House of the Hanging Jade (12 page)

That broke the tension a bit. “I'm sorry,” Marcus mumbled. “It's just—you know—it's not fair. Everything is always about them. They're always worrying about themselves and not us. We're upset too.” And to my surprise, a tear trickled down his cheek. He suddenly looked much younger and more vulnerable. He wiped the tear away angrily. Justine leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You know, it always hurts when parents get divorced, but someday you'll realize that it was the best thing for the whole family. It won't always hurt the way it does today.” I knew that might sound a little naïve, since I was the product of a long and stable marriage, but I felt it was what the kids needed to hear and I firmly believed it.

Marcus sighed and smiled at Justine. “We know that. But it's hard at first.” Justine nodded, biting into her cone.

“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

Marcus grinned. “Take us out for ice cream twice a week.” Justine giggled.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Maybe not twice a week, but definitely sometimes. How does that sound?”

“Good,” they answered in unison. We were all done with our cones, so we got back in the car and headed home. They seemed more relaxed when they went into the house together. I lingered behind, staying out of their conversation. The hanging jade rustled gently in the trade wind and I was reminded afresh of its similarity to Barbie. I shuddered.

That night Lars ate dinner with the kids and Barbie came home from work late. She was eating alone on the lanai when Liko and Marcus came into the kitchen looking for a snack. I gave them each a carob-dipped frozen banana and—after giving each other looks of uncertainty and groans of “why can't we have real chocolate?”—they slowly made their way to the long lanai table where they spread out Marcus's books and papers. I went out to see if Barbie needed anything else and saw the wink she gave Liko. I hoped Marcus missed it, though it seemed little escaped his notice. They settled down to work and Barbie slipped away and followed me back to the kitchen.

“That Liko is a wonder. He's so good with Marcus.”

“Yes,” was all I could think of to say. Listening to her talk about Liko made me feel uneasy.

“Do you think he'd be willing to stay on here at the house even after Marcus has finished school for the year?” I knew school ended in late spring. I had wondered what excuse she might find to keep Liko at the house over the summer, when there would be no homework for Marcus to do. I didn't have to wait long to find out.

“I really think it would be good for Marcus if Liko could stay here and give him math instruction over the summer. Marcus may not like the idea, but it's really for his own good. You know, so he doesn't fall behind in school. So many kids forget the math they've learned when they're on summer vacation.”

“I don't know what Liko's summer plans are. You'll have to ask him,” I answered. I knew exactly why she wanted Liko to stay, and it had nothing to do with math.

“Would you give Liko a message when he's done with Marcus?” she asked sweetly. “Would you ask him to come find me? I'd like to discuss his summer plans.”

“Sure.” Now I had to tell him. I had the uncomfortable feeling that I was facilitating their affair, but Barbie didn't seem to realize that I knew the extent of their relationship. I also didn't think she had seen me when she was kissing another man in Waimea. I was keeping two secrets for her and she didn't even know it. I could feel myself becoming angry and anxious.

It didn't help that Geoffrey chose that moment to call my cell phone. I picked up the call impatiently.

“Yes, Geoffrey?”

“Hi, Kailani. Haven't seen you in a few days. What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Working.”

“Can you take a quick break and have lunch?”

“Not tomorrow, Geoffrey.”
Not ever.
“I really have too much to do with this big party coming up.”

“Oh? What's the party for?”

“Mrs. Jorgensen's wellness practice won an award and they're celebrating with a party.”

“Sounds fun. When is it?”

“In a few days,” I answered vaguely.

“Do you think it would be all right if I popped in?”

“For the party?”

“Yeah.”

“No! You can't do that. You're a stranger.”

“Not to you.”

“You're a stranger to them. I can't go around inviting people to a party for someone else. C'mon, Geoffrey, you know that.”

“I just want to see how the other half lives.”

“They're just normal people having a normal party,” I explained in growing frustration. “Geoffrey, I really have to go. Is that all you wanted?”

“Can you meet for a drink after the party's over?”

“No. I'm not meeting you for a drink. It's over, Geoffrey. How many ways do I have to say it?”

“It's because of that Liko, isn't it?”

“No, Geoffrey. It has nothing to do with Liko. You're not listening. I just don't want to see you anymore. Can't you understand that?”

“No, Kailani. I really can't,” he said in a chilling voice. “I can't understand that. If you didn't want to be with me, why did you go out with me in Washington? Why have you led me on?”

“I haven't led you on, Geoffrey. I haven't done anything to encourage you since you came to Hawaii. In fact, I've done everything I can think of to
dis
courage you. You just don't get it.”

“Oh, I get it all right. This is Liko's fault. He seduced you and you allowed it to happen and now you've spurned me. Even though I followed you all the way from Washington to make a new life with you.”

I couldn't tell Geoffrey at this point that I had lied to him about Liko. He was unstable. There was no telling what he would do if he knew I had lied to him. I said the first thing that came to mind.

“Geoffrey, you're scaring me. I'm going to call the police if you contact me again.” I hung up on him.

He called back almost immediately. I turned off the ringer and went into my room, closed and locked the door behind me, and scooped up Meli. I held her to my face, trembling. I knew I should tell Liko about my conversation with Geoffrey, but I was afraid he would find Geoffrey and dispense his own vigilante justice. As much as I wanted Geoffrey out of my life for good, the last thing I needed on my conscience was physical harm to him.

I took a sleeping pill so I could get some rest that night. With all the drama between Barbie and Lars, worrying about who killed Dr. Doug, my own problems with Geoffrey, my anxiety about the kids, and my guilt over keeping Barbie and Liko's secrets, it had been a while since I had slept well. I had a feeling the next several days would be challenging, between worrying about Geoffrey's intentions and preparing for Barbie's party.

