Read Online The Green Room by Deborah Turrell Atkinson - Free Book Online Page B

wait. Now tell me why you called.”
    Storm hated to bring the subject up, but Aunt Maile had always been able to sense people’s true motives. “I saw Nahoa Pi‛ilani last weekend. He lives near Pupukea, and he’s a really good surfer. He took Robbie and me out with some friends of his.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful.” Maile’s voice became thoughtful. “I wonder how Rochelle is after all these years.”
    â€œMe too, though she hated me after the accident.”
    â€œNot your fault. She was a troubled woman before she lost her husband.”
    â€œNahoa seemed happy to see me, though, and he sent a friend to me for legal advice. He’s a handsome guy, and by the way he looked at Leila, I think he knows it.”
    Aunt Maile chuckled. “Why am I not surprised?”
    â€œBut Aunt Maile, some kid brought him this package. Inside was a lei o manō .”
    â€œ AuwĒ .” All the merriment went out of Maile’s voice as she voiced the oath. There was a pause while she turned down the music in the background. “Did he know the boy?”
    â€œNo, he was just an innocent kid. He even asked for an autograph.”
    â€œWhat did Nahoa say when he saw the weapon?”
    â€œHe asked the boy where he got it. I got the feeling the kid felt bad when he saw our reaction. He said some guy had paid him.”
    â€œSending a lei o manō used to be a challenge to battle. But when the old Hawaiian chiefs did it, they made sure the recipient knew where it came from,” Maile said. “What was Nahoa’s reaction?”
    â€œHe said someone was trying to scare him and we all assumed he was referring to the big surf meet this weekend.”
    â€œHow did he do?”
    â€œHe won.” Storm was proud of him. “In fact, he was great.”
    â€œThen we have to hope he answered the challenge and it’s over.” But there was a note in Aunt Maile’s voice that told Storm she was worried.
    â€œWhen one chief challenged another, what would happen?”
    â€œThey fought to the death, and the winner would dislocate the loser’s joints and break all his bones. The victor wanted to make sure his enemy wouldn’t return in another powerful form, like a shark or a boar. Sometimes he would even consume part of his victim to gain his mana , or power.”
    â€œUgh.”
    â€œBut only a coward would send a warning or threat in secret.” Aunt Maile sounded grim. “It was probably a tasteless joke.”
    â€œYeah,” Storm said. She caught sight of Hamlin making his way through the tables. “Hamlin’s here. I’ll get back to you later.”
    â€œBe careful, love,” Maile said, and they disconnected.
    Hamlin bent over and kissed her. “Sorry I’m late. A client?”
    â€œNo, Aunt Maile. I called her about the package.”
    â€œGood idea. What did she say?”
    â€œIt’s a threat,” Storm said. “But you knew that, didn’t you?”
    â€œI read about it somewhere. Those old Hawaiians were brutal.”
    â€œYou think it was meant to threaten Nahoa?”
    â€œSure, someone was trying to intimidate him. Nasty way to do it, too, if you know Hawaiian legend.” A waitress stopped by the table and Hamlin looked up at her. “I’ll have a glass of what she’s having,” he pointed his thumb toward Storm’s half-empty wine glass, “and a couple of menus.”
    Storm shoved the plate of seared ahi toward Hamlin. “I saved some sashimi for you.”
    Hamlin picked up a set of chopsticks, dredged a piece of fish through the special wasabi sauce, and popped it into his mouth. “I’m starved.”
    â€œI was.”
    â€œYou’re worried.” He pushed a wayward lock of hair from her forehead. “But Nahoa’s okay. The threat didn’t work, did it?”
    Storm smiled at him and shook her head.
    â€œSo, do I need to