Author's Note- Thanks so much for your patience and wonderful reviews. I am so sorry for the delay in posting this section and hope to post more within the next week...Winnie
1 Day Earlier
Melina Collins sighed heavily as she stood looking out over the city. It was late morning and the sun was almost midway through it's journey across the blue sky. She knew what was expected of her, understood that her child's life would be forfeit if she did not complete her part of the job. Toni would be there shortly to go over the plans for today. Those plans would eventually lead to Toni distracting Danny while she 'delivered' Steve to the man who employed them.
Melina reached for the cup of coffee she'd poured and felt the warmth against her skin, but it did nothing to drive back the chill that raged inside her. No matter how hard she tried, she could not come up with a way out of the mess she found herself in. Toni would not allow her to go back on her word, but that did not make it any easier to deal with.
"Melina, are you in here?"
"I'm on the veranda," Collins answered.
"Is that coffee I smell?"
"Yes, it's in the kitchen," Collins told her and watched as a light went on in an apartment across the street. She briefly wondered who lived there and what their lives were like, but the sound of footsteps pulled her out of her thoughts.
"It won't be long and this will all be behind us, Melina."
"I don't know if I can go through with it, Toni."
"What choice do you have? We're in the same boat and I told you what I'd do if you screw this up. I want out...I want what other people have and so help me God, you had better not do anything to ruin it," Toni Mitchell warned.
"What do you think is going to happen to Steve and Danny?"
"I haven't really thought about it and to be honest I don't really care. Danny is just a good looking man and sure I enjoy being with him, but there are plenty of fish in the sea...you just have to know where to throw your line and when to cut your losses."
"I wish it was that simple, Toni, but it's not. People who spend this kind of money to set someone up doesn't do it for fun. They have a reason and I don't know if I can stand by..."
"You have no choice, Melina...don't tell me you let yourself fall for McGarrett?" Mitchell spat and saw the truth of her words in the moisture laden eyes watching her. "You did didn't you? Oh my god, Melina, you know how stupid that is! They won't hesitate to kill you if you mess with their plans. Don't you understand who we're dealing with?"
"I understand who they are, Toni, but if we got to Steve and Danny we can tell them why we set them up and they can deal with..."
"No, I won't do it, Melina, and you won't either...not if you know what's good for you and that little girl of yours," Mitchell warned.
"He doesn't even know she exists."
"Not yet, but you screw with me and I'll see that he finds her," Mitchell warned.
"Toni, you can't," Melina whispered.
"I can and I will," Mitchell vowed. "Look, we just have to get through today and make sure no one finds out until it's too late. I'll make sure Danny is busy while you get Steve to you studio. Everything will be fine if we just do the job we signed on for, Melina."
Melina finished the coffee and wished she'd added something strong to it, but she needed to keep her wits about her if she was going to pull this off. She knew Toni would make good on her threat and wished she'd never met the other woman. When this was over, she was going home and would forget where the money came from and raise her daughter the best way she knew how.
5050505050
Jonathon Marquez made his way up on deck and looked at the woman seated in the wheelchair near the small table. He knew she was in pain, but that would not be for much longer. Once McGarrett was taken care of, he would put her out of her misery. Tonight would be the start of what he hoped would be poetic revenge and that Steve McGarrett would know the meaning of real pain.
"Margot, it's time for your medicine," Marquez said and watched as she took the pills and chased them down with the wine in her glass.
"Thank you, Jonathon," the woman said without looking at him. "It's almost time isn't it?"
"Yes, Love, tonight Steve McGarrett will be brought t the old warehouse and we will be there to properly greet him."
"I want to watch you hurt him, Jonathon."
"Of course, but we must make him suffer first. We must make him believe his friends are dead and that he is to blame for their deaths. He must become and Island...cut off from everything he holds dear."
Margot felt his hand on her shoulder and rubbed her cheek against it as she thought about Steve McGarrett. At one time, long ago, before all of this had happened she'd fallen in love with him, but he'd deserted her at a time when she was most vulnerable. He deserved whatever they did to him, but her heart ached with the love she'd once felt for him.
"Are you tired, My Dear?"
"A little," Margot answered.
"Come below and I'll help you get comfortable."
"Will you stay with me?"
"If you want me too," Marquez said and lifted her slight frame from the chair. He carried her across the deck and down the stairs. He settled her on the bed they shared and removed her sandals before rubbing her legs.
"You do love me, don't you, Jonathon?"
