Hawaiian Crosswinds Page 4

  Chapter Three

  A Conflict of Purpose

  The wind stirred waxy green leaves, riffled through palm fronds, and softened the sigh of the sea. Rafe swung lightly over the rail and jumped down, his feet hitting sand.

  The evening winds buffeted his loose shirt sleeves. The moon remained indistinct. Foaming wavelets at low tide were just beginning to ride their way up the white sand.

  Rafe kept near the side of Hunnewell’s large house and headed around back toward the garden and a secondary porch with a door. Where this entry might lead he had no idea. Chinese lanterns glowed on either side of the steps. The door was shut and the two windows facing the porch were dark.

  He stopped. A silhouette on the porch moved from the shadowy door toward a railing beside the steps. There, revealed more clearly in the glow of the lanterns he recognized Eden. Eden Derrington, youngest granddaughter of patriarch Ainsworth, and the woman he remained engaged to marry—well, sort of. There was no date, only an engagement ring that seemed to appear when needed and disappear as if by magic.

  Rafe couldn’t explain his emotions, but seeing her here now utterly frustrated him. Though he was known for his suave affectation, Eden could rile him as no other. Now what was she up to? He stood with hand on hip and narrowed his gaze. Could she possibly have been the spy on the lanai behind the bamboo curtain?

  Rafe knew Eden supported the monarchy, even as he had once supported Liliuokalani’s right to the throne, but while the reasons for altering his loyalties were sound, he firmly believed Eden remained a royalist for the benefit of her father, Dr. Jerome Derrington, younger son of Ainsworth. Nora, her great-aunt, not only owned the Gazette, a newspaper firmly supporting the monarchy, but was also a friend of Liliuokalani. She might even be able to arrange a meeting between Eden’s father and Liliuokalani about opening a research clinic on Molokai, where the leper detainment camp was located.

  Rafe suspected Eden could be collecting information on the Annexation Club members for Nora to expose in the Gazette, or to give to Liliuokalani herself. He knew there wasn’t much Eden wouldn’t do for her father and his hopes for a clinic.

  If so, Eden, I can’t go along with your undercover work.

  Eden spoke low to someone who must have been out of view in the shrubbery beside the walkway. Rafe couldn’t make out what was said, and he came forward into the open.

  She turned swiftly with a startled intake of breath and faced him.

  “I’m not interrupting, I hope?”

  “Oh! Rafe—why, hello. What a surprise to see you.”

  He turned the corner of his mouth. “A pleasant one, no doubt.” He turned toward the shrubbery. “Who’s playing hide’n’ seek among the hibiscus?”

  A man stood and looked over his shoulder toward him.

  “That you, Rafe? I could use a little assistance over here. We have a problem.”

  Rafe recognized Silas Derrington, born out of wedlock from one of Townsend Derrington’s escapades on the mainland. Silas resembled his father, though he wasn’t as blond. Silas had arrived in Honolulu in April and remained a divisive figure in the Derrington family. His presence at Kea Lani continued to raise questions and stir up resentments in his younger half-brother, Zachary.

  Rafe walked over to Silas, who nodded toward the shrubbery. Oliver Hunnewell sat on the ground with head in hand. Rafe exchanged glances with Silas.

  “He was out cold when I came across him,” Silas said. “He’ll be all right, though.”

  “How would you know?” Oliver snapped. “I want a doctor. That crazy hapa-haole tried to murder me.”

  Rafe shot him a glance. Hapa-haole?

  By now, Eden had come and brushed between Rafe and Silas to kneel beside Oliver. “I’m a nurse,” she said briskly. “Let me have a look at him. My father’s not far away if we need him; he’s working at Kalihi Hospital tonight.”

  Rafe noticed with cynicism that Hunnewell gave in meekly to her exam. He suspected he did so because she was so alluring. The thought irritated him.

  Rafe stood hands on hips looking down at Oliver scornfully. “He looks okay to me. I’ve seen worse. You don’t need to be babied, Oliver. Tell us what happened.”

  Oliver glared up at him, baring his teeth. “One more crack out of you, Easton, and—”

  “Do be calm, Oliver,” Eden soothed. She turned her dark head, and her green eyes offered Rafe a cool rebuttal. “Patience, if you can bear it, Mr. Easton. I know best how to handle this. He may have a concussion.”

