"Trouble In Paradise. Again."

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Title: "Trouble In Paradise. Again."

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult language and situations

Summary: Even paradise has its ups and downs. The Hawaii Five-0 family is about to discover more of each.

Date Written: February 4, 2011

Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately!

Honolulu, Hawaii

(After gathering as much information as they can about Sahid Hakeem, his known associates, and the two houses connected to Hakeem, Steve decides that the team needs to stay together instead of splitting up and hitting both houses at the same time. He requests back-up from H.P.D. and they take the first house with no resistance. In fact, it appears that no one has been there in several months and they find no evidence of anything illegal at all. As they are standing in front of the house, Steve senses that something is "off" and mentally reviews the information they have on Hakeem. Danny, having been in the back of the house, walks up with a frown on his face.)

"There's nothing here. In fact, no one's been here for at least six months. I don't like it."

"Hakeem's got enough money to buy this entire neighborhood if he wanted to. Why just this one house?"

"The other one's not exactly located in high-dollar real estate. The warehouse was empty, this house is empty. Would you like to bet me we'll find exactly nothing in the other house?"

"No, because I don't think we will either. Chin, anything come back on those prints the F.B.I. found at the warehouse?"

"They only had three prints that were clean enough for a match. One belonged to a guy who worked there ten years ago and died of natural causes last year. Second one belonged to the real estate agent who sold the property to the company Hakeem's using as a front, and the third one belongs to a sixty-four year old security guard who checks the property once a week."

"Find out who's paying the security company and run background on the real estate agent."

"You want to bring him in?"

"Not yet. Kono, get with the F.B.I. agent who headed up the raid on that warehouse. I want more information than they put in the report they sent us. C'mon, Danny, we're going to see the Special Agent in Charge. I want to know why the alphabets let Hakeem into the country and why he didn't have a tail when he left the airport."

"Yeah, and what part we're supposed to play in their little game."

Aboard the U.S.S. Olympia

(Tony and his team are gearing up for insertion off the coast of Iran and going over their final review of the planned op when Senior Chief Tim Newton moves next to him and speaks in a low voice so that the rest of the team cannot hear them.)

"Got a feeling, Boss."

"Let's hear it, Senior."

"In order for this to work, the F/A-18's are going to have put those missiles dead on the money in a very precise timing sequence."

"They do it all the time."

"You did hear the part of the briefing about increased enemy presence upstairs, right?"

"What are you getting at, Senior?"

"What happens if our birds get caught in a dogfight in the middle of the op?"

"Okay, one, they've pulled in additional fighter squadrons from Pearl, two, did you hear the part of the briefing about doubling the number of our birds in the event of just such a scenario, and, three, Lt. Cmdr. Samantha McGarrett's the flight leader on this op."

(This last piece of information causes a wide grin to break forth on Senior Chief Newton's face and relief is evident in his eyes. Checking their diving equipment one final time, the SEAL team climbs into the chamber that, once flooded with sea water, will allow them to leave the submarine, release their rubber water craft and waterproof gear bags, and swim to the surface to make their covert approach to shore.)

Aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan

(The Reagan's CAG, Capt. Ron Howell, is conducting the final pre-flight briefing before the commencement of the op. Sam looks around the room at the people under her command and confidence flows through her at the alertness and focus she sees in each and every one of them. Satisfied that her people are ready to get upstairs and implement their part of the op, she turns her attention back to Capt. Howell.)

"All right, people, the designation code is 'Operation Wildfire'. Four hours ago, a team of SEALs inserted into Iran from the U.S.S. Olympia and are making their way toward the Iran-Afghan border as we speak. Their job is to confirm the Al Qaeda and Taliban camp sites and paint the targets; ours is to destroy them. Two squadrons, both under the command of Lt. Cmdr. McGarrett, call sign, 'Athena', will be wheels up in thirty. For this op, the Reagan's designation will be 'Home Plate', your flight designation will be 'Fast Ball', and the SEAL's will be 'VooDoo' Once you cross the red zone, keep radio chatter to a minimum. Cmdr. McGarrett . . ."

"Since we're flying two squadrons instead of one the chances of radar intercept are obviously doubled. Stay sharp up there, people, because you can bet your ass we're going to run into some bogeys. Lt. Monroe, call sign,'Merlin', is 2IC for this op. Those of you carrying stingers only will form up on Merlin; everyone else on me. Any questions? . . .Captain."

"You're 'weapons free' once you reach the red zone. Any questions regarding the specific rules of engagement for this op? . . . All right. Good luck and good hunting. Dismissed."

(And exchanging high fives, the group of aviators head up to the flight deck and their planes. In rapid succession, all ten aircraft are launched and headed for their target area.)

Honolulu, Hawaii

(While Chin has no problem accomplishing his tasks, Kono runs into a problem with Special Agent Karen Walker. Kono dislikes the woman on sight; something just seems odd about her, but Kono maintains a professional demeanor. Agent Walker's attitude is hostile and she tells Kono to "read the report" after nearly every question. Finally realizing that she's getting nowhere, Kono ends the call. Seeing Steve and Danny walk into the conference room where Chin is working over the smart table, Kono joins them with a preoccupied look on her face.)

"Chin, what'd you find out?"

"Security company receives a check every month from a company called Marzeen Imports. Checks are written on a bank in the Cayman Islands and the account is 'clean'. Security company's in year two of a three-year contract with the import company. I've run financials on Marzeen Imports and they're clean. Strictly legitimate. Company's just one of several smaller companies owned by a conglomerate of Saudi investors. The real estate agent's a guy named David Radner. He's worked for Pacific Real Estate for seventeen years and is as clean as they come."

"Kono?"

"Special Agent Karen Walker was in charge of the raid on the warehouse and she's an odd one. I didn't get any more out of her than what we already had, Boss. I got the impression she's not exactly one of the fair-haired children right now."

"We didn't have any better luck with SAC Malcolm Warner."

"Why do I get the feeling we're being used?"

"Probably because we are, Danny. You guys keep at it and see if you can find something we've missed. The Governor and I are going to have a conversation."