Rex’s cell phone chirped with an incoming call. Swede’s name flashed on the screen. Rex answered the call and put it on speaker. “Swede, you’re on speaker.”
“Good. I added Hawk to the conversation,” Swede said.
“Hey, guys. I gave Swede the rundown on what happened with your dive.”
“Sorry to hear you met with resistance and didn’t find the camera,” Swede said.
“We’ll try again in the morning,” Rex said.
“I’ve been watching the reports on the storm headed your way,” Swede said. “It doesn’t look good.”
“It shouldn’t hit until later tomorrow night,” Rex said. “What did you find out about Holte? Does he have a yacht?”
“Yes, Holte owns a yacht, but it’s moored in California. There are several other yachts moored at the Maalaea Small Boat Harbor, but only one, the Dancing Lolita, is large enough to handle a formal party of billionaires, and it only docked there this morning to restock. I had to dig through several layers of corporations and LLCs to find the owner—a Lucien Vaughan.”
“Hey, Swede, Angel here,” Angel said. “They must be hustling to put on a party for the rich and famous.”
“Money moves things along,” Swede said. “I did a search on Lucien Vaughan and found him all over the world with billionaires, foreign dignitaries and US politicians. He moves in high circles and seems to attract people with money. He’s known for attending as well as throwing lavish parties at his homes in California, New York City, Paris and on his yacht.”
Rex sighed. “Sounds like Vaughan’s yacht will be my destination tonight.” He thought he’d left the world of high rollers behind with his father. He hadn’t missed the ostentatious gatherings.
As a child, he hadn’t had to attend many. At those events, his parents had dressed him in a suit, his father threatening severe punishment if he embarrassed him in any way. Yeah, he’d happily left that world behind for a real life with men he could respect for their actions, not for the size of their bank accounts.
His gaze went to Kimo.
She reached for his hand. “For Alana,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
He held onto her hand as he faced Angel and Leilani. “I’d prefer you stay with Kimo at my place. I have to go there to change and get ready, and I’ll come back there after the meeting with Holte.”
Angel nodded. “We’ll stay with Kimo there.”
“Do you need us there as well?” Devlin asked.
Rex shook his head. “I have a security system. As long as Angel and Leilani are there with Kimo, I think she’ll be all right.”
“Then we’ll be on our way.” Devlin tipped his head toward Teller. “Ready?”
Teller nodded. “If you need us, we’ll be on alert for the call.”
“Thank you,” Kimo said then turned to Rex. “We’d better get going, or you’ll be late.”
Rex slipped an arm around Kimo’s waist and walked her to his truck. Once they were settled inside, he drove out of the parking lot, heading for his apartment on the other side of the island.
Angel and Leilani followed in Angel’s vehicle.
Rex was glad to have Kimo to himself for the drive. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “I am. But I’m worried.”
“About?’
“You,” she said softly.
He glanced her way. “I’ll be fine. Only, I don’t like leaving you.”
She laughed. “I’ll have protection. What will you have?”
“My father is meeting me. Though we haven’t been on speaking terms since my mother’s death, I can’t believe he’d lead me into a death trap.”
