A/N: Here is tonight/today's offering to the fiction gods!
Thank you everyone for reading you're all awesome.
As always, I don't own anything. SAD.
These next three chapters are heading into the final three. I should have those posted tomorrow or saturday hopefully. I'm really happy that I will be meeting my deadline.
Enjoy
Chapter 29: Life #8 Honolulu 2009
I really took control of my own life in the years ten years that accompanied my knowing that my brothers had come and settled themselves and their organization in Hawaii. Wo Fat had given me leverage and John McGarrett had given me the courage to stand up for what I became. I was open and vocal about organized crime and the drug trade in Hawaii. I had put myself on a crusade to end the virus that was meth use on the islands and I knew, if anything, my brothers had seen me for what I was.
My business was booming and I was capturing fugitives wherever I could. I know I took down people in both my brother's organization as well as Wo Fat and I stayed in the loop. I had friends now in the lowest of low places and friends up in high ones as well. I became bolder, cocky even, when it came to what I did and how I did it. I was quoted about refusing to carry a gun, even though I had one and people knew where it had come from. My focus fell on becoming in the best in my business and my crew was renowned for their efficiency. Notches in my belt, I had many of them, and my clients knew that if you burned me for the money, I'd catch you in their lies.
Chin Ho rose through the ranks of my crew until he sat beside me, most of the time, and ran in covering my back. He was passionate about the cases and the ties that had disgraced his name and I knew that somewhere out there he was doing his own investigation, just as John would have done. I knew that John and Chin spent a lot of time together when they were not working, and John was always ready to lend a hand with my crew when I felt like I needed just that one more man; just a little more back up. John was a good Bounty Hunter and he knew it, but his passion was law enforcement even though he saw the corruption growing within the force. I knew that he was making headway on his cases, he was obsessed with links with in it and it wasn't until later that he brought to me the name that was now and forever connected with the Asian mobs.
The name had been thrown around a lot in those days as the Yakuza began to flex it muscles in and around Hawaii. John knew that they had been present for a long time, but more and more the ancient ties that I had seen in China and other Asian cities were starting to fall into place. As much as I hated the idea of falling back into the world of my family, I had come to know the signs and the clues that pointed to all forms of mob relations and I had many, many clients that had gang and mafia ties. These were the people that I devoted that little bit extra to. I wanted to give them a way out, the way out that I was never given, and as I worked and promoted my stance against organized crime, John McGarrett backed me up.
I would be lying if I didn't say I was threatened in those days by men whom I knew were big wigs in many of the crime family. I wasn't afraid of them anymore, I couldn't be, I had come to the realization that some day, some time I would die and if it was because of my job, or just in old age I would accept it willingly. I was now, in 2002, becoming woman of age and wisdom. I had two years to fifty and I was happy that I had made it past my thirtieth birthday. What more could I have wanted?
In January of 2002 I received the last letter I would ever get from my Italian correspondent and in that letter the confessions that my Nona made warmed my heart. I heard in that letter her voice, a voice I remembered from my first visit to Sicily. She told me that she was proud that I had escaped, that I had moved onward from that place of darkness into something of true light and I was happy that she was able to know that I had done well for myself. She died in February, on Valentines Day, and John and I were present at the funeral. I didn't speak to my brothers or any other members of my family but I faced them then. I looked into all of my brothers eyes. I saw my aging father and he stared at me as if he had seen a ghost. I knew he knew I was alive, though his had come to terms with my death, but there was a look in his eyes that hated me and I knew that the family was ashamed. To them Katherine Valentella was dead and Katherine Smith was an enemy. I took pride in knowing that they hated me. I wanted them to feel the same hatred that I had felt. The captivity that they had put me through, I was an independent woman and I was pleased to carry a badge and work against everything they stood for.
