§ § § -- July 13, 1979
By five o'clock Ellen Stone had reached the very end of her rope and would no longer be put off. All weekend long she had been carefully monitoring every move Angela Gorman made; now the woman had finally left the hotel and the supervision of others, and Ellen was certain she would at last get her due out of the person who had ruined her life.
She quietly followed Angela Gorman along a trail that wound through towering palm trunks in the general direction of a cliff overlooking the ocean. After some fifteen minutes of walking, Angela came to a halt and stared out over the sea, a slight, forlorn figure in a visibly stooped stance. She looked beaten down by life, but all Ellen saw was the woman who had killed her daughter. How dare she stand there, alive and well, when her precious, innocent Wendy was dead? She clenched her fists and stepped out of the trees.
"Angela Gorman, it's time for you to pay up," she said harshly.
Angela spun around and stared at Ellen blankly for a moment; then Ellen's identity registered and a resigned look came into her eyes. "So you've caught up with me," she said lifelessly. "What do you want from me? Money?"
"I want you to take the punishment you earned," Ellen told her, advancing a slow step at a time. "You deserve the worst penalty there is for killing my daughter and leaving the rest of us there on the road. Nobody else would bring you to justice, so I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands."
Angela shrugged. "Go ahead, then," she said. "There's nothing you can do to me that I haven't already done to myself. I've been living through hell for five years, and whatever you mete out will come as a relief."
"You don't deserve any kind of relief!" Ellen shouted shrilly. "You deserve to suffer, the same way I've suffered ever since you destroyed my life in your drunken haze!"
At that Angela abruptly stiffened. "I wasn't drunk," she said flatly.
"You lie!" Ellen screamed, nearly hysterical in her rage.
"No, I'm not lying," Angela snapped back. "I was on a prescription drug and coming home from an emergency refill. I didn't even realize the damn thing was going to make me drowsy behind the wheel." Her voice trailed into remembered horror. "I'll never forget those headlights, coming at me. I panicked. I couldn't face what I had done, and I spent five years running away. But I never escaped the memories, the nightmares…" She refocused on Ellen. "Do your worst, Mrs. Stone. It can't match the punishment I've given myself."
"Try me," snarled Ellen. "You don't deserve to stand here alive when my Wendy can't be here because of you!"
"Oh, you want me dead," Angela said, eerily calm. "An eye for an eye, is that it? A life for a life. Well, I've been thinking about doing this for quite some time anyway, so maybe I'll just give you the satisfaction." She turned to face the cliff and began to walk toward it.
"Mrs. Stone," Roarke's voice said, and Ellen yanked her head around nearly enough to snap her own neck with shock at his sudden, out-of-nowhere appearance. How had he known she and that woman were going to be here, at this moment? "Is it truly worth gaining revenge to see another life lost?"
Ellen Stone glared. "She doesn't deserve to live," she hissed.
"And who are you to make that decision?" Roarke asked pointedly, voice steely. "Is it up to you to dictate whether she lives or dies?"
Angela Gorman paused long enough to turn and gaze sadly at him. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Mr. Roarke," she said, "but it doesn't matter. I took a life five years ago, and I guess it's time to pay the price, just as she said. I can't live with the pain of what I've done anymore. This is the only way I can make peace with myself."
"There are other ways, Ms. Gorman," Roarke assured her. "Wendy Stone's father, brother and sister have long since forgiven you for what transpired that night."
Angela stared at him disbelievingly. "How can that be?"
"They realized long ago that nurturing their anger and resentment would never bring Wendy back," Roarke said, speaking as much to Ellen as to Angela. "Nothing can bring her back, ever. Wendy is gone, Mrs. Stone, and you must learn to live with that and get on with your life. Your son and daughter need you. Your husband needs you."
Ellen stared at him for a very long moment—and Angela began to walk toward the cliff again. "It doesn't matter," they heard her say. "It's what you want, Mrs. Stone, so I hope this will satisfy you."
