The burglary victim, who introduced himself as Gary Tavares, led them through light-filled rooms filled with museum-quality art and Hawaiian artifacts.Sophie noticed Pierre gauging the items with professional interest and making quick notes in his leather notebook.
Tavares took them to a climate-controlled gallery where his most precious items were displayed.The would-be thieves had attempted to access through a skylight and had triggered a silent alarm.
“I put in cameras everywhere after last time,” Tavares said proudly.“Caught the whole thing on video.”
Security footage, revealed on Tavares’s laptop, showed two figures in black, faces obscured by masks.They moved with professional efficiency, opening the skylight and descending on ropes—until the alarm triggered.They then pulled back up and vanished; one had taken time to drop a plumeria through the skylight’s opening before fleeing.
“Can you enhance this section?”Sophie pointed to a moment when one figure turned toward the camera.
Tavares zoomed in, but the image remained frustratingly unclear.Still, something about the person’s build, the way they moved ...
“That’s military training,” Pierre said with certainty.“The way these men use cover, their tactical movements—I saw plenty of it working with Interpol.”
“I agree,” Sophie said.Their precision and discipline pointed to military or paramilitary background.
“But that could describe thousands of people in Hawaii, with our large military presence,” Marcus observed.
“What were they after?”Sophie asked Tavares.“Your best guess.”
He led them to a specific display case closest to the attempted point of entry.“I imagine they were after this—thelei niho palaoaof Queen Lili?uokalani.The last queen of Hawaii’s own necklace.It’s worth ...well, beyond price.It’s irreplaceable.”
Sophie studied the piece.Tiny braids of black human hair were themselves braided to form a thick cord, from which hung a hook-shaped pendant carved from a sperm whale tooth.The hair rope seemed to absorb light while the tooth’s ivory gleamed in contrast, barbaric and beautiful.Theleiwas magnetic to look upon, radiating themanaof its provenance.
“How did you come to own this?”Sophie asked.
Tavares threw his barrel chest out with pride.“I am related to one of the Queen’s retainers.She gave it to him in thanks for his service during the overthrow, not wanting it to fall into foreign hands.I’ve promised it to the Bishop Museum in my will so it can be enjoyed by allKanaka Maoli.”
“That’s good to hear,” Sophie said.“It appears to be an exceptional piece.”
“As were all the items that the thieves have taken.They seem to be trying to build a collection,” Pierre said.“Something that speaks of Hawaiian royalty, perhaps?”
Sophie’s phone rang; it was her security chief, Bill.She stepped away to answer, and her body went rigid at Bill’s urgent tone.
“We’ve had a breach attempt, Sophie.Perimeter sensors triggered about ten minutes ago.We deployed quickly and scared them off.”
“How many?”
“Two.Got them on camera, but they were all in black wearing masks.And they left something odd behind.”
“Let me guess,” Sophie said.“They left a flower.”
“How did you know?It was a plumeria.Right by the wall they attempted to climb.Want us to bag it for evidence?”
“Don’t touch it.I’m on my way.”She ended the call and turned to Marcus and Pierre.“They tried for my house.Two in black.Left a flower behind.”
Marcus was already moving toward the door.“I’ll call for backup to meet us there.”
But Sophie held up a hand.“No marked units, lights or sirens.I don’t want to frighten the children.Pierre, can you stay here and finish processing the scene and the details with Mr.Tavares?”
The Frenchman nodded.“Of course.I’ll cover everything and get in touch with you later.”
Sophie headed for the door, anxiety humming along her nerves and the bile of fear sour in her mouth.The children had to be safe.
* * *
The driveto Sophie’s Kailua home after the alarm had come in stretched like an eternity, though Marcus wove through Honolulu’s midday traffic with the practiced aggression of someone who’d spent years navigating the city’s arteries.
Sophie pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching familiar landmarks blur past—the H-1 merge where traffic always bottlenecked, the Pali Highway exit that led to the mountains, the stretch where downtown’s glass towers gave way to older neighborhoods with their monkeypod trees and bougainvillea-draped walls.
