Title-Surf and Turf Wars
Author-Winnie
Rating-T
Disclaimer-owe no rights, but enjoy playing in this particular sandbox
Comments-This is by special request and will feature Kono and Steve….not in a romantic light, but look for Kono to show just how strong and smart she really is.
Kono Kalakaua looked at the man who'd dropped in on her wave with open disgust as she marched up to him and his band of friends. There was no mistaking the anger in her eyes as she dropped her surfboard and grabbed the man's shoulder hard enough to pull him around.
"Well, hello, Beautiful, what can Carlos do for you?"
"Carlos can learn not to drop in on someone else's wave!" Kono snapped.
"Sorry, Little Lady, but I go where the waves take me…"
"Then maybe it should take you back home. We don't need stupid people surfing our waves!"
"I thought this was the aloha state…"
"It is…and in your case I hope it means goodbye," Kono told him and reached for her board. "Next time watch what you're doing!"
"Are you going to let her talk to you like that, Carlos?"
Kono turned and pointed to the woman who'd spoken and smiled before turning away once more. She knew the woman would goad the man into doing what she wanted, but right now she didn't give a damn. She'd told 'Carlos' off and hoped the man would watch what he was doing next time, but something told her it would never happen.
Kono reached her vehicle and popped the board into the backseat. She could hear laughter from the beach and turned to see the group of young people playing beach volleyball. Carlos and his girlfriend were watching her closely and a chill ran through her when the woman cocked her finger as if shooting a gun. She could confront her, but there didn't seem much point, and she still had to get back to the office.
As a cop, Kono understood her own anger and how easily she could have decked the guy if she'd allowed herself to do so. She was trained not to act on instinct when dealing with the public unless there was no way to calm the situation. She placed her hands on the steering wheel and leaned her head back as the tension eased from her body. People like 'Carlos' and his girlfriend were not worth the stress they caused in her life.
Kono put the keys in the ignition and drove toward the new building that housed both Five-O and HPD. The black Rose Bomber had made it necessary because the old building was no longer structurally sound and was being torn down to make way for a new billion dollar hotel resort. As if Hawaii needed another resort, but the owner of the property was well within his rights to do as he pleased.
The drive to Five-O took less than fifteen minutes and she parked in her spot next to Danny's Camaro. The car was immaculate and the Jersey native's pride and joy, yet it was Steve McGarrett who usually drove the vehicle. She didn't bother locking the door and nodded to several officers who looked in her direction as she hurried into the building.
"Hey, Kono, Steve said to tell you they'll meet you in Max's office," Duke Lukela said as she passed him.
"Mahalo, Duke," Kono said and hurried through the wide foyer that split the building into two sections. Five-O was on the right while HPD and the labs were on the left. She quickly stepped through the open doorway, greeting several officers and grabbing a cup of coffee before heading toward Max Bergman's office.
"Kono, McGarrett said…"
"I know, meet him in Max's office," Kalakaua said with a wave of her free hand. She reached Bergman's office in time to hear him explain how he'd managed to get an identifiable print using techniques even MacGyver would have been awed at.
"That was a waste of a perfectly geeky explanation, Max, so why don't you tell us what you found in terms we can understand," Danny Williams griped.
"I believe I just did," Bergman said with a frown.
"Forgive Danny, Max, he doesn't have an inner geek like the rest of us," McGarrett said.
"What did I miss?" Kono asked.
"I was attempting to explain how I was able to come up with a viable print in the Lomax case," Bergman answered.
"Damn, tell me how you managed that when there was nothing left," Kono said.
"Max," Williams said and rubbed his hands together in front of his body. "By all means you could explain it in geek-speak, but since Steve seemed to understand what you said why don't you allow him to explain?"
"Commander, would you like to take the lead?" Bergman asked.
"Kono, Max said he used a combination of special powders and steam that brought the print out. He then took pictures and put them in the database," McGarrett said with a grin.
"That was not what he said," Williams griped.
"That's exactly what I said, but in terms you could understand," Bergman offered.
"Max, who does the print belong to?" Chin asked with a grin.
"How should I know? My job is to find the prints and yours is to figure out who the malefactor is," Bergman answered.
"I'll run it against and ran the print against IAFIS and see if there's a match," Chin offered.
"Thanks, Max, if you find out what that unknown substance was we'll be in the office," McGarrett said.
"I will, Commander," Bergman said and turned back to his computer files.
"Kono, how were the waves this morning?" McGarrett asked.
"Amazing until Carlos dropped in unannounced," Kono answered.
