Author's Note-sorry for the delay, but for some reason since seeing a certain episode my muse has been working overtime on that story. Anyway, here's the next part and hopefully there'll be more next week...Winnie
2 Days Earlier
Steve and Danny had exhausted all avenues that had been opened to them on the Gentry case, but at least the couple had been identified. They'd been shot through the head and left in the Tantalus Crater, but there was very little evidence to tell Five-O who had killed them. The files Mitch had sent were spread out across the desks as they tried to find a correlation that would tell them who had killed the Gentrys and why their bodies were dumped in the crater.
"Okay, so if we can tie them into the Red Dagger band from the east side, we should be able to send Mitch everything we have and maybe the Jersey PD can find out exactly why they were killed and by who," McGarrett suggested.
"So we toss it back to them," Williams griped.
"There's nothing we can do here. The crime scene was clean and we've run the bullets through ballistics. There's nothing here that tells us they were actually killed here, but that doesn't mean we're giving up on our end. I just figured we'd let Mitch run with it in Jersey while we look into things here," McGarrett explained.
"Sorry, I thought you were handing it off."
"I've never done that, Danny, and I don't plan on doing it now," the SEAL vowed.
"Did Chin hear from any of his sources?"
"Nothing new, but he's got a couple of feelers out. They'll get back to him if they hear anything at all," McGarrett assured him.
"What about Kamekona?"
"What about him?"
"Did he find out who your old 'friend' is?"
"No, but that's not a priority right now," McGarrett told him.
"It is if he's anything like Taylor," Williams said and regretted his words when he saw just how much McGarrett was affected by his friend's betrayal. "Shit, Steve, I didn't mean anything by that."
"Yes, you did, and the thing is you're right, Danny, I need to choose my friends more carefully. Nick Taylor was a good man, but somewhere along the way he turned his back on what was right and went after the almighty buck," McGarrett snapped.
"You couldn't have known he'd gone bad, Steve."
"Maybe not, but you sensed it from the start."
"That's because I didn't know him before this happened. Don't go blaming yourself because he got greedy," Williams said. "Greed is something we all face, Steve, the difference is that we choose not to give in to it."
"I know," McGarrett said and walked to the window.
"Do you want to get some lunch?"
"No, thanks, I'm meeting Keanna at the hospital. We're going to check out Tiki's lunch menu," McGarrett answered.
"So today is Keanna's turn," Williams teased.
"Danny, we're just friends," McGarrett said.
"Sure, and I'm Prince William," the Jersey native said. "Come on, Steve, you have two beautiful women at your beck and call so don't go telling me they're just friends because I wasn't born yesterday. You know how many men would love to be in your shoes?"
"I never even thought about it, but look at you."
"What about me?"
"I know Rachel is with Stan, but she certainly calls you often enough and then there's Toni...how often have you seen her since that night at Tiki's?"
"A man doesn't kiss and tell," Williams said.
"I think I said the same thing," McGarrett said and looked at his watch. "I'll see you later unless you and Toni have plans."
"We're going to catch a movie tonight...she's into Sci-Fi and wants to see Battle LA," Williams told him as McGarrett stacked up the papers and put them on the desk in a neat pile.
"Danny, if Mitch calls let me know what he has to say," McGarrett said.
"I will," Williams said. His thoughts returned to Mitch and his life in New Jersey, and he wondered if the man was still as good as he was when they were partners. He hoped he was, and hoped they could put this case behind them because Mitch had always blamed himself for failing to find out who was responsible for the deaths of those children.
5050505050
Keanna spotted McGarrett as he parked his vehicle and smiled when he opened the door and stepped out. The man was so damn sexy in the white t-shirt and blue jeans and she smiled at the thought of watching him remove his clothing while soft music played in the background.
"Keanna, did you hear me?"
"I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"I asked if you wanted to take your car or mine?" McGarrett said.
"Let's go in yours...I want to feel the breeze on my face," she said and climbed into the passenger side as McGarrett took his place behind the wheel. They drove to Tiki's and were shown to a table in the shade of the trees.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Iced Cappuccino," Keanna answered.
"I'll have the same," McGarrett said.
"I'll be right back," the waitress told them.
"How's the side?"
"It's fine...itches a little, but otherwise my doctor did a good job. I don't think it'll leave much of a scar either," McGarrett said.
"Oh, she must have been real good with her hands."
