Chapter 18

Knowing that her friend was doing her a favor and not wanting to take advantage of his kind nature or get either of them in trouble, Terri did not spend much time with Thomas, despite finding it difficult to leave. She stopped at the Club after leaving the hospital and talked with Rick and TC while they coaxed her to order something to eat.

"How's Janet doing?" TC asked, after Terri had brought them up to date on Thomas' condition.

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "I talked to her this morning. She didn't sound good. I'm on my way to the estate. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to talk."

"I'm surprised she's still on the Island," Rick said.

"To be honest, I am, too," Terri said.

"Is she really going to leave?" TC asked.

"Yes," she nodded sadly. "I think she is."

TC shook his head. "It's such a shame. Janet liked living here up until this had to happen. Things certainly don't make sense some times."

"You got that right," Rick agreed.

"Well," Terri said, after finishing her meal and getting ready to leave, "there's always a chance she might stay, but I doubt it."

"Is she going back with Jack?" Rick asked.

Terri nodded. "I think that's the plan. I'll know more when I talk to her."

"Give her our best," TC said, "and make sure we see her and Jack before they leave."

"Will do. Please, guys, let me know if you hear anything, anything at all, about Thomas."

"Sure. You do the same."

Terri nodded, thanked them and headed for Robin Masters' estate.

When Terri arrived at the estate, she found Janet curled up on the sofa in the living room sound asleep. She gently placed a nearby blanket over her and then decided to head to her room for some much-needed sleep.

Two hours later, a soft knock on the door woke her from a restless sleep. A quick glance at the clock radio told her it was midday. She told her visitor to come in. Sitting up in the bed, she was happy to see Janet enter her room.

"Hey, I'm glad to see you," Terri said, motioning for Janet to sit on her bed. "How are you?"

"Did I wake you up?" Janet wanted to know after taking a seat.

"Not really. I was sorta sleeping, but I think I was more awake than anything. I hope you got some shut eye. You looked peaceful when I got here, so I didn't want to wake you."

Janet nodded. "It was a better rest than I had last night. I couldn't believe the weird dreams I was having. They were so weird, I thought they were real and that freaked me out even more."

"I know what you mean. I hate to tell you, but you may have those for a while."

"I guessed as much. Oh, well. Say, any more news on Thomas?"

"Not since I talked to you earlier. I stopped by the Club to see Rick and TC before I came here. I told them to let me know if they find out anything. I'm guessing no one has called."

"Not that I know of. I think Jonathan was going to stop by the hospital, so maybe he'll have some news when he gets back."

"Maybe."

Terri couldn't stifle a yawn; Janet started to rise from the bed.

"I should let you get more sleep. I know you must be exhausted."

But a hand on her forearm stopped her progress.

"Don't leave, Janet. I want to talk to you."

Janet looked at her friend. "I think I know what this is about."

"Are you leaving Hawaii? Are you going back to LA with Jack?"

"I'm not sure," Janet answered, looking and sounding a bit sheepish. "I've been thinking about calling my sister Jenny to see if I could visit with her and her family. For a little while, anyway."

"You mean instead of returning to LA with Jack?"

Janet nodded weakly.

"I think Jack will be very disappointed," Terri felt compelled to say, although she didn't think her friend's idea was such a bad one.

Janet started to look away from her friend and then decided to face her.

"I know. But, right now, LA just seems like another busy city. I don't think going back there will help me. At least, not right now."

"What about Santa Monica? That's not as bad. And Jack would be there with you."

"You're right. And I know I said I would go back with him, and I know I said time is precious, but something doesn't feel right to me, Terri, and I can't go against my instincts. Not again."

"I understand if you need time. Jack will, too."

I hope, Terri added silently.

"Maybe things will get better once Thomas is out of his coma," Janet voiced. "I'm staying here until that happens because I need to know he's going to be all right. I want to talk to him. I want to thank him for helping to save my life."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation.

"Terri, is Janet with you?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes, she is. Come in," Terri said.

He opened the door and let them know that Janet's boss, Mr. Pineda, was downstairs in the den.

"He'd like a moment of your time," Jonathan said to Janet.

