Mahalo for all those lovely comments in my reviews and also for those still reading my story.

Chapter 9

The repetitive scrubbing motion had long ago removed the sticky Teriyaki remnants of tonight's re-heated dinner from the ceramic surface of the circular plate. Drats! Another broken nail.

"Honey, everything ok?" whispered the tall dark haired man as he wrapped his arms around the petite frame of his wife standing at the kitchen sink.

"No! Everything is not ok!" Jane Harper shrugged out of her husband's embrace and wheeled around to face him, letting go of her sponge in the murky water.

"Oh come on Jane! Every night we go through this episode of yours. I already told you, nothing's gonna happen to her! After tomorrow everything will be back to normal. She'll be home probably telling us how much fun she had with Timmy," Frank Harper grasped his wife's shoulders and hunched himself over her searching for those big green eyes she kept pointed to the floor. "Baby come on huh?"

"You gambled our money, your career, our marriage and now our daughter!" With each word Jane's voice grew in intensity as she finally met Frank's gaze. She pulled free from his strong clutches and attended the dishes that needed drying on the rack by the sink. Picking up a damp tea towel she began drying the plates and cutlery vigorously and stowing them away in their rightful drawers and cabinets.

"Jane, honey, you're over reacting. It's not like she's by herself in that shack tied up and gagged! She thinks she's on a surprise camping trip with Timmy. You know that kanaka's got the brain of a ten year old. He's not gonna hurt her," Frank reached out his hand and gripped her arm to stop her persistent drying of the dishes.

"That's exactly what I'm worried about! Timmy is not fit to be responsible for a little girl, our little girl Frank!" Jane tried to shake Frank off her but he tightened his grip and pulled her to him, "Let go of me!" She gritted her teeth and tried to wrench herself out of his iron clasp.

"Stop it! Stop it! Look we get the rest of the money tomorrow. That'll cover Davies' share. On Monday we do the drop off as planned with his money. Annie will be home before you know it! I'll pay off what I owe and we'll move on from this,"

"Don't you get it Frank? The police are involved now!" Jane cried out angrily, fresh tears streamed freely down the corners of her eyes.

"And whose fault is that huh? Had you put her in a normal school, one we could afford without using your mother's money, then we wouldn't have people sticking in their noses. If the stupid old crone Delaney just minded her own business we wouldn't be in this mess!" Frank shouted into his wife's tear streaked face.

"If you kept your promise and stopped gambling our lives away Frank - After this is over Annie and I are -" Jane choked on her own tears as she watched her husband transform from the man of her dreams to the monster that broke her heart into a million irreparable pieces.

"ARE WHAT? WHAT JANE? You're gonna leave me, is that it? You're gonna take Annie away from me?" Frank's eyes were also brimming with tears. The betrayal burned into him like a smoldering iron poker stabbing into his chest.

"Oh Frank what's happened to you? To us?"

***********************************************************A L O H A !*****************************************************************

Standing on the lanai in the cool breeze, brought about by the change, Steve sipped at his mug of warm black coffee. The starless night enveloped Honolulu in its dark embrace. The all too familiar sound of Dan Williams' steady footsteps filled his ears and he turned around to face his young second in command, "Anything?"

"Nothing incriminating. Keoli said Mr Harper did leave his house an hour ago. Followed him to a cheap Japanese takeaway joint at the end of the street. He made his purchase and went straight home," Dan replied joining his boss on the lanai.

"Ok Danno. We probably won't get anything more from the Harpers tonight. It's almost 9," Steve looked at his watch. "You'll be alright for Monday, Danno?" the handsome face of the taller detective displayed a hint of concern for the youngest member of Five'O.

"Absolutely Steve. I'm sorry about before. I should never have broken down like that," Dan's apology was waved aside by his boss.

"Danno, I don't want you to ever apologize for admitting your fears or concerns to me. Now don't forget what I told you about those raids next week. You tell Chief Dann to deal with them. I don't want you there and you're not responsible for the reports either you hear?" Steve waited for Dan's nod of response then continued, "You gotta be firm and don't put up with Dann's complaints that he doesn't have enough manpower. Duke told me they've got two guys back from holidays and another five hovering in Maui. As for the Stone case. I want it put on hold until you put the Carlson case to bed. Work with Dawson on it as soon as John gives you the go ahead to bring in the new witness. Just remember you're the one leading the investigation not Dawson."

"Yeah Steve. And thanks for saving my neck," Dan smiled warmly up at his boss. He did however find it a little odd for Steve to emphasize his position over the new detective. Haven't even begun telling him about our first meeting.

"What are friends for, kaikaina," Steve returned the smile. He was pleased to see some color returning to Dan's cheeks.

"I know it's not my place to ask Steve but Trevor Dawson - " Dan struggled to find the right words for his mixed feelings about Five'O's new recruit.

"Dawson and I go way back. I owe him my life, yes, but I'm not offering any special treatment. He answers to you Danno until I get back. Don't let his age and experience intimidate you," Steve thought about his answer. He knew Dan had been bursting to open up that subject again. He doesn't need to know everything about Dawson yet, Steve decided as he looked into Dan's boyish face and knew that if he'd ever made a wiser choice in his life, it would be his appointing Dan Williams as his second in command.