"Sit down, Esther. Do not call attention to yourself," Angleton hissed.
Esther obeyed. She looked at her boss anxiously, fists clenched in her lap. "When I realized we were being followed I left him on the campus, two blocks away. I told him to wait a few minutes and then join us here. I thought I had drawn them off."
"That doesn't mean there couldn't be others." Angleton thought for a moment. "Can you recall anything else his cousin said that might be helpful?"
"She asked why he hadn't come to the meeting last week. She seemed quite upset that he wasn't more involved in her cause. She wants to reclaim the islands for Hawaiians. Every time I mentioned the vote for statehood, her geas activated." Esther's expression suddenly tensed. "This professor you spoke to. Is he Hawaiian?"
"No. He is not native to the area; he told me he was originally from Arizona. But if she were under a geas, that probably wouldn't matter. She would obey, even if she would ordinarily distrust a haole." Angleton frowned. "And she was determined to get Mr. Kapule to that gathering… I'm starting to get an idea that I don't like." He glanced at Violano, waiting expectantly, and shook his head. "I'm not sure I am right. But –" he looked at Esther. "I want you to go back to the campus. Take Mr. Violano with you. If you find Kapule, signal me. I am returning to the guesthouse to see if I can find him there. Call me at the guesthouse in about half an hour."
Thirty minutes later a grim Angleton answered the phone. "He isn't here. The house has been searched and someone destroyed the wards I set up outside. We can assume our opponents have been forewarned. What's going on at your end?"
"No sign of Mr. Kapule. We asked around and someone saw him getting into a car with a woman shortly after I left for the market. I can't find his cousin anywhere."
"I need both of you back here. We need to plan our strategy for tonight."
The guesthouse dining room had been turned into a makeshift command center; paper, pens, half-full cups of tea and a full ashtray littered the table. Esther stared into her cup. Reminding herself that panicking would not help Kai, she gritted her teeth and began mentally reviewing every verbal defense command she could think of.
Angleton was doing his best to convince Violano to keep a low profile. "Stager knows about me. Miss Chen seems determined to get Miss Banks involved. We can act as distractions at best, but you have the advantage of surprise."
"We hope." Violano smiled humorlessly. "But I take your point. So Stager's meeting you back at his office at six. I'm going to drop you off at the campus and go directly to the heiau. Miss Banks," he hesitated, but was interrupted.
"You don't need to worry about me, I am quite capable of defending myself. I don't think Miss Chen is aware that I am an agent. And I'm pretty certain that she does not have any real occult experience. Even if she does my training is better than hers would be," she finished with a glance at Angleton.
"Miss Banks and I have worked together for over two years. She will be an asset, not a hindrance," her boss confirmed. "Esther, I am sorry to say this but I am sending you in unwarded. Stager is a proficient and he will know immediately if you are carrying any sort of occult protection. Stay alert and be prepared for combat; I have a feeling that they intend to use you as an additional sacrifice."
Violano began to protest but Angleton held up his hand. "She will have the advantage of surprise, and you will bring additional wards for her to use after we arrive. We are too short on operatives to leave her behind. All three of us will be needed tonight. I believe that the cultists' activities up to now have been a dress rehearsal. Tonight they will make their real effort to summon whatever it is Stager is after."
"And you know this how?" the American agent demanded.
Angleton began to tick points off on his fingers. "Stager's attitude – he was very sure of himself when we spoke, nothing short of triumphant. Plus the full moon tonight will boost the vortex. Also, consider Miss Chen's efforts to get her cousin involved. I think he is the sacrifice they've been aiming for all along. His, ah, background makes him exceptionally valuable to Stager. I'm sure Miss Chen revealed Kai's history under the influence of the geas."
"You haven't told me anything about his background. What are you talking about?"
"He shared that information with us in confidence. The Comstock department trusts him. Surely that is enough?"
Violano froze in mid-reply and his expression changed. Both Angleton and Esther noted a faint violet glow visible in his eyes and glanced at each other worriedly.
"You must tell me." Even his voice had changed. "If you have been working with Comstock, we cannot rely on you. Your efforts are no longer required. Agent Violano is now in full control of the mission."
"Inadvisable," Angleton replied coldly.
"This is not a subject for negotiation."
"There is more at stake here than you know. Nothing less than the survival of these islands. How would your government react to losing a vital military outpost?"
Violano stared at him for a moment, then began to mutter in Enochian. Angleton, eyes now glowing, spat back a fierce reply. Esther, not fluent in the language, was following as best she could. She watched the confrontation with wide eyes.
"Cease your efforts, they will not affect me. Under the terms of Wartime Accord 13Z, applicable to national emergencies, I claim leadership of this mission and request that you place your agent under my direction."
"He is not yours to control," Violano replied flatly.
"There is no time. If we fail, thousands will die and our agreement with the Deep Ones will be destroyed. If you do not agree, I will have no choice but to kill him. Loosen your grip, give me oversight and he will remain yours."
After a tense moment, the violet glow dissipated and the agent collapsed forward onto the table. "Uhh. What did you… what happened?" He pushed himself upright, clutching his forehead. "Headache…"
"I'll get you some water." Esther pushed back from the table and hurried to the sink. By the time she returned Violano was in more command of himself. "It's gone," he muttered, sipping the water. "The binding is gone. What did you do?"
"I claimed control of the mission under Wartime Accord 13Z. And I am afraid that I also threatened to permanently deactivate you."
"Oh really." Violano raised an eyebrow. "You must have been very convincing."
Angleton shrugged. "We are facing a potential catastrophe. Fortunately your associates believed me. Now pay attention, we have very little time left…"
"Are you sure Kai is all right?" Esther was playing the innocent tourist for all she was worth. "I can't imagine what happened to him. I haven't seen him all afternoon."
"Not to worry!" Kala's voice on the phone was falsely reassuring. "I think he's busy with arrangements for the meeting tonight – I asked him to run a few errands for me. I called to let you know that as he is busy, I offered to drive you there."
"That's very kind of you. I am looking forward to it!" Esther hung up and turned, scowling, to her boss. "Well, there you have it."
"As you say." Angleton's expression was equally grim.
"I've been reviewing my defense formulas. If I can't go warded, at least I'll have something."
"Use them if you need them, but remember the risk." Angleton sighed. "Agent Violano and I will cover you as best we can. Focus on finding Kapule and keeping him safe. My priority is to neutralize Stager and his followers."
"Understood." Esther nodded and watched as Violano and Angleton left. A sudden tremor shook the floor of the lanai, forcing her to grab the handrail for balance; she scanned the sky for smoke or cloud but saw nothing to indicate a volcanic eruption. At least not yet. Sunsets and scenery could no longer disguise the fact that Hawaii was only a small point of rock in a hostile ocean. She reminded herself that Earth was another such point in the cosmos, and her job was to protect it. Her daydreams of leaving the Laundry and staying on the island died at that moment.
Her attention was caught by a car pulling up to the house, and she faced Kala with a smile as false as the one Kai's cousin was offering her.