  His gaze held hers evenly.

  Eden turned away and stood abruptly. “Let’s get him in the house with something to drink—hot tea, I think.”

  Tea. Rafe caught her reluctant eye.

  “I don’t want any tea,” Hunnewell snapped, this time at Eden. “I want a doctor—and a drink.” Oliver got to his feet and swayed a little. Rafe steadied him, but Oliver jerked his arm free, wiping his honey-colored hair back from his sweating forehead. He looked at Silas.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Hunnewell was suspicious of Silas? Interesting.

  Silas lifted his brows. “Me? Why I came earlier this evening with Ainsworth Derrington, my grandfather. He wanted me here tonight.”

  Rafe picked up the defensive spirit in Silas’s tone, and the association with my grandfather. Ainsworth and the Derrington name were as important in Hawaii as Hunnewell, maybe more so, and Silas was reminding Oliver of that, using his new position for all it was worth. Even Hunnewell appeared to back down a little.

  Rafe wouldn’t say it, because he didn’t want to back Oliver, but he’d already wondered at the wisdom of Ainsworth’s decision to bring Silas here tonight. Silas wasn’t a Hawaiian. Having only arrived that spring, his loyalties couldn’t be as settled as those born in the Islands. Rafe believed Ainsworth was trying to mold Silas into the kind of grandson he wanted in his line of heirs, just as he was pressing his will on Candace for political and economic gains.

  Oliver’s accusing gaze left Silas and swerved to land on Eden. As soon as he looked at her his features mellowed.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight either. Did you come over with Rafe?”

  Rafe was curious what her explanation would be and watched her carefully, folding his arms.

  Eden remained outwardly calm. “Kalihi isn’t far from here, you know. I had an hour off-duty and thought I’d walk over and see Grandfather Ainsworth.”

  Oliver appeared satisfied. Rafe was not. He might have asked how it was she knew Ainsworth was here, but not now. He wanted to get her away from the topic as quickly as he could.

  “Let’s get him inside. Whatever it is he wants to sip can be sent from the kitchen.”

  “I don’t need any help,” Oliver grumbled, glowering at all of them as though they were to blame for his sore jaw and damaged pride. “And I’ll be sure to tell Candace when I see her how there’s more than one hypocrite in Hawaii among the old missionary families.”

  Why make an attack on Christianity?

  Eden raised her chin with that look of battle, but at the moment Rafe was more curious about what caused Hunnewell to bring up hypocrisy.

  “Granted there are hypocrites, but what goads you into bringing that up now?” Rafe asked flatly.

  “What goads me? Your crazy hapa-haole friend, that’s what. He’s a hypocrite and he’s dangerous.”

  Rafe sized him up coldly. “On second thought maybe you should see the doctor. He’ll give you something to put you to sleep. You’ll feel better at sunrise.”

  Oliver’s color deepened. “I’m not amused, Easton. It so happens your friend jumped me tonight.”

  “I assume you have Keno in mind.”

  “Yes. Keno. I was coming through the back garden when someone jumped me. I’m sure he tried to seriously injure me. He’s dangerous. He’s also been following Candace. Something must be done about him. He needs to be locked up. And I’m the man to press for it.”

  He’s lying. “Keno
would never jump you unless you provoked him, and even then he wouldn’t come from behind. There’s not a cowardly bone in his body. I know him too well.”

  “I tell you he was hanging around here spying from the bushes like a lunatic.”

  “Are you saying you saw Keno?” Silas asked.

  “He couldn’t have,” Rafe scoffed.

  “I didn’t see him just then. I heard something out here and came to investigate.”

  Alerted, Rafe waited, studying him. Was he telling the truth?

  “Someone was prowling around these grounds.”

  Rafe glanced at Eden’s expression. What he’d expected to be there, was not.

  “I came to the meeting late, after seeing Candace about our engagement party next week. The meeting here was well under way. I hesitated out front, thinking I didn’t want to make a big entrance, so I thought I’d enter the house through the back lanai.”

  “And did you go there?” Rafe asked lazily.

  “No. I saw someone peering in a window and—”

  “The front of the house?” Rafe asked.

  Oliver looked at him sharply. “A side window, but what does it matter? There was a prowler just the same.”

