Disclaimer: Characters belong to the writers & producers of Hawaii Five-0. Mine are all mine :-)
Rating: T for romance
Pairing: Steve/OC, Steve/Danny (friendship - no slash)
Author's Note: Story takes place sometime after Jenna & Lori leave in Season 2, but before the season finale. A case introduces Steve to Dr. Julia Abbott, a brilliant and challenging professor who has an uncanny ability to get through Steve's defenses, while leaving many of her own in place. What happens when two damaged but incredibly proficient people meet at the right time and place? Romance, episodic action, team banter.
Steve McGarrett pulled the Camaro into the parking lot at the pier as the sun began to rise over the crime scene. HPD officers were busy taping off the area, while CSU techs carefully searched the pier for evidence. "Kono, what've we got," Steve stated flatly as he strapped on his vest. Even for the former SEAL, 5 a.m. was painfully early, particularly after the late night they'd all had last night. It was not promising to be a quiet week.
"Hey, boss. Local fisherman called in a body floating near his boat on slip 9 about 4:30. Chin is over with Max. HPD hasn't found any evidence near here. We're thinking she was dumped somewhere else and washed up here." Kono gave the bullet report, quickly covering the key points. "I've taken the fisherman's statement. He's sitting over there if you want to talk with him. Victim is a Jane Doe, late 20's, gunshot to the head."
"Thanks, Kono. You don't by chance have any coffee with you? Danny ran out, and it was his turn to bring it," Steve looked over at Danny, who grimaced at his response.
"My turn? It was not 'my turn.' What am I, a barista? Do I keep a Keurig in the car for those moments when a body washes up before dawn? I am a detective. Not a rookie, not a uniform, and not a freakin' intern. De-tec-tive. See, it says so, on my badge." Danny paused to take a breath. "Besides, I would think, being a Super SEAL and all, that you, my friend, would be able to make some sort of caffeinated beverage from a few palm fronds and some water!" Danny retorted. Steve rolled his eyes. It was definitely going to be a long day.
"Um, yeah. Well, like I said, Max and Chin are over with the body. And no, I didn't bring coffee, brah." In spite of the early hour, Kono chuckled lightly at Danny and Steve's banter. She turned to go check in with CSU.
Max was carefully examining the body while CSU snapped pictures of the girl. Danny let out a low whistle, "Hey, without the bullet hole in the middle of her forehead, she was a pretty girl."
Steve glared at him, deciding not to say anything about Danny's inherent ability to mix murder with checking out girls. The victim was dressed in a short red cocktail dress, no shoes, but still had her jewelry on. Steve put on a glove and bent down to finger an expensive charm bracelet on her wrist. "What's her story, Max?"
"Jane Doe, approximately 28 years old, apparent victim of a single gunshot wound to the frontal lobe. I'm guessing .38 caliber, and by these powder burns, she was shot at extremely close range. No evidence of any trauma, but the water may have washed any trace evidence away," Max responded in a clinical, pointed tone.
"Max estimates TOD at between midnight and 2 a.m." Chin added.
"By the condition of the body, I believe she was put in the water right after her death," Max continued. "I'll have to wait for the full autopsy, toxicology, and ballistics to get you more answers, Commander."
"Thanks, Max. Chin, do you think she was killed near here? This is a commercial dock, doesn't seem the sort of place a girl like this would hang around after hours," Steve asked. Danny was right, in a way. She was rather pretty. This wasn't an ordinary kill & dump.
"Most likely she was killed then dumped further out, and the tide brought her in. Kono said her dress looked like couture. Either way, she's not dressed as a street walker. Given the close range, my guess is that she was killed by someone she knew. This shot was personal." Chin rubbed his eyes, stood and stretched. As the air warmed up with the day, the body was beginning to give off a stench that was difficult to take, particularly on an empty stomach.
"Okay, Max, let us know when you get the results. Chin, run her fingerprints and photo through the system. Hopefully we'll get a hit on who she is. Bag her bracelet and see if Kono can find anything out about it once the jewelry stores open on the strip. Danny and I will meet you back at headquarters."