House of the Hanging Jade (13 page)

“I'm okay, Justine! Please—no jumping! I don't want you to fall in!”

I don't know whether she could make out my words, but she stopped flailing around and waited for me to put in along the lava rocks.

“Kailani!” she screamed when I had jumped over the side of the craft and dragged it onto the shore. “I thought you were going to die!” She ran over to me and threw herself into my arms, sobbing.

Seeing her crying made my own tears start to flow. We hugged each other for several moments before she pulled away from me and looked me up and down carefully. “Did it get you? Are you all right?”

“Not a scratch, if you can believe it.” I didn't want to scare her away from ever going in the water again, but it would probably be a while before she would be willing to set foot in the Pacific Ocean again after what she had just witnessed.

I knew it would be a long time before
I
ventured back in the water.

Justine's cries had attracted the attention of others from the house. As I hauled my kayak farther up the rocks, Lars and Liko came running from the direction of the house.

“K! Is everything all right?” Liko yelled.

“Justine, what happened?” Lars exclaimed as he ran up to us.

“Daddy, a shark attacked Kailani!” Justine started crying again.

Lars stopped short and stared at me, his mouth hanging open. Liko ran up to me and grabbed my arms. He turned me around so he could see for himself that I wasn't seriously hurt.

“Kailani, is that true?” Lars asked. “Are you okay?”

“I'm okay, just a little shaken up,” I answered, then gave them a brief description of the attack and what I had done to scare off the shark. I turned to Liko. “Could you carry this kayak back to the house for me?”

He hoisted the kayak over his head and we all made our way slowly up the steep hill toward the house. Justine held my hand. She had stopped crying, but she still sniffled. I felt sorry for her. She must have been almost as scared as I was while the shark was attacking.

Lars stopped me at the front door. “Kailani, I'd like you to go get checked out by a doctor right away. I'm sure someone in Barbie's office can have a look at you. I'm going to call her and then I'm going to drive you over.”

I tried telling him that I was okay, that I didn't need to see a doctor, but he insisted. I went to my room to shower and change my clothes and he was waiting for me in the kitchen when I emerged, feeling much better. He handed me a tall drink.

“I poured you some iced tea with whatever that fruit stuff was in the fridge. Drink it and we'll be on our way. Barbie is in Kona today, so we'll head down there.”

“Really, Lars, you don't have to take me. If you're making me go to the doctor, at least let me drive myself.”

He shook his head. “No way. You've been through quite a shock. I'm not letting you get behind the wheel of your car until a doctor has given the okay.”

I sighed resignedly and got into the front seat of his car. He pulled onto the main highway and sped toward Kona. To my surprise, I fell asleep on the way and didn't awaken until we were pulling into the parking lot of Orchid Isle Wellness-Kona. Lars smiled when I woke up. “See? It's a good thing I drove!”

“I must have been more tired than I thought.”

“Fighting off a shark would exhaust anyone.”

“Have you ever seen a shark when you've been out surfing?”

“I've seen them, but always from a distance. Then the cry goes up and the beach closes until there's an all-clear from the county. It can be pretty scary, but the fact is that a shark is far more likely to be attacked
by
a human than to actually attack a human. You must have run into one that was out hunting.”

I nodded in silence. The reality of my ordeal was finally starting to hit me and I was afraid I would get choked up if I tried to talk. Lars seemed to realize what was happening and patiently waited for me to compose myself before suggesting that we go inside.

The Orchid Isle Wellness office was a cocoon of serenity. I could feel some of my anxiety lifting as we sat in Barbie's office, waiting for her to finish with a client. She knew we were waiting for her and had asked the receptionist to tell us that she would be done shortly. Soft spa music piped through the latte-colored space and a beautiful scent drifted in the air. It smelled like jasmine mingled with lavender and a light, fruity fragrance. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying very hard not to picture the shark's rows of teeth in my mind's eye. A samovar-shaped beverage dispenser sat in the corner, filled with ice and tea and sliced citrus fruits. I was thirsty, so I helped myself to a small glass. Lars said he didn't want any.

He sat in the chair next to mine, fidgeting with his hands, getting up to pace and then sitting down again, clearing his throat several times. It was then I realized that he was probably ill at ease in Barbie's office, where she spent so much of her time away from home, where she had met Dr. Fitzgibbons, and where, I knew, she had taken another lover.

