Here Today Gone to Maui, Hailey

By June Kramin

A relaxing day on her favorite beach on Maui comes to a screeching halt when Hailey finds a little girl wandering alone, searching for her mother. When she gets the child to her father and discovers who he is, their vacation is officially over. Parker has no choice but to once again bring in Amanda and Hunt (from Hunter’s Find) to help.

Amanda is the one who helped this man leave his New York life behind. As they struggle to find if his previous mob involvement had anything to do with his wife’s disappearance, they discover her father has secrets of his own. The circle of deceit stretches over oceans, with too many players to let the family safely return home.

Trusting anyone is a luxury even Parker can’t afford. Drug activity, property wars, and more secrets from the past come back to haunt them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: June Kramin
• Release date: May 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463284704

June Kramin

Wife, Mother, Writer, Lunatic. Not necessarily in that order.June, who prefers to go by Bug, was born in Philadelphia but moved to Maui, Hawaii when she was four. She met her “Prince Charming” on Kauai and is currently living “Happily Ever After” on a hobby farm in a small town in Southern Minnesota.Her son and daughter are her greatest accomplishments. She takes pride in embarrassing them every chance she gets.Being hopelessly addicted to 80′s music is her super power.

Book preview

Here Today

Gone to Maui,

Hailey

I Got Your Back,

Hailey IV

By

June Kramin

Here Today Gone to Maui, Hailey

I Got Your Back, Hailey IV

By June Kramin

Copyright © 2018 by June Kramin

V3

…

All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

…

This book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.

Published by Pau Hana Books

April 2018

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. No part of this book can be reproduced or sold by any person or business without the express permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 9780463284704

Published in the United States of America

Cover Art by Valerie Kramin

Stock image: Shutterstock

Photo: June Kramin

Acknowledgements

For my Daddy,

whose stories inspire

so much more than you know!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

About the Author

Chapter One

"Did your best friend break the news to you yet?" Parker’s smile was ear to ear and his chest puffed with pride.

Donny flopped over the back of the couch, joining us in the living room of our beach house. I’m a little miffed she told you something before me, he said with a grin. Spill it.

She’s pregnant.

But you…your ‘boys,’ he said, using finger quotes. You can’t…

He finally gave up. The details of Parker’s motorcycle accident years ago, which resulted in him not being able to have kids, didn’t need to be rehashed.

Miracles happen. Parker tightened his grip on my waist.

Of course I was sitting in his lap. I’d forgotten what it was like to sit alone in a chair.

Donny squinted his eyes. I have a story for you.

Fire away, my friend.

I got up to retrieve a couple beers. None for me, of course.

Donny continued. A friend of mine was hunting in Africa.

Which friend? Any friend of yours is usually a friend of mine.

He’s a hypothetical friend.

Parker frowned. Is this going to be a lame-ass story?

I handed them each a beer.

Bear with me here, Donny said as he accepted his.

Parker rolled his hand in circles, indicating Donny should continue.

He was sound asleep one night when a lion walked right into his tent.

Is this one of those huge tents like you see in the movies? Table and chairs and the whole schtick?

Sure.

I mean, if it’s a hypothetical friend, it might as well be a hypothetical tent.

I tried hard to stifle a laugh. I sipped at my water and winked at Donny, but his face was serious. He turned away from me and faced Parker. Ouch. That burn hurt. He can’t be upset I’m pregnant or that I didn’t tell him first.

May I continue?

Again, Parker motioned for him to get on with it.

So, the lion starts stalking him. There’s nothing for my friend to grab but an umbrella. He pauses.

Parker impatiently said, And?

He aims it at the lion and says, ‘Bang!’ The lion drops dead right there.

Bullshit. Someone else shot the lion.

Donny scooted back and took a sip of his beer. Precisely, my friend.

Parker stood so fast, I dropped to my butt on the floor.

You sonofabitch! Are you seriously insinuating someone else got her pregnant?

He accidentally kicked my head as he stepped over me to rush at Donny…and I bolted awake.

What the hell was that? Donny was at my side in a flash as I took in the gorgeous beach view, trying to orient myself. I needed a minute before it registered. Everything was different. It’s not our beach. A small island is off to the distance. There are people everywhere, as well as boats pulling people on various water toys. One was shaped like a banana and had six people on it. I was finally awake and remembered where we are.

You okay there, Hales?

I nodded.

He reached to the table next to me and handed me a bottle of water. Did you have a nightmare? Daymare? Whatever.

