Chapter Two
When he first got to Oahu, Tony called an old friend from Baltimore who had retired there. Mike Flannery opened an Irish Pub near Pearl. From Mike he got the name of a Honolulu detective to talk to about Simon Brandt.
"Honolulu Police, can I help you?" a female voice answered.
"Yes, I'd like to speak to Detective Kai Koa."
"Your name is?" she asked.
"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS," he said.
Tony knew he'd get Kai Kao on the phone if he used his old job title. He'd buy him a drink at Flannery's to make up for the fib.
"Special Agent DiNozzo, how can I help you?" a masculine voice came over the line.
"Detective Koa, I'm working a case and I need some local guidance. I was hoping to pick your brain over drinks. I thought we could meet at Flannery's Pub," said Tony.
"You know Mike Flannery?" asked Koa.
"Worked with him in Baltimore," said Tony.
"Okay, how about Friday, tomorrow, at six. I'll meet you at the bar," he said.
"Sounds good," said Tony then he hung up.
NCIS
Flannery's was close to Pearl Harbor Naval Station. It was located on near Merchant Street. The bar looked like a typical Irish Pub that could be found from Boston to Honolulu. Tony, dressed in jeans, a pink cotton oxford button down shirt, and black Armani blazer, showed up and sat down at the bar. Besides an attractive young woman, Mike Flannery was behind the bar. Mike was sixty years old, a retired Baltimore homicide detective.
"DiNozzo, you're looking good. Paradise agrees with you," bellowed Mike when he noticed Tony.
"Mikey," smiled Tony, who took off his sunglasses and put them away in his blazer.
Mike Flannery walked down the end of the bar where Tony sat.
"I remember when you were a kid detective and now you're retired like me," he smiled.
"I'm retired because I was forced to retire, Mikey," said Tony.
"You meeting Kai here?" asked Mike.
"Yes," said Tony.
"He's a good guy and a good detective, though not as good as you. I always thought it was a shame you left Baltimore because you would have made Major or better in time," said Mike.
"Yeah, I know," smiled Tony.
Mike Flannery looked up and recognized someone coming into his bar.
"Kai," he bellowed.
Tony turned to see a forty-year-old man of Hawaiian heritage and dressed in a cheap suit that screamed police detective.
"Hey, Brah, howzit?" said Kai.
"Everything is going good," said Mike, who then looked at Tony. "Kai, this is Tony DiNozzo. I'll let you two talk, so grab a table and I'll send over beers."
"So, haole, let's sit," said Kai.
They walked over to a table and sat down. Kai looked Tony over then nodded his head.
"To start with, I'm NCIS, retired. I didn't think you'd take my call otherwise," said Tony.
"Okay," said Kai.
A waitress brought over to large beers then left them alone.
"Retired young?" said Kai.
"Disability," said Tony.
"Okay, talk to me and maybe I'll talk to you," said Kai.
"I picked up a P.I. license so I wouldn't be bored. Well, now I have someone asking me for help. The guy's name is Simon Brandt. He's English and he's missing. A few other things I know about him is that he plays Cho-han," said Tony.
"Yakuza. Cho-han is their game. If he plays and loses and owes them money then he is either dead or in hiding and trying to avoid becoming dead," said Kai.
"Who can I talk to in the Yakuza to find out if he owes them money?" asked Tony.
"You ever deal with the Yakuza?" asked Kai.
"No."
"Bad news, real bad news," said Kai, who took a swig of his beer.
"Maybe I should have the person looking for Brandt file a missing persons with you," said Tony.
"Poho, waste of time. I'll give you a name, a Yakuza strong arm who owes me a favor," said Kai.
"I don't want to waste one of your favors on this," said Tony.
"I'd never call in the favor, brah," said Kai.
"I understand," said Tony.
"His name is Jiro Oshiro. He lives in Nanakuli. There is a joint there by the beach called Koa's. He drinks there," said Kai. "Use my name and be careful not to prod him too hard."
"Thanks. I owe you one," said Tony, who took a long swig of his beer. "One more thing. I'm also consulting with NCIS here in Pearl. They have a serial killer case. You know anything about it?"
"Serial Killer," he sighed. "Nay. I know that Five-O is working on a serial killer case."
"Five-O?" asked Tony.
"A special task force run by a Navy Seal, Steve McGarrett," said Kai. "They work the high profile cases."
Tony nodded and smiled, "How about I buy you a burger?"
"Done," said Kai.
