Chapter 11 - A Long Night
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*~*~*

It was a late night in the office but Steve wasn’t going to stop working while an officer was missing and he knew that his men were of the same mind. Chin was marking the locations of the stripped cars on the big map of Honolulu trying to see if there was a central location for them to search. Ralph was out of the office, tracking down on a lead he’d received on Haku’s identity. And Kono was on the phone with HPD seeing if they had made any progress on their end.

Steve stood several paces behind Chin, watching him push the pins into the board. He kept going over the same facts in his head and ending up with the same conclusions he had reached earlier. The problem was several facts didn’t make sense; car parts were worth small change compared to what was stolen from the three jewelry stores. So why wouldn’t these connections go away?

Kono hung up and Steve quickly called out, “Any word on Williams?”

“None, boss. You think he’s in trouble?”

“I don’t know, Kono. This whole case has been nothing but trouble.”

“Henry seems pretty worried. I think he’s feeling guilty ‘bout sending Williams into dis mess.”

He’s not the only one, Steve thought to himself. He had been the one who ordered the raid assuming that they would be able to catch Haku and that Williams would be safe.

“Steve, I got a name on Haku.” Ralph reported as soon walked through the big doors.

“Go.”

“Mary Kikeona.” We got lucky on our APB on the Asari twins. A bartender in Pearl City remembers them meeting Kikeona about a month ago. He didn’t hear what they were talking about but it looked like they made some sort of deal.”

“How positive was he on the identification?”

“Positive; that scar is pretty distinctive. Her father used to be a regular customer until the bartender kicked him out after he found what he did to his daughter.”

“Did her father made that scar?”

“Yes. Child Protective Services has quite a file on her. Apparently, the father is where both Kikeonas learned their skills with cars. He ran a mechanic shop.”

“The older sister,” Steve stated. “How did we miss this?”

“Easy, Boss,” Kono answered, “CPS only gave us information on Kaiko and his file didn’t say anything ‘bout a sister.”

Ralph supported Kono. “I had to threaten to get a court order to get Mary’s information. Steve, you know how government agencies work, they only give us the information they have to not what might actually help.”

Steve resisted the urge to swear; they could have made a lot of progress if they had known this earlier. Pushing thoughts of government inefficiently from his mind, Steve pondered the new information. Mary and Josh Kikeona. Haku and Kaiko. Steve found it interesting that they went by Hawaiian names and wondered aloud as to the reason.

“Mary and Josh never were their names.” Kono stated with no hesitation.

“Explain.”

Ralph spoke up, “The Act to Regulate Names signed by King Kamehameha requires that all Hawaiians take a ‘Christian’ first name.”

“Requires…” Steve mused. “You mean it’s still the law today?”

“Yes,” Kono answered and Steve heard a touch of anger in his voice,

“Then how…” Steve began to ask as he looked at his Hawaiian detective.

“Some of us reject them.”

Steve pondered what Kono told him. There was no denying that the Hawaiian people had suffered much when they were colonized but he hadn’t heard of this before even though it explained why so many Hawaiians had English names. However, Kono was proof that not all used them. Realizing that Kono must have another name under this law, Steve considered asking but he quickly changed his mind. Learning his detective’s birth name would mean nothing, because it wasn’t his name, Kono was.

Looking over at his second-in-command, Steve brought the conversation back to their case as he stated, “Tell me why a woman who has got good racket going with a couple of professionals sees the need to enlist her brother to organize kids off the street to strip a bunch of cars.”

Ralph shrugged. “Somehow I don’t think it’s to keep her brother out of her hair.”

“Haku’s too good to settle for change from stolen parts,” Chin reasoned. “She’s running those gangs like a big time boss.”

“Right,” Steve agreed. He started snapping his fingers as a thought hit him. “Chin, if you were paying somebody to smuggle something off this rock how much would it cost?”

“That would depend but I’d estimate about a third of what each load is worth.”

“Suppose, just suppose that I wanted to smuggle several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry out of these islands. It might worth my time to convince the guy I hired to get the stuff out to think he’s hauling hot car parts inside of diamonds.”

“That would make over half of Haku’s operation a cover to save a few dollars.”

“More than a few dollars, Bruddah. Thousands,” Kono stated.

Steve slapped his hand down on his desk. “That’s it, gentlemen. That’s it.”

Ralph called out sarcastically from his place by the wall, “So we find the car parts, we find the jewels. Shouldn’t be too hard, HPD has only been looking for over a month.”

*~*~*

The night was eerily quiet as Danny crouched in bushes beside the Iolani Palace. The area was secluded except for a few security guards walking around and the lights shining in one of the offices suggested that someone was up late.

“Danno,” Kaiko hissed.

“Yeah.”

“Problem. Ya see da lights; I think dere from da fuzz’s office. Da pig’s workin’ late again.”

