Dark Lava: Lei Crime Book 7 (Lei Crime Series) by Toby Neal Read Free Book Online

device had gone off. Thank God there had been only one device with a motion-sensor trigger mechanism; they’d neglected to use the laser detector at all.
    “ Did you identify what type of device it was? Why don’t you answer this one, Lieutenant Texeira,” Gutierrez said.
    “ It appeared to be a pipe bomb. Had a clock timer trigger mechanism. Sergeant Torufu engaged with the device. I was handing him tools…” Lei’s voice trailed off. She wasn’t sure how to proceed. Torufu had been working, and she’d just been providing backup, listening to Torufu’s muttered commentary under his breath. That had been their version of teamwork on projects up until now, and it suited them.
    “ That’s what we’re most concerned with in reviewing your tape,” Guttierez said. “Texeira, you seem to have an eye for identifying and finding devices, but it’s Torufu here who has the skills—sometimes—for deactivating them. Torufu, were you aware of the guidelines of the training, that Texeira was supposed to work on fifty percent of discovered devices?”
    “ Yes,” Torufu said. He shrugged massive shoulders. “She has an eye. I’ve been doing it longer. I thought we did pretty well, considering she’s hardly had any training.”
    “ Be that as it may,” Master-Sergeant Kent said. “You were given some guidelines and didn’t follow them. That was actually impacting your low score more than failing on this particular IED. But remember—even though there was a timer on this training, in real life haste is never worth it. Take all the time you need, and use all the risk-reducing technology you can when locating a device.”
    “ Having a device ‘explode’ is an important part of training. It keeps you alert to the very real possibility of being blown to kingdom come,” Guttierez concluded. Lei and Torufu exchanged a rueful glance.
    “ Texeira, we’re sending over a selection of trigger mechanisms to your station. Take some time every day to work on them. You need more hands-on practice recognizing and deactivating the many kinds of devices,” Kent continued. “Have you read your electronics manual?”
    “ Yes, sir,” Lei said.
    “ Well, read it again. And, Torufu, if you’re going to work with a partner, you need to treat her like one. Give her a job to do, then get out of the way and let her do it. Many times, being small is going to be an advantage,” Lieutenant Guttierez said. “Often devices are hidden in small spaces, making them both harder to find and harder to neutralize. If you two get in that situation and Texeira isn’t ready, you’ll both be singing with the angels before you know it.”
    Torufu clapped her on the shoulder as they left, making her stagger. “ It’s all you from here on out with the wire snips and screwdriver, Mrs. Stevens,” he said. “I got no great love of angel choirs.”
    “ Oh, great,” Lei said, her throat tight, and she touched the pendant at her throat.
     
     
    Stevens had gone straight in to Kahului Station in the morning to speak to Omura. She ’d gathered four detectives for the response team. Stevens looked around at the circle of concerned faces: Veterans all, they would not be able to infiltrate the Heiau Hui without being identified.
    “ I think we should have a man inside the vigilante group,” Stevens said, when they’d been through preliminary briefing. “I’m looking at my new recruit, Brandon Mahoe. He’s formed a nice connection with our witness Manuel Okapa, the heiau guardian. If Okapa won’t buy bringing him into the Hui, maybe he can at least use Okapa or someone close to the group as a confidential informant.”
    “ I agree we need someone on the inside,” Gerry Bunuelos, a little rat terrier of a man with a quick smile, spoke up. “I’m just worried if Mahoe’s unseasoned, he won’t handle the pressure well.”
    “ Does anyone have a better idea? We need someone not widely known as a police officer, but with Hawaiian community