Jesus. What an odd dream.

He sat next to me on the beach chair. Was I in it?

As a matter of fact, you were. You were accusing me of sleeping with someone else.

I what?

I let out a soft laugh. Well, just sort of. Parker told you I was pregnant and you told that old joke about the dude shooting a lion with an umbrella.

You butchered it then. In the real joke, it’s a dude in his pajamas, and it’s an elephant, not a lion.

I snorted. Way to pay attention to the details.

He hooked his finger under my chin. You were pregnant. I get it. Happy? Sad? He dropped his hand from my chin and took my hand in his. Are you having second thoughts?

Parker’s already had the surgery. It would be a little late for that. And no, I think we just talked things to death and it’s carrying over. Just because he wanted to have it taken care of now, doesn’t mean we’re ready to start playing roulette. I wouldn’t stop him from doing what he wanted. He needed to fix this for himself.

Is there more?

I nodded my head. I don’t like when we fight. Even in my dreams.

He laughed and tugged me to my feet. Come on, BFF. Let’s go for a swim. You robbed me of my woman, you need to entertain me.

I want to order a drink, then I’ll join you. You ready for another?

Ready? I’ll be on number three. You were napping a long time. He paused for just a second. What the hell? We are on vacation. Go ahead and get me another. He took off for the beach. I waived the waitress over.

We’d been on Maui for three days now. After our last job, Parker had put everything on hold. Even though we’d just taken a nice long break in Colorado a couple months ago, he had said he was ready for a break already. With Hunt and Amanda along on our last job, we’d made quite a spectacle of ourselves over a lot of California. Quite a few bodies accumulated with that one. Although it was all self-defense, I knew Parker always took things hard. Donny’s brother and few of his men were pretty badly hurt. Parker felt like it was his fault for being slack about rules and giving into someone in our protection who wanted company of a loved one. Although we all disagree, and said as much a hundred times over, we let him dictate business hours, so to speak. He is the boss after all.

As soon as things calmed down, he’d made an appointment with his doctor to reverse the damage from his motorcycle accident, so we’d have a chance at having kids when and if we decided it was time. When he took us to dinner to explain about his surgery and gave us all Here Today, Gone to Maui T-shirts, no one argued. Hey, who could say no to Maui?

Seeing as how Parker and I were married just shortly after we’d met, I really didn’t feel kids would have been a normal topic of conversation already. But we’d proved several times over, nothing about us is normal. I was beyond hesitant about the subject of kids, especially with our line of work. But Parker brought it up often.

I couldn’t see dragging kids along while we did our job with DOUCHE—that’s right—DOUCHE. Parker’s way of annoying Donny with the world’s worst acronym for what they do. The Department of Understanding and Concern, Helping Everyone. What can I say? You can’t choose who you love. I was beginning to come around, though, and warming up to the thought of kids. After working with Hunt and Amanda and seeing how they juggled police and FBI work with their two daughters, I’d been a little less worried.

So, here we are. My all-time favorite vacation spot. Surprisingly, Parker doesn’t have a home here. I encouraged him not to buy one before the trip. I’ve always had a soft spot for the hotel off Ka’anapali Beach, which the locals refer to as Dig-Me Beach.

There’s always plenty of action during the day with boats coming and going, offering various water sports and fun, and new ways to lighten a tourist’s wallet. Sunset brings a string of entertainment as well. Conch shells blowing, hula and fire dancers, and local musicians poolside. Not that I can’t mix a mean Mai Tai with the best of them but being served drinks is a nice change.

Donny and I were currently here alone. I know he still thought Parker didn’t care for Mo. I suggested they take a day on Kauai together to get to know each other. I’d been there a few times with a couple different boyfriends over the years. I had what I called Hailey’s One Day Tour down pat. There was actually time to see a movie when you were done. The island is beyond beautiful, but very small. The waterfalls and Waimea Canyon never get old, but I could go some other time. I want to make fresh memories with Parker when we could be alone with no distractions from the others, and hopefully not flashback to where Leo and I did it under the waterfall if my mind was left to wander. Besides, I agreed with Donny on his feeling regarding Parker and Mo. I can’t quite peg what it is, but despite what Parker says, I know he’s a little skittish with her and that needs to end. Donny and I hit it off immediately. There’s no reason Parker and Mo shouldn’t be just as close.