“Lars, if you'd like to wait in the car, that's fine with me. I don't want you to stay here if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“That's okay. I'll wait until she comes in and then I'll go out and wait in the car until you're done.”

After that we waited in silence until Barbie appeared. When she saw me she crossed the room quickly and gave me a soft hug.

“What happened?” she exclaimed. “The receptionist talked to Lars on the phone and he said you were attacked by a shark!”

I nodded. “I'm okay. Lars thought I should be checked out, though.”

She glanced over at him. “He absolutely did the right thing. I'm going to take you down the hall and have you dress in a gown and have one of the doctors look you over.” She turned her attention to him.

“We've never seen any sharks in that area, have we?” He shook his head. “Did the children see the attack?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” I answered ruefully. “At least Justine did. I screamed and she must have heard me and ran down to the shoreline. She saw part of the attack. She was pretty shaken, but I know Lars talked to her about it. And I did too.”

Barbie let out a long breath. “Poor thing. I'll have to make sure to find her when I get home and check on her myself.”

Lars excused himself and told me he would be waiting outside. I followed Barbie to an exam room that was more antiseptic than the rest of the offices, with brighter light and shining instruments. I found I didn't like it as much as the other rooms.

Barbie chuckled when I mentioned it. “Nobody does, but the doctors need well-lit rooms to do their work. All the patients like to get out of these exam rooms as soon as possible and back into the comfort of the rest of the office.”

She left me with a promise to come get me as soon as the doctor had completed his exam. I don't know why it never crossed my mind that I might be examined by the same person that I'd seen kissing Barbie up in Waimea, but I was shocked when he walked into the exam room.

He was at least six feet tall, with wavy brown hair and rimless glasses. He looked magnificent.

“I'm Dr. Rutledge. You live at Barbie's house, I understand,” he began with a smile.

“Yes. I'm the Jorgensens' cook.”

He smiled. “I wish I knew how to cook. About all I can do is throw something in a microwave and push the
start
button.”

“I helped my parents cook from the time I was little, so I guess it was natural that I would end up as a chef.”

“Then you'll be at Barbie's party the day after tomorrow,” he said, as he looked carefully at my legs and feet.

“Yes. I'm hoping to be able to get right back to work or you'll all have nothing to eat but some frozen appetizers.”

He smiled again, a beautiful, calm smile, and I could see why Barbie was attracted to him. But I still didn't agree with it.

He checked my arms and hands, noting where the scrapes and scratches were. “I'll give you an antibiotic cream to put on your hands and arms, just to be on the safe side. Now, let's check out your neurological system.”

He performed a battery of tests aimed at finding out, he told me, whether I had suffered a concussion. I didn't remember banging my head, but he said it was just a precaution, in case I had hit my head and didn't even recall it due to the stress of the situation. He examined my eyes, telling me to look directly at his eyes. As I did, I noticed how large and liquid-brown they were. This man could be dangerous in a situation with a lot of women around, I suspected.

I must have passed the neurological tests, because he told me that I could go home and not to exert myself for the next twenty-four hours.

“That means someone's going to have to help you with the party preparations,” he cautioned. “I don't want you doing it all yourself. I think I'll also write you a prescription for an antianxiety medication. Just in case you feel you need it. Follow the dosing instructions, but take it when you feel nervous or edgy.”

I reluctantly agreed. I hated to take medicine, but having that prescription might not be such a bad thing. And I didn't have to use it if I didn't need it.

“And don't be surprised if your muscles are achy and tired for the next few days,” he added. “You may feel all right, but your body has been through a lot and it will let you know when enough is enough.” I thanked him and the exam was over.

Barbie walked with me to Lars's car, fussing over me, making sure I was all right. “Lars, I'll bring home dinner tonight so Kailani doesn't have to cook.” I tried to protest, but they both agreed that I needed the rest of the day and evening off. I thanked them and Lars and I took the long drive back to the house. He didn't say much on the drive and seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. It was fine with me, because I leaned against the headrest and fell asleep again.

It was late in the afternoon when we got back to the house. I walked slowly into the house, my muscles starting to protest just as the doctor said they would.

