Ma Ke Kahakai- 'ino
"Steve's not going to like that," Williams said softly.
"Not going to like what?" McGarrett asked. He'd been awake for some time, but didn't have the energy required to make sense of the conversation taking place in the room.
"Sorry, Boss, we didn't mean to wake you," Kono offered.
"You tried to hard," the SEAL griped and raised the head of his bed. "Okay, what did I miss?"
"Chin and Kono interrogated Talia Marcus," Williams answered.
"Who?" McGarrett asked, confused by the name.
"She's the woman Danny saw near your room just before someone drugged you," Chin told him. "She's a nursing student and has a legitimate reason for being at the hospital, but I don''t trust her, Steve."
"She lawyered up pretty quick once we started asking questions," Kono told them.
"Did you put someone on her?" Williams asked.
"Yes," Chin answered. "I doubt we'll be able to find out much though...she seems to know what she's doing."
"She'll make a mistake," Danny observed.
"She already did," Kono offered and looked at the injured man. "She went after you without thinking it through. We'll just have to wait until she makes another..."
"You can't be serious! We're not going to wait around for her to make another attempt on Steve's life," Williams spat.
"I was going to say wait until she makes another mistake," Kono told him.
"You could use me as bait," McGarrett offered.
"Don't even go there," Williams said. "So Talia lawyered up...does she have the money to hire one herself or did she opt for the public defender?"
"She doesn't have the money for a lawyer," Chin answered. "She's already in debt with medical school and she lives with her parents. They don't have the money to hire a lawyer because they are on a fixed income."
"So if she gets a big time lawyer then we know someone's behind the attempt on Steve's life and it's not just a scorned woman," Williams said.
"I don't even know her, Danny," McGarrett said.
"Maybe not, but there has to be a reason she tried to kill you," Chin offered.
"From what Dr. Onakea said the drug she used wouldn't kill me..."
"Well, it came damn close," Williams said. "You just spent time in the Cardiac Care Unit...that alone should tell you how serious the attempt was."
"I know, Danny," McGarrett said and slid his legs over the edge of the bed.
"Going somewhere, Boss?" Kono asked.
"I need to stretch my legs...get my strength back and get the hell out of here," McGarrett answered and stood on shaky legs.
"Well, I'm sure it's a good plan, but don't you think you should cover...well, let's just say the moon is shining and it's still daylight," Williams teased.
"Dammit, Danny!" McGarrett griped and grabbed for the blanket.
"Stay out, Boss, and I'll see if we can find something to cover you..."
"Best side," Williams finished for Kono.
"You're a real comedian you know that," McGarrett snapped, but sat back on the bed to wait for Kono's return. Steve could feel the two men watching him, but his mind was already working on how best to escape the hospital...with or without Onakea's approval. He knew Williams would vehemently argue against such a move, but right now it seemed like the only way to catch whoever was after him. He thought about the envelopes and Wo Fat and knew the man was watching his every move.
"All right, Boss, why don't we get you somewhat presentable if you're dead set..."
"Bad choice of words, Kono," McGarrett said as she helped him put on the second gown so that it covered his back.
"Oh, sorry," the woman said with a grin as Williams placed slippers on the injured man's feet.
"Thanks," McGarrett said and stood up for the second time, this time there was no draft to tell him he wasn't covered and he gripped the IV pole with his right hand.
"You sure you don't want a wheelchair?" Williams asked.
"No, I'm good," the SEAL answered and slowly made his way toward the door leading out of the room. He ignored Williams as the police guard fell into step behind them.
"Is there any place in particular you'd like to go?" Danny asked.
"Home," McGarrett answered simple.
"Not going to happen so what's your second choice?"
"The end of the hallway and back," the injured man said.
"That's quite a walk for someone as banged up as you are," Chin told him.
"I've had worse," McGarrett reminded him.
"So you've always been reckless?" Danny asked, smiling when Steve ignored the jibe and started shuffling his way with his team ready to act if he showed any signs of falling.
5050505050
Talia Marcus knew she'd made fatal mistake, but it was too late to do anything about it now. She'd been surprised when the car had passed her on the highway just outside the city, and hadn't been prepared when it pulled in front of her and slammed on the brakes. She'd reacted on instincts and slammed on her own brakes, but the rain had made the pavement slippery and her car fishtailed before sliding toward the broken guardrail that looked like it should have been slated for repairs.
The grinding, screeching sound, combined with the lurch of the car as it rammed through the twisted metal sent nausea churning through her gut as the car seemed to teeter on the edge of the precipice. She breathed a sigh of relief and reached for the seat belt release, but her hand barely touched it when she heard the squeal of tires. She turned her head just as the black car rammed into her vehicle and sent it sliding backward toward the bottom of the steep embankment.
A scream escaped her throat, but it went unheard above the sound the wind made as her car continued it's unexpected slide to the bottom. It struck the base of a tree with a resounding jolt that threw her against the windshield. She felt the seat belt give and briefly wondered why the airbag hadn't deployed s she tried to stay conscious.
Talia looked up at the road, barely able to make out the lone figure through the blood that dripped into her eyes. Whoever her attacker was, it was doubtful that he or she would come down here to see if she was dead, but she remained still, hoping and praying they would leave. It seemed to take forever before they turned away and she breathed a sigh of relief, crying out when the movement awakened the pain she had yet to feel.
