Moana's Secrets: Detective Reef Kahili Mystery, #2

By J.M. Calverley

When two people who have a piece of Detective Reef Kahili's heart are taken, on the Big Island of Hawai'i, the clock starts ticking. A kidnapper seems to be targeting him. But why? Is it associated with his past or his future?

The kidnapper wants Ray Kyoto's money in exchange for the lives he holds. 

But even on the last investigation with the Kyoto and Henry families, the money was never found. 

Past nightmares surface and tensions are high as Detective Kalani Rogers, along with Reef scour the BI for his missing loved ones and the disappearing money. 

How will they find it now when every forty-eight hours produces a new demand from the kidnapper that seems impossible to meet. Time is running out, and out in the Pacific Ocean, a deadly tsunami is building, heading straight for the Big Island. 

Family secrets and past betrayals leave a twisted trail of flotsam and jetsam in its wake.

Will Reef find them in time or will the ocean—Moana—take her secrets with her?

*** PLEASE NOTE: This book was previously published in Kindle Worlds and has been revised to reedited to reflect those changes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.M. Calverley
• Release date: Jul 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386165835

Book preview

Book Two

~ Detective Reef Kahili ~

Hilo, Big Island, HI

MOANA’S SECRETS

J. M. Calverley

Moana’s Secrets: J. M. Calverley ~ previously published under Kindle World license.

Second Edition: Moana’s Secrets: J. M. Calverley: Detective Reef Kahili: Book Two with some characters and elements from the previous Kindle World removed.

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

ASIN: 

Editor: Meg Amor

Cover Artist: Meg Amor

Published in the United States of America

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This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Warning

This e-book contains adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. The author’s e-books are defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to a Hawaiian who embodies the spirit of aloha.

*~*~*~*~*

Nainoa Thompson

*~*~*~*~*

Humanitarian, visionary, teacher, master navigator, gentle spirit, Ocean Elder, President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Living Treasure of the Hawaiian People, and cultural and aloha ambassador for the Pacific. He is one of my modern-day heroes. And mere words do not convey my respect and admiration for this man. An ali’i among men.

*~*~*~*~*

The Hokule’a

and the men and women who sail her, love her, respect her, and honor her place in the world as a Hawaiian Living Treasure.

*~*~*~*~*

Moana Pākīpika

~ the Pacific Ocean

*~*~*~*~*

Mahalo nui loa!

Chapter One

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Reef?

A soft tap on the open bedroom door; and I slowly come awake.

Sorry, to barge in. I tried calling and texting you. I’ve got to do that installation, says Vannie softly.

Oh God, yeah, yeah. I’m up. I’m fighting sleep, my whole body had the sort of workout that leaves your bones liquified in the deepest, most pleasurable way. But I’m struggling to face the day, wonderful as last night was. I pull a strand of my long hair out of my mouth and push the sheet off my chest to cool off slightly and stretch.

The bathroom door opens, and before I can warn her, the gorgeous redhead in all her naked glory strolls toward me, bending down, her soft breasts swinging and says softly, Morning, beautiful.

Then Hibby catches Vannie out of the corner of her eye. Arghhh, she shrieks. What the hell? And dives into bed, clutching the sheet up to her breasts. Which successively or unsuccessively—depending on your point of view—whips it away from my body.

Do I have the most complicated relationships with women, or what?

Oh shit, says Vannie, her eyes widening.

I try hiking the sheet up to cover myself, and Vannie’s trying hard not to laugh.

Awkward! she announces cheerfully.

Yep! I mutter.

But nothing I haven’t seen before. I’m Vannie. You must be Hibby. Reef’s told me all about you. She waves enthusiastically, and Hibby does a hesitant half-wave effort. I’ll make coffee, Vannie says, grinning broadly and disappearing down the hallway.

She um, popped in to get me because I was ignoring my phone, and I’m supposed to be helping her today.

"That was your wife. Oh my God." Hibby’s eyes are standing out on stalks and her mouth is hanging open, probably in disbelief. This will be a bit of a learning curve to say the least between our shared American upbringing and my New Zealand cultural background. Despite Hibby and I being a relationship for the last month now, she hasn’t met Vannie until—now. Vannie’s been down in EnZed seeing family, and work’s been busy for all of us.

