Danny Williams pulled the Camaro to a stop behind the police car that was pulled haphazardly into McGarrett's driveway. He exited the car and hurried toward the back of the house. Rachel had picked up the kids and he'd called McGarrett's home, but there'd been no answer. His next call was to Chin and he'd cursed when the man told him Steve's home was now considered a crime scene.
"Danny, over here," Kono called from the shoreline.
"Any sign of Steve?" Williams asked.
"No, but we think there are at least two sets of prints. Steve was dragged down to the water," Kono answered.
"We don't know that for sure, Kono," Kelly said upon joining the duo, "Not officially anyway."
"How else do you explain the evidence?" Kono asked as several officers kept civilians from invading the crime scene. The wind was beginning to pick up and before long what little they did have would be either blown away or washed away by the ocean tide.
"It could have been kids," Chin told her, but there was no conviction in his voice.
"Really, Chin?" Kono asked and pointed to the marks in the sand. "Why would kids be dragging someone from Steve's house?"
"I'm just saying…we need to look at this from all angles," Chin answered.
"Have you checked the house?" Williams asked.
"We did, there's no sign of struggle inside, but there are signs in the backyard. Whatever happened had to have been shortly after we left because it looks like Steve didn't even go inside," Kono observed.
"What about neighbors? Did you question them?" Williams asked.
"Duke's got a couple of officers canvassing the neighbors, but so far no one saw or heard anything," Chin answered.
"So whoever took him must have had a boat waiting," Williams observed and hoped that was what happened. The alternative was even more alarming than Steve being kidnapped. Whoever dragged him down to the water could have planned to drown him, but Danny didn't want to think about that possibility.
"Chin, this is Tori Hickens," Duke introduced the young woman with the female officer. "She says she was walking her dog when she saw two men getting into a dingy."
"Miss Hickens, were you able to see what they looked like?" Kelly asked.
"No, I'm sorry, but it was late. Jake," she said indicating the dog on the leash. "Wanted to go for a walk and it was a little after ten. I always take him down by the water and that's when I saw the men getting into a boat."
"And you're sure there were just the two of them?" Kono asked.
"I only saw two," Tori told her. "They couldn't be going very far though because it was one of those small rubber type things you see attached to large yachts."
"Did you see any names on the raft?" Williams asked.
"No, I'm sorry, I wish I did, but it was dark and I was quite a ways up the beach. Is Commander McGarrett okay?"
"We don't know, Tori," Kono told her. There was no doubt in her mind that the young woman was infatuated with their boss, but Kono could completely understand that. McGarrett was a good looking man and a SEAL to boot. Women, both young and old were often staring at him, and he was often oblivious to the effect he had on them. He made women smile, and men frown, it was simply that he was everything a lot of women desired. She knew her boss was serious about Catherine Rollins and had seen them together. There was a great deal of chemistry that could make the sparks fly even when they were not alone.
"I wish I could be more help," Tori told her.
"You've helped, Miss Hickens, at least we have a time frame to work from," Chin said. "Call us if you think of anything else."
"I will," Tori said and turned to walk her dog back up the beach.
"We need to check the Yacht Club and see if there are any boats scheduled to leave or if any left during the night. It would take at least half an hour to get there in a dingy and if they took Steve then they'd want to leave ASAP," Kelly told them.
"They may have gone to a private dock, Chin," Kono reminded him.
"I know, but at least this gives us a specific place to start. If it doesn't pan out we can start looking into people who keep their boats docked at their homes," Chin told her.
"I could go back to headquarters and start checking the logs," Kono offered.
"They could have left without making one," Williams said.
"I know, but if things don't pan out at the Yacht Club then we'll have a head start on the private ones," Kono said and saw Chin nod as they headed for their vehicles.
"I'll call you after we talk to the port authority," Chin said.
"Tell Nohokai he still owes me that drink," Kono told her.
"And he'll tell me you'll get your drink when he gets his kiss," Chin reminded her of the running joke between his two cousins.
"Do I want to know what that's all about?" Williams asked once they were in his car.
"Nohokai is our cousin on my mother's side…"
"Why am I not surprised? Does anyone really know how many cousins you and Kono have?"
"I don't think so," Chin answered. "Nohokai is in his 60…at least that's what he tells everyone, but we figure he's got to be in his late 70ss or early 80s."
