Chapter 41

Hi faithful followers - sorry for the delay. Here's chapter 41, i hope you enjoy.

Danny stopped half way to his office. He turned and faced Lynn. "Yeah, tell me something I don't know." His tone was less than surprised.

"We already know that, little sister." Lou's tone was softer. "If you could tell us how, that would be helpful."

"Whenever George felt he needed help, he'd call his brother, Vasily. He goes by Sal Federchuk. Sally, long A. He makes George look like a helpful boy scout." Lynn shared.

"You've met him?" Danny asked. "When was the last time you saw him?"

"Yes, about two years now. I see that's why my liquor license 'went through' so quickly. He lives at another hotel, I don't know the name but it's where George used to work."

"As a bartender?" Danny asked. When Lynn nodded, he turned in Chin Ho. "Chin…"

Chin was already typing. "On it, boss."

Danny turned back to the hotel manager. "What else do you know about 'Sally'?"

Lynn shrugged. "He's a bit older. He smiles a lot but has cold eyes. He always carriers a knife, ornate, double edged, looks Russian. He speaks with a heavier accent. He has only one 'use' for women and he will happily tell you so. He once knocked a man out cold in my lounge. The guy 'annoyed' him, called him 'Sally' instead of 'Solly'. Knocked his front teeth out."

"Lovely man." Kono snorted as she rolled her eyes.

"Hey boss."

"What is it, Chin? Anything interesting?" Danny sipped his coffee.

"Well, on paper, Vasily is a model immigrant. He's easily employed. He is a bartender too. Also, he has a carpenter's license, an electrician's license, a plumber's license, a cable installer permit, a driver's instructor rider on his New York driver's license along with a livery license."

"What an enterprising guy." Lou commented sourly.

"That's not all." Chin's voice became concerned. "He also has a respiratory technician's license, an x-ray technician license and a vocational nurse's license."

Danny set his coffee cup down so hard the hot liquid slouched on his hand. "Call the hospital now. Make sure he isn't 'working' there. Chin, we got photos of the man?"

"Already assembling all his license photos. If he were to try to get hired at a hospital, all his medical related licenses expired months ago. At least that's a break."

"Yeah, if H.R. isn't too busy to verify. If he's a good forger, it may not matter." Kono pointed out. "I'll see if he was ever employed at the trauma center." She got busy immediately.

"Or a work crew." Danny suggested as he turned his attention to Lynn. "I'm curious: why are you coming forth with all this background info now?" Danny asked as Lou joined him.

"I guess I feel guilty about what happened to Commander McGarrett. I know – well, suspect – how George works. I didn't see it coming. After Steve was almost killed, I did a lot of thinking and I realized that lucky circumstances or other turns of good luck was most likely was George's influence behind the scenes. I mean, accidents that seemed beneficial to me at the time were most likely…" Lynn couldn't say the conclusion.

"Blackmail, physical intimidation or murder." Danny and Lou finished her thought.

"Steve can testify against him. It would be a logical step to get rid of him." Lou concluded. "It's a real good thing you posted a protection detail at the hospital, boss."

"I had a feeling. Okay, we've got a couple of shithead brothers and a crooked lawyer, trying to protect an empire – if you will – to protect their money skimming. We need more proof of enterprise corruption. If we can prove the lawyer is in it, he goes down too. Good riddance I say." Danny said. "Now, let's locate this brother and keep an eye on him. Chin, get those photos over to Graham McTavish over at the hospital. Kono, follow up with the hospital's H.R. department. Lou, come with me. We gotta let Steve and Catherine know what's going on."

"Yes sir." Both Chin and Kono acknowledged their assignments and got busy.

"Lynn, thanks for the leads. Can you go back to the hotel and be business as usual?" Danny asked.

Lynn nodded. "As long as those protection officers are around, yes, I can be business as usual." She gathered her things and left.

Danny turned to Lou. "Is she helping us or leading us astray; or worse, a trap?"

"I believe her, boss. When I drove her to the trauma center, she was pretty distraught. I take her at her word." Lou said quietly. "I think she is trying her best to help but doesn't know how. I also think she has it bad for Steve. Now that Miss Catherine is around, she thinking about ... possibilities."

"Let's update Steve and Catherine."

...

Lynn hailed a taxi back to the hotel, her mind was so scattered she forgot to put her coat on. Thankfully, the cab was warm border lining on hot. Exiting the cab, the cool morning air hit her so hard that by the time she reached the lobby revolving door, she was shivering.

The lobby was warm and busy. At first, she was taken aback by the number of people checking in then she remembered today was the first day of a sci-fi convention. After descending the lobby stairs, avoiding three Capt. Kirks, five Mr. Spocks and three Supermen, complete with capes that blocked her way, she finally got to her office. Young people having fun, carefree. She wanted to scream by the time she finally got to her office. She kicked the door shut before Wonder Woman could say her character's greeting. Blowing the hair out of her eyes, she collapsed in her chair. George would probably not even give murdering her a second thought, now.

She decided to do some paperwork and once she immersed herself in payroll and schedules, the morning flew by. She ordered lunch from the coffee shop and asked for delivery and then sat back and waited. She daydreamed about her lunch date with Steve; just days go, felt like a lifetime ago.

Presently, a knock at her office door brought Lynn to the present. "Come in."

Tani Rey poked her head in the office. "Hi boss lady. Eating in here?"

"Yes, it's way too chilly to eat in the gardens."

Tani brought the covered plate forward and set it in front of her boss. "Enjoy your lunch." With flourish, she removed the tray cover.

"Thank you, Tani. Last day in the coffee shop?" Lynn unraveled the silverware from their napkin wrap.