Talia looked down at her chest, and knew shed struck the steering wheel with enough force to break ribs, but she could live with that if help arrived before she bled out through the gaping wound in her abdomen. She looked at it for several long seconds before reaching for her purse. She knew she was dying, there was no doubt of that, but she would not die without sending a message to Raymond Bell.
Talia had no idea how long it took or how many times she blacked out, but rain began to fall as she pulled out her cell phone and hit the button she'd assigned to Raymond Bell.
5050505050
Raymond Bell looked at the phone as it began to ring and looked around when he recognized the number. He knew he had to answer it and hoped it was the last time he would hear from her.
"Talia, I'm at home and you know I can't talk here."
*"Ray...you th...think you...you're so smart. Y...you think y...you ca...can get rid of m...me this eas...easy..."*
"Talia, what are you talking about?"
*"You th...think w...with me o...out of t...the way y...you're free and cl...clear, but you...you're wrong. I ma...may not be th...there when it...it hap...pens, but I'll g...get the last...last la...laugh. You...you'll see..."*
"Talia, where are you?"
*"You kn...know damn w...well where I am, Ray...mond...you ki...killed me...but y...you w...won't get a...away w...with it. I've ma...made sure of...of that..."*
The line went dead in his hand as a shudder ran down his spine at her final words. What had she done? Had she been trying to put a scare into him or had she really done something that could send him to jail. Raymond Bell had never thought of himself as a coward, but the idea of going to jail for conspiracy to commit murder sent fear straight to his heart. He needed to go to her home and search for anything that might incriminate him. He grabbed his keys and and hurried from the house without a backward glance.
5050505050
Steve had made several trips along the hallway, each time he was escorted by Danny Williams and whoever was assigned to his door. Danny had finally agreed to go home and visit with Grace, leaving Chin in his place.
Steve knew he was pushing things, but he needed to get his strength back and that would not happen if he stayed in bed hopped up on the heavy drugs they'd been giving him. The morphine pump was still hooked up, but he hadn't pushed the button since just after breakfast. He'd pay the price for that once he was back in his room and the pain he'd been ignoring made itself known again.
"You sure you're up for this, Steve?"
"I'm good, Chin, I'm just going to do one more trip and then I'm going to go to bed and sleep for a week."
"Not if you don't push that button," Kelly told him and turned as a familiar voice reached their ears.
"Uncle Steve, Danno aid we could bring you some shave ice," Grace Williams said as she skipped along beside her father.
"He did," McGarrett said with a grin as the child came closer and he gave her a small hug.
"Are you okay, Uncle Steve, cause Danno said you'd be wearing a constipated face...what's constipated?"
"Ask your father...he's the expert on that end," McGarrett said and heard chin muffle a laugh as they headed back to his room.
"What does it mean, Danno?" Grace asked.
"Never mind, Grace, why don't we get Uncle Steve back to his room before the shave ice melts," Williams said. They made it to McGarrett's room and waited until Steve sat in the chair by the window before handing McGarrett the sweet treat they'd brought.
"This is good, Grace, thanks for bringing it for me," McGarrett said.
"You're welcome...are you still sick?"
"Not really, but the doctors aren't ready to let me go home yet. Maybe you could help me convince them to let me go home..."
No way, Steve, you're not roping my daughter into a conspiracy. Grace, no matter what happens you are not to help Uncle Steve unless you run it by me first," Williams said.
"Okay, Danno," the child said and sat on the end of Steve's bed. "Can I watch TV?"
"Sure," Steve said. He relished the feel of the cold ice on his throat and closed his eyes as he listened to Danny telling grace how to use the controls. He finished the shave ice and knew it was time to crawl into bed and give his body a chance to rest.
"Grace, honey, it's time for us to go," Williams said.
"But we just got here," Grace said.
"I know, but Uncle Steve needs his rest," Williams told her.
"He looks constipated...what's so funny?" she asked when the others couldn't suppress their laughter.
"There's no doubt she's your daughter," McGarrett said and hugged the child before Williams led her out of the room. He stood on shaky legs and made his way back to the bed. Once he laid back and was covered with the blankets he pressed the button and waited for the medication to bring the relief he needed in order to sleep. The nurse came in to check on him and took a set of vitals before leaving him to sleep.
Chin moved to the chair and opened it so tat he could spread the blanket and get comfortable for the night. He knew he wouldn't sleep very well, but he could grab some shut-eye while watching over McGarrett.
5050505050
Wo Fat reached for the envelope on his desk and knew when it was delivered to Steve McGarrett he would have more questions than answers. The head of Five-O needed to be brought down a peg, and he would see to that himself if he needed to. He'd thought about going after McGarrett's sister, but the woman was out of the equation for now, and since revenge came in many forms, Steve McGarrett would be the one thing that gave him the satisfaction of knowing the end justified the means.
"Vengeance will be mine, Steven...and when it comes it will mean your slow death," Wo Fat whispered into the darkness.
TBC
Author's Note-Thanks again for the wonderful reviews. You guys are awesome and keep the muse juices flowing...Winnie