"She was, and I'm wondering what other talents she has," McGarrett said, enjoying the easy banter he had with this woman.
"Maybe she'd be interested in showing you," Keanna said as the waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders.
"Are you propositioning me?"
"I might be...is it working?"
"It might be," McGarrett said with a mischievous smile.
"You know, Steve, I don't usually ask patients out, but there's something about you that makes me want to get to know you," Keanna told him.
"What do you want to know?"
"I guess I should have asked you this long ago, but since I never saw a ring I thought it was a moot point. Are you married?"
"No, but I have been in a couple of serious relationships," McGarrett told her.. "What about you?"
"Never married...was engaged to a man who thought he owned me, but he quickly learned that I don't belong to any one. I've always been a woman who speaks my mind and sometimes I even manage to put my foot in my mouth," she answered.
"Just be careful you don't bite it off," McGarrett said.
"I won't...next question...any children?"
"No."
"By choice?"
"Yes."
"Because you want to wait or because you don't like children?"
"By choice...I hope someday to have children, but my father always told me not to bring children into the world until you were ready to settle down with a woman you want to spend the rest of your life with."
"Smart man," Keanna said.
"Do you have any children?"
"No, but like you I would love to have children in the future," Keanna told him. "I'd like to pay back some of my bills from med school before I get into a serious relationship."
"Sounds like a good plan," McGarrett observed. He admired the woman seated across from him, not just because she was smart, but also because she had a plan and seemed to have her head on straight. He'd been lucky enough to go in to the teams and had been trained by the best of the best. Now he wanted to give back some of that and hoped by being part of Five-O he was doing just that.
The food was brought to the table and they continued to talked about the plans they had for the future and where they saw themselves in ten years. An hour later Steve drove her back to the hospital and headed back to Five-O headquarters. He exited his vehicle and hurried inside to find Chin and Kono going over new evidence with Danny Williams.
"Steve, it seems we may have caught a break with the Gentry case," Danny said.
"Kamekona heard from one of his people that the shooter was a hired gun from Madrid. The man was supposed to be paid a large sum of money for not only killing the couple, but for getting rid of their bodies," Kono explained.
"Do we have a name?"
"Paulo Mendoza," Chin answered.
"Isn't he working at the surfboard shop out by Kailua beach?" McGarrett asked.
"One and the same," Chin told him.
"Danny, are you up for a little trip in search of the perfect surfboard for Grace?" McGarrett asked.
"Now that you mention it she does have a birthday in a few weeks," Williams agreed.
"Kono and I will coordinate with the New Jersey PD and see if we can come up with something that will point to a location for the murders," Chin said as the two men hurried out of the office.
5050505050
"Are we doing the good cop/bad cop routine or are you just going to throw him in a shark cage?" Williams asked.
"The shark cage is in for repairs...a tiger shark tried to get to the man by widening the window."
"I guess he looked like free lunch. So the cage is out? Are there any buildings for you to dangle him from?"
"No, Danny, but we could always let you have a snit and bore him into telling us what we need to know," McGarrett snapped.
"Oh, are we really going there, Steve, because I'll have you know that I am far from boring. Toni thinks I'm highly intelligent and..."
"She's known you all of what? Three weeks?"
"She's smart and she says we're well matched...there's a spot over by that blue Mazda," Williams said and held on as McGarrett pulled into the empty space and exited the car. "So good cop/bad cop it is then."
"Danny, give it a rest," McGarrett said as they neared the surf shop and spotted the man they needed to talk too.
"Please don't run..."
"He's going to run, Danny!" McGarrett said as the shaggy haired man with the goatee spotted them.
"Sonofabitch...can't we just shoot him?" Williams snapped as Mendoza jumped over the counter, knocked over several surfboards and raced across the beach toward the main parking lot. "No, he did not just do that!"
"Danny, I'm on it!" McGarrett said and took off after the one time assassin. He jumped over the downed boards and heard several expletives as he kicked up sand with his feet. He spotted Mendoza nearing the parking lot and raced after him, his stride lengthening as he fought to close the distance between them.
"Sonofabitch," Danny griped and raced for McGarrett's car, glad he had a spare key as he jumped behind the wheel and stuck it in the ignition. He pulled out of the parking space and headed for the main road, cursing when he spotted McGarrett running parallel to the road as Mendoza raced along the edge of the road.
