AN: Thanks to all who have been reading this story and a special mahalo to those who had the time to leave me feedback. I have updated my profile a little, should you wish to read it.
In response to my guest reviewer regarding Kono's gender: Thanks for the review, however, this story and all the others I've posted for the "Hawaii Five-O" fandom on this site are written for the original series which ran from 1968 to 1980, and therefore Kono is in fact a man (played by actor Gilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi - not a woman, as portrayed in the 2010 reboot series :-)
Tanith2011
Chapter 14
(*Edited by the talented "Book 'Em Again")
Stoicism and sheer determination masked the Oriental detective's face as he and the silver haired HPD Sergeant led a select team of Honolulu's finest on a mission to save not just the lives of two men but the island itself. With bullet proof vests strapped in place and weapons drawn at the ready, the men moved forward in a silent march through the trees where an old log cabin stood ominously in a small clearing.
Dr. Lee shrank away from the scene of unmerciful violence until his back met the wall, and he could shy away no further. All I ever wanted was to find vaccines and create antidotes to save lives not destroy them! The art of medicine should never be abused in this way. "No," the word escaped his lips without realization.
Like a predator remembering its prey, Erich Stoss turned his focus away from the detective who sat with his head bowed in the chair, and narrowed his eyes at the diminutive figure pressed against the wall. "Well, Doctor, we are one step away from achieving our purpose, and then you will be reunited with your family. Sit down."
Lee swallowed down hard and shook his head fervently.
"I shall not ask you again," Stoss commanded in a quiet but deadly tone.
Lee's momentary display of insubordination diminished like a flame doused from a candle and he solemnly complied.
The room grew still and all eyes were fixed on the toxicologist as he slowly ventured away from his retreat in the shadows and walked toward the table once more.
"How could you?" a voice full of pain and anger broke the silence in the room.
Steve McGarrett lifted his head and glared at the man who called himself a doctor by profession.
Lee opened his mouth to reply but he was unable to articulate a response without giving himself away or further aggravating Stoss' prisoner and causing him more pain.
"What's the matter, Doc?" Steve's voice was close to breaking from the anguish that threatened to choke him. "Your conscience catching up with…" His words were cut short when a hard backhanded blow from Dimitri propelled him from the chair and the detective landed face down on the floor, semi-conscious. Heavy boots approached him from the side but his eyes were drooped shut as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
"That's enough. Leave him. We are wasting time," Stoss ordered, as Hans and Dimitri were more than ready to inflict more physical damage on the prone detective.
Diverting his attention back to the toxicologist, the ruthless Dutchman noticed he had stopped walking. With a click of his fingers, he signalled for Dimitri to forcefully bring Lee closer to him.
A vice-like grip took hold of Dr. Lee's upper arm and pulled him roughly toward the table. Tripping over his feet in his nervousness, Lee fell against the table and felt something dislodge from inside his clothing. With a sickening feeling, Lee was positive he knew what it was that now lay on floor. Not daring to peer down, he pulled himself upright and looked Stoss in the eye.
"Timing is of the essence. With Five-O disposed of and their front man ready to meet the same end, we need to move quickly and begin phase two of our mission. I want you to listen very carefully, Doctor," Stoss instructed as he began to pace in front of his captive. No sooner did the criminal mastermind begin to explain what he wanted Lee to do, he felt his foot step down on an object with an audible crunch. Curiosity gave way to suspicion when he removed his shoe from the offending object. What is this? He bent down and picked up the small rounded item. Turning, what he believed to be a microphone, between his thumb and forefinger, Stoss's eyes grew wide. His penetrating gaze bore into Lee's frightened eyes. "It appears our good Doctor has betrayed us!" Stoss's normally cool and collected demeanour changed course as he reached across and tore Lee's shirt open revealing the wiring that had held the tiny microphone in place. "Hans! Make the call and tell Scholtz to dispose of the woman. I'm afraid her brother needs to learn a lesson in loyalty."
"No, please! Please spare her life and do what you will with mine!" Lee pleaded, his voice on the edge of hysterics.
"Hans, make the call and tell him when he has done what I've asked him to do, he is to bring the child to our meeting point. She may prove useful, yet," Stoss' voice rose several notches.
Sneering, the man named Hans started toward another room to where a telephone was situated.
"I beg of you, please, have mercy and spare them both!" Lee implored. His mind raced with every possibility imaginable for there was no way for him to know if the police had already rescued his sister and niece. What if Hans made the call and the police were too late to stop him from doing Stoss' dirty work?
From where he lay, Steve's eyelids fluttered open as his disoriented mind captured fragments of the commotion in the room. Burying his grief deep within his soul, Steve knew he owed it to his ohana to make sure justice was served and their deaths were not in vain. Focusing every fiber of his being to stay conscious, he vowed to not go down without a fight.
Though the toxicologist knew it in his heart he was outmatched, he couldn't take the risk by doing nothing. Every second he delayed the order to have his sister killed meant more time for the authorities to save her. Summoning up what little courage he possessed, Dr. Lee wheeled around, shoved his way past the Dimitri and tackled an equally stunned Hans from behind. As the pair struggled, Dimitri hurried to assist his accomplice but fell face forward when his legs were kicked out from under him.
Steve used every ounce of strength that remained in his body to climb to his feet as soon as Stoss' henchman went down.
"Now!" Chin Ho gave the order and two men on either side of the cabin's front door made their move. The seasoned detective had waited until the attention of those inside the cabin were diverted from the window where he kept a watchful eye of their movements. He stood aside with his pistol at the ready while a HPD Officer delivered a hard kick into the door which gave way with a crunch. A loud crash sounded as the door swung inward and slammed against the inside wall of the cabin. Stepping away from the doorframe, Chin moved in at a crouch, his gun held out in front of him. "Freeze! Five-O!" the detective bellowed.