ISLAND
OF SALVATION
Written by Trish and
Cathy
A big mahalo to Anna and
Gina for the fantastic editing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
rated
pg-13 for intense and graphic content
November 1968
Struggling against the ropes that held his arms above his head,
Sammy Kailika’s eyes grew wide as he watched the older man approach.
“My
children, evil has come to walk amongst us!” the man intoned. “Here is one of
the devil’s servants sent to destroy our righteous band. He came to us
pretending to be a poor lost soul. He allowed us to feed and guide him while
all the time plotting with the establishment to weaken and destroy us.”
Angry
murmurs rose and fell through the small congregation and the man raised his
hand, instantly silencing the group. “We can not let him carry out his evil
plan to help the establishment destroy us! We must destroy him first for our
own safety and freedom! I say death to the disbeliever! Death to the betrayer!”
A
fervent roar of support filled the air, and Sammy struggled wildly to get free.
The
ropes cut painfully into his wrists, and he watched through terrified eyes as
the leader drew a knife from a concealed pocket in his brown robe. Sammy’s head
was painfully pulled back as a hand gripped his hair exposing his neck. He
jumped as he saw the flash of the knife a moment before he felt it tear into
his throat. Unable to moan, his eyes slid shut and he felt his life slowly slip
away into the darkness. The last sound he heard was the soft maniacal laughter
of the leader close to his ear and than even that was gone.
l l l
Steve
McGarrett glanced up from the file he was reading and watched Chief Dann’s
agitated pacing around his office. The head of HPD was clearly disturbed by
this case, and McGarrett could fully understand the older man’s distress. With
an officer missing after going undercover, Steve well knew the worry and guilt
the man was experiencing.
Glancing
back down at the open file, the tall, dark-haired lead detective of Five-O
quietly said, “Sit down, Mike and bring me up to speed on this case!”
The
head of HPD released a sigh of relief, “You mean Five-O will take over this
case?”
McGarrett
nodded and the gray-haired chief eased himself into the chair opposite his
boss.
“Thanks
Steve.”
“Glad
to help – now tell me what we have.”
“There’s
a religious group called The Order of the United Brethren that seem to be
recruiting young people with the promise of a better life. We’ve had several
complaints from parents that their kids joined the group and haven’t been seen
or heard from since. So we decided to check it out.”
Dann
leaned over to the file resting on the Five-0 chief’s desk and pulled a land
deed from the middle of the papers. “The leader of the group is a guy named
Fontaine. He bought the McJellan place out on the old Pali last year and turned
it into some religious home for runaway kids. You know the type Steve, just
don’t seem to fit in, blame all their problems on the government and us. The
so-called establishment.
At
first it seemed harmless, Steve, but in the last few months we’ve been picking
up some of the kids on suspicion of prostitution. Break-ins have also increased
dramatically in the area. In the last few weeks, there have been rumors of
strange happenings at the estate.”
“That’s
the problem - the rumors are all pretty vague – references to some type of
murderous rituals, but no one is really admitting to anything.”
“So
are you saying that you think it could be a front for some type of weird cult?”
“I’m
not sure. That’s why I sent in one of my officers, Ray Tamiki to check it out.
Ray is young and fit well into the role of a runaway. We sent him in with a new
identity, under the name Ray Lowe. Anyway after he first went undercover he was
reporting in daily. Claimed that every thing seemed legit. Then slowly over the
course of about a week his reports became more infrequent and he seemed to grow
more...” Dann hesitated a moment as he tried to think of the best way to
describe his officer’s strange behavior. Finally, he settled on a word that
best described it. Taking a deep breath, he looked across at the top cop in the
islands before he said softly, “Paranoid! He seemed to become paranoid. We
tried to pull him out but he refused, and than he just stopped reporting in. We
haven’t had contact with him since. We have officers watching the grounds but
they haven’t seen him for several days. Frankly, Steve, I’m worried!”
Steve
walked to his office door, stuck his head out, and summoned his three detectives.
He needed Chief Dann to fill them in. Then they needed get their heads together
and weigh their options.
“What’s
up Steve?” Danno asked, his curiosity in full swing, was the first to enter.
Kono
and Chin, who had followed on Williams’ heels, waited patiently for their boss
to answer the question.
“Men,
the Chief has asked us to take over a case, and I’ve agreed.”
The
detectives nodded in agreement like they actually had the option to decline.
Then all stood and listened as the HPD chief filled them in.
“Ray Tamiki…” Danny mused out loud, as Dann
wrapped up his synopsis.
“That’s
right, Danny - he fit the profile that the group recruits, and it didn’t take
more than a week before they took the bait. Everything was going smoothly. Before
we lost contact with him, Ray reported that everything seemed legit.”
Steve
had been sure the case would pique his detective’s interest, and he was not
mistaken. Their caseload was slow at the moment, and he knew his men were up to
the challenge. He sat back and watched the three detectives’ reactions. Each
man’s face showed concern for a missing colleague, and distaste at the thought
of the mistreatment of confused, young runaways.
“We
need to find out exactly what’s happening in that compound.” Steve murmured as
ideas and plans quickly flittered into his mind only to be rejected and quickly
replaced by another, “We need to find someone on the inside who would be
willing to talk. Someone we can trust.”
“Let
me go in.” The soft voice broke through his thoughts, and the lead detective
turned to stare at his second-in-command, shaking his head instantly in
response to the offer.
“No,
Danno! We need someone already in there!” he answered, alarmed at the thought
of sending his closest and most valued friend into such a dangerous situation
with little information about the group to be infiltrated.
“Steve,
you just said yourself that we need someone on the inside to see what this
group is up to! I’m sure that I can infiltrate it and find out what is going
on!” Danny pleaded.
“No!
We already have one officer missing after going undercover with these fanatics!
I am NOT going to risk you! We’ll have to find another way to move on them!”
Steve yelled angrily, horrified that his young detective would even consider
such a risk after all that they had been told about the case. Drawing in a deep
breath to calm himself, Steve reiterated more quietly. "We’ll find another
way, Danno. My gut tells me this is just too dangerous to send in anyone else
undercover.”
“Ray Tamiki is a good friend of mine. I know the risks and I know
you will give me as much help as you can. Please, let me do this. If I run into
any type of trouble, I’ll get out.” Looking his mentor directly in the eyes,
Danny said softly, but emphatically, “This may be our only chance to find out
what happened to Ray and if any of those kids are being held against their
will. We can’t let this chance slip through our fingers because it could be
dangerous. Surfing the Pipe can be dangerous, Steve. Please let me try!”