My brother, Kevin, and our flight attendant extraordinaire, Dawn, are off on a snorkel cruise. She was thrilled for the long flight and to be able to spend some time organizing the plane. Seth brought Nadia along as well. She actually complained on the flight over about the vet we’d hired for their shelter. He’s a hard worker, which is a good thing, but he was getting to her chores before she was. I loved her work ethic. Some people would just take the easy ride. They were both young, but I hoped Seth and Nadia could really make something out of their relationship. Long distance was hard, but they seemed to make it work.

My drink now served and duly sampled, I was ready for that swim with Donny. As usual, it’s complete with the splashes and squirting water from his hands that I never could master. I finally cried Uncle, as I held up my hand. Show me that again.

He closed the gap between us, clasped his hands flat together, laced his fingers, then put them underwater. I’ve shown you this a hundred times. Keep your fingers together and suck water in at the bottom.

I promptly received another blast to the face.

Dick. As I ran my hand down my face, I noticed a little girl on the beach. I grabbed Donny by the arm. That little girl looks lost.

The long black hair? Without hesitating, he scanned both directions of the beach as he made his way in, with me close at his heels. I’m sure someone is tanning or out in the water, taking a dip, he assured me.

Once we were out and caught up to her, Donny stood in front of her, careful to keep a little space as not to scare her. Hi there, he said with his best smile.

It may work on the ladies, but she still looked scared, despite his best efforts. I quickly got in front of him and knelt down. She was a skinny little thing, around four years old would be my guess.

Hi, honey. Don’t mind my friend. He’s a big ol’ teddy bear. We’re just worried about you. You look like you’re searching for someone. Are you lost?

She nodded her head hard and seemed to be fighting tears. I went running after a crab. When I went back, my mommy was gone.

Where’s your daddy, honey?

He was still in the room. He had work to do. Mommy was mad.

I glanced up at Donny, begging for help. I was at a total loss. I’m not sure why I always went into panic mode with children. Twice I’d frantically searched department stores while mothers stood by crying, only to find the kids hiding in a clothing rack.

He knelt down by me. How about we make this a game, sweetie?

A game? She wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

Sure. He gently took her hand in his. It’ll be like hide and seek.

She frowned. I don’t think Mommy is hiding.

You’re right. I’m sure your mommy is more worried than you are, but it doesn’t mean it has to be scary. I bet she just went the wrong way down the beach searching for you. We’ll help you find her.

I’m Hailey, honey. He’s Donny. What’s your name?

Bianca.

That’s a beautiful name. Come on. I stood and offered her my hand. Her other was still clutching Donny’s tight. Do you remember what she was wearing?

Her swimsuit is black.

One piece or two? Donny asked as we headed down the beach.

I glared at him, but I guess it was a legitimate question.

One, she replied. She had one of those lace thingies tied on her waist. It’s long.

A sarong? I asked, then realized that was probably too big of a word for her. I found a heavy-set tourist wearing a loud floral print one and pointed to her. Like that?

Yes, but Mommy’s is black.

There was something about how she spoke that made me question where she was from. Honey, is English your first language?

She nodded.

Do you live here?

Bianca shook her head, still silent.

Donny decided to help. We came from California. Where are you vacationing from?

We live in Greece.

I smiled wide. Oh my! I hear that’s beautiful. I’ve always wanted to go to Greece. I swung her arm playfully, trying to keep the mood light. With her coloring, she could have easily been any mix that fills the islands. One of the things I love most is the diversity of the islands. Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, Asian, Samoan…you name it, they’re here. I learned the local term for any mix of another race with Caucasian is called Hapa. Bianca looked as if she were a beautiful blend such as that.

Does your mommy have pretty, long, dark hair like yours?

No. I mean, it’s pretty and long, but Mommy’s hair is blonde.

I love when I’m right. Daddy must be the dark skinned one.

Bianca was quiet as we wandered the beach, searching for her mother.

I felt we’d gone far enough and wanted to head back. I got us turned back around, then we headed just as far in the other direction. Nothing. Maybe we should go find her father, Donny.

He stopped and knelt in front of her. Do you know the name of your hotel, sweetie?

She shook her head. No, but it’s that one right there, she said, pointing to one just past where we’d found her. It was our hotel.

That’s where we’re staying, too. Can you take us to your room? I know this was a tall order for someone so small. I’ve been known to get lost in smaller hotels than this. Of course alcohol was involved, though. Maybe we had a chance.

Uh-huh. We’re right off the beach.

Donny stood and took her hand again. If he’s not there, then what? he whispered to me.

