Chapter Six

Day Two – Morning

"Thomas, buddy!" Rick greeted cheerfully over the phone the next day. He'd just finished opening up the bar and was about to sit down for a late breakfast while the rest of his staff got the place ready for business. "What's up, man?"

"Katsumoto just called," Thomas replied, sounding so much better compared to last night. "He asked if we could come down to the station to sign our statements and clear up some things. I'm on my way to you now."

Rick frowned. "Wait, you're not driving, are you? I thought the doc said–"

"Relax," Magnum said and Rick could hear the laughter in his voice. "TC came over to the Nest to drop off an artifact for Kumu so I'm hitching a ride with him."

Rick released the breath he'd been holding. "All right, brother, see you in a bit."

~O~O~O~

"Crandall filed a report?" Magnum repeated in disbelief, brows furrowed. "For what? Stopping him from shooting someone else?"

Katsumoto, unaffected by the outburst, said evenly, "He's saying you tackled him without any provocation."

Rick bristled. "He was waving a gun around. And he'd just shot a guy!"

"He said that they were just having a normal, friendly conversation when Magnum interrupted them, and that's when the gun accidentally went off."

"That's crazy, man, and you know it," Rick shook his head. "They were yelling at each other and he even pointed that gun at Thomas! And probably would have shot TM if Kekoa hadn't rushed him." He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the HPD detective. "Accidentally, my ass."

"Hey, I'm not saying I believe him," Katsumoto said, his tone placating. "I'm just letting you know the guy's side of the story."

"So what now?" Magnum asked, absently rubbing his upper left arm. He could have sworn he saw a flicker of approval in Katsumoto's normally unreadable gaze earlier when the older man took note of the sling he wore but it was gone before he could be sure.

"Now we wait until Roger Kekoa gives his side of the story. But I wouldn't worry too much about that if I were you. I have a strong feeling that it will line up with yours," Katsumoto replied. Seeing the question in their eyes, he added, "He's still unconscious but his vitals are good and the doctors think he'll wake up soon."

~O~O~O~

"Hey, bud, you doing okay over there?" Rick asked with a worried frown as he took his eyes off the road for a few seconds to address his silent passenger. Thomas hadn't said a word since they left the precinct.

"Yeah, sorry," Thomas answered, rubbing the back of his neck. He shifted a little in the car seat, adjusting the position of his left arm until it was comfortably resting on his abdomen. "It's just that… it doesn't make any sense."

"What doesn't? The charges? I thought Katsumoto said not to worry about them."

"Exactly," Thomas said, shaking his head. "If it's totally pointless, why go through all the trouble in the first place?"

Rick could practically see the wheels turning in his friend's head. "What's your theory?"

"I think it's a distraction – he wants us focused on it, chasing our tails, but why? What's he hiding?" Thomas looked over and met Rick's steady gaze. "My gut says that there's more to it than a couple of guys getting into an argument about parking rights."

"So, what's the plan?"

Once again, Thomas was struck by how rich and full his life was with his friends, his Ohana, by his side. Rick's constant and unwavering support never meant more than it did now, but he also had his own business to run, and running around with him on a case that may not even be a case in the first place was no way to run said business. And Thomas knew that if he needed the help, he could always rely on Higgins to watch his back.

He cleared his throat. "Listen, man–"

"I know what you're going to say," Rick interjected gently, never taking his eyes off the road as he expertly manoeuvred the silver Porsche through traffic. "But we started this together, so we're going to finish it the same way."

Not giving up, Thomas tried again, "But La Mariana…"

"I have well-trained people who can take over from me for a day… or five. And TC can help watch over the place if the need arises." They'd just left the main road, and Rick took the opportunity to speed up a little. "Besides, I kind of miss this, you know – you and me… Magnum and Rick, Private Investigations…"

Thomas laughed, a genuine, throaty chuckle that had Rick grinning. "Like I've always said, we make a great team."

They shared another grin, and then Thomas nodded. "That we do, brother."

~O~O~O~

"You can't be serious, Magnum. You're supposed to be resting that shoulder of yours, not gallivanting all over the island with your BFF," Juliet said over the phone several hours later after he'd given her an update. She couldn't see Magnum's face but she could almost hear him roll his eyes at that.

"Hey, he's your BFF too!"

"True but that's beside the point here," she shot back but found it hard to contain her smile at Magnum's mock indignation. She shook her head, amused in spite of herself, when Rick's loud, infectious laughter came over the line at her response. If she'd been told, when Magnum first moved into Robin's Nest, that she would someday consider him and his brothers the closest thing to family, she never would have believed it. Now, however, she couldn't imagine her life without them.

