Mana Kāne studied the evidence Duke had given him and knew he'd seen the signature before. He'd spoken to several of his sources and found several markers that could link the explosives to key members of an old 'family'. They were hired to kill and maim when regular sources were either unavailable, couldn't deliver the right message.
Mana pushed back from the table and used his upper body strength to maneuver his wheelchair into the small, uncluttered kitchen. Most people who looked at him thought he was a slob, but the truth was he loved cleanliness and spent an hour a day just cleaning his one bedroom home. Vacuuming had been difficult when he'd first lost his legs, but he'd quickly discovered the joys of a longer hose and less pushing and pulling of heavy vacuum.
The kitchen was all on a level that was easily accessible so that he could reach anything and cook when he wanted. He'd invested in a Keurig brewing machine and found several flavors he loved. He'd gone through two boxes of coffee since Lukela had asked for his help two days ago.
Before he'd lost his legs, Mana had spent days working on the best way to provide his services to his clients. They consisted of people from all walks of life, and he'd even been hired by key members of the government, although no one would ever know that. He didn't regret killing the people he'd been hired to kill, and would probably have kept on killing if he hadn't made a stupid 'rookie' mistake that cost him his legs.
Mana opened the fridge and pulled out a can of beer and let the door close before grabbing a bag of chili heat chips. He backed out of the kitchen and made his way to the table where he looked at the papers spread across the top. He opened the bag and popped several chips into his mouth, cursing when the crumbs fell on the papers he was studying.
Duke had given him what little they had on the explosion and possible contents of the device, but it hadn't been that much. From the info he had, he'd already formed an opinion of whoever made the device. In his opinion, it was a true work of art and the signature of a black rose was one that could be taken many ways. In this case, it meant one thing, that whoever was after McGarrett would not give up and would try again before long.
Mana reached for the beer and took a long swallow before placing it in the exact circle of moisture it had rested in. He examined the nearest sheet and frowned when he noticed several familiar elements. If he was right, then he knew who was behind the explosion, and that meant his life could be in as much danger as Steve McGarrett's was.
An explosive expert, and that's how he saw himself, always added an element of himself to a job. It wasn't something that could tie it directly to him, but it was something he or she would be proud of. It would tell others exactly who they were dealing with. His signature had given him the nickname 'fireball' because the explosive burned hot like an iridescent flame that consumed everything in seconds.
If he was right, this was the work of a woman he'd met when she was a budding enthusiast. They'd been introduced by a man who was high profile in the world of politics and it hadn't surprised Mana when he'd heard the man died in a car explosion and on his grave a single black rose had been placed.
Mana wasn't afraid of anything, but he had to admit this woman scared the hell out of him. Not because she was damn good at what she did, but because she was young, very young to have such knowledge and kills associated with her name. She'd come from nowhere and had quickly proven she would take any job as long as the price was right.
Mana took out a magnifying glass and carefully scanned the images from McGarrett's office. The explosion had taken out most of Five-O headquarters and did structural damage to the building itself. It wouldn't surprise him if they condemned the building because of the explosion and after effects it caused.
"It is you, isn't it?" Mana whispered when he saw other signs that could point to the young woman from his past. He'd taught her several things, including how to cause an explosion to look like someone else's work, while keeping your own signature hidden from prying eyes. He'd learned how to recognize those signs and knew she'd surpassed his teachings.
"You always did poke your nose in where it doesn't belong, Mana."
Mana Kāne was not a man who frightened easily, but that silky, seductive voice sent a chill down his spine. He dropped the magnifying glass and the paper on the table and slowly turned his wheelchair until he looked into the coldest blue eyes he'd ever seen. His hands gripped wheelchair as he stared at the woman from his past.
She hadn't changed much since he'd last seen her, although she now had the body of a woman instead of a child. Her jet black hair hung loose to her shoulders with a streak of blond hanging down the right side. She was at least 6 feet tall and wore a tight black sundress buttoned halfway down her ample breasts. The stiletto style shoes added to her height and gave her a sexy, appealing quality he found hard to resist. She wasn't beautiful, but she wasn't hard on the eyes either.
"What's the matter, Mana? Aren't you happy to see me?"
"I thought we were finished a long time ago."
"We were, but it seems you've been poking your nose into my business again. I'm pretty certain I warned you not to interfere in my life again."
"I didn't know it was you," Kāne told her, surprised that he was able to keep his fear from showing. He swallowed convulsively as she walked around his chair and massaged his shoulders as if they were long-time friends.
