Rogue Wave

Chapter 4

As was usual on Oahu, the May morning was bright blue, with just a few wisps of mist perched on the mountains northeast of Honolulu. The flowers lining the path contributed their sweet aroma to the ocean breeze that tickled the trees. The forecast was 80 degrees and sunny. Kai sighed contentedly as he soaked in the warmth. Teresa and the kids couldn't have picked better weather for a day at the beach.

They were busy packing the boogie boards into the Jeep when the center's security gate hummed to life. Kai turned to see a jet black Harley idling on the other side, the distinctive exhaust gurgling.

"Who's that?" Teresa asked with a bemused expression.

"That's Brad," Kai said. What a surprise, he didn't add. Brad came by almost every morning whether Kai wanted him to or not. Teresa had heard a lot about Brad, but hadn't actually met him.

"You weren't expecting him?"

"Not really, but that doesn't stop him." Since Kai's move back to Hawaii, Brad stopped by on a regular basis to pester Kai into doing something crazy with him, usually while Kai was supposed to be working.

Brad tore up the drive at a rate that Kai didn't think possible. He screeched to a stop next to the group, hopped off his bike, and flipped off his mirrored helmet in one move. Kai could feel a tickle of envy at Brad's effortless grace, which complemented the rugged surfer-dude appeal. That only made Kai's envy stronger.

Brad ruffled his fingers through his thick blond hair and clapped Kai on the shoulder.

"Great day for a round of golf, wouldn't you say?" Brad waved to the sky as if it had bestowed this day at his request.

Before Kai could answer, Lani ran up and jumped into Brad's arms.

"Uncle Brad!"

"Hello, my darlin'!" He spun her around and then dropped her and gave her a huge smile. "You are looking as pretty as ever. What? You're heading to the beach and didn't invite me?"

Another voice piped up. It was Mia.

"You can come with us if you want," she said beseechingly, her eyes wide at the sight of Brad's tight T-shirt, muscular arms, and sky blue eyes. Her mouth was slightly agape, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. He usually had that effect on women, even 13-year-olds.

"And you must be the lovely Mia I've heard so much about." Brad took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Kai thought Mia would melt into the pavement.

"And I must be her mother," Teresa said. She seemed unaffected by Brad's physical gifts and looked a little disturbed at her daughter's reactions to this 35-year-old smooth talker.

"It's nice to meet you finally. Brad Hopkins." They shook hands. "I thought I wouldn't have this pleasure until the luau tonight."

Teresa threw Kai a glance as if to say that he was correct in how he'd described Brad to her. Rachel had been trying to fix them up in the hope that Teresa would end up moving to Hawaii, but Kai just couldn't picture them together.

"I'm Teresa Gomez."

"I know. Rachel's friend from Seattle. You're an internist?"

"Third-year resident."

"Well, it's great you got some time off to come visit. I see you're ready to enjoy our fine weather." Brad looked her in the eye, but Kai knew he had already given her tall, tan figure the once over from behind that mirrored visor.

"You can't come to Hawaii and not go to Waikiki," Teresa said. "I didn't realize your brother worked here, Kai." She nodded toward the security gate that he had obviously opened.

Even though the only physical feature Brad and Kai shared was their six-foot height, they were indeed brothers. Half-brothers, specifically. When Kai was four, his father died of cancer. Kai's mother remarried within a year. She was wooed by Charles Hopkins, owner of Hopkins Realty, one of the most successful real estate companies in the islands. They immediately produced Kai's little brother, Brad, and Charles adopted Kai. Although Kai's mother decided that he would keep his birth father's last name, they were a close family. But it was apparent from an early age that Charles was grooming Brad to take over the business. That was fine with Kai. He had no interest in real estate or business. Science was always his passion.

When their parents died in a car crash three years earlier, the estate had been split between them, but Brad kept control of the company. He enjoyed running Hopkins Realty, which was still incredibly profitable, but being a consummate playboy, he enjoyed the freedom the business gave him. Since he was even smarter than Kai was, he could afford to party into the night, play golf all morning, and still have time to close a major hotel deal before the sun set. No wife, no kids, no responsibilities for anything but his business. Even though Kai loved his life, sometimes he wished he could trade places with Brad.

