Fright Wave Read online

  "Not that I'm complaining," she continued, her smile slowly returning. "Not too many folks get to grow up in paradise!"

  They had been moving steadily higher into the mountains. Jade pulled off onto an access road that didn't go very far before it dead-ended in a small parking lot.

  "End of the line!" Jade shouted, bringing the jeep to an abrupt stop and jumping out.

  Frank and Joe were right behind her. Frank stopped to look around. To the east and west rose the Koolaus, completely covered in a carpet of green growth. To the north and south blue ocean could be seen beyond the green.

  Frank turned to say something to Joe but saw that his brother had followed Jade to a concrete platform. It was very out of place right there and more than a little ugly. Something obviously seemed to be holding their interest, and Frank jogged over to see what had captured their attention.

  As he came up next to Joe, he said, "So what's the big - " He stopped in midsentence, sucked in his breath, and whispered, "Oh."

  They were standing at the edge of a cliff that plunged almost a thousand feet straight down. The sheer side of the cliff was completely covered in green. Frank strained to make out the bottom.

  "This is Nuuanu Pali," Jade said loudly. She had to raise her voice because of the wind gusting around them. "Pali is the Hawaiian word for 'cliff.' We're standing above the Nuuanu valley. Down there" - she gestured - "is Honolulu. And over there" - she pointed in the opposite direction - "is Kailua, on the other side of the island."

  "Nice view," Joe shouted over the roar of the wind. "Maybe we should come back on a nice, calm day, though."

  Jade laughed. "The trade winds rip through here from the Kailua side almost constantly, trying to find a way through the mountains."

  "I think I can see Waikiki Beach," Frank ventured, "and the hotel where we're staying."

  "Yeah, and this wind is probably strong enough to carry you all the way back there," Joe observed. "If you get a good running jump and then flap your arms real hard ..."

  Frank took another long look down the steep cliff. "You go first," he suggested.

  "I've got a better idea," Jade said. "Let's drive back in my car. We can stop downtown and get something to eat. You may still be on mainland time, but around here it's lunchtime - and I'm starving."

  ***

  Jade took them to a sidewalk lunch stand in downtown Honolulu. Joe thought it looked a lot like any other American city, except almost everybody wore Hawaiian shirts - and instead of hamburgers, fast food meant noodles in a Styrofoam cup with a plastic thing that wasn't quite a fork but wasn't exactly a spoon either.

  They sat at a table near the curb and watched the cars buzz by while they ate. Finally Joe asked the question that had been following them around ever since they'd left the beach. "Do you really think that close call with the surfboard was an accident?"

  "What do you mean?" Jade asked. "What else could it have been?"

  "Maybe somebody doesn't want you to surf anymore," Frank suggested.

  "Yeah." Jade nodded. "My father. But I don't think he'd throw a surfboard at me. What are you guys getting at?"

  "Well, there is the prize money," Joe reminded her.

  Jade shook her head. "I told you already. It's not a big deal. A few thousand dollars, that's all. Besides, the surfers around here are a pretty tight-knit group. We're like family. None of them would ever do anything to hurt me."

  "Okay," Frank said. "So maybe it isn't anybody you know. But it could be - "

  Frank didn't finish his sentence because that was when he heard a screech of tires. He watched mesmerized as a car swerved off the road, jumped the curb, and smashed into an empty table twenty feet from them.

  It didn't stop there, though. It kept plowing ahead. And Joe and Jade were right in its path!

  Chapter 3

  "Look out!" Frank shouted, leaping from his chair at the same time. He would be in the clear, but what about his brother and the girl? Their backs were to the car. Joe, seated on the other side of the table, couldn't see the vehicle bulldozing a lane toward him.

  Frank grabbed the table with both hands and pushed it as hard as he could - right into his brother.

  Joe caught sight of the onrushing car when the edge of the table slammed into his stomach. He let out a startled "Oof!" as he toppled over backward. Instinctively, he grabbed Jade, yanking her out of her seat. She landed on top of him, knocking the wind out of him, but he managed to wrap his arms around her and roll away from the path of destruction.

