Brothers – Chapter 1
December 1966
The football sailed through the air and Danny leaped to catch it. Slight in build, he made up for what he lacked in size with both skill and agility. The ball landed directly into his grasp, and as his feet touched ground he pivoted and ran a random pattern towards the coconut palm that served as the goal post. Quick as he was, he could not outpace the long legged strides made by his opponent who caught up to him just at the goal line. Danny made a last ditched attempt at a touchdown by crouching low and moving to the right, but suddenly a huge weight crashed on top of him. Danny grimaced in pain as the wind was knocked sharply out of his lungs. He gasped for air but then quickly held his breath. He had been here before and knew what was coming. Seconds later a second weight piled on top of him. And a few moments after that, another. After a short while Danny attempted to shout something but found he had no remaining air with which to form words. Get off me already! Finally one of the weights removed themselves and then the next weight did the same. Eventually the last remaining tonnage stood up and pulled Danny up with him. Dan stood still for a moment and glared at his three brothers, all of who were smiling broadly at him. "It's supposed to be TOUCH football!" he growled.
"So, we touched you! And good too!" was the response from David Punana, Dan's oldest and heaviest brother. Everyone laughed at the old joke, except for Dan.
"And what about you Kenny? You're supposed to be on my team!" Danny said looking at the youngest of the male Punanas.
Kenny stopped smiling and shrugged. "Sorry man, it was just too much fun to pass up." He looked at Danny hoping he wasn't too annoyed. He saw a smile creep up on Danny's face. He knew Dan wouldn't remain mad much longer, no matter what they did to him, or each other. No one could remain mad for long - after all they were all brothers.
Danny looked over at Tommy, the Punana's fifteen-year-old foster son who had been on the opposing team. "Thanks for not being in the pile-up Tommy. You're Coke's on me." Tommy looked down at his feet as usual, refusing to acknowledge the offer. Danny sighed and surveyed the rest of the still chuckling Punanas. "The rest of you pay-up. I'm going over to the snack bar." Danny collected money from the group and headed towards the edge of Ala Moana Park where a snack stand stood.
"Hang on Danny, I'll come with you." It was Amy, the only daughter of the Punana family and at 18, the youngest member, not counting the recent addition of Tommy. Danny took her hand and the two walked together. Although not being natural born siblings, and nearly 8 years difference in age, Danny and Amy were probably the most compatible of any in the group. They shared similar personalities and interests, and they greatly enjoyed each other's company.
Danny glanced at Amy as they walked. Although he considered himself her brother, he recognized that she was turning into a beautiful woman. Amy had golden skin and dark brown hair that framed her oval face, and gave her the look of a woman several years older than the teen she was. Danny hoped that her attractiveness wouldn't cause her to become enmeshed in a serious relationship too soon. He hoped she would find a way to maintain that freedom of youth just a little bit longer. Danny was thinking so intently of Amy, that he didn't notice the three Hawaiian youths who where approaching them until they were directly blocking their path.
"Hey ugly, how 'bout you go get a white wahine and leave our women alone!"
Danny stood still and gave Amy's hand a little squeeze for reassurance. "Why don't you guys just crawl back under whatever rock you came out of before you get yourselves into trouble."
The ringleader chuckled and the others followed suit. "You the one who gonna get trouble unless you let that girl go!" He pounded his hand with his fist.
"She's my sister," Danny said, knowing he would not be believed.
"Yeah, we all sistahs and bruddahs, right? Well I'm gonna pound you today brah!" He stepped forward as Danny reached into his back pocket and pulled out his badge. He stuck it directly under his coming assailant's nose. The local kid dropped back a few feet and sneered at Danny. "You think that gonna save you always? One day comin' soon that gonna do you no good pig. And I'm gonna be there waitin' for you!"
A voice boomed from behind Danny's ear, "And we're going to be waiting for YOU!" It was David.
Danny spun around to see his three brothers, and even his new foster brother, all standing behind him with their arms crossed. "You take on one Punana brother, you take on us all!" David continued, " So, do you want to wait until your 'someday', or do you want to try your luck now?"
