Fanfiction is, by nature, an attempt to go where tv series cannot or will not go.
If the Five-0 characters continued in the logical progression of the show, this
is where I think they would be in 1998.
Jack Lord forged the path for television
series filmed in Hawaii. Many flattered the master with imitation and can be
considered shadows of the pioneering originator. To honor Jack Lord included
here are some of those show's characters in cameo appearances.
This story is my tribute:
To Jack Lord, who will never be forgotten, nor will Steve
McGarrett.
To James MacArthur who is always fondly part of the team as Dan.
To a nearly forgotten,
simpler Hawaii, where these characters are alive and well -- mau loa -- forever . . . . .
O
h
a
n
a
"Bang, you're dead."
Despite an immediate identification of the
surprise speaker, Dan Williams jumped, his pen scratching a squiggly line across
the document on his desk.
"Steve!"
With a sigh Williams steadied his hand and
turned to his friend who had just stealthily entered from the open lanai doors.
McGarrett took up a comfortable perch on the edge of the huge desk dominating
the room. Behind Williams was a massive plaque of the state seal suspended from
the ceiling. On either side of the seal were two kahili,
traditional Hawaiian royal standards of red and yellow feathers that proclaimed
the room, and occupant, of singular leadership importance. Failing to receive
the respect his rank merited, Dan brushed off the entrance with a knowing shake
of his head.
Steve McGarrett tsked in disappointment and
shook his head in turn. "Danno, the lanai."
It was a sad condemnation of an unacceptable state of affairs. "I've
warned you the lanai is too open!"
Grimacing in anticipation of the lecture, of
being caught, once again, in lax behavior, Dan pushed away from the desk and
studied his friend.
"It was a nice day," he offered
lightly.
"It's not like the old days,
Danno," McGarrett warned sternly. "You can't just amble onto the
lanai on a whim!"
"It helps me think, relax."
"It's a bad habit."
"I wonder who I picked that up from?"
Catching the amused expression on his
opponent's face, Steve's irritation increased momentarily. Many times he had
sought solace by strolling along the lanai of the Palace, never guessing his
custom would turn against him. With his sage advice falling on unreceptive
ears, he regrouped with a sigh. "I'm probably quoting myself."
"Probably," Dan smiled, mischief
in his eyes, "but I'D never be the one to tell you that!"
"You better not if you want to keep a
golf partner who keeps your score low."
"And my tennis wins high."
"Danno, I just want to make sure you
live to make the luau tonight. And a lot longer."
A variety of comments rushed through
Williams' mind: Sentimentally the luau where old and current Five-0 employees
and families were gathering at the Williams' beach house,
was vital. It was also a political move to expedite Williams' public relations
between Five-0, HPD, and the public and was critical due to the racial emotions
running high on the Islands. The personal significance of the ceremony, on the
morrow was also requisite since Wililams would
dedicate the refurbished Iolani Palace and pay homage to his closest friend.
The festivities embarrassed the private
McGarrett, but Williams had persuaded, insisted, and finally convinced the
former head and originator of Five-0 to be there on such a momentous milestone.
Thirty years before, Dan had met McGarrett and started a long and successful
association that changed his life for the better, forever. Fitting accolades,
both deserved and sentimental, would finally catch up to McGarrett. Dan
wouldn't let anything get in the way of him personally delivering those
tributes.
A knock sounded at the door and McGarrett
stood, stepping slightly behind his friend. Williams picked up his pen to
appear busy.
"Come in."
A Hawaiian woman in a bright, floral dress
entered with papers in hand. She stopped cold at the sight of McGarrett. The
intruder smiled benignly. Pretending not to be disconcerted, the woman
advanced.
"Governor, these papers just came over
from Senator Tamara." She placed them on the desk. "Are you done with
those certificates?"
Governor Williams glanced at the document
he'd inadvertently squiggled on, did a quick, sloppy autograph, and handed them
to his assistant. "All done, Lorna. I'll have
these ready for the senator after lunch."
"Don't forget the photo session at
three." She placed two message memos on the desk, then
took the stack of certificates. "Mrs. Williams called to remind you about
the luau at seven. She wanted me to tell you, quote: 'Don't loose track of
time. Seven sharp.' End quote."
Dan's eyes darted to his friend. "Not
much chance of forgetting the way everyone keeps reminding me. Thanks, Lorna.
Oh, and get Lynd on the phone for me, please."
Lorna glanced at McGarrett, then at her
boss. "Yes, Governor."
After she left, McGarrett slipped back to
his preferred corner of the desk. "She's just itching to put me in my
place. She hates it when I pop in unannounced."
The phone buzzed, indicating Dan's call was
ready.
"She probably thinks there's a secret
entrance, like the batcave or something." The
thought made Williams laugh, which he could not completely stifle as he
answered the phone. "Yes?"
"Mr. Chase on line two," came the disapproving voice of the assistant.
"Thanks." He punched a phone
button. "Aki, thanks for getting back to me so quickly." He put the
call on the speaker. "I guess Chief Lynd is
unavailable?"
"Yes, sir," the second-in-command
of Hawaii Five-0 responded. "He's out of the office at the moment. How can
I help you, Governor?"
"Chase is so much easier to deal
with," McGarrett whispered approvingly.
Williams smiled. "A
trait of the second bananas?"
McGarrett just scowled.
Toward the speaker, Williams said, "I
wanted to get an update on security from you."
"Everything is going well,
Governor," the brisk voice assured. "Five-0 is on top of the ceremony
for tomorrow. Anything specific bothering you, sir?"
"The lanai," McGarrett muttered.
"What was that?"
Dan shook his head at his friend's
interference. "What about the Capitol grounds?"
There was a deep sigh. "This wouldn't
be about some unwanted intruder near your offices, would it, Governor?"
McGarrett and Williams both grinned.
"Oh, you know those pesky tourists," Dan joked.
"Governor," the Five-0 officer
sighed again, "I assure you security is tight. I have extra men and
patrols and everyone on the guest list has been double-checked."
Williams made appropriate statements of
approval, but no doubt remained from his tone that complete satisfaction was
not achieved. As Aki Chase expounded on the details, McGarrett made whispered
comments or grimaces depending on the information. Even as they conversed in
the odd, three-way conversation, Dan sympathized with Chase. It couldn't be
easy inheriting one of the top spots of Five-0 and functioning under the
watchful eye of the Governor, a Five-0 veteran, and the more critical scrutiny
of an 'unofficial assistant' to the Governor, in the form of Steve McGarrett.
Typically, Williams was law enforcement's
strongest advocate in the Islands, even more blunt and assertive than Five-0's
boss cop. Appointed by Williams' predecessor, Thomas Lynd
was good, coming to head Five-0 after retirement from the ranks of MI6. Unknown
to the voters of Hawaii and the current generation Five-0 staff, at Williams'
election an unelected shadow advisor came with him, giving Five-0 twin
advocates from the Capitol. Between McGarrett and Williams, the former Five-0
detectives wielded tremendous clout on the Islands, and the police benefited
from the advocacy.
Behind Dan's early business ventures --
after retirement from Five-0, after elections to local community boards and the
city council -- lurked Williams' partner, counselor, ally and friend:
McGarrett. Always in the background, avoiding publicity but unstinting in
support, was his former boss and mentor. Formerly in the forefront of anything
he participated in, Steve's political restraint was amazing. Personally pleased
with Dan's civic activism, McGarrett remained a silent partner in the various
permutations of their post-Five-0 lives. Considering his volatile, blunt
personality and controversial past, McGarrett felt his overt presence in Dan's
public life would be a liability. Williams, however, never disguised his
continuing friendship with the former Five-0 leader. Dan felt he owed
everything to his friend: initial career as a Five-0 detective, a partner in
their security business, civic posts up to the
Governorship. Without McGarrett's faith and support,
none of his successes, he thought, would be possible.
"What about Kumu-kahi?"
Steve whispered.
"Tell Steve I heard that. And yes, I
assure you both, we're keeping an eye on them. Our top man is on them like a
bad suit. Hawaiian Nationalists are still planning a protest tomorrow, of
course, they protest everything these days, but we've got a handle on it."
"Okay, Aki,
thanks. See you tonight."
"Thank you, Governor."
Hawaiian Nationalists was a local grassroots
movement advocating a return to a sovereign Hawaii. They demanded the US
government restitute all federal land to native Hawaiians. Over the years the
extreme movement had gained sentimental support from locals. In the last
election their candidates made a near three-way split of some seats in the
legislature and actually elected two mayors on two of the outer Islands.
Government representatives were their prime targets of letter campaigns and
active protests.
Complicating the situation was the local
organized crime movement, Kumu. Just as the Irish
Republican Army spawned violent splinter groups, the radical and violent band
known as the Kumu-kahi had sprung from Kumu. No public confessions to Kumu-kahi
membership existed, but in the past year they anonymously claimed
responsibility for one letter bomb that had injured a postman, and several
attacks on tourists. Haoles, Caucasians, wore a
bull's eye because whites had toppled the Hawaiian government more than a
hundred years before, and Hawaiian Nationalists called for natives to remember
that as a rallying cry. The Japanese in general were the next objective, being
blamed for the astronomical inflation of the last few decades and the economic
decline of Hawaii.
Williams hung up and studied his friend.
"What's bothering you?"
The taller man shrugged it off, but saw from
his friend's expression the prevarication did not work. "All
right. The threats worry me."
"Radicals, Steve. Anyone who really
wanted to take me out wouldn't advertise it. They'd have a hundred
opportunities. Governor of Hawaii is not a constant risk like being president.
I'm not smothered in secret service. And I don't think anyone's out to get
me."
"I hope you're right."
The tone clearly indicated McGarrett did not
believe so, and Williams let it drop. There was neither the time nor ammunition
to assuage his friend's concerns. Warring for prominence of position were
Steve's natural instincts as a cop to solve a mystery, and the more pressing
personal anxiety to keep Williams safe. All the protection in the world would
not satisfy the ex-Five-0 chief until those issuing the threats were behind
bars.
"Are you worried about Pauli Tanaka?"
"He's almost too obvious," Steve
admitted. "but as one of the most vocal and
militant leaders of Hawaiian Nationalists, he's someone to watch."
"Which is Five-0's job, Steve, not
yours," he reminded. "Chase is a good man," Dan appeased, hoping
it was enough of a vote of confidence to let the argument drop. While he
trusted the state police with his life, he understood where Steve was coming
from and could not condemn the anxiety or the sentiment. "I don't want
anything distracting you from your speech tomorrow. You have worked on it,
haven't you?"
Still commanding in presence and stature,
the 60ish retired cop leaned against the wall, gazing out the lanai doors in a
stance adopted frequently while he was the leader of Hawaii Five-0. The blue
eyes were still as keen, and the thoughts still as convoluted under the salt
and pepper hair. Thirty years of insight gave Williams the almost instinctive
ability to tune into his friend's moods. Never one to hold back on blunt
honesty, McGarrett's opinions were clear even though
he strove for a rare show of politically correct diplomacy. Tact sometimes
seemed an ill-fitting cloak of obstruction to the forthright Irish temperament.
"Of course" The tone implied a
low-level interest.
Alerted, the Governor warned, "Five-0
can handle it, Steve, let them. Please. I don't want any complications."
"Neither do I,"
was the pointed reply. Tempering, he admitted, "Chase is one of the best
cops I've met."
"He is," Dan agreed easily.
"We've known him a long time. And he's so much easier to deal with than Lynd."
McGarrett turned from the window with an
amused grin tilting his expression. "Your words, not mine."
"No, but you were thinking it. No secret everybody but the previous governor finds him a hard head
and as immovable as Mauna Kea." Williams fought, and failed, to
suppress the grin. "Sounds like another Five-0 chief I remember."
McGarrett smirked and shook his head.
"I should leave before you can throw anymore insults at me."
There were many comparisons between the
original organizer of Five-0 -- McGarrett -- and Thomas Lynd.
Both had Intelligence backgrounds; both originally off-islanders, both
hand-picked by governors. There the surface similarities ended. Lynd came under a lot of fire for not only being an
'outsider' from London of all places, but for his stern, by-the-book approach
to law enforcement. McGarrett used the legal code as his bible, but there was
always room for leniency for suspects who made an effort to cooperate or
improve their lives. More than anything, Steve was renowned as a haole, a
Caucasian, who quickly acclimated to a kama'aina, a
native, with his love of the people and the land. Thomas Lynd,
by the fruits of his personality and aloof nature, would always be a malihini,
a newcomer. In the current controversy with Hawaiian Nationalists, his
separatism did not help. Some considered Williams' failure to appoint Aki
Chase, a native of Honolulu, as the Five-0 leader as yet another weak
concession to the haoles, which hadn't helped
Williams' popularity with the radicals.
With a history in law enforcement and
racially a Caucasian, Williams became a constant target of the revolutionaries
during and after the gubernatorial election. Married to a woman of
mixed-Japanese/ Polynesian/Caucasian descent made Williams' family a prominent
target for the radical group. Choosing a Lieutenant Governor of Japanese
descent cemented the animosity of the radicals toward the administration. Pride
of heritage began to blur for the normally laid-back locals, and the first few
years of Dan's term had been a constant strain.
Then he delivered a sincere and inspired
plea during one of his speeches at the opening of a new park earlier in the
year. Appealing to the Hawaiian spirit of aloha, he reminded his constituents
that all Hawaiians were ohana, family, no matter what differences they might
have, and that core unity must transcend all other outside politics. The media
played it as a tired old cliché, but the citizens took the message to heart.
Literally overnight the fickle mood of public sentiment changed. Williams and
his family became the epitome of the chop-suey mix of
island natives, and aloha tolerance once more overcame the political mood of
the state. Hawaiian Nationalists backed off the racial bigotry emphasis and
focused more on economic pressure. Williams' popularity skyrocketed and his
savvy political advisor projected the trend well into a second term.
When plans for the dedication of the Palace
centered around Five-0 hit the news, however, some
Hawaiian Nationalists reacted with hostility. Hate mail and personal threats
increased markedly, although most Hawaiian Nationalists members still supported
Williams. McGarrett practically needed a score-card with the shifting
sentiments, but he continued to take the threats seriously. Not convinced
Hawaiian Nationalists was the predominant hazard, he believed the unofficial
rumors on the coconut wireless that Hawaiian Nationalists was a front for Kumu, and an excuse for violence by Kumu-kahi.
No doubt some unsavory members of society made the rolls of all groups who
might want to zero in on Williams as a target.
Williams turned back to the massive desk.
Pretending to look over the papers, he admonished, "The threats from the
Hawaiian Nationalists are nothing to worry about, Steve. Let it go."
McGarrett gazed out the windows for a
moment, then once again reminded his friend of his
theories. Steve also reiterated the old cliché that they couldn't be too
careful when it was Dan's life on the line. The Governor agreed, but still felt
his shadow advisor was overly protective and somewhat paranoid. He suggested it
might be nerves over the coming ceremony. McGarrett flatly refuted the idea.
"Anyone in public office is a target,
but you've been singled out, Danno."
"Steve -- "
"You have plenty of old enemies out
there, and I'd put Alekema Alika
at the top of the list."
Tony Alika had
been Kumu's top dog until McGarrett took him down
back in 1980. Alekema Alika,
already assisting his father in mob business, took over. The son never really
had the power or control wielded by Tony Alika, and Kumu paled as a threat, particularly after Tony's death.
Williams turned back to his paperwork,
vainly striving to complete his duties. "Alekema's
been completely clean since his parole last month. Lynd
has kept me informed." He turned, satisfied with the expression of
surprise from his friend. "I don't keep my head in the sand, Steve. I know
I have enemies out there and most of them are old Kumu
refugees. Five-0 is on them. Let it go, Steve."
Defiantly retaining his obstinance
he countered, "I want you wearing armor tomorrow."
"Steve -- "
"I mean it, Danno. You wear a vest or I
don't show for the ceremony tomorrow."
At the deadly serious tone, glare and
ultimatum, Williams could only shake his head in surrender. "Sometimes I
wonder who runs this state," he sighed rhetorically. "I'd be out on
my okole if the voters knew who pulled strings around
here."
Smiling at the triumph, McGarrett assured,
"I only pull a few important strings, my friend. And I suppose I should let
you get back to work so you'll be on time tonight, or we'll both be answering
to your wife."
"I'll be on time," Williams
promised.
Opening the lanai door and taking his leave,
Steve reminded, "Don't forget. Seven."
"I won't forget."
"And, Governor?"
Williams looked up.
"Try to be on time."
*****
There was always a sense of homecoming when
he walked onto these regal grounds. A refuge of peace amidst the surrounding
bustle of Honolulu, Iolani Palace square seemed to put the world on pause. In
the dazzling tropic sun, the majestic Palace itself sparkled brighter than it
ever had when McGarrett had been in residence there. Refurbished several times
since Five-0's initial occupancy, he would always think of the Palace as a
place with too little storage space, draughty labs, creaking doors. Home. Glancing across King Street to the relocated offices
of Hawaii Five-0, McGarrett pitied the police cooped in the former Territorial
Building-cum-headquarters. Constrained by thin budgets and needing a locale
close to the Capitol/Palace area, the state had opted to renovate the old
building. Five-0 had temporarily housed there back in 1976. No lanai, no grand
staircase, no view; McGarrett commiserated. Of course, this new generation
didn't know what they were missing, but he felt pity for them just the same.
Staring across at the old beige building he decided not to enter the foreign
domain. Not interested in renewing old acquaintances or running into Lynd, McGarrett chose a more convenient option. Speed
dialing a number on his cell phone, he sat on one of the white steps of the
Palace and waited for an answer on the private line.
"Detective Chase," a clear voice
announced after a few rings.
"Hello, detective. Can you meet me?" No need to give his name,
Chase knew the voice well enough.
The exasperation on the other end was
evident. "Yes. Where and when?"
"I think you know the answer to both
those questions. Look out your window."
Steve saw a blind open on the second story
and gave a brief wave. The click on the other end was answer enough. He folded
his cell phone and tucked it into the pocket of his windbreaker. Leaning on the
balustrade, he glanced up at the corner of the royal residence that he
considered HIS corner. So much had transpired here, good and bad. Strangely,
things had changed very little. On the bad side, Kumu
still presented a threat, and intrigue yet lurked in the shadows. On the good
side, the Williams' were his core. For years Danno's
friendship had kept him balanced when his extreme tendencies threatened to tilt
out of control. He would allow nothing to damage his family.
A blur caught at the corner of his eye and
he scanned the wide front lawns for a sign of Chase. No sign of the Five-0 cop
sprinting across busy King Street yet. Strolling over toward the corner, he
called out in the direction of the magnificent Banyan tree at the side of the
Palace.
"You don't have to shadow me, Detective
Wolfe. Mr. Chase will be here in a moment."
A muscular, tanned, 30ish man with
close-cropped sandy hair stepped from behind the thick trunk. Neither chagrined
nor apologetic, he gave a salute, with a piece of red licorice, to the
ex-detective.
"I don't see your name on my paycheck,
so I think I'll just keep doing my job, Mr. McGarrett."
Steve refrained from a snappy retort to the
cheeky younger man. Wolfe happened to be right, but the abrasive impertinence
still irritated McGarrett.
One of the top officers in HPD, Mack Wolfe
had an impressive record of convictions and solved cases. Black marks for a
tendency to accumulate heavy debts and obvious disrespect of authority kept him
from promotion. Rumor had it his flaws also kept him from being offered a
position with Five-0. Nonetheless, being very good at his job and a friend of
Chase's, Wolfe often worked as a liaison with the state police. That the HPD
man was following him indicated someone took his concerns seriously. Only
McGarrett was not the one being threatened by Hawaiian Nationalists or the Kumu. He walked back to sit on the front steps while Wolfe
strolled toward him.
"You there young man!" a
stentorian voice commanded. Automatically Steve straightened and whirled around
to face the figurative 'ancient dragon 'descending the steps of the 'castle'.
Dressed in the colorful muu'muu of the resident
docents, and a wrinkled visage demanding respect, the elderly woman stopped
several steps above him. The requisite cloth shoe coverings on her feet
attested to her job as tour guide for the sovereign residence. "The Palace
is not open until tomorrow! Come back then! And I don't want to find any trash
or scuff marks on these steps! We're expecting important company tomorrow you
know!"
It was not a question. Relieved she did not
recognize him and amused she did not know she was talking to one of those very
VIP's, McGarrett gave a short bow. Instinctively obedient to the power of
authority she wielded with the force of what must be 80-plus years, he
expressed his regrets.
"My apologies, Mrs. Pratt," he
deferred after reading her name tag.
"Just make sure it doesn't happen
again. Come back tomorrow like all the other tourists."
Steve snickered and at her scowl, then, with
difficulty, sobered his expression. "Yes, ma'am."
Satisfied, she returned inside the stately doors
of koa wood and etched glass, assured her supremacy
remained intact.
"Can't wait to see how she reacts
tomorrow at the ceremony," a laughing voice behind him spoke.
Smiling, McGarrett faced Chase.
"Surprised, I'll bet." He gestured to the steps. "Since we can't
talk here, shall we walk?"
Chase indicated he should lead the way.
Noting Wolfe had silently disappeared McGarrett walked them across the lawn to
the venerable bandstand at the front of the building where they sat on an
inside bench.
"What can I do for you, Mr.
McGarrett?"
"I think you know. I'm not the one
threatened. I don't need a bodyguard."
Chase grimaced, clearly irritated at the
interference. "Security is tight, I promise you. Bomb sniffing dogs,
surveillance on Hawaiian Nationalist's leaders, ID checks on all guests."
Annoyance finally getting the better of his temper, he finished curtly,
"Five-0 has done everything possible for protection, Mr. McGarrett,
particularly since there is no evidence of violence, or even a specific threat
for tomorrow! What more do you think we need to look for?"
