Page 98 of Still See You Everywhere

THE SCENE AT THE RUNWAY is chaotic. Vaughn has pulled MacManus to the side, where they are having an animated discussion under the watchful gaze of the bodyguards, plus Leilani.

Meanwhile Ronin stands next to the plane in deep conversation with the pilots. Captain Marilee is frowning heavily, while First Officer Brent mostly appears concerned. I notice Marilee now has a pistol holstered on her hip. Proof, I’m guessing, that the ELT has vanished and the situation is officially dire.

Aolani casually assumes head position at the front of our crew. While Vaughn and MacManus argue and Ronin and the pilots negotiate, AO slowly but surely starts leading everyone toward the plane’s boarding stairs.

Elias notices first. “Hey,” the security expert booms out. “Stop right there.” He reaches for his sidearm, Jason immediately following suit.

“What the hell? Are you trying to steal my jet from behind my back?” MacManus rounds on Vaughn furiously.

“I’m not stealing it. I’m commandeering it. For the safety and security of the personnel under my care.”

“You and everyone else on Pomaikai fall under my care. Not to mention, it’s my fucking plane.”

“We have no ability to communicate with the outside world, an unacceptable level of risk. Safest course of action is for the pilots to fly back to Honolulu with as many of our people on board as possible. Once the Cessna has landed, Marilee and Brent can apprise authorities of our situation. If you’re still so damn insistent about having a plane hang out here, they can return tomorrow with a ham radio.”

“A ham radio?” MacManus is briefly distracted by the specificity. Aolani continues to usher people forward, up the stairs. “Why a ham radio?”

“Bigger broadcast range without requiring a comm tower. We’ll need a license. Any chance you have an extra amateur license lying around? No problem. With your resources, I’m sure someone can rustle up one on your behalf. Let the Cessna complete one trip, and in return you’ll gain worldwide communications access. Honestly, we should’ve thought of it sooner.”

“It’s too close to dusk for the plane to be taking off,” MacManus states. “Better to wait for morning. We’ll go then.”

A compromise of sorts. Fortunately, Vaughn isn’t buying it. He turns toward Ronin and the pilots. “It can be done,” Captain Marilee calls back. “But we have to leave immediately. As in right now.”

Aolani nods, having already waved the first few people up the stairs. More quickly follow suit, Trudy and Ann delivering sad little waves of goodbye before disappearing into the cabin. Emi and Tannis duck in behind them.

MacManus opens and closes his mouth, as if he’s determined to protest but running out of ways to say no.

Vaughn focuses on Lea, who is literally standing in MacManus’s shadow. A brilliant piece of staging for her shy and retiring act, I think.

“Are you truly MacManus’s legal ward?” Vaughn asks her.

Lea’s head comes up, thickly lashed eyes widening in bewilderment. “Of course. That’s what he’s always said—”

“What happened to your parents?”

“They’re dead.”

“But not your older sister, this Beautiful Butcher woman?”

“I barely remember her. She took off when I was just a kid. Clearly, she wouldn’t have been a suitable guardian.”

“Does she know you’re okay and living with Mac of your own volition?”

“I haven’t had any contact with my sister since I was four or five. I have no idea—”

“What about written notes?”

“No. Never.”

“And your eighteenth birthday. What’s going to happen on your eighteenth birthday?” Vaughn whirls on MacManus, not bothering to disguise the anger in his voice. “You really going to sleep with her? That’s what this has been about this whole time? Grooming yourself the perfect little wife?”

“No!” MacManus sounds so outraged even I’m taken aback. “Who told you that?”

“She did.” Vaughn points at Lea.

“I did not,” she protests.

“This is crazy. How long have you known me, Vaughn? How many years have we worked together? In that entire time…”

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