"And he's port authority?"
"Sometimes. They let him work there when his son is on duty. He's a good man and he knows every damn boat moored there," Chin said.
"Really?" Williams asked with a frown.
"He's sharp as a tack and you'd best not insult him or you'll find yourself in a battle of wits that you have no chance of winning."
"That sounds like a challenge."
"No challenge," Chin said seriously. "He's like a walking encyclopedia."
"With laptops and Macs encyclopedias are outdated."
"Don't tell him that," Chin said with a hint of a smile. His uncle had the best memory he'd ever seen and even at his advanced age he could still outsmart people with university degrees.
5050505050
Patrick McCallum was a smart man and could have done anything he wanted with his life. The problem was he'd always wanted to earn a quick buck and live the life of luxury. The first time he'd hired himself out to protect a friend had netted him enough money to go to university, but there was more money to be had in this kind of work.
Paulina Donaldson had more money than he'd ever dreamed of and she paid well for what she wanted. He'd heard several different stories about where her wealth came from, but it had taken a lot of research to find out the real story. Paulina's mother had died shortly after giving birth to her. Her father had been devastated by the loss, but that hadn't stopped him from collecting on the insurance policy he'd taken out on her. Her death had been declared accidental and the million dollar policy was doubled.
Daniel Donaldson was a frugal man and a shrewd investor. He'd put a millions aside and invested the rest in at least three casinos in Las Vegas. He never gambled at the casinos, but he did manage to make friends with people in high places. By the time Paulina was seven years old; her father had turned the two million into nearly twenty million. As she grew older she'd quickly learned that her father was not as legit as he wanted her to believe. She used his connections to solidify her own future and had a legitimate degree in nursing from Harvard.
Paulina had managed to fool a lot of people into thinking she had their best interests at heart, but he didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. She'd made enemies over the years, especially after her father's death when she was 19. His business partners were quick to go after his money and holdings, but she'd garnered enough support that she not only got the inheritance, but ended up with nearly double what her father was worth. If the information he had was right, and he had no reason to doubt his resources, then Paulina McCallum was worth close to a billion dollars. It made it hard not to accept her proposal when it meant he would be that much closer to a comfortable retirement.
Patrick reached into his pocket and removed the cigar he'd placed there. It was an indulgence that he allowed himself once a day and one that he could stop if he wanted to, but there were few things he enjoyed more than a good cigar. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold lighter and bit off the tip of the cigar. He lit it and leaned back against the railing as the sun beat down on the waves.
"So, Patrick, do you still think this was a good idea?"
"I never said it was a good idea, Helen, but who am I to argue with the woman when she says money is not an object?"
"She'll kill him you know."
"I know, but until she does we do our job," Patrick said.
"I never thought I'd see the day you sold your soul."
"Everyone's soul is for sale…it's just a matter of getting the right price."
"What was your price?"
"If you only knew," Patrick told her and took a deep draw from the cigar.
"You know those things will kill you?"
"So will a bullet, but for now I don't fear either one."
"Does that make you smart or a fool?"
"Probably a little of both. What about you, Helen?"
"Me? I'm not a fool, but I am stupid."
"Why do you say that?"
"I fell into her trap and now I can't get out of the contract."
"See, even your soul has a price," Patrick told her.
"Are you sure you have enough men with you to handle McGarrett?"
"I can handle McGarrett as long as you do your job properly."
"I can do that, but remember what happened the last time. If she gets it into her head to stop the sedatives you're going to need more help than I can give you. I know McGarrett's reputation and if he's even half as good as they say he'll be trouble," Liana told him.
"I know, but he'll be a lot easier to handle once we reach her villa."
"How do you figure that?"
"We'll be on my ground. I've been living there for the last two years and I've added a few surprises of my own. I'll make sure McGarrett stays put even if she tells you to stop the drugs," Patrick told her.
"Now who's being overly optimistic?"
"Not overly optimistic, but I do know how to handle men like Steve McGarrett."
"I think I've heard that before," the woman told him. "I could use a drink?"
"It's not even noon yet."
"It is somewhere," Liana told him.
"I always did like your way of thinking, Helen. Come on…there's a bottle of Scotch with our names on it," Patrick said and walked toward the door leading into the cabins.
TBC