"Ex-wife and it’s all good. She’s just making coffee."

Coffee? Hibby squeaks out.

Brown stuff in a mug? I give her raised eyebrows and what I hope is a cute, it’s-kind-of-funny, look.

"Not funny. I need to... I need to go." Hibby makes a break for the other side of the bed, and I haul her back to me.

Not so fast, woman.

"Your ex-wife is down the hallway," she hisses at me.

It’s all good. You’ve got to meet her some time.

Yes, but... Not when I’m buck naked in her ex-husband’s bed!

She makes another bid for freedom, and I bring her back into my arms. Stop. I wanted you two to meet. You’ll like her. She’ll like you.

God, Reef. How embarrassing. I need to get dressed.

Yeah, good idea. Eventually... I touch my lips to hers, and she resists at first until I tug and pull her soft lips with mine, and she groans softly.

"You’re not taking this seriously. I was naked," she half-grizzles, and half-moans in pleasure as our tongues connect in an intense and intimate moment of pure sexual heat.

You’re a beautiful woman, inside and out. Vannie’s happy for me. You’ll like her, I whisper, nuzzling her face, breathing her in. My breath is shuddery, and my balls are already aching. God, yes, I murmur.

Our kiss deepens until the sensuous woman in my arms is mewling softly and panting, rubbing her body along mine. One leg is slung over my hip, and I’m already heavily aroused.

A soft hand snakes down between my thighs, and I cry out in pleasure, my back involuntarily arching when her fingers wrap around my length and squeeze gently.

Mine, she whispers.

Yep.

We take a long, sensuous shower with both of us trying not to make too much noise. And bugger all time to talk before we join Vannie, Koko, and Humphrey for fresh Kona coffee, ripe, sweet fruit, and a hot breakfast on the lanai.

I’m really bloody sorry, says Vannie again to Hibby.

Hibby waves her hands around awkwardly. I just got a bit of a fright. Wasn’t expecting anyone to be standing there. And she goes a dusky pink.

Bugger. This is really awkward for Hibby. Vannie will have already brushed it off as no big deal. Okay, not the best start. Highly embarrassing actually. And Hibby’s already feeling a bit funny about Vannie as it is. One of the cultural clashes we have to work through.

Come here, babe, I say to Hibby, pulling her in to sit next to me, giving her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

Yeah, sorry. I’ve got an installation today over in Kona, and my man’s away. So Reef was going to come and help me. The paintings are too awkward for one person. Why don’t you come with us? They always give us a flashy lunch and a nice cocktail.

Good idea. Come with us, babe. I lean in and kiss Hibby’s sweet lips. I want her to feel safe with Vannie and me. Although Vannie and I are emotionally still very close, our relationship went kaput a long time ago. Hibby has nothing to fear from her. But I can see how it looks and probably how it feels to Hibby. It’s threatening no matter what I say at this stage.

Um, well... Hibby looks so unsure and I feel bad, even though I know Vannie hadn’t intended anything like this. She’s just used to popping in and out of my place. Now, I wonder why she didn’t twig on to Hibby’s car outside.

I could do with an extra hand. This is a huge installation and it’ll go faster with another person.

Hibby looks at me, questions in her eyes.

I’d love you to come. I’m not ready to be without your company yet.

Hibby laughs but she looks pleased.

Okay. Thank you. She pinks up again, and my heart does a little squeeze of joy. This relationship is still new, and I could have lost her after the last case I worked on. But she’s here now, and I need her with me.

Koko... says Vannie in exasperation.

My darling black-and-white cat has just swished her tail across Vannie’s scrambled eggs. She’s busy quivering her jaw and ack, ack, acking at Humphrey the neon-green gecko with orange strips who comes every morning for his papaya. Koko, thank goodness is not a hunter. In her past life, I think she must have been a Thai palace cat. She loves spicy Thai food, anything with lime—she’s in. And the idea of hunting for food has probably never crossed her mind. She has a servant for that—me.

Koko glares at Vannie and goes back to annoying Humphrey.

Both women laugh, and the tension drops down a couple of notches.