The local kids took a couple more steps back. The big-shot leader shook his head and tried a friendly smile. "Hey man, I didn't know he was really her brother! Just a mistake, you know? No big nothin', huh?" He looked at Danny. "Sorry man, okay?" Then he turned and the three boys took off at a run.
Danny sighed and thanked his brothers. Alan slapped him congenially on the back a little too hard and told him it was 'no big deal', while Kenny told him not to worry about a couple of 'crazy kids'. But Danny knew better, he had spent nearly his entire life in between two worlds, and he knew it would never be that simple.
*****
Steve McGarrett sat on his leather chair in the large office of Iolani Palace and carefully plucked the strings of his guitar. Although never much of a musician, the soft sounds that emanated from the instrument helped him to relax. This morning he had good reason to seek a sense of calmness before being the day's work - a police officer had been shot last night. The officer was in critical condition. And although it looked likely to be an HPD matter, the shooting of a cop always added an element of fear into the work of those left behind. Steve wondered also if perhaps his newest team member, Dan Williams, had been friends with the injured officer. Having recently been brought over from HPD, Steve knew that Danny still had a lot of close ties remaining there, and he hoped he wouldn't be too shook by the yet unexplained shooting.
Hearing sounds in the front office, Steve placed the guitar carefully in a corner and walked into the outer office. There he had expected to see Dan, who had lately been arriving as early as he did. Instead he saw his veteran officer, Chin Ho Kelly. The two exchanged greetings and discussed the incident that had taken place the previous night, which nearly every officer was now aware of. Shortly after, Kono Kalakaua joined them, and with the arrival of May the secretary, the office was in full swing - except for the absence of Dan Williams. It was after nine o'clock and Steve was becoming concerned for the whereabouts of his youngest team member when a breathless Williams ran into the office. He had on a t-shirt, jeans, and tennis sneakers, and his face was clearly unshaven. It was obvious he had not come from his apartment. Steve and Dan went into the large office and a concerned McGarrett waited for an explanation. The look on Williams' face was clearly one of anxiety as he explained the events of that night. Sometime past midnight Danny had received a frantic call from Joey Punana - the father of the family in which he grew up. Several police officers had shown up at the family's home with a search warrant. They were angry and rough, and had turned over ever room in the house. While the police were there a call came in saying that a weapon had been found and that it was registered to Kenny Punana. They then arrested the almost 21 year old and hauled him downtown on suspicion of attempted murder. The man Kenny was supposed to have shot was a cop. Danny had immediately headed to HPD and spent the rest of the night trying to see Kenny, which he was unable to do, and trying to calm his frantic family.
McGarrett knew very little of Danny's family situation. Steve was a private man and did not ask many personal questions of his men in return. He was aware that Dan had been brought up on the islands and that his parents had died a long time ago. He knew also that Danny had been taken in by a Hawaiian family, which had helped to give him contacts in the local community that were proving useful in his new position as a detective at 5-0. Beyond that, Steve knew practically nothing. But it was apparent to him that this family Danny spoke of was of great importance to his officer. He decided to tread carefully.
"Danno, whatever happened last night will all come out soon enough. HPD won't drag its heels when it concerns a cop, so you'll get your answers shortly. Why don't you go home and get cleaned up and then come on back here."
Danny shook his head. "Steve, I can't. I have to get back over to HPD and see Kenny. I want to find out what's going on. Kenny didn't shoot anyone, it's all a mistake; but I don't know why it looks like he did. I also need to help my parents - I mean Kenny's parents - arrange for a lawyer. They will probably try to send over someone from the Public Defenders Office but you know those people aren't the…."
Steve cut Danny off by grabbing his shoulder. "No Danno. You need to back off a bit. Let's wait to hear what HPD has to say first. Maybe you are right and this is all a big mistake. If so, give the department a chance to get it straightened out. In the meantime, go home and get cleaned up. I want you back here by 10:30." Steve's tone, and the hand that remained on Dan's shoulder, breached no refusal. Danny nodded and then headed back to his place to change.