  The next moment the wooden table was reduced to kindling and splinters, and a streak of blue metal and black rubber flashed by, inches from Joe's face.

  The blue sedan didn't even slow down as it swerved back onto the road. Frank's heart was pounding, and the blood was rushing through his body at a furious rate. Without even thinking, he picked up a toppled chair and flung it at the car.

  The flying chair smashed into the sedan's rear window and then rebounded, bouncing off the trunk and clattering to the pavement. The car kept moving - but Frank could see a spiderweb of cracks spreading across the shatterproof glass from the point of impact.

  Frank watched as the blue sedan weaved frantically through the traffic and disappeared around a corner.

  The people at the other tables were buzzing with excitement and concern. Frank heard someone behind him say, "What happened?" as another voice added, "Are you all right?"

  It took a moment for Frank to realize they weren't talking to him. It was Joe and Jade they were asking about.

  Joe was already on his feet, pulling Jade off the ground. "You know," she said, "my life was pretty normal until you guys showed up. Maybe you're bad luck or something."

  "It's beginning to look that way," Joe agreed, brushing dust and splinters from his clothes.

  "I don't think luck has much to do with it," Frank replied grimly.

  "What do you mean?" Jade asked.

  "I mean I might buy two accidents in one day," Frank said. "But this wasn't an accident. That guy was aiming at us. He never even tried to slow down."

  "You don't know that for sure," Jade countered.

  "No, we don't," Joe said. "But we will - once we find the driver of that car."

  ***

  "What do you mean you didn't get the license number?" Joe demanded as they headed back to the hotel in Jade's jeep. "You're the one who's supposed to think of those things, remember?"

  "I was kind of busy," Frank snapped. "Remember?"

  "Oh, well," Joe said. "It's a small island. How many blue sedans can there be?"

  "Lots," Jade said softly, as she pulled up to the front entrance. "There are almost a million people in Honolulu, and most of them have cars.

  "But nobody I know owns a car like that one," she added, "and I know almost all the surfers in the islands. So let's just drop the jealous surfer theory, okay?"

  The jeep rolled to a stop, and Frank climbed out the back. "Not jealous," he pointed out, "just greedy. Besides, it could have been a rented car - like the surfboard."

  Joe started to get out, too. Then he turned to look at Jade. "Will I see you again?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

  A smile passed over her lips. "Maybe," she murmured. "Now get out of here. My dad will start to worry if I don't get home soon."

  ***

  That night Joe dreamed he was surfing with a beautiful woman. At first she was a stranger, then she turned into Jade. They were having a great time until a blue sedan - with cheap, rented surfboards lashed to its wheels - came rolling across the waves, its horn blaring angrily.

  There was something wrong with the horn, though. It made a kind of ringing noise instead of honking. Joe thought it sounded just like a telephone. Slowly he realized that it was the telephone, and the dream slipped away as he drifted back to the waking world, groping for the receiver.

  "H'lo," he mumbled into the phone. "Whozit?"

  "It's Jade," the voice on the other end whispered hurriedly.

  Su
ddenly Joe was wide awake. "Jade! What is it? Where are you? What's wrong?"

  "I'm down in the lobby, but we've got to get out of here fast!"

  Joe was already reaching for a pair of jeans with his free hand. He cradled the receiver between his ear and shoulder and used both hands to wrestle his pants on. "We're on our way!" he exclaimed. "Hang on!"

  He dropped the phone and shook his brother awake. "Come on, Frank!" he shouted. "Jade's downstairs - and she's in trouble!"

  "Wha - " Frank replied drowsily. "What's the problem?"

  Joe threw some clothes in his brother's face and raced out the door. "I'm going to get the elevator," he called back. "I'll hold it for thirty seconds, and then I'm out of here!"

  "I'm right behind you," Frank assured him, swinging his legs out of the bed and onto the floor. He pulled on a pair of shorts, grabbed the shirt Joe had tossed at him, and slipped his feet into his beat-up deck shoes. Then he was out the door. A second later, he was back, snatching up the shoes Joe had forgotten to put on.