It was hard for me to believe, even after looking into my father's eyes, that I was calm and resigned to the idea of the fear that they had caused me. I wanted to be fearless and I just decided to be that way. I worked hard, I had been shot at more times than I could remember and all of the bullets that had ever pierced my skin were in my procession like trophies of the things that I had endured. I had lived, not as a Valentella, but as my own person, developed from the ashes and smoke of a horrible past. I was happy in Hawaii, it was my home and when I looked at the men, boys, children that I worked with, that came to me for support and comfort, I knew I had found my rightful place. I was respected and praised for my hard work and honors were bestowed upon me that I still don't believe I deserved but for which drove me to work even harder for the people of Hawaii.
In late 2009 Wo Fat came to me again after I had taken down a large portion of his organization and their drug rings. I didn't want the drugs on my streets and I was prepared to put every last accused person in jail for their crimes against the young and the old. He came to me, much in the same way he had before, but on that day he brought with him another man, a man that I did not recognize and although I was outnumbered two to one in my own office, I stood my ground. I knew that they both could have shot me and killed me at any time they wanted, but I was ready for that.
Wo Fat walked into my office, leading his associate and sat down before my desk. There was an air about him that I really did not like, and although I had butterflies in my stomach to see him again, I wasn't going to let feelings break my exterior while there was a stranger in my office.
"I have come to tell you to back away from your investigations into the Yakuza." Wo Fat stated as he colleague stood in the door way.
"I don't investigate; I just pick up the money that has run from me." I told him seriously. "If there is a warrant and a reward to be had, I'm on it like ants to sugar."
"You have been giving information to John McGarrett about some very important people." Wo Fat accused.
"You told me to keep John McGarrett in the loop. You didn't specify which information I should share and what I should not," I told him.
"I told you not to talk about me," Wo Fat hissed.
"I don't talk about you," Kat stated, "I may have long ago, but you are not a part of my life now, so I don't see the need to talk about you."
I saw something like pain, shock, and distrust flash across his face as his friend reached for his weapon.
"Victor, stay calm," Wo Fat stated as the trigger clicked into place, "I've told you, she is not to be harmed by a single member of our organization. Not under any circumstances."
"She works with McGarrett," Victor hissed.
"We are friends and colleagues, occasionally he works with me, but I am not part of John's squad, nor do I ever wish to be." I stated looking at the one called Victor and waiting to see what his eyes would tell me. The man in my doorway became uneasy. It was clear he had never been addressed in such a way, by a woman, before. I asserted my dominance in the situation and although the man who stood and paced in my doorway put his weapon away, Wo Fat smiled at me without looking back at his colleague.
"You've learned much about independence," Wo Fat smiled as he looked across my desk at me.
"I know when to be dependent and when to be assertive; I'm not a child anymore." I assured him.
"I am pleased to see it." He smiled, then, turning to his colleague, he ordered Victor to stand in the other room while we spoke privately.
I didn't like the idea of being alone with Wo Fat, but I nodded my agreement to the plan and watched as Victor hesitantly walked out of my office and closed the door behind him.
"I have come to warn you," Wo Fat stated as the door was closed behind his colleague, "that I have set into motion some events that you will not like, but for which you can change, if you obey me."
"Obedience to men who demanded it has never been something I gave into easily." I said my tone cold and harsh.
"I know, that's what I love about you, but this is far bigger than you, or me. You must stop sharing evidence with McGarrett as it pertains to the Yakuza." He stated.
"I told you already, I just arrest people for their wrong doings." I stated, "I don't collect evidence and I don't share evidence."
"In many cases a few hints is worth a million words. Understand that I admire the relationship that you have developed with John McGarrett and his disgraced partner Chin Ho Kelly, but he is getting too close to too many things that are beyond your control." Wo Fat stated.
"I don't know what he is investigating," I said, my voice was hushed and worry had certainly flooded into my face.
"I believe you," Wo Fat stated, "you have never given me reason to doubt, but I can tell you that he is into something that he should have stayed away from when his wife died. You will talk to him. You will tell him to let the case go, or the series of events that had been put into action will take place and you will not be able to stop them."
"What have you done?" I asked my resolve to remain unfeeling changing for shock and fear.
"Get John McGarrett off of my trail or I will have him killed," Wo Fat stated as tears began to roll down my cheeks.
He stood from his seat, walked to my door, bowed and left my office for the very last time.
