Page 35 of Shark Cove

“Don’t take me home yet. Just a little while longer,” she begged as they approached her driveway. Blake drove on past and pulled out on the shoulder at what Malia had begun to think of as ‘their spot.’

“I’d like for us to try to find William’s yacht,” Malia said. “Do you have phone signal out here?”

“Sure.”

“Let’s see if we can locate it. Camille told me the name. It was something with ‘mermaid’ in it.”

“I don’t know if that’s much to go on.”

“Well, wouldn’t he have to register the boat on Maui since he’s from here? Let’s look up the county records first.”

They ended up having to phone as the Maui County Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation had no database available for viewing. Malia cleared her throat, deepened her voice, and asked for the Coordinator of Recreational Boating. She used the star-six-seven block code when she dialed, using Blake’s phone. He fiddled with the radio, watching her.

“Department of Land and Natural Resources. How can I help you?”

“Is this the Recreational Boating Division?” Malia asked.

“It is. This is Stewart Uyetake, Recreational Boating Coordinator.”

“Hi, Mr. Uyetake. This is kind of personal, but I am looking for my dad. My name is Camille William, and my dad, Leonard William, has a boat he lives on. I just need to know what harbor he’s at so I can go see him.”

“Young lady, I can’t help you. That’s confidential information.”

Malia let her voice wobble, nervousness translating into traumatized hurt. “Dad’s supposed to take me out on the boat, but my parents are divorced and he’s been dodging his child support payments. I don’t think he’ll contact me while he’s on Maui because of it—but I just want to see him.”

Blake’s brows rose and he gave her a thumbs-up; Malia sounded just like a hurt and abandoned teenager with an irresponsible father.

“What’s the name of the boat?” Malia heard the rattling of computer keys.

“I can’t remember, exactly. It has Mermaid in it.”

“The Moonlit Mermaid? It’s in Lahaina Harbor.”

“Oh, thank you Mr. Uyetake! You practically saved my life!” Malia gushed.

“I don’t care for deadbeat dads.” The man hung up briskly.

Malia handed Blake his phone. “What do you think of driving out there tonight and spying on Leonard William?”

Blake narrowed his eyes. “What do you expect to find?”

“I don’t know. Drug running? Gun smuggling? Maybe he’s even got Camille on board?” Malia threw her hands up. “The man’s a sleazebag.”

“Let’s slow down and think about this for a minute.” Blake played with her fingers. “Why would Leonard and Regina lie? Seriously. Regina’s getting cited, there’s a ton of gossip about them as it is with Camille at the fat farm. I just don’t see how pursuing this further is going to find out anything.”

Malia shook her head. “Something is still off to me. I just don’t believe the fat farm thing. I want to see what Leonard William is up to. Are you in or not?”

Blake smiled. “I want to know how you’re going to do any of this without my help—no phone, no laptop, no wheels. The Wallflower is stuck to the wall without me.”

Malia folded her arms, thrust out her lip. “I’ll find a way.”

“Sure you will. For starters, how will you sneak past your mom and sister?”

“Leave that to me. Pick me up at eleven p.m. right here. We’ll all supposedly be sleeping by then.”

“Good thing there’s no school tomorrow.” Blake restarted the engine. He drove her back into the driveway.

Malia glimpsed the movement of a curtain and sighed; Kylie had been watching for her return. “I’ll see you later.”

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