To those that continue to read, thank you! To those just finding the story, I hope you enjoy it. My writing has been sporadic as late, but I'm hoping to make more time for this project. I was so sad to see the show end, but I like how they did it. I pray everyone is staying safe and healthy. ~Avy73
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The team arrived at the Treasury building and were ushered to the basement. They were sent to meet Agent Novack regarding details of the transportation of the money. As they were shown the massive mountain of money sitting on a pallet, they were informed the money was going to help war torn countries, but it was considered ghost money. They were taken into another room to review the agreed upon path for the money to take to get to the airport and be loaded onto a plane. They were not informed where the money would fly to, but that it needed to be at the airport.
The team walked out to their cars and drove around to the back of the building and waited for the white panel van to exit the underground car garage. Chin and Kono took the lead, while Danny and Steve followed behind the van.
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The two agents in the SUV introduced themselves to Azucena as Marshal Pierce and Marshal Johnson. They were quiet, but friendly enough. Azucena mustered up the courage to ask, "Where exactly are we going?"
"We are supposed to drive you to Roswell, New Mexico and then we will be handing you off to another set of agents. We don't know where they will be taking you."
"But you do know who they are, right?"
The younger one, Marshall Pierce, smiled, "Yes Ma'am, we know who we are meeting. You don't have to worry; you are perfectly safe."
It wasn't so much she was worried about WoFat finding her at this moment, but more that he could infiltrate any organization and find the information he wanted. He was a criminal mastermind after all, but he had honestly just escaped prison. She doubted he even knew she was no longer in Hawaii. She was being paranoid.
She sat back in the SUV and watched the desert roll by. She thought to herself how spoiled she had become with the beautiful greenery of Hawaii and now she was staring at the rolling desert. It felt bleak, like her entire day had been.
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As they accompanied the unmarked van to the airport, a call came over the radio in Danny's car. There was a bomb threat at the airport. Steve called Kono, "There has been an incident in terminal three. The airport is being evacuated. We need to get that money loaded up and in the air. Maintain situational awareness in case this is no accident."
"Will do, boss." Kono disconnected the call and looked to her cousin, "Bomb threat at the airport. We need to get there ASAP and get the money loaded."
Chin flipped on the lights and sirens, he looked over to his cousin, "Hold on."
They proceeded to speed towards the airport, slowing only for intersections. As they reached the airport, they drove directly onto the tarmac discussed at the treasury. Everyone emerged from their cars and as they approached the van, a SWAT bus arrived. Six men and Captain Grover pulled guns on them.
"Lou, we're here to unload this van per the Governor's orders." Steve said, testy about guns being pulled on him and his team.
Lou confessed, shame and fear covering his face, "There's no bomb threat at the airport. It's a cover for these men to get the money in that van."
The ringleader of the six men ordered the other's, "Take their weapons."
"I'm sorry Steve, it has to be this way." Lou offered in an act of contrition as he walked towards Five-0 to take their guns. As the men approached Five-0, the leader opened the door to the back of the van, and shouted, "Where is it?"
"What are you talking about?" Steve questioned, honest confusion in his voice.
"The money." As the man pulled the van door wider. All of Five-0 was in shock at the site of the empty van. The man screamed this time and cocked his gun in Steve's direction, "For the last time, where is the money?"
Steve was surprised and frustrated, "Keep asking the same question and you'll get the same answer. The last time I looked in this truck, the money was in there."
"We were briefing SWAT when the money was getting loaded into the van." Offered Danny, and rethinking their morning, "Novak had plenty of time to do something shady."
"Who is Novak?" questioned Lou.
"The Federal employee who tasked us with this job." Offered Chin.
The leader of the six men was angry, and raise his gun back to Steve, "You have three seconds to tell me where the money is."
Before the man could begin counting, Steve and the Five-0 team took out all six of the fake SWAT officers. The look on Lou's face was one of horror, but he confessed to what was happening, "Man, I'm sorry, but they have my daughter."
"Who has your daughter?" Kono quizzed.
"Ian Wright."
"What?" Steve questioned.
"Ian Wright, the hacker kid who disappeared six months ago?" asked Chin, starting to connect various dots.
"Yeah." Was all Lou could say, concerned that he was going to lose Samantha because of the actions of Five-0.
"You're sure it's him?" quizzed Steve, knowing the fear and pain Lou was feeling. It was like the time Catherine had been kidnapped and he would do anything to get her back. He knew the fear Lou was experiencing.
"He sent this to me from my daughter's phone and that money is the only thing keeping my daughter alive." Lou pulled up the picture of Samantha, hands bound in front of her, duct tape over her mouth, and bars in front of her. Everyone was pulled from the shock by the sound of Lou's phone ringing.
"Answer it." Steve commanded.
"I can't." Lou stuttered, paralyzed by his own fear of what the future held for his daughter.
Danny knew the fear Lou felt, "Lou, answer it. Buy your daughter some time."
It took Lou a minute to function, but he accepted the call, "Yeah."
"What happened?" came the young voice over the line.
"Nothing happened." Lou responded, "I'm getting your money, like you asked."
"Did I also tell you to kill the six guys I sent with you?" Frustration evident in Ian's voice.
"He can see us." Lou said, as he covered the receiver of his cell phone.
"Look, your guys panicked. They got anxious and things got out of hand." Lou explained, hoping this would help save his daughter.
"I don't care about them. I care about my money. Where is my money?"
"I don't know." Lou was beginning to lose it, "It was supposed to be here, and it wasn't in the van when we opened it. There is no money in the van."
Steve couldn't watch his friend panic anymore and took the phone from Lou, "Ian, let Samantha go. You want a hostage, take me. I'll be your hostage."