"Of course I do...I always will," Marquez told her and waited for her to fall asleep. Once he was sure she would sleep for several hours, he returned to the upper deck and watched as people moved on with their lives as he opened a bottle of Corona and sat down at the table.
5050505050
Steve moved to the trunk and leaned against it as he opened his burger and began to eat. He smiled as Williams joined him and offered him a bottle of soda.
"He's being quiet," Williams said.
"Maybe he's taking a nap," McGarrett said and slapped the trunk with an open hand. "Are you still with us, Paulo."
"You can't do this!" the man yelled, followed immediately by a string of profanity in his own language.
"Temper, temper," Williams said. "Are we going to leave him in there all day?"
"I don't know...ask him how much he had to drink because I'd hate to make you clean it..."
"What makes you think I'd clean it?" Williams interrupted and hit the trunk when the angry profanity was repeated. "Shut up or you'll spend the rest of the day in there and then I'll have to shoot you for messing up the trunk!"
"Nice," McGarrett said with a grin as his cell phone rang. "McGarrett."
"Hi, Steve, it's Melina."
"Hi, are we still on for tonight?"
"Yes, but I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner at my studio. Toni asked me to do a painting for Danny...she doesn't want him to know and I figured you would know what he likes."
"Sure, dinner at your place sounds good. What time?"
"Around seven?"
"Sounds good...see you then," McGarrett told her.
"Dinner at her place?" Williams said with a grin. "The question is which one?"
"Melina, Keanna is in San Francisco for some kind of medical conference," McGarrett told him.
"Let me out!"
"Shut the hell up!" McGarrett and Williams snapped.
"Are you seeing Toni tonight?"
"I am," Williams said with a smug look. "I think she wants to spend some quality time with me so I'll leave you to keep Melina busy. It's strange how those two seem to spend so much time together."
"They said they've been friends a long time," McGarrett said and finished his burger. "Well, I guess we'd better get to the station and book 'em Danno!"
"Oh, you just had to say that didn't you? Can't we just go through one day without you saying that?"
"No," the SEAL answered simply and climbed into the driver's seat. "Let's go, I have plans for tonight."
"You're not the only one," Williams agreed.
5050505050
Toni watched as the other woman hung up the phone and turned toward her with tears in her eye. She knew Melina was weakening and hoped the woman realized just how dangerous their benefactor was. There was no backing out once they'd accepted the terms of the 'contract'. Steve McGarrett had done something to their employer, what it was and why he wanted revenge, had nothing to do with her.
"Melina, I know you don't like what's happening, but I'm sure you value your life more than Steve McGarrett's...if not then just think about your little girl and what they could do to her," Toni said.
"Don't...I'll do this, Toni, and then I'm going home and I never want to hear from you again," Melina said.
"That's cool, Melina, I told you I'm going to New York and hopefully someday I'll be famous and you can tell people you knew me before my big break," Toni told her.
"No, that won't happen because I plan to forget this part of my life, you included," Melina vowed.
"Whatever. Make sure nothing goes wrong tonight and I'll see you tomorrow. Danny and I are going to enjoy a walk on the beach before I take him home with me. Make sure nothing messes this up," Toni warned before leaving the woman alone.
Melina walked across the room and stepped out onto the balcony of her studio apartment. It felt like she was on a precipice and would simply fall over if she didn't find a way out of this mess. She glanced at the clock on the wall over the sofa and realized that everything would change in less that ten hours. She would be as bad as those people who killed for money, except her hands would not be covered in real blood. She sank onto the balcony floor and allowed her grief to wash over her in the form of great racking sobs that went unheard.
5050505050
Danny opened the trunk and folded his arms across his chest while Steve reached in and pulled the prisoner from the trunk. He knew the man's babbling would go nowhere with McGarrett and wouldn't have been surprised if Steve had used Duct tape to shut the one time assassin up.
"I'm going to..."
"Shut up!" McGarrett and Williams said as one.
"Hey..."
"Danny, grab the duct tape!"
"Now, see, that's what I'm talking about," Williams said, and reached into the side compartment for the large roll.
"This is..."
The man clammed up as Danny tore off a length of the tape, he tried to move back, but Steve blocked his path.
"I'm shutting up here...look at me...this is me shutting up!" Paul Mendoza said and clamped his lips shut as McGarrett latched onto his arm and dragged him into the building. He handed him over to the officer in charge.
"Detective Williams, there's a message for you from a Mitch Donaldson," Office Pauline Bell explained and passed the envelope to Williams.