Steve
sighed deeply and sat back down. Danno was right. They did need someone on the
inside, and Danno was the logical choice for the operation.
Slowly
he looked up and studied his young friend. Danny knew the risks involved and
was still willing to undertake the dangerous assignment. “Okay, Danno. You’re
right,” he admitted reluctantly. “We need to know what they’re up to. You and Chin complete a full background
history for your cover identity.”
“It’s
done, Boss!” Chin said, rising from his chair.
“Thanks,
Steve.” Danny grinned as he jumped from his seated position on the corner of
Steve’s desk and, with a brief nod at Chief Dann, followed Chin from the room.
“Kono,
I want you take the HPD file on this so-called Order of the United Brethren,
and see if you can flesh it out any further. Where it was formed, full
background checks on any known members, where they get their money, the whole
nine yards. I want the book on them and I want it yesterday!”
“On
it, boss!” Kono said slowly as he rose from his chair and turned to leave.
Before he reached the door, he turned and looked hesitantly at the lead
detective. “Boss, I guess this is the only way to go – sending in the
kaikaina.”
Glancing
up, Steve nodded slowly. “I don’t think we have any other choice. All we can do
is prepare Danno and try to watch his back as carefully as we can.”
Kono
nodded, unconvinced and slowly closed the door softly behind him. McGarrett
disinterestedly observed Chief Dann as the man collected his hat to leave. His
thoughts were now consumed by concern for his detective’s safety as he offered
a silent prayer that he was making the right decision.
l l l
Settled
into the white high back chairs in front of the projector, Steve, Danny and
Chin waited patiently for Kono to dim the lights and start his report of the
background check on The Order of the United Brethren and some of its members.
Projecting
the first photo onto the screen, Kono began, “This is one of the few photos HPD
was able to obtain of the leader. His name is Bobby Fontaine.”
Leaning
forward, the three other detectives studied the grainy slide of the tall,
middle-aged man with thinning gray hair combed over an obvious bald patch on
the top of his head and wearing very dark sunglasses. The photo seemed to
capture the aura of arrogance as it showed the man emerging from a car with a
look of disdain stamped across his face. He appeared to be speaking to the
unseen driver.
“Boss,
I haven’t been able to locate much on Fontaine. It’s almost as if he didn’t
exist until a year ago. No birth certificates, no immigration papers, no social
security, nothing. We dealin’ with a real mystery man. What I hear on the
coconut wireless is that he came here from the mainland, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. Got a call into them now,” Kono said
“Interesting…
As soon as you hear back from them, I want to know the low down,” Steve
commanded.
Kono
nodded and continued. “He arrived on the islands May ’67 and immediately
purchased the old McJellan estate up in the Pali.”
“I
remember that sale.” Danny interrupted, “Weren’t there rumors that McJellan was
forced to sell through some sort of extortion threat?”
“Yeah,
Danno, your right!” Steve answered, snapping his fingers as he recalled the old
man’s resistance to offers of help from Five-0. “HPD investigated the case but
the old man refused to file a complaint.” Returning his attention to the
screen, he ordered Kono to go on with his report.
As the Hawaiian detective changed the slide, the face
of an extremely attractive young woman appeared. Steve was acutely aware of the
reason for the appreciative soft whistles that escaped from his detectives. The
young woman was stunning - deep blue eyes peered from under long, brown
eyelashes, her skin was flawless and her lips full and pouting. Thick blonde
hair cascaded in waves around her face and disappeared behind her bare
shoulders.
“Melissa
Ridgely, better known as Missy. Age 26, born in Hilo and moved to Honolulu last
year. Single, no boyfriends, currently unemployed, no criminal record, youngest
of three children. Parents still live in Hilo. She met and moved in with
Fontaine just after he purchased the estate. She seems to be involved with
recruiting kids – anywhere from fourteen to early twenties – into the group.”
“So
she’s the hook,” McGarrett mused.
With
a nod, Kono agreed. “It looks that way. She’s the one who’s been last seen with
several of the missing kids. She hangs out on the beach, in cafes, anywhere kids
are found. We’re not sure how she convinces them to go with her to the estate,
but she does. Once there, the kids are rarely seen unless they are out on the
streets peddling goods they’ve made. Several of the girls have been picked up
on suspicion of prostitution, but HPD can only hold them a few hours, and as
soon as they’re released, they race back to the estate.”
“Haven’t
any of the kids talked while in custody? Said something about themselves?”
Danny wondered aloud.
Kono
shook his head slowly, “Spoke to some of the guys over at lock-up. Bruddah,
they say the kids are mutes. Never say a word. Don’t even ask for a drink of
water, nuthin’.”
“Sounds
like Fontaine has them scared!” Steve murmured. The other three detectives
nodded in agreement as the picture on the screen changed to show the face of a
man.
“Richard
Arnold,” Kono began to explain as the others memorized the distinctive scarred
face of a large Hawaiian that filled the screen. “One tough kanaka! He’s real
pilikia! Convictions for assault, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping. He
was released last year from San Quentin after serving twelve years for
attempted murder. Hooked up with Fontaine just after he got back to Oahu last
year. It looks like he’s now the Chief of Security at the compound.”
“Is
he employed to keep people out or to keep people in?” Chin voiced the question
that had crossed everyone’s mind.
“Howard
Flood, also known as Howie.” Kono continued as another slide popped up, this
time of a short stocky, middle-aged man, with thick horn-rimmed glasses. “Boss,
what we have on Flood so far is pretty vague too. He’s from Baton Rouge too,
come here with Fontaine. He seems to be the money man – pays all the bills, and
makes a monthly trip into town. Hits the post office and a few stores for
supplies - has everything delivered to the compound. The only thing he brings
back is a prescription from the drug store. Working on that now, maybe have
someone pretty sick out there.”
“Ask
Baton Rouge about Flood too,” Steve instructed.
Several
more slides showing teenagers, young men and women floated across the screen as
Kono completed his report in a neutral tone. “The group seems to be backed by
big money, but I haven’t been able to track down where it is coming from.”
“Not
surprising, I bet they take great care to cover their tracks!” Steve growled as
he rose and flicked on the lights angrily.