"Do you really think that matters?"
"Probably not, but you should know others will recognize your signature."
"I'm sure they will, but by then I'll be out of reach. People like you should count their blessings and stay out of the picture. You showed up in my radar the minute your visitor left, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt," she said and suddenly placed a black rose in front of his face. "These are expensive, Mana, but well worth the cost. Do you think you're worthy of such a price?"
"I didn't tell them anything."
"Not yet, you didn't, but…" she said and sat on the edge of the table and reached for several pictures. "I'm sure you were getting ready to call your friend and tell him what you know…or think you know."
"Once I recognized the other signs I knew it was you and I vowed long ago never to cross you. Don't you think I've lost enough?" Kāne leaned back as she came to stand in front of him and leaned on the sides of the wheelchair so that their faces were mere inches apart.
"No, I don't, Mana. You're alive and if I let you remain that way you would talk to the police and tell them everything you know about me. You changed after you lost your legs…you became a snitch and that is something I cannot allow or condone. You will die, but I will make it a merciful death because of our friendship. You were my mentor many years ago, but now all I see is a husk of the man you once were. Perhaps you are more ready to face death than you know."
"I'm not ready to die, but I'm not afraid of it," Kāne told her and stared into her eyes, shocked when she was the one to break contact. "I won't beg for my life, Tara…"
"I would be disappointed if you did. Perhaps, we should share a beer and toast to whatever lies ahead of you. Do you believe in heaven and hell?"
"I believe hell is what we make of our lives, Tara, but some of us redeem ourselves, while others are destined for a fiery afterlife."
"Then it is fitting that you die in an explosion…one that will forever burn in my mind and heart. You were my teacher…and my friend and I regret what I must do, but life is not always about the right decisions. I have already set the explosives around the outside perimeter, Mana, and I believe I will allow you to live long enough to see the display from inside. Have no fear, you will not feel much pain…the explosives will take care of that. Is there another beer in the fridge or perhaps a bottle of wine?"
"There's beer," Kāne told her and watched as she turned toward the kitchen. He reached behind him, hoping to find his cell phone, but she held it up and chuckled softly.
"You taught me to make sure everything was as it should be, Mana. Death will come on swift wings and you will meet whatever afterlife you're destined for."
Mana watched as she took a beer from the fridge and joined him at the table. "I believe we should make a toast…to old teachers and old fools who allow their students to surpass them."
"I may be a fool, Tara, but remember you were once a teacher and one day a student will turn the tables on you," Kāne said and drank his beer. He licked his lips and hid the fear he felt at what was about to happen. She took several sips from the can and sighed before reaching into here bag and taking out several strips of rope.
"I soaked these in my own recipe and they will catch fire quickly. You will probably be dead from the concussive force before that happens."
Mana stared at her as she wrapped the ropes tightly around his arms and made sure they were secured to the wheelchair. He knew there was no point in fighting her and welcomed death as a way out of the life he had. He would never beg her for his life, but he'd prayed for his soul on several occasions and hoped if there really was a God, he was as merciful as people thought.
"I am sorry it has to be this way, Mana, but I cannot chance you telling your friends about me. You do understand don't you?"
"I understand that you are far more dangerous than I believed," Kāne told her.
"Yes, I am," she said and placed a strip of duct tape over his mouth. She kissed his forehead and stood back. "I wish there was another way, Mana, but you are a danger to me. If there is an afterlife then perhaps we will meet there."
Mana Kāne watched as she took two small bottles from her purse and placed them on the table. He knew what they consisted of and swallowed passed a throat that was already constricting in fear. He knew once the two liquids mixed he would die quickly, but that didn't ease the pain hidden deep inside. He watched her connect the device and make sure it was properly aligned, but there was nothing he could do to stop the progression of things.
"I am sorry, Mana Kāne, you were a good teacher."
Mana watched her leave and tried to pull his arms free, but his eyes were drawn to the mixing of the liquids and a soft cry escaped his throat. He knew there was no escaping now and silently prayed for God to have mercy on his soul. The liquids mixed, creating a tornado like vortex as the volatile combination exploded outward, raining fiery liquid across the table as several secondary explosions happened outside the home.
Mana had no time to think about his life or death as his home and memories came down around him. The smell was a mixture of items he gave little thought to as something sharp penetrated his chest and impaled him to his chair. His eyes grew wide as he fought to draw the heated air into his collapsing lungs. Death came for Mana Kāne and he embraced it above the pain that had once engulfed his mind and body.
