When is a wave not a wave? Pt 2
Steve and Danny made it over to the missing scientist's house to find Kono and Chin already there cataloguing the evidence. There was no other conclusion upon seeing the carnage - foul play.
Chin asked the burning question. "So why would you kidnap a tsunami expert?"
Steve sighed. "To fake a tsunami?"
Kono frowned. "To what end?"
Steve shrugged. "I don't know but you and Chin should head back to headquarters while you still can and compile a list of targets."
Kono nodded. "Cool, I can run the analysis on these paint scrapings at the same time."
With their tasks in hand, they left to carry out their duties so only Steve and Danny were left in the house from the 5 - 0 team. Danny was curious. "And where are we going?"
"We're going to find out when a wave is not a wave," Steve said with a straight face.
Danny sighed. "I hate the fact that you're saying that not trying to be mysterious. Shouldn't we tell the Governor."
Steve shook his head. "There is no point until we have evidence."
Danny sighed. "Has Tony found your signal?"
Almost as if he was answering Danny's question, Tony's distinctive ringtone was heard coming from Steve's phone. "I expect all the rewards I'm obviously entitled to, I found your second signal and even used the same satellite to trace where the signal is coming from."
Steve grinned because he knew Tony was awesome but this was perfect. "The harbour?"
Tony's snort could easily be heard. "You say that like you aren't a SEAL."
Steve was so glad this conversation was not on speaker even if Danny ranted in the car. "Okay, you may have a point."
"Go track down the bad guys. I want to see what Davenport does to them."
Steve had to smirk because Tony had a vindictive streak for those who dared to cross him. "I will do my best Stallion. I'll let you go back to tracing bad guys."
Danny quirked an eyebrow. "We have a target?"
Steve smirked. "Ala Wai harbour, Slip 21, the Avery Claire."
"That is oddly specific."
Steve snorted. "The Navy has access to toys that we don't."
In other words, Tony had used the thermal imagery to find out how many people are on the boat and where the thing was, using the satellite to zero in on the name.
Danny rolled his eyes. "Well, let's be grateful that we can go find out what is going on because I would really like to pick up Gracie from Kamekono."
The boat offered more questions than answers. The person they found on the boat, was more of a goth anarchist hacker than a criminal mastermind. Disappointing, as they still had to unravel the mystery.
"I can't help you find the signal." Hacker woman glared at them.
Steve rolled his eyes, now in most situations he would have 'persuaded' the woman to see reason. In a few glances, he knew what leverage to apply but he didn't need to.
"Hey babe. So someone is paying the hacker twenty-five thousand dollars to transmit the data across the network every eight minutes."
Tony growled. "Steve this has to be someone from the centre or the Coast Guard."
Now that was an angle he hadn't thought about, the Coast Guard. His mind went back to the rude coastguard from this morning demanding the strongest warning. Could it be that he may have a reason? "I need to figure out the target? Wait, let me put you on speaker."
Tony was glad Steve remembered to include his work partner. Steve would be great at the job but he needed to know that cops work best with a partner for back-up. "The Coastguard will often share an asset forfeiture with HPD in Hawaii due to the size of the office."
Danny not privy to the first part of the question. "Why are we talking about the Coasties?"
Tony spoke up. "Because to fake a tsunami you need to know the ins and the outs of the situation. So that leaves the Coast Guard or the Tsunami centre people. I would rule out Navy as you can see the procedure is to head to deep sea and ride it out."
Steve now had all the pieces of the puzzles, he may not have all the names but with motive, the characters often follow. "This would take planning, a crew and of people with an axe to grind. Stallion you're a genius."
Tony was amused. "Uh huh, go find your bad guys ... I will do my best to find your signal."
Steve said nothing else as this wasn't the time. "Thanks, Ton'."
Danny clapped his hands with glee. "So we're closer to me getting back to Gracie?"
Steve rolled his eye as he phoned Kono. "Yes, Danno."
"Boss?" Came Kono's voice through the speaker.
"Kono, how are the forensics going?" Steve asked, hoping it would get them closer to the where.
"Well, I tracked down the paint chippings and it's a government issued white." Kono informed them but it wasn't a surprise.
Steve guessed that would be the case. "Chin, narrow the search down to Coast Guard vehicles."
Danny decided to go for broke, the guy from the Tsunami Centre just set his gut itching and he'd learnt to never ignore it. "Can one you of look up a Commander Sam Hale? Something is not right with the guy, call it a hunch."
"Sure thing."
Steve smirked at him. "So he was rude so you think he is a criminal mastermind?"
Danny snorted. "Please I am from New Jersey and rudeness is not a thing to phase me."
Steve had to laugh because there was no response. "We need to find Dr. Russell."
"Yeah, but how? We left the hacker on the boat so as not to arouse suspicions."
Steve sighed because that had been a difficult decision. Ultimately, she was not their master criminal. It didn't mean they wouldn't pick her up. "If she doesn't transmit the data every eight minutes - they will kill him and we will lose our chance to capture them."
"There are so many targets in the Evac zone Steven and we can't possibly check each one." Danny reminded him, frustration creeping into his voice.
"We won't. The bigger the distraction, the bigger the target so we can eliminate a few." Steve recited an old adage but it didn't make it any less true.
"You say that like it is a comforting thing."
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Back on the Seahawk Tony was getting more and more aggravated. "They are faking this and I think it's the Coast Guard!"
Richard was still in the ComCentre watching his friend take command of several computers all at the same time. "What are you doing Tony?"
Tony whirled around. "That terminal is finding Ted Bankston as requested. Now this terminal is the fun one because someone has gone to a lot of hard work to fake a tsunami - I just need to prove it."