Steve could see the man across the road, and glanced over his shoulder to check the oncoming traffic and raced across the pavement as several horns told him the drivers were not pleased. He made it safely across and spotted Mendoza as he topple several garbage cans in an effort to slow Steve down. McGarrett easily jumped the first can and bypassed the second one as he heard the sound of a car closing in behind him.
Steve didn't take the time to turn as Mendoza made to cross the street, but Williams used the car to cut him off. Steve grabbed the man by the collar and shoved him face down on the trunk as Danny turned off the ignition.
"What the hell was that?" Williams asked and slapped the newcomer's shoulder as McGarrett turned him over.
"Hey, I didn't do anything!"
"Then why did you run?" Williams asked.
"I was in a hurry to catch the bus," Mendoza told them.
"The bus stop is in the other direction," McGarrett said.
"I..."
"Tell us about the Gentrys, Paulo," Williams ordered and there was no mistaking the fear in the man's eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about,"Mendoza answered.
"Carl and Anna Gentry," Williams said. "You remember them don't you? You put a bullet in their heads before dumping their bodies in the Tantalus Crater."
"I don't even know where that crater is," the man said.
"Oh, really, well I'm sure my partner here could show you it up close and personal. Although you might be dangling over the edge by your ankles if you piss him off."
"Danny, put him in the trunk and we'll take a ride out there. Maybe we can jog his memory," McGarrett said.
"I warned you. The last time we took a suspect for a ride he wound up in a shark cage and I'm not even sure he's stopped shaking yet," Williams said and moved to open the trunk.
"You can't do this!"
"Wrong, we can and we will do it," McGarrett said.
"You really should tell us what you know because McGarrett is not known for subtlety," Williams said.
"Come on, Danny, put him in there. I'd like to be home in time for dinner," McGarrett said and turned the man so he could cuff his hands behind him.
"You got no right!"
"Yes, I do, now shut up and get in the trunk!" McGarrett ordered.
"Look, I''ll tell you what I know," Mendoza said and stared into the trunk.
"Who hired you to kill them?" Williams asked.
"I didn't..."
"Danny, I'm running out of patience, put him in!"
"You heard him, Man, I'm sorry, but it's better you than me," Williams said and grabbed the man's arm before shoving him toward the trunk.
"No! You can't do this! You're supposed to be the good guys!"
"Are we?" McGarrett asked and looked at Williams. "Did I miss the memorandum on that one?"
"I guess we both did," Williams said as they grabbed Mendoza and lifted him into the trunk. "How long does he have to hold his breath in there"
"Couple of hours maybe...depends on if we stop for lunch and I am getting hungry," McGarrett said and reached up to close the trunk.
"No...look, I don't know who hired me...I had orders to kill them and make sure their bodies were never found," Mendoza explained.
"Not good enough," McGarrett said.
"I told you what I know!"
"How did they contact you and how did you get paid for the job?" Williams asked.
"I got a phone call and the money was sent to an old PO box once I sent the pictures."
"Where did you send the pictures?" McGarrett asked.
"I put them in an envelope and addressed them to a post office in New Jersey," Mendoza answered.
Steve saw the change come over Williams' face at the mention of his home, but they had a job to do and Danny would not let his emotions rule him.
"What was the PO box?"
"I don't remember. It was a long time ago!" Mendoza answered.
"Not good enough," McGarrett said and slammed the trunk closed. Ignoring the cries coming from Mendoza, he turned and smiled at Williams. "Burgers or pizza?"
"Burgers," Williams answered and move to the front of the car.
5050505050
Present Time
Danny swallowed several times as he stared at the body on the body on the table. There was no mistaking who it was and his heart beat fast as he reached out and flicked a strand of hair away from her face. Toni Mitchell's face was covered in cuts and bruises, her face swollen, and nearly unrecognizable. He took a deep breath, and tried to ignore the pain in his gut...right now Toni was dead, but Steve wasn't. God help him, he couldn't explain how he knew that, but he did and somehow he'd find out who had taken him and why.
"Detective, did you hear me?"
"I'm sorry, Max, what did you say?"
"I said whoever did this did it with the intention of causing as much pain as they could without killing her. She was savagely beaten and left to die a slow death."
"Is there anything that points to who did this to her?"
"Not yet, but I've only done a preliminary examination."
"Time of death?" Williams asked.
