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from intruders. If the members of their own clan behaved properly, the spirits — the akuaku — were well-mannered and protective towards them and their land. But toward strangers or invaders they could be hostile or even dangerous. Some have even been described as being demonic in nature.”
    “Really?”
    “Oh, yes. So, like almost everything in life, akuaku have a good and a bad side.”
    Daniel said, “In my country, some believe that people can be possessed by demonic spirits. Do akuaku do that?”
    “Not in our tradition. While akuaku can be embodied in animals and natural phenomena, such as landslides and heavy raindrops, they are not known to possess people. They can affect them, though, and cause them to fall down, get bucked off a horse, or even make someone have a heart attack. Even in our modern times, akuaku are still taken quite seriously by many Rapanui.”
    Daniel decided to take a chance. He leaned forward and said in a confidential voice, “I would like to share some information with you and get your thoughts. Can I count on you to keep this to yourself and tell no one else?”
    Tiare grinned, obviously delighted by this turn of events. She brushed her index finger across her closed mouth and promised, “My lips are sealed.”
    “I’m sure you’ve heard about the death of Detective Gomez at the Moana Nui Hotel?”
    “I have.”
    “What would you say if I told you the last word he wrote down was Hitirau?”
    Tiare paled. “Oh, dear. Hitirau is an akuaku who stays in the area of our island called Puna Pau. Have you heard of it?”
    “No,” Daniel admitted.
    “It is a small crater just outside of Hanga Roa that is the sole source of the red scoria — a type of lava — that is used for the hats of some of our moai. These hats are also called topknots or pukao. Just to be safe, I would stay away from there. Remember, you are an outsider, just as Gomez was.”
    Daniel cocked an eyebrow at the dear lady and asked, “If we chose to believe akuaku really exist, could one actually be the murderer?”
    Tiare paused, obviously thinking. Finally she answered, “Not likely, but certainly one could influence someone — and perhaps even give them special powers — to allow them to do their dirty work.”
    “Interesting.”
    “Enough of that for now,” Tiare suggested, “let’s start learning Rapanui.” She then threw back her head and laughed, “Daniel, you don’t fool me. You’re a smart one, and I know it. A few lessons and you’ll be speaking our language like a native.”
    Daniel was excited about learning the language, but talking about the note Gomez had left behind reminded him of how mutilated the poor man had been. And there had been twenty-six others before him.
    Daniel shuddered at the thought.

Chapter 10
September 5, 2014
    D aniel and José sat in front of what used to be Alejandro Gomez’s desk. The meeting with the new Chilean police head of investigation was set for ten a.m. Daniel and José waited for his arrival
    Daniel asked, “Do you know anything about the new appointee?”
    “I’m afraid I do. His name is Salvador Diaz, and he was one of the head police in the Pinochet regime. How much do you know about this period in history?”
    Daniel listened for footsteps and lowered his voice. “I know about Pinochet being a dictator.”
    “I’ll make this quick,” José responded quietly. “Diaz could be here at any moment . . . Pinochet assumed power in Chile in nineteen seventy-three in a coup d’état, overthrowing the democratically elected government. Pinochet’s seventeen years of power were a nightmare; his political opponents were brutally oppressed; thousands were killed and tens of thousands, including women and children, were tortured.”
    José stood and moved to the open door of the office, and glanced up and down the hallway. He pulled the door closed, sat back down and whispered to Daniel, “Hawk, it is widely believed that Diaz was involved in the