CHAPTER 9

Friday afternoon, Five-0 Headquarters:

"What happened?" Weir asked.

"Commander McGarrett was abducted Wednesday evening. We received a ransom call four hours ago," Danny explained succinctly.

"What did Vivaldi want?" Agent Clearwater asked.

"Apparently, Steve's father has something that Vivaldi wants. Vivaldi is using Steve as leverage," Danny replied.

"Let's go ask him then," Weir said. "Where does he live?"

"It's not that simple. John McGarrett is dead…He was murdered six months ago," Chin explained.

Weir rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Do you have any idea what it is Vivaldi is looking for?"

"None. As far as we can tell, it has something to do with a case that John and I were working four years ago," Chin said.

"How so?" Agent Dartmouth asked, curious.

"The bullets used to kill Mitch Reardon match the bullets used to kill Gavin and Charlene Webster. They were tourists here on the islands four years ago and they went missing. John and I worked the case, but came up empty. It went cold," Chin answered.

"You said you had something. What was it?" Kono asked the FBI agent.

Weir was startled by the change of subject. "Oh, um, we were looking into all of Vivaldi's connections and if any of his associates were on the island. Other than his son, we haven't found anyone entering the island…But it seems like you have everything covered."

"Yeah. We found the car they used to transport McGarrett abandoned on the side of the road. Then we found Jimmy Russo—"

"Russo? Why does that name ring a bell?" Weir interrupted.

"Because he's one of the Galinto family's enforcers. We have him in our rendition room…Anyway, he told us what happened and he doesn't know where McGarrett is," Kono explained hurriedly before she was interrupted again.

"Are you sure he doesn't know anything?" Weir asked.

Danny and Chin shared an amused look before Danny answered. "We're sure. Besides, he's not high enough in the chain of command to know the details of any operation."

Kono's phone rang and she excused herself to take the call.

"What can we do to help?" Weir asked.

Chin and Danny looked at each other, surprised by the other man's attitude. After having been arrogant, disrespectful and, by all accounts, an asshole, since their first meeting, it was a little disconcerting that the man was now genuinely offering his assistance.

Weir sighed. "Look, I know we started off on the wrong foot. My boss demanded that I worked with your task force on Vivaldi once he popped up in Hawaii. I underestimated your abilities and I apologise for that."

"Apology accepted, Agent Weir," Chin said, holding his hand out for a handshake, which Weir took. Danny, however, refused to accept the apology.

"Thank you. Now, what can we do?" Weir asked.

"Kamekona came through!" Kono announced as she ran back into the room, smile spread across her face.

"He knows where Steve is?" Danny asked eagerly.

Kono's smile faded. "No, sorry Danny. But he knows who killed the Webster's four years ago."

"Really?" Agent Weir said.

"According to one of Kamekona's people, the killer was hired to do the job. He was paid to kill the Webster's and make their bodies disappear," Kono explained.

"No wonder we could never find them. They weren't missing; they were dead," Chin said, shaking his head.

"His name's Ivan Kuznetov. He's a Russian gun for hire, former Spetsnaz. According to Interpol, he's sneaky and very good at what he does," Kono explained.

"Great!" Danny moaned.

"And Kamekona's guy knows where he is right now," Kono added.

"Can we trust this Kamekona guy?" Weir asked.

"He's never steered us wrong before," Chin said.

"Let's go get this guy," Danny said, moving over to the armoury.

"What, right now?" Weir asked in disbelief.

"Yes, right now. If we wait any longer, the guy might not be there anymore," Danny said, rolling his eyes at the agent.

"Okay," Weir said, conceding defeat. "Let's go."

Friday afternoon, UFC GYM Honolulu:

"Are we seriously going after this guy on his turf?" Kono asked from the backseat of the Camaro

"If this guy knows why the Webster's were killed, we are one step closer to helping Steve. With any luck, he will know what Vivaldi is looking for," Danny explained for the third time.

"I understand that, but this guy is dangerous," Kono said.

