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evicted?” Kai asked.
    â€œNot quite,” Pat said. “The store stays. That SOB just made me write out a rent check for the rest of the summer.
And
additional security for the phone and electric.”
    â€œSo the store stays, but we can’t stay in the store?” Kai guessed.
    â€œThat’s right,” Pat said. “The bastard knows better than to evict us and lose the rent on this place for the rest of the summer. He knows it’s too late to find a new commercial tenant at this point, so he’ll let us stay until the tourist season passes, and then it’s good-bye.” Kai’s father looked at his watch. “In the meantime it’s almost eight o’clock and I gotta find a place for us to stay tonight.”
    â€œHow about the truck?” Sean asked.
    â€œHow about you shut your damn trap and let me think?” Pat snarled. He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and started to hack.
    â€œI might know a place,” Kai said.
    â€œWhere?” Pat wheezed, red-faced from coughing.
    â€œThat motel you pass coming into town.”
    â€œYou crazy?” his father said. “It’s high season. I ain’t paying for no motel, especially in high season.”
    â€œThis might not be so bad,” Kai said. “It’s the rundown pink place on the water. I know the owner.”
    Pat gave him a curious look. “First you knew that SOB Buzzy Frank. Now you know the owner of that motel. So what’s it gonna cost?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Kai said.
    â€œWell, if you know the owner so good, maybe you can get us a deal.”
    Kai couldn’t get over how cheap his father was. Big Chief Hockaloogie must have had thousands of dollars in cash stashed in safe-deposit boxes at banks all over the country. And even though he’d probably just had to pony up some pretty hefty dinero to Buzzy for rent, there had to be plenty to spare. But the guy was so tight with a buck you’d have to wedge his hand open with a pry bar.
    â€œI’ll see what I can do,” Kai said.
    Pat jerked his head toward the back. “Call him.”
    Kai went into the office and looked up the Driftwood’s number in the phone book. He dialed it and counted eight rings before he hung up. He dialed it again and this time counted six rings. Here it was, the height ofthe tourist season and Curtis didn’t even have a phone machine to take messages from would-be guests. Somehow, Kai wasn’t surprised.
    Pat and Sean came into the back room just as Kai hung up for the second time.
    â€œWell?” Pat asked.
    â€œCouldn’t reach him,” Kai said, “but I’m pretty sure we can stay there tonight.”
    â€œIt’s Fourth of July week,” Pat said. “Every motel from here to the lighthouse is full. What makes you think your friend has room?”
    â€œBecause the waves haven’t been that good,” Kai answered.
    Pat scowled. “You run over there and make sure it’s okay while Mr. Megabrains and I pack up the bedding and clothes. If he’s got room, give us a call and we’ll come over.”
    For once Kai was glad to do Pat’s bidding. He left the shop and headed for the Driftwood.

Seven
    K ai walked down the sidewalk, passing couples and families out for an after-dinner stroll. From the distance came the random pops and bangs of fireworks being lit by people who couldn’t quite wait for the Fourth. Sun Haven Surf, Buzzy Frank’s big surf shop in the middle of town, closed every night at 8 P.M. As Kai passed the shop, the lights inside were going out and the employees were leaving. Jade, the beautiful curvy young woman who worked behind the front counter, stepped out onto the sidewalk. Kai stopped.
    â€œHey,” she said, smiling warmly.
    â€œHow are you?” Kai asked.
    Jade shrugged. “Okay. You?”
    â€œNot bad.”
    â€œI thought you were usually still at work at this time of