Primitive Secrets by Deborah Turrell Atkinson Page A

the hall. Like they couldn’t wait.” Storm giggled. “I dropped a big blob on her sexy g-string. That was an accident, but it gave me the idea.”
    Leila grinned. “You did the bed?”
    Storm’s face was bright red. “Just in case they were planning to return.”
    Leila threw her head back and guffawed.
    Storm sputtered on breadcrumbs. “I was so mad I acted like Pua playing tug-of-war. You know, when her eyes roll back in her head?”
    Leila wiped her eyes. “Don’t ever get mad at me, okay?”
    â€œWhat do you think she’ll do?”
    â€œThe new girlfriend? If she’s got any brains, she’ll call a cab and never look back.”
    â€œHe’ll tell her he’s being stalked.”
    â€œSo what?” Leila took Storm’s empty plate to the sink.
    Storm followed with the glass and noticed that the buzzing in her ears and the headache were nearly gone. “Says a lot for my intelligence.”
    Leila laughed again. “I’ve been there, too.” She gave Storm a push. “We’ve got to get to bed, or we’ll be zombies tomorrow. Especially after the day you’ve had.”
    Storm nodded her head in agreement. As she brushed her teeth, she wondered who would risk breaking and entering for a lousy sixty bucks and a bunch of trivial papers. On top of Uncle Miles’s death, the burglary of her house and his papers weighed on Storm. She swallowed a hard knot in her throat and remembered how Uncle Miles had looked at his desk, as if he were asleep. Had death crept upon him without any warning whatsoever?

Chapter 9
    Storm slept like she’d been drugged and woke to the smell of rich coffee. Six-thirty and she could hear water running. Plenty of time for a shower and a cup of coffee with Leila before she headed out. Maybe she would have two. She was going to have to face Wang and tell him that not only had Hamasaki’s briefcase not turned up, the file he’d requested for the last two days had been stolen.
    When Storm walked into the office, the receptionist gave her a big grin. “There’s a packet on your desk,” she said.
    Storm nearly dropped her laptop. “Good news or bad? I can hardly stand any more surprises.”
    The woman’s expression was reassuring. “We think it’s good,” she answered.
    We? Storm hurried into her office and dumped her computer case and files on a chair. A flat manila envelope with the Hawai’i State Bar Association return address was positioned so that when she sat down, she couldn’t miss it. Storm didn’t bother to sit down. She ripped it open and looked at her bar certification with tears pooling in her eyes. She was a real lawyer, now. If only Uncle Miles could have seen it. Well, who knows, maybe he could. Her lips curved into a smile that quivered a little bit.
    A soft knock on the doorframe caused her to look up. Hamlin was standing just outside the office with two coffee mugs in his hands. “I would have brought champagne, but I’d fall asleep during this morning’s deposition.
    Then I had the idea you might let me treat you after work.
    So I brought coffee.”
    â€œHow’d you know it was good news?”
    â€œIt’s like college. When you don’t get in, you get one of those skinny white envelopes.” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “So what do you say?” He handed her a mug.
    â€œYeah, that sounds good.” Storm sat down on top of a stack of papers on her chair. She stood up. “What time?”
    â€œCome get me when you’re done.” Hamlin raised his mug to her and left.
    Storm pulled a sheaf of papers from her in-box that one of the partners had left for her to research. When someone knocked on the door, she came up for air, wondering if she’d forgotten an appointment.
    Wang walked into her office. “I wanted to extend my congratulations. We’re all proud of