Page 117 of Still See You Everywhere

WHAT NOODLES THE CAT?”

“The kitten you gave Leilani when you first met her.”

“I gave her some fluffy little ginger thing. But she named it Orange Kitty, being five at the time.”

“Which she later nicknamed Noodles?”

“Never happened.”

“You don’t know anything about Noodles? Maybe a nickname she had for something, someone?”

“No. Where are you getting your information from, anyway?”

“From Leilani! In a note she wrote to Keahi…” My voice trails off. In handwriting that doesn’t match hers. God, this is giving me a headache. “Fine, tell me about your money laundering enterprise.”

More denial ensues, MacManus going through the motions of being insulted and defensive. His real estate dealings are perfectly legal. This is what happens when people are successful; others try to tear them down. Blah, blah, blah.

I find the whole tirade exhausting, especially given the circumstances. If there’s ever a time to lose the bullshit and cut straight to the truth, impending doom should be it. I manage to get out of him there’s no one person who oversees his entire empire. He prefers to operate each development project as a separate silo. In fact, the only person who probably knows the full scope of his dealings is Lea as she’s always at his side.

MacManus seems to understand the implications of that statement at the same moment Leilani reenters the mess hall and makes a beeline for his side, her damsel-in-distress act on full display.

She casts me a quick, uneasy glance, given my chummy position next to MacManus. When she cozies up to him and his arm doesn’t automatically wrap around her shoulders, she gives me a second, edgier look.

I feel my work here is done—though to be fair, I’m now as confused and troubled as MacManus, so maybe our conversational duel was a draw. Neither of us knows what to think anymore.

I make my way to Captain Marilee, who’s pale and clammy, but still sitting upright.

“Can I get you anything?” I offer.

“Rescue… chopper?”

“I was thinking Coast Guard Uber, myself. If they don’t have an app for that, they should.”

She manages a smile, points to her water glass on the table. I grab it for her. Then, after she’s had a few sips: “When you and Brent were winging Leilani through the skies to meet up with MacManus, did Brent spend a lot of time back in the cabin with her? Like more than he ordinarily does?”

Marilee’s gaze cuts to the side where Leilani is once again plastered against her legal guardian.

“You think… Lea and Brent?” She grimaces.

“You tell me.”

“Career… suicide.”

“But is Brent the kind to heed the warning or take the bait?”

She closes her eyes, exhales slowly. “He likes money. Why he was always mingling… hoping for the right contact. Or betting on stupid ball games. Our job is good… but compared to the lifestyles… of the insanely wealthy… Yeah, he’d take the bait.”

I nod, feeling officially comfortable with my theory.

“What does it mean,” Marilee struggles through another breath, “that she’s in here… he’s out there? Shouldn’t she… walk out… join him? They fly away. We get rescued.”

“I think in order to disappear with Brent, she first has to deal with MacManus.”

“That… her sister’s job?”

“Maybe.”

“Still, if Lea left the mess hall… Mac would follow. Her sister then gets what… she wants. Brent, Lea gain their freedom.”

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