"The unexpected," McGarrett
countered forcefully. "This is such an unparalleled opportunity for Kumu-kahi to strike -- "
"Whoa, there, wait a minute,"
Chase held up his hands and stood, pacing to the railing of the bandstand.
Shorter and younger than his adversary, he nonetheless carried the authority of
his badge in his manner. Leaning on the wood the cop responded, "The
threat was from Hawaiian Nationalists, not from Kumu -- "
"Which is the perfect
cover for the violence we know to be Kumu-kahi, not
Hawaiian Nationalists. I'm talking about the mob here, Chase, not the
nationalist politicos."
Chase shook his head, completely out of
patience and restraint. "You called me out here to waste my time swinging
at windmills?" he snapped sharply. "Kumu is
organized crime. They might throw one of their errant thugs to the sharks, or
rough up some low-lifes on Hotel Street, but they do
not hit governors! Were you always this -- this -- imaginative when you were in
charge?"
McGarrett came eye to eye with his
adversary, the intensity not intimidating the slighter man. "Don't be
impertinent, mister. This is not about me trying to edge into your job. I'm
trying to avert a tragedy! Use whatever cop instincts you have and pay
attention to the danger signals around here!" Steve's full force of
character focused on his target. "Hawaiian Nationalists are dupes! Kumu-kahi takes credit for violence in the name of Hawaiian
Nationalists, but we both know who's pulling the strings! Kumu
is using Hawaiian Nationalists, infiltrating their own members to push normal,
law-abiding citizens to accept radical, lawless behavior, then
use them for Kumu's purposes. Someone wants to blame
the Nationalists when something extreme, like an assassination happens. It's a
set up! It's a classic tactic, used by manipulative minds for centuries. You
should know that, Chase, your grandfather is a leader in his local branch of
Hawaiian Nationalists in St. Louis Heights, isn't he?"
Where lesser men had quavered, Chase took a
step back and reassessed the older man. Justified anger gave way to grudging
respect, then cop appreciation. Personally insulted at the elaborate
investigation put onto a relative he respected, Chase nonetheless admired the
skill and technique of the former detective. Within moments a calmer Chase sat
on the railing and folded his arms. Conceding with a nod, he asked his
colleague to elaborate.
McGarrett admitted his own sympathies in
support of Hawaiian Nationalists. Living in Hawaii for many years, and adopting
the aloha spirit and love of the aina,
he naturally supported anything aimed at preserving the natural beauty of the
people and places of Hawaii. Hawaiian Nationalists, however, took the step
further, advocating that Hawaii remove the right for the US to own land and
returning ownership to Hawaiians. It would never happen, of course, but the
emotional appeal of the cause had caught on with many citizens of native
ancestry, and Hawaiian Nationalists was wildly popular, organizing small groups
all over the Islands. Unfortunately, such groups easily shifted in subtle ways
to adopt ideas that only seemed in keeping with their goals, but which really
supported the evil designs of those with agendas of their own. One such group
was Kumu-kahi, espousing anti-US government,
anti-tourist, anti-Japanese protests. Threats and several minor attacks on
Caucasians were the results of the advocacy. The parallel to the burgeoning
Nazi party in the 1930's seemed obvious to McGarrett, and he reminded the
younger man of the danger of dismissing a seemingly benign political movement.
While Chase acknowledged his own discomfort
at the radical direction of some Hawaiian Nationalists members, he adamantly
denied most members even supported those fanatic ideals. Williams' ohana
sentiment had caused many to reassess their methods of operation in Hawaiian
Nationalists. He also admitted the seditious element could easily be spurred by
the Kumu people, and wryly wagered Steve had
invisible operatives digging for proof. Not denying the allegation, Steve drove
home his point, reminding Chase their mutual objective was to protect the
Governor from any hazard; Kumu, or Hawaiian Nationalists/Kumu-kahi. He was taking the threats seriously
and expected the state police to do the same.
"And another thing," he concluded,
"Don't waste skillful manpower like Wolfe on me. I'm in no danger, Chase.
Your first concern should be to protect Governor Williams."
"Is that all, sir?" the Five-0
officer questioned with the barest hint of sarcasm. Not waiting for a response,
he admitted with rueful covetousness, "We've already got Pauli Tanaka covered."
"Too obvious," Steve dismissed.
"He's an Hawaiian Nationalists leader. Look under
the surface, detective. Alekema Alika
is out. He's hated Danno, both of us, for years. Danno broke up Alekema's little operations when he was learning the
business from his father. And he never forgave us for putting Tony Alika away."
"Tony Alika
died in prison as I recall," Chase ruminated aloud. "Alekema's been in and out of the pen since, never the Kumu leader his father was."
"He and his thugs are deadly enough.
They should be your focus. Dig, Chase!"
Aki shook his head. "Like your
informants? You know, the CIA would envy your intelligence network, Mr. McGarrett.
Any chance I can get in on your coconut wireless?"
Clearly appraising the younger man,
McGarrett shrugged his shoulders. "We'll see, Mr. Chase. You are hampered
by regulations and legal parameters. In your official capacity you've done
almost everything possible, it seems. Our problem here is there's no proof of a
conspiracy, no certain identification of someone with a grudge against the
Governor who is connected with the Hawaiian Nationalists people. Not that I
know of. And Alika seems to have kept his nose clean.
I assume if you knew differently you would let me know."
It was not a question. Knowing he could
justifiably walk away without a response to such an arrogant assumption, Chase
held his ground. "You're a hard man to deal with, Mr. McGarrett. I've
heard you ran Five-0 like you were an emperor or something. You've made enemies
with your methods and personality." He eyed his adversary/associate with
speculation. "Some say you resigned because you failed to clear up the
scandal when Williams quit --"
"I resigned because there was no more I
could do for Five-0 or the people of Hawaii," McGarrett cut in harshly.
"What's your point, detective?"
"Even your enemies couldn't argue with
your results, and neither can I. And I can't condemn you for your loyalty,
either, Mr. McGarrett. However, I can't sanction an independent investigation
by unauthorized ama -- ah, -- personnel. Five-0 is on
top of Alika, of Pauli
Tanaka and some other problems you probably don't even know about! I'll keep
you informed of any developments, and you tell me everything you learn from any
unofficial sources. Deal?"
Reluctantly, McGarrett agreed.
Then Chase added, "And you've got to
get out from underfoot. Trust me to do my job."
"All right," Steve sighed
hesitantly. "Just do it right, Chase," he ordered, leaving the
bandstand and walking back toward the Capitol.
It sounded more like a royal decree than an
encouragement, but Chase took it in the spirit in which it was given. McGarrett
entrusted the life of his closest friend to Five-0, and expected them to live
up to that sacred guardianship. With renewed vigor Aki jogged across King
Street, past tourists crowding the famous King Kamehameha statue, and on to the
Five-0 offices. His staff had a lot of work to do before tomorrow if they were
going to keep ahead of McGarrett.
*****
Never one to accept favors during his tenure
as Five-0 chief, McGarrett found it seductively easy as a local celebrity.
Despite the exploding population of the Hawaiian Islands in the last several
decades, Hawaii/Honolulu, still had a feeling of a
small society. Status as a famous, or infamous, public figure faded only
slightly with time. If not remembered by younger generations as the head of the
state police, he was known as a close friend of the Governor's and a benefactor
to numerous humanitarian causes. His secluded beach house in Kauai remained
remote and private enough to ensure his solitude whenever he remained in the
Garden Isle. Steve's struggle for anonymity, to fade into the background, only
failed when he returned to Oahu.
"Your guest is already here, Mr.
McGarrett."
On the positive side, the perquisites of
fame meant preferred treatment in many areas. He strolled through the
tastefully appointed Roaring 20's period elegance of The Black Orchid, where he
was met personally by the proprietor, Rick Wright. During an amenable chat he
was shown to his usual booth where a special-blend fruit drink specifically
created for him already waited. He never knew how Wright managed the VIP
treatment with such short notice. Maybe an audio tie-in with the parking valet,
he mused. Instinctively observing and noting people and events around him,
Wright offered such exclusive treatment to few. In all honesty, Steve knew the
special perqs were not because of his former
profession, but his association with Williams. Not as governor, but as an old
friend of Wright's.
Acquainted with Williams since the days when
the young detective had frequented Wright's first club, the King Kamehameha,
the small favors traded in those early days had never been forgotten. Loyalty,
even in trivial things such as restaurants, sports clubs and informants meant
something to Williams and Wright.
Not long before Williams' very public exit
from Five-0, Wright and other high-profile businessmen had been marked as
targets by Kumu. Alekema Alika, Tony's son, ran the extortion racket as a way of
cutting his teeth in the family business. Wright had numerous shady connections
of his own, but chose to ask for assistance from his member/friend, Dan
Williams. Dan had utilized the resources at Wright's disposal: other
businessmen, old friends from Chicago, a local PI, and worked outside the
mainstream of law enforcement. Although not personally overseen by McGarrett,
the operation was a Five-0 success. A big chunk of Alika's
organization resided behind bars, including the son, Alekema,
and the top enforcer of Kumu-kahi, Tomi Mano. After that, Kumu's power became seriously diminished.
The irony of the situation did not escape
McGarrett. After his retirement from Five-0 he had gathered various 'experts'
to assist him in his private security business. The loose association, jokingly
refereed to as 'The League of the Black Orchid',(an
obvious nod to the famous League of the Scarlet Pimpernel), gathered at the
restaurant for their meetings. After retiring from his security business,
McGarrett still kept an interest in colleague's ventures. Occasionally he had
need of the expertise of the special talents of the group and asked for their
assistance.
A nook in the back sheltered spacious booths
away from the curious eyes of other patrons. The Governor and other celebrities
favored this area for discrete relaxation and excellent, uninterrupted dining.
Not until Steve was almost at the booth did he see his 'guest.' Rick silently
exited in a mute signal of privacy.
"Duke," McGarrett greeted and
shook his friend's hand after he slid into the booth.
"Thanks for the invitation,
Steve." Duke Lukela raised his glass of juice in
a silent toast. "Your business lunches are always classy."
Steve donned his most inscrutable
expression. "Why, Duke, we're retired. I don't
know what you mean."
Lukela smirked and nodded. "Okay." Seriously, he
countered, "Are you ready for the report?"
"Go."
"Your suspicions about something going
on are probably right. Two months ago Tomi 'the
shark' Mano was released on parole."
"Parole? How'd that animal -- never mind," McGarrett
snorted in disgust. "Danno said Alekema Alika is out, too." He shook his head. "Means trouble, Duke."
Even when he retired from Five-0, justice
had been losing in the battle of leniency with courts and prison systems.
Exacerbated by prison overcrowding, even the worst inmates frequently managed
easily to acquire the 'get-out-of-jail-free' card.
Rick brought refills on the drinks and
slipped in beside Lukela.
"Word is out that Tomi
wants his place back as an enforcer for Kumu. Alekema is happy to give it to him," Wright quietly
offered. "My bartender, heard from the barkeep at
the Reef that Tomi's got something to prove, and he's
not on the Governor's campaign contributions list, if you know what I
mean."
McGarrett twirled the straw in his drink,
idly stabbing ice cubes, and stared at the amber liquid while he pondered the
implications. Tomi Mano was
a killer, put away by Five-0 -- McGarrett and Williams -- when Tony Alika still ran the mob. A few years later McGarrett jailed
Tony Alika just before McGarrett retired. Tony later
died in prison, and Alekema tried to keep the crime
dynasty together.
Keeping tabs on local hoods because of his
security business, McGarrett's loyal contacts briefed
him on Kumu's succession of leaders, including Alekema. None ever lived up to the absolute authority of
Tony Alika or Pahoa, the first boss, but the mob
continued to pose an effective threat to decent citizens of the state.
"You think he's a threat to Governor
Williams?" Duke wondered. He glanced at his friend across the table.
"They 've always hated
you and Danny."
McGarrett pinned Wright with an intensity
capable of withering the faint of heart. "Find out more, Rick. We need
something more solid than a rumor before tomorrow."
Wright gave a nod. "I have some
connections. You don't think Kumu would be stupid
enough to do something at the ceremony, do you?"
"It would be the perfect
opportunity," Duke pointed out. "Steve and Danny both there along
with judges, cops, prosecutors. Big confusion, a hit against
people the Kumu hate, plus Danny out of the
way."
Skeptical, Rick shook his head. "That's
a big hit, man. Kumu would have to be crazy. And the
Lieutenant Governor, what's-his-name, isn't going to help with the loyalist
movement. He's from Tokyo or something! He's just in there for the Japanese
vote."
"Kyoto. Lieutenant Governor Shimimoto was
born in Hilo, his parents were from Kyoto. And he was not appointed as a
political convenience! He was a popular and savvy mayor in Hilo," Steve
corrected curtly. "And you're missing the point. Governor Williams has
always represented law and order. His financial and political support of the police make him a prime target. The authority
position and his racial heritage make him an obvious mark for Kumu under the guise of Hawaiian Nationalists. Then there's
his personal history against Alika, Mano and many others in Kumu."
Convinced, McGarrett expounded on his theory with intense
fervor. "What better way for Tomi to
climb to the top of the heap? He takes out the Governor and he's going to be
the hottest killer, and Alika the biggest thug, on
this rock!"
A bit startled, Lukela
and Wright exchanged glances. "Steve, there's no hint that's what Alika, Mano or the Kumu are going to do," Duke reminded in a reasonable,
calm tone. "Hitting a governor is a big step, bruddah."
McGarrett removed a paper from his wallet.
Unfolding it, he tapped the photocopy of the crudely lettered note:
-----------------------------
Hawaiian Nationalists
death to haole intruders
at Kalakaua palace
-----------------------------
"Ambiguous," Duke assessed.
"Why would Alika
warn the Governor?" Rick wondered.
"I think Tomi
is willing to take a big step to impress Alekema and
put them both back in power." Noting their skepticism, he resolutely
stared at each man in turn. "I think this is a notice. The threat calls
the Palace by the name of King Kalakaua, the last king of the Islands, the
monarch who built the place. It is a very nationalist phrase, specifically
designed to make everyone believe this is political. I think it's just old
fashioned crime. There will be a hit and Five-0 will be looking at the
Nationalists. Mano's going to hit Danno at the
Palace, at the ceremony some think should focus on Hawaiian history instead of
Five-0. Kumu gets all the benefits and none of the
blame!"
Still skeptical, Lukela
pointed out, "This could as easily be a threat to you, Steve."
McGarrett disagreed. "It was sent to
the Governor. It's meant for him," he maintained with conviction. Piqued
the others did not share his urgency, he continued, "Am I paranoid? Probably. But I still have instincts, and Duke,
you know those are usually right." Lukela
offered a silent nod. "Am I being overprotective of my friend? Probably
true on that count as well," he admitted. "Am I willing to risk Danno's life because all I have is a gut instinct and a
vague theory that he's in danger? No way, gentlemen! No
way!"
"What do you want us to do?" Lukela asked.
A brief, triumphant grin flashed, then vanished in his tight expression. "Duke, alert
your contacts at HPD and see what they have on Tomi's
and Alika's latest rumblings. I'll contact Ben and
have him run some computer checks." To Rick he ordered, "Find out
what the coconut wireless says about Tomi. And I know
you have friends who find can find out more than the police can."
Rick smiled. "Sure."
McGarrett stood, pulling a bill out of his
money clip. "I have one more stop to make. Meet with me at the Williams'
tonight and give me your report."
*****
Leaning on the thick concrete wall of the
lanai, Dan surveyed the magnificent, panoramic view of his city. It was
impossible not to come out here and appreciate the best that his home, his aina, had to offer. Brilliant, warm tropical sun, perfect
azure sky, sparkling blue ocean, and warm, sea-kissed
breezes played on his senses like music to his soul. Hovering over the western
skyline of the city; puffed clouds of orange, purple and subtler, indescribable
shades scalloped the horizon. The view was one of the nicest benefits of the
office. Despite his advisor's objections, Steve understood why Dan continued to
escape to this idyllic haven where he felt part of his paradise home.
In the distance Diamond Head rose out of the blue Pacific. The dormant volcano, a stark
peak of burnished cinnamon bathed in the sun's last rays, still dominated the
island of Oahu, although it was now surrounded by the ever present buildings of
the city. There was no getting away from the high-rises and factories that
blighted the exquisite paradise of Hawaii. Progress was not always kind, but he
knew it was part of his island's destiny and did his best to ease his people
into the future while preserving the beauty and spirit of aloha. As a public
servant he felt content with his success and learned to live with the failures.
As an island son, he just felt glad to be alive and part of Eden.
As always, his gaze came to rest on the
small, quaint historic monument of Iolani Palace on the makai side, dwarfed by
the Capitol, now a museum. The Palace would always hold such tender memories
for him.
Critics called his rededication ceremony
self-indulgent, emotional favoritism. Fundamentalists objected to the
heavy-handed accolade of police, i.e., McGarrett, over the historic slant
focusing more on the Palace and Hawaiian history. The program, meticulously
organized by his wife Kelly, opened with respectful and plentiful nods to
Hawaii's past. Mrs. Williams, a native of the city, held a Doctorate in Pacific
Rim history and worked as a part-time professor at U of H. She blended the
presentations with chronicles appropriate to the occasion. Generous time
focused on King Kalakaua, who commissioned the Palace, and on his era, along
with the other turbulent periods of the building's past. Admittedly, emphases
on the Five-0 years were concentrated upon because of McGarrett's
status, not only as the founder of Five-0, but, yes, also because of Williams'
personal relationship with the police unit and McGarrett.
Self-indulgent? Undoubtedly, he smiled. Steve, and he, too, deserved
it. Studying the gleaming white building memories of his career played through
his mind as if they were yesterday. Some of the best experiences of his life
were linked to the spot. He had grown up there under the tutelage of Steve
McGarrett. It was like an old home. Almost certain he would not seek another
term of office, this was his chance to use his
authority for some well-deserved public recognition of his comrade. After all
Steve had done for him, it was the very least he could do, and would do, for
his friend.
The only regrets came when he had resigned
from Five-0 in a murky cloud of controversy. (1) The brainwashing and torture
from Wo Fat's minon had
destroyed his career and nearly his life. Without the solid support of Steve,
he didn't know what he would have done. An unfortunate veteran himself of Wo
Fat's torture and mind control, McGarrett had picked up the pieces of Dan
Williams seventeen years ago and helped him build a new world. They started a
top notch, free-lance security business and soon had more clients and wealth
than they could have imagined. Later, Steve finally captured Wo
Fat (2) and retired from Five-0.
The following years were fulfilling and busy
for both of them. They finally had time for personal lives. Dan married Kelly Hatsuyuki, an old acquaintance he 'd
fallen in love with, and began a slow rise in local politics as a forthright
proponent of ecology and law enforcement issues. Two beautiful children, a
wonderful wife, fulfilling careers in three professions, and through it all a
friend who was the family, and the brother he'd never had before Five-0. Steve
deserved more than he could give at tomorrow's festivities, but at least Dan
could do this before his term ended.
The scrape of footfalls on concrete gained
his attention and he glanced over as Aki Chase joined him. Slight and
dark-haired, his exuberant face reflected an exotic heritage of Polynesian and
Oriental ancestors. His dark eyes were probing and reflective as they assessed
the surroundings.
"Why am I not surprised,
Governor?" The query might have been disrespectful coming from someone
else, but delivered with traces of exasperation and amusement, the question
became rhetorical philosophy. "That mysterious intruder was right about
the lanai, you know."
"I know," Williams smiled.
He liked Chase. Popular, flexible and successful,
Chase seemed to break the cop mold with a winning personality and leisurely
approach to life. Some felt him too easy-going to hold the second slot of the
state police unit. Others felt him too good for number two, blaming politics or
race when denied the top groove of Five-0. Being on the inside of politics, Dan
knew political expediency was one reason Chase held the second-in-command job. Lynd, an MI6 agent with years of experience, was a
by-the-book man with a stringent approach to life. The previous governor
reportedly owed him big time, and many believed the payoff was snagging the
Five-0 command. Dan deigned not to replace Lynd since
he had no complaints with the man's results, only with the method of
appointment, and he did not feel justified in sacking the man for playing
politics well. Then he would be no better than the Hawaiian Nationalists
radicals who objected to him. Both top officers of the state unit were
efficient and dedicated and Williams felt the conflict might just come down to
old fashioned personality preferences. Chase made friends, Lynd
made connections.
"Are you out here checking up on me,
Detective Chase?"
"Just doing my job,
sir."
Williams turned to face the younger man.
"What do you think about security? Honestly, now, Aki, not any of this
"yes-sir" nonsense."
"As you know, Governor, security can
never be tight enough. Someone who wants to make a hit will find a way.
Five-0's managed to block all the easy routes for any perps,
but I can't give you a one hundred percent guarantee." He nodded toward
the Palace. "I've heard you had a few close calls when you were working
there, so you know how tough it is to blanket the old pile with air-tight
protection."
Williams clearly recalled the time an
assassin tried to take down Governor Jameson in the halls of the Palace. Dan
had shot the man. He had also killed the assassin bent on killing an attorney
general there at the Palace. More times than he wanted to recall there had been
shootings, bombings and general mayhem within the old walls of the building,
and that had only been during Five-0's stint. He supposed any royal palace
being the site of a revolution or army headquarters during a war had a colorful
start. His years there were a minute addition to a remarkable history.
"What about Kumu-kahi?"
Chase smiled and shook his head. "Your
shadow-cabinet president, personal bodyguard and all around interloper already
spoke to me about them, Governor," he revealed with a long-suffering sigh.
Williams tried to hide his smirk.
