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Angel placed his whiskey glass in Leilani’s empty hand.
She gave him a grateful smile and lifted the glass to the bride and groom. “To the bride and groom.”
Leilani stayed another ten minutes before she thanked Brooke for hosting and gave her future sister-in-law a hug. “I’m happy for you and Makai, and I’m glad the insurance company came through so quickly so that you could get new boards and get out there to practice.”
“Oh, I wish we had our insurance settlement already. We couldn’t wait that long.”
“But your new boards. How—”
Alyssa grimaced. “We maxed out our credit cards on boards and deposits on the wedding venue, banking on the insurance claim going through soon.”
Leilani winced. “Ouch.”
Alyssa shrugged. “Things are going to work out.”
Leilani smiled. “I’m sure they will.”
She left with Angel a few minutes later.
Once in his car, she leaned her head back in the seat and closed her eyes.
Angel started the car, backed out of the parking space and drove out of the gated subdivision onto the highway. The sun was sinking low in the sky, turning the clouds various shades of pink and purple.
“They want to surf the Eddie,” Leilani said.
“The Eddie?” Angel asked.
“It’s one of the biggest competitions in Hawaii. The waves can get as big as sixty feet.”
“That’s insane.”
Leilani glanced across at Angel. “I mean, Makai and Alyssa are good. But the Eddie...” She shook her head.
A cell phone rang somewhere in the car. Leilani looked for hers, then realized she’d handed it to Angel earlier.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. The ringing wasn’t coming from it. Switching hands on the steering wheel, he reached into his other pocket, pulled out Leilani’s cell phone and handed it to her.
The caller ID indicated the Maui Police Department. Her pulse quickening, she answered. “This is Leilani Kealoha.”
“Ms. Kealoha, this is Detective Haddox with the Maui Police Department. We called to let you know a jet boat matching the description you gave the officer today was discovered floating off Ulua Beach this evening.”
She leaned forward, her grip tightening on the cell phone. “Have you identified who it belongs to?”
“We have,” Haddox said. “It belongs to Custom Charters out of Maalaea Harbor. When I paid their owner a visit, he didn’t even know the boat was missing. It wasn’t scheduled to be out today. None of his people took it out. They all have alibis putting them somewhere else besides in that boat. And they had witnesses to prove it. The owner concluded that the boat was stolen.”
“Were you able to lift fingerprints?” she asked.
“We tried, but the steering wheel and anywhere someone might place his hands was wiped clean. We couldn’t even get the prints of the owner or his staff. Whoever took the boat was careful not to leave a trace. We canvassed the area around the beach. No one saw the boat come ashore or anyone get out of it. A man walking his dog noticed it floating close to shore with no one on it and called it in.”
Leilani’s heart sank. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“Sorry we don’t have anything more definitive. We’ll keep you informed of any new developments.”
After the call ended, Leilani laid the phone in her lap.
“They found the boat,” Angel said.
“Yes,” she said. “It was stolen, wiped clean of fingerprints and no one saw anything when it was stolen out of Maalaea Harbor or abandoned off a beach.” Leilani sighed. “I really was hoping the boat would give us a lead, not another dead end.”
