Late the next day Lei went down the hall to Dispatch, checking the time she was back on the schedule.
“Hey, Irene.”
“Hey!” Irene stood and flipped her headset up, immaculate in an ivory pantsuit with coconut shell buttons. She hugged Lei. “Glad to see you smiling.”
“Who’s this?” Lei gestured to the pretty, dark-haired girl with a chic shag who sat at the switchboard.
“My niece, Tanya.” Tanya gave a little wave and smile but she was talking to a caller. “She’s been helping out. Charlotte finally quit and I told the Lieutenant that Tanya would make a good backup.”
“Good to have you, Tanya,” Lei said, and the girl nodded and turned back to take another call.
Lei went into the central work area. Pono was at his computer with a new recruit trainee, Jenkins, seated at her desk. He’d started under Pono after she got reassigned to the Mohuli`i case. He jumped up.
“Officer Texeira!” Jenkins exclaimed. Good-looking, beefy and earnest, his high complexion deepened as he got out of her chair.
“Hi there. How’s Pono treating you?”
“Good, thanks. Sorry I was sitting in your chair…”
“No worries. I’m off until tomorrow.”
“Hey, want to tell me more about your-um, situation?” Pono wiggled his brows, clearly meaning the stalker thing but not wanting to speak in front of Jenkins.
“Call me later,” she said. She greeted a few more people and pushed out through the stiff glass doors. She pulled out into the busy road and headed for her class at University of Hawaii. Driving there reminded her of Mary, and she endured the now-familiar squeeze of her heart. She wondered when it was going to stop hurting, and didn’t want it to-that would mean her friend was really gone.
This was her night to come home late. She’d be tired, her guard down, and everything was ready.
Anticipation hummed in his blood. He took a shower, scrubbing himself thoroughly, using a nail brush to get under his fingernails. He’d never shaved himself, but thought it might not be a bad idea one of these days. He dressed in his special outfit: black nylon turtleneck, loose black running pants. He put the ski mask on the seat beside him, along with his hunting kit, and drove to the house. Only thing left to take care of was the dog.