"You'll be wanting to show a little more respect
to your elders, detective," he chided none too sternly. Studying the
Palace, he sobered. "He's probably still the best cop to ever hit these
Islands and a lot of other places, Chase. Don't take his advice lightly. Or him
either, or you'll have me to answer to," the head of state warned.
"I don't, sir, really. But it 's daunting enough to work in the shadow of a living
legend. To try to do my job with him actually as my shadow -- well, sir, . . . . " He stopped
short of anything that could possibly be construed as an insult. "He's the
Man, sir. So are you. I didn't know either of you very well when I was starting
in HPD. I work with people every day who did work with
you two, or grew up with you, or some other intimidating comparisons of your
epic greatness! It's totally deserved, but sometimes the perspectives around
here are pretty blurred."
Williams concurred. "Yeah, I know. I've
lived with it for thirty years. And you know what I've discovered?" he
asked quickly, rhetorically. "Living legends are human just like everybody
else. Steve doesn't want your job or your authority. He wants to make sure I'm
safe. The only way he can do that is by moving in and giving ord-- suggestions. Don't dismiss or discount him, Aki. He's
the best cop you'll ever meet."
"I know," Chase sincerely agreed.
With a grin he added, "And his fan club won't let me forget it."
Williams laughed. More than a few people
Steve had influenced now worked within Five-0 or in the upper echelons of HPD.
A new generation filled the ranks of those organizations, but many were known
to the renowned Irish cop. Suzy Kelly, Chin's daughter, was one of the
detectives in Five-0, along with Nephi Hilton and Sandra Welles,
both former HPD colleagues. Tom Lukela, Duke's son,
worked in the lab along with a guy named Keoki Kenau who played on the Five-0 sponsored Little League team
Williams once coached.
The DA's office employed Lukela's
daughter and one of Chin's sons. HPD still held many old friends that
cooperated with the former head of Five-0. Dan wondered how all this set with
the two top officers of Five-0. Neither knew well nor appreciated the two old
veterans who maintained such powerful influences on the local law enforcement
community. He decided not to ask since it would put Chase in a compromising
position and because he really didn't care. That was all part of the past. He
was concerned with the future.
Williams wished he had some of Steve's
famous Irish luck and charm working in his favor now. Home-grown fundamentalists,
historians, and traditionalists all objected to his choice of honoree for the
dedication tomorrow. Perhaps all the headway he made with his ohana appeals
would disintegrate with this grand gesture. He did not expect any overt
violence or threat to anyone's life, but felt there would be some kind of ugly
demonstration and possibly vocal harassment from some paid political agitators
in the crowd. Hawaiian Nationalists and Kumu knew how
to play to the sympathies of the native Polynesian population and had tried to
turn that against him on numerous occasions. The ploy had only limited success
because of his own profound sincerity with salvaging
"Well, I've made a few enemies here and
there, especially the Kumu. I trust everything is
covered for tomorrow."
"Yes, sir. HPD and Five-0 are on it. Do
I think they pose any special threat tomorrow? No, Five-0 has uncovered no
evidence of that, and I personally don't see any reason they should resort to
such public violence. But I'm watching for them anyway, including Alika and Pauli Tanaka."
"Sounds good, Chase. Now, I think you
better get me home before I'm late for the luau. I think we just have time to
make it."
"Take you home?"
"You're my security escort,
right?"
"Was I that obvious, sir?"
"I won't tell your boss, Chase, don't
worry."
"Which boss would that be,
Governor?"
"Don't get cheeky," Williams
smiled, "or I'll tell Lynd. He'll probably
assign you to protect McGarrett."
Chase groaned, only half-kidding.
"Please, Governor, anything but that!"
Footnotes:
(1) TALONS OF THE DRAGON
(2) WOE TO WO FAT: Conclusion
Steve turned to glance at the assembled
people scattered on the manicured lawn edging the sand. Never one to indulge or
circulate through a crowd, this gathering was different. Atypically, he mingled
and chatted. These were his ohana: Lukelas, Ben Kokua and family; Jenny Sherman, their former secretary,
and her husband; assorted Kellys; Daniel Kulani and his calabash -- extremely extended -- family.
There were long-time supporters of Dan's ecology efforts and campaigns: Richard
DeMorra and Kimba Rose;
Judge Carol Baldwin; Dr. Dawn Holliday, the Medical Examiner, and a neighbor
residing on the Koko Head side of the estate; Thomas Magnum, who'd purchased
the security business from McGarrett and Williams. Rick Wright arrived with
Jonathan Higgins, Chairman of the Board of the King Kamehameha Club and
colleague of McGarrett's and Williams' in numerous
charities. The only one of the old guard not in attendance was Kono Kalakaua,
who's duties as Chief of Police in
A few current officers from the Five-0 ranks
mingled: Nephi Hilton and family, along with Suzy Kelly and family and some HPD
officers. Most appeared to be casually fraternizing. Some were a bit too wary,
a little too intent on the almost hidden earplug-phones. The equipment and
demeanor betrayed those on security detail like the vigilant Lt. Wolfe and all
the Five-0 detectives.
So, Five-0 -- Chase -- WAS on the ball,
Steve concluded with satisfaction. This might seem like a calabash family
(close friends, not necessarily blood-relatives) luau, but there was no casual
relaxation for the well armed guests currently employed by the state. Good cops
all, they were never completely off duty. Speaking of Chase he noted the
detective and the prominent host, were absent. Resisting the urge to call Danno
on the cell phone, he decided to wait a few more minutes. No sense panicking,
or letting anyone think he was a nervous old tutu, grandmother.
*****
Rush hour traffic still clogged the H-1, but
the limousine made good time, helped along largely by the motorcycle escort. In
the comfortable back seat, Dan glanced out the tinted side window, wondering
what his constituents thought of the excessive display of force. It would
probably be read as indulgence. At least the limo was an extended luxury
"Hope we're not running on Hawaiian
time tonight, Governor."
"Don't worry, Sandi, they'll wait for
me," Williams countered dryly.
"Yes, sir. But I'll get us there
wikiwiki."
"Safely and wikiwiki," Chase
corrected.
Despite the traffic they made good progress.
Officer Sandi Welles was his driver for the evening
and she had earned top marks for her driving skills. Dan had liked her since
she assisted Five-0 on cases back in the 70's, but always made sure she was the
driver when he did not have important paperwork or meetings during the trip.
She was a first class marksman, detective, trained chauffeur, but she seemed to
never stop talking!
"Of course, sir," Sandi insisted.
"I wouldn't make a mistake with the Governor aboard."
Chase grinned. "Not like you did during
that banquet."
The fair-skinned, blond policewoman blushed
so deeply even the back of her neck turned red. Dan stifled a laugh. Even he
remembered the infamous incident when she left her cell phone on and received a
call, interrupting his speech. Lynd had nearly
suspended her. She had been trying to get back in the Five-0 boss's good graces
ever since. That was one reason Dan requested her as his driver. She might be a
little irritating sometimes, but Dan completely trusted her with his life.
As they sped toward the end of the freeway,
merging into lanes for
Williams' seatbelt held, hitting his chest
with a blow. The jarring crash knocked his head into the bullet-proof side
window and for a moment his vision irised to black as
the car rocked to a standstill. Before his vision cleared, the limo slammed
into reverse, Sandi trying to free the car and get her VIP out of danger. The
truck wedged nearly on top of them and after a moment of agonizing screeches of
metal on metal, Sandi gave up. In the next instant Aki had Williams by the arm
and pushed him from the car, moving him to an unmarked vehicle just screeching
to a halt behind the limo. Tossed into the backseat, they sped off before Aki
closed the car door.
"Are you all right, Governor?"
Chase asked, assessing Williams' head and face as he dialed a cell phone.
"Fine."
Eyesight finally adjusted, head pounding,
Dan looked out the back window. Feeling part of an adventure movie, he watched
as plainclothes officers, pistols drawn, covered the driver who had staggered
out of the cab. A ball of orange fire puffed around the truck, the popping
sound of explosions barely discernible. Seconds later he gasped as the limo
folded from the force of a blast.
"Sandi!"
"She got out," Aki assured,
pocketing his cell phone. "Another unit is bringing her to the hospital
just to make sure she's okay. You'll see her there."
"Hospital?"
Chase tapped his own temple. "Can't
have you arriving at your luau wounded."
Dan touched his face, wincing at the tender,
puffy, damp skin. The roaring headache and slight bleeding testified to minor
injury. Standard procedure insisted he go to the nearest hospital. He leaned
back, forcing the pain out of his skull -- at least far enough for thoughts to
share the brain space . . . the first notion being the familiar recognition
that Steve was right again.
*****
Strolling over to a line of palm trees, McGarrett
stopped, apparently observing the sunset. Noiselessly appearing beside him was
a lithe, wavy-haired man dressed in casual clothes. Looking at him, no one
would guess the man was an ex-Intelligence operative, a ninja and former member
of the dreaded Black Dragons of Japan. Jonathon Raven had crossed his path
several times when Steve ran Aikane Security. They might seem like unlikely
associates, but Raven's commando-type methods worked. Originally coming to the
"Looks like the Governor has bodyguards
tripping over each other," Jonathan mildly observed. "I appreciate
the invite, Steve, but I don't think you need my services."
A stocky, bearded man with a plate full of
food and a bottle of beer joined them. Ski, short for Jablonski,
filled the role of associate, side-kick and friend to Raven. Serving together
in
Ski offered them some food which Raven and
McGarrett declined.
"Don't go sayin'
that so fast, Jonathon, we could use the work. Not that you ever run out of
money, but I sure do. And we don't want to insult our friends and their
generous Hawaiian hospitality." Jablonski smiled
at McGarrett, then continued in his Southern twang. "You were saying how
much you needed our services?"
"These people are the Governor's
friends," McGarrett nodded at the gathered guests. "They're trained
professionals and all efficient in their jobs. You -- gentlemen -- are unique.
You could spot the unusual, the detail that might make the difference. In any
crowd you can be invisible." Assessing Raven, he added, "I don't
expect anyone to know you're watching over Governor Williams. I just expect you
to protect him from things that might be missed by the others."
"What makes you so sure your friend is
in the sights of the bad guys?" Ski asked.
"My gut instinct," he responded,
daring the men to refute the statement.
"Good enough for me," Ski admitted
after a moment. With a wave he returned to the food tables.
Raven nodded and walked away, seemlessly melting into the crowd.
A flash of color caught in the corner of
Steve's eye. He followed the blur of a young girl, his goddaughter, darting in
and out of the trees just down the beach. Then a boy, his godson, in a bright
aloha shirt, his pant legs rolled up to the knees, dashed from behind a tree
into the surf. Seconds later the slighter, younger sister in a similar outfit
chased him along the sand toward McGarrett. Several other children followed,
but the race was clearly between the antagonistic pair in the lead. Whooping
with laughter, the two raced toward the outrigger beached just a few feet away
from him. Smiling, he watched as the taller young man tagged the canoe with his
hand and triumphantly giggled at his rival, who touched the boat a few seconds
later.
"Told you I'd beat you, Angie. I always
do," he taunted lightly. "You're a sucker."
In response the girl shoved him into the
canoe. "I'll beat you someday," she vowed, breathless from the
competition.
The others ran up and tagged the canoe. They
backed away as they noticed the imposing figure of McGarrett. The pair of
racers looked up, startled to speechlessness. The others scattered, leaving the
boy and girl, Stephen and Angel Williams, to face the adult. The sweet
fragrance of fresh hibiscus touched him an instant before an arm intimately
wrapped around his. Smiling, he glanced down at Kelly Williams, clinging
affectionately to his arm.
"Hooligans the pair of them," she
grinned with pride at her son and daughter despite her flippant designation.
"You're not supporting this, are you, Steve?"
"An innocent bystander," he
insisted virtuously.
He studied the offenders, then appraised the
charming woman next to him. No doubt to anyone the bubbling children were
related to the vivacious lady: auburn hair, dark complexions, the hint of
Pacific heritage in the exotic, dark blue eyes. The red hibiscus over her left
ear gave her aloha print dress and her face a hint of a mysterious, ethnic
beauty. With their arrival, his paradise was nearly complete.
"We can explain, mom," the eleven
year old boy volunteered as he struggled up out of the canoe. With a hand of
assistance from his sister he completed the task and inelegantly dusted sand
off his clothes. "You asked us to entertain the little kids -- "
The sister interrupted. "And we thought
a race would be --"
"Nevermind,"
the mother smiled. "And not a word of encouragement to them, Steve."
"I won't," he agreed, but gave
them a wink. "But you two better race in to the house and get cleaned up
before your father gets here."
"Lucky for you he's on Hawaiian time
again," she told her children in mock reproof.
Both miscreants smiled. "Thanks, Uncle
Steve," the girl yelled as she slapped her brother on the back, jolting him
off balance and giving her a head start.
"Dan must be here," Mrs. Williams
deduced. "Syd is moving in for the kill."
McGarrett noted the crowd gravitating toward
the house. Guests maneuvered for advantageous positions. Officer Nephi Hilton assessed
everyone with sharp observation as the big cop gravitated to the back door. A
short, stocky Hawaiian man bustled through the crowd and Hilton dogged him,
alert for any threat he might represent. Suzi Kelly
strolled over to chat with Mrs. Williams, but Steve noted the Five-0
policewoman warily watched the crowd, the beach, as she visited with her old
friend.
Steve studied the Eurasian beauty on his
arm, easily detecting the aggravation in her tone. A loving and loyal wife, she
became protective when the political leeches crowded Dan. Steve felt the same
way, but managed to conceal his dislike with a little more tact. Kelly could
openly object to members of the Governor's retinue, but McGarrett was really
nothing more than a family friend. He had no rights or privileges for
expressing opinions in public. In private, well, he was never shy about giving
Danno advice. Offering pointers to others, like Chase or Lynd,
was also unofficial and off the record, but it never went further than their
ears. Dealing with the machinery of politics was something he left to Dan, and
to the necessary evils; campaign managers and advisors, like Syd Samuels.
Even for an official function the security
seemed tight; for a casual gathering it was excessive. McGarrett's
sixth sense kicked to alert status when he realized the detectives' intent
attention to messages over the earsets.
"Should we go rescue him?"
Steve wondered, momentarily concerned his
friend was literally smothered by the crowd. It was a security nightmare, but he
saw Lynd on point, with Chase glued to the Governor's
side. Nephi Hilton, then Lt. Wolfe of HPD, had somehow squeezed in like
bookends to buffer Williams from the others. Although this was a private party,
security was efficient and unusually taut. Pleased Chase had taken his
admonitions, McGarrett breathed a little easier.
"Maybe we should just wait."
"Fine with me," she agreed,
observing the crush with distaste. "Syd is
pressuring Dan to announce a bid for reelection. Did he mention it to
you?"
"No."
The question was a matter of public debate,
but Steve still felt disappointed that the time was upon Williams to make a
decision. With renewed popularity due to the ohana sentiment, the majority of
citizens of
In the difficult position of supporting his
closest friend in whatever decision was made, Steve empathized with Kelly. For
the good of the state and future of
With a wave the Governor acknowledged them,
finally weaving through the well wishers with Mack Wolfe as his shadow. It
wasn't until he was nearly face-to-face that they saw the small bandage on the
side of Dan's head.
"Just a minor traffic accident,"
he brushed off, giving his wife a kiss and hug. Over her head his expression to
his friend promised an explanation later.
Aware of the not-so-subtle presence of more
officers, they sauntered down the beach, McGarrett tingling with impatient
anxiety. Wolfe discretely stayed several paces back and Steve knew others were lurking
nearby.
"What kind of accident?" Kelly
insisted. "You're supposed to have a protected limo -- "
"A drunk driver in a big truck,"
Dan explained quickly. "Lynd personally handled
everything. He met me at the hospital." Kelly carefully touched the bandage,
her distress turning to alarm. "Just a scrape, really, dear," Dan
assuaged calmly and kissed her. "We swung by the hospital, just as a
precaution, and I'm fine. That's why I'm so late. But this time it really
wasn't my fault I was on Hawaiian time." He offered a smile that failed to
reassure her.
"It's a bad omen."
"No, it's a local juiced up on Primo
who's never going to drive again," he countered lightly. The tone did not
convince his audience, and he tried again with forced cheeriness. "So,
you're supposed to be the guest of honor, Steve, why am I the popular
one?"
After a beat. "You have all the luck,
Danno," playing along with the game. Dan didn't want Kelly any more
spooked than she already was, so Steve would hold his tongue. For now.
"Don't let him con you," Kelly
countered, relaxing a little. "He got an even bigger reception than you,
Dan."
"Maybe they want YOU to run for
governor, Steve!"
"You know my answer to that,
Danno."
"All right, let's not talk politics, or
business or anything serious tonight, okay?" She took both Steve's and
Dan's arms. "Let's party. No worries, no pressures, just a celebration of
Five-0's most notorious cop."
Steve's grinned mischievously. "Oh, you
mean your husband's past exploits -- "
"Don't go there, Steve," Williams
warned.
"Okay. Not tonight," he promised
with a grin.
Seated on low tables in the sand, the huge
crowd ate traditional kalua pig, poi, lomi salmon and assorted untraditional
additions. Flickering torchlight wavered in the night breeze. A Hawaiian band played
old standards and new ballads as old friends reminisced and relived a colorful
past. Touched by so many well-wishers in one place and time, McGarrett found
himself growing alternately nostalgic and disconcerted as the evening
progressed. It felt worse than retirement, and he put down the feeling to
anxiety over the ceremony on the morrow. Public accolades were sentimental and
he disliked such personal scrutiny. The unrestricted speculations and reminders
of the past were unavoidable but distasteful. He would rather live a quiet life
now. Somehow he knew that was not in his destiny.
During the evening he met with Rick, who had
no new information on Alika, Mano
or any others. His new assignment would be to discover every possible detail of
the crash. Chase also claimed no new tidbits, but McGarrett was less certain of
that source. Thomas Lynd circulated, refusing to wear
the fresh lei offered all guests because it detracted from the cut of his
expensive suit. Like a politician, he was seen by many and saw those who
mattered. After a few moments with the Williams' he paused next to McGarrett.
"I wager you're anticipating tomorrow
as much as the Governor," Lynd commented
politely, his cultured British accent lending the civility lacking in his cool
gaze. "He's gone to great trouble to make everything perfect."
"He's lucky to be here to enjoy
it," Steve snapped.
"My people saved the Governor's life
today!"
"It should have never been risked in
the first place."
"It was an accident, plain and simple, McGarrett.
Unless you have evidence otherwise?" He received a glare as an answer.
"I thought not. You are seeing mobsters behind every palm tree, McGarrett.
You are paranoid."
"Not at all. I'm concerned for the
Governor. I'm a cautious man by nature."
"And yet you declined an escort for
tomorrow. How can we protect you if you won't let us?"
The words almost echoed from the past, so
many times he'd disregarded his own safety in favor of the case or other
considerations.
"I have business at the airport,"
he vaguely explained. "My safety doesn't concern me. The Governor's
does."
"As it concerns me," Lynd stressed sternly. "Hawaiian Nationalists and
Governor Williams are taken care of, McGarrett. Just worry about your speech
for tomorrow. I'll oversee the rest. It will be a great day for him, but you
seem unimpressed."
"I prefer backstage these days."
"Well, I heard you were less than
pleased with security arrangements." The tone matched the eyes now, frosty
and distant.
"No, I just wanted to make sure
everyone was doing their job," McGarrett countered, his words designed to
antagonize the arrogant policeman. Devilment and anger urged him on to accuse,
"The Governor's life is in Five-0's hands. It's not a trivial trust."
"And you're implying that we are
treating it as such?
"After today's accident I think you
need improvement."
"The Governor's safety is in my hands
personally, McGarrett. Let me do my job!"
Watching the Brit walk away, Steve wondered
why they disliked and antagonized each other, and came up with no suitable
answer.
People talked or danced for some time, but
McGarrett stayed in the background. Never a chatty party person, he talked with
selected guests and friends or visited with the Williams children. Chase gave
him details about the crash but not enough to satisfy the former cop.
Dan, cornered by Syd,
relocated the vigorous conversation into the house with Detective Hilton close
behind. An irritated Kelly took the children in to prepare for bed. After the
crowds drifted away Steve sought solitude on the shore. Walking along the surf
he lost track of the time. He didn't realize the party was over until he
encountered Wolfe escorting Dr. Holliday home. Wolfe revealed no more facts
about the accident, although Steve suspected he knew a lot about what had
happened.
Outwardly, the couple seemed so mismatched.
Holliday was sophisticated, beautiful, elegant and incredibly intelligent.
Wolfe on the other hand, was very rough around the edges, a former Army MP, now
a tough-as-nails cop with a reputation for high living and spending. Most of
that was in his past, now, according to McGarrett's
myriad sources. The beefy, broad Wolfe was smitten by the petite, vivacious
blond ME, and the feelings seemed reciprocated. Arms casually draped around
each other, their intimate ease reflected the affection, maybe more, which
sparked between them when their eyes met. Neither a gossip nor a romantic
busybody, Steve was still aware of those around him, and this couple needed
little interpretation of their body language.
"Good luck with your speech
tomorrow," Holliday told him. "Sorry I'll miss it. I have to
work."
"So do I," Wolfe proclaimed in a
bid for sympathy.
She jabbed him in the ribs. "My job's
harder. Did I tell you about the autopsy I'm doing tomorrow?"
Around a bite of his ubiquitous red licorice
he teased, "My job's harder." He gave a wry glance to Steve. "I
have to guard your neighbors."
"I think you drew the short
straw," McGarrett told the HPD Lieutenant.
Bidding him good-night, they continued on to
Holliday's house. Returning to the Williams' yard, he found only one person
backlit in the torchlight.
