and went down for breakfast.
When she reached the kitchen, Gabriella and Emma were sitting at the table. They were both tense, with their shoulders hunched up to their ears. They sat a few inches from one another, whispering together. Gabriella sipped her tea, with her hands wrapped around her cup for warmth, while Emma tapped Albert’s morning paper on the table, mimicking a ticking bomb with her perfect meter.
“Good morning.” Laurie crossed over to the coffee pot. “Where are all of the men this morning? Dante must have gotten tired of waiting for me to get up.”
Emma and Gabriella exchanged looks with each other.
“Honey, I think our foolish men left long before we got up.” Emma stopped tapping the newspaper.
“Where’d they go?” Laurie took a seat across from them.
“That’s a very good question.” Gabriella’s jaw clenched. “All three of them left, with their belongings, and the truck.”
“Dante didn’t say they were going anywhere. Why would they take their things with them?” Laurie cocked her head to the side.
“Laurie, has Dante said anything to you about the Kaimi investigation lately? Anything at all?” Emma gazed pointedly at her.
Laurie squirmed a bit, not wanting to implicate Albert.
“Yes.” She stared down into her coffee cup. “They found Katherine and Easton’s bodies. Kaimi dumped them in a reservoir. Why?”
“When did he tell you this?” Emma’s eyes were cold, angry; they made Laurie shiver. Now Laurie could believe Emma was ex-CIA.
“The night that Bob and Gabriella came.” Laurie flicked her eyes up at Gabriella.
“Was it Albert that told him that piece of news?” Emma’s voice turned icy.
Laurie flinched but said nothing.
“Oh, I can’t believe my foolish, foolish husband.” Emma rapped the paper on the table with a sharp swat.
“You don’t think they would have—” Gabriella started.
“No, I don’t think. I know.” Emma flushed with anger. “This is exactly what he used to do all the time. Take an assignment and vanish, then show up a few weeks later. When he was in the agency I understood, but now…”
“But Bob and Dante wouldn’t let that happen. They wouldn’t go with him.” Laurie shook her head.
“Wouldn’t they?” Emma waved the newspaper at her. “All three of them have spent their entire lives charging into war, or dangerous assignment after dangerous assignment. They would hardly say no to one more.”
Emma left the table, stalking over to her cabinets. She pawed through her pots and pans until she clunked one down onto the stove.
Laurie and Gabriella looked at each other.
“I have done nothing except give Albert a nice, restful retirement. Yet, all he does is find excuses to keep on living in the CIA.” Emma went to the pantry and yanked the door opened. She pulled out the large bag of oats as she boiled water for the oatmeal. Then she turned toward the two other women.
“How long has my husband been feeding Dante information?” Emma asked Laurie.
Laurie flinched.
“Almost since we got here.” Laurie stared into her coffee.
Emma swore under her breath.
“I should have known those posts were taking too long. I had just hoped they’d finally…” Emma paused, sighed and went back to the pot on the stove. She started to measure the oats, adding them to the pot.
“Emma, do you want me to just stay here with the boys?” Gabriella set down her tea.
“Don’t they have school?” Laurie raised her eyebrows.
“I homeschool them. Besides, when my husband comes back I want to be able to give him a piece of my mind the minute he comes in the door.” Gabriella folded her arms across her chest.
“Do you really think they’ve gone after Kaimi?” Worry settled into her stomach.
“Absolutely.” Emma slammed a cabinet door as she got out the juice glasses.
“I doubt they will even find him before they give up and come home. They’ll be fine.” Gabriella gave Laurie a reassuring smile.
This news did little to comfort Laurie. She nodded her head, but felt heartsick.
“Why didn’t they tell us they wanted to do this?” She looked up at Emma. Emma turned to her from the stove.
“Because they knew we flat out wouldn’t let them do it. A retired general, a retired CIA agent, and a discredited U.S. Marshal traipsing about Hawaii looking for a well-known murderer. They’ll be arrested before they even get near Kaimi. When it happens, I’m not bailing them out. Furthermore, if my son hasn’t lost his job for vanishing with you, than he will when he shows up in Hawaii without you.” Emma turned back to the stove stirring the oatmeal vigorously.
“I’m sorry, Emma. I’m sorry I caused all this.” Laurie crossed her arms over her chest.
“Oh, no, honey. You can’t take any of the credit for this. It’s their fault, Kaimi, my husband, my son, and Bob. They’re responsible for this havoc. I cannot believe they would do it.” Emma slammed the wooden spoon down on the stove.
Laurie nodded, as she peered into her coffee cup for answers. Now what was she supposed to do? She had followed Dante’s lead up until now, but he was gone without a word. She wanted to chase after him. She wanted to board a plane and go back to Hawaii, but Hawaii equaled death for her. He was all that stood between her and Kaimi’s hit men; well, besides herself and her own instincts. No, no. She had made a home here now. As long as Emma would let her stay, she would. She had to stay hidden, she had to stay safe. She was going to testify at Kaimi’s trial even if it was the last thing she did.
“Emma, can you teach me to shoot? To protect myself?” Laurie asked. Emma turned with a quizzical look.
“Why?” Emma’s eyes narrowed. Laurie lowered her voice, so the boys couldn’t hear over the TV.
“So if anything happens, I can fight back. Dante, Albert, and Bob could all shoot, but they’re all gone now. You learned to shoot at the agency, and Gabriella learned in the Air Force. Everyone can defend themselves but me, and I’m the one that needs to defend myself more than any of you.” Laurie gestured to herself.