Lars walked with me to my rooms, making sure I didn't need anything before leaving to go back to his office. He must have called Marcus and Justine on the way home or just before we left Kona, because they were waiting for us in the kitchen when we arrived, clamoring to know what the doctor had said and wanting assurances that I was okay. I smiled at them, trying to show them that I was just fine, but Lars instructed them to look in on me frequently so they could help me if I needed anything and to report back to him. That was exactly what Justine wanted to hear. She walked with me into my bedroom and fluttered around, helping me get comfortable in bed, running to get cookbooks that she thought I might like to read, and making sure Meli had enough to eat and drink. She got me a glass of tea from the kitchen and insisted that I eat something. I smiled and obliged her by eating a handful of almonds, even though I wasn't at all hungry. She left with concerned eyes and a promise to check in on me very soon.

And indeed she did. She checked on me at least every half hour, bringing other visitors with her several times, including Liko and Akela. Everyone wanted to hear about the shark attack, but my young nurse said she would tell them what happened and that I needed my rest.

On her fourth trip to see me, she excitedly handed me a gift bag. “Look what got delivered here! It's for you!”

“Who's it from?”

“I don't know. The delivery guy just dropped it off and left. Open it!”

The bag was light. I plunged my hand into the whorl of tissue paper and drew out a small gossamer bag. Justine took one look and let out a strangled sound as her hands flew to cover her mouth. Her eyes grew wider and wider as I untied the drawstring at the top of the bag and tipped the contents into my hand.

I
t was a small collection of shark teeth. Each triangular, pointy tooth was a dull mottled gray or brown. I dropped them on my bedspread as if they were molten lava.

“Why would someone do that?” Justine asked in horror.

I didn't want her to know how shocked and rattled I really was, so I brushed it off as a silly practical joke. I laughed lightly. “Oh, I think this was someone's idea of a little joke.”

“I don't think it's very funny.”

“Well, I don't, either, but someone did. Didn't the delivery man say who sent the bag?”

She shook her head. “I should have asked him. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be sorry. How were you supposed to know what was in the bag?” She shrugged.

“Should I get Dad?”

“No, I don't think we need to tell him about this. It's just a practical joke.” I had a hunch it was more than that, so I hoped I sounded more confident than I felt. She seemed to brighten a little. “Mom said she'd get us burgers for dinner. Mom never lets us have burgers! I told her you'd rather have a salad. Is that okay?”

“That's fine. Thanks, Justine. And thanks for taking such good care of me.” She beamed and skipped out, promising to return soon.

I picked up the shark teeth one by one and put them back in their small bag, then got up and put the bag in a cupboard under the bookshelves in my den. I never wanted to see them again. Who would have sent them?

As I crawled back into bed there was a light knock at the door and Liko opened it a crack. “K? Can I come in? I brought you some visitors.”

“Sure.” And before I knew what was happening, my room was filled with my parents, my sister, Haliaka, and Liko, all noisily questioning me and checking my limbs to satisfy themselves that I was unhurt. I was thrilled to see them.

“Auntie! I'm so glad the shark didn't bite you!” Haliaka yelled, climbing on the bed and throwing her arms around my neck.

I laughed, happy to be among my family again.

“When Liko called and said you had been attacked by a shark, I can't tell you what a horrible feeling that was,” my mother said, tears sliding down her cheeks. My father stood next to her, blinking several times and looking away quickly.

“Don't cry, Tutu! Auntie's okay!” Haliaka exclaimed.

Just then Justine opened the door and peeked in. “Justine, come on in and meet my family,” I encouraged her.

She came in timidly. I made all the introductions and Haliaka was thrilled to meet another young girl. She asked if she could see Justine's bedroom. Justine happily took Haliaka by the hand and they left, already friends.

Once the two kids had left the room, my parents and sisters wanted all the gory details of the attack. They had lots of questions.

“Why do you think the shark was out there?”

“Have you ever seen a shark out there?”

“You're never going in that kayak again, are you?”

“Do sharks usually attack at that time of day?”

I didn't have answers to any of their questions, except to say that I probably would go out in the kayak again, but not for a long time. I didn't mention the bag of shark teeth that I received shortly before they all arrived. I was keeping that secret until I could figure out who sent them and why. I fervently hoped that Justine wouldn't tell Haliaka, though my niece was probably too young to understand the macabre nature of such a “gift.” And as long as Justine believed that it was nothing more than a practical joke, she had no reason to tell anyone else.