Waiting
until his boss re-seated himself, Chin slid a file across the desk for Steve to
peruse as he spoke. “We’ve set up a full background for Danny, Boss.”
Steve
nodded as he read the relevant information aloud. “Danny Walters aged 22 Born
in Honolulu. Orphaned after parents killed in car accident. Lives with
Grandmother.” Gazing up at Danny, he waited for the young detective to recite
the rest of the information he held in front of him.
Slipping
into the role that he would play, Danny dropped his head and gazed up shyly at
his boss, “I’ve been living with my Gran since my parents were killed eight
years ago. No one else wanted me – said I would be a burden. I guess Gran took
me in cause it was her duty. Didn’t bother with school,” He looked up
defiantly, looking very much the part of a troubled young man. “Had me a few
jobs but the old codgers expect me to work like crazy for hardly nothin’. So I
quit. Gran got me another job at some cafe. Reckons if I mess this one up I’m
out!”
Steve nodded his approval at his friend’s performance as Chin
added, “My cousin owns a cafe that Missy Ridgely often frequents. I managed to
set Danny up with a job there tomorrow. If all goes well Missy will be present
to see our young delinquent throw another temper tantrum.”
Danny
grinned as his boss nodded reluctantly. “Sounds like you’ve got everything covered,”
he said softly. “Kono, tomorrow I want you to run surveillance. Danno is to be
in your sight at all times!”
“Will
do, Boss” Kono answered solemnly.
“And
Danno, be extra careful. The first sign of trouble I WILL pull you out of
there! Understand?”
“Understood,
Steve.” Danny answered quietly
l l l
“Hey,
man, I don’t need lectures or your stinking job!”
Melissa
watched the heated exchange between the young man and owner of the small cafe
as she sipped her coffee.
“I’m
outta here!” The sandy haired kid shouted, shoving the broom roughly into the
older man’s hands before turning away and storming out of the cafe.
Quickly
finishing her coffee, Melissa rose from her seat, dropping a dollar bill onto
the table before following the obviously upset young man from the shop,
ignoring the owner’s mutterings about ungrateful brats. Outside, she quickly
glanced around, uncertain of where the young man had headed. Finally she
spotted him sitting on a park table across the road, his feet resting on the
seat. He stared out at the unending ocean which was spread before him.
Crossing
the road, she quietly approached and sat on a seat not far from where he had
his feet. She noticed he glanced uncertainly at her before returning his
attention back toward the ocean. She waited, allowing him a moment to accept
her presence before she softly spoke. "Hey Bro, that was one heavy scene
back there!”
“Yeah,
well he deserved it!” The kid stated defiantly, shooting an angry look over his
shoulder at the cafe before returning his attention back towards the beach and
ocean. “Anyway what business is it of yours?”
She
shrugged. “I saw what went down, and I just wanted to make sure that you were
okay.”
“Yeah,
I’m fine.” the young man answered with a laugh that ended in a strangled sob.
“I’m just peachy!”
Melissa
sat quietly, watching him struggle to control the emotions that were bubbling
up within him. She was rewarded for her patience as he spoke softly again.
“I’ve
really blown it this time!” he began, rubbing his hand through the thick mass
of curls that cover his head. “I live with my Gran, she’s the only one who
wanted me after my parents were killed. I guess I haven’t been exactly the
perfect grandson. Anyway, she’s at the
end of her rope with me. I don’t mean to cause her any trouble. Trouble just
seems to find me. Anyway she told me if I lost this job not to bother to come
home!” He bit his lip hard before he added, “I don’t know what I’m gonna do! I
can’t go home!”
“You
could always go back to the cafe and apologize. Ask for a second chance,” she
advised gently.
“NO!
I won’t do that! I’d rather live on the streets first than apologize to that
old codger! He was wrong - not me!” the kid retorted angrily.
“Okay,
okay, it was just a suggestion,” Melissa answered calmly, as she moved to sit
beside him on the table. Watching the azure water, she paused before turning
toward him and gently placing her hand on his arm. “Or if you like you could
come home with me.”
“With
you?” the kid asked skeptically, staring her in the face with his piercing blue
eyes “Why would you want to take me home?”
She
laughed and hurried to explain as she interpreted his wary expression as
mistrust. "Actually I live with a group of young people just like you. The
establishment or our parents, people that we trusted, have kicked us all
around. We protect and look after each other, as we search for some meaning to
our existence, if you know what I mean. Come and have a look. If you don’t like
it, you don’t have to stay. What have you got to lose?”
Reluctantly,
the young man nodded his head in agreement and Melissa smiled warmly. “Come
on...” She laughed in a flirting jester, then grabbed his arm and pulled him to
his feet, “I don’t even know your name!”
“Danny. Danny Walters.” The young man responded shyly.
“Well
Danny, I’m Melissa but all my friends call me Missy. My car’s just over there
-let’s go home!” She led him back across the road to a little red car parked in
front of the cafe.
l l l
Kono
picked up his mic and requested a patch to McGarrett. Watching Danny climb into
the passenger side of the small car, the Hawaiian heard McGarrett’s voice
answer the patch. “The bait’s been taken, Boss. The pick up was Melissa
Ridgely. She’s taking Danny back to the compound with her now!”
“Okay,
Kono, stick with ‘em!” McGarrett sighed, “But don’t get too close - we don’t
want to tip our hand!”
“Will
do, Steve!” Kono acknowledged, placing the mic back on the receiver as he
started the car and eased it out into the traffic a few cars behind the red
one.
l l l
Slowly
hanging up the phone, Steve found himself wishing that there were another way
to crack this cult. ‘Be careful, Danno!
Please don’t take any chances.’ He sighed deeply as he tried to concentrate
on the reports in front of him, but his thoughts wandered back to the safety of
his youngest detective and closest friend.
l l l
Danny was shocked at the luxury of the group’s compound. Tucked
away in the Pali, it was just off the old Pali Road. The estate was hidden from
prying eyes by a thick growth of rainforest. It provided a natural screen
around the high security fence that encircled the manicured grounds and
gardens. Staring at the imposing, three-story colonial style home that sat at
the end of a long, meandering driveway, he turned to Melissa and asked in
apparent awe, "Wow, this is where you live?”
She
grinned at him as she cast him a sideways glance, “Yeah and this can be your
home if you want to join us.”
Bringing
the car to a gentle stop, she turned off the ignition before turning and giving
his arm an encouraging squeeze. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to some of the
others before I take you to meet Bobby.”