Owens whistled. "Davenport will flay them alive."
Tony snorted. "If our suspicions are correct, it will be the Commandant of the Coast Guard answering awkward questions."
Richard returned the snort knowing that would be a fun conversation. "Yes well, you must stay for lunch before going back to base."
"Sure thing Captain."
His computer pinged. "Yes!"
Tony put the call through. "I am King, look at your phone ... You have coordinates to the email origin."
"You found Russell's signal?"
Tony frowned and feigned outrage. "Do I ask you if you hit your target? Don't be rude."
Danny couldn't resist such an opening. "He does not have those skills! I keep telling him this?"
Tony rolled his eyes but there was a fondness in his voice. "Just go and get the bad guy. I'll be waiting for you at home."
There was a nice feeling in his stomach at that thought. He had a home with a guy he loved, a job he adored, and friends who got him. He was truly happy and that was a truly scary feeling. Tony's experiences were to not trust happiness, it never lasts that long. Steve eradicated all those doubts, his superseal had no clue and kept bulldozing through his insecurities.
He would find Bankston and he had to cackle. The computer suggested the foolish man had come to - Hawaii. It was fate, Tony was sure of it. Asshole.
Still Tony didn't work on guesses, he used the satellites to get confirmation of the fact Bankston was where he thought. The man had a well-known alias at Tony's least favourite hotel in Hawaii - It was nothing against the company or the staff themselves but it was here that his Dad had left him as a kid.
"Hello, I'm calling to ask do you have a Mr. Stane with you?" Tony asked with his best business professional voice. It was sometimes easier than going through announcing his position and watching them close up shop as a result.
"May I ask who is calling?"
Tony knew if this got back to Steve, then he would be all caveman-like. "It is Anthony McGarrett, and I am calling about a business deal. It is imperative that I speak to him on a time sensitive deal otherwise millions will be lost."
"I'm sorry Mr. McGarrett but all members of the hotel were evacuated."
Perfect. So he had his informal confirmation and he would be able to move on the traitor as soon as the tsunami alert was lifted. Looks like he would have his first big arrest in Hawaii.
"I need a direct line to Vance, tell him I found his rat."
This was such a sensitive case that he had no idea who knew. Tony recognised Cynthia's voice. "Of course AD DiNozzo."
Tony smiled. "Call me Tony, Cynthia."
There was a pause as Cynthia obviously paused to ask Vance if he was available. A few moments later, Vance was on the line. "You found Bankston?"
"Yes Sir. He is hiding at the Marriott, I posed as a business partner and she told me that all guests had been evacuated."
Vance spoke firmly. "You make a move as soon as it is safe to do so and keep me informed."
"Will do Director," Tony promised. He broke out the plans for the hotel because he wanted to move quickly taking advantage of the chaos and confusion of the tsunami warning. He went to find his deputy, they had a criminal to take down.
What a day!
No, that wasn't right - A day lasts twenty-four hours, not forty-eight hours. Tony had transferred the entire office to the Seahawk and back again. He'd managed to get the drop on Bankston and arrest his sorry ass and then deal with a shocked Gibbs who had been in MTAC when he'd made his video conference.
That had been fun especially the part where Gibbs had been in the centre also, froze mid-conversation when Tony announced the name of who he'd arrested. At that point, Gibbs had stormed out of MTAC.
Tony wondered what Vance would do but the Director just smirked. "He should be careful what he wishes for and it might make him learn to think before he demands it."
"I doubt it Director but we can live in hope."
Leon chuckled. "I think you may be right and so tell me, who faked the Tsunami? I just got off the phone with Secretary Davenport and he was still cackling."
Tony snorted because there was always a rivalry between services and anything that could be exploited, would be. Still, things had calmed down and he'd headed home on orders from Vance to get some rest.
When Tony got home - Steve was collapsed on the couch and Tony had never seen a more enticing sight. He kicked off his shoes, and he placed his suit jacket on the stair bannister and head straight over to his lover. He curled up and just let all the stress of the day unwind.
"Are you as exhausted as I am?" Steve asked him. Tony knew if Steve was home then he'd collared his perps for the kidnapping.
Tony chuckled. "When was Wednesday and how is Dr. Russell?"
"Two days ago and reunited with his daughter."
Tony chuckled snuggling closer, not caring about his clothes for once. "Then yes I am. I am exhausted."
They stayed on the couch for a while just soaking up the calmness and letting the excitement of their day bleed away. If they didn't they would never achieve a restful sleep. Tony mumbled into Steve's chest. "We should move."
Steve snickered. "I'm willing but the flesh is too tired Stallion."
"Too sleep and then when you wake up we can have all the sex we should have had in the last forty-eight hours that was stolen from us."
Tony said it matter of fact and it made it an even more brilliant plan. So Steve pulled them both to their feet and upstairs. Tony and Steve collapsed onto their bed curled into each other and slept the sleep of the righteous.
They were so exhausted that they slept through the daylight hours. His phone broke through Tony's slumber and it was a message from Vance.
Stubborn bastard went AWOL - May appear on your doorstep!
A rude knock at the door and Tony knew it could only be one person. He got up from his warm safe haven to answer it. He wondered if Vance and Davenport had another side bet about this.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Perhaps wasn't the politest he'd ever given to the person standing on their doorstep but Tony felt justified.
"You had no right to take my case." Gibbs said as a way of greeting.
Perfect, so Gibbs had flown ten hours uninvited to try and yell at him when Gibbs was now his subordinate. Tony figured someone needed a wake-up call in the metaphorical sense!