"So what happened, Danno?"
Williams related his collision report,
certain it was an unhappy accident. Having no facts to support an alternate
theory, McGarrett chose to remain vague in his suspicions. He once more
stressed caution.
"Nervous about tomorrow?" Dan
changed the subject as he strolled with his friend.
Reluctantly Steve dropped his repeated pleas
for circumspection. "Only of you embarrassing me."
"I promise, I won't," Dan beamed.
"Well, not too much. Maybe I'll be brief and let you read the rest. But
you can't deny me this chance at honoring you, Steve. It's been so long overdue
and it's something you deserve."
Overcoming his dislike of public accolades, he
accepted the compliment as graciously as possible. "Well, you're the
Governor -- "
"I've heard THAT before!" Williams
laughed, "In almost the same tone, too with poor Jameson. Now I know a
little of what he had to endure with you!"
"Me?" McGarrett's
tone denied. "I do appreciate the gesture, Danno, but you know I hate the
publicity."
"I'll restrain myself. Trust me."
He ignored the sceptical glare from his friend.
"Too bad Agnes won't be here to share your moment of glory. Did she tell
you the stars are in your favor?" Dan grinned at his own jibe, then
laughed noting McGarrett did not share the humor.
McGarrett forced a bland expression to cover
his displeasure at the joke about his ladyfriend and
her profession. "I don't need to consult the stars about tomorrow."
Reunions with his on-again/off-again
intimate Agnes DuBois were warm, stormy and
delightful. A renowned spiritualist, they met on a case decades ago when she
read horoscopes for a living. She successfully predicted the next murder of a
serial killer, claiming his attention and curiosity, even suspicion at first.
After their first date she was under his skin enough to ask her out frequently.
Often he clashed with her philosophies, yet remained magnetically drawn to her
charm, wit and beauty. Still residing in
Steve did not want to mention she broke that
long-standing decree last night when she phoned him and all but predicted
ill-fortune for the gathering on the morrow. He didn't need his stars read to
know what instinct told him so clearly. Trouble was brewing on the Hawaiian
horizon and his best friend was right in the center of the target. Still
irritated at her fanciful, metaphysical predilections, he intended to discuss
the problem tomorrow -- after the ceremony -- when Danno was out of danger.
They walked in silence to the end of the
property. Leaning against a palm tree, McGarrett watched the undulating waves
shimmer in the silvery glow of moonlight. Somewhere along
"So how long you staying in
"Probably go back home tomorrow
night," McGarrett replied. "Agnes will be here for a few weeks before
a seminar in
"It'll be good to see her again."
"Yeah, it will, Danno."
"You going with her to
"I haven't decided."
Williams leaned on the tree, shoulder to
shoulder with his friend. "The kids have never been to
McGarrett stared. "What, just pick up
and leave for a family vacation?"
"Something like that." He paused,
choosing his words carefully, trying too hard to be casual. "I'll be
pretty busy the next few months, finishing up all the campaign promises and
everything before November. I want to break Kumu for
good, and get that development ban finished for
The tone alerted him, and McGarrett
scrutinized his companion. Something was going on with his friend and Steve
hoped it was good news. Williams' expression conveyed a sense of doubt, and
Steve jumped in with both feet.
"What? Something's up, Danno, what is
it? You're running for reelection?"
"I wanted you to be the first to know.
No, I won't be running again."
McGarrett laughed from relief. Never
realizing the tense anxiety over his friend's safety, McGarrett released a deep
sigh and put an arm around Williams.
"Great, Danno, great," he sighed
in heartfelt satisfaction. "That's what Syd was
upset about?"
"Yeah, I told him I wouldn't run. He
said some very flattering things, calling my ohana plea the 'ohana
campaign.' Then he realized he couldn't change my mind, so he said some very
unfaltering things which I won't repeat." Grinning, he confessed,
"Nephi escorted him to the door. So, one more enemy, I guess," he finished
with a shrug.
Dismissing the annoying man from his mind,
McGarrett declared his relief at the decision. Williams admitted his own sense
of release. The upcoming ceremony created enough stress and old scandals, he
didn't need another four years of attacks. He was ready to turn his attention
to his family.
"You should tell Kelly, she's been
worried. The accident didn't help."
McGarrett released his hold, but Williams
held on. "Let's both go. This calls for a celebration with my ohana."
*****
He could have sent a driver, or even a limo,
but McGarrett always liked the personal touch of meeting his loved ones at the
airport. Alohas were never easy when saying good-bye, but were so pleasant when
greeting. Today his 'aloha' would be a bit astringent he admitted as he
rehearsed his comments for Agnes and her earth-muffin philosophies. Morning
rush hour traffic on the H-1 thinned and he had time -- just none to spare --
to meet Agnes and return for the ceremony, as long as the flight from
The tempestuous relationship was an
alternating blessing and trial in Steve's life, but mostly a blessing. Agnes Du Bois' unusual assistance on the 'Horoscope murders' as
the press labeled them, initiated an intense chemistry sparked between the two
volatile personalities. Time together between the ex-cop and the earthy,
transplanted British new-ager proved an adventurous
and arduous journey. As always, when he thought of her, affection overcame aggravation
and he was anxious to see her again.
The abrupt broadside hit knocked his head
into the steering wheel. Dazed, he fought from plunging off the road as a sugar
cane truck slammed into him again. Vision blurred from another blow on the
head, he nearly missed the shape of a shotgun coming out of the truck's window.
Slamming on the brakes, he ducked as the windshield shattered from the gun
blast. The car skidded over the embankment and into a grassy ravine.
*****
"This is not like Steve," Williams
insisted as he paced inside the front double doors of
"He'll be here," Kelly insisted,
adjusting the ilima and maile
leaf leis traditionally worn by alii. Everyone on the program wore them, McGarrett's still clutched in Williams' hand. "You're
strangling it, dear," she warned, rescuing the leis. "He's making an
entrance."
Staring out the windows with a grim set to
his features, Dan shook his head. "Something's wrong. Maybe that accident
-- " He glanced at her, aware the speculations of danger weren't helping
her nerves.
Agitatedly brushing her husband's jacket,
Kelly's tentative confidence thinned. "Last night you kept insisting
everything was fine, Governor. Be still and be patient." She stopped when
her fingers rubbed the outline of the thin body armor under his suit.
He noted the distressed expression and
reassuringly squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, nothing will happen. Steve
just insisted --"
"Good," she agreed. "He
doesn't want anything left to chance and neither do I."
Lynd issued last minute instructions to Officers Welles, Hilton and Kelly. Sandi was warned twice to keep
her cell phone off. Lynd would not tolerate another
embarrassing inturruption from his officers. Only
Williams' intervention kept Welles on the front lines
now because he knew Sandi, knew the others and trusted them with his life and
the lives of his loved ones. He wouldn't have it any other way. Despite Lynd's cautions, Dan asked him to keep his cell phone on in
case McGarrett contacted him. Steve phoning Lynd with
an emergency was unlikely, but possible. He wouldn't care if Steve called the
band director, as long as word got through that his friend was all right.
"The time, Governor Williams," Lynd urged.
Ignoring the comment he glared at Lynd who was irritatingly calm, intently observing him.
"Have you checked the airport? Maybe Agnes 's flight was late. Why didn't
he just send a driver?" he asked everyone and no one.
Kelly firmly took him by the arm and
cornered him by the koa wood balustrade.
"Governor, you are more nervous than when I went into labor the first
time! Chill! He's all right. He has to be! Steve is not going to miss
this." Her voice softened. "It's too important to you."
He ran a hand through his gray hair. "I
know. It's important to Steve, too, but he doesn't show it as visibly as I
do."
"We need to get out there,
Governor," Lynd called. "The band's gone
through the cue song twice already." To emphasize the top man's duty he
stood behind Dan. "We're running late, sir."
"Keep a lid on your British
punctuality, Lynd. We're on Hawaiian time today.
Nobody minds a little wait in the sun. Whose checking on Steve?"
"Chase and Wolfe. They haven't reported
back yet. As soon as McGarrett shows, we'll get him on the stand. There is no
need to worry, sir. That drunk, Kalama, was the only threat Hawaiian
Nationalists will carry out, I promise you."
Lynd had identified the driver as a repeat DUI offender
and a member of Hawaiian Nationalists. Holding a grudge against Williams,
spotting the limo was more than he could pass up. Kalama was securely in jail
and there was no evidence of any conspiracy.
"You need to get out there,
Governor."
In agreement, Kelly tugged her husband
toward the doors. "I'll make a few calls, dear. You have time. I padded
the program with lots of history and stuffy professors, remember? You big shots
come last."
"Don't you want to be on the
stand?"
"No, you go ahead, I'll try to find
Steve." With a smirk she quipped, "You could always have Syd fill in if Steve doesn't make it."
That brought a short laugh from him.
"Yeah, except we're not on speaking terms anymore. Ohana was only skin
deep with him."
Sarcastically she countered, "You're
too controversial today, love." She handed him the mangled leis then gave
him a quick kiss. "Break a leg."
Exiting the Palace to overwhelming applause,
Dan plastered on a smile he didn't feel and waved to the crowd. The morning was
sunny and bright, belaying the contentions swirling around him. What should
have been one of the best days of his life, and Steve's, was being slowly
eroded by the minute. He wondered if the Hawaiian gods were inflicting some
wrath on him for misdeeds to his aina. Slightly mollified
by the sight of so many friends in the audience, he forced himself to relax.
The morning newspaper and news shows
splashed Syd Samuel's statements into the forefront.
Bitter at the rejection the night before, Syd
unloaded his vituperation on everyone who would listen. Breaking the news Dan
would not run for reelection, Syd and others
speculated on the old scandals. Plenty of unsavory theories completely
overshadowed the Palace rededication. It would have overwhelmed the ceremony,
except that the occasion sparked even more suspicions about
Williams'/Five-0's/McGarrett's past. Consequently, reporters from the
Ignoring the all too close cameras and
settling into his seat on the podium, Williams scanned the crowd. No sign of
Steve. Down the driveway, no car racing up at the last minute, tires
screeching, and Steve running out. Not like the old days now. His eyes caught
Five-0 and HPD personnel warily weaving through the crowd. Sandi Welles and Nephi Hilton were close to Kelly. Thomas Magnum,
the former PI who now ran their security business, Rick Wright, Ben Kokua and some other old friends were toward the front of
the stand, almost in a defensive posture. Big Kono Kalakaua was noticeably
absent. Guess he couldn't get away from his duties in
He was no longer second-in-command of
Five-0. Leaving to investigate the mystery, no matter how close to his heart,
was impossible. Sometimes authority and duty could not grant what he truly
needed or wanted. Logic did nothing to ease his mind and he forced himself to
focus on the task at hand. No matter how much he wanted to call off the
ceremony, he could not. Friends and family were here in force to support this
important recognition of Five-0 and Steve and the Palace. Dan could not
disappoint them, or Steve.
The Hawaiian Nationalists protesters, as
promised, had a vocal and large contingent just outside the Palace gates, but
thanks to the threatening letter the group had a restraining order to not come
close to the Governor. While lawyers argued the rights of the protesters, at
least this day he would have some leeway. More unhappy constituents. He
expected Pauli Tanaka, always a hot-head, to storm
the gates or something. Five-0 was alerted to such a stunt, but Williams no
longer worried about the inconsequential dramatics. It all seemed a little
removed and displaced to him now. Instead, that terrible old fear in the center
of his heart was resurrected, the fear for Steve's life. It had been a while
since that awful dread clutched him so tight he could hardly breath, but today
it was back like a bad nightmare. All his instincts told him something had
happened to Steve, and nothing else mattered. The protests, the reelection, the
hate, the danger to himself, were all receded into insignificance. Steve was in
trouble, and as was frequently his fate in the past, he could do nothing
personally to help.
*****
McGarrett heard people talking over the loud
thundering in his head. Hands gently pulled at his shoulders and tugged his
foot away from something confining. Opening his eyes, he stared up at the sky,
through the starred, shattered glass of the windshield and twisted metal of
what used to be the car's roof. With aid he crawled out of the wrecked car
before his mind completely comprehended he had been in an accident. Dazed, he
sat on the grass, bleeding head cradled in his hands.
Slowly memories of his destination filtered
through the painful throbbing between his ears. Airport. He had been going to
pick up Agnes . Ceremony. The ceremony at the Palace. If there had ever been
any doubts about a threat to Danno's life, this hit
certainly dispelled them! To try such an overt shooting of McGarrett, meant
that the bad guys expected him to be dead. Then Williams was as good as dead.
Wiping the blood out of one eye, he blinked
until his vision no longer blurred. Several people chattered questions at him
while others were scrambling down the embankment to help. They solicitously
gave advice, held a cloth to his head wound and assured him he would live.
Asking the time, he realized the ceremony
was already underway. How long had he been out? Irrelevant. Sternly pushing
away the assistants, he struggled to his feet and asked if any one could drive
him into
"How fast can you drive that
thing?" Steve asked, already stumbling toward the highway.
The young man in cut-offs and a surf T-shirt
helped him. "Can go fast as you want, bruddah. Long as you pay da ticket,
eh, bra?"
McGarrett accepted his offer and asked any
witnesses to stay at the scene for HPD officers. Climbing into the high, open
vehicle, McGarrett felt every ache and bump from the accident and the rheumatic
discomforts from years of gunshots, accidents and injuries. The physical
distress was nothing compared to his mental anxiety as they raced toward the
city.
Unable to raise Lynd
or Chase on their cell phones, he contacted HPD dispatch and identified
himself, explaining the attempt on his life. This put the Governor's accident
in a new perspective and McGarrett's urgency
increased.
"It's crucial to protect the
Governor!" he shouted to the woman on the other end of the line.
"Full HPD alert! I also need HPD to pick up an Agnes Du
Bois at the airport, she could be a target as well. Also, I am in a black Jeep
heading downtown on the H-1. If any patrol car spots us, we'd appreciate a code
red escort." If the HPD woman had a problem with a former officer issuing
such arrogant orders, she never said. Hearing a promise that his warnings would
be heeded, McGarrett tried Lynd's and Chase's phones
again. Finally connecting with Aki Chase, the second-in-command was on his way.
Juggling the phone in one hand and holding
onto the roll bar with the other, Steve nearly regretted his request for speed.
Swerving around some slow cars, Steve almost lost the phone out the open door.
"Guess I should've asked if you could
drive," he complained.
"Eh, Pipeline, dat's
me, eh. I slide tru dees
cars like deh smokin'
waves, bra. Gonna get you downtown wikiwiki, dat's wha' you ask fo', eh? Is sum heavy stuff, man, savin'
the Gov'nor and stuff."
Steve rubbed the side of his head, willing
the headache to leave. The disorienting pain, the suicidal zigzag speeding, and
the incomprehensible slang of his chauffeur were making him ill. When they
missed a minivan by mere inches, he diverted his eyes, for the first time
noting the Rose company logo etched on the dash and a crystal rose marker
indented into the gear shift knob. He recognized the Jeep as one Richard DeMorra usually drove.
He speed dialed another number, listening to
the rings.
"This is Richard DeMorra's
Jeep, isn't it?" Steve asked his driver.
Suspiciously, Pipeline evaded. "Eh,
Richard, he's aikane, like ohana. We tight like seaweed, bra."
McGarrett didn't even try to figure that
out. "Is this vehicle stolen?"
"No way, man."
He nodded. "Just get us to the
Palace."
Frustrated with the endlessly ringing phone,
McGarrett hung up and tried to reach Raven again.
Finally Raven answered. "Jonathon,
where are you?"
"The side of the Palace. When the phone
rang I was chased away by some overzealous --"
"You're not by the Governor?"
"No what's --"
"Someone just ran me off the road.
They'll try and hit Danno!"
"He hasn't spoken yet -- "
"Don't let him!"
"Right," Raven responded and clicked
off.
On surface streets now, an HPD patrol car
slid into the lane ahead of them, lights and sirens flashing. Relieved,
McGarrett knew his admonitions were being obeyed despite his unofficial
capacity. Alongside the Jeep a convertible Camaro
slipped in with Mack Wolfe driving, Aki Chase beside him. Chase held up a cell
phone and McGarrett's beeped.
"Thanks, Chase. Any word from officers
at the Palace?"
"Nothing, sir."
"You can't reach anyone? What's going
on?"
"Lynd makes
everyone turn off the cell phones during a public event."
"What?"
"It's a long story."
"Nevermind,
just keep trying."
As they zigzagged through the streets at top
speeds, Pipeline handled the car with the precision of a pro.
"Hey, you got da kine
big deal goin' on, bra. Like, we gonna
get shot at or somting? Cause, hey, dis ain't my Jeep, ya know."
"Don't worry, I'll square it with
Richard if anything happens to the Jeep."
"You will? Right on, bra! I gonna keep you round fo
awhile."
McGarrett was not too absorbed in his own
dread to forget to thank the surfer. He would have to come up with a more
appropriate recognition when this was over. The dispatcher called him back,
confirming contact with an HPD detective at the Palace, who assured everything
was fine. The ceremony was underway and all was well. Relieved Danno was still
safe, his sixth sense was telling him the invulnerability would not last.
*****
Lynd, seated next to Williams, nudged his arm. With a
start Dan realized the historian speaking was finishing. It was his turn to say
a few words about Five-0 and Steve and introduce the man of the hour. Wiping
sweat from his forehead, he knew heat was due to his nerves and the extra
padding rather than the Hawaiian temperature. Glancing around as he took his
place, he could hardly breathe from the weight of anxiety pressing his chest.
How could he speak and act normally when Steve was in trouble? To stall for
time, he asked the Royal Hawaiian Band to play another old favorite. A
plainclothes officer discretely whispered something to Lynd,
who gave a nod and whispered to the Governor that McGarrett was located and was
on his way. The knot of tension in his chest dissipated with palpable relief.
Shaky from bottled fear, he went to the podium. Leaning heavily on the solid
wood, he saw the very noticable -- elegant,
red-haired, classy -- Agnes Du Bois, join Kelly at
the edge of the gathering. Dan smiled, satisfied everything was okay. Steve had
probably come through the back of the Palace. He could go on with the program.
So much for his instincts.
Unsteady opening lines came from his mouth,
but as he read the words the shadow of his recent anguish clung close. He
thought all this was behind them after Five-0, but it wasn't. Old enemies
didn't forget, he knew, and he had never really stopped worrying for his
friend's safety. A Jeep angled through the front gates at the angry screams of
the protesters. It slammed to a stop just short of the crowd. McGarrett leaped
out of the passenger side of the car, waving frantically to Williams. From out of
nowhere Raven came toward the stand at a dead run.
*****
Aki Chase tried to stop the ex-Five-0 chief,
but McGarrett pushed him aside. "Get the Governor down!" Steve cried,
desperately waving to Williams. "Didn't you get my warning?" He
shoved the cop aside and barreled toward the stand. "Danno, get
down!"
Aware no one farther away than Chase could
hear him over the tumult of the crowd, McGarrett continued to shout warnings.
Williams stepped to the side of the podium. He never heard the first gunshot.
People at the rear of the stand fell backwards. Raven leaped up on the dais as
Williams was thrown back into the seats. Lynd tackled
Raven to the floor on the third shot.
In a delayed reaction, the excited confusion
of McGarrett's entrance shifted to the terror of
indiscriminate gunfire. Succeeding shots rang through the air as someone shoved
Steve to the ground, a weight on his back. The last shot echoed away before he
wrestled free and was on his feet, shoving against the panicked spectators
fleeing for their lives. Chase grabbed onto him, trying to hold him down or
cover him, but McGarrett tore loose again, racing to the platform.
Lynd, left arm bleeding and limp, was shouting and
gesturing in a direction behind McGarrett. Several HPDs
raced in the direction of
Williams lay on his back, blood seeping from
his chest and mouth. McGarrett scrambled up, clutching his friend, horrified at
the wound. He cried out for someone to call an ambulance, his numb mind
desperately screaming for a miracle.
"Danno!" he commanded. "Talk
to me, Danno!"
Williams eyelids fluttered open and he
looked to his friend, shock glazing the blue eyes.
"Danno," Steve's voice broke.
"Hold on," he pleaded in a broken whisper.
"Steve -- take -- " the eyes
closed. " -- care -- ohana . . . ."
"Danno! Danno!" McGarrett clutched
the still form in his arms. One hand pressed to the wounded man, he realized
blood was pouring through his fingers. Viscid liquid seeped from Williams'
mouth. "He's bleeding too much. Lung's hit. We've got to get him out of
here now!" he shouted; not sure if his voice carried past the dread
tightening his throat, eyes too blurred to see if anyone was nearby. By the
force of his will he would not let his friend die. There was still labored
breathing from the bullet-torn chest and he wouldn't let this life end here.
"Hang on. Hang on," he whispered, closing his eyes against the
burning tears.
Hands tugged at him to release his grip.
"Let's go!" said the second-in-command of Five-0.
Aki Chase and Thomas Magnum carried the
Governor off the stand, Hilton, Wolfe and Welles
covering with drawn pistols. The nearest car was Wolfe's Camero
and McGarrett climbed in the back, the officers carefully but quickly placing
Williams in next. Steve left a hand on the torn chest still pumping blood,
assuring Dan was still alive. HPD escorts and the officers riding shotgun were
peripheral notations. His only focus, only concern, was the life slipping away
in his arms. The hospital was only minutes away, but in those precious minutes
his friend could bleed to death. So close to him, Dan's face was waxenly pale against the copious splashes of blood.
