Same day…
"I wanna see my kid." Lou shoved four HPD officers out of his way like a bowling ball. "Where's my kid?"
Steve stopped him. "Wait."
"Get out of my way, Steve. I mean it." Right then, Lou was a brick wall of unchecked fatherly aggression. No one stood a chance. Not even a highly trained Navy SEAL.
Making eye contact, Steve took a breath. His friend was shaking and he wanted to make it stop.
"He's okay, Lou. Will's alright."
Lou searched Steve's face. The frantic swirl of energy faded a little. But only a fraction.
"Where -"
"Danny's with him."
"Danny?"
The name didn't compute for a second. Why would Danny be with his son? Where was Grace? Didn't he have his own kid to worry about?
It hit him hard and tears streamed down his face.
"Grace?"
The flash of pain on Steve's face almost broke Lou. No explanation was needed. This was bad. So bad.
"Lou." Danny's voice cut through the moment. "Will's inside."
Standing there, like any other day, Danny held the front door open, inviting him into his home. Lou walked toward him in a daze. What parallel universe had he stumbled into? How could Danny be so calm?
When he got closer, Lou shuddered. What he saw scared him. He knew what came next. The madness. The search. What bubbled beneath the surface was awesome in its magnitude. He'd been there himself.
But right then. The calm was disturbing. Lou exchanged a quick glance with Steve that said everything.
This is fucked up. This will not be pretty.
/././
Steve stood guard on the driveway. No one got inside without checking with him. He wanted to keep traffic to a minimum. Necessary personnel only.
Which was Danny, Lou, a paramedic and Will.
No Grace.
What the fuck had happened?
Steve didn't know if Will had said anything. He was pretty messed up when they found him. Face beaten to a pulp. A nasty gash on the back of his head. Fingernails ripped off. Shirt torn. The door to Grace's room had been pushed in. Completely off its frame.
They were taking Will to Queens. Transport was almost ready.
Preparing himself for what came next, Steve hardened his heart. He didn't know what would happen. Except for one thing - with the immediate needs buttoned up, Danny would be left with the awful truth.
Grace was missing. Again.
There was only one thing for Steve to do. Lead his ohana through this hell.
Jerry was already running down the slim leads they had. Traffic cams. Two neighbors had those security doorbell cameras. Motion detectors. HPD was canvassing the area, knocking on doors.
A new arrival had Steve on high alert. He softened only a fraction when Tani and Junior tumbled out of her car. Both looking like they'd just woken up. Together.
Steve pushed that thought away, as amusing as it was.
"What do we know?" Junior spoke first, all business even though he was wearing yesterday's clothes.
Tani stood beside him, mouth open in a question.
Steve touched her shoulder and she jumped. "Go talk to Danny."
"Talk to him?" She was angry for a second like his request was outrageous. Then she almost whispered. "What do I say?"
"I don't know." Steve was honest. "Keep an eye on him. Give him an update."
"Has anyone called Rachel?" Junior asked.
"Yes. She has Charlie on Maui with Stan. They're already in police protection."
"Good, that's good." Junior was running out of things to hold him back.
Steve knew the feeling. He itched with the need to do something more concrete, too.
"Junior – coordinate with HPD. Take the lead here."
"Yes sir."
For once Steve didn't mind the sir. He wanted Junior the SEAL right then. Not a friend.
Tani hesitated. Still bewildered. Junior flashed a reassuring smile. "You've got this."
Before she could move, someone approached. They watched another paramedic wheel a gurney toward the house. Steve gave his blessing but didn't leave his post. Tani took her cue and followed, helping guide the stretcher over the threshold.
When they emerged a few minutes later, Steve tensed his jaw. Will was worse now as the bruises had begun to bloom. Lou didn't even look up when the group walked past. He was murmuring things to his son. Steve felt the most awful tug on his chest. His eyes darted to the empty hole of a doorway where he could make out Danny standing inside, draped in shadow, hands flexing and unflexing.
The battle had begun.
/././
Earlier that day...if time existed in dreams...
Grace laughed as her dress slid down her body. She'd been drunk before and this wasn't the same feeling. It was better…so much better.
Will stood in his boxers, hands on his hips, pretending to be impatient with her. She knew he was just as nervous.
"I locked the door and set the alarm. No one's coming."
"You sure?" Will moved in closer, his fingers tracing the lace on her strapless bra. She'd bought this one special for the dress. "This is pretty. I like it."
She knew she was blushing, as the heat rose in her cheeks. There was something else too. She tingled all over. Her body anticipating.
He leaned in and kissed her; their mouths open. They weren't new to this part. Tongues touching, breathing together. Hands roaming.
Grace stepped into his embrace, nudging that hard, warm place.
"Do you want me to-"
She didn't finish her sentence. Will took her hand and moved it farther south.
"Yea." He shivered. "If you want."
Nodding, she slid her hand under his waistband, fingers curling around his length. They'd done that before, too. Will pushed the dress to the floor and her panties along with it.
/././
Two days later...maybe...
Grace woke up again, and it was dark this time. She wanted to stay in that dream. To linger again. The pleasure of the moment a tease and a savior. She wasn't scared.
But then the bliss evaporated and her eyes watered. Pissed off, she would not cry. She didn't know if she could. She hadn't been drinking the water.
Grace did not want to pee in the bucket. Not again.
Balancing on the rough, plastic edge was not her idea of anything she ever wanted to do. Part of her felt bold because she'd done it, though. She was tough as nails.
Her dad would come. Uncle Steve would come.
And she'd tell them how brave she was.
Well, maybe she'd leave out the bucket and her dreams. She'd keep those things to herself. Her dad always talked about leaving some stuff unsaid. He didn't need all the details.
Her next breath caught sharp in her chest. Maybe she would tell Danno everything. But she wouldn't cry. She'd conserve her water.
She would wait for them. It's all she could do.
Grace lay down on the flimsy mattress and listened to the seagulls laughing.
Her dad would come. Uncle Steve would come.
There are 5 chapters to this story. I will post every other day.