Danny wanted to smile; maybe things weren’t so bad after all since apparently McGarrett had a habit of working late. If he could only lose Kaiko, warning McGarrett wouldn’t be a problem. Looking carefully around the palace, Danny considered his options as he answered. “We can hide inside, wait until the cop goes home, and then enter his office.”

“If ya think so.”

“I’m sure. It’s the guards I’m not sure of.”

Kaiko smirked as he asked sarcastically, “What, ya ‘fraid ya can’t out-smart da fuzz again?”

Danny didn’t like where Kaiko’s thoughts were going. If he got stuck with distraction duty, he would have to give Kaiko the packet of poison which was something he would never do. Desperately, Danny tried to savage the situation. “I don’t think these guards would be fooled by a drunk haole. They’ll just think I’m a tourist. They’re looking out for people trying to break…” Danny stopped midsentence as an idea hit him. “Kaiko, do you think you can climb that wall?”

Kaiko looked to where Danny was pointing. “No problem.”

Danny long a deep breath and quickly outlined his plan. “You climb up one of lanais but make some noise. When the guard investigates, you run and I’ll sneak in the front door. I’ll find a place to hide and wait til the cop goes home.”

The Hawaiian looked at Danny for a few moments before answering, “Will do. Ya meet me here when ya done.”

After Danny agreed to do so, the two of them quickly split up and Danny quietly sneaked as close to the entrance as he dared. Once Danny stopped moving, he didn’t have to wait long until he spotted a figure climbing up the side of the building. It only took a few seconds for Kaiko’s actions to be noticed by the guard a few feet from Danny as he called out and moved to confront the intruder.

With the only guard between Danny and door distracted, he was able to dart into the palace with ease. Once inside, he was able to move through the halls without any problem, slipping into Five-O’s outer office. It was only when he looked at the partially open door into McGarrett’s domain that Danny froze. The events of the past few days and hours weighed down on him. Danny fingered the packet of poison in his pocket, how could explain this to McGarrett?

Steve was trying to pay attention to the conversation between Ralph and Chin debating on how Haku would attempt to leave the island but he was more concerned about HPD’s undercover officer. Would Haku blame the raid on Williams? Steve didn’t know enough about the kid to begin to consider how he would react in a situation that went south, yet his gut was telling him that HPD had picked the right man. Then thinking that he heard footsteps, Steve sat up straight and held out a hand to silence his detectives.

When he heard the noise again, Steve’s hand rested on his firearm as he called out, “Who’s there?”

A shadow stepped timidly into the light of his office. Steve recognized the officer as he answered, “Danny Williams.”

Steve looked critically at the young officer. Gone was the arrogance, the cocky attitude of his cover. Williams looked tired, stressed, worn; his eyes were darting around the office as if he expected the shadows to jump out at him.

Steve frowned; Williams was clearly shaken by something that had happened. Gesturing toward an empty chair, he ordered, “Take a seat.”

Danny slowly sat down. Steve caught sight of Kono and Chin grabbing chairs of their own as to not intimidate the scared cop. Ralph, leaning back against the wall, decided to try and lighten the mood. “I’m not as young as the rest of you. If we’re going to pull an all-nighter I need more coffee. Anyone want some?”

Steve would have voiced an affirmative except at the word coffee Williams started and looked like he wanted to jump from the chair. Glancing over at his second-in-command, Steve saw that Ralph noticed as well.

“I think you should tell me why you’re here.”

Wordlessly, Williams tossed a packet onto his desk.

“What is this?”

“Poison.” Williams spoke in soft voice barely above a whisper. “Haku wants to move the goods and she believes that the death of someone in this office is necessary to get police attention away from the docks tomorrow.”

Poison, and that it was in Williams hands could only mean that he had received the order. No wonder he was shaken. Steve took a sharp breath. “How?”

“Brush it on the inside of your coffee pot.”

Kono cursed and Ralph actually dropped his coffee mug.

“Do you know where they’re at now?”

“No, they left when we did. Kaiko and I are supposed to meet up with one of twins who will take us to where we’ll spend the night.”

“Kaiko?”

“Outside, waiting on me. I convinced him to distract the guards so I could sneak in before the building is locked up for the night.”

Steve was impressed that Williams managed to find a way to warn him without losing his cover. However, Steve didn’t have time to praise the young officer continued as he continued his questioning, “Do you know where the goods are hidden?”

“They’re already loaded on the ship but I don’t know the name or the harbor.”

Those were not the answers Steve wanted to hear. Haku was being careful and Steve knew that if something went wrong she’s patiently wait for another time. He needed to catch her with the goods, tomorrow. But to do that he would have to send the Williams back into the lion’s den.

Williams continued his report, “Six of us got away from the police: Haku, the twins, Kaiko, another gang leader and myself. When we were safely away, Haku lost it. She shot Ling for betraying her without any proof. She knows things are falling apart and she’s lashing out.” Steve heard Williams voice shake as he continued, “If you don’t catch her the next time you move in I don’t what she’ll do.”