"Who's Carlos?" Williams asked.
"Someone who obviously doesn't understand surf and turf," Chin told him.
"Surf and turf…this I have to hear," Williams said as they walked toward the Five-O offices.
"Simply put the wave was Kono's turf and he ignored protocol and dropped in on her surf," Chin explained.
"I just don't understand how anyone has dibs on a wave," Williams said.
"Dibs, Danno?" McGarrett asked.
"It means…"
"I know what it means, but I think it went out with gnarly and tubular," the SEAL teased and opened the doors to Five-O headquarters. He stepped inside and waited for the others to enter before releasing his hold on it. "Okay, Chin, run those prints and maybe we'll get lucky for a change."
"On it, Boss," Chin said and made his way to the computer table. He opened the email from Max Bergman and made sure he had the prints properly displayed before starting the search.
"Kono, run a search on Melissa Lomax and see if she's made any unauthorized charges on her ex-husband's accounts in the last two years," McGarrett ordered.
"On it," Kono told him and moved to the opposite side of the computer table as Chin continued to work on the prints.
"Danno, looks like we get to go visit Ms. Lomax," McGarrett said.
"Mother or daughter?" Williams asked.
"Sister," the SEAL answered. "Chin, contact me if you get a hit."
"Will do, be careful with Ms. Lomax, she's a cougar and might just dig her claws into Danny."
"Hell, maybe I'll just stay here," Williams said.
"Come on, Danny; don't tell me you're afraid of a woman twice your age?" Kono asked.
"That woman is a nympho and I'm not about to let that white hair fool me again," Williams said of Carl Lomax's older sister. He'd met her at a gala dinner for the governor and even after he introduced her to Gabby. The woman had followed them around the whole night and Steve, Danny, and Chin had been unsympathetic and at times seemed to help the woman seek him out.
"If you so much as smile at her I will make you sorry, Steven," Williams said as they left the office.
5050505050
Steve smiled as he looked into the mirror and could tell his partner wasn't happy about going to Patricia Lomax's home. The woman had never married, but she'd always been part of her brother's life. According to Melissa Lomax, Patricia had even picked out what color sheets would be on their bed and where they would spend their honeymoon.
"Steve, why don't I wait in the car while you talk to Ms. Lomax?"
"Are you afraid of a little old lady, Danno?"
"In this case…yes and you're no help with her," Williams griped.
"What did I do?" McGarrett asked as they pulled down the street that lead to the upscale homes that cost more money than he'd ever see in his lifetime, hell in three lifetimes if he was being truthful with himself.
"You were pushing her toward me at the Governor's dinner and ever since he asked us to look into Carl Lomax's death you've been trying to…"
"Do my job. In case you haven't noticed we are working on a case and that means interviewing everyone involved…even a cougar like Ms. Lomax," McGarrett said and fought to keep the grin off his face.
"Come on, Steve, have a heart. She may be old, but she's got more hands than an octopus has arms," Williams griped as they pulled up to the ornate iron gate.
"Can I help you?" the burly guard asked.
"McGarrett and Williams to see Ms. Lomax," the SEAL answered.
"She's expecting you. Drive straight up to the house and park behind the Silver Lexus," the man ordered and smiled at the passenger. "Ms. Lomax is looking forward to seeing you again, Mr. Williams."
Steve fought to keep from laughing as he drove through the open gate. The look on his partner's face said it all and a small part of him almost felt sorry for him, but it was too easy to ruffle his friend's feathers. "So…"
"Say it and I will tell Catherine about your new neighbor," Williams snapped.
"Which one?" McGarrett asked.
"The pretty blond with the yellow thongs…and don't tell me you haven't seen her sunbathing on the beach with her top off," the Jersey native warned.
"It sure sounds like you've been paying attention. Maybe Gabby would like to hear all about her," McGarrett said and pulled in behind the Silver Lexus. They exited the Camaro and made their way up the circular staircase and Danny rang the doorbell. It was answered almost immediately by a pretty red head in a black and white maid's uniform straight out of an old movie.
"Commander McGarrett, Ms. Lomax said to show you to the family room," the maid told him and smiled at the second man. "Detective, she also asked that you join her for dinner tonight."
"Sorry, but I already have plans," Williams lied.
"I thought Gabby had a prior engagement," McGarrett said as they followed the woman.
"Steve, so help me God I'll make your life a miserable hell if you so much as hint at encouraging Ms. Lomax," Williams vowed.
"Please wait in here. Ms. Lomax will be here in a few minutes," the woman said and left the two men alone in the room.