My hunch proved right. For the next two days the household was in a frenzy of party preparations. Akela whirled around the house in a tornado of dust cloths and furniture polish, and the gardeners worked overtime to trim and prune the already-gorgeous flowers and trees on the property. Barbie oversaw the entire operation and even made herself useful a few times.

I busied myself in the kitchen, making everything that could be frozen ahead of time. Batch after batch of appetizers and
amuse-bouches
went into the Jorgensens' walk-in freezer in orderly rows. I made all the fruit purees for the alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and refrigerated them. I set out all the trays and platters I would need for serving. Since I was in charge of wines too, I spent some time on my laptop researching which wines would be best to serve with certain foods. I placed orders for fresh food at several local markets, made arrangements to have them delivered, and drove up to Waimea twice to pick up ingredients at specialty shops. My cookbooks were never far from my hands, and I don't think I took off my apron for those two days.

On the third day, I woke up to low-hanging clouds in an endless gray sky. The weather forecaster predicted light rain beginning late in the morning and continuing until nightfall. It was going to be one of those rare wet days on the west side of the Big Island. And though it would be nice to see the rain for a change, poor Justine had stayed home from school with a bad headache, probably brought on by the weather. I felt I needed a break from the constant party preparations, so I took my kayak out for a quick trip. I hoisted it up from its spot in the Jorgensens' garage and carried it down to the water.

I put in by the rocks below the house. The water was a bit choppier than usual, but visibility was still fine because the rain hadn't started falling yet.

I had been paddling for about ten minutes when I felt something bump against the bottom of the craft. I assumed I had paddled over the carapace of a
honu
. The sea turtles were plentiful around the rocks in front of the Jorgensens' home and I had seen them several times. I hadn't yet come across any while paddling, but I knew they were there. They were huge, beautiful, gentle creatures that were thrilling to see. I had seen tourists try to touch or feed them on many occasions, but doing so was actually a crime punishable by a huge fine. I craned my neck to get a look at the
honu
. I never would have paddled over it if I had seen it in the water.

But what I saw behind me wasn't a
honu
. It was a large dark gray triangle of skin circling the boat slowly.

It was a dorsal fin.

I had read enough newspaper stories of shark attacks to have a very basic knowledge of what to do. I wasn't sure I was actually being attacked by the shark, but I didn't want to wait to find out.

I felt another bump as the shark butted against the kayak a second time. The small boat tilted dangerously close to the surface of the water. My arms flailed out as I tried to use the paddle to regain my balance. My breath was coming faster. I needed to turn around and head back toward the shore.

I struggled with the paddle against the force of the waves and the mass of the shark's body. It appeared to be about five feet long, almost my height. I knew from what I had read that I should remain calm. I wondered briefly if the people who had written such advice had ever actually been attacked by a shark.

I tried taking a few deep breaths while the beast continued to nudge the boat with its snout. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was reminded that drowning was far more common than shark attacks. To some ancient Hawaiians, sharks were guardian spirits called
aumakua
. But at the moment, this shark was no guardian spirit. I was paddling furiously and finding it very hard to breathe deeply without hyperventilating.

A split second later the shark breached the surface of the water and opened its huge maw. Rows of sharp teeth erupted out of ragged-looking bright red gums. I heard a piercing scream that could only have come from me. I chanced a quick look back at the house to see if anyone had heard me, but I turned my attention immediately back to the shark, which had circled away from the kayak and was headed back in my direction, gaining speed.

Somehow, I remembered reading somewhere that it was important to be aggressive during a shark attack—to fight back at the shark's vulnerable spots and to use any available weapon. I clutched my paddle and maneuvered it to strike the monster when it got close enough to hit.

But as its huge mass bore down on me I lost my nerve. What if I made it mad? What if it charged and capsized the kayak and I was at the shark's mercy? I didn't want to die in the water. The thoughts charged through my racing brain as it bumped the kayak once more. I lurched sideways and clenched the side of the boat with both hands in a fierce grip. The shark swam away and began to circle around again, a deadly hunter stalking its prey. When it came to within four feet of the kayak, I grabbed my paddle like a bat and swung toward the shark's snout. I dimly remembered that its most vulnerable spots were its eyes and its gills, but I couldn't reach either with the paddle. I must have stunned it, though, because it stopped for just a moment. Then it charged again, ramming into the kayak with greater force. I raised the paddle to swing again, and this time I landed the edge of it along the side of the shark's face. I think I hit its eye. It slashed its tail in a huge arc in the water and twisted its massive body away from the kayak. I watched in horror as it flipped partially out of the water and charged at me again. I readied myself for another swipe at his head when I heard a scream. It distracted me and for just a second I turned my head in the direction of the sound. When I turned back, the shark was inches from the kayak. There was no way I had time to hit it again.

Instinct told me to lie down as flat as I could in the kayak to avoid being knocked into the water when the shark struck again. I held onto the edges of the boat as it rocked in the water like a cork, then sat up quickly when I realized the shark had circled away again. I gripped the paddle again, then swung with all my strength just as the shark neared the kayak one more time on its deadly quest.

I must have hit the shark squarely in the eye, because as it swam slowly alongside the kayak, a thin trail of blood wafted through the water behind it. I held my breath as I waited to see if the shark would swim away.

Thankfully, I must have hit the shark hard enough that it decided not to pursue. My chest heaved from the stress of exertion, and I righted my paddle to make my way back to shore as quickly as I could. I looked again at the rocky coast and saw the source of the scream I had heard.

Justine stood on the lava, waving her arms and jumping up and down. I was seized with terror, thinking she would tumble into the water and that the shark would return, this time for her. I started yelling to her.