  “He could still be around here. Shouldn’t we alert Mr. Hunnewell?” Silas said.

  “He isn’t. Keno knocked me unconscious and must have run off”

  “It wasn’t Keno,” Rafe said.

  “I should know who attacked me,” Oliver snapped. “It was Keno.”

  “Sounds as if there may have been two men,” Eden spoke up quickly. “Keno, but someone else, too.”

  Rafe looked at her. He didn’t want her saying anything that might involve her with Oliver and Silas.

  “Well?” Rafe urged. “What did you do then?” The more he could get out of him, if lying, the greater the chance that the details could derail him.

  Oliver scowled at him. “I naturally went toward him to see who it was. Do you think a Hunnewell is a coward?”

  “Perish the thought! I’m merely trying to learn what happened.”

  “Talk of spies for the monarchy was on my mind,” Oliver continued. “As I neared the window, I called out. I surprised him and he ran off toward these shrubs.”

  Rafe was dubious.

  “Well, that behavior got my suspicion up fast, as you can well imagine. I was determined to see who the man was. When I rounded this walkway and came near these shrubs here—” Oliver gestured to where they’d found him unconscious—“Keno jumped out at me. The coward didn’t even give me a moment to defend myself. He struck me with something, a club, I think.”

  A flash of anger hardened Rafe. One thing Keno didn’t lack was courage.

  “Keno wouldn’t jump you in the dark, let alone use a club. I don’t think he was the man at the window either.” If there was a man at the window.

  “I agree,” Silas said. “I haven’t known Keno for long, but I admit being a little impressed with his character.”

  Oliver’s face flushed. “Character! After slugging me? And he works at the mission church. Hypocrisy, that’s what it is. Isn’t he in line to follow Pastor Ambrose Easton? Yet he could have murdered me tonight. He’s even deceived all three of you.”

  Silas drawled, “My cousin Candace may find a trifle bit of hypocrisy in you, as well, Oliver. That drink you want won’t set well with her.”

  Oliver’s mouth twisted. “I wouldn’t sound so pious if I were you, Silas. I’ve heard New Orleans is a colony for drink and cards.”

  “Please,” Eden said firmly. “Must you gentlemen insult one another?”

  Rafe was more interested in the reactions going on and didn’t mind the interplay. What had prompted Silas to defend Keno?

  Though it was obvious Oliver had been struck, the story he was describing about Keno didn’t connect with Rafe. If Keno had been here, what would have brought him? Not to spy, and certainly not to wait to clobber Hunnewell. There had to be something else.

  “He said nothing to you? Didn’t mention why he’d come here?”

  Oliver pushed back his hair from his forehead impatiently. “I told you why he was hiding in the shrubs. I’m saying nothing more. You won’t believe me anyway. I’ll talk to Marshal Harper about this attack!”

  Rafe turned to Silas, who was frowning and gazing in the direction of the beach.

  “Anything on your mind, Silas?”

  “I wasn’t going to mention this, but perhaps I’d better. I saw someone tonight too. He was running toward the gate, but it didn’t look like Keno to me.”

  Rafe studied him for a moment.

  “When was this?”

  “Say, twenty minutes ago? I came out to roll a smoke. A bit later I heard a big rumpus down in this direction. Most likely where we’re standing. A minute or so later someone came through the trees near the front of the house, came as quietly as a little fox in slippers. He—or she—didn’t see me at first.”

  Rafe noticed Eden tense slightly. She pushed a dark strand of hair from her cheek in a gesture he knew well … she did it when she was uneasy.

  “I made a mistake with my cigarette. Whoever it was must have seen the glow, then the little fox took off running toward the beach. By then I thought I’d better have a look down this direction where I’d heard the rumpus. That’s when I found Oliver.”

  “And Eden?” Rafe asked smoothly.

  Her eyes swerved to him and narrowed. “I was just arriving.”

  “Yes, Cousin Eden appeared from the walkway here,” Silas said.

  Arriving from where? Rafe wondered. He would ask later.

  “Eden tried the door on the porch there—to get some help— but it was locked. That’s when you came along, Rafe.”

