Authors:
Detective Kono Kalakaua of Hawaii Five-O walked slowly down an alley looking for evidence that would suggest someone had been doing anything out of the ordinary last night; namely, breaking and entering and stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry.

Relatively new to Five-O, Kono was still getting used to Steve barking out difficult to impossible orders with the expectation that he would find the answer yesterday. This time Steve had just ordered him to find out how the thief or thieves had entered the store, a task in which Five-O had no success at with the last theft. Not satisfied with the lack of evidence on the first floor doors or windows, Kono had stepped outside to try and look at the building in a different way. Pacing, Kono thought over the evidence: the front door was found slightly ajar but there were no signs of forced entry. That suggested to him that it had used it at some point. Therefore their thief had to have used a key or got in another way and exited out the front door.

Kono stopped and stared at the side wall, that didn’t make sense. Using the front door was dangerous; it made it more likely that they would be seen. No, the door only would have been used if it had been necessary. So want did that suggest? Looking up at the wall, Kono smiled as a likely answer came to him.

Walking briskly into the store, Kono took the stairs to the second floor. Ignoring the rooms with regular windows, Kono explored until he found a bathroom on the alley side. Most windows had good locks that would difficult to break but Kono theorized that the smaller bathroom window would not be as well protected. After examining the window, Kono knew that his hunch was correct and he went to find Che Fong, the forensic examiner.

A few minutes later Kono stood in the small bathroom with Che and McGarrett. Che went to work quickly and after a few minutes spoke up, “There are a few prints on the window but they’re all smudged as if your thief was wearing gloves.”

Steve looked pensive as he received the report. “No surprise but it still is a help. See if you can find anything else in the room or along the wall he climbed up.”

“Will do, Steve,” Che answered grabbing his bag and moving to give orders to the lab boys.

Still looking at the window, Kono stated, “Our guy must be really small, boss.”

“Or very flexible,” Steve mused. He turned and walked into the hallway with Kono at his heels.

When Steve stopped, Kono told him the rest of his theory. “I think one guy entered dis way and let the rest of his partners in through the front door.”

“It does fit,” Steve agreed. Then patting his detective on the shoulder, he added “Good job.”

Kono felt his chest swell with pride. Kono knew that he hadn’t been the smartest or most experienced detective in HPD but he liked to think that he was one of the hardest working. Being chosen for Five-O at his young age had been a shock and to hear Steve’s approval made him forget about his detractors. Many had warned him about him about McGarrett’s unrealistic expectations and Kono himself had wondered if he had been chosen for the job because of his Hawaiian blood. Now that Kono had been with Five-O for a short time, he knew Steve well enough to know that both fears were completely unfounded. And while he agreed that the work was demanding and the hours stunk, he wouldn’t give up this job for anything. No, Kono would continue doing the dirty tasks that other officers balked at because he knew that was what needed to get the job done.

“Kono!”

Steve calling his name in a bark-like manner caused Kono to feel a tinge of guilt as he knew that he had allowed his thoughts to wander from the task at hand. “Yeah, boss,” he replied sheepishly.

Steve pushed a pile of papers describing the stolen jewelry into his hands. “Take this over to HPD and get them on the hot list.”

Kono nodded and headed out the door. There was one thing he could say about this job: he was never bored.

*~*~*


Several days later, Danny Williams was still waiting for someone to walk up to him and tell him that this was a joke. But that was looking less and less likely as he sat in front of Duke’s desk in a raggedly old tee-shirt and holey jeans ready to be loosed into the streets.

The past few days had been busy as Duke had a seemingly endless supply of information to impart. Danny learned how to strip a car, pick a lock, and a couple of other skills that he might need on the streets. He memorized his new background and was drilled until he could recite it back perfectly. Danny studied until he understood the lines he could and could not cross as a young thief and most importantly set up ways he would be able to keep in contact with HPD after he joined a gang. Luckily, Duke was a patient teacher as he didn’t get upset whenever Danny struggled.

At this moment Duke appeared to be relaxed and jovial; he was more like a companion than a superior. However Danny knew that Duke could flip a switch in an instant and drill him on another aspect of his cover.

“I’ve talked with Kainoa and he thinks you’re ready.” Duke said. “So I want you to meet the other Steve.”

Danny blinked a few times not sure that he had heard the Hawaiian officer correctly. “The other Steve?” he asked.

Duke laughed. “I forgot, you wouldn’t know. Have you had the chance to meet Steve McGarrett?”

“No.”

“But you have heard of him?”

Danny forced himself not to respond with laughter; McGarrett was only the top law enforcement official in the state. “Kind of hard not to.”

“Well, I assuming you’ve heard the stories too?”

Danny nodded; he wasn’t sure if he believed them though.

“I think then you can understand that there is only one Steve in Hawaiian law enforcement and that’s McGarrett.”

Beginning to catch on, Danny ventured a guess. “But he’s not the only Steve on the force…”

“Exactly but since anytime someone says Steve everyone assumes its McGarrett, Officer Steve O’Donnell became known as the other Steve. And as of today he’s your Uncle - Steve Burken.”

Steve Burken, his uncle. Now Danny was on familiar territory as he recalled the list of family names he was forced to remember and recite.

Duke’s facial expressions shifted slightly and Danny braced himself for the inventible series of questions.

“How did you end up living with your uncle?”