Are we picking Akuna up? asks Vannie, squeezing fresh lime juice over her glossy, orange slices of papaya. I dig into my own freshly sliced white pineapple, better than the yellow in my opinion. And scoop out the sweet and tangy, golden pulp of the wrinkly local yellow-skinned liliko’i—passion fruit to Mainlanders.

Ohhh...shit! What’s the time? I grab my phone and grimace. Several text messages from him. I was supposed to bloody pick him up. His truck’s in the shop. He’s pissed.

Sorry, that’s whose truck I thought it was when I got here, says Vannie.

I tap my phone a couple of times and pray he picks up.

Yeah, he answers.

Shit. Sorry, my boy. I slept in. Have you had breakfast?

Nah, and I’ve been waiting ages for you, he grouses.

Yeah, I know. Sorry. I’m on my way.

Vannie points at herself. I’ll go, she whispers. Then runs her finger in the air between Hibby and me.

Okay, not quite on deck yet. Vannie will come and get you. She’ll be driving a white pickup with artwork on the back and sides. Hard to miss. And breakfast will be ready when you get here.

K. He hangs up abruptly.

Thanks. Van, you sure?

Yeah, no worries. It’ll give you guys a chance to talk. She reaches across and squeezes Hibby’s hand.

Thanks. I appreciate it, says Hibby.

How will I recognize him? asks Vannie.

He’s at the canoe club. He’ll be the tall Hawaiian Japanese kid with a buzz cut growing out and an atrocious scowl on his face.

He shouldn’t be too hard to find then. Vannie grins, and Hibby laughs. Back soon.

The screen door clangs shut, and I turn to Hibby.

Well, that was a bit of trial by fire, she says, half-grimacing, half-laughing.

I’m sorry. The absurdity of the situation takes over and I start laughing too. Then Hibby gets the giggles, and we’re clutching at each other’s shoulders, Hibby laughing so hard, she has tears streaming down her cheeks.

When we finally stop, we pant against each other’s shoulders, erupting into a fresh spurt every so often. God, I haven’t laughed like that in a long, long time. You are so good for me, I say, stroking her face.

Back at you, she whispers, her fingers rubbing my chest. I love her touch.

We all good? Or do you need to talk some of this through? I ask.

Well, it certainly got my adrenaline going. But I can see Vannie’s a nice person. I’ll try not to be really American and get all green-eyed on you because you guys still get on well. It’s healthy, and in reality, I wish more people could be like that with their exes. I just haven’t had to be in this situation in real time.

Okay. Thanks. Because Vannie’s one of my best friends. I don’t want to have to choose sides. The people who understand me well, I can count on one hand.

I get that. I’m the same, she says quietly. And I know she does. Right from the start, we connected on an emotional level.

Yeah, I know. I hope to be one of those people on that list for you, I say.

Damn. You’re a nice man. She leans in for another kiss, and Koko decides she’s had enough of being ignored, wrapping herself around my neck like a boa constrictor and flicking her tail at Hibby’s face.

Koko. Stop, says Hibby, scratching under her chin and kissing her nose. And Koko slides down to nestle between us, purring and padding.

If something’s bugging you, come and talk to me, please. Don’t leave it. I’d rather know, than not know. If you’re feeling uncomfortable or insecure, tell me. I’ll do whatever I can to reassure you and talk it through.

What planet did you come from? she asks seriously.

Not from Mars. Problem?

No. She regards me for a few moments. Her green eyes frankly assessing me; and I pull her in for a long, deep cuddle.

Promise me, you’ll talk to me. I nuzzle her neck, the plumeria perfume filling my senses. I didn’t realize until this morning she wears Jessica McClintock perfume, the perfect fragrance of fresh plumerias.

Promise. And likewise, for you. Yes?

Too right.

I reach over and snag a hot-pink orchid from one of the many plants I have in bloom on the lanai and slide a toothpick into it, then place it behind Hibby’s ear. Her smile lights up her face and fills my heart.

When Vannie comes back with Akuna, we have breakfast, then set off, taking the Saddle Road. It cuts through the middle of the island, passing through the two biggest mountains on earth from their bases—Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The lush, green wetness of the Hilo side gives way to the scrubby, often mist shrouded lava moonscape between the two mountains.

At this time of year,