“Bobby?”
Danny asked, sounding confused and a little apprehensive, “Who’s Bobby?”
“Hey,
it’s okay, Danny,” Melissa quickly tried to reassure the nervous young man.
“Bobby is the dude who owns this place. He’s sort of our father figure, and he
treats us like his own children. All he wants is for us to be one big happy
family. You’ll like him and come to think of him as your father, like the rest
of us do.”
Climbing
out of the car, Danny appeared to hesitate, as he glanced around the grounds
and back at the house. He noticed the large open bay windows, which would
ensure a clear view of the grounds by anyone on the top floor of the home.
Several older men seemed to wander amongst the younger group. They all appeared
to be busy with various activities like gardening and pottery. The most
disturbing thing he noticed was the clothes the young people wore. The girls
were all dressed in shapeless blue dresses and the guys wore tan shorts and
blue tee shirts.
Noticing
the young man’s apparent reluctance to move toward the house, Melissa moved
quickly around to the passenger side of the car. She gently slipped her arm
around his and vigilantly began to maneuver him towards the five ornate steps
leading up to the large porch, which wrapped around the mansion. “Come on,
Danny,” she cajoled him gently, “Come inside and meet some of the guys. Have
dinner with us. If you don’t want to stay after that, I’ll take you back to
Honolulu.”
She
smiled as he allowed himself to be led inside.
l l l
Standing
by his third floor office window, Bobby Fontaine watched the small, red car
drive slowly up the winding driveway and stop just below. He waited patiently
as the car’s two occupants slowly emerged. The young man appeared reluctant to
enter.
Fontaine
smiled as Missy expertly cajoled the nervous visitor into the house. He laughed
softly as he watched a dark sedan glide slowly past just beyond the gates
before vanishing behind the screen of trees, before returning his attention
back to the young couple vanishing under the cover of the veranda roof below.
He reached down and picked up the cat, which had been weaving its way in and
out between his legs, and then strolled to a large ornate desk. Sinking into
the overstuffed leather office chair, he waited patiently for the knock at the
door. He was not disappointed when the light rap was heard a few minutes later,
and Missy glided into the room without waiting for an invitation, gently
closing the door behind her.
“I
got him.” She announced demurely as she slid onto the desktop just in front of him.
“It went just as you said it would! He put on a real show for my benefit and
than played coy.”
Fontaine
gave a small bored nod. “I told you he would - the cops here have no
imagination! What name is he using?”
“Danny
Walters!” Missy exclaimed before giving a small, girlish giggle, “And he’s
cute, much cuter than his photo!” Seeing the disapproval on her boss’ face she
quickly amended, “For a cop!”
“Remember
he is a cop!” Fontaine growled, “And
as such, he will need to be watched constantly! Where is he?”
“In
the kitchen, with some of the other kids! Richie’s keeping an eye on him.”
Missy answered softly as she seductively leaned forward and stroked his face.
“Hey, Bobby, it’s okay. We know how important this is for you. We won’t let
anything blow it for you!”
Reaching
up, he grabbed her hand tightly and she winced as he roughly pulled it away.
Squeezing the much smaller hand tightly, Fontaine murmured, “Nothing had better
go wrong!” Releasing his grip suddenly, he smiled warmly, “Come, my dear. We must
help Danny feel welcome in our little family.” He rose and deposited the feline
on his lap back to the floor, while holding out his arm to Melissa.
Blinking
back the tears that threatened to fall, Missy rose and straightened her dress.
She smiled weakly as she accepted the man’s arm.
l l l
Seated
near the head of a large dining table, Danny found himself surrounded by about
thirty other people, all appearing to be under twenty-five. He glanced covertly
at each face hoping to find the young HPD officer, whom he had been sent
undercover to locate amongst the group. He sighed deeply as he realized that
Ray was not present before returning his attention back to the empty plate that
sat on the table before him.
Williams
listened to the laughter and chatter that surrounded him and noted with
interest that a sudden hush had fallen over the room. Looking up, he watched as
a tall, thin, slightly balding middle age man entered the room, with Missy
clinging to his arm. Fontaine – Danny immediately identified the man, whose
eyes were almost hypnotic. The irises seemed so dark, they appeared to be black
and when the man turned and looked at him, the detective felt a shiver run up
his spine. He had the disconcerting sense that the cold-piercing eyes were
looking into his very soul.
Missy
whispered something into Fontaine’s ea. The leader of the group gave a small
silent nod before the young woman smiled and slipped from the room. Danny’s
attention was immediately drawn back as Fontaine began a quiet chant, moving quietly
around the table as he gently placed his hand on each person’s head. One by
one, the kids joined in but the words were foreign to Williams. He jumped
slightly as the older man placed a hand on his head, but Fontaine just smiled
and stood behind the chair beside him.
The
chanting ceased as Fontaine raised his hands and began to murmur what Danny
could only think was some type of blessing in a foreign language. Finally, he
sat down and the chatting and laughter around the table began again.
l l l
Hearing
the sounds of laughter and talking begin anew, Missy finished arranging the
fruit in the large bowls before turning her attention to the large jugs of
fruit juice which sat on the bench. Pulling out the envelope she had in her
pocket, she frowned with concentration as she carefully sprinkled the powder
from it into each jug and stirred them, ensuring no traces of it remained.
Standing
near her, Richie Arnold watched her. “Did Bobby say he wanted that mixed in
tonight with Williams here?” he whispered.
Missy
nodded, “He wants us to make sure that Williams drinks some. He wants to start
the experiment with him as soon as possible.”
“Okay,
if the boss says so,” Arnold mumbled as he picked up the food and walked
towards the dining room door. “I still think it’s a mistake having that Five-0
cop here!”
The
woman shrugged, “Bobby knows what he’s doing!” she whispered, “And before I
forget, Bobby told me to let you know, Williams is allowed to wander freely
through the house, but he wants you to keep a sharp eye on him.”
Arnold
muttered under his breath as he kicked the door open and carried the food out
to the table.
l l l
Danny
watched as different types of fruit, vegetables and nuts were placed upon his
plate and a glass of fruit juice was poured and placed in front of him. He
glanced up and watched as the others began to eat before picking up a piece of
pineapple and taking a small bite.
“So,
Danny,” Fontaine said softly, “Missy tells me that you have come to join our
small family.”
