Chapter 12: It's all in the details...
McGarrett looked over his team. Williams was elbow deep in files absorbing the information within. Kelly was typing furiously into a lap top, stopping briefly to scan the sentences on the screen. Finally, he listened as Kalakaua spoke to various people searching for any information overlooked in the attacks on tourists.
He glanced down at his own pad, trying to figure out how the rohypnol was getting onto the islands. Research was not his forte, but he'd slog through it as best he could. A sigh broke his concentration.
"You ok?" he asked Danny. The Haole was rubbing the bridge of his nose, eyes shut tight.
"Headache," he admitted. Steve glanced at his watch. It was after two and breakfast was a long time ago.
"Lunch break," he declared as he moved around to help his partner up out of the chair. Kono finished up on her call and hung up with a groan.
"Dead ends," she lamented, "just dead ends."
"This is interesting," Chin said as he looked up. "I don't know why it was missed. Some of the tourists who were attacked? Their credit cards were used a month or more after their attacks."
"That is weird!" Danny muttered as he peered over the older detective's shoulder. "Credit card companies usually track purchases." But there it was, on the screen. He squinted.
"All the stolen cards were used at The Varsity bar or the Circle Hotel on the Waikiki beach," he muttered, absently rubbing his temple.
"Lunch. Now." Steve determined as he pulled his second in command to the kitchen. Kono and Chin followed. Soon sandwiches were assembled as well as sliced fruit and chips. Ice tea was poured and the cookie jar placed on the table. Tylenol was dispensed to the Haole.
No one realized how hungry they'd become and the sound of crunching, munching and sipping filled the kitchen. As they ploughed through their meal McGarrett's phone rang announcing the Governor.
"Yes, ma'am?" he said politely after he swallowed.
"Steve, how is the team doing?" she asked with preamble. He glanced around the table.
"Better," he decided.
"Better?" she prodded.
"Williams is no longer jumping out of his skin," he allowed. "Still has the tail end of a headache. Lewis said not to worry about it and prescribed tylenol. Kelly's arm is healing well and the stitches will come out in another week."
"That's what the doctor told me," the governor allowed. Steve rolled his eyes. "He also indicated that you can be released tomorrow afternoon as long as everything looks good this evening."
"Tomorrow?" McGarrett was chaffing at the bit to get out and run down some leads.
"Tomorrow afternoon, Lt. Cmdr.," she emphasized each word. "My driver will be there around three. The cleaning crew will be by after so you just need to take your things with you." Finishing up the phone call Steve dumped the cell on the table.
"ooh, that's a good one!" Kono teased. He glared at her.
"Yeah, kind of a combo aneurysm and constipation face," Danny agreed. Chin wisely held his opinions to himself.
"We're being allowed out to play tomorrow afternoon," Steve huffed as he mashed a chip with his finger. "I feel like I'm in kindergarten and they're gonna make us take a nap, too!"
"Only if we get story hour," Danny said with the hint of a giggle.
"Goldilocks and the three bears!" Kono chimed in.
"No, the three little pigs," Chin snickered.
"Uh-uh," Danny held up his hand, "Super Seal and the Roofie of Doom." Which caused more snickering. McGarrett tried to keep his annoyed visage, but gave up and smiled.
"At least we can get our notes lined up and plan our attack," Williams finally tried serious. "We need to hit Amerisource and snap up that rep first off."
"I'm going to go access the records from the hotel and the Varsity and see if there's any pattern to the credit card usage," Chin determined.
"Did we find out any more about the Pono's?" Danny asked. And the team was back at the big table going over all the information they'd been able to gather.
The brothers both had records and had served time for selling drugs. Although there was only one conviction each, they'd been picked up several times but none of the other charges had stuck.
"Look at this," Danny motioned to Steve. "KaHiwa got off gun running charges by providing information on another perp. Looks like his brother did the same more than once."
"So they're snitches when it serves them," McGarrett said. "Get out of the bulk of their charges by turning evidence."
"Not someone I'd want to work with," Chin said. "You'd think that their street cred would suffer."
"Don't seem to care," Williams said. "Each time they gained territory. Can't believe HPD didn't note that. Look, by bartering specific information they eliminated a lot of competition. Solidified their own base of operation. With Washburn out of the way they get an established pipeline to drugs and lots of bit players ready to go."
"Looks like they have several layers of protection against being found out," Steve mused. "All those 'bit players' can be sacrificed easily enough."
"And it puts them in the sights of the Acosto gang," Danny pulled up more information. "The Ponos might just be able to get firmly established with this last move."
"Which is why they tried to take you out!" Chin jumped in. "Look, if the brothers could wipe out 5-0 the sky would be the limit!" Steve grimly nodded.
"It certainly would have," he allowed, "but it did not happen. Let's see how to stop them. We'll need solid evidence to satisfy our Haole!"
"HEY!" Danny snapped back. "Not me, the DA!"
"We're more scared of you, bro," Kono smirked. "You're even more a stickler than Chin."
"Hey!" now the oldest detective pretended to take offense. But after all was said and done that was what made their team the best: solid police work and super seal ninja skills.
A splash of insanity helped as well.
The afternoon spilled over quickly into a late night. Paperwork and beer bottles graced the table. Chin was blearily looking at his computer screen while Kono picked at her nails. Steve was still trying to make sense of his pad. Danny's eyes were closed and they assumed he was asleep.
"We need to get them picking up the merchandise," Williams said clearly, causing the other three to jerk up in surprise. "They'll want to meet their supplier then get the shipment secured."
His eyes were still closed.
"How can we do that?" Kono asked.
"If that drug rep is dealing then we can encourage him to set up a delivery," Danny said. He sighed and stretched and finally opened his eyes.
"Be sure the brothers do the pick-up?" Chin queried. "Would that work?"
"We know who picked up for Washburn," Kono considered, "Those two are in jail. The rep could demand a face to face with the Ponos and insist they have to pick up the product."
They sat drowsily considering this angle.
"Ok, it sounds like it might work," Steve said tossing the pad onto the table. "I think we need to go sleep and revisit it in the morning."
"Dibs on the bathroom first," Danny was up and moving before anyone else.
"I thought he was asleep," grouched Kono. She stretched and stood grabbing a couple empties. The other two helped bus the table and shut down the various electronic tools.