NCIS
Brad stood at the finish line holding the stopwatch, while Tony came down the stretch of his mile run. It was another beautiful day with a sea breeze easy making the hot sun a little easier to take. He ran past Brad, who pressed the button to stop the time. Tony slowed then came to a full stop. He placed his hands on his knees and bent over as he caught his breath.
Brad walked up to him. He had a broad smile on his face.
"Six minutes and forty-two seconds," he said.
"Jesus, you did it, Brad. My lungs haven't been this good in years," Tony said between gulps of air.
"You can't stop what you're doing, Tony. The meds, the therapies, the exercise, it all has to continue. You're in a lifelong battle with your lungs. You understand that, don't you?" Brad asked him.
"I'm learning, Brad. I'm learning," said Tony.
Tony and Brad started to walk towards the stadium seating.
"You know Vance couldn't wait nine months until you were ready," said Brad.
"I know," said Tony.
"And the lifestyle of Gibbs' team isn't good for your health," said Brad.
"I know, ma, so you don't have to nag," Tony said.
They came to the seats and sat down. Tony wiped away sweat on his forehead with his forearm.
"You want come to lunch. We are grilling up some chicken and corn. A few friends are coming over and I thought I'd invite my favorite patient over, too," said Brad.
Tony grinned. Was it irony or poetic justice that the same man who ripped up his knee with a tackle in college ruining his chance of go pro in either football or basketball turned out to be the doctor who saved his life from Y Pestis?
"I can't Brad. I've taken a couple of small jobs and need to do some work this weekend," he said.
"What kind of work?"
"A little P.I. and consulting for NCIS," he said.
"Well, make sure that whatever you do that you don't damage your lungs. Is that understood?" asked Brad.
"I'll be careful, Brad."
NCIS
Koa's on the beach in Nanakuli was to say the least a dive. It was the kind of place Tony would guess anything from a hooker to a hitman could be bought in it. When he entered the bar, he knew it was going to be rough as he was the only haole, which meant foreigner and Caucasian. Tony was glad here overdressed in a Tom Ford light grey summer suit. His old NCIS ID and badge where in his right pant pocket and the Glock 22 he purchased on his right hip in a holster.
Tony walked up to the bar and waved over the bartender, who was a six foot two inch Hawaiian and four hundred pounds with a great deal of it muscle.
"I'm looking for a Jiro Oshiro," Tony said.
"Good for you, brah," he said.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tony saw a nasty piece of work in a muscle tee shirt with lots of Yakuza tattoos. From dragons to knives, the tattoos were colorful and intricate. Tony turned and faced the bar. He then took out his old NCIS badge and flashed it.
"Has anyone here seen the movie the Yakuza with Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura?" he asked the less than friendly crowd.
No one answered, so Tony started walking towards the table with the Yakuza in the muscle shirt.
"Now Mitchum is Mitchum; he's an icon. The man was able to be indifferent and cool at the same time. Try it sometime, it isn't easy. In The Night of the Hunter, he even had the word good tattooed on the fingers of one hand and evil on the fingers of the other. The surprise in that film wasn't Mitchum, though, but Ken Takakura. He was great in it. You know stoic and Samurai cool," Tony continued then he sat down across from the man in the muscle shirt.
"He was in Black Rain with Michael Douglas and Mr. Baseball with Tom Selleck. I know Selleck is Magnum and Magnum only. Do you like Takakura as an actor, Jiro?" Tony asked him.
"Mr. Baseball is racist junk and Black Rain is all mood and no script," said Jiro.
"A film critic and an astute one. I like that," smiled Tony. "Detective Kai Koa told me to talk to you."
"Talk," said Jiro.
"I'm looking for Simon Brandt. He's a Brit," Tony said. "I know you don't know him. I have it on good authority that the Yakuza wants him, though. I think he might owe you, as in the Yakuza, money. If he has already been caught and taken care of, I just want to know. If he's alive and you are still looking for him, I just want to know."
"What is in this for me?" asked Jiro.
"This is the favor you owe Kai," said Tony.
"Leave me a number and give me a few days," said Jiro.
Tony took out a business card with just his name and number and handed it to Jiro.
"I'm looking for Brandt for personal reasons not professional. I don't want any trouble, just information," said Tony. "Call me."
Tony stood up and walked out of the bar.
NCIS
His Sunday morning swim came a little late. He got up at nine then got up and dressed in his swimming trunks and a tee shirt. Oliver left towels out for him by the pool.