They were almost at nearby Queen's hospital
before he wondered what had happened to Kelly, if she or Agnes were hurt, or
how the other victims had fared. He had a vague impression of seeing Agnes near
Kelly. Lynd, and others on the stand down and
bleeding, including the little old lady, Mrs. Pratt, who had ushered him off
the steps the day before. Where was security? Why hadn't anyone acted on the
warnings he phoned in on the way to
Moving through the corridors to the ER
blurred into a surreal montage of motion, sound and terror as Williams body was
carried to a stretcher and raced through the halls. Dr. David Kelly paused at
the door of the examination room and waved at him. Someone asked Steve to sit
down and he walked away, leaning against the wall of the ER, hearing the sound
of Lynd's voice drone around in his mind. The inner
pain was louder than the inquiries and he could only focus on his friend's
fight for life. Two nurses and Lynd ejected him from
the room to make more space for the trauma team.
At the doorway to the waiting room he leaned
his head back and stared at the ER entrance. A hand on his arm startled him out
of reverie. Agnes Du Bois, his beautiful, refined,
cool and composed friend clung to his arm lending calm, silent aid while tears
streaked down her face. Too unstable to speak, he simply hugged her with one
arm. Understanding his turmoil, she quietly explained in her soothing, cultured
Biritsh accent that Kelly was in an examination room,
a bullet graze on the leg being treated. Four others, including Lynd, were being treated for more serious wounds. Judge
Carol Baldwin was killed along with the elderly Mrs. Pratt and Professor Toshimoto. Agnes asked if he wanted her to stay and he
shook his head. With an understanding hug she said she would stay with Kelly
and left.
Activity in the always busy waiting room
weaved around him as if he was an untouchable citadel. Aware of Five-0 and HPD
officers, non-seriously injured casualties, and the other, regular patrons of
ER, he felt removed and detached from the routine business. The odor of his
friend's lifeblood still on his clothes and skin gave Steve a full sensory
attachment with the tragedy. Inside he ached with fear. Dan could very well die
and there was nothing he could do to stop the tragedy. Outside he itched with
dried blood and tears, stained with evidence of his failure to preserve a life
he treasured above everything.
*****
"Steve? Steve?"
McGarrett blinked, readjusting to the
surrounds, dragging his attention from the misery within to the real, painful
world. Dr. Daniel Kulani quietly repeated his name.
Dan's oldest childhood friend, and personal
physician, Kana (his Hawaiian name) Kulani's usually
bright face was grave, the customary energy drained from grief. Wearing
surgical greens Kulani's grey/blond hair made him
seem pale -- or was it the fear that drained his face? Arms and chest brushed
crimson with blood, Kulani's tall, slender form
exuded tragedy. Steve closed his eyes, refuting the visual evidence -- not so
much the clothes and expression, but the bright blue eyes brimming with tears.
"Steve," Kulani
gently repeated, "Dan's still alive."
Opening his eyes, Steve felt a shiver of fear
deep into his bones at the tears sliding down Kulani's
face. Kana assured again Williams was alive, but in extremely serious
condition. One bullet to the chest clipped a lung and the aorta of the heart,
causing internal bleeding. Out of surgery, the Governor was monitored in
post-op now, weak and unstable. Kana took Steve to the doctor's lounge where
stained clothes were exchanged for extras Kulani kept
there.
"I'd like you to come with me to tell
Kelly -- " he fought back a sob, while McGarrett cleaned away the evidence
of the catastrophe. "We have to talk to her, and the kids, of course. Tutu
is bringing them over."
So linked to Danno, he had given no thought
to his godchildren, whom he loved as if they were his own. He had spared no
attention to Kelly, who must be suffering more than he, as hard as that was to
imagine. Usually more disciplined and unselfish, he had wallowed in indulgent
pain for -- hours -- he saw, glancing at the clock. Time to pull himself
together. He had failed to keep Danno safe, and life or death was beyond his
abilities. Dan's fate rested in the hands of doctors and God. His duty now was
to take care of his ohana.
'Steve, take care -- ' Danno had admonished.
Take care of his ohana? He was sure the message was meant to convey that
message. Take care of himself? Steve didn't want to think the 'last words' were
so selflesslly for him -- for the friend who was not
careful enough to prevent this. Steve had failed in his primary duty already,
he would not fail in this secondary responsibility of keeping the Williams
family safe.
"Finish getting changed and cleaned
up," Kulani suggested, gesturing to McGarrett's appearance. "It would alarm the kids to
see you like that."
"You can't bring Stephen and Angel
here. Are they under guard? Kelly -- they need protection, they can't come
here. Too open -- "
"Steve!" Kana inturrupted,
pleadingly. "Steve, they have to --" his voice broke, "to say
good-bye to their father. You know how important that is, Steve."
When he was thirteen years old, Steve's
father had been killed, without a chance to say good-bye. Kulani
and Danno hardly knew their parents, all killed during the attack on
In that moment of rock-bottom grief and
desolation, McGarrett knew a terminal point of anguish. The world collapsed
around him, there was no refuge left. He could go no further into the dread and
fear of losing Dan. His heart and soul could not fathom that death, therefore,
he would not allow it to happen. Stephen and Angel would not lose their father,
Kelly would not lose her husband, he would not lose his friend. If by no other
means than his desperate determination, if it took his dying breath, he would
not allow this death.
"He's not going to die," he grated
out between clenched teeth.
Kulani shook his head sadly. "I hope not. He's my
oldest friend, my ohana." No longer restrained, tears slipped down his
face.
"He will not die!" Steve repeated.
"I won't let him."
"The bullets angled through the chest,
tearing up tissue and nicking his heart," Kulani
reminded. "Only about twenty-five percent of these chest injuries are
non-fatal, Steve. We can't expect him to live through the trauma."
"I expect it, Doctor!"
About to protest the delusion, Kulani simply shook his head and turned away. Resolved not
to give in to the despair again, McGarrett requested to be shown to the
recovery room. The corridors were lined with HPD personnel. Officer Hilton was
at the door and gave the former chief a solemn nod. The doctor let him enter
alone and Steve stood just inside the door, observing his friend. Hooked into
monitors, IVs and oxygen, Williams was pale even against the sterile white
hospital linens. Slowly stepping to the bedside, McGarrett 's resolve nearly
faltered. Dan seemed so close to death. Gripping the cold hand, he repeated his
command for his friend to hang on, to fight for life.
Kelly arrived in a wheelchair pushed by
Agnes . Already in tears, Mrs. Williams dropped her face to her husband's hand
and cried, holding McGarrett's hand at the same time
until the physical detris of shock and anguish were
spent. In numb silence they endured the mutual fear robbing them of motivation,
conversation, thought, even tears. Glancing past the stricken wife, he caught
sight of Kulani's grave, moist-eyed countenance. The
doctor caught his attention and mutely shook his head, closing his eyes to let
the tears fall. Giving Kelly a brief hug, Kulani
left. Unable to move, dread rooting him in place, Steve forced torment out of
mind, replaced by resolute anger. Others might give up hope, but he refused to
surrender. To accept death was unthinkable, but sitting here dwelling on the
possibilities were wearing him down. Squeezing Kelly's hand, and Danno's, he quietly promised to return and left with Agnes
. Hilton and an HPD woman remained in the room, guards in the corridor -- more
than adequate security after the tragedy.
"What are you going to do?" Agnes
asked as they walked down the corridor.
"I'm going to find whoever did
this."
"Steve." She stopped him, holding
onto his arm. "You're not a policeman any --" The raw danger in his
eyes warned her not to complete the obvious words, nor to warn him of the
implicit hazards in his course of action. A lava flow would not keep him from
forging ahead on a quest for revenge that was inevitable. Her only hope of
bringing him to reason was the dirtiest trick she could pull out of a sleeve
and she did it without flinching. "You're going to leave Dan and Kelly?
What about the children, Steve? What if --"
"He's not going to die," he
growled. "I'm not going to sit around here while everyone else prepares
obituaries!" he nearly shouted. "And don't you dare give me any of
your predictions or impressions or readings now, either. I love you, Agnes, but
don't come between me and what I have to do for Danno!"
"For yourself," she corrected
bluntly, without rancor. With placid truth. "You want revenge, Steve. I
can't help you with that. I can only advise you. Not with the stars, with my
heart. Dan and Kelly and the children need you here more than the madmen who
did this need you hunting them!"
With deadly, level stillness he warned,
"I will not be a party to this -- this deathwatch! I am going after the
shooter because when Danno wakes up -- and he will -- he will live, I promise
you! I want him to know justice has been done!"
McGarrett stalked away and Agnes leaned against
the wall, mute sobs shaking her to the core. She didn't know who she cried for;
Dan, Kelly, Steve, herself. She only knew the tragedy would grow more painful
before the anguish and grief ended.
At the elevator McGarrett almost ran down Lynd, who was in a wheelchair pushed by Chase. The
detectives asked after the Governor and McGarrett coldly related the official
condition, not straying into opinions or speculations. Lynd
was only slightly wounded by ricochet bullet fragments to the neck and arm and
was expected to go back to work on the priority case immediately. Steve asked
after their investigation and if they had captured the would-be assassin.
"No, not yet," Lynd
curtly responded. "You'll be notified when we do, just like the rest of
the public."
Steve glared fire at the impudent man but
held back his retort. Antagonism would not sway this adversary; only appeals to
reason would help.
"Did you check the building --"
"McGarrett!" Lynd
snapped.
"What building? The Judicial?"
Chase wondered.
"We're not at liberty to discuss that
with you, Mr. McGarrett," Lynd broke in sharply,
clearly pulling rank. "You're not part of the force anymore. This is our
investigation."
Bristling at the cold rebuff, Steve's eyes
narrowed, his jaw muscles tightened in anger. "Then where the hell were
you when the Governor was shot? You were supposed to protect him! He shouldn't
have even been on the stand!"
Lynd sneered. "You expected me to pull the Governor
off the dais without any threat? You're more obsolete than I thought, McGarrett.
Now stay out of my way!"
"I'm already part of this, mister!
That's my friend lying up there --"
"If you care about the Governor so much
maybe that's where you should be," Lynd
countered, his voice chill. "The Governor might want you around, but I
don't. You don't own these
"What?"
"I could have saved the Governor, if
your friend Raven hadn't interfered! If the Governor dies the blood is on your
hands, McGarrett. Now stay out of my way!"
With a nod he cued Chase to wheel him away.
McGarrett thought he was beyond further shocks, but Lynd
had surprised him. Could it be possible Raven's interference had kept Lynd from saving Danno's life? In
Steve's zealous fervor to protect his friend, had he ultimately been the
instrument that put Williams in the line of fire? Obliquely, he wondered if
things could get any worse. Not daring to speculate, he slowly started down the
hall. Near the OR Mack Wolfe and Dawn Holliday exited from the post-op area.
Holliday held an evidence envelope in her hand.
McGarrett felt a surge of anger and his
sarcasm was biting. "He's not dead yet, doctor. You're a little
over-anxious, aren't you?"
Both of them stung by the vicious
accusation, Wolfe took a confrontational step forward, but Holli
held him back.
"I'm sorry it seems that way to you,
Mr. McGarrett," Holliday apologized. "We want nothing more than the
Governor's full recovery. How is he?"
"Still critical. What are you
doing?"
She held up the bag. "We're here
collecting evidence."
Aware his remarks were inappropriate, he
remained guarded. "The ME personally comes to the hospital to collect
evidence?"
Wolfe and Holliday exchanged glances, as if
daring the other to take the lead. "Just to be on the safe side,"
Wolfe offered.
"This is an important case," Holli added cautiously. "I wouldn't want anything to
-- go wrong."
"What are you going to do with the
evidence?"
"I'm taking it personally -- "
"Under protection," Mack supplied.
"Personally, under guard, back to my
lab, where I'll go over the evidence myself." She stepped closer and
lowered her voice. "I want to make sure everything is done right. I
promise."
"I'll hold you to that," he vowed,
determined he would discover more of these intrigues later. That she was under
Mack's guard already told him something. There were sinister forces at work
here, and he intended to find out the details.
"I can tell you one thing
already," Holli admitted. Gesturing to the
evidence bag she claimed, "The hit man was a pro. The bullet had a
full-metal jacket."
Wolfe nodded. "Must have expected a
quick head shot."
Dawn poked him in the side with her elbow.
Noting McGarrett's grim expression, they apologized.
This would not be easy for any of them, but no one took it more personally than
McGarrett.
"I'll have more later," Holliday
told him.
"I'll be in touch."
Her open expression of acceptance belayed
her reply. "I can't share evidence with you, Mr. McGarrett. I've already
been reminded you're not part of this investigation."
So Lynd had
already warned her. He'd have to work around that obstacle.
McGarrett exited out the back entrance to
avoid reporters, vainly trying to work through the livid anger coursing through
his system. Tearing out of the hospital, Steve nearly missed Duke and Magnum
pulling into the back parking lot. A few reporters recognized him and Magnum
maneuvered them to the sanctuary of his convertible Benz and into city traffic
before any of the news hounds could pursue.
"Where we going?" the former PI
asked.
"My guest house at the Williams estate
where I can clean up. Then to the Black Orchid. We need some answers. But first
I have to spring someone from jail." He asked to use Magnum's cell phone,
his was missing.
"How's Danny?" Duke asked.
"Not good," McGarrett surrendered
after a moment, the tone funereal.
Duke recognized the set-jaw attitude of
stubborn resolve against the impossible. McGarrett often adopted that defense
against the world and Lukela let it slide. Steve
wanted to spend his time catching the assas-- the
shooter instead of camping out at the hospital in defiance of the odds or
predictions of doctors. In times past, when Danny had been injured Steve would
haunt the hospital until Dan was conscious or out of danger. Williams did the
same when Steve, frequently, was wounded. This time was worse; he'd seen the
shooting and sincerely feared Dan would not live. Duke just hoped this
cop-acting would not keep Steve separated from the Governor if Dan died. Not
saying good-bye would add to McGarrett's ultimate
grief.
Returning to the empty estate turned out to
be more difficult than McGarrett expected. No, he hadn't expected anything, and
felt unsettled the longer he stayed, fleeing as soon as he showered and
changed. In the restaurant manager's office, the League of the Black Orchid
council of war gathered. Jonathan Higgins, Rick Wright, Thomas Magnum, Ben Kokua and Duke, sat in comfortable chairs. They sipped cool
drinks, the windows open to the ocean across the street. McGarrett paced. The
League, as Steve had come to think of the group, had assembled many times
before to solve puzzles and find answers. Never had their mission been so
vital.
Still distracted with shock, McGarrett
realized Higgins was speaking to the others, organizing the group, all of whom
had worked together before. Looking at the short, stocky Britisher,
Steve remembered his first encounters with the stuffy, pompous man. Efficient
and proper, Higgins had been everywhere, seen everything and done it all before
coming to the Islands as a representative of Robin Masters, the millionaire
author. Higgins, as the President of the Board of Directors of the King
Kamehameha Club and other holdings owned by Masters, had met McGarrett when
Steve was still with Five-0. McGarrett never appreciated the man until his work
with Aikane Security brought him in contact with a new group of acquaintances.
Steve had found resources and talents such as Higgins, Magnum and Wright were
valuable to have around when operating on the unofficial side of the law.
A TV in the corner displayed the film
footage over and over again of the assassination attempt. Several angles from
several news videos and still cameras captured the horrible moment. As the
commentators dissected the event frame-by-frame, McGarrett was transfixed at
the surreal tragedy unfolding in grainy slow-motion from various perspectives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor Williams, looking into the crowd
(at McGarrett's flamboyant arrival), leaned over
gradually as the tape frame-advanced the fateful events. The first bullet
apparently missed Williams, hitting Mrs. Pratt seated at the back of the stand.
The second shot hit the microphone on the podium, deflecting off the metal and
through Williams' vest, seriously injuring the Governor. Succeeding shots
killed Judge Baldwin and Professor Toshimoto. Another
shot struck the podium, fragmenting into Lynd. Other
shots deflected into the crowd, one hitting Kelly Williams. Hours after the
shooting, three fatalities and numerous casualties were attributed to the
shooter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news special then degenerated to
speculations by the anchors who reran the tape of the shootings and the
explosion in the
Rick gave them all the data his informants
had collected on Tomi Mano
and Alekema Alika. The Kumu thug could have been behind the shooting, but none of
the Kumu contacts were talking. HPD contacts were
also playing it close, not revealing much from crime scene evidence. Lynd was a nasty man to cross and few wanted to risk their
careers for sentimental assistance or even exchanged favors. Magnum suggested
one more avenue of information.
"The ME. Dr. Holliday's report could
tell us a lot."
Rick shook his head. "Never happen.
She's in tight with Lt. Wolfe, and we know his close pal is Chase."
McGarrett related the mysterious encounter
with Wolfe and Holliday, stating he would work on that angle himself.
"Maybe Five-0 already has the
killer." Duke gestured to the TV where a graphic indicated breaking news
live at the
Higgins turned up the volume.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're here at the scene of a
possible bombing of the Judicial Building only moments after the attempted
assassination of Governor Williams," the young, excited Polynesian woman
declared as the camera panned up to the charred and damaged second floor.
"
The camera jiggled slightly. The woman
looked above the lens, obviously receiving instructions from someone. The
graphic disappeared. The woman turned, the camera angling to the entrance of
the building. Lynd and several Five-0 and HPD
officers emerged, Chase flanking the Brit. Just behind them were Lt. Mack Wolfe
and Dr. Holliday, both grim and unhappy.
Racing over, the camera stabilized on Lynd, prominently focusing on the torn, blood-stained
jacket he had not replaced and the bandages covering his neck, his arm in a
sling. Gesturing to Chase, the second-in-command handed him a rifle bagged as
evidence.
"You can see here," he
announced in his officious voice, "that Five-0 has recovered the murder
weapon. Details will be released as they become available, but I can tell you
the assassin attempted to set a booby-trap, probably to stall for time. The
explosives detonated, killing our assassin. His name will be released when we
have a positive identification." Looking right into the lens, he stated,
"Evidence indicates the assassin seems to have acted alone. I am happy to
have brought this investigation to a quick and easy close. I can only hope our
governor is as fortunate in his recovery to full health. That is all, thank
you."
Holliday and Wolfe actually rolled their
eyes at Lynd's statements. Chase was more
poker-faced, but his discontent was clear in his demeanor. Officers shielded Lynd from the hungry reporters. The camera stuck with
Chase, Wolfe and Holliday, who all seemed as shell-shocked as McGarrett
himself. The live feed ended and the anchor-people began their vacuous
speculations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve turned off the TV. Stunned by the
nearly instant culmination of the investigation, he still managed to catch some
incongruities.
"What's he hiding?" Duke was the
first to voice their skepticism. "He's sweeping this under the rug
wikiwiki, isn't he?"
"Something's sure fishy," Rick
agreed. "He acts like he's running in the next election."
"For governor?" Magnum suggested.
They all turned to McGarrett. Assenting with
their suspicions, he agreed it could not be this easy. Why would the head of
Five-0 announce a close to the investigation without thoroughly examining the
facts? His associates obviously disagreed with the findings. Too many questions
remained. He intended to find the truth. All of it.
"We'll find out," Magnum promised.
McGarrett studied the dynamic, younger man,
impressed at the quality of associates surrounding him. When he had first
become aware of Thomas Magnum, the young ex-Navy officer-turned-bum had seemed
like a freeloader. Mooching off the kindness of Robin Masters, the famous
author, Magnum's PI business seemed nothing more than a poor attempt at
legitimacy. Over the years and a few cases, McGarrett came to admire the
tenacious, brave ex-Navy Intelligence officer. After Steve retired from Five-0,
his association with the PI became almost equal, since Aikane Security
sometimes overlapped the private investigator's clientele. The mutual respect
climbed so high that when Steve and Dan were ready to retire from the security
business, Magnum was the first on the list to take over.
"Carol is dead," Magnum reminded.
Carol Baldwin, a former DA had been a personal friend of Magnum's and known to
all the former enforcement officers in the room. "The Governor is dying.
We won't drop this."
Ignoring the certainty of Dan's demise from
his colleague, McGarrett darkly approved of independent actions. Five-0 and HPD
had blocked them out, but they would not be forced away. Their friends were
hurt or dead and no one would rob them of righteous justice. Revenge, some
would label it, he knew, and for the first time in his life the definitions
were unimportant. He knew in his heart the hatred for the assassin was real,
justified. Someone would be brought to book for this suffering, and he wanted
to be there when it happened.
"This never should have happened,"
Duke condemned, speaking to no one in particular. "Security looked tight
enough, but after those threats to Dan -- " he shrugged, unable to
constructively advise how the officers in charge could have altered their
defenses in lieu of the hindsight now afforded them.
"Let me look into the
investigation," Higgins volunteered. "I think Lynd
might talk to me."
"Yeah, you're on his wavelength,
Higgins. Regimental, British and by-the-book."
Stuffily, Higgins ignored Rick's affront.
"On a few matters I've consulted with Lynd. We
also have partnered in bridge occasionally. I will handle him."
Ben Kokua
suggested he go over the video footage. "Digital enhancement might show us
things our eyes missed," he offered. Injured in the line of duty and
forced to retire from Five-0 years before, Ben started his own computer
company. Steve utilized his talents on occasion, happy to keep in close contact
with his former detective. "The TV stations won't look deep enough."
Magnum pointed out that even with all their
unofficial and official confidants, it would take some big favors to pry useful
information out of those who might know something. Rick could handle his
low-life informants in whatever manner was effective. Legitimate sources would
be tougher. Five-0 had a lid on the investigation and access was nearly
impossible.
For the first time McGarrett's
expression brightened. "I think I might have a way. Someone owes me a
favor. It's time to cash it in."
He ended the meeting with a warning. They
were to find the killer by staying on the right side of the law. Not willing to
be a party to criminal activities, if they stretched and bent rules to find the
man responsible for downing Williams, he did not want to know. He only wanted
results.