"Near as I can figure around twelve hours ago, but again I'll know more once I run a complete autopsy. I'll contact you with my findings."
"Make it fast," the New Jersey native ordered.
"Has there been any word on Commander McGarrett?"
"Not since he disappeared," Williams answered.
"I'll do the autopsy myself, Danny...I'll make sure I do everything by the book and let you know what I find."
"Thanks, Max," Williams said and left the office. He leaned against the wall outside the morgue and ran his fingers through his hair. Steve's disappearance had thrown Five-O for a loop and now Toni Mitchell's death and Melina Collins disappearance had thrown a monkey wrench into the mix. What did the two women have to do with Steve, and why had they singled them both out in the first place. Whoever was behind this had done a through job, but they'd make a mistake and when they did he'd be there to take the bastards down.
5050505050
Steve felt the tremors start in his extremities and tried to ride out the waves of pain racing along the nerve endings that seemed alive with each breath he took. The doctor stood before him, holding a syringe with some kind of fluid in it as he swabbed an area on the inner part of his forearm. He swallowed several time, ignoring the bitter taste of bile that rose in his throat as Alejandro pressed the tip of the needle against his skin.
"Now, Steve, I ask you again. Where is Anita Morales?"
"I have no idea who you're talk...ing a...bout," McGarrett managed, unable to tear his eyes away from the needle.
"Steve, you can stop this...you don't have to protect her from me. She betrayed you and doesn't deserve your loyalty. Just tell me where she is," Marquez said from his vantage point near the table the doctor was using for his instruments.
"Go to hell," McGarrett spat.
"Such a waste," Marquez said and looked at Alejandro. "Do it."
Steve watched helplessly as the needle slipped into his arm and the man slowly injected whatever was in the syringe into his vein. He felt it burn as heat spread through his body and he felt the shaking intensify as the unknown drug awakened nerves he didn't know he had. He rocked back against the chair, his body convulsing as the fiery substance wreaked havoc with his senses.
Steve could hear voices as if they were speaking through a water barrier, and he licked at dry lips as someone touched his arms and he screamed as if scalded. He opened his eyes and stared at the woman who knelt before him. God, he wanted to believe she had nothing to do with all of this, but it was too much of a coincidence and even in his present condition, Steve knew better than to ignore what was right before his eyes.
"Please, Steve, look at what he's done. You can't ignore this...they're dead...Kono, Rachel, little Grace...God, little Grace will never grow up, Steve, and it's all because of you. How can you face Danny knowing she's dead and that he blames you?"
"No...saved her...Danny doesn't b...blame me...she's safe..."
"No, Steve, she's not. I showed you the pictures...remember? She's dead..."
"No...she can't...can't be...don't be...lieve you," McGarrett said and felt the pain as someone dug their fingers into his side. He looked down at the blood that flowed freely from the wound before lifting his head and looking at the man who was making his life a living hell.
"Melina's right, Steve. They're dead because you chose Anita Morales over them and Danny and Chin blame you. You're the one who killed them because you chose to protect that bitch instead of doing what you could to save their lives. What about Melina, Steve, are you willing to see her die too?"
"Don't," McGarrett forced through his constricted throat as Marquez gripped the woman's chin and wrapped the fingers of his other hand around her throat.
"I could easily snap her pretty neck, but that would end it too quickly. What if I turned her over to several of my men? I'm sure they would enjoy her company much more than she would enjoy theirs," Marquez said.
"Steve, please, you can't let him...you..."
"Do you hear the fear in her voice, Steve, imagine what that pretty face would look like when my men are through with her. Now where is Anita Morales?"
"Somewhere you...you'll never find her," McGarrett managed and cried out when Marquez struck him across the face. Whatever was in the syringe seemed to have made him hypersensitive to the painful blows that connected with different parts of his body, but he refused to make a sound until Marquez shoved his hand against the raw wound on his right side. His jaw clenched tightly and he ground his teeth together before spitting blood onto the floor. He lifted his head as the sound of a scream reminded him he wasn't the only one at Marquez's mercy.
"You can stop this, Steve!" Marquez snarled and struck Melina so that she fell to the floor in front of the SEAL.
"I c...can't, Melina...I'm so...sorry," McGarrett said as darkness reached for him and his body went completely still.
"Dammit, Alejandro, you'd better not have killed him!" Marquez warned as he stared at the unmoving man bound to the chair.