"Thanks, Pauline," Williams said and followed McGarrett toward the elevator. He opened the envelope and read the message before handing it to McGarrett who read it quickly and passed it back.
"It sounds like Mitch thinks they've figured out who might have hired Mendoza to kill the Gentrys."
"If he's right it could cause an all out gang war. I doubt there are enough cops in the state to stop that from happening," Williams offered.
"At least they're prepared for it if it happens," McGarrett said and turned to his friend. "Danny, we both know gang wars are one of the worst scenarios a cop has to face, but we're trained to deal with them."
"I know we are, but what about the people...the kids who get caught in the crossfire?" Williams asked.
"I wish I could give you a good answer, Danny, but there isn't one," McGarrett said.
"Thanks, Steve."
"For what?"
"For not saying something like it's collateral damage."
"No life is collateral damage, Danny. There's a reason we're born an a reason we meet so many people in our lives. We impact them in ways we never even know. I think someone once told me that no man is an island as long as he has friends."
"Smart man," Williams said.
"Yes, he was. Come on, I'll buy you lunch."
"You're on...as long as it has nothing to do with pineapple," Williams said.
"My treat...my choice."
"I've heard that before. Do you have your wallet this time?"
"I have it," McGarrett answered.
"Is there anything in it besides your Super SEAL ID, because when you say your treat it usually means you have money or plastic to pay for it? You still owe me twenty bucks from the last time you treated," Williams griped as they headed back outside.
5050505050
Jonathon Marquez could barely contain himself as the morning gave way to afternoon and time dragged toward evening. The time of reckoning was so close he could almost taste it. In just a few hours Steve McGarrett would be right where he wanted him and before long he would know where the bitch was. Once he had that information he could take his time dismantling McGarrett's psyche before killing him.
Marquez reached for the bottle of cold beer and took a sip, relishing the coolness as it slipped down his throat. He would enjoy this single beer, but later when his revenge was complete he would sit down and celebrate his victory. In the next few days he would be rid the world of the five people who could ruin his life.
Melina Collins and Toni Mitchell would fulfill their part in his plans tonight and Toni would not see another sunrise. Melina would live for a few more days and help convince McGarrett he needed to tell where Anita Morales was hiding. Anita would die quickly, he had no real need for her to suffer although he would have enjoyed cutting her traitorous throat himself. Margot Atwood would also die, but he would make sure she didn't suffer by slipping several sleeping pills into her drink.
That left Steve McGarrett, the man who had cost him so much and could still throw a wrench into his future plans with the Yakuza. Eventually the man had to die, but not before he exacted more than his pound of flesh.
Jonathon moved to the bow of the boat and stared out at the people walking along the pier. Right now he felt like a prisoner because of Steve McGarrett, but that would change once everything was set in motion.
"Soon, very soon," he whispered as the soft breeze ruffle his hair.
5050505050
Danny walked along the beach with his arm around Toni Mitchell as the waves lapped at their bare feet. It was early evening and the sun was just dipping below the horizon, yet they were alone on this stretch of the beach.
"Why did you become a cop, Danny?" Toni asked and clung to his arm as the wind ruffled her hair.
"It just seemed like the right thing to do. I grew up in Newark and sometimes I saw things other people didn't I never liked hearing when someone crossed the line and broke the law, especially when it involved rape and murder. When I was 14 a young girl on our street went missing and after an intense search by the police and the people in the neighborhood her body was found in a gutter. She had been raped and strangled and the man was never caught. The police had their suspicions, but they could never prove it."
"That is so sad. Her parents must have been devastated," Toni said.
"They were. We went to her funeral and her mom was so grief stricken they had to sedate her. Her father never got over it and he started drinking and was killed when he drove his car over an embankment a year later. I promised myself that I'd do everything in my power to make sure that never happened to someone I cared about," Williams explained.
"You're a good cop, Danny, and I know Grace must be so proud of you."
"I hope so...I want to make her world as safe as possible, but I don't want to make her afraid either," Williams observed and watched as several children skimmed a Frisbee further down the beach while their parents watched over them.
"How did you meet Steve?"
"Oh, now there's a nightmare," Williams said and told her of his first meeting with Steve McGarrett and how they'd clashed immediately over the crime scene and the case. He went on to explain how he'd become part of Five-O and his admiration of Steve McGarrett, making sure he told her that if she told the head of Five-O he'd adamantly deny it.