"Come on, Higgy," Magnum replied, and she could hear the playful challenge in his voice. "Don't tell me you're not the least bit curious as to why Crandall's throwing those trumped-up charges at me? And how Kekoa is connected to this man?"

He was right – she was curious, although her focus had been more on the little girl instead of the father. She'd taken the morning to do some digging into Roger Kekoa to find out more about his family and what she'd found had piqued her curiosity. Walking back to her desk, she sat down and said, "All right, Magnum, I'll bite. What did you find out from your visit?"

"According to Nancy Kekoa, her husband had been rather tense and stressed out the past few months but he told her that it was work related. She thought things had finally settled down when he suddenly asked her to take their daughter and go stay with her parents," Thomas answered. "But she didn't want to leave him or fly all the way to the mainland so they ended up at her friend's house on the other side of the island. That was three days ago."

"Perhaps they were having marital problems?" Juliet ventured a guess even though she had a feeling it was more than that.

"That wasn't the impression we got," Thomas' reply told her she wasn't wrong. "Mrs Kekoa said that he kept insisting it was to keep both of them safe and he swore to tell her everything soon."

"And she has no idea what he was involved in?"

"Not a clue."

"And how is the little girl coping with everything that's happened?" Higgins asked.

"She was asleep, so we didn't actually see her, but her mom said she's doing okay…" Magnum answered and Higgins frowned when the rest of his sentences faded out from the call.

"Magnum? Rick? You still there?"

"–we're losing you, Higgy," Thomas' voice suddenly came back on the line. "Hello…?"

"Jules! We'll catch you up … other details of … later," Juliet heard Rick yell out above the static just before the line went dead, leaving her sitting there staring at the phone, bemused. She didn't know how to explain it but for a moment, her gut churned with a flash of worry.

"Was that Rick?" a familiar voice asked from the doorway of her office, shaking her out of her uneasy thoughts.

"Yes, and Thomas, but the call dropped. They must be passing through a dead zone," Juliet answered, her smile faltering a little. She indicated the cup on her table with a slight tilt of her head. "Thank you for the coffee, Kumu. I thought you'd already left for the Centre."

"The director of the exhibition got called away for a last-minute meeting so I'm only bringing over the new artifact tomorrow, and leaving for my trip right after," Teuila 'Kumu' Tuileta explained. She studied the majordomo and then asked, "Is everything all right, Juliet? You look worried."

Juliet hesitated for a second and then said softly, "It's nothing, probably just nerves from their close call yesterday. And now Magnum's running around the island with that injured shoulder of his…"

Kumu chuckled. "Sounds like Thomas is just fine. Plus, Rick's with him."

"I'm not sure if I should find that thought comforting or be completely terrified by it," Juliet shook her head with a smile.

With a hearty laugh, Kumu gave the younger woman a reassuring pat on her arm as she made her way out. "You know, I could always reschedule my trip to the mainland…"

"What? No, don't do that," Juliet exclaimed, touched by the older woman's concern. "I appreciate the offer, Kumu, but we're fine, really. Please, you've been planning this reunion for the last few weeks."

Kumu gave her a long look, still uncertain, and then asked, "If you're sure…?"

"Yes, I am," Juliet said with a smile. "Please, go tomorrow and enjoy your week off."

After another searching glance, the cultural curator nodded. "All right, I'll be in my room packing if you need me."

"Thank you, Kumu," Juliet replied, acknowledging the support with a grateful smile. After taking a moment to savour the hot, steaming beverage, she turned back to her laptop and tapped on a few keys. It was time to see what she could dig up on Ray Crandall.

~O~O~O~

It wasn't long after the abrupt end of the call to Higgins that Thomas received a text from Katsumoto. He sent back a quick reply and then said to Rick, "Kekoa's awake."

"Let me guess, we're going to the hospital."

Thomas had to smile at the matter-of-fact tone and shook his head. "Not today. Visiting hours would be long over by the time we get there. And Gordy says they're only allowing family for now."

"So, tomorrow?"

"Only if you're sure…" he answered, wanting to give Rick another chance to back out.

"Tommy…"

The thinly veiled warning in his best friend's tone had Magnum laughing outright. He nodded. "Tomorrow."

.

A/N: And we're halfway through – just six more chapters after this! SaraWrites120, Drjscully, Marlab, and Lhaven: Thank you so much for your lovely reviews for Chapter Five!