When Justine brought Haliaka back to my room, she also had a tray with my dinner on it. My parents said it was time for them to go. As much as I hated to see them leave, I was getting very tired. Haliaka didn't want to leave me or her new friend, but I convinced her that Justine could play with her next time she visited. That seemed to appease her, and they left after many hugs and kisses. After everyone left I took a sleeping pill so I could rest all night and not wake up worrying about the shark teeth.

Because the doctor had told me to take it easy the next day, I didn't even set my alarm. Liko had very kindly said he would make breakfast for the family in the morning. I didn't know what he had in mind, but I hoped it wouldn't be better than what I usually fixed for them.

It wasn't. I heard from Akela the next morning that Liko had served burned eggs, burned toast, and ice water for breakfast. The family couldn't wait for my return to the kitchen. It felt good.

With the party only a day away, I had to drag myself out of bed and continue the preparations. I told myself that I would sit down to rest whenever I got a chance, knowing very well that there would be no time for sitting. My muscles screamed in protest when I started moving around. I made my way slowly to the kitchen, then I called Akela and Liko and asked for their help with the preparations. Barbie had already told me the housekeeper would be able to help me. And though Liko would rather have been surfing and told me so many times in his good-natured way, he was willing to help too.

Since Barbie's celebration was to take place mostly on the lanai and around the pool, I had decided to use the guesthouse kitchen as a staging area for serving the food to the guests in the pool courtyard. The rest of the guests could be served from the kitchen in the main house.

The three of us spent the day carrying supplies back and forth between the kitchens, then stocking the guesthouse refrigerator and freezer with food and drinks. I moved a little slowly, but with everyone's help we were able to get the work done before dinner. I prepared some snacks and we sat around the table, talking.

“I'm so glad you're going to be here tomorrow night to help,” I told Akela. “I don't know what I'd do without some extra hands.”

“The Jorgensens' parties are usually smaller, so they don't need our help most of the time. Tomorrow night should be fun,” she replied. “I helped out at one last year, though,” Akela continued, her voice lowering. “It was a disaster.”

“What happened?”

She clearly enjoyed being the bearer of gossip. “You should have seen it. Mr. Jorgensen caught Mrs. Jorgensen making a pass at one of the guests and he went through the roof. Not at the party, but as soon as everyone left.”

This was making me uncomfortable. I stole a glance at Liko to see how he was reacting. He sat stone-faced, his eyes staring out over the Pacific.

“It was a doctor she works with. I don't even know his name. Mr. Jorgensen caught them in the wine cellar.

“She even flirted with the last chef they had here. I saw her do it lots of times. But he didn't like her. That's why he left.” I hadn't known that. My heart went out to Lars who, it seemed, had been fighting a losing battle for some time.

I pushed my chair back and stood up slowly, the muscles in my legs and back resisting. “We shouldn't really be talking about this.” I knew I sounded prudish, but I had to put a stop to all this talk about my employer. And hers. And I actually found myself feeling sorry for Liko, who hadn't said a word since the conversation started. Even though his relationship with Barbie was wrong, I could tell he had feelings for her and I knew the gossip was hurting him.

I spent a long time that evening chopping fruits and vegetables. It was mindless work that was good and bad: I was able to stop thinking about Barbie and the chaos she created around her, but I thought instead of the shark teeth. Who sent them? Who, besides the people in the house, knew about the shark attack in time to have the teeth delivered the same day? I could only think of one person who would have done such a thing: Geoffrey. I seethed when I thought of him. But how could he have known about the attack? I wondered if someone in the house had told him. My brain remained stuck on those thoughts while I prepared more food for Barbie's party.

I took one of the anxiety pills that night. I was glad I hadn't refused the doctor's offer of the prescription; I couldn't stop thinking about Geoffrey and the shark teeth, but I had to have a good night's sleep in order to function at the top of my game for the party. The pill worked and I slept like a log.

When I awoke the next morning, I felt rested and alert. Barbie appeared in the kitchen early to announce that she would be home from work early to “supervise.” She apparently didn't realize that most of the work had already been done and she was only supervising the finishing touches. I was relieved to hear that she had hired a bartender so I wouldn't have to worry about mixing and pouring drinks. I had been a little apprehensive about it, since food—not drink—was my specialty.

