are you and Mark-boy doing tonight? Planning another sunset picnic on the top of Ta'u Lata Mountain?"
"Not sure. He acted weird this morning. He's becoming more concerned about his twin sister."
"More concerned?" Kitiona inquired.
"Yea," Kaia said, "About three days ago I could tell something was bothering him."
"Don't tell me, he's trying to say good-bye."
"No, silly. Mark and I have grown pretty close these past four months. We've already developed this one little thing we do in the morning when we wake up."
"Not sure if this is more information than I need to know about you two."
"Don't worry. Maybe I'll give you some hints on how to handle Mac someday."
The mention of Mac perked Kitiona's interest. "Ok, what's this thing you guys do?"
Kaia suddenly realized the intimacy she was about to reveal. She started blushing. Kitiona noticed and poked her in the side with her finger. "You're on the hook girl, open up or you're going to have a sore side for a month."
Kaia composed herself and took a long breath. "When I wake up I turn on my side towards the morning light. Mark cuddles close to me. I extend my right arm and hand. He puts his left arm over me and puts his left hand in mine. After a few minutes, if I'm in the mood, I'll start massaging his thumb. When I feel his brain getting hard, I know it's playtime."
"His brain?"
"Yea, the one between his legs."
They giggled like two school girls.
"Listen girl, if you ever want to have a decent relationship with Mac, you got to keep his brain stimulated."
"Ok, noted. But what's bothering his brain?"
"His brain is fine, but he seems mentally distracted."
"Didn't you say he has a twin sister? Maybe there's some ESP stuff happening."
Kaia pondered the ESP thing. Then she responded, "He talks to Janelle, that's her name, about once a week. But Janelle's not answering her phone."
"The first thing I would think is Janelle's in love."
"Yea, me too, but I think you're right about the ESP twin stuff. Something is really bothering him."
Kitiona thought for a minute. "Has Mark tried to call any of Janelle's friends?"
Kaia blinked a few times. "Janelle's girlfriend in Las Vegas, Wendy, received a text message seven days ago. That's the last contact with Janelle that Mark can find."
"What did the text say?"
"The text said, 'got a senator tonight'."
Chapter 2 A Worried Call
"Streeter and Franklin," the secretary answered.
Startled by the formal voice, Kitiona hesitated and didn't immediately respond.
"Hello! This is the law firm of Streeter and Franklin. Can I help you?"
"Yes," came the cautious voice over the phone. "May I speak to Mac … Streeter, please?"
"Who should I say is calling and what is the nature of your business?"
"Tell him it's Kitiona."
"Oh, dear, you should have said so in the first place. I'll put you right through. And please don't tell him I gave you a hard time. I'm new and just following instructions. But you're on his, put-through-immediately list."
"Well, that's good to know. Don't worry, I won't say a thing. By the way, what's your name?"
"I'm Martha. I'll buzz him."
Mac had hired Martha McCall to be their secretary, receptionist and all-around girl Friday two days earlier. She carried her slender physique with poise and grace. A brunette in her mid thirties, she aimed to please in today's slow moving job market.
Mac was reading an article from the Drudge Report when Martha buzzed. He picked up the phone and pressed line one's, flashing button. "Mac Streeter."
"Mac, knock it off!"
Mac quickly recognized her voice. "Kitiona. Awesome baby, you tried my new number!"
"Yes, I did. And I like Martha. She has a pleasant voice."
Mac returned, "I have a feeling she's going to be running this office pretty soon. How are you? Any union stuff I can help you with today?"
"I'm fine, the union is fine, but Kaia isn't. Do you have time for a short story?"
"For you I'll clear my morning."
She chuckled. "Your morning schedule is probable open anyways. What is this your first or second day at the new office?"
"Second and we're getting some pretty interesting calls."
She mused why. "Is Franklin really gay?"
"Hey, we're in San Francisco and Jed is connected to the community. What can I say?"
"You can say that you're not taking showers with him!"
Mac laughed. "Ok, how did you know?"
Now it was Kitiona's turn to laugh. "Got me. Just remember there's lots of tourists boys over here checking out my tattoo."
"And what a lovely tattoo it is. When am I going to see all of it?"
They both remembered Kitiona showing Mac the top half of her diamond shaped tattoo when she changed her shirt one afternoon in Ben's house. The local flavored tattoo was filled of tribal symbols on most of her back. The top point started between her shoulder blades and the bottom point went into her butt crack. He only saw the tattoo above her waist.
"When the time is right, my blossoming rose!" she said.
Mac blushed as Martha knocked on the door. "Hang on, ok?"
"Yes, Martha, what is it?"
"It's Ben Green on line two. He's on the list, too, and I don't know what to tell him."
"Tell Ben I'm talking with Kitiona and I'll call him back ASAP."
"Ok," Martha said cheerfully closing the door.
"Are you still there?" Mac asked Kitiona.
"Yea, nothing but time and fun here in American Samoa."
"Sorry about that, Ben wants me for something. Since you made him the business manager of our 1 Law 4 All Foundation, I should get back to him soon."
"No problem," Kitiona said wistfully. "But, I do have something kind of urgent from Kaia. You remember me talking about Kaia?"
"Don't