  Eden’s face was veiled in the evening shadows and told Rafe nothing. He was sure all of them knew more than they were telling. That included himself. He wasn’t going to give away the fact he had suspected someone behind the bamboo curtain. Not yet.

  Oliver straightened his shoulders. “I’ve had enough of detective games. I’m going inside. I’ll tell you one thing, Easton. I’m filing a charge against Keno with Marshal Harper. He won’t get by with this kind of behavior. You can tell him I said so, too.”

  Turning, Oliver took hold of Eden’s arm. Rafe was about to intervene but refrained when she assisted him.

  “I’ll see that my father comes to have a look at your bruises,” she was telling Oliver. Silas followed, no doubt to join up with his grandfather and avoid further questions from Rafe.

  Rafe watched the three of them walk toward the front of the house.

  If Oliver did see someone peering in a window when he arrived, it couldn’t have been Keno. And there wasn’t a chance Keno would hide on the lanai to spy through the curtain on the meeting.

  What had motivated Eden to come here tonight from Kalihi? He smiled a little; was she shocked to have seen him among all the annexationists? What would she do with that information? And had she intended not to be seen? Rafe thought so. Something had gone wrong. Most likely it was the dispute between Oliver and Keno or whoever was out there, and she’d been compelled to reveal herself to Silas. The nurse in her couldn’t slip away and leave Oliver unconscious. She may have thought him seriously injured.

  She was working tonight at Kalihi Hospital, she’d said. And Dr. Jerome was there also. Interesting … and just what were Dr. Jerome’s thoughts on annexation? What, if anything, could he gain by garnering information for the monarchy?

  What if Eden saw her father slip away and followed him, not realizing what he was up to until she discovered he was on the lanai listening secretly? A walk from Kalihi here to Waikiki was less than fifteen minutes. For the tall, lean Dr. Jerome it could be only ten.

  But would Dr. Jerome work against his father, Ainsworth?

  When it came to his zeal in opening his clinic on Molokai, Jerome would leave no stone unturned. Yes, Rafe decided soberly. Dr. Jerome could be included in the list of possible spies for the monarchy
—if it could win him approval from the queen to open his clinic.

  He made for the front gate and the road. Foremost in his thoughts was Keno’s reason for coming here tonight. The rest could be pushed aside until later, after he’d spoken with Eden.

  Keno was no fool when it came to spiritual wrestling with the pull of sin. He’d have understood from the outset that there was a solid chance he could meet up with Oliver here on the Hunnewell beachfront property. So what had prompted him to risk it?

  Rafe left through the iron gate. Along the dirt road a smaller path he often used cut through clusters of swaying palm trees and scattered lava formations, to the Wai Momi—Pearl River—that the United States Navy was looking at with interest. Pearl River would make a tremendous naval harbor, he thought, but a lot of civil engineering would need to be accomplished first. If annexation was truly in Hawaii’s future, Pearl River harbor would be a worthy prize.

  He thought he knew where he could find Keno. The same place both of them went in time of spiritual need.

  Chapter Four

  The Crouching Lion

  Rafe jogged along the water’s edge on a large section of white sandy beach. There was no moonlight, and the stars that usually shone so brilliantly were now obscured. The waves thundered in, pounding over the lowlying rocks and splashing everything within reach. He took the path inland lined with tall, willowy trees swishing in the wind until he neared the mission church and his uncle Ambrose’s bungalow. The lights gleamed in the church where Ambrose was holding a weekly men’s Bible group.

  The mission church spoke to Rafe of peace, for within rested the treasure chest of truth that would answer all debates and silence quarreling voices of strife.

  Rafe hadn’t gone much farther when he saw Keno. He hadn’t entered the church but was sitting on a large black lava rock a short distance away. The lava rock was on a small mound that commanded a view of the church, the bungalow, and off in the distance, the white sand of the dry beach. Rafe could see he was spiritually browbeaten.

  Rafe sighed. He waited for another minute and then climbed the mound to the lava rock. Keno glanced over at him, then went on holding his head as though he had a headache. Rafe stood, leaning against a smooth section of the stone, bracing his foot against the rock, and gazing off at the dark, restless sea, hearing the waves and the wind. Above the rock the dark palms rustled and shook. He remembered that when they were boys they used to climb here and watch for distant ships with binoculars, dreaming of their own ship one day and freedom to roam.