"We need a plan," Chin added.

"No, we need Steve," Danny said. "Look, if you guys want out of this, that's fine. But I'm going to get this guy."

"Danny, we're coming," Kono said. "We never said we weren't."

Danny sighed. "I know. Sorry. It's just…"

"We know," Kono said.

The team climbed out of the Camaro and joined the FBI team waiting for them.

"Okay. Weir, you and your guys maintain the perimeter. If Kuznetov comes out, you guys grab him. Don't let him escape. Five-0 will go inside and try to flush him out. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Any questions?" Danny asked, taking command of the operation.

Danny was met with silence and he assumed that meant everyone was on the same page. Danny entered the gym first, followed by Chin and Kono. They waded their way through the patrons practicing their moves, trying to find Kuznetov. At the back of the gym, Chin spotted Kuznetov talking to another man.

Kuznetov spotted the Five-0 team and immediately ran out the back door. Danny knew they weren't exactly inconspicuous due to the badges on their hips and tac vests strapped over their torsos, but that didn't mean the man had to run.

"Kuznetov is running. He's going out the back," Danny said into his earpiece.

"Copy that," came Weir's voice.

Danny, Chin and Kono ran after Kuznetov and emerged outside the building.

"Suspect spotted running south-west on Koula street," Agent Clearwater said.

"Copy. I've got him," Agent Weir said. "I'm in pursuit."

Danny followed in the direction the suspect had gone and motioned for Chin and Kono to go around and try to cut him off. Danny ran down the street, passing multiple car dealers as he went. He often wondered why an island like Oahu would need so many car shops. Those thoughts fled his mind as he spotted two men about three hundred meters in front of him. Kuznetov and Weir.

The suspect turned right and Weir followed. By the time Danny took the same corner, both men were running through the park up ahead. Danny put on an extra spurt of speed when he realised the potential danger. A cornered man could be very dangerous, especially in a public place with plenty of potential hostages.

As Danny ran, he couldn't help thinking that Steve would have already tackled the guy and had him in handcuffs a block ago. But Steve wasn't there and they would just have to make do with what they had. Currently, that was Agent Malcolm Weir.

"Suspect is running across Kaka'ako Makai Park towards Cooke street," Danny puffed into his earpiece.

"We'll try to cut him off," came Chin's voice. In the background, Danny could hear the roar of the Camaro's engine.

Danny watched as both Weir and Kuznetov dodged bicycles travelling on the path that bisected the park and winced when one of the cyclists had to brake suddenly, causing them to topple over the handlebars. Danny didn't have time to check to see if they were okay. His job was to back up Weir, even if he would rather be backing up his own partner.

In the blink of an eye, Kuznetov turned and tackled the oncoming Weir to the ground. The two struggled while bystanders watched on. Danny really wanted to just let the fight go on when he realised Weir was losing quickly. Instead, Danny broke up the fight.

"Freeze! Five-0! Stand up and put your hands on your head," Danny yelled at Kuznetov.

Ivan Kuznetov froze and looked up at the gun levelled at his head before letting go of Weir. He didn't appear scared, not that Danny expected him to be. The guy had probably had hundreds of guns shoved in his face before. It wasn't his first rodeo.

Danny flicked his eyes to Weir momentarily. He was still lying on the ground, trying to catch his breath after the run and fight. The man had blood gushing from his nose. Kuznetov had gotten in a good hit. Danny would have to congratulate the man later.

"You okay?" Danny asked Weir, not really caring if he was or not.

Despite the fact that Weir had apologised for his behaviour, Danny wasn't ready to forgive him yet. Weir had caused more problems than necessary and it was really his fault that they were even on the Vivaldi case in the first place. The FBI had been unable to lock the head of the Galinto crime family away and now he was on the island, killing and kidnapping people. No, Danny definitely wasn't ready to forgive the man.

"Yeah," Weir said, wiping the blood from his upper lip as he sat up.

Danny cuffed Kuznetov and made him kneel on the grass before he began to question him.