Manager, then cops, I suppose. I’m starting to get an uneasy feeling about this. You want me to take her? You go hop on Maryann and see if there are any Greek officials vacationing here? Not a shred of information was safe from Donny and his hacking ability on his device he dubbed Maryann. To say he was obsessed with reruns of Gilligan’s Island was an understatement.

If that were the case, I’d think they’d be after the kid, not the mother. My money is still on she’s a wreck, searching the beach. In any case, I’m not leaving you until we get some kind of answer.

A man came running down a path toward us. I thought maybe he was her father, but he kept going and dove into the waves. He was fully clothed, but I’ve seen stranger things. I try to make light of it. Someone was happy to go for a swim.

She let out a small laugh, then tugged us along the path the man had just cleared. We’re just over here. Releasing both our hands, she ran through the gate then the open sliding glass door. Pa-pa! Pa-pa! Is Mommy here? Pa-pa! Where are you?

My heart skipped a few beats. I was worried he was missing as well. Finally, a handsome Italian-looking man came around the corner, drying his hair with a towel. What are you doing back so soon, baby doll?

He immediately dropped to his knees when he caught her distress. She burst into tears and ran to him, flying into his arms. His face scowled with concern as he held her tight and approached us. Who are you? What’s wrong with Bianca? Where’s her mother?

We don’t know. I’m sorry. We found your daughter wandering on the beach alone. We tried to find her mother, figuring she was out looking for her as well, I explained in a word-vomit kind of way.

Did you call the police?

Not yet, Donny said as he extended his hand. Donny Cummings. This is Hailey Mitchell. I mean, Peters. We’re staying here, too. That was the next step if we didn’t find you. Donny ran his fingers through his wet hair. Not to jump to conclusions here, but…is there a reason you jump straight to calling the cops? No chance she just lost track of time?

He held Bianca even tighter to his chest with one arm, one hand cradled her head, which was buried deep in his neck. She was still sobbing, poor dear.

No, he said after a long pause. Not my Denise. She would never leave Bianca alone. Never. Especially near water. She’s just learned to swim. His gaze went from mine to Donny’s, frantic.

Do you want me to call the police? I asked.

He shouted No, a little too quickly.

Goddammit. There goes our vacation.

Chapter Two

Donny left to get Maryann. Bianca had cried herself to sleep, despite her dad’s comforting that everything was going to be okay. Donny was back by the time the man was closing the door to the bedroom behind him.

He joined me at the wicker table and flopped down hard. Donny took the empty seat between us and placed Maryann on the table.

The man’s weary, red eyes finally looked up at us. I’m sorry. I guess you want some kind of explanation.

I reached my hand over the table and placed it on his. You don’t owe us anything, but we’d like to help. You may not believe the coincidence of this, but if anyone can help, it’s us.

His eyes widened. Are you feds or something?

Donny chuffed. Over my dead body.

The man’s expression had gotten even more confused.

Sorry. We’re more freelance. Finding people isn’t really what we do, but it’s not beyond our abilities, Donny explained.

I think I’m going to need a drink.

Make it three.

When he came back with some beers, he sat hard once again. I’m sorry. I didn’t even give you my name.

That’s okay, I said. I can’t imagine anything more stressful. Parker, my husband, has gone missing on me before, too. I know how you feel.

And you went missing on us, so we all know how this feels, Donny added.

We’d managed to render the poor man even more confused. He got up and came back with a bottle of bourbon and downed a hefty shot. He offered the bottle to Donny, but he declined.

Exactly who are you guys?

If you say the word douche, Hales, I’m going to punch you in the face.

I laughed and regained my hold on the man’s hand. It’s an inside joke. The Reader’s Digest version is, my husband is loaded and likes to help people in need. Off the record.

Like witness protection?

Sort of, but nothing official. He helps those afraid of normal means. At least, that’s what he and Donny used to do. Things have been a little insane since I joined the group.

This seemed to frighten him, which I suppose was understandable.

He stood and went over to the combination TV stand and dresser. I’m not sure I follow you.

It’s a lot to digest. Believe me, I understand. I’m sorry this is happening to you. We can help you; I promise. If you don’t want to involve the police, you need someone.

He sat on the corner of the stand and downed half the beer. Coming here was a bad idea. I thought we’d be okay. Denise misses home so much, I couldn’t tell her no.

Bianca said Greece was her home.

"It is. We’ve lived there since before she was born. I’m from New York and Denise is from here. Well, lived here since she was five, anyway. She was born