Double Cross. Terri Reed

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СКАЧАТЬ me.” Kiki left the three men talking and hurried to the house, careful not to brush against the floral couch. Tutu sat in a cane-back chair at the dining table, the phone sitting on the table. There was a strange expression on Tutu’s face.

      “What’s wrong?” Kiki asked, concern running cold in her veins.

      Tutu gestured to the phone. “Your father is on the line.”

      Kiki picked it up. “Daddy?”

      “Hi, sweetheart. There’s an issue that you need to know about. An ex-con named Jeff Tolar, who was released six months ago, has vowed revenge on your grandfather for putting him away.”

      Distress tightened Kiki’s lungs. She pulled out a chair and sat next to Tutu. Tutu wrapped her hand around Kiki’s free hand.

      “What did Grandfather put him away for?”

      “Second-degree murder. During a convenience-store robbery, the store clerk tried to stop Tolar. He shot and killed the clerk during the ensuing struggle. Tolar claimed he’d never intended to hurt anyone. Your grandfather gave the guy the max. But he got out early on a technicality. Earlier this week, your grandfather’s office was ransacked and the only thing missing was his photo of the grandkids.”

      Kiki knew immediately which picture he referred to. At Christmas four years ago, all the grandkids had posed in front of the old white oak tree outside of her grandparents’ home. It had been the first time in years that the six of them had all been together for the holiday. The picture had sat on her grandfather’s sideboard in his judge’s chambers ever since.

      There’d been threats made on the family over the years, even a few attempts directly made on her grandfather’s life. Most judges received them at one time or another. Whenever a threat was made, the whole family went on alert. “You’ll keep Mother safe?”

      “Of course. We all have protection here.”

      “How’s Grandfather taking this?” Kiki asked, picturing in her mind the tough judge whose gruff voice and craggy face had frightened Kiki as a child.

      “In stride. But he’s getting on in years and is thinking about retiring.”

      Kiki didn’t have any strong feelings one way or another about her grandfather’s retirement. She’d never been close to her father’s parents even though she’d grown up near them in Philadelphia. “Please give everyone my love and tell them I’ll be praying for them.”

      “I will. But Kiki, you have to be careful, okay?”

      “It’s highly unlikely this Jeff Tolar guy is going to come to the island looking for me.”

      “The police think otherwise. Promise me if any strangers come around, you’ll contact the police and me ASAP.”

      Kiki frowned as the events of the day played out in her head. Surely one didn’t have anything to do with the other. Did it?

      Her father’s words replayed in her head. An ex-con released six months ago. About the time that Ryan had first shown up. Coincidence? Or was there something more sinister about his appearance at the Kaapa farm?

      The hair at the nape of her neck shimmied with awareness. She knew before she even turned her gaze that she’d find Ryan standing in the doorway, filling the frame with his presence.

      And blocking the only escape.

      TWO

      Turning her face away from Ryan and lowering her voice, Kiki said, “There has been a stranger here wanting to buy the farm.”

      “Give me his name and I’ll have the FBI run a check on him,” Hunter said, his voice echoing her anxiety.

      As a well-respected lawyer in his own right, Hunter had connections in all areas of law enforcement. Kiki gave him the information, aware that Tutu had moved to talk quietly with Ryan.

      “Also, Daddy, someone blew up the fertilizer truck today. The police said it was a homemade pipe bomb.”

      “Kiki, you and Lana come to Philly immediately,” he demanded, his voice hard and laced with worry.

      “No, Daddy,” Kiki replied with a good dose of stubbornness. They’d been down this road several times over the last year. Her parents thought she was wasting her talents on a business that had never really seen great success. Kiki’s mother wanted Lana to sell and move to Philadelphia to live with them. And she’d been very upset about Kiki’s decision to move to Maui. Kiki didn’t understand how her mother could turn her back on her heritage, a thing Kiki could never do. Not even an explosion could make her go back to Philadelphia and the life she’d had there.

      “At least until all this unpleasantness is settled,” he insisted.

      “No,” she repeated. If there was danger here on the island, she’d rather trust the Maui police to protect her and Tutu than go back to Philly and subject herself and Tutu to her father’s family.

      There was a moment of silence. Kiki could picture the frustrated tick in her father’s hard jaw.

      “I’ll check on this McClain fellow and get back to you. Until then don’t let him in the house,” he finally said.

      It’s a little late for that, Kiki thought as she watched her grandmother hand Ryan a glass of water. “Hurry.”

      “Be very careful.”

      “I will.” Kiki hung up and faced Ryan. He looked ridiculously handsome, despite the flecks of fertilizer clinging to his suit, and nothing like a hardened criminal. But one could never tell. “Is Nik still outside?”

      Ryan nodded. “The forensic team just showed up.”

      “Good.” Kiki moved closer to her grandmother. “I’m sure Nik is done questioning you. You can leave now.”

      He blinked at her blatant attempt to get rid of him. “Actually, I’m blocked in.”

      Crud. Kiki tapped her foot. How long would it take her father to have a background check run on the man?

      “Won’t you stay for dinner?” Lana asked, always the polite hostess.

      Kiki shook her head. “I’m sure Mr. McClain would like to clean up. I know I would.”

      Tutu laughed. “I’ve grown used to the smell.”

      Ryan smiled. “Dinner would be great, but perhaps another time.”

      “Tomorrow?” Tutu pressed.

      “Works for me,” Ryan answered. “But I really should see if I can get back to the condo and clean up.”

      “Yes, that’s a great idea,” Kiki stated, and preceded him out the door.

      Ryan suppressed a grin. She really was something, this Hawaiian beauty. Her long tan legs carried her with a swift, economical stride. Everything about her was tightly contained, but the woman clearly had fire in her blood. And obviously even a bomber couldn’t СКАЧАТЬ