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And a lot of money, I think.
“They fly away. We get… rescued.”
I like the way the captain thinks, especially as all her scenarios end with us being saved. I don’t think it’s that simple, however. Lea can’t collect life insurance on a man a bunch of witnesses saw her help murder, especially after her lover shot another person in cold blood. Meaning all of us must perish as well.
Though given that… why doesn’t Lea just walk out of here? Or take off while outside for her comfort break? What’s the point of perpetuating this elaborate ruse in front of a bunch of people already marked for death?
I contemplate Marilee. “Brent is doing this for Lea.”
“Asshole.”
“Keahi is here for Leilani.”
“If you… say so.”
“And to murder MacManus.”
“Sure.”
“What does Lea want from Keahi? She doesn’t actually need Keahi to kill MacManus. Brent could’ve done it easily enough. Hell, he shot you.”
“Ass… hole.”
“So why Keahi? Leilani spent years terrified of her big sister, then suddenly broke her out of prison to serve as a particularly brutal hitwoman? And what the fuck is the deal with Noodles the cat?”
Marilee regards me blearily.
“Exactly!” I agree.
I rise to standing just as the darkness outside is suddenly flooded with light. We turn as one toward the glow coming from the dock, where the silhouette of a woman has appeared.
And I squeeze my eyes shut, because I don’t want to see what the Beautiful Butcher has done now.
“DID YOU GET my present?” she calls out from her position between the dock and the rec hall. No one is gasping or screaming, so I risk peering out.
“Shoot her!” MacManus strides toward Aolani, who has the rifle. “Right now. She’s an escaped killer, for God’s sake. Do it.”
Aolani moves to the front of the dining hall, but I can already see the uncertainty on her face. It takes a certain type of person to coldly take aim at another human being and then pull the trigger. I don’t blame Aolani for not being that kind of soul.
“What’s beside her?” Vaughn asks sharply.
We all squint harder, captive audience to a show none of us wanted to attend. I spot what he’s talking about almost immediately. There’s a line of red containers organized in a neat row beside her.
“Fuel cans,” Ronin supplies.
“Shit.” Vaughn and Ronin exchange glances while MacManus, failing with Aolani, jerks the rifle from her grasp and holds it out for his man, Elias.
“You do it.”
Elias steps forward quickly enough, but there’s a frown on his face. “I don’t fire guns I haven’t inspected and loaded myself.”
“For fuck’s sake. She took a knife to Jason. Shoot the bitch.”
“Machete actually,” Keahi calls out. Her tone is light, laced with laughter, like this is the most fun she’s had in ages. After seven years in prison, I suppose it is. She’s no longer in death-row white, but wearing an outfit shockingly similar to Leilani’s khaki shorts and pale linen top. Because it was supplied by her as well?
I sneak a peek at Leilani. She stands on her own, MacManus having left her to commandeer his own personal firing squad. She’s no longer cowering, but holding herself perfectly erect, shoulders back, body language intent. From this angle, I can see only part of her face. Her expression is hard to decipher. Fear. Curiosity. Anger. But also… admiration? For her big sister, who, no doubt about it, is one tough and scary chick.
According to Keahi, she protected Leilani when they were younger. Does Leilani remember those days, too, or only that final moment, her feral sister about to pounce on her already battered boyfriend?