"Hey, I didn't do anything!" Kuznetov claimed as he struggled against the cuffs that Danny had purposefully made a little too tight.

"Then why did you run?" Weir asked angrily.

"I needed to build up my cardio," was the unconcerned response.

"Right," Danny said with a roll of his eyes. "Nice try."

"Tell us about the Webster's," Weir demanded.

"Who?" Kuznetov said, feigning innocence.

"Gavin and Charlene Webster," Danny clarified. "Four years ago, you were ordered to murder them and hide their bodies. Ringing any bells yet?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Kuznetov said.

"It's okay, Ivan. We don't want you. We just want the guy who hired you," Danny said casually while slapping the man on his shoulder.

"Listen, we know Vivaldi hired you to kill them. We just need to know why," Weir explained.

Kuznetov was quiet as he thought it over.

Danny was getting impatient. "Okay. How about this? You tell us what we want to know and you can go back to your day job. If you don't, we'll haul your ass down to Five-0 and you can spend the night in our rendition room until you tell us what we want to know. It's your choice."

Kuznetov blanched at the mention of the rendition room. While Five-0 was still relatively new, most of the underworld criminals had heard the rumours about the out-of-the-box taskforce and their leader. No one wanted to get on the wrong side of them.

"Okay. Yes, Vivaldi hired me to kill them and make sure their bodies were never found," Ivan Kuznetov confirmed. "I didn't ask why he wanted them dead. I just took the money."

"And?" Danny said.

"That's all I know," Kuznetov said.

"Not good enough," Danny said, getting his gun out.

"How did Vivaldi pay you for the job?" Weir asked.

"The money appeared in a rented post box once Vivaldi received the pictures," Kuznetov explained.

"What pictures?" Danny asked, sharing a confused look with Weir.

"Proof of death pictures," Kuznetov explained, as though it was obvious.

"How did you send the photos?" Weir asked.

"Through the mail. To a PO box."

"Where was the PO box?" Danny asked impatiently.

"I don't remember man! It was years ago! All I know is that it was in New Jersey," Kuznetov said.

"Let me see if I understand. Roberto Vivaldi, head of the Galinto crime family in New Jersey, sent you to murder two people in Hawaii? And you didn't ask why?" Danny asked.

Kuznetov frowned. "No, man…I mean, yeah…"

"You had better get your story straight in the next few minutes, man," Danny said.

"I mean, I did the job, but it wasn't Roberto Vivaldi who requested it," Kuznetov explained.

Now it was Danny's turned to be confused. "Then who was it?"

"It was his son, Matteo."

Friday evening, unknown location:

Steve's eyes shot open, only to be met with darkness again. He blinked repeatedly, trying to clear the fog in his brain. His head was hanging on his chest and his head was pounding. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to will the pain away while chasing away the residual drugs.

Steve opened his eyes again, but the darkness continued to engulf him. He lifted his aching head from his chest and groaned when his neck muscles protested to the movement. Obviously he had been in that position for a while. He tried to move, but found his arms had been reacquainted with the restraints of the chair. Testing his legs, he found his ankles similarly restrained.

Steve hated the fact that he had been drugged. He had no idea how much time had passed or what had happened during that time. It was adding to the disorientation associated with his prolonged lack of sight. Frustrated, Steve clenched his fists and wished he could hit something. He jerked at the zip ties and found them as sturdy as they had been previously.

Steve stilled and calmed his breathing. He still didn't understand why he was here. He didn't even know who had taken him. Steve needed that information. He needed to get intel. Then he could work on getting himself out of this situation. If it was something from his past, he would have those answers already. This, however, this felt…different.

Steve's mind drifted as the drugs maintained their hold on him. He was caught somewhere between awake and alert, and groggy and inattentive. Over the next hour, he dozed in and out as the drugs left his system.

When Steve could finally think again, he concentrated on his surroundings. As far as he could tell, he was alone. If the damp coolness of the room was anything to go by, he was back inside the bunker. He briefly wondered why he had been moved for the ransom call.