"Yes ma'am. I start in the lounge tomorrow night."

"Busy night. Salute to Jersey Music Night."

"Yes. I found some cute, comfortable walking shoes."

"Perfect. Tips should be much better."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you for the opportunity. I really appreciate it." Tani turned to go. "I'll be back for your tray after the lunch rush. This sci-fi convention really has the coffee shop wall-to-wall."

"Excellent." Lynn smiled. "These guys are here through Sunday. Do you think I should overlapped dinner service with lunch service, add a server over night?"

"When, today I'm running as fast as I can. I'd say an additional server would greatly increase service tie. Maybe a cook's assistance could help with the salad and dessert service?"

"Great idea. I'll schedule another server and Rich Greenly can help keep supplies going to the beverage, salad and dessert services and assist in the kitchen." Lynn reached for her old fashioned Rolodex and pulled his information card.

"That would be a big help, thank you. I'll pass the word."

"Please do. If I can do anything else to help, let me know."

"Enjoy your lunch, Ms. Downey." Tani closed the door behind herself.

Between bites of her lunch, Lynn called Rich Greenly.

...

George left the grocery store as a couple of junkies stumbled in. One offered him oral sex for $20. When she saw his look of disgust, she lowered her price to $10. He walked away without a look back.

The morning air was cold, the sky grey. He turned his collar up to keep his ears as warm as he could. He walked a few blocks until he found a phone booth with a working phone. Finally finding a phone that worked, he closed the phone booth door and sat down heavily on the fold down metal seat that appeared when the door closed. He found change in his pocket and dialed.

"Good morning. Goodweather Law Office. How my I direct your call?"

"Dennis Goodweather, please."

"I'm sorry; Mr. Goodweather is out of the office until next week. May one of the other partners help you?"

"No, thank you. I'll call back next week. G'bye." He hung up. Sitting there, he was warmer now than he had been all night, he spied a donut shop on the corner. He decided to grab a coffee and a donut.

His warm donuts in a bakery bag in hand, George made his way back to the phone booth. Once inside, George sat down and warmed his hands on the coffee cup. Lucky for him, foot traffic was light and no one bothered his makeshift breakfast.

After finishing his second donut, he pulled out the old phone book chained to the phone booth years ago. He looked up casinos in Atlantic City. He started dialing looking for Dennis Goodweather or Julianne McKitridge.

...

"So, that's the latest we know. Get a hold of McTavish because we sent all the photo of Vasily Federchuk to his tablet." Danny recommended.

Catherine uncrossed her legs and handed the phone to Steve. She got up and went to get McTavish.

"Dddanny, ddo you realllly tthinnkk Vasssily is ccomminng hherre?" Steve managed.

Catherine was back with McTavish in tow.

"Yes, Steve, I do. I wouldn't have warned you if I didn't consider it a plausible outcome. I'm sorry but Catherine may be a last line of defense."

"I'll be my own last line of defense." Steve bristled.

"Mustang." Catherine said softly in Steve's ear. She looked at Danny on the screen. "I got his six, Danny. Whether he likes it or not."

"McTavish." Danny called.

He entered the camera's view and snapped to attention. "Sir."

"Grover sent you photos of our suspect. He could be a maintenance man, an x-ray tech, anything really. Make sure all your squad knows his face, his description. I'm counting on you McTavish; Steve is a personal friend of mine." Danny gave McTavish his marching orders.

Steve and Catherine exchanged surprised small smiles.

"Yes sir. Anything else?" McTavish asked.

"If I get any more info I'll send it to your tablet. Dismissed."

McTavish turn smartly and returned to his post.

"Thank you for everything, Danny." Catherine smiled.

"Ttthannkk yoou, Ddannny." Steve said as he hit then end button. "Jjust wwhen I was starttting tto ffeel safe herrre." He sat back on his pillows. "Cccatttty cat, maybbe yoou sshoouldd sstay inn a nnearbby hhoteel."

"Like hell. Sailors don't run from trouble! We jump in with both feet." Catherine crossed her arms and gave Steve a hard look. "You wouldn't leave me; are you going to lay there and say you'd leave me – with a straight face?"

Steve closed his eyes; oh how he hated this! But Catherine cornered him beautifully, logically so he gave up. "Yoou'rre rrightt." He took her hand. "Tthannk you, Ccat."

"I consider this a closed subject. I'm staying with you. End of discussion." Catherine said with a satisfied smile.

...

"Yes, Mr. Goodweather is our guest. Would you like you like me to ring his suite?" The over friendly operator offered.

George clenched his teeth and sighed. "Yes, please. Thank you." The line rang as a small car drove up next to the phone booth. He waived to the driver.

The operator returned to the line. "I'm sorry, no answer. Would you like to leave a message?"

A sigh. "No. But may I have their room number?" George asked as sweet as he could manage.

"Against hotel privacy, sir. I'm sorry."

"I want to send some flowers."

"Please send them to the Borgata with the name and 'guest' on the paperwork and they will be delivered."

"I'll try back later, thank you." George hung up and collected his garbage. Exiting the phone booth, he tossed his trash in a trash barrel next to the phone booth. He got into the small car.

"Vasily"

"Giorgi"

The brothers managed to hug in the cramped car.

"So, Giorgi, what's happening?"

"I need some things 'handled'. Do you think you could still get into a hospital?"

"For you brother, piece of pie. What you need?"

"Cake. A witness."

"Look natural?"

"If you can. Messy, if you can get out."

"Where and who?"

"New Brunswick RWJ Trauma Center, patient name is McGarrett."