"I think he charmed the code out of my adoring receptionist," Kai said. "I certainly didn't give it to him. Now I can't get this haole out of my hair."

"Haole?" Teresa said. "Is that his nickname?"

Brad laughed. "To some people I know. It's Hawaiian for 'white boy'. At least he didn't call me ass-haole."

Kai shook his head in mock disgust. "See what I have to deal with? I'm thinking about changing the code. Again."

"It is so freakin' boring around here, you need me to come in and liven things up." Brad winked at Teresa. "I swear, this is the most secure nerd farm in the world. I don't know why they need a fence around this place anyway. Who wants to break in here?"

"That decision was before my time, after the Oklahoma City bombing. I suppose the higher-ups thought some nut would think we were a secret CIA base and try to blow us up."

"Whatever. Come on, Kai. Hop on and let's go shoot a round."

"First of all, I have work to do this morning. Some of us work most days."

"Today is Memorial Day, you know. A holiday."

"Not for me. I'm taking the holiday shift so that most of my employees can get the day off. I'm trying to be a good boss."

"So noble of you," said Brad with a cock-eyed grin.

"Second, my clubs are at your place."

"Already taken care of. I dropped them off at the club last time I was there."

"Third, you know there's no way I'm getting on that thing. You drive like a maniac, and I hate donorcycles." Kai had adopted the name Teresa had given motorcycles. A disproportionate number of the hospital's organ donations came from motorcyclists.

"Now that's just prejudice. I have never even come close to having an accident on my Harley."

"What about the time you had to lay down your bike when that truck turned in front of you because the driver couldn't see you."

"I said I never had an accident on my Harley. That was on my Suzuki."

"What, are you a lawyer now? Trying to get off on a technicality?"

"I'm just saying that I'm a much better driver now. Besides, I didn't get hurt. Like I said. Safe."

"No."

"OK. But you're missing out on some easy money. I'm playing with a couple of guys from Ma'alea Realty. They have no idea you and I are two handicaps. I've already got them up to fifty bucks per hole. With any luck, I can double it with a little creative playing on the first couple of holes."

This wasn't the first time Brad tried to get Kai to hustle his acquaintances. And Kai was sure it wouldn't be the last time he would have to turn Brad down.

"I'm not going to swindle a couple of guys out of their money. If they want to play a fair round… Wait a minute. Why am I even talking about this? I'm not going."

Brad saw that he wasn't going to budge.

"If you want to spend the day inside, it's your loss." Brad turned to Teresa. "Let's talk more tonight at the luau."

"About that," Kai said. "I screwed up and forgot to make the reservation. I'll call you later when I've got the info about where we're going."

"Just make sure they serve a good Mai Tai, Kai." Brad lowered his voice and spoke into Kai's ear. "And make sure my seat is next to Teresa's." Then he made a slight bow to Teresa. "Ciao, ladies!"

In a well-choreographed motion, Brad put his helmet on, fired up the Harley, and peeled off, much to Lani and Mia's delight.

"Well, he sure is something," Teresa said as she herded the kids into the Jeep. "Spending time with him should be interesting."

"He can be a little much to take," Kai said. "I'll make sure you don't get stuck with him all night."

"Thanks," she said, climbing in. She unrolled her window and smiled. "You want a ride to work?"

"I think Bilbo and I can walk."

"That must be pretty nice, being a thirty-second walk from work."

"Not always."

"I see. The good part is being close to work. The bad part is being close to work."

"Exactly."

"OK, you two," Teresa said to the girls. "The sooner you get your seatbelts on, the sooner we can be swimming."

They gave a last wave and were off. Kai patted Bilbo on the head.

"Looks like it's just us boys now," he said, but the dog was already sniffing around the hibiscus bushes and making his mark.

Kai's cell phone rang. He opened it assuming it was Rachel or Teresa, but the caller ID told him it was the PTWC. He punched the talk button and heard the voice of Reggie Pona, the only other geophysicist staffing the Center that morning.

"Hey boss," Reggie said. "I tried you at home, but no answer. Are you around?"

"I'm standing outside. Just saw the family off."

"As you can see, the tour group isn't here yet. But I thought you might want a few minutes to look at something before they get here. I just issued a bulletin."

Reggie had just sent a message to the entire Pacific basin about a possible tsunami.