"You know, Danno, Grace would love living here…"
"Shut up," Williams said and turned when he heard footsteps and the telltale sound of a cane hitting the floor.
"Commander, it's good to see you again. Why don't you have a seat…no, no, not on the settee. Why don't you take the chair…it's quite comfortable for a man of your stature," Patricia Lomax said. At just under 6 feet she was a stunning figure garbed in clothing from a bygone era. The cane she held had a lion's head, while the shoes she wore were silver and gold filigree.
"Thank you, Ms. Lomax," McGarrett said and moved to the chair, but couldn't quite stifle his laughter when Williams beat him to it.
"It's okay, Ms. Lomax, I'll sit here so I can stretch out my leg. Go ahead and sit with Ms. Lomax, Steven," the Jersey native ordered.
"Come on, Danno, why don't you sit with the lady?"
"Now, Commander, I know his name is not Danno and since it sounds like something a child might use I'd prefer you call him by his given name or would you prefer I call you Stevie?"
"Yes, Stevie, how does that sound?" Williams asked.
"I've been called a lot worse," McGarrett told him as the woman moved to stand next to Williams and grew serious.
"Detective, tell me you found out who murdered my brother?" the woman asked.
"Not yet, but we were able to get a good print and we're running it against IAFIS," Williams answered.
"What is IAFIS?" the elderly woman asked.
"Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System…it's a database that holds the fingerprints of anyone with a criminal record," McGarrett answered.
"Sounds like a lot of work," the woman said and moved to sit on the arm of the chair Williams was sitting in.
"It is, but it's easier now that everything is computerized," Williams told her and tried to move away.
"I dislike computers. There's nothing worse than those little e-readers. A book should be made of paper and stored in a proper library. Don't you agree, Danny?"
"Not really…just think of how many trees are cut down to make those books. Putting them on electronic devices saves the trees," Williams observed and hoped he'd made a chink in the armor she seemed to have garbed him in since they'd first met.
"Oh, I never thought of it in that light before. Perhaps you could stay and show me how to transfer paper books to one of them Kindles," the woman said.
"I'm sure Danny would love to help you with that, but for now we really need to ask you some questions about your brother and his wife," McGarrett told here.
"Ex-wife," Lomax corrected. "My brother divorced her because she was stealing from the family. I warned him she was far too young for him, but did he listen? No, they eloped and got married in Las Vegas of all places. How cheap and gaudy can that be? Our Parents probably rolled over in their graves…God bless their souls. Mother would have been devastated and Father would have disowned him for such behavior."
"What makes you think she murdered him?" McGarrett asked.
"Carl would never go swimming in a public swimming pool. Mother abhorred them and said they were nothing but vile, disgusting places where germs are easily spread," the woman told them and shuddered at the thought.
"Melissa said they were trying to work things out," Williams told her.
"She's lying. Carl would never take her back. Not after I showed him proof that she stole from us. He went over there to confront her, not to take the conniving little bitch back."
"You really don't like her do you, Ms. Lomax?" Williams asked.
"Please, call me Patricia and I'll call you Danny," the woman said and turned to McGarrett. "Commander, you have a younger sister don't you?"
"I do," the SEAL answered.
"Tell me…would you do anything in your power to keep her safe and protect her from gold-diggers?"
"I'd do anything, Ms. Lomax, but I wouldn't interfere in her life unless I thought she was in danger," McGarrett answered.
"My brother is dead…how much more danger could he have been in?" Lomax asked and tapped her cane on the floor in front of her. "She lured him there and killed him as surely as I'm sitting here. You said you have a fingerprint and I bet it will belong to her or whoever she hired to drown him. I won't rest until she's charged, Commander, so if you can't find the evidence to prove what I'm saying then I'll hire someone who will. Governor Denning told me you and your team are the best there is and I hope he's right."
"Ms. Lomax, how often did your brother go to his ex-wife's home before he died?" Williams asked.
"Maybe once or twice since the divorce was finalized two years ago," Lomax answered. "She was calling him all the time, but I managed to stop her from getting to him most of the time."
"Did you ever think maybe they really did love each other?" Williams asked.
"No, it's not possible. Carl was 63 and she was all of 25 if that. She wanted his money and now he's dead because of her greed. I want your word that you'll do everything in your power to prove she killed him," the woman spat.
"You have my word that we'll find out exactly what happened to your brother, Ms. Lomax, but I can't guarantee you'll like what we find out," McGarrett told her.
"As long as you make her pay for what she's done," the woman said.