  Frank hit the hallway running, just in time to see the elevator doors start to slide shut. He put on a burst of speed, shoved his arm between the closing doors, and pried them open.

  "Come on, come on!" Joe urged once both boys were on the elevator. He jabbed the button marked L over and over again.

  Frank reached out and gently grabbed his brother's wrist. "Take it easy," he said. "Nothing's going to happen to her in the hotel lobby."

  "Right." Joe nodded, relaxing a bit. When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, he bolted out.

  "It took you long enough!" Jade said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the door. "We've got to get going before it's too late."

  They hurried out into the morning sunlight and climbed into the waiting jeep. Jade turned the key and the ancient engine coughed to life. Frank hopped into the backseat, which was occupied now by two surfboards. "Too late for what?" he asked, wedging himself in. "What time is it?"

  "Oh, about eight-thirty, I guess," Jade responded. Her mood seemed to lift once they were on the road.

  "You didn't answer my first question," Frank persisted.

  "Yeah," Joe agreed. "What's up? Where are we going?"

  Jade kept her eyes on the road and said, "We're going to Waimea, on the north shore of the island. That's where you get the really big waves this time of year."

  Joe studied her carefully, his brain still a little sluggish from sleep. "You mean you rousted us out of bed because - "

  Jade glanced at him and flashed a big smile. "That's right. Surfs up!"

  If it had been any place other than Hawaii - and anyone other than Jade - Joe probably would have been furious. But the ride was beautiful, and so was she.

  By the time they got to Waimea Bay, it looked to Joe as if it were shaping up to be another great day in paradise.

  Even though it was still early, there were already a lot of people on the beach. Jade found a place to park the jeep and hopped out. "Wait here," she said, "I've got to change. I'll be right back."

  Frank and Joe got out, stretched, and took in the sights. Jade had been right about the surf - up was definitely the word for it. Some of the waves rose fifteen feet or more before curling over and crashing back down.

  There were surfers everywhere, on the beach and in the water. Most of them wore the same kind of one-piece, short-sleeved wet suit that Jade had worn the day before. But Joe noticed the suits came in almost every possible color combination.

  The suit that Jade came back wearing was subdued by the standards of Waimea. It was almost solid black, with a band of emerald green stripes running down each side. Joe thought she looked stunning, but he kept his cool. "Nice outfit," he said. "It matches your eyes and your car."

  She gave him a curious look. Then she glanced over at the old jeep with its faded camouflage paint job and smiled. "I guess I just like green."

  "Good thing, too," Frank commented. "Because this whole island is green."

  Jade pulled one of the surfboards out of the back of the jeep. "Come on," she said, tucking the board under her arm, "let's hit the beach."

  Joe took one step out onto the sand and quickly backpedaled, yelling, "Yow! That's hot!"

  Jade looked down at his bare feet. "You get used to it after a while. But maybe you should put on your shoes," she suggested. "I'll meet you down by the water."

  Frank waited while Joe got his shoes. He watched the surfers slashing down the towering blue cliffs in the deep water. He didn't think there were any tourists or amateurs taking on those waves. Out there, you had to know what you were doing, or you wouldn't be doing it for very long. Or anything else for that matter, Frank thought.

  Joe strolled up, wearing his battered high-tops. "Where's Jade?" he asked, his eyes making a quick search of the beach. "Oh, there she is."

  He took off at a jog, coming up behind the girl and grabbing her arm. She turned to face him - but it wasn't Jade. Same height, same build, same hair, even the same suit, but most definitely not Jade.

  Like Jade, she had oriental features. Hers were more Chinese than Japanese, though - and she didn't have Jade's piercing green eyes.

  "Oops," he whispered. "Uh, sorry. I thought you were someone else."

  She gave him the once-over, smiled, and said, "I'm sorry, too. But if you don't find whoever you thought I was, let me know. Maybe we can work something out."

  "Well, I see you've already met Connie," a voice called out. It was Jade.

  "Connie Lo, meet Joe Hardy," she said.

