Chapter 10

"Hawaii Five-O," Jenny Sherman answered the phone in her usual cheerful manner. On hearing the voice on the other end, her smile was replaced with a worried expression. She put her hand over the mouthpiece and leaned toward the doorway of Danny's cubicle.

"You'd better take this, Danny," the secretary said in a serious tone as she hit the button to transfer the call.

"Williams," Danny answered.

"Danny, it's Lindsey. I'm okay, but..."

The young woman's shaky voice was cut off as if the phone had been yanked away from her and was replaced by a threatening male voice.

"Okay, Danny boy, if you want your doll to stay healthy, you'll do exactly what I say…"

Jenny watched the young detective's body language change in an instant from exhaustion to alertness, concern, then to sharp anger. He slammed down the phone and was on his feet, shedding his jacket and tie. At the same time, Kono walked into the office suite after depositing Sam at HPD lock-up.

"Let's go, Kono," Danny ordered before Jenny could even greet the Hawaiian detective. "Gil has taken Lindsey. He wants me in exchange. I can't let anything happen to her."

Kono was out the door at Danny's heel. "Da boss ain't gonna like dis, he wanted you to stay put," Kono called to Danny, trying to keep up as the pair sprinted down the Palace steps.

"Can't help it, Kono! He'll understand," Danny called back. I hope…

o-o-o

Danny and Kono pulled up in front of an old abandoned house at the foot of the hills off the Kamehameha highway on the windward side of the island. On the way, Danny had explained to Kono that Gil had insisted that he come alone, no cops. "He doesn't even know that I'm a cop!" Danny added.

They had contacted Steve by radio on the way, and he and Chin were en route. Kono had been watching Danny's determined expression on the twenty minute trip; he knew that look and it worried him.

"Kono, I'm going in there alone. It's the only way," Danny told his friend. "Cover me, but don't let him see you.

"Okay, Bruddah, but you be careful," Kono warned. "You don't know if he's armed."

Kono ducked down in the seat while Danny exited the car, jogged across the street and knocked on the door of the run-down house. When Kono saw Danny enter the house, he left the car and quietly approached the structure with his gun drawn.

Danny's blood boiled at the sight that greeted him in the doorway. Gil had one arm around Lindsey's shoulders, holding her close to his body, his fist tightly gripping a hand full of her long hair so that she didn't dare move. His other hand held a gun to her head. The petite woman was bound and gagged, her blouse was ripped and loose strands of hair hung in her face. Her large brown eyes betrayed her fear. The young detective struggled against his rising emotions and tried to keep a clear head.

"Okay, I'm here. Let her go!" Danny spat out in a deadly tone.

"No way," said Gil. "Not when I'm so close to the payoff. You and your China doll are staying right here until I have my money and I'm long gone from this island."

Still gripping Lindsey, Gil pointed his gun at Danny and marched him toward the cellar door. "Inside!" he ordered.

With Lindsey in immediate danger, Danny didn't dare try any heroics; he'd have to come up with some kind of plan to get them both out of this situation later. He opened the door and started down the stairs into the damp, dimly-lit space, cursing under his breath. When Danny reached the bottom, Gil shoved Lindsey down the stairs then slammed the door shut and bolted it.

With her hands bound behind her, Lindsey lost her balance. Before he could think, Danny reacted out of reflex, lurched forward and caught Lindsey before she fell down the length of the staircase. He felt some measure of relief just to hold the young woman securely in his arms and he eased her down to a sitting position on the floor. He could feel her small body trembling against his. What did that scum do to you? he thought.

"It's okay now, Lindsey," the young detective said in a soothing tone, removing the cloth tied around her mouth then reaching behind her to untie her hands. Once freed, she massaged her sore wrists and exhaled the breath she had been holding. Her eyes focused on the floor as she attempted to calm her nerves. Danny put a protective arm around her again and pulled her close to him. She was still shaking.

"Lindsey?"

"I'm fine, Danny, just give me a minute," Lindsey managed to say.

Danny grinned at her toughness, but his anger flared when he again caught sight of her torn blouse. "Did he hurt you?" he asked abruptly as he pushed her silky black hair away from her face.

"No…no…I'm just…I'll be fine," Lindsey stammered. She lifted her head and looked into his serious blue eyes. "I'm really glad to see you, Danny, but I'm sorry that you're in this mess, too."

"We're going to get out of this, Lindsey," Danny promised. "Kono is here and Steve and Chin are on the way."

o-o-o

Gil had just finished his second phone call on his list of clients when he was grabbed from behind and felt the cold metal of a gun barrel touch his neck.

"Five-O! Freeze!" ordered Kono.

Startled, and smart enough not to resist, Gil complied. "Damned fuzz!" he shouted angrily. "How'd you find me?"

"You gave us great directions, man. We just followed 'em!" Kono explained as he cuffed the young man.

It only took a few seconds for Gil to come to the obvious conclusion. "Danny…he's a cop?" Gil asked incredulously.

"You bettah believe it!" Kono replied with pride. "And he bettah be okay…", his tone suddenly turning dark.

Kono was interrupted by Steve and Chin bursting into the house, their guns drawn. Seeing that Gil was already subdued, Steve re-holstered his weapon and nodded to Kono.

"Good job!" he said tersely. "Where's Danno?"

"I was just about to find out, Boss. Ain't that right?" Kono addressed Gil, directing a cold stare at him as he tightened his grip on the young man's arm.

"They're in the cellar. Let's just get this over with," Gil answered, surrendering to the inevitable.

Kono led Gil out of the house to Danny's sedan and read him his rights.