"That all depends on what we find," McGarrett said. "If she's innocent then you might owe her an apology."
"That will never happen," Lomax said. "I don't apologize to money hungry women. I just don't understand how my brother could have fallen for someone like that."
"It's called love," Williams said.
"Love is something for young people, not for a man well past his prime. My brother never thought about marriage before that woman forced herself on him. If it had been the other way around you would have charged him with rape…but she gets to call it love and forced him to marry her," the elderly woman spat.
"Ms. Lomax, do you realize you're probably twice Danny's age?" McGarrett asked.
"Yes," the woman answered.
"Then why is it okay for you to pursue a man half your age, but it wasn't okay for your brother to pursue a woman half his age?" the SEAL asked seriously.
"It's different because I am simply flirting with a good looking man and have no thoughts about marrying him. Besides, I'm what your generation call a cougar," Lomax told him and brushed her hand against Danny's inner thigh. "I'm harmless…at least that's what they tell me at the charity meetings."
"What evidence do you have that Melissa murdered your brother?" Williams asked, standing and moving to sit beside McGarrett.
"Do I scare you, Danny?"
"Let's just say I don't like being looked at as an appetizer," Williams answered. "Now, why don't we concentrate on the reason we're here?"
"I don't have any physical evidence per se," the woman said and sat in the chair. "Thanks for warming the seat for these old bones, Danny."
"Ms. Lomax…"
"So you won't call me Patricia?" the woman said with a pout. "That's okay…I'll call you Danny and fantasize about you after you leave…unless you want to stay?"
"No, thank you for the offer, but I think you're too much woman for me," Williams said.
"Damn…that's too bad, but you could be right," Lomax said and reached for the picture on the small table beside her. "This was taken when my brother won a gold medal in the Olympics. He was a wonderful swimmer and there's no way in hell he drowned unless she held him under the water. Has your coroner figured out whether he was drugged or not?"
"Max is waiting for the toxicology report," McGarrett answered.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they found some kind of drugs. She…"
"What would she gain by killing him now?" Williams asked.
"Who knows, but if she was angry when he told her he was done with her…"
"What if he was telling her he still loved her?" McGarrett asked.
"No, he wouldn't have done that to me. Our family would never accept her," the woman said and swallowed several times as she looked at the picture. "Since he died I am the last surviving member of my family. My father had two children, and could not have any more. I never married because the man I fell in love with died in the Vietnam War. My father arranged the marriage and he was from a well to do family. I could not look at another man after he died…not seriously anyway. Carl married at an early age and had two sons, but they were killed with their mother in a plane crash. So Carl and I were all we had and we cared about each other…and I don't mean romantically, I mean like family. I regret never having children and now it is too late."
"I'm sorry, but you should realize you brought this on yourself. If you didn't want to get married you could have adopted children and given them a chance at a better life," Williams told her.
"I know, and that's why when I pass the Lomax fortune will be divided amongst several children's charities," Lomax told them.
"That's good, but what about all those kids that grew up because you…"
"Because I was stubborn and unable to get past losing the man I loved. I understand all of that, Danny, but forgive an old woman for being so stubbornly stupid," the elderly woman said.
"Ms. Lomax, we're going to speak with your brother's ex-wife now, but if nothing shows up in the toxicology report and the fingerprint doesn't pan out there's not much more we can do," McGarrett told her.
"At least I'll have the satisfaction of making her life miserable," the woman spat and used her cane to help her stand. "You'll forgive me if I don't see you out, but I need to rest if I'm going to keep my cougar façade."
"We'll be in touch," Williams said.
"I'm counting on it, Danny," she said and batted her eyelashes at him as the maid returned and escorted them from the room.
McGarrett and Williams exited the house and made their way to the Camaro where Steve leaned on the roof of the car and smiled over the top at his partner. "You know, Danno…"
"Steven, if you so much as breathe a word of any of this to Chin or Kono or Kamekona or anyone on two legs I will make your life a living hell. Mark my words, Partner, because I will not back down on this," Williams vowed.
"Come on…they'd appreciate the fact that your lady love is twice your age and probably doesn't have all her teeth…"
"Get in the damn car!" Williams ordered and yanked on his door before climbing into the passenger seat.
"She probably doesn't even have her own hips…can you imagine…"
"No!"
"Come on, Danny…just think about…"
"No!" Williams said and cranked up the car stereo.
"Come on…she's lonely…"
"I can't hear you…"
"Danny…"
"Drive the car, Steven. Nothing else, just drive the damn car!" Williams said, relieved when McGarrett did just that.
TBC
