Kimo had moved to stand near Leilani, staring at the path ahead, talking with her about Alana and the last time they’d had a girls’ night out.
Rex switched the SD cards in the cameras and closed the compartments. As Devlin had pointed out, the trade was for the camera. Rex stuffed his camera into his pocket.
Leilani drove the tour boat into the Lahaina harbor and slowed as she neared the slip. “We’ve got company.”
Rex stood. He’d noticed the Maui Police Department vehicle parked in front of the Windsong slip.
“Please, don’t let it be Detective Sykes,” Kimo murmured as she rose to stand beside Rex.
At that moment, Detective Sykes stepped out of the vehicle.
“Isn’t he the jerk who raked Kimo over the coals?” Leilani asked.
Rex nodded. “That’s the one.”
“Should I park or make a run for it?” Leilani whispered, without moving her lips.
“He’s seen us,” Angel said. “You might as well park.”
“It’s not like we’re guilty of anything,” Devlin said, having stowed the weapons in their gear bags and beneath one of the benches.
Leilani pulled into the slip. Angel jumped out and hooked the line over the cleat on the dock, securing the boat.
Rex stepped off the boat onto the dock. “Detective Sykes, what brings you out so early?”
“I could ask you the same.” The man’s gaze looked past Rex to land on Kimo. “Ah, I see you found your camera, Ms. Kealoha.” He held out his hand. “I’ll take that.”
Kimo’s face blanched as she clutched the camera to her chest. “It’s mine.”
The detective wiggled his fingers impatiently. “You’re the one who reported a mysterious shipping container. Did you or did you not take photos of the supposed container?”
“It was there.” Kimo’s brow lowered.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Detective Sykes skewered her with his glance. “If there are photos on that camera, I have to enter them as evidence.”
“But I need the camera,” she said. “I have to have it.”
“You can get it back after we’ve had a chance to review any evidence of your claim.”
“But that could be weeks,” Kimo cried.
The detective shrugged. “Or months. Hand it over.”
Kimo didn’t move.
The desperation in her eyes made Rex want to pull her close and save her from the pain, but he couldn’t. Not now. He stepped back onto the deck and held out his hand. “Give me the camera, Kimo,” he said softly.
Tears welled in her eyes. “You know what it means,” she whispered. “I can’t.”
Rex’s hand covered hers, holding her camera to her chest. “You have to.” Then, so quietly only she would hear, he said, “Trust me.”
For a long moment, she held tightly to the camera. Finally, she loosened her hold and let him take it from her.
Rex handed the camera to the detective. “Is that all you wanted from Ms. Kealoha, or are you going to bully her again?”
Detective Sykes took the camera and stared down his nose at the men and women on the boat. “I’m only doing my job. You’d do best to keep comments like that to yourself.”
“Or what?” Rex challenged.