"It sounds like you and Steve are a lot alike," Toni said.
"Oh, no...no we're not. Not at all. He's Rambo..."
"And you're not?" Toni said and smiled as she dragged him into the water. "You can't tell me that you wouldn't do everything in your power and damn the consequences if Grace was in danger."
"I..." Danny stumbled over the words and knew she was right as he took her into his arms and kissed her. He was beginning to think he could spend the rest of his life happy with this woman, but he wasn't ready to give voice to those words after knowing her less than a month.
5050505050
Steve knocked on the door of Melina Collins' studio apartment. He held a bottle of wine and donuts from the little bakery near his home. He knew Melina would enjoy them and hoped she didn't already have dessert. He heard movement on the other side of the door and smiled when she opened the door and accepted his gifts and kissed him before closing the door behind him.
"I brought dessert too," McGarrett said and held up the box as he followed her into the kitchen and showed her the sweet confections.
"They look wonderful. Why don't you go on into my studio and have a look at the paintings there. I'd like your input on whether Danny would like something like the one's I've already done or if I'm way off base. I'll get the wine and join you there after I check the roast," Melina said.
Steve left the kitchen and found his way to her studio, amazed at the paintings that adorned the walls and the ones that were only partially done. He found himself enthralled by the beauty of nature Melina captured in her brush strokes. He touched a perfect red flower that bloomed in the center of a sea of green with a single drop of rain on one petal.
Steve moved to a second painting, this one of a city landscape with graffiti covered walls and spectacular colors. He dipped his head to the side to read one particular line, but could not quite make out what it said which only added to the mystery surrounding the painting itself.
"That was one of my first paintings," Melina said as she handed him the glass of wine.
"Have you ever had a professional show?" McGarrett asked and sipped the drink.
"I had one in New York. It went well, but my agent thought I should broaden my horizons. It's one of the reasons I moved here and I have a show scheduled in a couple of weeks if all goes well," Melina said.
"With work like this you should have no problem with sales," Steve told her.
"Is there anything here you think Danny might like?"
"A city scape...maybe if you had a picture of Newark," McGarrett said and spotted a portrait near the window. It was of a child with blond hair and the deepest blue eyes he'd ever seen. "Did you paint this?"
"Yes, but I don't usually do portraits."
"If you want to do something Danny would really enjoy you should do one like this of his daughter Grace. I could get you some pictures or we could probably get Grace to pose for you if we asked," McGarrett said.
"If you could get me some photographs that would do to start and maybe we could have Grace come in for the final touches," Melina said and watched him finish the wine. She swallowed the painful lump that rose in her throat, but could not think of a way out without endangering her daughter. "Would you like another glass of wine?"
"Not yet," Steve answered. He continued to look at the paintings, amazed that she could do so many different styles and cover so many facets of life. He stopped in front of one she'd done of a landscape.
"I did that when I was in collage and refused to sell it because I was attached to it. My mother thought I should put it up for auction, but it's the first thing I ever did," Melina said and watched as a frown formed on McGarrett's face and he rubbed his eyes. "Steve, are you all right?"
"I'm fine...just...it's nothing," McGarrett answered and moved to the next painting, blinking several times in an effort to clear his vision. He turned and looked at the woman holding both wine glasses and tried to figure out why he was seeing double after only one glass of wine. "Melina...I...what..."
"Steve what's wrong?"
"I...don't know," McGarrett said and suddenly felt nauseous. He grabbed for her, but she moved back out of the way and he dropped to his knees as he fought to stay awake.
"I'm sorry, Steve, I had no choice..."
"No choice in wh...what?" McGarrett asked and crawled toward the wall. He reached out with his right arm and tried to pull himself to his feet, but his hand slipped and he landed heavily on the floor. He managed to turn on his side, breathing heavily in and effort to clear his head as she knelt beside him.
"You did this, Steve, you killed them," Melina said, feeling as if her heart was in her throat as she showed him the devastating pictures that tore at her soul.
"No...Kono...she's...she's not...not dead," the SEAL managed and grabbed at the pictures, but his fingers fell short. He watched as she stood up and walked out of the room, returning moments later with two unknown men pushing a trolley used at hotels to collect dirty laundry. "What..."
"Be quiet and rest, Steve, everything is going to be clear soon," Melina said as the two men placed him in the trolley and quickly covered him with bags. He felt himself losing touch with reality as whatever she'd given him worked its magic and he couldn't fight any longer.
TBC