"She gets too hungry for dinner eight," Tony sang, as he walked towards the pool. "She loves the theatre but she doesn't arrive late. She'd never bother with people that she'd hate. That's why the lady is a tramp."
He stopped at the top of the pool, slipped off his flip-flops, took off his shirt, and dove into the water. The laps began. According to Brad's plan, he'd add two more laps soon and keeping adding until he got to twenty or twenty-five laps. Jogging would eventually turn into walks since his knee was starting to get arthritic. His knee wouldn't hold up to running five miles a day in another few years.
His mind drifted to his visit with NCIS tomorrow. He did some checking and Pearl had two MCR Teams. Each consisted of six persons. Only Gibbs liked to keep his team lean and mean. It had an analyst and a profiler, as well as a leader who had twenty-five years under his belt. Considering their manpower and experience, their closure rate should be better. It would be interesting to find out if the team had bad chemistry or bad leadership.
He touched the wall and started his final lap. As his head come up for his final lap, he touched the wall then stood up and started to calm his breathing.
"Oliver tells me you have a problem with your lungs," Alanna Cathcart said.
Tony turned and saw her sitting on a lounge chair in a black bathing suit that showed she had a terrific built. She had on a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses.
"A terrorist sent Y Pestis, the plague, in the mail and I opened it. It almost killed me, but I survived. Unfortunately, nine months ago, I was shot and the bullet went through one of my damaged lungs. My career as a field agent was over," he explained.
"You appear in good condition now," she said.
"It takes daily exercise, medication, and other therapies for me to be in good condition," he said.
"Do you miss working as a federal investigator?" she asked.
"I never thought I would, but I do. I made a difference once or twice, put some bad people away, and saved a life or two. I miss that," said Tony.
"Sounds like a dangerous job," remarked Alanna.
"It could be at times, but I had some people I trusted covering my six," he said.
"Covering your six?" she asked.
"Yeah, covering my back," smiled Tony.
Tony got out of the pool, walked over, and grabbed a towel.
"Have you got any leads on Simon yet?" she asked, lowering her sunglasses to look at him.
"I'm working on a lead," he said.
"What is this potential lead?"
"If it pans out, I'll tell," he said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to change, take a run, then come back here and have my breakfast," he said.
"You do have a great deal of energy in the morning, Mr. DiNozzo," Alanna said.
"Yeah, I'm just a ball of energy," he said.
Tony grabbed his tee shirt, slipped on his flip-flops, and walked back to his bungalow.
NCIS
After his morning exercise and a shower, Tony dressed in a Brioni off white, two button, summer suit. With the suit, he wore a blue cotton dress shirt and a pair of Emenegildo Zenga brown loafers that reminded him of penny loafers. He was ready for Pearl and NCIS. Grabbing his wallet, NCIS ID and badge, and car keys, he locked his door and got into his MG.
Reaching the gates of Pearl, he showed his ID and waited for the guard to check. It was allowed to pass. Tony parked his car in the visitors parking lot then he entered the building that where NCIS was located. Going to the front desk, he asked for Deputy Director Jerome Craig.
Within ten minutes, he was sitting in Craig's office.
"So, Deputy Director, is there anything you want to tell me before I meet the team?" asked Tony.
"Call me Jerome," said Craig.
"Jerome. I'm Tony then," smiled Tony.
"I told Supervisory Agent Banks that you were here to observe his MCRT. You are a consultant who has been hired to rethink the MCR Teams or not," said Craig.
"Am I Tony DiNozzo?"
"No, you are Tony Paddington," said Craig.
"I was hoping I could be Thornhill," said Tony.
"North by Northwest, right? The name of the fake agent Gary Grant is mistaken for," said Craig.
"Yeah, that's right," grinned Tony. "Cinema fan, I take it."
"I love movies," said Craig.
"I used to any my old boss with all my film references," said Tony.
"Vance actually mentioned you had an annoying habit of film references," said Craig. "He said it can be frustrating. Of course, he knows I love movies, so I think he was prodding me a little."
"Shall we meet the team," said Tony.
"Okay," sighed Craig.
Leaving the office, they headed to the elevator and took it two floors down. They exited the elevator and headed into the MCRT bullpen of Supervisory Agent Hank Banks. Every team member was already seated at their desk and working quietly. Too quiet, thought Tony.
"Hank, this is Tony Paddington. Remember he's here to observe," said Craig.
"Yes, Deputy Director," said Banks.
Tony looked at Banks. He was fifty, maybe ten pounds overweight, and with thinning light brown hair.