“What’d you care, anyway?” Danny shot back as slouched in the chair and tried to convey the surly attitude of rebellious teenager. Duke had driven home the point that it wasn’t good enough for him to just say the right words; it would be his actions, his body language, and his attitude more than his words that would determine success or failure.

“I asked you a question.”

Danny shrugged as if answering had been his intention all along. “My gran thinks living with a man will straighten me out, like I’ve got a problem or something.”

“What does she think your problem is?”

“Something about finishing school. Like I’d actually learn something from those squares.”

“And you learn useful things hanging around the streets?”

Danny rolled his eyes. “Like you’d want to know.”

Duke remained serious for a moment before letting out a small grin. “Young, arrogant, and suspicious of the world. Keep that persona and you’ll get in.”

“Thanks,” Danny replied, letting his persona drop. “I’ll bet that’s the last time I get complemented for talking back to my superior officer.”

“Most likely.” Duke rose and walked around to the front of his desk. “How do you feel about this?”

“A little nervous,” Danny admitted. “I never imagined that my boss would order me to take up a life a crime.”

“It’s amazing the things that aren’t in the job description,” Duke joked before becoming serious again. "One last piece of advice before you go. Watch your temper."

Danny became embarrassed as he realized that Duke was referring to his outburst in the Chief’s office but listened because he trusted that the older officer would only have brought it up if it was important.

“I’m going to be honest with you. If you manage to infiltrate a gang every moment of your day is going to be stressful; you’ll be living a lie, hiding behind a mask and a persona that isn’t you. It’s enough to put anyone’s temper on edge but you can’t let the stress get to you. If you do, the best thing that could happen is you lose your cover and we have to start over. The worst is they believe that you know too much and HPD finds your body in the back of alley somewhere. Understand?”

Danny took Duke’s words to heart. “Yes, sir,” he whispered.

Duke hated having to scare the younger officer but it was necessary; rookies tended to think that they were invincible and that attitude would be a deadly one undercover. Besides, Duke was growing fond of Williams; the last thing he wanted was for him to get hurt. Slapping Danny gently on the shoulder, he ordered, “Let’s go meet your uncle. It’s move-in day.”

*~*~*


Steve McGarrett took a sip of coffee as he pondered the piles of reports from the lab crew and his detectives. He definitely had a puzzle on his hands if he was going to catch these thieves before they fled the islands but he never would have worked for Naval Intelligence and now Five-O without having an inquisitive nature that enjoyed a good challenge. The problem was on cases like this one it was the “good guys” who were making life difficult.

The business owners in Waikiki had power because of the revenue they brought to the state by catering to the tourists. So they complained loudly believing that it would somehow make Five-O solve the case faster. These complaints were all too happily picked up by the press that would do anything for a good story and seemed to think that they were deserving of the latest scoop, regardless of whether Steve was prepared to release new information or not. Meanwhile, the bad press made its way to the ears of the governor who was worried about effect of the crimes on tourism. And to top it all off, Steve’s gut told him that the thieves weren’t done yet.

It was enough to make him wonder why he kept at this job year after year.

“Steve.”

Steve looked up and saw his second-in-command standing in the open doorway with a stack of papers in his hands. As Ralph walked up to the desk, Steve moved the papers around to make room for another large pile.

“The files on thieves who fit our MO,” Ralph stated as he sat the stack down.

“This everything the computer came up with?” Steve asked as shuffled through the papers.

Ralph raised one eyebrow. “Not big enough for you?”

“You know that I’m suspicious of anything that happens too easily.

“I know. It drives Chin nuts,” Ralph said with a chuckle as he walked out the door.

Steve privately smiled; if he was honest with himself he didn’t have to think too hard about why he kept at his job, his men made it worth it.

Ralph Irons was his Second-In-Command and the former head of HPD’s detective unit. The older man was on the smaller side and it was his size, along with his white hair and other signs of age, which caused many criminals to mistakenly believe they could easily overpower the detective. His personality, however, was large enough to fill his whole office as Ralph was one of those people who genuinely liked others. He had a gift for understanding people and a presence that would put others at ease. As a result, in the early days of Five-O, Ralph’s unofficial job was smoothing over the hurt feelings that resulted as a consequence of Steve’s brisk and blunt way of doings things. Now that people were beginning to see that Steve’s way of doing things brought results, Ralph’s job became easier. Regardless, Ralph was someone Steve could and did consistently depend on.

Chin Ho Kelly was the second member of his team. The Chinese detective was tenacious and detail-oriented with contacts all over the islands due to his large extended family. Not to be outdone by his relatives, Chin had a growing family of his own with five kids and a sixth on the way.

Kono Kalakaua was the newest detective on Five-O, having joined the team a little over a month ago. Dedicated and loyal, the Hawaiian’s laid back and easy going nature hid an intelligence that Steve counted on their enemies to overlook.

“Steve.”

Steve turned toward the open office door and saw that this time it was his secretary standing there looking at him, her arms crossed and head titled to side.

“Yes, May.”

“Its 12:30; the time most people put down the paperwork and grab something to eat.”

Steve resisted shaking his head in response to May’s statement. She had been his secretary ever since Five-O was formed and she was the force that kept the office running. Organized and observant, her only flaw was that she was overly concerned about his eating habits. Grabbing his suit jacket, Steve privately admitted that while May’s nagging could get annoying, he figured that once in awhile it was a good idea to follow her advice.