Chapter 10
A furious Bob Morgan slammed on the breaks of the rented Lincoln as he pulled into the parking lot at the Waikiki Hilton. He pushed past his companions muttering "I need a drink" and headed for the hotel bar. "If this ever gets into the Chronicle, we'll be the laughingstock of San Francisco. This could really hurt our business. Can't even control our own sons. Who's going to trust us to manage their money?"
"Look, Bob," the worried Hans Kruger responded as they took their seats at a lanai table, "Did you ever think they might be responsible? We've bailed them out enough in the past, paid their fines, covered up for them."
"Not our sons!"
"After all, it's only been little things, small offenses, boyish pranks," Alicia Morgan added in an attempt to back up her husband. "They were just having fun. No one can blame them for that."
"Those small offenses keep getting bigger. Jared's license was suspended for six months after that last DUI," Marta Kruger noted.
"Didn't stop him from driving his new Firebird, did it?"
The conversation came to a halt as one of the waiters approached their table. "Phone call for Mr. Morgan. You can take it here, sir." He led the businessman to a nearby phone.
"News travels fast on this God-forsaken rock. That was the boys' attorney. He wants to see us. Now. His office. We'd better take a cab. I'm too mad to drive."
o-o-o-o-o
Bergman met Steve just outside Danny's room. "I've alerted hospital security. They'll post a man at the nurses' station. There will be no unauthorized visitors tonight. But we do need to make some decisions that will allow Danny to get the rest he needs."
"Decisions? He's not . . . ?"
"Danny's fine, Steve. In fact, he wants to go home and I'm inclined to let him. He'll probably recover faster in familiar surroundings. Now, let's go talk to him."
"Steve!" Danny's welcoming smile banished McGarrett's concerns. "Did Morgan really shake his fist at you?"
"He did and threatened to take my badge, too. It seems the parents attempted to see you this afternoon?"
"Yeah, Boss," Kono answered. "Dey were yellin' at da nurses and demandin' to see if Danny was really hurtin' as bad as you told 'em."
"Doc handled things. Guess he told you they didn't see us. From what we heard, Morgan sounds like one tough customer, the kind of guy who expects to get what he wants."
"Manicote and Li will take care of them, Danno," Steve said. "Now, how would you like to go home?"
"That would be great! When?" the delighted detective responded, his smile growing brighter.
"Tomorrow morning," Doc assured him. "I want new x-rays of that shoulder and leg and you'll need a new cast to permit walking with a cane. I don't want you staying by yourself though. You are going to need help with some things."
"That's where I come in," Rich volunteered. He and Doc left to discuss details for Danny's care.
"Chin and Duke are bringing you some dinner tonight, Bruddah!" Kono gave his colleague a shaka sign as he headed back to the Palace, leaving Steve and Danny alone to talk.
"How are you really, Danno?" Steve's expression demanded an honest answer.
"Still tired and a bit sore, especially my shoulder," Danny admitted, "But I'll be ready to testify on Monday. You don't think those parents are planning to try something, do you?"
"No. I believe they're trying to dig up anything they can to get their sons off the hook, just as they've done in the past."
"Especially the Morgans."
"Especially the Morgans," McGarrett agreed.
o-o-o-o-o
Bob Morgan in the lead, the two couples barged into the attorney's office. "OK Li," Morgan snarled, "We're here. What's going on? We're just trying to get some info on our sons' case. So we tried to see that cop? What's the big deal?"
"You were expressly forbidden to disturb Mr. Williams by Mr. Manicote, Mr. McGarrett, and myself," Joe Li answered patiently. "He is involved on the prosecution's side. You could damage the case severely."
"But we just wanted to see if his injuries were as serious as the news reports indicated," Mrs. Morgan explained.
"Yeah," her irate husband's anger exploded. "The guy works for McGarrett and you know how those cops stick together. They'll lie, fake a story, anything to put someone away. And it's not gonna be Jared and Karl this time!"
"Steve McGarrett and Dan Williams are Five-O detectives. Their honesty and integrity are above reproach!" The young attorney struggled to keep his temper. "I will defend your sons to the best of my ability, but not if you hamper me with your misguided efforts to 'help.' Now you may see your sons tomorrow but even that privilege will be revoked if I receive one more report about you. Is that understood?"
"We understand," Morgan spat. "You just get our boys out!" The couples slammed the office door as they left.
o-o-o-o-o
"Steve, Rich! You here to take me home?" Danny, dressed in sweats and a blue-and white shirt, grinned at his morning visitors.
"As soon as Doc releases you," Rich answered. "Meanwhile, here's breakfast: croissants, guava jelly, papaya slices, even some French cheese. LeBeau sent it. He thought you might be tired of malasadas."
"Brie," Steve laughed. "And Kona coffee." He poured Dan a cup and handed him a croissant.
"I hope you saved one for me!" a gravelly voice broke in. "I'm going to miss having Danny as a patient. You folks are giving hospital food a bad name with these goodies." He winked at Danny. "Ready to go home?"
"You bet! It'll be good to get out of here!" Then, realizing how that comment must sound to the dedicated physician, he added, "Oops, sorry Doc. Thanks so much for everything, for taking such good care of me." Steve and Rich echoed the sentiment.
"OK, Danny. Here you go." Williams' face fell at the sight of the wheelchair Bergman brought into the room. "Standard procedure while you're here. I'm the doctor and I do have the last word! Now, do you want to go home?"
Dan bowed to the inevitable and allowed Rich to help him into the wheelchair.
Steve drove them to Danny's apartment and waited until the young officer was comfortably settled in an easy chair. "Now remember," he admonished. "Doc ordered you to rest. I'll be back with dinner tonight."
o-o-o-o-o
"Jared!" Alicia Morgan exclaimed. "Are you all right? You look terrible! Your father and I are working on getting you released."
"The sooner the better, Mom," the young man muttered as he joined his parents at a battered table in the juvenile detention visitors' area. "They treat us like children! Inspections, lights out at 10 pm, guards everywhere, even here!" He pointed at Attorney Li and Kono. "And what are these guys doing here? Can't we even have any privacy?"
"Keep your voice down, Jared," his father ordered. "Just shut up and listen. You need a story to explain what you were doing in that area the day the cop was hurt. It better be believable. The innocent kid routine you've used in the past won't work here. I don't like that McGarrett. He looks like one smart cop."
"Dad! We were just hiking! We heard some yelling, got scared, and ran. Anybody would have done the same thing."
The elder Morgan leaned close to his son. Keeping his voice low, he muttered, "Stick to that story and make sure Karl does the same and you'll be on your way home with us Tuesday morning. After all, you're just a couple of college kids enjoying that old Hawaiian hospitality." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
The Krugers huddled together at the far end of the table. Marta took her son's hands in her own. "You were there, Karl. I know it. You know what really happened. Tell the truth for once. Don't let Jared pressure you into telling a lie!"
"He's my best friend, Mom!" Karl returned. "And his dad is Pop's business partner. If I tell what we did, it'll ruin everything!"
"If you don't," his father said forcefully, "It will ruin you. If you boys were responsible, admit it. Be a man!"
"We love you, Karl," his mother added. "Please, for your own sake, tell the truth." She hugged her son. "We will stand by you."
Joe Li looked at his watch. "I'm sorry. Time's up. You can see the boys again tomorrow."
"Remember what I told you," Morgan ordered as they followed the attorney out the door.
o-o-o-o-o