In laymen’s terms, Williams was no longer safe and Steve had to decide if solving this case was worth risking another’s life. Williams was a police officer who knew the risks when he took the job but when he started this case he was investigating simple theft. Now they were looking at murder and attempted murder; the stakes had changed and Steve was as determined as ever to bring Haku in. Steve needed Williams to return but he owed the young officer a chance to back out.

With that thought in mind, Steve looked gently at the young man sitting before him and uttered one just word. “Danno.”

Williams’ gang-given nickname came out of his mouth before Steve could stop it and he wasn’t entirely sure why. He knew that the officer’s name was Danny and that this was definitely not the time to tease, except all of Steve’s instincts were telling him that the name he spoke was right one.

Danny met Steve’s concerned gaze.

Steve looked straight into the wide blue eyes of the shaken officer before him and asked seriously, “You want out?”

The room was silent as Danny looked into Steve’s eyes. For all the stories Danny had heard about McGarrett being a man of unbending steel, Danny could honestly say that he had never looked into the eyes of man that held more kindness and concern than at that moment. Looking into McGarrett’s eyes, Danny saw the knowledge and found comfort in the fact that this was a man who would back him one hundred percent in whatever decision he made.

Danny took a deep breath and answered honestly. “Yes, I’d like out but I want these guys caught more. I can hold up one more day.” Danny didn’t say that he would be running on nothing but pure will but part of him figured that anyone would understand that it would be Steve McGarrett.

Honest and tired but determined to stick through to the end; Steve couldn’t help but like this kid. If Danno said he could last twenty-four more hours he would believe him.

“Okay.” Pointing at the couch, Steve ordered, “Go lie down for and get some rest. You won’t do us any good if you’re dead on your feet tomorrow.”

Steve knew that made the right decision when Williams didn’t speak but instead he moved over to the couch without complaint. Gesturing to his team, Steve led the others into the outer office.

No sooner than the door shut behind him did Steve jump into action. “Ralph, get on the horn with HPD and set up another tail. And this time we can’t afford to lose him.

“Kono, wake Che up. We need to know what’s in this packet and what it does by sunrise. He’ll complain but make sure he meets you at the lab at HPD. No one is allowed to return to the palace until I say so.”

“On it, Steve.”

Steve looked down at his hands and only then realized that he had carried his empty coffee mug out with him.

Chin noticed his boss’s gaze and said, “You have to admit, boss, if someone wanted to get us, the coffee pot was the right choice.”

“Right.”

Ralph looked up from his desk and called out, “Got a hold of Henry. He’s putting together a team at HPD.”

“Go and give me a call here when everything’s ready.”

Alone in office with Steve, Chin pulled out his pipe and lit it, pretending not to notice the grimace that crossed Steve’s face. Though Chin did note the way Steve was looking at his closed office door.

“You know, Steve, if I didn’t know you better I’d say you have a soft spot for the officer in there.”

“Danno? No.”

“Then why do you keep calling him Danno?”

Steve shot Chin an evil look before he conceded that he was right. “He reminds me a bit of myself at his age. Besides, he’s in way over his head.”

Too true, Chin thought to himself. “Then why send him back?”

Steve sat in silence for a long time; long enough that Chin wondered if he forgot or didn’t hear the original question. When Steve final spoke it was with a question of his own. “How many times when we were at our physical and mental limits have we pushed through until the case was solved?”

“Too many if you ask my wife.”

Steve chuckled briefly before answering seriously. “Call it a hunch but I think that Danno’s made of the same stuff that I see in you, Ralph, and Kono. He’ll see this case through to the end.”

They were interpreted by the telephone ringing which Steve answered. Chin leaned back in his chair and reflected on what Steve had told him. Steve’s words had a ring of truth about them, and Chin could see that there was something special about this kid. What was odd, however, was that while Steve was known for his loyalty to those who served under him, affection was something new. Or maybe something you never noticed before.

Chin watched as his boss hung up the phone and asked, “Everything ready?”

Steve nodded. “We’re going to wait ten minutes, wake Danno up then get out of here. With a little luck we’ll be able to close this case tomorrow.”

*~*~*

It had been easy to sit silently in McGarrett’s office for twenty minutes before sneaking out of the palace. It had been harder to walk up to Kaiko with a confident air in his step and tell him that the job was done. It had been nerve-wracking sitting calmly in the back seat of a car knowing that everything depended on Five-O successfully tailing them. By the time Danny walked into some rented dump it took every ounce of will he had to maintain his cover until he could collapse on a moth-eaten coach.

Tomorrow this would be over, one way or another. He just had to place his faith in McGarrett.


AN: The Act to Regulate Names was signed in 1860 and wasn’t repealed until 1967.