The coordinates were very close, but not the same. “Which makes sense. The coordinates I saved were for the shipping container. It wasn’t in the same location as the boat, but it was close.”
“The dotted line leads out of the bay, into the open ocean.” Jako zoomed out to follow the line. “Then it disappears. The battery could have died.”
“Or they could have scuttled the boat,” Kimo said, her shoulders sagging.
“Looks like it could’ve been heading for either Lanai or Molokai. We lost it as it was passing Kaho'olawe.”
“We need to have someone check those islands to see if it ended up at one of them,” Kimo said. “I still want to go back to the coordinates I saved for the container. Maybe there’s something they missed when they extracted it. Then we can go from there to look for my camera.”
“I’m sorry I can’t help you,” Jako said. “I’ve already lost one boat and a friend.”
“I’ll stay away until we find the proof we need that Alana was abducted and there was a container of dead people in Maalaea Bay.”
“If you plan on going out anytime soon, be aware of that storm brewing in the Pacific. It’s headed straight for the islands. It’s supposed to be violent.”
“I thought it was going to miss us,” Kimo said.
Jako’s lips pressed into a tight line. “It changed directions and is heading our way. I’m closing the shop the day after tomorrow. No boats will go out that day, even though it’s not supposed to reach us until late that evening.”
“We’ll just have to find Alana before it hits.” Kimo hugged Jako. “Again, I’m sorry.”
He hugged her back. “Don’t be. None of this is your fault. I’ll let you know if I hear anything or if the boat turns up.”
“Thank you, Jako.”
“I hope you find Alana,” he said.
“Me, too.” Kimo turned away and walked across the deck.
Rex followed. When he came alongside her, he took her hand in his and helped her across the gangway onto the dock. Once there, he didn’t let go. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and said, “We’ll find her.” He didn’t know how or when, but he’d do everything in his power to help her find her friend and justice for the people who’d died in the shipping container.
She looked up at him, her soulful dark eyes piercing his heart like nothing he’d ever felt before. Then her jaw hardened, and her fingers curled around his. “Yes. We will.”
Chapter 7
Kimo left Jako, heartsick that one friend was still missing and another was being threatened. She went from one dive shop to the next, looking for anyone who would rent her the boat and gear she needed to conduct her own search for the container and her camera.
People she’d known for years told her the same story. Some appeared afraid of her, as if she’d already been tried and convicted of killing Alana.
She was leaving the last shop on the road in front of the marina when she practically ran into Dillon Bragg.
The man reached out and gripped Kimo’s arms.
“Kimo,” he said. “Babe. Long time no see.”
Rex grabbed Dillon’s shoulder, yanked him away from Kimo and then stood between them, snarling. “Back off.”
Dillon backed a step and held up his hands. “Relax, man. I’m just greeting a friend.” He glanced past Rex. Isn’t that right, Kimo? Old friends. That’s what we are.”
Kimo shook her head. “It’s okay, Rex. Dillon’s not a threat.” He was annoying as hell and had tried to get her to go out with him on multiple occasions. He couldn’t understand that she had no desire to date the man or spend more than a few seconds at a time in his presence.
Rex remained positioned between Kimo and Dillon for a moment longer, his eyes narrowed.
Finally, he stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest in an intimidating stance.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Kimo said. “I’m kind of in a hurry.”
“You know, no one’s going to rent you a boat.”