"No desks in the bullpen, but you can sit at the chair beside my SFA," said Banks then he looked at an attractive black haired woman who had to be in her thirties. "Special Agent Lana Okika, take care of Mr. Paddington."
"Well, see me before you leave, Tony," said Craig.
"I will, Jerome," said Tony.
Craig left and Banks laughed to himself.
"Hard to believe that man is the deputy director of NCIS," he shook his head.
Tony walked over to Special Agent Okika's desk and looked at the empty chair beside the desk.
"May I?" he asked.
"Of course, Mr. Paddington," she said.
Tony sat down. Lana Okika went back to her task. No introductions were made. Everyone was silently doing their work.
"Special Agent Okika, I heard you are investigating a serial killer," he said.
"Yes, we are. As a matter of fact, Five-O, which is a task force working for HPD, sent us what they have so far. We are reviewing Five-O's interviews, autopsies, and their reports," she told him.
"How about our interviews, autopsies and reports?" asked Tony.
"We did work on the lieutenant JG and Petty Officer, but Five-O handled the retired chief quartermaster," she said.
"Five-O just handle the quartermaster?" asked Tony.
"No, they did their own interviews on the rest," she said.
He could hear the tension in her voice. She didn't agree with the way Banks was handling the investigation, which was letting Five-O take the lead and do most of the work.
"Hey, Paddington, I thought you were here to observe not bother my people while they worked," said Banks.
"Just wondering what I'm observing," said Tony then he smiled.
It was one of his 'don't worry I'm harmless' smiles.
The day went slowly. Banks spent until one having his people do deskwork then he called for lunch. Tony decided to head to the cafeteria in the hopes of talking to other members of the team. He saw Mya Phillips, the profiler, sitting alone eating soup and a coffee. After grabbing a sandwich and a coffee, he walked over and asked her if he could join. She nodded yes.
"So, have you done a profile of this serial killer?" he asked.
He looked and him almost as if he was an idiot for asking then took off her glasses and said, "Male forty to fifty, retired Navy. He was resentful of women in the navy. I expect he never was promoted to a level he thought high enough for his ability and talent. I'd say he was lucky if he made it to chief."
"Is that all?" he asked.
"I'd say he is physically good looking, but sexually repressed," she answered.
"What have you done with the profile?" he asked.
"As far as I know, we have done nothing."
"Have you passed it on to Five-O?" asked Tony.
"No."
Tony smiled.
"Banks, profile him for me?" asked Tony.
"He's a short-timer. He is just waiting for his twenty-five to be up so he can put his papers in and retire," she said.
"Mya, you're pretty good at your job," smiled Tony.
"You're not an observer, are you?" she asked.
"I'm observant, but no, I'm not an observer," he said.
"What are you, Mr. Paddington?" she asked.
"Hungry," he said then he bit into his meatball submarine sandwich.
NCIS
Tony knocked on Craig's door then entered. It was seven o'clock and Banks team was gone for the day. Craig was seated at his desk. He stood up as Tony entered.
"You have a report for me," said Craig.
"Oh, yeah," said Tony.
"Good. Let's go to MTAC. Director Vance is waiting to talk to us."
They entered MTAC and Craig waved at the tech, who then connected with DC. Vance appeared on the large screen.
"Jerome, DiNozzo. You have a report for me," said Vance.
"Banks is bidding his time to retire," said Tony. "He's allowing Five-O to take the lead. His team is strong, though they need to be pushed and shown how to investigate a case correctly."
"I heard from Dr. Pitt yesterday," said Vance. "I wasn't expecting a call on a Sunday, but he wanted to tell me that you ran a mile in well under seven minutes. He also told me that he thought you could do some fieldwork just not what Gibbs expects from an agent. Now I know why he bothered me with this information."
"I don't know what you are talking about, Director," said Tony.
"I want to place you in charge of both MCR Teams. I want you to take control and get them into shape. I want to make you the Operations Manager in Charge of MCR Teams at Pearl. It's not a field position, though I expect as a former special agent you might want to spend some time in the field on the serial killer case," said Vance. "But I need to make this clear, as an operation manager, you are not a special agent."
"You want me as the Operation Manager for the MCRT," said Tony.
He was shocked to hear this.
"Yes, DiNozzo," said Vance. "I need you to do this. There is a serial killer to catch and those teams need to be fixed."
"Do I get an office?" Tony smiled.
"You can talk that over with Jerome," said Vance.
"When do you need my decision?" he asked.
"Tomorrow," said Vance.