*****
Steve sat in Chief Dann's office, waiting to hear what the head of HPD had to say on the events that had transpired so far. The chief began, "Look, Steve, I'll give it to you from the top, but it looks like an open and shut case. Dispatch received a call at 2245 of a gunshot over near the Ka'a'awa Elementary School. It was an anonymous call, but when a car arrived they found Officer Jones lying injured on the playground pavement. It was birdshot; otherwise he would have been dead a long time ago from so close a range. Anyway, the only evidence found at the scene was a piece of paper in Jones' pocket. It had the phone number of the Punana family. Although there was no name listed, there was a large letter K on it. We got a search warrant and went through the house. There was nothing there, but one of our officers found a weapon under some bushes near the school. It was registered to Kenneth Punana and it is without question the weapon involved in the shooting. The young man has no alibi - claims he went to bed at 10:00 that night as he has early classes at the University. No one remembers seeing him leave the house, but the house is a small single story thing and he could have easily gotten out and back in without being noticed."
"Motive?" asked Steve.
"None so far, but we're working on it."
Steve nodded. It certainly seemed like a clear-cut case. "Are you aware that Dan Williams grew up in the Punana household?"
Chief Dann got up from his chair and sat on the edge of his desk looking down at McGarrett. "Yes, I have heard about that. I like Williams, Steve. I was sorry to see him go when you stole him from us," Steve's eyebrows shot up at the use of the word 'stole', but Chief Dan continued on unperturbed, "but he's a cop and he needs to remember that. I can't have him interfering with this investigation and I am counting on you to make that clear to him. That Hawaiian kid shot one of my cops and we're going to prove it. Danny needs to get on the right side with this."
Steve didn't like the use of the term "side" any better than he did "stole" a moment ago, but he let it go. Thanking the Chief for his time, Steve headed back to the Palace.
*****
Danny paced the small kitchen that he had spent so much time in as a child. Mei, the woman who had raised him, sat at the table, her eyes red from crying. She was holding tightly onto Amy's hand, as if she were clinging to a life raft. Late that morning Danny had gone with Mei to see Kenny and to talk with him. As they had suspected, he denied being involved in anyway with the shooting incident. He had no idea how his shotgun had been taken, and no clue to why the police officer might have had his family's phone number on a piece of paper - along with his initial. The remainder of the day had been taken up talking with the public defender and attempting to make bail. The Punana family had limited resources, but friends and family were scrounging, and it was hoped that Kenny could post bond by tomorrow. Meanwhile, Danny had left only a curt message with May that he would not be back at the Palace for the rest of the day. He hoped Steve would understand.
"Danny, maybe you and some of your friends could ask around and try to find out why Officer Jones had our phone number?" Amy's level tone helped to ease the pain everyone in the room was feeling.
Danny nodded. He had already decided that would be his next step. Maybe he could even convince Steve to let it be a 5-0 investigation! It was doubtful, but worth a try. "Amy, did Kenny ever mention anything at all that would make you think he was in any sort of trouble?"
Before Amy could answer Mei audibly gasped. "Danny! You don't think your brother did this, do you? Kenny could never do such a thing, never!" She covered her face with her free hand and began to cry.
Danny and Amy exchanged glances. It was not what he had meant at all, but if he was going to investigate this, he needed to start somewhere. The look on Amy's face told him that she understood.
The screen door on the kitchen flung open and Tommy entered. He surveyed the scene in front of him and fixed Danny with his nastiest sneer. Then he turned around and walked out, purposely letting the door slam behind him. The noise caused Mei to look up and she recovered her fragile control. Danny attempted to change the subject of the conversation to give everyone a momentary break. "Tommy seems to be backsliding a bit. The other day he actually said a couple of words to me. Today I get the slammed door routine."
Mei shook her head. "He'll come around Danny. With Tommy everything is two steps forward, one step back."
Danny nodded in understanding. Tommy had been through a lot, mostly at the hands of either uncaring or overworked white Family Services workers. It would take a lot before he learned to trust those different from himself. "Is he still trying to get you to call him by his made up Hawaiian name?" Danny asked with a half-grin.