*****
Waiting at the car with Duke were Raven and Jablonski. McGarrett advanced on the pair, pleased to see
there had been no problems bailing Jonathon out of jail.
"What happened?" he asked before
the younger man could speak.
"Those HPD goons pushed me away from
the stand when my cell phone rang!" Raven snapped, visibly upset with the
tragic string of events. "By the time I got back there it was already too
late. I heard the first shot and tried to get to the Governor, but," he
shrugged, "I just couldn't reach him."
"Could have if that idiot Lynd hadn't slammed you," Ski insisted hotly.
"Saw the whole thing."
Unbidden the horrible scene had replayed
itself over and over again in McGarrett's thoughts. Lynd's condemning accusations echoed in his mind. Had his
interference initiated the split-second delay that could have saved Danno? He
had to know.
"What do you think?" McGarrett
questioned, subdued, distant. If this had been his fault he could never forgive
himself. "So much happened in those critical seconds. Is it possible Lynd mistook you for a threat and was distracted from
saving the Governor?"
Raven and Ski exchanged looks. Obviously
both had their own opinions on the subject. Steve encouraged them to speak
freely.
"I don't think so," Raven
responded with hesitation. "He might have perceived me as a threat, and
tackled me to protect the Governor. But I don't know if anything could have
saved Governor Williams. Everything happened too fast."
It came as a partial absolution to Steve's
personal guilt. Perhaps his actions had not endangered his friend. It was
another question they might never be able to answer.
"What about you?" Steve asked Jablonski.
"When we heard the sniper fire I saw
the Governor was down, but Jonathon looked okay. So I took off to find the
shooter. So did lots of others," Ski added. "For all the good our
little circus did. Dumb fool blew himself to bits!"
Steve assessed the report. "What direction
did the shots come from?"
"The
"Is that what you saw and heard?"
Steve pressed them.
Exchanging looks, Raven admitted they were
not sure until they saw puffs of smoke from the top floor of the old
courthouse.
"It took a real good shot," Jablonski assured. "This was a big time pro. I'd start
looking at what's got to be a short list of people who want the Governor dead
and can shoot like that."
"Hit men can be hired," Steve
reminded.
"Then you follow the money," Ski
countered.
McGarrett informed them of the breaking news
that the shooter and weapon were found. He then related his doubts on the
quality of the investigation, adding his intentions of an independent inquiry
since Five-0 seemed to have dropped the ball.
Jonathon wondered if a parallel study was
necessary; if McGarrett's motivations were revenge,
guilt driven.
Teeth clenched in suppressed hostility,
Steve assured them his motivations were just, but irrelevant. Ending the threat
to Williams' life was his sole objective. Until he was sure the shooter and
collaborators were brought to justice, he would not cease his investigation.
Then he asked, "Do you know Thomas Magnum?"
Raven gave a nod. "In passing."
"He's inside. Tell him I want you to
work on the shooter angle."
"Ah, Mr. McGarrett," Ski
interrupted, "we're not very good at research, we're more the
search-and-destroy division."
"There will be a chance for that,"
he promised severely. "As soon as we find the right target." When he
reached Duke's car, Raven stopped him.
"Steve."
McGarrett waited.
"Thanks for bailing me out."
"You shoulda
been there," Ski said. "When those uniforms saw you posted bail they
couldn't unlock the door fast enough. Pays to have friends in high places."
Steve grimly replied, "Don't worry,
gentlemen, you'll get a chance to earn it back."
*****
Duke drove him out to Koko Head. On the way
he called Agnes at the hospital. There was no change in Dan's condition. Mrs.
Williams was still with the Governor and the children were with Tutu Kulani at the family estate in Kahala. When Agnes pleaded
with him to return, his chest went cold, demanding she level with him.
Admitting there was no change in Dan's condition, but fearing the worst, she
wished him back to be with his ohana should the worst come to pass. Adamantly
denying Williams would die, McGarrett hung up on DuBois.
'Hale o Loka', the
Rose home was a lavish estate with a priceless view of the coastline. Built by
Richard's father, Kimba's late husband, Joseph Rose,
it was the evidence of a shrewd businessman's multi-billionaire reward. Left as
a legacy to Kimba, she ran the business of the Rose
corporation. Richard continued the Rose legacy of redeeming 'markers'; rose
imprinted crystal discs numbered and allotted to people Joseph Rose respected
or to whom he owed something. The marker could be redeemed at anytime, by the
bearer, for a favor.
At the poolside, he and Duke were warmly
greeted by the hosts.
"Steve, Duke, I'm so glad you're both
all right," Kimba welcomed, taking McGarrett by
the arm and leading him to a seat at the table. She asked after Dan and how
Kelly was holding up. McGarrett responded vaguely with guarded, terse reserve.
"I'll go by later if you think she needs the company," Kimba kindly offered.
Steve thought back to the anguished scene at
the hospital and suggested Kimba wait until Williams'
condition stabilized.
Members of several joint charities, they
knew each other well enough to retain a first-name relationship. Respect for
who DeMorra and Mrs. Rose were and what they did had
admitted them to Williams' inner circle. They had attended the family luau the
night before -- an eternity before -- the destruction of his world.
"You're hurt," she commiserated
over his scraped face and bandaged scalp. "Is there anything we can get
you? Were you shot?"
"No, I'm fine. I was -- too late."
"Pipeline gave us a wild version of his
role in this morning's events. Hard to believe half of it. What are the doctors
saying about the Governor?" Richard asked, pouring iced tea for the guests
and making sure introductions were completed between Duke and the other person
already at the table, Taki Mochadomi
their attorney.
Steve glossed over Dan's condition,
unwilling to touch that territory yet. He bluntly came to the point by snapping
down crystal marker number seventeen on the table.
"I've come to ask a favor."
Carrying on the father's legacy, Richard had
more than just his father's looks. Estranged for years from the rich parent,
raised by his mother, Richard knew very little about Joseph Rose. In the
Islands Joseph was a philanthropic giant, a revered leader. The markers were
just one of the examples of his quiet goodness. Arriving in
With a solemn nod, Richard accepted the
token. "Ask."
"We need to know what evidence the
police have. I need crime scene reports, autopsy findings, anything."
Richard smiled. "As you know, Kimba and I have a bit of a talent for subtle information
gathering."
"Spies," Duke corrected blandly.
"You're PI's without the licenses and can't keep your curiosity to
yourselves about most of the little intrigues around the islands."
Kimba laughed. "Duke, you're very well informed for a
retired cop."
"Connections," Lukela
smugly admitted.
Moch nodded with a smile. "A daughter in legal
circles and a son-in-law on the force."
Inside the open-air living room next to the
pool a radio played soft Hawaiian music. A DJ spoke over the fading music to
announce updates on the investigation. Everyone listened as the woman reported
the body suspected to be the assassin was positively ID'd
as Pauli Tanaka, leader of the Hawaiian Nationalists.
Stunned, the group listened speechlessly as Lynd's voice proclaimed the .30-06 rifle found with the
body was the weapon, registered to Tanaka, used to murder the three victims hit
in the assassination attempt. With such complete evidence gathered, Lynd officially declared the case closed.
"That's absurd!" Moch exclaimed, outraged. "Pauli's
impulsive and a loud-mouth, but he's not an assassin!"
"No, never," Richard agreed.
"A lotta people aren't gonna
buy this, Steve. Five-0 credibility is gonna hit the
rocks on this."
Lukela offered that he hadn't known Tanaka personally, but
knew of the activist and other mainstream members of Hawaiian Nationalists.
Richard revealed that Pipeline, the man with
his Jeep who picked up Steve at the accident scene and droveh
im to the Palace, was a friend of Tanaka's and had
relatives invovled with Hawaiian Nationalists. Their
reputations were of peaceful protesters who knew violence and extremism hurt
their cause more than helped it. They disliked the government, but would never
try to murder Williams.
McGarrett gave a slow nod of approval.
"Then you can help," he asked the others.
"Yes," DeMorra
agreed. "Moch has already discovered something
of interest."
With a shrug, the attorney revealed,
"Completely unofficially, I was discussing the terrible events of this morning
with a friend at HPD. They mentioned Lt. Wolfe was particularly interested in
the findings from his girlfriend, the ME, Dr. Holliday. Whatever she had made
him very nervous according to my source, and he asked her to hold it until he
personally retrieved the evidence."
Steve leaned forward, intent. "Is that
a quote? Those exact words."
Disconcerted at the intensity, Moch looked around at the group. "No -- no, not
exactly. But the intent --"
"The intent is enough," Steve
snapped. To Richard and Kimba he ordered, "I
want to meet with Dawn Holliday personally and look over whatever evidence I
can. But I can't show up at One West Waikiki myself. Her office at the morgue
is too public. It will attract too much attention."
DeMorra flipped the marker in his palm a few times.
"Whatever it takes, Steve, we'll get that report."
The next time Richard flipped the crystal,
Steve caught it in his fist. "One more thing."
"Sure."
"Thanks to Pipeline's timely assstance to me, your Jeep was involved in a little tangle with
the Palace gates this morning. If it hadn't been for his reckless driving I
--" He didn't want to think too deeply about what would have happened if
he had not arrived at the Palace when he did. As it was, he was tragically
late. "Send me the bill." He handed the marker to Richard. "And,
as part of my favor, give one of these to Pipeline."
"Sure," Richard smiled.
"He'll be happy to know you backed his wild story."
"And that he has such an important
ally," Kimba added. "What really
happened?"
McGarrett sighed. "It's a pretty
fantastic story. Whatever he tells you is probably close to the truth."
*****
Afternoon waning, the drive back to
The call was returned by Agnes, who had left
the cellphone off because of the tense situation at
the hospital. Kelly Williams wanted to talk with him and she handed over the
phone. In a hoarse, strained voice she reported Dan's condition was weakening. Kulani, Ben Kokua and Kono
Kalakaua were with them and she urged him to return as soon as possible.
Breaking into sobs she said she needed his strength and so did Dan. Gruffly he
promised he would be there soon.
Giving Steve a few minutes after he hung up,
Duke finally asked, "So we're going back to the hospital?"
McGarrett tightly uttered in a raw voice,
"Not yet."
"Steve -- "
"Not yet!"
*****
Only late diners were left at the Black
Orchid, the band playing a final round of slow songs. Upstairs in the manager's
office, the secret underground exchanged information and built theories like a
house of cards. In their unofficial capacity, the group of friends collated
tidbits far short of evidence and barely above coincidence. Marshaling the
troops like he ran Five-0, McGarrett received each item of hearsay, gossip,
liberated files, with his years of cop experience and intelligence networking.
He had built cases from shakier foundations, but this time there was no room
for error. Solving this case was as personal as it could get. For his own guilt
and inadequacy, he needed to present this case to Danno like a ribbon-tied
gift.
Rick updated on the car that ran Steve off
the road. HPD found the car that afternoon, the driver, a member of Hawaiian
nationalists, dead from a .30-06 rifle, steel-tipped loads. No reports on
ballistics, but Magnum said his sources felt blame would once again fall on the
already dead Tanaka. The time factor made it barely possible, but everyone at
the gathering was skeptical.
Duke said something that had been bothering
him about the hit. Why try to kill Steve on the highway and not wait to shoot
him at the Palace with Williams? It would seem to be a much simpler tactic. No
one could answer the query and he sarcastically said he couldn't wait to hear
how Lynd explained that. Steve's own theory was that
the hit man who tried to take him out on the freeway was the more inept of the
two, but the message was clear. Williams and he had to both die, or, rather,
Williams had to die and McGarrett had to be killed to assure the success of the
assassination. That would also explain why Danno was not hit until after McGarrett
was hit.
"The angle, too," Magnum pointed
out. "Governor Williams needed to be at the podium for the assasin to get a clear shot."
DeMorra reported he had talked to Holliday, who might be
able to meet with McGarrett later, but not at the ME's office. He pushed three
autopsy forms across the table. "You'll notice the little item at the top.
Angle of entry of the wounds. What Thomas was saying about a clear shot."
He pointed to the three sheets scrawled with hand-written comments. "No
specifics, but she is having problems with the angle of the wounds."
According to the analysis, Judge Baldwin's
bullet wound sloped slightly down and to the right, just as Mrs. Pratt's and Toshimoto's. All three were seated behind Williams. Toshimoto and Baldwin were hit by the same bullet -- Toshimoto was behind Judge Baldwin. Coroner's conclusions,
interestingly, interpreted that the victims were hit from an angle. The shooter
used a high powered weapon, full metal jacket loads, intended to kill. The
assassin probably tried for a head shot, but missed.
"Tomi Mano was the top Kumu hit man,
remember?" Steve reminded, drawing no conclusions, but keeping the
knowledge in mind.
"The bullet pierced the Governor's body
armor like it wasn't there," Richard commented sadly. "The rounds easily
killed the others and fragmented off of wood or metal to cause the other
injuries."
Magnum was studying another set of papers.
"The paraffin test on Tanaka was negative. Holliday doesn't think he fired
the rifle. HPD has an amended note here saying the rifle found next to him, a
new Remington, was damaged too badly to run any kind of ballistics tests."
"We're crawling ahead by inches!"
Steve snapped, irritated. "Let's hurry it up, gentlemen, we don't have a
lot of time on this." Steve slumped into a chair. A hand rested on his
arm.
"Steve," Duke quietly advised,
"You're beat. You need to rest --"
"No! Time is --"
"I know we're racing against the clock.
So is Danny. Why don't you go back to the hospit
--"
"I will!" Steve shouted tightly.
"We've got to get this investigation straightened out first! Then I'll see
Danno." To Magnum he ordered, "Thomas, find out where Mano is, what he's doing, and if he's purchased any ammo or
rifles that could fit this MO."
Steve's cell phone beeped and he went into
another room to take it, afraid of what might be relayed. It was Agnes .
"Steve, you've got to come back now!
Dan is holding on, but Kana and David Kelly are here and -- and it's not
looking good, Steve. Kelly needs you here." Quietly, gently, she pleaded,
"It's where you need to be."
He could hear the strain in the voice,
recognized her struggle to maintain a calm exterior while suffering inside. One
of the things he loved about her was her strength, when they'd met she had
shown tremendous fortitude as she helped on the murder investigation despite
threats to her life. In other crises their relationship weathered, she seemed
the epitome of strength. This devastation would take more courage than any of
them ever expected to summon.
"Soon, love, soon, I promise," he
vowed and hung up.
He returned to the group to find Raven and
Ski had joined them. Under the 'don't ask, don't tell' label, Ski revealed the
sniper rifle already identified and traced. It was a new Remington .30-06 with a
foldable stock for easy travel. According to the Manofacturer,
in the most recent shipment from the factory, two weapons were stolen enroute to
"A Kumu
front," Duke defined.
"Can you get any more details on
that?" Steve asked Ski.
"Doubt it, but I can sure try."
"That means two unique rifles of very
similar Manofacture were stolen at the same time. One
winds up here with Pauli. Where is the other one?
With Kumu and Tomi Mano?"
"Speaking of Sammys,"
Rick added, "I heard Syd Samuels was going to
sue the Governor for breech of contract or something ridiculous."
"He's probably got lots of sleazy Kumu connections. He's a lawyer, remember?" Ski
speculated.
"What about Syd?"
Magnum asked. "Kumu is obvious, but we can't
discount anyone as a suspect."
"I checked him out," Duke
responded, looking through his notes. "He's plenty mad at the Governor,
but no obvious links to Kumu or Hawaiian
Nationalists. Kept his nose clean and no one has anything to say about
unethical or illegal activities. His business depends on a good reputation, and
aside from being a pushy, irritating leech, he's clean." To McGarrett he
asked, "How's the Governor?"
Steve gave a medical placebo of 'condition
unchanged', and focused on the case. "Magnum is right, we can't assume
anyone is above suspicion. I checked out Syd myself
when Danno wanted him as a campaign manager. Four years ago he was clean. Go
through his life with a fine tooth comb, Rick." To Magnum he ordered,
"You'll have to handle Chase and Wolfe. Discretely. They're' cagier than
average police officers." He wondered again about the mysterious encounter
with Wolfe and Holliday at the hospital. Were they there protecting evidence or
confiscating and altering evidence? To Lukela he
assigned, "Check out the other Five-0 officers, Duke."
"They're our friends!" Lukela protested. "Suzy grew up --"
"Check them out," he repeated with
a steel edge. "Danno's our friend and he's lying
in a hospital bed fighting for his life! Don't any of you forget that!"
The decree echoed around them in the still
room and it gave him a few seconds to regroup. Fatigue and sorrow left his
nerves and patience in shreds while his heart still lingered in that
claustrophobic room at
"This is Richard," the voice
announced. "Your marker will be redeemed. How soon can you come to Dawn
Holliday's house?
"Right now."
"Okay, I'll meet you there."
Steve actually flinched when he steered off
She came to her feet and shook his hand,
offering condolences and asking after Williams. Another quick brush off that
the doctor obviously did not buy was offered then he quickly moved along to the
purpose of the visit.
"Richard approached me with your doubts
about the assassination attempt," she started, then noted McGarrett's aggravation at the term. "Or murders, I
should say." Sympathetically, she added, "I really am very sorry
about Governor Williams. He's a good man and a wonderful neighbor. My motives
are only to find the turth, I promise you."
McGarrett's intent focus leveled onto the ME. "You want to
explain your little visit to the hospital searching for evidence?"
"I will," she vowed. While she
searched for a sketch pad she explained, "Mack -- Lieutenant Wolfe -- is
unhappy about Lynd's quick close of the
investigation." She returned with pad and pen.
"Tanaka is good with a rifle, yeah,
everyone knows that," Richard added. "But people who know him, like
my friend Pipeline, they say Tanaka had nothing to do with bombs. This is a
frame, man. Someone wants him to take the fall for this."
"A lot of people agree with you,"
Holliday agreed.
"And the hospital?" McGarrett
reminded.
She met Steve's blunt challenge with a
direct stare. "Mack and I were -- concerned -- about Lynd
moving so fast. We had been at the Judicial building when he made the statement
he was closing the case. I was afraid he'd either use the evidence to fit his
own theories, or discount something for political expediency. Either way, as
Coroner, it was my job to protect the evidence from the shootings. So we went
over to the hospital immediately."
"And you felt you needed protection?"
She smiled. "Mack thought I needed the
protection."
"From the people behind the
shootings?"
Holli shrugged. "Mack thought there was a possibility
of danger. I approved -- it helped back up my authority."
"Then you didn't buy Pauli Tanaka as the killer."
She didn't respond. Clearly she was hiding
something, protecting someone. McGarrett wanted to find out more, but she
changed the subject.
"Richard, and others I've talked to,
are dissatisfied with how easy it is to place the blame on Pauli
Tanaka, who can't defend himself." Her pretty face brightened and she gave
him a look boding ill for someone. "But I can."
Holli powered up the TV and VCR, explaining that she
requested and received footage of the shooting from the local station. Ben Kokua's program, she explained, gave a digital time code
for each frame of film and broke down the action to fractional seconds. Steve
gritted his teeth as the all too familiar replay unfolded frame by frame.
"What I needed was the specific
position of everyone who was shot." She indicated the victims seated
behind the podium.
McGarrett's eyes strayed to the image of Williams, frozen in the
fateful second before a finger squeezed a trigger and changed their lives.
The frame advanced and it showed the elderly
woman, Mrs. Pratt, tilting back in her chair.
"That's what I needed to know. Mrs.
Pratt and the others were seated straight, facing forward, directly behind the
Governor.
She knelt by the table and drew some lines
on the paper. Steve was once again struck with how incongruous her occupation
seemed for the petite, vivacious blond. Rather than being a liability, her
looks probably were an asset. So many would be knocked off balance when
introduced to this Medical Examiner that it probably worked to her advantage. Whatever
opposition wasn't bowled over by her incredible skill, would be leveled by her
high intelligence. The 30ish woman had looks, brain and charm. He hoped Mack
Wolfe knew what a treasure he was courting. From recent indications of Wolfe's
new stability, it seemed the lieutenant knew a good woman when he met one and
improved himself accordingly.
Sketching out rough line drawings of the
Palace, the
Holliday theorized Williams was intended to
die with the first shot, but happened to move toward McGarrett at the instant
the bullet was fired. So the first bullet hit the woman behind the Governor.
"Moving away from the podium saved Governor Williams' life," Holli concluded. Uncannily assuaging some of his guilt, she
rephrased. "Your unconventional arrival saved his life, Mr.
McGarrett."
Mutely Steve nodded, wanting to believe she
was right.
"Your shooter supposedly fired from the
second floor." Drawing a line to the center of the dais, she continued.
"Dramatic. And dead on, if you'll excuse the expression. Most of the shots
were ricochets, or fragments so they are almost useless in the reconstruction.
Mrs. Pratt, the first woman hit, Professor Toshimoto,
the man at an angle behind her -- remember that -- and Judge Baldwin, in the
last row. All were hit at an angle from the left of their chests." She
scribbled zigzags through the straight line. "Toshimoto
and Baldwin were not directly behind each other." She pointed to the video
screen, reversing the image a few frames. Judge Baldwin was behind and slightly
to the right of Toshimoto. "If the shots came
from the
"To the left?" McGarrett repeated.
He took the pen and, starting at the podium, traced a line going back to where
the shots must have been fired. "At this angle?" he asked after only
drawing a line a few inches long. Dawn nodded and he continued, ending at the
building next to the
Steve felt the blood drain from his body,
pushed out by a chill coursing through his system. Glancing at the others
around the table, he knew they were aware of the conclusions and the
implications. He was the only one who could voice the suspicions.
"The building directly to the left of
the
"Five-0," Richard whispered. He
glanced at the others. "No wonder Lynd wants
this case closed so fast. He must be in on it."