"Commander McGarrett, good to hear your voice again." Ian paused, "That is so gallant of you, but I'll stick to my original plan. And honestly, she's much better looking than you."
"The money's gone. It's all over." Steve tried explaining again.
"It's over when I have all my money. So, I suggest you find it or Samantha dies." And the line disconnected.
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There had been a few restroom breaks along the way to Roswell, New Mexico. Azucena understood the need to be guarded but took exception to the agents accompanying her to the restroom. She was patient enough to allow them to check the bathroom before she entered; but assured them she wasn't going to climb out the window. One guarded the door to the restroom and she almost crashed into him, as she exited. It was all too much for her. She needed space and this was suffocating her.
As they continued to drive through the desert, it was too easy for Azucena to get wrapped up in her thoughts on Tommy, Steve, Mary, Catherine, Five-0, and unfortunately, WoFat. She wondered what everyone was doing at this time, but the other part of her was worried about WoFat's location. Had he made it to Hawaii? Was he somewhere underground, finding passage to Hawaii? Had he already figured out she wasn't on the island anymore? This long car ride was terrible for her wild imagination.
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With some help from Ian, Lou and the Five-0 team had discovered the location of the missing money and managed to retrieve it. Lou was relieved and ready to see his daughter. Five-0 was tired from being duped by Agent Novack, and thankful he was rotting in a jail cell at this time.
The Five-0 team and Lou were waiting at the spot Ian indicated to meet him and Samantha. Everyone was tense and on edge. The entire team visibly jumped when Lou's cell phone rang. Lou looked down at the screen and could see that it was the precinct, "Grover."
Lou listened to the voice on the other end of the line and nodded with shock on his face. When the voice stopped, he managed to stammer, "Please take her to Five-0's office. I will meet her there."
He disconnected the call and looked to Steve and Danny, "Samantha just walked into a station and said Ian Wright is dead."
"Lou that's great news." Exclaimed Kono, thrilled beyond measure that the young woman was safe and alive. Everyone agreed and they climbed into their cars to head back to headquarters.
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The Marshalls pulled into a gas station on the outskirts of Roswell. There was another black SUV parked behind the gas station. The Marshalls pulled in alongside the waiting vehicle. Marshall Pierce looked to Azucena, "We are going to hand you off to these Marshalls."
Azucena nodded and responded, "Thank you."
Her door was pulled open and she walked from her vehicle right into the backseat of the other vehicle, while two of the four Marshalls kept look out. Her door was quickly closed, and her suitcase was moved over to the new vehicle. It felt like a spy movie, but unfortunately, it was her real life.
The two new Marshalls climbed into the vehicle and introduced themselves. After all the names she had heard today, she felt rude, but knew she wouldn't remember them. She closed her eyes, as they pulled out of the gas station and climbed back onto the highway. She watched over her shoulder, as the other black SUV, turned out onto the highway going back the way they came.
"So, where are we headed to now?" Azucena asked, as she could barely stand anymore silence and time in her own brain.
"Just into town. We will take you to the local Marshall's office and they will get you situation." One of the Marshalls answered.
"So Roswell, New Mexico is my new home?" she said, more to herself than the others. This seemed like an appropriate coincidence, she felt like an alien in her own life at this point in time. Why not place her in the alien capitol of the US?
"It appears so." The Marshall supplied.
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As Lou and Five-0 returned to their office, Lou could hardly contain himself when Samantha rushed into his loving arms. There were tears of joy and relief that ran down his cheeks and Five-0 was thankful they could reunite father and daughter.
"I was so scared Daddy." Samantha said, as she cried into Lou's chest.
"That's okay, it was a scary situation. But the good news is you are here, and you are safe. Ain't nobody going to hurt you now." He held her a little tighter for a moment. After experiencing the relief of his child being safe, he slowly pulled away from his daughter, "Now Little Mama, I need you to be a big girl and tell Commander McGarrett what happened."
Steve leaned against a short filing cabinet to bring himself closer to her level. He wanted her to feel comfortable with him. He watched as Samantha grabbed Lou's hand for comfort and he thought back to earlier this morning, when Azucena had reached for his hand. He could feel a lump rise in his throat, but he pushed it back down.
The young lady looked to Steve, "He had me locked in this cage and the doorbell rang. I was surprised he answered the door, but when he did, there was a tall, skinny, Asian man at the door. And the Asian man, he, he, he shot the guy who took me."
Steve could tell she was still terrified because of the stutter. Samantha was normally an incredibly well-spoken young woman, so he knew she was struggling to relive everything. He continued to keep his face calm, as the young girl continued speaking.
"The man from the front door, walked over to the cage and shot the lock off. He told me he would remove the lock, but I had to give you a message."
"Me?" questioned Steve, becoming confused how he was involved in any of this.
"Yeah, he said to tell you that he is going to find your sister and she won't survive this encounter."
The message hit Steve like a bullet to the chest, WoFat had saved Samantha from Ian Wright. The evilest man on the planet had saved Lou's daughter, so she could deliver a threat to Steve. As Steve processed this entire situation, Kono was the first one to speak up, "Where is Azucena? We have to find her. We have to get her to a safe location."
Danny could see Steve was still processing the threat, so he spoke up for his partner, "She's safe. He isn't going to find her."
"Well, where is she?" asked Lou, just as concerned as everyone else. He enjoyed the feisty little redhead. She made him laugh and was an incredible cook.
Steve pulled himself from his stupor, "She joined Witness Protection this morning."
"What?" asked Chin, as everyone else was too stunned to say anything.
"We got the call at one o'clock this morning that he had escaped. They put her and Doris on separate planes at three o'clock to keep them safe. I have no idea where they are or their new identities."
Everyone stood in shock at the announcement.