Roarke knew instantly that he was too far away from her to prevent her impending plunge over the clifftop, but he sprinted for her nonetheless. It was then that Ellen Stone understood that Angela was deadly serious in her intent to commit suicide, and unexpected fear seized her. She was close enough to stop her, and instinct sent her racing for the other woman, grabbing Angela's arm just as she extended one foot over the edge.
"No, you can't!" Ellen cried and yanked Angela backwards so fiercely that both women tumbled to the ground. Angela struggled to pull away from her and back towards the cliff, but Ellen hung on with all her strength until Angela gave up and broke into wrenching sobs. Roarke knelt beside them as Ellen stared down at Angela.
"She was really serious, wasn't she, Mr. Roarke?" Ellen murmured.
"Yes, indeed she was, Mrs. Stone. All this time you were convinced that your life was forever altered by an alcoholic who climbed behind the wheel while intoxicated, when in fact it was no more than the drowsiness brought on by a prescription drug. She has lived with every bit as much pain as you have."
Ellen drew in a deep breath and met Roarke's gaze. "Well, if I can find a reason to forgive her—and I think I just did—then maybe I can help her find a way to forgive herself." She matched Roarke's smile and turned back to Angela. "Come on, let's go. I think you and I need to have a long talk and try to purge ourselves of a lot of old pain."
Roarke watched them go and rose slowly to his feet, smiling. He felt tension drain out of him and relaxed imperceptibly. He was going to look forward to the luau.
‡ ‡ ‡
As David Knight had been told, the "Hula Girls" act consisted of Michiko Tokita, Lauren McCormick, Myeko Sensei, Camille Ichino and a very embarrassed Leslie Hamilton, who all during the dance was painfully aware of all the eyes on her. To be fair, the luau attendees were watching the other girls every bit as much as Leslie; but of course, in that position, it's impossible to tell whether someone is watching you or the person directly beside you. So it looked to Leslie as if everyone was staring at her. Thus it was an enormous relief to take her seat when the dance finally ended, although within just a few minutes, David appeared by her side.
"I thought you were sitting with me," he said playfully, which remark earned Leslie surprised glances from both Roarke and Tattoo.
Leslie shrugged self-consciously. "I guess with all those people watching to see if I messed up, I kind of forgot everything else. I'm sorry. You could sit here if you want."
David grinned back with enthusiasm. "Sure, sounds great! Let me get us something to drink and I'll be right back." She nodded agreement, and he was shortly lost in the hungry crowd that surrounded the banquet tables.
"Don't tell me you had a date," Roarke said, eyeing her.
Leslie promptly blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, since I was in the hula dance, I couldn't exactly come along with him. He knew that anyway. But when it was over, I was too embarrassed to even remember I was supposed to go sit with him."
Roarke laughed. "Actually, Leslie, you were quite good—all five of you were. In any case, it appears we've matched up that young man's sister, Jenny, with Rodney Stone. Do you see them sitting together over there?"
"Wow," said Leslie, following his gaze. "That's great! I'm really glad for them both."
Tattoo had been idly watching the buffet crowd, and now something caught his eye. "Boss," he broke in, "I think we've got a problem." He gestured at the far end of the table.
"It looks like someone fighting," said Leslie, who could see only several heads bobbing and swaying energetically in a small disturbed clump toward the end of the lines at the tables. Her statement was enough to make Roarke get to his feet; Leslie and Tattoo followed. Roarke excused the three of them with a few quick words as they wove through the throngs, and at last broke out into a small open area near the edge of the clearing where the luau was being held. That's where they found themselves facing three teenaged boys: Toki Tokita, Tommy Ichino, and David Knight.
There was apparently a three-way scuffle going on; Toki and Tommy had both grabbed David, who seemed to be trying to defend himself, and there was a great deal of pushing and yelling going on. Roarke's voice froze them all. "What exactly is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
David looked trapped; Tommy reddened guiltily. Only Toki had the courage to say anything. "It's on account of Leslie," he said, unusually respectfully.