"Or he's covering up for one of his
officers," McGarrett darkly speculated.
"Not Aki," Holliday insisted.
"He's one of the original good guys, McGarrett. I didn't give you this
information to put you on his trail. And don't think Mack is involved in some
conspiracy either. He's one of the truest cops you'll ever meet."
"Then why did you share this with us,
doctor? Why not go to Lynd?"
"Because Aki, Mack and I know there's a
cover up going on here. I can't bring you his report, Lynd
had it sealed, which is suspicious enough. Anyway, Pauli
Tanaka was dead before the explosion. All the burns and damage occurred
post-mortem."
"Meaning what?" Richard asked.
"Someone killed him and left the body
and rifle there, then set the explosion to destroy it all. An experienced hit
man," Steve speculated. "Like Tomi Mano. Rifles and bombs are part of his MO."
"Well, whoever did the bomb wasn't
perfect, or they didn't want to destroy everything," Holliday said.
"What about ballistics?"
Holli shook her head. "No bullets were recovered
intact, Richard. They were .30-06, but that's all I can tell you."
They shook hands and thanked the doctor for
her help, promising to get to the truth. Richard pulled a crystal Rose marker
out of his pocket, number seventeen, and offered it to her. Glancing at Steve,
who nodded his approval, he explained.
"You're the pivitol
solution in the investigation, Doc. Any time you need a favor, you know where to
come."
"Thanks. I'll probably take you up on
that one of these days."
*****
Back at the Black Orchid, a few of McGarrett's unofficial force remained. They were given the
new data, all skeptical of the suspicions.
Still doubtful, Richard protested, "Not
Lynd, he was hit."
"Ricochet," Magnum reminded.
"An accident."
"Or a miss," Duke weighed in,
skeptical of police involvement. "What are you thinking, Steve? Anybody
could be in that building. All the officers were at the ceremony with us! Any
shooter could walk in! You can't think anybody at Five-0 could be
involved!"
"A pro would want to check the lay of
the land first," Magnum insisted, ignoring Duke's voice of reason.
"He'd at least do a check of the angles and distances for a hit like
this."
"Mano's been
there," McGarrett insisted, warming to his theory. "Mano, with inside help, could set up the hit in a few
minutes, then, with more help, leave undetected. He would know the schedule,
the timing, that Danno usually wears a vest for public appearances these days
because of the threats. And Tomi would have the
access to the weaponry; and he has the motive."
Rick agreed. "A pro would take a lot of
money to hit a governor. Who would pay that? Kumu, Alika and Mano, they have a
motive already."
Ominously motionless up to this point, McGarrett's foreboding voice cracked. "Only Five-0 and
HPD security knew my timetable and route," he uttered darkly. "Only
Five-0 knew Danno would wear the vest. The killer must have known to use steel
tips -- "
"Any assassin could load full metal
jackets --" Duke began.
"Maybe," Steve reluctantly
admitted. "But it's an assassin's bullet if he wants to kill with every
pull of the trigger! Otherwise he would use hollow-tips for maximum damage and
probable kills!" he shouted, his voice sahking
with anger and pain. "No, gentlemen, this was a hit to kill!""
"And the other victims?" Duke
asked.
"Panic and confusion," Magnum
labeled. "He was confident enough to stick around and fire multiple
rounds."
"Must have been pretty sure of his escape
route," Rick concluded.
"Or his decoy," McGarrett slowly
opted, the ideas just formulating in his mind. "Like Pauli
Tanaka already dead, with a .30-06 rifle in the room. Then he just folds up his
own rifle, tucks it -- anywhere -- maybe right there at the
DeMorra reminded the decoy rifle was conveniently damaged in
the blast, eliminating the testing of ballistics for the assassination shots or
for the driver who attacked McGarrett.
Steve's deep, solemn tone bespoke certainty.
"It's someone in Five-0."
"What --?"
"They knew every move Danno would make
and his decision not to run for reelection gave his determination to finish his
agenda even more power," McGarrett explained, gaining conviction with each
word. "He was more of a threat than ever to Kumu.
Five-0 and HPD at the ceremony did not answer my cell phone warnings after my
accident. And what about the truck that hit the limo last night?" Steve
singled out Higgins with a rapier glare. "Find out Lynd's
contacts, movements and bank accounts to the last detail, Jonathan."
"He's the head of Five-0!" Higgins
reminded incredulously. "Because few people like him doesn't mean he's the
--"
"No one is exempt," McGarrett
assured. "He's not the shooter, obviously. Maybe a more likely suspect is
Chase. He has relatives involved with Hawaiian Nationalists, is sympathetic to
the cause, maybe tie-ins with Kumu." Noting the
surprised, even distasteful expressions around the room, he ignored their
squeamishness. No one was above suspicion on this case and he would do whatever
necessary to put his hands on the man responsible for shooting Dan.
"Someone on the inside -- Five-0 or HPD -- has the means, the opportunity.
Chase and Wolfe, for instance, were safely away from the ceremony until after I
survived my accident! Wolfe could be his accomplice, or concealing
evidence."
"Then is Doctor Holliday involved, too?
She gave you the most important evidence uncovered so far!" Magnum shook
his head. "No motive," he reminded. "No connection to Mano."
"None that we know of," Steve
corrected.
Higgins asserted that Chase might be the
more likely suspect. Lynd was a conciencious
officer, obviously efficient, not particularly liked, but respected. He
occasionally visited a girlfriend in San Francisco, lived modestly in a condo,
owned nice but not overly expensive clothes, and led a low-key lifestyle.
"Who pulled the trigger?" Rick
wondered. "Has to be a good shot. My bet's on Tomi
the shark. And if the shots were fired from Five-0, why didn't witnesses see a
rifle or gun smoke or sunlight reflecting off the rifle or scope? Why did they
see it from the Judicial Building?"
Magnum offered several theories that could
fit the facts. A matte-finish lens on a scope would eliminate reflection. Who
reported smoke coming from the Judicial Building? Lynd?
Everyone noticed suspicious events AFTER the shootings, but what about before?
Lukela, ever the voice of reason, calmly reminded,
"Steve, these facts could fit a lot of theories and a lot of suspects. Let
us narrow it down, see what else we can come up with."
*****
Steve's vengeance-quest was not enough to
drive away the torment and terror clinging to his subconscious. The thought of
Five-0 officers involved in the murders and assassination attempt was sickening
to him. Five-0 had been his life. How could it now be an instrument of his
friend's attempted murder?
Desperately in need of rest and solace, he
admitted his drive for retribution was a path of denial. His friend's condition
worsened with each hour and Steve could not stop time or magically rescind the
inevitable conclusion of the descending spiral. In some superstitious corner of
his mind he was afraid his return to the hospital would initiate some psychic
trigger. Subconsciously signaling Dan it was all right to let go when the ohana
gathered for the final aloha. Fearful of being a symbolic party to Williams'
surrender, he forced himself to do anything, be anywhere, but at the hospital.
As night advanced to its zenith, his heart ached with the certainty he had to
return to his friend's side. Whatever fate met him there, his place was with
Danno.
"I'll be at the hospital," he
explained in a whisper and exited, the trace of his bitter anguish a tangible
spirit left behind.
*****
After midnight, McGarrett walked the
corridor of ICU with a pace slowed by trepidation. Usual activities of nurses
and doctors filled the area with sound. Personnel, HPD guards and technicians
occupied the halls with motion and a link to the world beyond the pained and
dying. Amidst it all he felt isolated, alone and cocooned within a private
shell of emotion. The last terrible hours filled with rage, hurt and revenge
left him drained. It was his defense mechanism of coping with the untenable.
Denial and deflection -- catching bad guys and non-stop activity, kept the
full-force of grief at bay. All the while his heart tugged thoughts back at his
friend's side; where it seemed he had always been, where he belonged.
Two HPD officers and Suzy Kelly sat in
chairs by the Governor's room. She stood as he approached and gave him a
familial hug. Briefly returning the warm greeting, he wondered at the show of affection,
immediately thinking the worst.
"Danno?" he whispered.
"He's -- he's still alive. We were
hoping you would get back in time."
Cold shivers racing along his spine, he
asked, "In time for what?"
"Kana and David have been by several
times tonight." She hastily wiped away a tear seeping from a corner of her
eye. "They --" her words faltered under his severe glare. "They
aren't optimistic."
Alarm tightening his throat he pushed into
the room. From the corner of his eye he noted Kelly Williams asleep in a chair
by the end of the bed. Agnes dozed, leaning against the arm of a chair and the
corner of the room. The person dominating his mind lay pale, still, and
seemingly integrated with machinery. Steve caught a breath at the chalky face
washed in the subdued light of sterile bedding and florescent bulbs. Squeezing
his hand in silent support, Suzy left him to deal with his emotions alone.
Quietly bringing a chair over, Steve sat next to his friend, tentatively
holding Dan's cold hand in his, despairing at the pall of death hovering so
near.
Fighting back tears, he started demanding,
commanding Dan to fight with all his might against the darkness. Whispering of
memories, family and friends, he mounted the reasons for Williams to beat the
odds and return to full strength and health. He recounted the events of the
day, why he had not been at the ceremony, his failure to foresee the attack,
his anger at the frailties of humanity. Passions giving way to routine, he
debriefed his former detective as if they were once more officers of Five-0.
Narrating the progress of the investigation, it gave him the opportunity to
talk out the flaws, the strengths of the theories. Using Dan as a sounding
board, he described the suspects, their conformities to the guidelines of investigation,
and his personal take on each man. Occasionally he would pause, almost
expecting Dan to interrupt with a salient observation or silly joke.
Gazing at his friend, the meaningless
monologue trailed away in a hoarse whisper. Then halting words of love spilled
out with tears welling in his eyes. Entreaty of desperation and loneliness
begged the younger man to not give up, but to return for the completely selfish
reason that Steve needed him back. They beat the odds before, they could do it
again. Squeezing the limp hand in both of his, he prayed for a miracle, prayed
for deliverance.
So focused on his supplication, he jumped
when a hand touched his shoulder and glanced up at Kelly Williams. She tried to
offer a brave smile, but it wavered into a grimace of pain before she sank her
face into his shirt. He continued to hold onto Dan, while comforting the
distraught wife.
"Sorry," was her muffled apology
against his neck.
Holding her until the sobbing stopped, she
drew away but he caught her tight.
"It's been a terrible day, Kelly.
You're entitled to this." Surprised at the stable tone of his voice, he
added, "I'm here for you both. Everything's going to be okay." He
glanced at Agnes, who stood by the door. Her sorrowful expression denied his
optimism and he ignored her lack of faith. "Danno's
going to be fine."
The door cracked open and Kana Kulani peaked in. "We're here," he quietly
announced.
Stephen and Angel Williams filed in, both
staring at their father with woeful distress, then rushing to their mother's
arms, pulling Steve into the embrace as well. Kono Kalakaua slipped over to the
back wall and gave Steve a sad nod. Other members of the Kulani
clan entered along with David and Suzy Kelly and a few of their siblings.
Draped in leis and carrying ancient gourds, Kahuna Kulani,
Kana's adopted father, came in with Tutu, his wife, the grandmother of the
large and extended ohana.
"A gathering for aloha," Kana
explained quietly as he and Steve moved to the wall to accommodate everyone
into the small room.
McGarrett glanced with horror at the ritual
articles. This ceremony equated to Hawaiian last rights.
"You can't allow this!" he spat
out defiantly. "Danno is not dying!"
Kana's face seemed to collapse in pity and Steve
looked away, refusing to acknowledge the mourning already living in the blue
eyes. "He won't last out the night, Steve. We've come to say aloha."
McGarrett tightly closed his eyes to fight
back the tears. He wouldn't believe it, so why was he reacting like Danno was
already dead? This life so precious to him was not going to abandon him. He
would not -- could not -- allow it!
"You're wrong. He's not dying," he
grated.
Kulani placed gentle hands on his shoulders and Steve
jerked away.
"Say good-bye, Steve. Let him go.
'Aloha a hui hou aku', till
we meet again."
He defiantly held Dan's hand in both of his,
willing all the energy and fight he could imagine to channel through the
tangible connection. "You are going to fight this, Danno!" he
demanded. "Don't give up on me! Fight for your life!"
Someone touched his shoulder and he wrenched
away, enraged and disgusted. Shoving through to the door he looked back at the
brother helplessly surrounded by the loved ones who had given up on him. He
refused to be included in their midst. His cell phone began to ring and he
ignored it, glaring at the others.
"I am going out there to find whoever
shot you, Danno, and you're going to be awake to hear about it when I get
back!" he vowed.
Blinking back the anger in his eyes, he
stalked down the corridor.
"Steve! Wait!" Agnes ran up to him
and held onto his arm, as much for her support as for his own. Turning away
from her tear-drenched face he could not swallow the knot of fear in his
throat. "Steve, please, don't leave. If you don't say good-bye now you'll
never forgive yourself."
He wrenched from her grasp. "No,"
he barely growled. Shaking his head he refused to give in. "He can't . . .
."
Agnes hugged him, burrowing her face in his
chest, he felt her nod. "He will," she sobbed. "He's dying,
Steve. I can feel it. Don't leave him."
Tearing her away with trembling hands, more
determined than ever, woodenly he stalked away. He promised he would not fail
his friend. Fear of Williams' death still clung to him like a shadow, but he
knew they could beat it if only Dan would not give up -- if he did not give up.
Later, when the others were gone he would come back. During the longest hours
of pre-dawn he would be back here to cajole, entreat, beg and demand his friend
to hold onto life. Steve would get them both through to the dawn and to life.
Both their futures depended on Dan coming through this alive.
*****
Racing through the nearly deserted streets
of Honolulu, McGarrett didn't answer the phone until it started it's third set
of rings. Feeling under control enough to speak to the persistent person on the
other end, he finally responded.
"McGarrett."
"Magnum here, Steve. I've found Tomi Mano."
Steve gulped in a breath. "Where?"
"Sammy's Fishing Hole, that dive out by
-- "
"Yeah, I know. I'm on my way."
"Steve --"
He clicked off, not in the mood for protests
or orders. Surprised to already be on Kalanianaole
Highway, he realized his subconscious had brought him out here to the Williams'
home again. As he sped past he glanced at the darkened estate, a renewed ache
stabbing his heart. There would be life and light back there again, soon, he
promised himself -- he promised Danno.
Sammy's Fishing Hole was a run down shack
seemingly held together by the neon signs advertising beer. Steve pulled up to
park across the street, next to the Mercedes Benz partially hidden by an old
lava block sea wall. Quietly he joined Magnum in the Benz.
"I can handle this Steve," the
mustached PI assured.
"Then why did you wait for me?"
Magnum's green eyes glanced away, toward the
bar, but his gaze was far from the present. "I've been there, where you
are, before. You think retribution will help the pain go away. So you do
anything, risk everything, to payback for the hurt." He sighed, giving a nod,
then looking back at the ex-cop. "I wish I could say it helps."
"It may not help," McGarrett
admitted, "but it does make a difference." He glanced at the bar.
"Let me take this alone, Thomas. You don't need to --"
"Carol was my friend. So is the Governor.
Don't push me out of this, Steve."
McGarrett studied the ex-intelligence
officer whom he admired -- whom he called a friend. If anyone could understand
what he was going through, Magnum could. Losing his wife and almost his
daughter to terrorists, Magnum knew everything about sudden death, anguish and
revenge. With a nod Steve gave his consent.
Pistol in a holster tucked at his back,
Magnum went in the front. McGarrett, too recognizable, stayed at the side,
ready to move to the front or the back if his assistance was required. Alone in
the still night, he wished he would have called Raven or some of the others for
backup. But his impulsive quest for revenge had brought him out here without
adequate reinforcements or plans. Uncharacteristic, except when one of his guys
had been hurt or had landed in danger. Then Steve was prone to exhibit
incredible bursts of impulsive anger focused on whoever had caused the
unfortunate situation. Right now, he wouldn't give odds on Tom Mano's survival if the hit man came under his power.
Magnum was taking too long already, Steve
decided, and edged over to the nearest window. Smudged, dirty glass revealed a
storage room. He crept toward the back of the building, then froze when he
heard a screen door slam shut. Pressing against the old stucco, he watched a
man with long, wavy hair walk toward a BMW. In the man's hand was a rifle.
Instinct carried him silently to the prey
and his revolver was pressed to the man's neck before he even thought about his
actions.
"Try something." The words were as
cold and deadly as his heart. "I'd love you to make a move."
The man's head turned slightly, enough to
positively identify him as Mano. The recognition was
mutual, and Mano's eyes widened in the meager light
of a single bulb from the back of the bar. In that instant McGarrett flushed
with hate for the man who nearly killed his friend; shook with rage that the
man lived while Danno fought for his life. Steve pressed the muzzle to Tomi's head. Mano's stark fear
quelled some of the inner demons tormenting his soul. At the very periphery of
his vision he noted Magnum, also holding a weapon on Mano,
but not making any aggressive moves. Whatever Steve chose to do now, Magnum
backed him.
"Very slowly drop the rifle, Mano. Any other movement will cost you your life, and
believe me, right now I'd love nothing more than to pull this trigger."
Seconds of indecision passed in silence.
McGarrett clicked back the hammer. Mano carefully
leaned to the right to place the rifle against the car. His hand hovered near
the barrel, as if weighing his chances for self-defense.
"You' ain't gonna kill me, McGarrett," Mano
told him, but the words were more confident than the tone.
"You want to bet your life on
that?" Steve took a step back. "Move away from the weapon."
Mano held his ground. "You want me alive, McGarrett.
so I can testify fo' you or somethin'.
You can't afford to kill me, man."
"I think the question is, can I afford
to let you live?"
Tomi grabbed for the rifle. It was barely off the ground
when McGarrett shot him. Mano slid off his car to the
ground, groaning in pain. Blood from the exit wound covered his chest that
rattled with labored, constricted breathing.
Steve knelt beside the dying man. "That
was stupid, Tomi. You're pau. Come clean and tell us
everything."
"Why should I?" he whispered, his
eyes no longer focused.
"Not much time left, Tomi. Who hired you?"
Magnum knelt on the other side of the man
and shook his shoulder. "You shot Governor Williams and the others, didn't
you, Tomi?" He exchanged a frustrated glance
with Steve. "No time left, Tomi. You want
everyone to think this was all your idea? You take the fall alone? Then the
police will have to go ripping apart your house, upsetting your family. Is that
how you want them to remember you? Making it hard on everybody right up to the
end?"
"Give us a name, Mano,"
McGarrett ordered.
"Alika,"
the hit man whispered.
"Did he hire you to shoot Williams and
the others?"
Mano nodded. "Take out Williams. Take out you,"
he gestured toward Steve. "Big bucks. Mo' to come. Easy money." Now
he was gasping for breath. "Inside cop. No worry . . . . ."
The final breath came out as a groan. His
eyes remained half-open from shock and pain, but no life remained. McGarrett
released a sigh. For the first time he noticed others standing in the dirt lot.
Patrons of the bar, he guessed. Witnesses to collaborate Mano's
dying confession. If only the man would have told them everything.
"Inside cop," Steve repeated.
"Inside job," Magnum translated.
"You were right." Wailing in the distance, sirens mingled with the
nearby crash of surf. "Cops are on the way. I can handle the paperwork.
Why don't you make better use of your time?"
Steve thanked him, left his revolver in
Magnum's care, and suggested the police look for him at the hospital. He really
needed to get back. Driving into town, he couldn't let go of the confession
about a cop helping with the assassination attempt. Why did Mano
force his hand? Not sorry the low-life was dead, McGarrett regretted having to
kill an informant who could have made things so much easier. With more loose
ends to tie up, he diverted from the hospital.
*****
McGarrett circled Palace square, formulating
ideas. This is where it all started and ended for him -- the Palace, Five-0, the
shooting. He put in a call to Raven and parked around the corner on Richards
Street to avoid suspicion if the car was sighted. Standing in the alcove of the
Judicial Building he had a clear view of the Palace across the street. So many
memories -- now all of them tainted by the horrific shooting. Studying the
angles, he crossed the lawn to stand by the Territorial Building belonging to
Five-0. The angle was only slightly different, but enough for a sharp ME like
Holliday to notice.
"Perfect set-up," Raven quietly
concluded, somehow materializing silently next to Steve.
McGarrett shook his head in amusement.
"What are you doing here? Or should I ask?"
"Just getting the lay of the land. Ski
is at the back of Five-0 checking out the security system." The athletic
ninja was dressed in black, including gloves. "Do you happen to know the
layout of the offices by any chance?"
"Yes," Steve admitted, eyeing the
younger man. "I'll tell you as we go along -- "
"No, hold on, Steve, you are not coming
with me."
"If you're good enough to break into
the office of the state police, you're good enough to get me inside, too."
About to argue more, Raven shook his head.
"Fine. We get caught, bail and attorney's expenses are on you again."
When they got to the back Ski had already
dismantled the state of the art security system, claiming electronics were only
good at catching incompetent amateurs. McGarrett noted his former company,
Aikane Security, had installed the system and made a mental note to let Magnum
know about the breech. Perhaps Raven and Ski should be on the payroll as
trouble shooters.
With startling ease they made their way into
the main office furnished with secretarial desks. Having once worked there,
Steve remembered the locations of the offices. There was no hope of finding any
incriminating physical evidence, but they spotted scraped wood on the pane of
Chase's window, opening the possibility it was used as a rifle rest. Wondering
why no one heard anything, Steve revealed Higgins learned that the building was
virtually deserted, everyone, including office staff, being given the time off
to attend the ceremony. While Ski and he looked through desk notes, Raven
crouched at the window, studying the line of sight to the Palace. Guessing the
assassin used a shell catcher for the semi-automatic bullet casings, he knew
such containers were not perfect. Figuring the shooter fled in a hurry, he
studied the floor, hoping to find a stray shell. Wedged in a corner of an old
broken piece of linoleum under a desk, he found a .30-06 shell.