Danny
looked up defiantly, “I had no where else to go and Missy suggested I come
here. She said if I didn’t like it I could leave.”
Fontaine
nodded and smiled, ”Of course you are free to leave whenever you wish, but I
think you will find our little group may be just what you have been seeking. We
do have some rules which we would like you to obey if you decide you wish to
stay.” Danny looked at him suspiciously as the man continued. “The rules are
simple and I think you will find them fair. We do not encourage contact with anyone
from your old life; here we try to start anew. We don’t encourage questions
about each other’s past, what is in the past is finished, it is the future for
which we strive. We expect you to help with jobs around the house, and in the
garden - we grow our own food you see. Also, we like everyone to be within the
house after dark for prayers and meditation.”
Danny
nodded his agreement and picked up the glass of juice, grimacing slightly at
the sweet taste. Placing the juice back down, he turned toward Fontaine. “May I
ask you a question?’ he asked shyly. Fontaine smiled, and drawing a nervous
breath Danny rushed ahead, “When you came in, you started to chant in a funny
language and than you gave some sort of... blessing...I think that’s the best
word to describe it. I was wondering...” He hesitated, almost as if
embarrassed. Fontaine leaned toward him and smiled encouragingly. Danny dropped
his eyes before looking back up into Fontaine’s and rushed on. “What was that
all about?”
Bobby’s
lips curled upward slightly. “I was calling for the blessing from the Loas.”
With Danny’s questioning look, he explained, “The Gods! We believe that there
is more than one God in the heavens. That we as mere men are influenced by
many.”
Danny
nodded, “Ah, like the Hawaiian Gods.”
Fontaine
grinned broadly, impressed with William’s inquisitive mind and intelligence.
“Yes, my son, our Loas are very much like the Hawaiian Gods. They give us our
blessings and protection, and we honor them with our prayers and chants. We
offer them food and small gifts and eat only pure foods.”
“Like
fruit and vegetables,” Danny finished, picking up more of the fruit before him
and taking another bite.
“You’re
correct,” Fontaine agreed, studying his “guest” closely with new interest. “But
we also have great feasts to honor the Loas, where the Loas permit the eating
of animals. Anyway enough for now about the gods. Eat up and drink your juice.
It is getting late and there is much for you to discover and learn.”
The
detective nodded and finished eating his dinner. He felt tired and atypically
sleepy. Tomorrow, he decided, he would wander around and talk to the kids
before he reported to Steve. All he wanted to do now was retire to the bedroom
that Arnold had told him was his and sleep.
l l l
Standing
near the window overlooking the spacious grounds, Bobby watched the young
devotees work in the gardens below. A sandy-headed young man caught his
attention and he studied him with intense interest. This was the detective whom
the famous lead detective of Hawaii Five-0, Steve McGarrett, had sent in
undercover.
Bobby
laughed - he’d heard so much about the head of the elite police unit. He’d been
warned that the man was probably one of the best investigators in the world- a
real challenge. Fontaine stood here now greatly disappointed at the
predictability of the detective, sending in his young second-in-command to
investigate the group and to try and locate the missing HPD officer.
Returning his attention from his musings back to the
young man below, Fontaine found himself intrigued. He’d been surprised that
McGarrett had chosen such a young officer to become his lieutenant.
McGarrett
had recruited Danny Williams – at twenty-eight years of age – from the
detective division of HPD a few scant months before promoting the young man to
the high-ranking position of Second – In - Command. The young officer was
bright and inquisitive, knowledgeable and personable, but more appealing to
Fontaine was an underlying vulnerability, which could be used against him in
the experiments.
His
research had revealed that Williams, born and raised on Oahu, was an orphan,
raised by his uncle and a Hawaiian family. His uncle, a police officer for HPD,
was killed in a fire when Williams was just fourteen years old, thus orphaning
the youngster a second time. The young man graduated from high school, studied
psychology at the University of Hawaii before transferring to the University of
California at Berkley to study Police Science. After a stint in the Coast Guard,
he returned to his island home and joined HPD.
Yes, Bobby decided. Perhaps McGarrett had in
fact sent him more of a challenge than he initially realized. This young man
would be the one with whom he would show those who called him insane that his
experiments had credibility! Williams would be the proof that his theories
worked!
He
watched as Williams straightened up from weeding and stretched, looking around
at the young people working around him. Fontaine knew he was looking for Ray Tamiki.
Bobby shook his head and turned away from the window. It was a shame that the
police in Hawaii were as predictable as the police on the mainland. It took
some of the fun out of the challenge.
He
had allowed Danny to explore the house, knowing that the detective would find
nothing amiss. Arnold had kept a silent and covert watch on the young man,
ensuring that he settled well into the group. For her part, Missy had begun the
medication on the first night of his stay. The drug was used to relax and lower
anxiety levels. Subjects were, without exception, more compliant and calmly
accepting of indoctrination.
l l l
It had been three days since he’d arrived at The Order of the
United Brethren compound and everything seemed to be pretty normal - that is
everything except everyone’s behavior. They all seemed to be a little too… too
pleasant… too blank… walking around in some kind of daze. He couldn’t quite put
his finger on it. He hadn’t seen any of them doing drugs but they sure acted
like they were on some kind of a trip. He’d seen a lot of spaced-out kids on
drugs before but nothing like this. They were are so passive and, for what it
was worth, happy. They went about their lives just like Missy described.
Glancing around to make sure nobody was interested in what he was doing; Danny
slipped quietly from the room and went to the small-unoccupied office near the
kitchen to phone in his nightly report to Steve.
l l l
Dressed
in a long-sleeved, flowered Hawaiian shirt with an ascot and straw hat, Steve McGarrett
wandered around the small stall in the bustling International Market. Several
young men and women were peddling homegrown fruits and vegetables, as well as a
variety of homemade pottery and macramé hangers. He spotted Danny resting on a
chair near the small stall., the large Hawaiian named Arnold stood only feet
away from the young detective. He continued to wonder around the small stall
until Arnold moved away.
Seeing
his chance, he moved closer to his friend. Watching the tourists admire the many
trinkets and souvenirs, Steve softly asked, “Are you okay? You’ve missed your
check-ins over the last few days!”
Danny
shrugged, “I’m fine! It’s not always possible to contact you!”
“I was concerned when I didn’t hear from you.
