A/N: Well, we're entering into the home stretch with this chapter - leading into the prompt that started it all. If you've already read that prompt, you know how this story ends, but don't worry, I promise a wild and crazy ride in the next chapter. For now, I leave you with the last pieces in the puzzle and a little whump as well.

Happy Reading!

Chapter 14: Of Roses and Runaways

Steve's phone started ringing in his office, but amidst the racket of the hotline connections and the commotion in the office, it took him sever tries before he made his way into his office to answer the phone. When he finally did, he was shocked to hear Duke Lakele's voice coming from far away over a not so stable cellular connection.

"Come again," Steve asked in shock, "I don't think I quite got that Duke. What did you say?"

"We found the bodies in the rose beds." Duke stated a little louder. "There are two more than we anticipated," he added, "but we found them where you told us to look."

"We'll be right out there." Steve stated and ended the call.

Steve rushed out of his office and stopped, dead in his tracks and stared at Toast.

Kono and Toast stopped what they were doing and stared back.

"What's up, boss?" Kono asked suspiciously.

"They found the bodies right where Toast said they would be." Steve stated as all eyes fell on Toast.

"Don't look at me like I've got eight heads!" Toast scolded. "It's not like I put those girls in the ground, and you still have no idea where Goldstein is. Sheesh, Danny can run on a hunch but I can't collate the data and come up with a conclusion based on calculations and coincidences?"

"Coincidences take a lot of planning," Chin stated.

"That's what I just said!" Toast huffed. "You should probably head out to that crime scene. I have contacts to make and additional case evidence and victim profiles to come up with. Like I said, I didn't just pull the rose clue out of my ass, there were bodies found on the mainland."

"You two go ahead, I'll wait for Danny and catch up to you," Steve said when his shock had warn off, as he placed his phone to his cheek and waved Chin and Kono out of the office. "I want IDs on those second bodies ASAP."

5-0

"Excuse me," Danny stated as his phone started to ring.

He walked quickly out of the hospital room where he and Violet had been sitting with the Senator and his wife while Lydia slept. It was the least they could do. The Senator and his wife had questions, and although Danny and Violet didn't have all of the answers they had some of them.

"What's the news?" Danny asked knowing it was Steve by a glance.

"They found the bodies of the other girls, plus two more that we didn't know about because I guess they didn't fit the profile."

Danny's face changed as Steve spoke into his ear and Violet read every line - she's followed him out, after excusing herself and was now standing facing him in the hallway.

"What do you want to do about it?" Danny asked as he waved in Violet's face and turned around so that he didn't have to look at her, or give away anymore of his worry to her prying eyes.

"I think we really need to think about extra protection for Violet." Steve stated.

"Me too."

"Bring her back here. I'll have everything ready by the time you arrive and we'll carry on with our investigation without babysitting."

"We're on our way," Danny stated and motioned for Violet to move.

"What's going on?" Violet asked impatiently as Danny hung up and grabbed her by the wrist.

Danny pushed the young woman into an on-call room and out of ear shot of the family and the security guards.

"Five bodies were found on Goldstein's property." Danny whispered and stared as he watched the young woman deflate right before his eyes.

"No, that's not right."

"Yes, five bodies, not three like you profiled, and a possible connection to more on the mainland." Danny explained.

"But that's not right. That's not his routine. That's not how he worked. There were only three on these islands." Violet insisted.

"Things change," Danny said as he grabbed Violet by both arms and shook her. "You can't always be right. You can't predict what human behaviour will be. He's gone this long undetected because he's a smart psychopath, but there are things that haven't changed and maybe now we can help to put people's fears to rest, and finally bring missing girls home to their family for closure."

Fear flashed in Violet's eyes - real and gut-wrenching fear.

"We aren't going to let anything happen to you," Danny said as the young woman began to shake.

"I was wrong."

"You can never really profile these people perfectly. It's not your fault."

"Why couldn't I save them?" Violet asked as she burst with tears.

"We didn't know about them either." Danny said softly.

"But you found them."

"Toast made the connection. That's right, a hacker with no other police experience except for what he's gained from working with Five-O. He found the link and sent the team to exactly the right place. Now I'm going to take you back to the office. From there Steve and I will head out to the crime scene and you are going into protective custody until Goldstein can be caught. He's changed his routine before, we know this now, and I'm not going to risk having him change only to come after you."

This time there wasn't any protesting left in Violet. She nodded and her resolve faded, and Danny quietly and gently led the young woman out to the car and away from the hospital.

5-0

Steve waited just within the arches of the front of their building - the statue of King Kamehameha loomed in the round-about before him. His phone hadn't stopped ringing since he'd gotten the call from Duke, and now he was ignoring it. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the familiar silver Camaro pull into a parking spot and Danny and Violet got out of it.

The duo made their way quickly toward the entrance while Steve moved to meet them halfway.

Suddenly there came the squealing of tires and the sound of gun shots as a small convertible sports car hopped the curb and drifted around the statue - coming to a stop only feet from Danny, Steve and Violet.

Shots rang out again as Danny pushed Violet toward Steve, who was wearing a bullet proof vest, and ducked - hitting the ground and rolling for the shrubberies that lined the front of the building.

Violet screamed as more bullets rang off the building and the engine of the sports car revved again.

Steve had to dive out of the way as the car came barreling at him just before it was thrown in reverse and flew back across the lawn and into the street, and then it took off and was gone.

"He got her!" Steve yelled as Danny crawled frantically out of the debris. "It was Goldstein and he grabbed her." Steve added as he pulled Danny to his feet.

"Take the keys." Danny stated as he found his feet and started to run with Steve as a crowd of onlookers and police personnel exited the building.

"Are you all right?" Steve asked with concern as he half pushed his partner back toward the Camaro.

"I'll be okay when we save that girl's life!"