Kimo grinned. “I can’t picture you playing pickleball. Now, surfing?” She gave him a considering glance. “Maybe. Driftwood carving? Can you sit still that long?”
His lips quirked. “No.”
“What about diving?” she asked. “Have you?”
He nodded. “As a Delta Force Operator, we trained in diving and used those skills on a number of missions.”
“Interesting.” She tapped a finger to her chin. “So, you can be my dive partner when we go after that camera.”
He nodded. “If we determine it’s the only way to help us find your friend.”
“Good to know. Though I’m an expert diver, I don’t dive alone.”
“Smart,” he said. “You never know when you’ll get into trouble.”
Her lips firmed. “Like having someone purposely run you over with a boat or use you as target practice?”
“Yes,” he said. “Or if you’re attacked by a shark or get the bends.”
“Turn left at the next road,” Kimo said.
Rex made the turn.
While they’d been talking, they’d arrived at the other side of the island and were now driving along the road that led to the marina.
Kimo pointed at a shop across the street from the boat slips. A sign hung over the door proclaiming the store as Jako’s Diving Adventures.
Rex parked in front of the shop and got out. He rounded the truck to help Kimo down, his hands resting around her waist a little longer than they probably should have. He blamed it on concern for her wounded leg.
“Steady?” he asked to cover for his lingering hold on her.
She looked up at him with those darker than dark eyes and nodded. “Steady as I can be. I have to break it to Jako that I lost his boat. He’s not going to be happy.”
“You didn’t lose his boat. It was stolen,” Rex reminded him. “Along with your friend.”
“Yeah,” she glanced toward the shop, her face grim. “But his boats are his livelihood.”
Reluctantly, Rex released his hold on her waist and gripped one elbow. Just in case.
Kimo was completely capable of walking on her own, but she didn’t shake loose of his grip until they entered the dive shop.
A young man with shoulder-length hair, wearing a Surf Hawaii T-shirt, stood in front of a row of scuba tanks, filling them one by one. When he spotted them, he straightened and brushed his hands across his swim trunks. “Hey, Kimo. What can I do to help you?”
“Hi, Sammie. I need to speak with Jako. Is he around?”
Sammie tipped his head toward the door they’d just come through. “He’s across at the marina, servicing one of the dive boats.”
“Thanks,” Kimo said. “How’s your mother getting around since her surgery?”
He grinned. “Better than she expected. She wishes she’d gotten her new hip sooner.”
“Glad to hear that. She was in a lot of pain. Tell her I said hello and that I still want her recipe for jerk chicken.”
“I will. Good to see you.” Sammie went back to work, filling the tanks.
Kimo led the way through the door and across the street to the marina.
Rex followed, watching for any sign of trouble.
