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Chapter 21
Chin drove towards Pearl City with his lights flashing. He doubted that they would find Danny at the docks but it was the best lead they had and the detective feared that they were running out of time.
Duke was trying to find the rogue IA man for them but apparently the crooked cop had disappeared.
Kono looked at Chin and asked, "Did anything come of da investigation into da Vashon letter?"
"No, the signatures don't match and I couldn't get the old man to admit any involvement. If he's involved he's covered his tracks too well."
"Nothing in da back accounts?"
"Couldn't get a warrant. Vashon's a dead end, maybe if Steve was healthy..." Chin trailed off. Steve was the best detective he knew and he had been unable to find evidence on the Vashon family for years so who was he to think he could do better?
Chin shook his head. If Steve was healthy they wouldn't be in this mess. This was the situation they were dealt and they had to find a way out because the alternatives were unthinkable.
Chin reached the docks and the detectives quickly exited the car and started scanning the area. Kono spotted their target first. "Dere! Dat's da boat Danny was standing on."
Placing one hand on his holster, Chin nodded to Kono and the two detectives ran toward the ship. Chin raced up the ramp with Kono at his heels. Once they established that the deck was clear, Kono kicked in the cabin door and they rushed into the room.
A man fell out of a hammock and landed on a blood-stained floor.
"Hands up!" Chin yelled as Kono moved to restrain the man.
"What…what is the meaning of this?" the man cried out as Kono grabbed and cuffed him.
"We have a picture of a runaway prisoner being on this boat."
"Look, you're crazy. You got me mixed up with someone else. No one is on this boat but me."
"Who are you?" Kono demanded.
"Briggs."
"Well, Briggs," Chin began, "care to explain the blood on your floor."
"Fish guts," Briggs answered, his voice and knees shaking.
"Do you know where Dan Williams is?"
"Who?" Briggs croaked out.
"What about Big Chicken?"
"I…I…I don't know have to talk to you."
Frustrated, Chin snapped at Kono, "Book `em."
As Kono dragged Briggs away, Chin searched the rest of the boat and found no one. Heading back to the car to call Che, he saw Kono lock Briggs into the back of their car. The Hawaiian asked, "Do ya think he'll talk."
"Briggs knows something," Chin stated. "We just have to find out what and fast."
Before Kono could reply, the radio squawked, "Central to Kelly."
"Chin here."
"Report from Queens: McGarrett's missing."
"What!" Chin declared. Things just keep getting worse and worse.
Kono was shaken. They both were. The chances were now high that both their friends were dead. That thought must have crossed Kono's mind because the detective's face turned cold as he looked at Briggs and Chin feared for what his friend would do next.