Chin spotted you getting into the van to come to the markets today. I told you
that we were keeping you under surveillance.” Steve reminded him softly. “So
what has been happening?’
Danny shook his head as he murmured, glancing
nervously across at Arnold, “Nothing, Steve. Everything seems legit.’ Danny
swallowed hard, he knew McGarrett wanted more but there was nothing more to
give. He had seen nothing illegal happening.
“Have you seen Ray Tamiki since you have been in the compound?”
“He’s
working in the gardens.” Danny answered edgily, “I haven’t spoken to him yet!”
“When
you get the chance to talk to Ray, please be extra careful, Danno! We don’t
know how they are likely to react if they realize that either of you are cops.”
Steve cautioned. Williams shot him an
annoyed look and nodded curtly.
Continuing
to study the detective out of the corner of his eye, Steve was surprised to see
an alarmed expression flash across the young detective’s face as he glanced
again anxiously toward Arnold. "Umm... I... I have to go!” Danny muttered
as Arnold turned toward him.
Noticing
the young detective’s apprehension, Steve asked, “Are you sure you really want
to do this?”
Danny
nodded quickly, and Steve could see the anxiety rising in the officer as Arnold
began to walk slowly toward them.
“I-
I’ll try and contact you tomorrow!” Danny murmured as he moved slowly away
towards Arnold and the group of young people.
Remaining
seated, Steve covertly watched as the large Hawaiian roughly grabbed the young
man by his arm. Pulling him out of earshot, he cast a hostile look toward
McGarrett. Arnold appeared to angrily, but quietly, question the detective.
Danny glanced fearfully back over his shoulder toward his boss and answered
softly, shaking his head in what Steve could only take as a firm denial.
Arnold
glared again at McGarrett as he tightly gripped Danny’s arm and lead him back
to the small group of teenagers gathering up their wares in preparation to
leave. Steve remained seated as the group slowly carried their goods out of the
market and climbed into the small van. Arnold never released the firm hold he
had on Danny’s arm until the young man climbed into the van.
Steve
sighed as the van pulled away, followed a few moments later by the unmarked
police car. A deep, unsettling fear tightened his chest as his instincts warned
him that he’d just made the wrong decision.
l l l
Missy
watched silently as Richie stormed angrily into the mansion. “Where’s
Fontaine?” he growled, “I knew taking that damn Five-O cop was a stupid idea!”
“Why?
What happened?” Missy questioned, warily watching the furious man pace the
kitchen.
“What
happened? WHAT HAPPENED?” Arnold’s voice rose in fury, running his hand over
his face, “McGarrett’s WHAT
HAPPENED! That damn cop was waiting for us at the market! I let Williams rest
like Fontaine told me to and McGarrett zeroed in on him.”
Missy
gasped, “Did Danny tell him anything?”
“I
don’t think so! I kept a damn close eye on them. I don’t think Williams told
him anything. McGarrett looked pretty frustrated at Williams’ answers. I packed
up the kids early and got Williams away as soon as I could. But I tell ya
Missy, Fontaine is asking for big trouble playing games with McGarrett’s golden
boy. McGarrett ain’t the sort of cop that will walk away if Williams tells him
he wants to stay!” Richie complained. “Fontaine is really underestimating that
head cop!”
“Bobby
knows what he’s doing!” Missy tried to reassure the angry giant.
“Yeah,
well, he bettah!” Arnold snarled. “Well, where is he? Still hiding in his room
with them damn cats of his?”
“I
think so, Richie. Howie said that Bobby has another one of his headaches.”
Missy answered quietly as she watched Arnold storm out of the room and head towards
the stairs leading to the bedrooms. Sighing, she turned away and continued to
prepare the evenings supper. ‘Bobby knows
what he is doing’
l l l
Ray had watched Arnold return from the market with some of the kids. For
some odd reason, Fontaine had allowed Danny to go. He’d recognized Danny on the
first day; no one could mistake that curly, sandy head of hair that he
possessed. He had teased him about it many times.
He couldn’t believe that McGarrett had sent Danny in - at least not
without knowing more about this place and this psychotic man they called
Fontaine. He knew it was because he had stopped reporting in. But there were
only two phones in the entire house, one in Fontaine’s office and the other in
the sitting room. He had not been able to spot any others.
He had not been able to get anywhere near Danny. It was as if someone
had tipped his hand and Fontaine knew he was the law. But they had allowed him
to live - he just had an escort everywhere he went and had not been able to eat
with the others. He’d been sent to his room after the work in the gardens was
done and his supper brought to him. They had kept them apart from the start. He
wasn’t sure if Fontaine knew who Danny was, but he was certain he had him
pegged. He needed to get to Danny and warn him NOT to drink the juice.
That kid, Sammy, had clued him in – warned him quietly not to drink the
juice – he wasn’t sure exactly who the young man was and he’d done it, but Ray
was grateful, The first few days, he had not been able to get rid of it any
other way than to drink it - Arnold and Missy had watched him like hawks. He
almost had the feeling he was being tested. So he’d continued to drink the
juice until that night… the night Fontaine killed Sammy. Then he knew that
Sammy was genuine and had really been trying to warn him. After that, they’d
stopped letting him go to town with the others. He tried to escape once and had
been beaten for the attempt. All he could do was wait for an opportunity to
escape.
Then Williams arrived on the scene, a
fact that complicated the situation. He could never leave without him, and it
was clear to him that Danny was under the influence of whatever drug was in the
juice. The Five-0 detective had been beaten too, no doubt by that big idiot,
Arnold. Somehow he had to ditch this nursemaid of his and get to Williams and
fill him in. At this point, he wasn’t certain how under the influence Danny
was, but it looked like Fontaine was giving him a lot rope so to speak…
On the other hand, maybe he was giving him too much - maybe Fontaine was
waiting for him to hang himself with it.
Ray glanced at the Hawaiian guarding him.
He needed to give these babysitters that Fontaine had placed on him the slip!
He needed to warn Williams about the danger and make him get out of here! But
how? He needed to work out a plan and quickly!
l l l
Surprised by the man’s
knowledge of the event and his unruffled attitude about the meeting, Richie
could only nod in confirmation.
“There is nothing to
worry about Richie. Danny will not tell McGarrett anything. All is under
control.” Bobby said quietly. “Now go and NEVER enter my room without knocking
again!”
Richie stood for a
moment, shocked at the way he had just been dismissed like a common worker.