Mei finally let go of Amy's hand and crossed her arms in front of her defiantly. It was the typical no-nonsense pose Danny remembered so vividly from his boyhood. "I told him that when he leaves my house he can call himself 'Superman' if that what he wants! But as long as he's here, I will call him by the name given to him by his Momma and Papa!"
Danny laughed at the typical response. Mei believed in showing proper respect, regardless of the details of the situation. Tommy didn't stand a chance! Realizing that it was getting late, and that whatever leads were out there probably needed to be dug up before they disappeared, Danny said his good-byes and headed back to Honolulu.
*****
Steve faced his young officer and tried to act firm. He was annoyed at his detective for not returning to the Palace as he had instructed him to, and was even further annoyed by Dan's insistence that this case could be made a Five-0 matter. But Steve also realized, by the earnestness behind Dan's words, that he was not purposely being defiant, but rather simply trying to deal with the harsh reality that had been dumped at his door. Steve's tone was stern, but not angry.
"Danno, I gave you an order to return to the Palace and you took it upon yourself to disobey it. Why?"
"Steve, this is my family. Just because we are not related by blood doesn't make them any less important to me than Chin or Kono's families are to them. How could I come back here to work when they needed me? If it was your family, what would you do?"
Danno's words tempered Steve's annoyance. If it had been his family, what indeed would Steve have done? Still, he would have to eventually teach his new officer that while he could argue decisions, he could not outright disobey them. "I'm going to let this one go Danno. But it's not to happen again, understood?"
Danny nodded, and then immediately reverted back to his initial plea that Five-0 take over the investigation into the cop-shooting. Steve couldn't believe the level of perseverance - or was it stubbornness - that his new detective possessed.
"Danno, you need to listen to me on this one. It is not a Five-0 matter," Steve repeated for what had to be at least the third time. "Chief Dann will not let us take it from him and rightly so. Let them handle it."
Danno tried to protest but again got nowhere. Steve was obviously not going to be swayed by Dan's pleas. Finally, in near desperation, Danny asked Steve for some time off to allow him to investigate this on his own.
"I don't know Danno, Chief Dann specifically asked me to keep you out of this."
Dan scoffed. "So when do you ever do anything Chief Dann wants?"
The response brought a smile and a reprieve. "All right, all right! Tell you what - you can take some time and look into this thing for a few days. Kono can help you for a couple of hours each day. But if anything big breaks, I have to have both of you back."
Dan was out of the office and grabbing Kono before Steve could change his mind.
*****
Danny and Kono stood in Dan's cubicle looking over the information they had gathered in the last two days. It was nearly midnight and they were the only two in the building, but the lateness of the hour did not damper their enthusiasm. Indeed the two police officers were growing more and more animated as they discovered evidence of the most surprising sort. Informants had tipped the men off that Jones had a reputation as a dirty cop, and discussions with Jones' neighbors indicated that he hosted many late night parties that were believed to involve gambling. Danny was itching to get Jones' bank records as well as phone records. The former would be difficult because he had no probable cause to be pursuing Jones, but the latter would be easy. Phone records had probably already been requisitioned by the prosecution, in order to prove a link between Jones and Kenny. Danny knew that it wasn't Kenny who had shot Jones, but perhaps he could find out who did pull the trigger, if only he could discover who Jones' main contacts were. Finally it was decided that tomorrow Kono would pursue the gambling angle further, while Danny asked the Public Defenders' Office to request the phone records from the prosecution. The two men where just wrapping things up when Steve entered the office. He was dressed casually, having come from home, but neither officer was surprised to see him.
"Don't worry Steve. We're finishing up here now and we'll be in on time tomorrow," said Dan, who was beginning to feel better about the entire situation now that he was on to something.
"I'm not here to interfere gentleman. Chief Dann called me at home - Officer Jones died a few hours ago. It looks like it will be murder one now. I thought you should know."