"What!" exclaimed Roarke, thoroughly bewildered, and his gaze predictably shifted to a startled Leslie.
"I had nothing to do with this, Mr. Roarke!" she protested, horrified.
"Tokita, you and your big mouth," Tommy snapped. He turned to Roarke. "It's true, sir, Leslie knew nothing about this. I just made a stupid mistake. I was going to ask Leslie to the luau this evening, except this guy here beat me to it. And, well, I sort of saw red. I was going to talk to him, but then…"
"This other character showed up," David added, giving Toki an annoyed glare, "and started carrying on about 'outsiders' and how I had no business asking out a girl who lives here when I have to go home tomorrow, and so on. I couldn't stand there and let him insult me like that. Besides, he was talking about someone named 'Sukey', whoever that is."
Leslie let out a pained moan, catching Tattoo's attention for a moment. "You know who this 'Sukey' is supposed to be?" he asked her.
"Me," Leslie said, glaring daggers at Toki. "That's his idea of a nickname for me. It comes from my middle name. You know—Susan, Sukey."
"I don't know if he's jealous or not," David said, eyeing Toki oddly. "I always thought if a guy liked a girl, he didn't call her names."
"Me too," said Tommy. "Anyway, Mr. Roarke, I sort of lost my head, and I'm sorry for my part in this. I guess you could say I started it. David here was just trying to defend himself. It really wasn't his doing at all."
Roarke nodded slowly a couple of times, absorbing the explanation and Tommy's apology; then he turned to Toki. "What of you, young man?"
Toki, looking startled, stared at Roarke. "I didn't do anything," he protested.
That earned him threatening glares from the other boys, and Leslie snorted, "Ha!"
"Current testimony and past experience tells me otherwise," Roarke informed Toki dryly. "It would seem I have no choice but to bar you from attending future luaus, Toki. This isn't the first time I've seen evidence of trouble caused by you. Quite puzzling really, since your father is the sheriff." Tommy and David promptly backed off a step or two, and Roarke visibly squelched a smile.
"Goodbye, Toki," Leslie said sweetly, punctuating the words with a little wave. That gave the disgruntled boy no other choice but to head away into the surrounding jungle.
"So, then, what do you think should be done, Leslie?" Roarke inquired.
Tattoo laughed outright at her stunned expression. "Don't be too hard on them, Leslie," he teased her. "It's only their first offense."
Leslie, quite red by now, rolled her eyes. "Cut it out, please." She stared at the ground for a moment, thinking it over, then sighed gently. "Since it is David's last night on the island…and since I did tell him I'd sit with him at the luau this evening…well, he's got dibs, I suppose." David smiled; Roarke chuckled and nodded at both him and Leslie, and the two of them walked away into the crowd.
Tommy looked defeated. "Might as well go home and quad-sit," he said resignedly. "Nothing better to do anyway. Good night, Mr. Roarke and Tattoo." So saying, he plunged into the jungle, following the path Toki had taken.
"Poor Leslie," Tattoo said, grinning widely. "I bet she's sorry she ever told me boys don't notice her. Now she's almost got a harem. The Leslie Hamilton Admiration Society. An exclusive club."
"I think it's quite fortunate, my friend, that Leslie isn't within earshot," Roarke said, "or you might find yourself suffering the consequences of her wrath."
Tattoo peered up at Roarke. "You're not gonna tell her, are you, boss? You know I was only having a little fun."
Roarke smiled mysteriously and returned to the luau, leaving Tattoo standing there with a worried look. Aw, he wouldn't do that to me…would he? Wait a minute…maybe he would! No, he wouldn't… Groaning at his own inner debate, he threw his hands into the air and strode off into the crowd.
Next in this series: Leslie turns fifteen with the biggest birthday party she's ever dreamed of. Stay tuned!