Momentarily blinded when the lights came on,
the three froze. Aki Chase glared at them with amazed anger.
Forestalling an explanation by Jablonski, Chase held up his hand. "I know why you're
here," his voice coldly enraged. "I just wish you would have waited
so someone else didn't have to do the paperwork on your arrests!" he
shouted.
McGarrett joined him. "We know about
the coroner's report, Chase. The paraffin test, the angle of the wounds. Your
window sill is scraped from a rifle barrel!" He paused for a second to let
it sink in, surprise and anger giving way to confusion on Chase's face.
"This is breaking and entering,"
Chase insisted, his tone less confident.
"Look at this." Raven indicated
the floor by the desk. "A spent shell casing I just found. I didn't touch
it yet."
McGarrett closed on the Five-0 officer.
"A .30-06 matches the slug dug out of Dan Williams' chest! I'll bet we
find even more implicating you, Chase." Gradually his tone calmed,
reformulating theories as he interpreted his shifting instincts. "How can
you explain it all?"
Chase glanced at each man, tongue-tied with
irritation. "You should be the ones explaining to a judge," he
countered without conviction. "If you want to do your friend some good
then get out of this investigation and let the professionals handle it! I don't
need to prove anything to you!"
"You know, Chase. You have the answers,
don't you? Well, I want them!" McGarrett demanded.
Chase denied everything. Asked about the
coroner's report he paused, studying McGarrett in silence, assessing his
adversary. "I don't know how you did it, McGarrett, but you're as good as
your fan club thinks you are."
Steve studied the young cop. "You knew
the shooter must have been here at your own headquarters," he appraised
with certainty. "You wanted to handle an internal investigation without
fanfare because Lynd has closed the case. But you,
and Wolfe, and Holliday can't accept that. That's how my people got the
information. It was deliberately leaked, wasn't it?"
Startled and pleased, Chase calmed down
enough to take a seat on the edge of the desk. Glancing at the three intruders,
he evaluated their trustworthiness. Finally deciding to take a gamble, he
pulled some papers from his windbreaker pocket. "Computer printout of
financial records." He laid them on the desk. "You aren't the only
one with contacts, McGarrett. I don't know how you missed this."
"Your computer records?"
"Records of deposits to an account in a
San Francisco bank. Regular payments, never under five thousand dollars, every
two weeks."
"Follow the money, I told ya," Ski reminded. "This only means something if
we can tie this rich guy into the shooting."
McGarrett continued to pin Chase with a
glare. "Detective Chase is going to do that by telling us the unexpected
identity of this account holder." His little guerrilla army had been
chasing their tails, gathering bits of clues around the periphery of the
investigation. The Five-0 officer had struck gold.
"I can tell you who is making the
payments," Chase began. "Alika. Since he's
been inside his boys have been investing their mob money very wisely. They
invest, they launder, they support their local politicians both legitimately
and in payoffs. With a legal court order I obtained the records of these sums
deposited into this account. I've got Mack Wolfe checking on who matches with
the numbers."
Raven skeptically observed that using Wolfe
meant Chase wanted to keep the investigation unofficial, perhaps to keep
suspicion off himself.
"Mack is the only one I trust," Chase
countered. "I read Dawn Holliday's report, too. I think someone in this
office was working with the hit man to get Governor Williams out of the way. I
could have come to you, McGarrett, but you're old friends with practically
everyone in this office! I didn't think you would be objective or rational
under the circumstances."
Ignoring the insult, McGarrett was
interrupted by a call. "I hope I can redeem my character," he
retorted caustically. "And maybe my informants can tell us the other side
of the coin." He paused as the person on the other end of the phone
talked. "Rick, did you get the financial information yet?" He glanced
at the others, narrowing his eyes at Chase. "Yes, thanks." He clicked
off. "You'll be glad to know there's nothing suspicious about your money
situation, Chase," Steve tightly reported. "You have modest credit
card debts and a few hundred in the bank. Your fellow detectives are all in
similar financial situations, I'm pleased to say. All except your boss, who is
in debt because he frequently flies to San Francisco to be with his girlfriend
on weekends."
He picked up the computer readout while he
answered his phone again. "McGarrett."
"Steve, Ben and I have come across
something very interesting," came a familiar British voice.
"Go ahead, Higgins."
"Using the video taped replays, and
going over everyone's statements, I've made a timeline of everyone's
whereabouts prior to and during the shootings." Typical British
thoroughness," Steve figured, but didn't see how it would help him now.
"I've come up with an inconsistency."
THAT got his attention! "Go ahead,
Higgins."
"You said Lynd
was warned of danger to the Governor after your accident. Chase called Lynd, correct?"
"That's what I was told," he said,
giving away nothing as he stared at Chase.
"Lynd did not
have his cell phone turned on. An officer came up to the podium, three minutes
prior to the shootings, and spoke with Lynd. But Lynd made no effort to warn the Governor."
"He didn't deem it important
enough," McGarrett growled.
"Nor did he seem to consider it
important when the shooting started. From one camera's perspective, I've found Lynd bolting off the stand after the first shot. When he
intercepted Raven, Lynd was leaving!"
"Out of the line of fire,"
McGarrett whispered.
"Indeed. It looks like he had no
intention of saving the Governor."
Trembling with anger and remorse, Steve
nearly dropped the phone. Rick came back on the line and finished his report.
The name of the owner of the account was almost anti-climactic. He already knew
the identity of the guilty party.
"Lynd owns
this account."
Chase was speechless.
"I knew it!" Ski shouted. "I
KNEW he was no good! Any stuffed shirt who won't wear a lei to a luau is just
plain no good!"
"Wow," Raven breathed. "The
last person you'd expect to sell out to Kumu."
Ski shook his head. "Nuthin' surprises me, pal. Money like that crosses all
lines. Any cop, any judge, any color, anybody can cave with that kind of
cash."
"And easy to frame the Hawaiian
Nationalists when you're the boss cop," Chase added.
"Then who's the shooter?" Raven
asked McGarrett, who was strangely silent. "Steve?"
Hardly breathing, McGarrett whispered,
"He wasn't stopping you from getting to Danno, you stopped Lynd from fleeing the podium, Jonathon," he pieced
together, dazed from the realizations still hitting him hard. So many little
steps leading up to the tragedy, yet everything he had done had failed to keep
his friend safe. "Lynd did it for money,"
was the tattered murmur. He had seen a lot of crime committed for the sake of
money, but never anything so personal. "He wanted Danno dead. For
money."
Ski came up and placed a hand on his
shoulder. "Hey, why don't you let me take you home, Steve. You've had a helluva day."
"McGarrett shook his head. "I'm
going to see this through."
"Tomi Mano's the shooter, I bet," Chase guessed. "I
seem to recall Tomi is pretty good with a rifle. We
can check it out."
"He already confessed," Steve
quietly inserted. "Before he died."
No one seemed to breath for some moments.
Several times Chase indicated he might break the silence of the astonished men,
but ultimately found no words.
"You found him first," Ski finally
assessed.
"Self-defense," McGarrett assured.
"Magnum was one of several witnesses."
Chase glared in anger at the ex-cop. "Is
there any other possible place in my life you can interfere in?"
Ski literally came between them. "Hey,
there, buddy, if I was you I'd be thankin' Steve for savin' you all kinds of paperwork. You got a confession,
you got a dead shooter." To Steve he wondered, "Did he tell ya who else was in on the plan?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Raven showed Chase where the shell casing
still rested and offered him a pencil from the desk. "Dust the end for a
thumb print and see what you find."
"Mano and Alika," Steve agreed. "The money and the talent.
They've had scores to settle with Danno. They found a very high placed cop who
had vulnerabilities they could exploit, and waited for the right opportunity.
Yesterday's ceremony must have been more than they could pass up."
"And Kalama, the drunken truck driver
from Hawaiian Nationalists was really a drunk with a grudge. Then they frame
poor Tanaka to take the fall," Jonathon finished. "Are you going to
be able to prove all this?"
Chase ran down the chain of evidence; ME
reports, the shell casing with possible fingerprints, the money trail linking Lynd to Alika. It was enough for
Chase to go for an arrest of his own boss.
"Where is Lynd
now?"
"Should be at home, still recovering.
I'll get a warrant right now."
Steve held onto his wrist before he could
remove his cell phone. "No, that might tip him off. We've got to trap
him."
"We?" Chase chortled. "There
is no we, McGarrett! I'm the cop here, you're the intruder!" Backing
off", he insisted, "What's your idea? Not that I'll let you help, but
I'm open for suggestions."
"Catch him unawares," Ski advised.
"At five in the morning?" Raven
countered.
Five AM. Where had the time gone, Steve
wondered, aggrieved? He had meant to return to the hospital and be with his
friend through these last, slow, dark hours until dawn. Superstitiously and
statistically he knew those were the toughest moments to endure, to hang onto
life. Countless hospital vigils and stays confirmed that truth. How could he be
so consumed with a case -- even this case -- to forget to return to his friend?
"The hospital," he told them
urgently. "Call Lynd," he ordered Chase.
"Tell him the Governor is asking for him."
"He might check," Chase countered.
"Call Hilton or whoever's on duty and
have them pass the word. While Lynd is on his way
there you can get warrants. There must be a judge you can wake who is above
suspicion. Then get units over to Lynd's house and a
team here to search the office properly."
"Legally," the detective
corrected.
"Have your people set up an alternate
room with a decoy for the Governor. I need to get back to the hospital."
McGarrett's phone beeped and he answered it.
"McGarrett."
"Steve," Agnes 's voice barely
reached a hoarse whisper. "You need to come back now. Right now,
Steve!"
He felt the blood drain from his face and he
gripped tighter to the phone to keep his hand from shaking. The dry knot in his
throat choked his breath and he swallowed hard. "Danno?" he murmured.
" Hurry, Steve, he's -- "
He hung up before she could tell him
something he didn't want to know.
*****
He raced the few blocks in record time.
Rushing into the hospital he couldn't help but notice the morning ADVERTISER
already on the stands. A picture of McGarrett, leaning over a downed Williams,
emblazoned the front page.
Tension gripping every nerve, he dashed out
of the elevator and rushed past the police gauntlet to the familiar ICU room.
People crowded around the bed, obscuring the patient. McGarrett stood in the
doorway, hearing sniffs and sobs, seeing heads bowed in grief. Stopped cold in
his tracks, he could not look. Kelly, the children and Kana stood with their
backs to him. Agnes and Suzy Kelly stood on the far side by the wall. Tears
pooling in his eyes, he leaned against the door, weakness and panic binding him
in place.
Agnes noticed him, her tear-streaked face
brightening. "Steve! Finally!" she sighed.
"Uncle Steve!"
"Steve, I'm so glad you're back!"
Kelly smiled, dragging him over to the bedside.
Astonished, he saw the monitors indicated
Williams still lived! The chest still moved with breath and life! He glanced
around the smiling faces afraid to accept the optimism in their expressions. Kulani quietly explained their friend had slowly gained
strength during the night. Contrary to medical opinion and the severity of the
wounds, it looked like the Governor would live. They expected him to regain
consciousness shortly, which was why they wanted him to be there.
"I'd like to think it was the ritual
last night, giving him an aloha of farewell if he needed to leave." Kana
winked. "I think it was probably your yelling at him that did it," he
finished with a grin.
"He's going to live?" Steve hardly
dared to hope. He maneuvered over to the side by Agnes and gripped tightly onto
his friend's hand. "I knew you wouldn't give up, Danno," he choked
out somewhere between a smile and a sob.
Kelly delivered a kiss on Dan's pale cheek.
"Don't you think you've rested long enough, darling? We're all waiting for
you to wake up. You're running on Hawaiian time again."
"We've been coaxing him for a
while," Kulani elucidated. "I thought you
yelling at him again might do the trick."
"I never yell at anyone,"
McGarrett corrected stiffly.
At the tug on his hand he gasped and looked
down to familiar blue eyes staring at him with silent humor. The threatening
tears finally cascading down his face, McGarrett laughed with pure joy as his
friend tried to smile at them around the tube in his mouth. Enduring the kisses
and hugs of his family, Williams maintained his weak grip on Steve's hand. Giving
a wink to McGarrett, he closed his eyes, never letting go of the lifeline to
his oldest friend.
*****
With one arm around Agnes's shoulder, Steve
exited the room feeling numb. Exhaustion hovered near the edges of his
isolation, but all he could comprehend now was emptiness. After the last two
days of incredible anguish he was washed null from the inside out.
"I've never been so happy to be
wrong," she finally sighed in a quiet, fatigued voice.
He patted her arm, squeezing her tight, a
silent forgiving of her painful miscalculation.
"You made the difference, Steve. You
changed Dan's destiny." Her eyes twinkled with love. "Not for the
first time, I bet." She squeezed him, the pride throbbing in her words.
"This would have been a terrible ending without your stubborn Irish
pride."
He dredged up a lightened tone, but the
shudder in his sigh spoke of nerves tattered from anguish. "Danno's alive, that's all that matters, honey."
At the intersecting corridor they stopped,
HPD officers crowding the hall. Chase and Suzi Kelly
held a handcuffed Lynd between them. Jonathon Raven
appeared at his elbow.
"They've got him cold," the
mysterious ally told him.
McGarrett stared at the Five-0 chief who had
caused him so much pain, and found only a slight rippling of the rage he
expected. Too depleted to hate Lynd as much as he
deserved, McGarrett watched as Chase brought the police leader to him.
"He fell into the set up like a blind
man," Chase reported. "He's already talking deals for leniency."
Staring into the cold, hazel eyes of this
fiend, Steve couldn't find words strong enough to condemn the criminal.
"How could you?" he began, the
incredulity expressed in his deathly-quiet, strained voice. His fists clenched
with pent-up rage. "The betrayal to your responsibility as head of Five-0!
The murders of innocent people!" The anger rose in the volume of his word,
in his flushed face. "You nearly killed the Governor -- you nearly killed
my friend! In the name of greed!"
Almost as an instinctive response to
everything, Steve threw a leveling punch into Lynd's
face. The cop staggered back, kept on his feet only from Suzy's and Chase's
support.
"I think that says it all," Raven
smirked.
Chase gave a salute to McGarrett, which said
it all for him, then escorted Lynd away.
Agnes and Raven held him back as Chase
disappeared with the catch. Steve pushed away the imprisoning arms and leaned
against the nearest wall.
Agnes , shaking her head, hugged his arm.
"My hero," she labeled affectionately. "Feel better?"
Wincing as he flexed his hand he replied,
"Yeah."
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I am now. Let's get out of here."
"Sounds like good karma to me."
*****
Two days later Williams recovered enough to
have the tubes removed and sit up long enough to hear an edited account of McGarrett's exploits. Knowing many details and accomplices
were left unmentioned, Dan promised to wheedle it out of Steve in the future.
The bottom line, Steve assured, as he leaned on the wall and stared out the
window, was that Lynd was behind bars along with Alekema Alika. Meticulous
records, kept as insurance by Lynd, implicated dozens
of well-known figures in the state as Kumu payoffs.
HPD and Five-0 were working overtime gutting the mob that had caused them so
much trouble for years.
"Another chapter in the book of the
legendary Steve McGarrett," Dan smiled.
"And if you try to honor me with
another ceremony, Danno, I'll leave the island!"
"Okay," he agreed easily.
"I'm pretty tired of the headlines, too." Soberly he fondly studied
his friend. "I'm just glad you got out of this okay, Steve."
"Both of us were pretty lucky,"
McGarrett agreed.
"Yeah. We're alive. Kumu
is crushed. Even Lynd is out of my hair. And I heard Syd's backed out of the threatened lawsuit. For once public
opinion is so overwhelming in my favor he thought he better lay low." He
grinned mischievously. "In fact, I think there's going to be a lobby to
get you to run for governor in my place."
"No way," Steve promised. He
crossed to the bed and sat on the end.
"How about new head of Five-0?"
Steve shook his head, waving away the idea.
"Not even dog catcher, Danno!"
"Good, cause I'm going to offer Five-0
to Chase. I'm sure you'll find ways to get in his way before I leave
office."
"Good man," the former chief
confirmed ambiguously.
Dan's eyes glittered with amusement.
"Didn't we already have this conversation?"
"We did. And this is where I'm going to
end it and let you catch up on your rest. The sooner you're well the sooner we
spring you out of here."
Convalescence would take place on McGarrett's isolated estate on Kauai to keep the world at a
distance. He was anxious to get back there, get Dan to the protection and
privacy of the remote beach house. Stepping to the door, he reminded he had
promised Stephen and Angel an afternoon sail, and heaven forbid he was late for
that important appointment.
"Steve, thanks." Already praised a
dozen times for his efforts to save Dan's life and his energetic investigation,
McGarrett sloughed it off. Williams was persistent. "I mean, thanks for
not giving up on me." The phrase had almost taken on the stature of a
quotation between them through various crises. "I couldn't give up when I
knew you wouldn't either."
"You heard about my scene I take
it?"
"No, I heard it -- felt it, Steve. I
knew you were here."
Chilled at the implications, McGarrett
stared at the younger man. "But you were -- you weren't conscious."
"I was almost dead," Dan
corrected. "It's hard to define exactly, but it was like I could see everything
clearly, and hear you commanding me to fight. I can't begin to explain, Steve,
but maybe Agnes has bee right all these years with her mystical stuff. Maybe
some powers transcend the limitations of the world we know. Here I am thanks to
your Irish temper."
Unwilling to accept the credit, he
nonetheless felt awed at the connotation. There were indeed more things in
heaven and earth than he could dream. "You were always pretty good at
following my advice."
"Thanks for following mine."
McGarrett frowned, trying to place the
reference. "What advice?"
Williams seemed far away although his eyes
stared into Steve's. "The shooting and ceremony are pretty much of a blur.
I remember you being there. I thought I was dying. I asked you to take
care."
Steve swallowed the knot in his throat.
"You wanted me to take care of your family."
Dan smiled. "Take care of YOU, Steve.
You're ohana."
Too touched to comment, McGarrett nodded,
placing a hand on his friend's arm.
"Anyway," Dan sighed, "I
can't argue with the results."
He could not dispute the results either. Dan
was alive and his paradise, his ohana, were once more intact.
PAU
Hawaii Five-0 character list:
Agnes DuBois --
Samantha Eggar --
episode -- Horoscope For Murder
Sandi Welles --
Amanda McBroom --
episodes: Loose Ends Get Hit, Tour De Force:
Killer Aboard, Dealer's Choice - Blackmail
Suzy Kelly -- Jean Marie Hom
episode -- Death in the Family
ISLAND SON CBS 1989
A series dealing with Daniel (Kana) Kulani, whose parents died during the attack on Pearl Harbor
in 1941. Adopted by Hawaiians, he grows up as an "Island son" and
leaves the islands for a mainland career in medicine. Years later when his
marriage fails he returns to his homeland and family.
Dr. Daniel "Kana" Kulani -- Richard Chaimberlain --
Kahuna and Tutu Kulani
-- Kwan Hi Lim, Betty Carvalho
RAVEN CBS 1992 - 1993
As a young man Jonathon Raven lived in Japan
with his diplomat parents. When they were killed by the dreaded tong Black
Dragons, Jonathon secretly learns the martial arts from a master and
infiltrates the gang, killing those who murdered his parents. Raven's wife (the
master's daughter) is killed by the Black Dragons and his young son taken away.
He searches the world for the son, finally narrowing the trail to Hawaii.
There, with his friend Ski, they help people in need, hunt for the son, and try
to stay out of the clutches of the Black Dragons.
Jonathon Raven -- Jeffrey Meek
Herman "Ski" Jablonski
-- Lee Majors
MARKER - UPN 1995
Richard DeMorra
returns to Hawaii for the funeral of his father. His inheritance is adopting
the responsibility for redeeming 'markers' or favors his multi-millionair father gave out to people who deserved some kind
of reward. Richard, aided by his 'stepmother', their lawyer, and a beachbum friend, go through various of adventures redeeming
the 'markers'.
Richard DeMorra --
Richard Grieco
Kimba Rose -- Gates McFadden
Taki Mochadomi -- Keoni Young
Andy Bumatai --
Danny (Pipeline) Kahala
ONE WEST WAIKIKI - 1994 - 1996
HPD has a rapscallion of a detective named
Lieutenant Mack Wolfe. He's abrassive, coniving, and a push-over for any get-rich-quick scheme.
He's also a handsome, clever and talented homicide detective. The main object
of his flirtatious nature is a brilliant and charming Medical Examiner named
Doctor Dawn Holliday. Together they bring a whole new meaning to the beautiful
scenery of Waikiki.
Lt. Mack Wolfe -- Richard Burgi
Dr. Dawn Holiday - Cheryl Ladd
MAGNUM PI 1980-1988 CBS
For the benefit of anyone whose lived in
Gilligan's Island for the past two decades -- Thomas Magnum -- a new word had
to be invented to describe him. The 'HUNK' in the Hawaiian shirt, tooling
around Hawaii in a red Ferrari, is a PI who lives off the generocity
of the mysterious and rich novellist Robin Masters.
Supposedly Masters' security chief for his windward Oahu mansion, Magnum
scrapes together a living doing small PI jobs with the assistance of his
Vietnam vet buddies TC and Rick, and the grudging cooperation of Jonathan
Higgins, the British major-domo of the Masters estate.
Thomas Magnum - Tom Selleck
Rick Wright - Larry Manetti
Jonathan Higgins -- Jonathan Hillerman
Rogwer Mosley -- TC