5050505050
Steve knew Carl Lewis was right and he was backed up by Felicia Chow, but that didn't mean he was going to back down easily. He wanted out, needed to find out what was happening in the outside world. Governor Denning had been in earlier and argued with him about the merits of a safe-house, but Steve was adamant about it not being a good idea.
"Commander McGarrett, you are three days post-op and granted you're doing very well, but you need to realize you're injured and had major surgery. It's not going to keep you down forever, but right now you need to let us take care of you," Lewis said.
"Listen to Dr. Lewis, Commander, because he knows what he's talking about. I'm the surgeon who removed your spleen, and that's not something to be taken lightly. You need to rest and let yourself heal. Give us another day…two at the most and if your numbers stay in the norm I'll sign your discharge papers myself," Felicia Chow told him.
"Look, Doc, I don't plan to go back to work…"
"You don't lie very well, Commander," Lewis observed. "I've known you long enough to know you don't like downtime, but there comes a time when you really don't have a choice. You go messing around with this and you could end up back in here for a lot longer than a couple of days."
"One more day…"
"Possibly two depending on your test results," the surgeon told him and placed his chart on the bedside table. "Look, Commander, I know your reputation and I know how hard it is for you to admit you need help. Give us the time we need and you might just find we're easier to get along with."
"I need…"
"Tell me something, Commander…what would you say to a witness if they wanted to meet with the perpetrator of a crime?"
"I'd tell them…"
"He'd tell them to take a step back and get real," Williams interrupted from the chair he was seated in with his leg resting on an ottoman. "You know they're right, Steve, so give it a rest!"
Steve sat on the edge of his bed, shoulders slumped, body language easy to read by his partner who knew how hard this was for him.
"Two days at the most, Commander, that's all I'm asking for right now," Chow said.
"All right," McGarrett agreed and looked at his two doctors. "Two days and you sign my papers or I leave with or without your approval."
"Deal," Lewis told him.
"Can we get rid of the IV?" the SEAL asked.
"I think that can be arranged, but you still need IV antibiotics so we leave a heplock in place. I'll send the nurse right in, but Commander, I don't want you thinking just because you don't have a tether you can leave," Lewis warned.
"I hear you, Doc," McGarrett said and sighed when the two doctors left the room. He glanced at the man seated in the chair by the window and shook his head when he noted the smug grin. "Shut up, Danno!"
"I didn't say a word," Williams said.
"Maybe not, but you think too damn loud," McGarrett said and turned on the television. He tuned it to the news channel, and listened as the anchorwoman gave details of an explosion in the west end of the city.
"It is unclear whether the owner was home at the time, but the fire marshal is on the scene…"
"Steve, what's wrong?"
"I know that house, Danny."
"Who lives there?"
"Mana Kāne…"
"The explosive guy who lost his legs?" Williams asked as Chin and Kono came into the room. Kono looked like hell, but she was alive, they all were and that was something to be grateful for.
"Have you seen the news?" Kono asked and realized they were watching the live feed from Mana Kāne's home.
"Was he home?" McGarrett asked.
"Unknown," Chin answered. "We heard it on the way over. I called Duke, but he couldn't tell me anything."
"Couldn't or wouldn't?" Williams asked.
"Probably both," Chin answered as a nurse came in.
"Commander, I'm going to unhook you," the woman said.
"Thanks, Mel," McGarrett said, but kept watching the screen as firemen continued to fight the blaze that was consuming the house. His eyes spotted something on the mailbox at the edge of the driveway and he knew the explosion was caused by the woman who continued to taunt him.
"Steve, what's wrong?" Williams asked as the nurse completed her task and left the room.
"There's a black rose on the mailbox," McGarrett answered.
"Are you sure?" Chin asked and moved closer. Behind the reporter he could see the mailbox McGarrett mentioned and the black rose attached to it. He didn't say a word when the phone beside the bed rang and Steve reached for it.
"McGarrett."
"Hello, Steven, are you watching the news? It is such a shame that Mana had to die because of you. Tell me, do you feel any remorse for causing his death?"
"No, I don't. I'm not the one that killed him."
"Oh, but you are, Steven, he was working on something he had no business working on, and I had to make sure he didn't give you the information he had. When are you leaving the hospital, Steven? You and I should talk."