Bobby had really changed since Williams had come on the scene! He turned and
left, resisting the urge to slam the door as he did so. Williams was trouble.
Maybe more trouble than he’d first thought. Somehow the cop was worming his way
under Bobby’s skin. Maybe Williams needed to be removed from the picture before
he ruined everything!
l l l
Danny
slipped away unnoticed. He had to contact Steve with a report. He knew Steve
would be upset that he had still been unable to uncover much. He hadn’t even
been able to talk with Ray even though he had spotted him several times in the
garden. There always seemed to be someone around, preventing him from talking
to the HPD officer and Ray never ate in the dining room with the other members.
Maybe Fontaine had realized that Ray was a cop! But why keep him around?
He
sighed as he entered the small sitting room and spoke briefly with his Boss on
the phone reporting the lack of progress he had made. Steve sounded
disappointed. Upset with himself, he slowly hung up the phone. Danny heard a
sound behind him. Before he could turn, he was grabbed roughly from behind, an
arm encircling his throat, cutting off his oxygen and preventing him from
uttering a sound.
Reacting
with all his police training, Danny shifted his weight and attempted to throw
his attacker over his shoulder. But the distinct lack of coordination he had
been experiencing over the last few days and the lack of oxygen reaching his
blood-starved brain quickly weakened his strength. He found himself spiraling
down to the darkness of unconsciousness.
Arnold
kept his tight grip around the detective’s throat until he felt the man go limp
in his arms. Satisfied that Williams would no longer be capable of putting up a
struggle, he roughly threw the detective over his shoulder and quickly carried
him down to the basement where Bobby was waiting.
l l l
“I
caught him in the upstairs sitting room. He was phoning McGarrett!”
“Did
he tell McGarrett anything?” Fontaine asked, frowning at the news.
“Yeah,
he told McGarrett everything looks legit!” Arnold answered with a grin as he
dropped the young detective heavily onto the cement floor, ignoring the soft
groan from Danny.
“Get
him prepared!” Bobby ordered as he turned and locked the door to the soundproof
room.
“With
pleasure!” Arnold laughed, roughly rolling the prone form over onto his back
with his foot. Reaching down, he tightly bound the detective’s arms in front of
him before he slapped Danny’s face. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty, time to wake
up!”
Danny
moaned and his eyes fluttered open. Slowly, he brought into focus the pair of
sadistic gleaming eyes. Immediately sensing the danger, the officer tried to
move away. His stomach erupted in an explosion of pain – Arnold had driven his
booted foot into the officer’s midsection. Unable to draw a breath, Danny felt
his vision fade into gray. He struggled against the darkness as he was grabbed
by the front of his shirt and pulled back onto his feet and slammed back against
the cement wall. His body then slid to the floor.
“Come
on, Williams, don’t go to sleep yet!” Arnold snickered, reaching down and
lifting the semi-conscious man back to his feet. “You’ll miss out on the fun!”
The
world spun wildly around him, and he felt his arms pulled up above his head.
Slowly he became aware that he was standing, tied to some sort of pole by his
arms. Forcing his eyes open, it took a moment for him to focus, but at last, he
found himself standing in the center of a small room. Arnold’s grinning face
was just inches away from his own; the man’s fetid breath threatened to make
him gag.
Arnold
grinned and spoke to someone behind Danny. “He’s ready!”
Bobby
nodded and silently waited, allowing Danny to take in his surroundings, as he
knew the young detective would.
Danny
struggled to turn and see to whom Arnold was speaking, but was unable to do so.
Hearing no answer and having no choice, he tensed and waited. A full minute of
silence passed before he cautiously began to scan the room again, hoping to
find a route of escape if the opportunity presented itself. A large window was
in Williams’ direct line of sight – it looked out at the small basement gym
which he’d discovered during his first covert search of the mansion. He
remembered a large mirrored wall that he now realized hid a secret room at one
end of the gym
Above
the large window, hung a line of colored lights and Danny frowned, uncertain of
what their use could be. Large speakers were set in the two corners of the room
that he could see and to the left of where he was bound was some type of
medical stretcher. A small cabinet above appeared to contain both medical
equipment and small bottles of solutions.
A voice close behind him startled him from his
observations. “Well Danny, it seems that you have lied to us about who you are
and why you seek our shelter!”
Danny
bit down on his bottom lip – had he heard his real last name a few moments ago?
Did they know who he was? Uncertain just how much of his cover had been blown,
but determined to play out the undercover role he stuttered. “I...I don’t know
what you are talking about.” He answered in a frightened voice. “I didn’t ask
to come here. Missy invited me.”
A
hard slap across his face made his ears ring as his head snapped sideways under
the impact. He blinked, willing away the dark spots floating in his vision and
saw Arnold grinning in front of him, holding a hand in a closed fist.
“Don’t
lie to me, Danny!” Fontaine’s voice came softly from somewhere behind, “I know
who you are! I know why you are here! Tell me what you told your boss,
McGarrett!”
“I
don’t know any McGarrett!” Danny protested, crying out as a blow slammed into
his stomach.
“Don’t lie to me Danny!” Fontaine repeated, “I know who you are! I know why you
are here. McGarrett sent you in!”
“I
don’t know any McGar...” His words were cut short as blow after blow rained
down on his face and body and the world faded into blessed pain-free darkness.
l l l
Slowly,
Danny opened his eyes and tried to look; taking in his circumstance, but
bright, flashing, colored lights hurt his eyes, causing him to squint to see an
image of someone standing in front of him.
A
soft voice whispered in his ear, “You’re a nobody, Williams, someone no one
wants around! Why do you think McGarrett let you go undercover? Was it because
he thought you were the best choice for the assignment? Or was it because he
knew it would get you out of his sight for a few days, maybe if he was lucky- a
few weeks?”
“I
don’t know any McGarrett!” Danny whispered softly, crying out in pain as his
hair was grabbed and the back of his head was slammed back onto the post near
his head.
“Now
Danny, we both know that isn’t true, just as we both know why McGarrett sent
you here!” Fontaine’s voice whispered again. “He hired you as his
second–in–command, and then discovered he’d made a mistake. We both know that
he would never back down and admit to the world he’d hired a loser, so he sent you
here to get rid of you!”
“NO!”
Danny shouted, trying to turn away from the lights that hurt his eyes. He
screamed as he felt a charge of electricity surge through his body.