'No reception in a bunker,' Steve explained to himself.

That gave him an idea. If he could somehow convince whoever it was to make another call, he could use the transport window as an escape opportunity. Assuming they didn't drug him again, that was.

Steve's thoughts drifted back to his team. He knew they were probably doing everything they could to find him. He wondered how Chin was taking it. Obviously Chin knew whoever this was and it had something to do with a case that Chin and his father had worked on together. Steve knew if he was in Chin's place, he would be feeling overwhelmed with guilt, but Steve didn't blame him for this. It wasn't his fault. As soon as he got out of here, he would tell Chin exactly that.

The scream of the door opening brought Steve out of his thoughts. He heard one set of footsteps entering the room. He tensed as he listened to the man circle around him, waiting for what was coming next. Then he heard the man sit in the chair directly in front of him.

"Good to see you awake, Commander," that voice was really beginning to annoy Steve.

Steve didn't speak. What could he say?

"I am very sorry about your father's murder," the man said.

Steve couldn't tell if the man was being sincere or just mocking him.

"It is a little unfortunate that he's dead, given he had something that was mine."

Steve just snorted in response. He couldn't find it in him to care that the man was inconvenienced by his father's death. He knew his father would never steal from someone else, unless it was absolutely necessary. From what Steve could ascertain, his captor was not a good person.

"Your team is very good. Thanks to my son's incompetence, they caught on quicker than I expected. I commend your ability to put together an extraordinary group of people."

Steve swelled with pride. He knew the people he had picked to work with, side-by-side in the field, were very capable. He trusted them with his life. Especially now.

"I wouldn't have chosen them unless they were good," Steve commented.

"I wouldn't have expected any less of a distinguished Navy Officer."

Steve didn't respond. He wondered where this was going. The man couldn't have just come in here to discuss his team. Steve waited for the other shoe to drop.

"You wouldn't want anything to happen to them, would you?" the man asked.

Steve clenched his fists at the obvious threat to his team's safety.

The man chuckled. "Ah, I see I hit a nerve."

"If you do anything to any of them, I will kill you," Steve spat.

"I'm sure you will. However, since you are tied up, there's not much you can do about it," the man said, taunting Steve.

Steve breathed heavily. He hated the idea of his team in danger.

"As long as I get what I want, nothing will happen to them."

"What do you want?" Steve said, his voice dangerously low. No one threatened his team!

"I want what your father took," the voice said.

"How does kidnapping me help you find what my deceased father stole?"

The other man chuckled. "It's incentive for Detective Kelly…Kelly and your father investigated two of my former associates a while back. They took something from me and your father helped them hide it. I need it back."

"What is it?" Steve asked.

"None of your business. Let's just say that two weeks ago I heard rumours about a federal investigation into my organisation. They are the only ones who could have said anything to the feds. They know things they shouldn't, and I can't have that."

Steve's mind went back to a few days ago, when the skeletal remains of Gavin and Charlene Webster had been discovered and the link to Vivaldi had been found. Suddenly it all made sense.

"Roberto Vivaldi," Steve growled.

"Took you long enough," Vivaldi said. Steve could hear the self-indulgent smile in his voice and it grated on his nerves.

"Blame it on the concussion," Steve said.

Now Steve understood what was happening. Vivaldi had taken him to stop his team and the FBI from catching him. His kidnapping was a distraction. It gave Vivaldi time to find what he was looking for and escape. The whole time, his team would be looking in the other direction.

One thing bugged Steve about it all. It sounded like Vivaldi thought the Webster's were still alive. He didn't know they had been killed four years ago. That meant someone, probably from within his own organisation, had taken matters into their own hands. Vivaldi was being set up to finally serve his time. Which meant someone had to take his place.

'His son," Steve thought.

If that was the case, it was a bold plan. The son trying to overthrow the father. Greed was one of the seven deadly sins, after all.

"What happens when you finally get what you want?" Steve asked, out of curiosity for his own wellbeing.

"You die," was the hollow response.