epilogue to:
Wooden Model of a Rat
IN THE SHADOW OF THE RAT
by
GM
A cool evening wind blew through the open
doorway and rifled the papers spread on the desk. Steve McGarrett smoothed out
the afternoon edition of the Honolulu Star Bulletin. His hands shook slightly
as his fingers passed over his name in print.
McGARRETT INDICTED.
Much had happened since that afternoon when
the public learned of the indictment. His detectives at
Again, McGarrett studied the headline. For a
while, there, his future nearly faded to black. How easily a life could be
altered -- destroyed -- he mused. Briefly, he reflected on the fear, his
despair, when things seemed hopeless. Impossible to imagine his life as
anything else than what he was -- a cop -- a Five-0 cop. Today, and several other
times, his world seemed on the brink of collapse. He had ambitions beyond his
occupation, but now, being the head of Five-0 was the best life, the only life,
for him. Once more, hard work and truth came to his rescue. And
three very special detectives.
The scheme had almost succeeded. If not for
the tireless efforts of his detectives -- his friends who never lost faith --
the papers might be printing a different story for the evening edition. The
thought brought to mind an old poem he had once read about how no man could be
poor if he had friends. A true statement. His unit had
stuck with him in tighter spots than this, never wavering in their faith in
him, not only as a cop, but also as a person. Truly, his riches were in his
colleagues blessed with die-hard tenacity. He wondered what it would take to
shake Chin Ho, or Duke Lukela, or Dan Williams from
his side. He knew the answer without hesitation. There wouldn't
be a force strong enough to plant a wedge of doubt between his men and him. Not
even a clever rat like March.
There was a quick knock at the door and Dan
Williams entered without waiting for an invitation.
"Done yet?"
"Yeah, just finishing
up."
McGarrett folded the papers and cleared the
desk.
Williams tapped the headlines. "Kinda scary, wasn't it?"
"Yeah," McGarrett admitted with a
released sigh. It had been a long day. Fatigue and anxiety had worn him down to
exhaustion. There was no attempt to put up a defensive front for his friend. It
wouldn't do any good with Danno anyway, who would
crash through the facade and go after the truth anyway. "A day I'm glad is
behind us."
"Yeah. Tomorrow it'll be back to the old run-of-the-mill
murderers and burglars." Williams closed and locked the lanai doors behind
the desk. As he stepped next to McGarrett, the boss put a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For believing in
me."
Williams scoffed. "Come on, Steve. No
one could ever believe you knowingly received stolen property."
Williams made it sound like the most
ridiculous idea in the world. McGarrett knew the press slant had made police
corruption seem entirely plausible. There had been frames before. There had
been blasts from the press and public about individual officers of Five-0, and
the police unit in general. The detectives had weathered the onslaughts because
they knew the integrity of each member of their unit, and trusted in their
fellow officers, even in the face of damning appearances. They had stood
together against the seemingly impossible, and always won. He knew those
victories were because of the combined strength of rare men of character within
this police unit.
In a world where black and white were
becoming an ever-diluted swirl of grey, he would not belittle, or take for
granted, the value of integrity and principle. In this office, those values would always be applauded and rewarded.
"Some believed it, Danno. Or wanted to."
Williams shrugged. "Maybe, but they
don't matter."
That was the bottom line, McGarrett knew.
The world was filled with rats. Those sleazy low-lives stopped at the door of this Palace. He was surrounded by people who never gave up, never gave in, and
never doubted in him. They were the only ones who really mattered in his
life.