“You’re
worthless, Williams! Your boss and your friends have turned their backs on you!
I bet they promised to watch your back, but where are they? They don’t care
what happens to you!”
“You’re
wrong!” Danny panted before his body arched in agony as more electricity was
sent through his body. “You’re wrong!”
“Oh,
Danny, Danny, Danny!” Fontaine whispered, “If only you would open your eyes and
see the truth. McGarrett is not going to bother helping you! He doesn’t care!
None of your so-called friends care!”
Danny
shook his head in denial, only to be beaten for his rejection of Fontaine’s
words.
Bobby
walked away and started the loud music to drown out the young man’s cries as he
allowed Arnold to inflict the punishment. Finally the young man sagged,
unconscious and bloody.
“Okay,
Richie,” Bobby said quietly turning off the lights and music, “He’s had
enough!”
He
was surprised that his soft command was ignored as Arnold continued the
sadistic beating. “ENOUGH!” he ordered, stepping between his employee and his subject.
Arnold
stopped and looked up with glazed eyes, a thin smile of satisfaction on his
face. “Come on Bobby, I was just getting warmed up! Let me have a little more
fun!”
“I’m
not doing this for your enjoyment!” Bobby growled, “And you will do as you are
told! Now untie him! Take him back to my room!”
“YOUR
room?” Arnold asked surprised - normally the kids were dumped back into their
own rooms.
“Do
as you are told!” Fontaine snapped, and then he stood by and watched a mildly
disgruntled Arnold untie Danny’s bloodied wrists and collect his limp body
l l l
Bobby
sighed as Arnold placed the young man onto the bed before turning and leaving
the room. Arnold had taken a perverse delight in the beating tonight and
Fontaine had no doubt that if he had not ordered an end to it, Arnold would
have beaten Williams to death.
Carefully
removing the torn, bloodied shirt, Bobby carefully but expertly began to
palpate the unconscious man’s ribs, swearing softly to himself as he felt the
distinctive movement of three broken bones. The extensive bruising, which was
forming across Williams’ abdomen, indicated possible internal bleeding.
Cursing
again the insane pleasure Arnold seemed to derive from inflicting such
beatings, Fontaine lifted Williams into a sitting position and, with Missy
supporting the unconscious man, he carefully wrapped Danny’s ribs.
Repositioning the pillows, he eased the young officer back down before dismissing
Missy from the room. Then he pulled a chair close to the bed. Williams would
need to be monitored closely for the next few days to ensure a full recovery
from his injuries.
Dozing
uncomfortably in the chair, Fontaine woke each time the young detective moaned.
Although Williams stirred several times, he never fully regained consciousness
during the night.
l l l
The
sky was streaked with pink and gold from the rising sun when Danny again began
to moan softly and toss restlessly in the bed.
“Steve...
Steve.”
Hearing
the weak call from the bed, Fontaine quickly rose from the chair and hurried
across to the bed, murmuring soft reassurances to the detective. ”Shh, shh,
it’s okay, my son!’ he whispered as he reached the bed, “I’m here!”
Danny
tried to open his swollen eyes to focus on the face that he sensed was hovering
above him. Unable to force the bruised lids open, Danny listened to the soft
reassuring tone of the voice. The voice, while vaguely familiar in his dazed
state, was not that of his mentor and friend. “Steve? Steve?” he called again.
A
gentle hand softly brushed against his cheek as the voice whispered softly,
“It’s okay, son, everything is going to be okay. Steve refused to come, but I’m
here! I’ll always be here for you! You’re part of our family now. I’ll always
be here when you need me.”
Shaking his head slowly in denial at the words he was hearing.
Danny knew Steve would NEVER refuse to be there or would he?
“I know you are upset at McGarrett’s betrayal
of your trust, but I’m here for you Danny. I will always be here when you need
me. Unlike McGarrett, I care about what happens to you!” Fontaine gently placed
his hand on the top of Danny’s head, much in the way of McGarrett’s comforting
gesture.
Pulling
away, Danny cried out in agony as the movement sent shards of pain through out
his battered body. “No! That’s not true! Steve would never…”
“I’m
sorry, my son, but he did!” Bobby gently told the upset man before soothing
“It’s okay, Danny, I’m here. I promise I will always be here for you! I will
treat you like a son. You will never be turned away! Your Papa is here, my
chile!”
Danny
turned away disturbed and confused It was hard to think through the pain. Did Steve really refuse to come? Could Steve
be upset because he had not found Ray or any evidence of wrongdoing in the
house? Did Steve believe that he had failed him?
Bobby watched as the emotions flickered across Danny’s face. He
waited a moment for the doubts and uncertainty to form in the young detective’s
mind before leaning over him and gently touching his arm, “I’ll ring McGarrett
again. I’ll try and convince him to come, but I’m afraid that he may just
refuse again. But whatever happens my chile, please remember that I will always
be here for you! I will never abandon you! Try and rest and gather your
strength back.”
Picking
up a glass filled with an amber fluid, Fontaine gently lifted Danny’s head and
placed the glass to his lips. “Drink this,” he softly encouraged, “It will ease
the pain.”
Taking
a small sip, Danny grimaced at the sour taste and pulled away.
“I
know the taste is unpleasant, but I promise it will help your pain. Drink a
little bit more; it will make you feel better.” Fontaine cajoled, holding the
glass to Danny’s lips for him to drink a little more. Taking a few more small
sips, Danny turned his head as he weakly raised his hand and pushed the glass
away.
Smiling
warmly, Fontaine placed the glass back down on the bedside table. “Okay” he
whispered affectionately. “That’s enough for now. I’ll give you some more
later. How about you try and get some rest.”
He
carefully drew Danny up into his arms and began to gently rock the injured man
as one would a small child. “It’s alright, my chile, no one is going to hurt
you.” He soothed as he gently stroked the young man’s hair, “I’m here! Your
Papa is here now! I’ll take care of everything!”
Danny’s
soft moans quietly tapered off as the medicine eased the pain of his injuries
and Fontaine felt him slowly relax. Continuing his soft singsong chant of,
“It’s alright; your Father is here now. You’re safe here.” Fontaine continued
to hold the injured man until the deep even breathes indicated that Danny had
fallen back to sleep.
Remaining
with the detective still cradled protectively in his arms, Fontaine silently
studied the bruised, youthful face. He was disturbed and intrigued to discover
he was developing a protective emotional attachment to this young man.