Danny knew his boss had gone out of his way to deliver the message in person. Though he appreciated the show of support from Steve, it hardly made him feel any better. With Jones dead there was no way for the fallen officer to refute that it was Kenny who was responsible for the shooting. Nor could Dan use the information he was gathering to pressure Jones into revealing who the actual gunman was. Indeed, without Jones, Danny's investigation was nothing more than circumstantial evidence in the tainting of a dead man's name. At best it could plant a seed of doubt in the minds of a jury, but at worst it could look like Kenny was involved with Jones in these less than admirable ventures as well.
Steve read the mind of his junior officer and felt a need to support him. "Why don't you and Kono take the next couple of days and work on this thing full time. I'll pull a few men from HPD to cover you." Again Danny thanked Steve, and then the three men headed out of the dark Palace; Steve and Kono to get some sleep, and Danny to break the bad news to his family.
"Steve, I appreciate you telling about Jones in person. And thanks for letting me investigate." Danny wasn't sure what else he could say.
Steve patted the young man on his back in understanding and smiled. "I know Danno, I know. Tomorrow gentlemen, let's call it a day for now." The three men headed out of the dark Palace; Steve and Kono to get some sleep, and Danny to break the bad news to his family.
*****
Danny sat on the floor of the bedroom, his chin touching the top of his knees. He remembered when this had been his bedroom - the one he and Kenny had shared before he had left for California. Meanwhile, his brother sat on a chair with his feet resting on a nearby desk. He looked worried, as befitted a man in his situation. Over by the window, Tommy sat on the edge of what was once Dan's bed, glaring at it's former occupant. "Have you been going to classes Kenny?" Danny asked, attempting to break the silence.
"How can I, man?! How can I be expected to study knowing that I might spend the rest of my life in a box?!" The words would have carried a potent meaning spoken by anyone, but Danny knew that with Kenny it was even more so. Kenny was an outdoorsman. He hiked and camped every chance he got. Joey had taught all his boys to hunt and fish, including Danny, because he believed that in order to respect the land you needed to know how to live off it. But Kenny was the one who had taken it the most seriously. He had even chosen geology as a course of study, for the simple reason that much of the program was conducted outdoors. They all knew that eventually Kenny hoped to work in a way that would help raise awareness of the growing destruction to Hawaii's natural resources. Putting someone like Kenny into prison for life would be equivalent to a death sentence.
"You know that Kono and I are making progress. Hang in there bruddah," was all Danny could think to say.
To both Danny and Kenny's surprise it was Tommy who spoke up next. "They goin' after him because he's Hawaiian, right? I mean if he was a haole college kid I bet they wouldn't even lay a finger on him."
Danny shook his head. "It's not true Tommy. What happened here is that the evidence is for some reason pointing to Kenny. Kono and I are trying to find out why that is."
Tommy wasn't buying it. "I bet it would be different if he was white! No way a local boy can win with this system. Mei and Joey like to say that if I play the game, I can make it. They show off David and Alan and their boring jobs and boring babies to me. And they show off Kenny too. They say look at Kenny, you study and you be just like him. Yeah, that's just what I need - to be going' to jail just like him!"
Danny leaped to his feet. "That's enough Tommy!"
But Tommy was a tough kid. He jumped off the bed and stood nose to nose with Dan. "You talk big man, but I don't hear a word you say. You a haole, and no haole gonna tell me what to do!"
Danny grabbed Tommy's collar and was just about to take the young man down a notch when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Kenny. "Please you two, no more. I need you both right now - and in one piece, huh?" he added with a grin.
Danny smiled at Kenny and let go of his foster-brother's shirt. Kenny, always the level-headed peacemaker. No way could he ever have killed a police officer!
Tommy wasn't able to back off, and felt betrayed by Kenny for not siding with him over a haole. He heard all the Punana's sing the praises of Dan Williams and he was sick of it. He was a haole, an outsider, he didn't think he could ever understand how the Punana's could trust someone like that. Tommy shoved past Danny and left the room in a huff.
"Sorry Kenny, guess I really blew that one." Danny knew Tommy was hurting and he tried to be a good example for him. But this time he just didn't have the patience left to deal with him.
*****