  Connie grinned. "Wiped out by Jade Roberts again. This trophy's already yours, I take it."

  Jade laughed. "You've already got a boyfriend, Connie. Besides, Joe doesn't really surf."

  Connie frowned slightly, and her voice took on a serious tone. "I'm beginning to think that might be a real plus at this point."

  Then she noticed what Jade was wearing and her grin was back. "Hey, cool suit, kiddo," she quipped, lifting her arms to reveal identical green stripes. "You've got great taste. And since I already have your suit," she continued, "how about letting me try out that new board of yours?"

  "You've got it," Jade replied, holding out the surfboard for her. "What's mine is yours - any time. You know that."

  "Thanks," Connie said. "I'll try not to get it wet." Then she turned to Joe. "You be good to her," she warned him, "or I'll break your legs."

  Frank walked up in time to hear the last remark, before Connie sprinted off into the raging surf. "What was that all about?" he asked.

  "Oh, that's just Connie's way," Jade said. "She's like a big sister. We surf together all the time. She's one of the best. Check her out."

  Frank and Joe saw Connie as a black-suited figure on a gleaming surfboard, starting to slide over the edge of a huge, breaking wave. Suddenly there was a muffled pop pop!

  The board bucked violently, and the surfer started to pitch sideways into the raging surf, arms flung wide. The relentless wall of water slammed into the small dark figure and engulfed it.

  Chapter 4

  Frank whirled in the direction that the noise had come from. High on a cliff he saw another dark-clad figure. This one wasn't holding a surfboard - it was holding a high-powered rifle.

  Frank squinted, tried to bring the figure into better focus, but it was too far away. He couldn't make out any details. He turned to tell his brother what he had seen, but Joe was gone.

  Frank caught sight of him diving into the rough water and swimming toward something floating loose in the swells. It was Jade's new surfboard, the one Connie had been riding. Frank knew his brother was a strong swimmer, but he was wearing long pants. By now they would be totally soaked and very heavy.

  Frank wouldn't have hesitated to follow his brother even if he hadn't been wearing shorts. The fact that he was made him feel a little better] as he kicked off his deck shoes and splashed into] the rolling water. Not much, but a little.

  He started to close the gap, stroking through] the water strongl
y and evenly.

  Joe had managed to power his way to the drifting board first. The nose was sticking out of the surf at a sharp angle, and the back was] buried beneath the blue water as if it were tied to an anchor. Joe knew that the anchor must be] Connie, dangling unconscious from the ankle: tether that a lot of the surfers used so they wouldn't have to chase their boards after a wipeout.

  He dove beneath the surface and easily spotted Connie's limp form swaying upside down in the deep current. A few strong kicks took him the short distance. He wrapped his arms around her chest and strained to turn her around and haul her up to the surface. But it felt as if there were lead weights on his feet, dragging him down. Then he remembered his jeans. They might as well be lead weights, he realized.

  Joe started to wriggle out of his water-logged pants, and as soon as he let go of Connie, something pulled her up to the surface like a fish being reeled in. Joe followed her up and found his brother struggling to get Connie onto the surfboard.

  "The next time someone tells you to keep your pants on, Frank said, "don't listen to them."

  Together they flopped the unconscious girl onto the board. Frank didn't know how much water she had taken in, but he knew they had to wait until they got back to shore to find out. The waves crashing around them were tremendous. He clambered onto the wobbly board, knelt over her, and paddled quickly to shore.

  On dry land he pressed his palms firmly into her back. A small trickle of water dribbled out of her mouth, and then her body was wracked by a torrent of wet coughs.

  Her eyes fluttered open. "Awesome wave," she groaned. "But I didn't see the shark coming."

  "Shark?" Frank repeated.

  Joe nodded to the front of the board, near where Connie's head still rested. "The one with the big teeth," he said.

  Frank looked down and saw what his brother was talking about - two neat holes drilled clean through the fiberglass.

  A crowd had gathered around them now, and Frank slipped away from them, motioning Joe to follow. "You know those bullets were meant for Jade," Frank stated flatly when they were alone.