"Yes, we should," McGarrett agreed and hoped he could keep her talking long enough to initiate a trace. "Why don't you tell me where you are and I'll…"
"You know better than that, Steven, and since I don't have much time I'll simply tell you that I'll be seeing you soon."
"Was that her?" Williams asked when McGarrett put the phone down.
"Yes," the SEAL told him, disgusted with himself for not being able to physically search for her. He knew she hadn't been on long enough to trace the call, but his eyes were drawn to a woman in the crowd behind the reporter. He didn't know her name, but there was no mistaking the features. She had to be related to Anastasia Kwiatkowski, and that meant he had to protect the people he cared about.
"Steve?" Chin called the name, but McGarrett's attention was glued to the screen.
"What's wrong?" Williams asked.
"See the woman behind the reporter?" McGarrett asked and reached for the phone.
"I see lots of women," the Jersey native answered.
"Shoulder length dark hair…holding a phone," the SEAL told him.
"I see her," Kono said.
"I think that's her," McGarrett said, cursing when she turned and walked away.
"Lukela."
"Duke, it's McGarrett. There's a woman behind the reporter…she's wearing a black sundress….shoulder length black hair…she's getting into a taxi. Dammit, she's getting away."
"I sent a couple of officers after her, Steve, but there's a big crowd here. Did you get the name of the taxi company?"
"No, there are too many damned reporters," McGarrett snapped and heard sirens behind the reporters as another wave of emergency workers appeared.
"I have to go, Steve, but I'll see if anyone knows who she is."
"Thanks, Duke…be careful….she's crazy," McGarrett said and hung up. His shoulders slumped and what little energy he had seemed to drain from his body as he looked at his team. "She is crazy, and I can't let her get to you guys."
"Steve, we've already been through this," Williams reminded him. "Don't make me hit you with a crutch."
"Not yet, but I'll lend him my cane if you keep talking stupid," Chin warned.
"He's right, Boss, she made this about all of us when she took out Five-O headquarters," Kono said.
"You don't know what she's capable of, Kono."
"Doesn't she?" Williams interrupted. "Or a better question might be do you? You don't even know who she is. You saw that woman and you think she's the one behind this, but can you say for sure it's her?"
"No, Danny, I can't, but she looks like Anastasia Kwiatkowski…enough for her to stand out in that crowd," McGarrett answered.
"Okay, then we start there," Kelly told them,
"You forget five-O is on stand down," McGarrett said and saw three pairs of raised eyebrows.
"Since when has that ever stopped us?" Williams said.
"Danny's right, Steve, we're Five-O and we're in this together as a family," Kono vowed.
"We'll do the legwork while you and Danny work on finding out everything you can about her," Chin said.
"I'll need a laptop," McGarrett told him.
"We both will…make sure they are WIFI accessible and cleared through the hospital administration," Williams said.
"All right, I'll bring my laptop in and see if I can get one from…"
"Rachel has mine," Williams said. "I'll give her a call and see if she can bring it in tonight."
"Sounds good," Kono said. "Chin, maybe we should check in with Kamekona."
"He was supposed to get back to me if he heard anything from his sources," McGarrett said.
"We'll stop at his truck and see if he's heard anything," Chin said and knew they were going against the governor's orders, but the man should be getting used to that by now.
"Chin, you and Kono need to be careful. She's already proven she's not afraid to go after Five-O," McGarrett warned and lay back. His back ached and he couldn't help, but feel that his friends were in danger as long as he was alive.
"We'll be back as soon as we can," Kono said and looked from one man to the other before leaving the room with her cousin.
Danny watched the slow rise and fall of Steve's chest, but he knew the man wasn't sleeping. He also understood it meant McGarrett was tight-lipped and didn't want to talk. He looked at his own bed and then at his leg and knew it was time for a little relief.
"Want me to call the nurse?" McGarrett asked without opening his eyes.
"That sounds like a good idea," Williams said with a hint of a smile. It wasn't long before the nurse helped him back to bed and elevated his leg.
"Would you like something for pain, Detective?"
"Not right now, Lori," the injured man said, relieved that the throbbing seemed to be subsiding.
"What about you, Commandeer?"
"No thanks, Lori," McGarrett said and closed his eyes as sleep beckoned to him. He heard the nurse close the curtains and turn out the lights before she left the room and silently hoped they'd be able to get a lead on the woman he'd seen at Mana Kāne's home.
TBC
