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Chapter Twenty-four
Just as the taxi pulled out of the driveway, Alia spotted a familiar blonde head in a strange car parked up the street. The woman looked like Libby, the same PI she’d stopped a few days ago.
Not having believed any of the lies that’d slid out of the woman’s mouth, she’d done a search on the firm and on its owner, Libby Holt. Turned out, Libby had a good reputation, was older than the mid-forties Alia had thought she was, and had a decent clientele. Paul would have chosen the best; she’d never underestimate him in that way.
But right now, the last thing Alia wanted was for Miss Libby Holt to know her destination.
Alia leaned over to talk to the large Hawaiian fellow behind the steering wheel. He was all dreads, big-ass sunglasses and sporting a loud, orange-flowered shirt that brightened up the interior of the older model taxi. Making sure that Kean had his earphones on and connected with his iPad, she took a hundred from her purse and slipped it in front of the driver.
“There’s a blue car following us, my husband’s PI. She’s blonde with big hair and driving the Focus. Look, the jerk wants to take away my kid. This money’s for you if you can lose her.”
Brown eyes checked her out in the rear-view and he grinned. “You got it,wahine.” Suddenly he took the corner on the left and, going against the traffic for a short distance, he sped up the street. Then he veered into a gas station that led to another intersection. He did a u-turn halfway down that street and ended up driving through a yard where a driveway was accessible from the back and a garage sat in the middle.
As they approached, he pushed a button and the garage door magically opened and shut, enclosing them into the small area.
Alia laughed. “Whose house is this?”
“Mine.” The driver grinned back, and she noticed Kean was now looking shocked and slightly worried. “No problem,keiki, I just have to pick up something from my house. Your mama’s okay with it. I’ll be right back.”
Kean’s eyes were huge. “Mo-om!”
“It’s like he says, babe. He’s got to pick up something, and I told him we weren’t in a hurry. Personally, I figure he has to hit the bathroom and knew he was so close to home, he decided to come here.” She winked, and Kean picked up her lack of tension and relaxed.
Minutes later, their driver reappeared carrying a fancy blue coffee mug and waved it at them. “All clear.” He grinned at Alia in the mirror and turned to speak directly to Kean. “It’s the coffee, kid. Don’t ever get hooked on this stuff.”
The garage door rose and they backed out slowly, then they pulled out onto the street and drove the speed limit to Sloan’s house.
The driver helped them from the car, took out their suitcases and passed her his card when she paid him. “Just in case you’re ever in a spot and need to lose anyone else on the road.”
She checked the name on the card. “Hey, thanks, Koko. You never know.” She slipped it into the side pocket of her handbag, nodded her appreciation and shook his hand, taking no offense when he held on a few seconds longer than necessary. She just gave one more shake, grinned into his concerned expression and quickly took the larger two cases, leaving Kean to get his smaller two.
There was a lot of noise coming from around the back of the house, Hawaiian music playing loudly, voices laughing… the distinctive sounds of a party going on. Kean hesitated for a few seconds before following her along the winding path toward the garden. It gave her time to scope out the neighborhood.
She could see that Sloan’s house sat quite close to the road, promising anyone inside a view of the other buildings across the street. More importantly, the sunroom, front left, had a perfect line of vision to the house they’d be watching.
No wonder, Don suggested Sloan’s house for their investigation.One thing that bothered her: there was a huge hibiscus plant smothered in white blooms in front of the window which could block one’s view. It should be trimmed as soon as possible.
“Mom, are we going around the back?” Kean’s expression held fear mixed with curiosity, and a whole lot of shyness.
“Yeah,Mom? What do you say?”
Alia’s glance shot to the man slouched against the side of the house; his long silver hair tied back giving him the look of an older hippy. But it was his grin sparkling with youthful vitality that made her take a second glance at his tall, lean body. This man sported a classic Romeo personality, though he had to be in his mid-sixties.
“Can I help you and your boy?”
“We’re looking for Sloan Booker.”
Kean piped up. “He’s my uncle.”
Dark blue and now intense, the man’s eyes lost their smile and flew from Kean back to her. “You got the right place, Sloan lives here. But as for the uncle part—”
Alia cut him off. “He didn’t tell you about me? I’m his half-sister from San Diego. We just found each other. I’m sure he can explain.” Not wanting to blow her cover before she started the assignment, Alia didn’t stop talking. “This is my son, Kean. We decided to come for a visit. Surprise him. Is he here?” Sweating internally, Alia wished her acting skills were better.
“Oh, right, he did mention that you’d been in touch. I’m one of his partners atBookers, Lester Williams. Who’s this little dude?”
Kean’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m Kean. She’s my mom. I’m not so little. I’m eight.”
“And I’m sorry. Guess you looked kinda little to me ‘cause I’m way too tall. Sorry about the misunderstanding.” Les winked at Kean and grinned Alia’s way. “Why don’t we go out back and give Sloan’s friends the shock of their lives.”
