Page 22 of Sachie's Hero

“Wish I could have done more,” he said, staring down at the information on Teller’s card. “Hey, I’ve heard about the Brotherhood Protectors. They’re a group of prior military guys, aren’t they?”

Teller nodded. “Yes, we are.”

Johnny glanced up, a grin spreading across his face. “I talked with an Army recruiter last week. I’menlisting at the end of this month. Do you have any words of wisdom you’d care to share?

Teller met the young man’s gaze. “No matter what you do in life, do your very best. Your buddies you fight alongside are your brothers. Have their backs, and they’ll have yours.”

“I will.” Johnny stood straighter. “Thank you, sir.”

Sachie could feel the pride Teller had for his time in the service and the pride Johnny had for his chosen commitment.

They left the store and headed for the SUV.

Sachie grimaced at the scratched words on the side of the vehicle and started to say she was sorry again.

Teller held the door for her and gave her a stern look. “It’s not your fault.”

“It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t taken me on. The least I can do is pay to have it fixed.”

“Like I told Johnny,” he said as he helped her up into her seat. “Insurance will cover it.”

Sachie buckled her seat belt as Teller rounded the front of the SUV and slid into the driver’s seat.

“Whoever attacked me at my house and set fire to my office had to have known we parked here at the parts store,” Sachie said.

Teller paused with his hand on the gear shift. “He could’ve followed us from your house.”

“He had to have started the fire earlier, then hurried back to my house, followed us to your apartment and then to the store.” Wouldn’t the office have burned all the way to the ground by then?” Sachie stared across the cab at Teller, trying to make sense of the timeline. “The fire truck was just getting to the fire when we were almost there.”

Sachie frowned. “Could he have tagged your SUV with a tracking device?”

“Maybe.” Teller left the SUV in park and climbed out.

Sachie got out of her side and ducked low, searching for anything attached to the vehicle that didn’t look like it belonged.

Teller slid beneath the chassis and inspected the underbelly.

When he stood, he shook his head. “If he tagged it, he could have removed he device when he scratched the words into the door.”

“Thanks for looking,” Sachie said. “I’d rather not lead him out to Parkman Ranch, even if Kalea assured me they have a great security system.”

They got back into the SUV and buckled their seatbelts.

Teller backed out of the parking space and pulled out onto the street, heading for the highway that would lead them to the ranch.

“Teller,” Sachie said after they left Hilo behind. “I don’t want to stay too long at the ranch. I don’t want anything to happen to Kalea and her baby.”

He nodded. “Understood. We’ll come up with a plan tonight and leave first thing in the morning.”

She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Thank you.”

He shot her a tight smile. “We’ll figure this out.”

“I hope we do, before anyone gets hurt any worse than a flesh wound.”

Several miles passed in silence.

“Tell me about what happened that made you move to the Big Island,” Teller said. “Were you experiencing incidents similar to what has happened since you got here?”

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