Chapter 3-Playing the joker
"By now you realize I have grabbed your friend. There will be no discussion on the phone over this matter, no opportunity for you to trace a call. I will be direct, put 1 million in non sequential unmarked bills in the litter bin at the edge of the International Market Place at 7am tomorrow morning. When I have the money I will release your friend 1 hour later to the same location. Any body attempts to catch me ,tag the money or anything else and you'll find your friends body in the same bin, in pieces".
Steve's heart hammered in his chest as he read the message HPD had found lying on the drivers seat of a dark green BMW that had been abandoned at the side of the road. To help increase his frustration and worry there had been no prints found in the car or on the sack. There were still analysis of the letter and the sack taking place but right now things didn't look that promising.
Refelcting on the fact that the next morning had already begun Chin remarked, "we won't have a lot of time to get the money. "He's doing that on purpose trying to keep us off balance by rushing us. That plan won't succeed ,we will carefully go through every possible lead including interviewing every damn person at that party if we have to", Steve passionatley insisted. He was deeply concerned about his partners welfare as there was so little known about the kidnapper.
"We have managed to get around 175 names from Hendricks and his guests but if he was right about the 200 guests it leaves 25 people who we can't identify. So far none of those identified have records for anything other than minor offences", Chin reported
The likelihood is that our kidnapper is one of those we can't identify . It was easy to find out about the party and a simple enough thing to tag along with others who are going", Kono reflected.
"I've certainly done that on occasion you just say something like I'm a friend of Harry or other common name, ", then usually the person will come up with a person called that name that they know. You don't have to be even that clever", Chin told them.
"Oh our person is clever, Steve replied." Not risking a telephone call to discuss a ransom tells me he wants to keep in control. We have to be very careful in dealing with this type of person as they could easily change the rules. But I'm counting on the fact that everyone makes a mistake. Possibly our person is not in this alone and anybody else could be the weak link". That is why I need you to keep checking through those records of all party goers. I want something, anything to be able to put pressure on someone for a location on Danny ."
Kono shivered at the tone Steve used to say the word pressure. He sounded like he was moving bejond anger and thus was planning something very violent against the kidnapper which meant monitoring his actions carefully to make sure he did not go too far.
Danny was important to all of them but if Steve was pulled of the case for inappropriate behavior they'd be worse off.
"What about the million dollars, are we going to pay", Kono looked hopefully at Steve." I'm going to get the money but I'm not going to folllow his demands. I will have officers watching the area. If this bastard turns up I am going to get him and I will make him talk", Steve said that with a fiery passion. Chin was about to reply when the loud blasting of sirens interupted him.
"I can hardly think or talk with all that noise", Steve muttered pinching his head as if to restrain a headache.
Chin looked out the window and saw a fire engine racing past, "looks like something big happening out there", he remarked.
"Well that's not our concern Danny is, let's get this money sorted out", Steve demanded.
What if we deliver the money but don't get Danny back", Kono felt like she just had to say that. "We will get him back Kono, I swear", Steve told her firmly. Kono and Chin were both struck by the certainty in his voice. They just hoped he was right.
Danny felt a cold wet sensation under his head and groaned. "Ah so you are finally waking up", a cold voice stated. Forcing his eyes open Danny glimpsed the face of a tall tanned man of about 30, not a good sign, he reflected, he's not bothering to hide his identity.
"My names Thomas", the man told him as he moved to put his foot firmly on Dannys chest restaining any movement.
Not that Danny had much chance of doing anything as his arms and legs were firmly bound.
"So you work for the big man and I bet you're hoping he is coming to rescue you", Thomas remarked.
"Hmm well let me tell you what Mc Garrett will be doing right now. He'll be getting me some money which he'll leave at a location I've specified. Now despite the fact I warned him I'd chop you into pieces if he didn't follow my instructions he will be watching and waiting for me to turn up."
Thomas grinned moving to stare directly into Danny's eyes, "of course, I'm not going to turn up but just send another message giving another location. I'm going to drive your colleagues totally crazy as they rush around believing they can find you while I'm miles away lazing on the beach with my lady".
Danny eyes flashed and he burned to make a scathing remark but the tape firmly on his mouth only allowed a grunt.
"You have something to say", Thomas leaned over and pulled the tape from Danny's mouth slowly making sure it hurt as much as possible.
Danny didn't give him the satisfaction of even making one little grunt. "If you're playing Mc Garrett, you are going to loose", he stated confidently.
"He's the smartest man I've ever met, way better than you", Danny lashed out the taunt scathingly.
Thomas looked unaffected, '"It's good he'll be a challenge", he replied lazily.
"I'm an experienced player as well and I have never lost", he said it with a pride that chilled Danny.
This man was definitely insane and reasoning with him was out of the question. He was still alive but Danny had no doubt this man was planning some thing very unpleasant . Thoughts of what he'd said about chopping him up swirled around in his brain. He snapped them away, this man wanted him to feel fear and he was not going to give him the satisfaction.
"Now I suppose you wonder whats going to happen to you", Thomas moved over and grabbed Danny pulling him upright. The cop was so far doing a good job of pretending not to feel afraid but as Thomas touched Danny he could feel the tremours. It was all just an act and he was going to apply some more pressure.
"What do you see out there", Thomas pointed out to the sea. Danny looked and saw an awful lot of ocean and land in the very distance. That land was a ring of green being what Danny would describe as 'jungle'. He didn't say anything to Thomas just glaring intensely. "What nothing to say", Thomas taunted "never mind I'll talk for you".
"There's alot of sea out there and the currents are strong leading away from the land. Of course you can't even be sure of our exact location , only I know that,", he said that slowly with a nasty leer on his face as he brushed Danny's face with one hand.
"If you actually manage to get to that shore and frankly I'd love to see you try, there is a whole lot of rugged land to navigate before you could even find a road. I made sure I took the boat miles away from anywhere." Thomas was really getting into this enjoying every moment of taunting. He could feel the tremours increasing although the cops face did not change.
Danny was trying had to ward of the panic ,this man was not going to shoot him or anything else that was quick. He was planning something alot more lingering and Danny knew he was about to find out just what that was. He could do nothing to help himself being trussed up like a turkey on thanks giving. This man was looking at him like you'd look at that turkey just before you stuck a big knife in to carve it up.
"You must be wondering why I am telling you this. Well your Mc Garrett will be running around playing my little game hoping against hope that he's going to find you. He'll use that hope like a fire to keep him going and that is what will break him in the end", Thomas had an almost overpowering confidence in his voice indicating he thought himself unstoppable.
Right at this moment he was and there was little Danny could do as Thomas took hold of him firmly and lugged him to the side of the boat, "they always break when they realize they have failed ", he spat into Danny's face as he positiioned him near the edge.
"Steve will just be more determined to track me down", Danny spat out trying hard to move even slightly.
"Track who down cop, he has no idea who I am", Thomas laughed.
"Now I'm not a total bastard, so I will give you a chance". He reached for a large knife and held it in front of Danny. Then he put one hand on Danny's body and shoved hard while in the same motion swiftly cutting the bonds on hands and feet.
Danny found himself in mid air for less than a second and tried hard to get his stiff arms and legs to respond as he hit the water and went under.
Thomas moved to power up the boat while watching the spot where he'd dumped Danny.
He saw him surface spluttering and flailing and began to laugh, "hey I got to see the look on someone's face'", he crowed with delight. Then he turned back to the controls and sped away not feeling even one sliver of pity for the man he'd just left behind.