I made a quick breakfast for the rest of the family. Marcus had a history project to work on and Justine was spending the day at a friend's house. Lars was holed up in his office, only coming out now and then for lunch and snacks. Since Marcus didn't need his help, Liko came to the kitchen to help me, along with Akela. I had them set out table linens, extra trays and platters, lots of glasses, and utensils.

The day passed very quickly. Barbie had asked me to skip making dinner for the family, since everyone would be eating party food all evening. When she came home from work, she checked on things in the kitchen and on the lanai, then hurried upstairs to change. When she came downstairs again she was dressed in a breathtaking cocktail dress, a curve-hugging, shimmery, champagne-colored creation with a lacy low V-neckline and short, tight sleeves. She moved gracefully on strappy gold sandals with four-inch heels. She looked beautiful. Lars wandered onto the lanai while Barbie was sneaking a radish.

“We have to get
that
dressed up?” he asked plaintively.

“Yes. You'd better hurry. People will be here soon and you can't look like that when they arrive.” She nodded at him, indicating the long board shorts and T-shirt that was his regular work uniform.

He went upstairs and returned shortly, looking completely transformed. He had traded his surfer clothes for a gray suit complete with burgundy tie and white shirt.

“Thank you,” Barbie said shortly as Lars presented himself for inspection. Then, “Wait!”

She pointed at his feet. I grinned.

He was barefoot.

“Get shoes on,” she ordered him.

He rolled his eyes. “I'll get them on as soon as people start to get here. I want to be comfortable for as long as possible. Besides, we never wear shoes in the house. How can you wear those things, anyway?” he asked, looking down at her high heels.

“It's just different for women. Isn't it, Kailani?”

“Definitely for some women,” I said noncommittally. I hated high heels. Lars turned and headed back for his office. Before I returned to the kitchen to make last-minute preparations, Liko appeared on the lanai. He took in Barbie's outfit and toned, trim body and smiled appreciatively.
Lecherously
was more like it.

She smiled back at him and traced her finger down his chest, seemingly oblivious to my presence. Even after the things Liko had heard about Barbie, I couldn't believe he was still drawn to her. I felt a tiny tightening in my chest, a dim awareness of trouble that I feared would visit this house again if their relationship continued. Could Lars take much more of the unfaithfulness going on right under his nose?

Soon the guests started arriving. I had just enough time to change into the uniform Barbie had requested of me: a soft white tank top and a khaki skirt, with low-heeled sandals. Not that any of us could ever compete with her, but she definitely wanted to make sure that the household staff remained inconspicuous. Akela was dressed just as I was.

For the next several hours I was very busy. I put Akela in charge of the kitchen in the guesthouse and serving food by the pool; I put Liko in charge of the main kitchen and serving food on the lanai. I spent my time going back and forth between the two serving areas, restocking, supervising, and making sure the party was going smoothly. Liko's long hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail for the event.

“Kailani, I think we're going to need more of those little shrimp and mango skewers,” Akela told me on one of my passes through the crowd.

“I'll get them right now,” I answered. I weaved my way back to the kitchen, where I was arranging the skewers on a platter when I heard a noise coming from under the kitchen window. I looked out into the gathering darkness and there was Barbie, giggling in the arms of Dr. Rutledge, who had examined me following the shark attack.

I was disgusted. How could Barbie behave this way at her own party? Wasn't she concerned that her children or Lars might discover her with another man? Didn't she care how Liko might feel if he saw her?

“Kailani?” I jumped.

“Sorry to bother you,” said Lars, “but I'm looking for Barbie. Have you seen her?”

I didn't turn around. I didn't want to lie to him, and I didn't want to tell him the truth. “I think she went out for a breath of air. I'm sure she'll be back in just a minute.”

“Okay. Will you tell her I need to speak to her if you see her before I do?”

“Yes.”

I ventured another look outside when Lars had left. Barbie and Dr. Rutledge were still out there, kissing and cuddling under the darkening sky and the canopy of trees that hid them so well from everyone but me. I turned back to my work in anger. I couldn't believe what I had seen. I carried the platter out to Akela and caught her eye.

“What's the matter?” she asked in a low voice.

“Nothing. It's nothing.”

“You okay?”

“I'm fine. Still feeling the effects of fighting off that shark, I guess,” I said lamely. She looked at me with concern.