"Okay," she said, not sure why he was there and not sure she wanted to see him. "Tell him we'll be down in a minute."

"Very well. Jack is with him now."

"Okay. Thank you, Jonathan."

As Janet combed her fingers through her hair while looking in Terri's mirror, Terri asked Janet why she thought Mr. Pineda had come.

"Good question. I have no idea."

"Maybe he just wants to make sure you're all right."

"That makes sense. The police kept saying he wasn't involved in all of this. I guess the fact that he's here proves that point. Let's find out what he wants."

When Janet and Terri entered the den, they saw Jack leaning back against Higgins' desk, his arms folded in front of him, looking intense.

Carlos Pineda rose from the chair he had been sitting in near the entrance doors and immediately offered his heartfelt apologies to Janet.

"I'm so sorry for what you've been through because of me and my family," he began.

Jack moved to stand near Janet, placing a protective and comforting arm around her shoulders.

"You don't know the half of it," Jack said.

Janet tried to calm him down.

"It's okay, Jack," she said, sounding more in control than she felt. "I'd like to hear what Mr. Pineda has to say."

He pointed to the chair; Janet told him to have a seat. He nodded his thanks and made himself comfortable while the trio situated themselves on the sofa across from him, with Janet sandwiched in between her two best friends.

"I talked to Lt. Tanaka, and as far as he's concerned, the threat is over. My brother and Melinda are in jail and will be for quite some time. My son has agreed to testify, so his sentence has been commuted. My understanding is that the police raided the warehouse next to the one where you were being held, and they captured the gang members who talked once in custody. I believe the police caught everyone involved in this latest drug ring."

"That's good news," Janet said.

"Yes, it is," Pineda agreed. "If only you and Mr. Magnum hadn't been caught in the crossfire. I know I can't change what happened, but I would like to help ease your burden, if you'll let me."

"What do you mean?" Jack asked, his brow furrowing.

Carlos pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket and handed it to Janet.

"I'm selling my flower business," he said. "It feels very tainted to me now, and since I was associated with all that went down, I'm sure my name is not trustworthy at this time. But I can assure you the check made out to you in this envelope is trustworthy. Please accept it, Janet, with my sincerest apologies for all you have been through because of me and my family."

Janet accepted the envelope but she didn't open it.

"Mr. Pineda, I'm sorry to hear you're losing your business. You were a great boss. I want you to know I don't think badly of you."

"I appreciate that, but it is my job to keep my employees safe and to know what is going on around me. I lost my focus, and this is the result, unfortunately. I hope that money will help you to get your life back on track. And again, I am so very sorry. For everything."

Mr. Pineda rose from his chair. "I have an envelope for Mr. Magnum, too. I'm praying he comes out of his coma and will be all right. I want him to know I am taking care of all his medical bills. Is Mr. Higgins around? I'd like to leave this envelope with him, if I may."

"I'll get him," Terri volunteered.

A few moments later, Jonathan entered the room and accepted the envelope from Mr. Pineda.

"This is very kind of you," Jonathan said.

"I know Mr. Magnum is in a coma, but when he comes to, I want him to know that I am taking care of all his hospital expenses and any other expenses related to his recovery."

"Again, Mr. Pineda, that is very kind of you," Jonathan said. "I'm sure Magnum will be most appreciative."

Carlos Pineda looked around the room. "It can't take away the pain and suffering my family has caused, but it's the least I can do. I'll leave you now. Thank you for your time."

Mr. Pineda had no sooner taken his leave than TC and Rick arrived to see how Janet was doing.

"How are you?" Rick asked, as he and TC settled themselves in the den.

"I'm doing okay," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "It's so nice of you guys to visit."

"We came from the hospital," TC said. "They still won't let us see TM, but they said his vitals are stable, whatever that means."

"That's good," Terri said. "That means he's holding his own even though he hasn't woken up."

"Well, I wish he would," Rick said, allowing his frustration and anxiety to get the better of him.

An unexpected buzzing of the front security gates stalled their conversation. Higgins answered the call and was surprised to hear Lt. Maggie Poole's voice.

"Of course," the others heard him say. "I'll let you right in."

After allowing the gates to open, he returned to his guests. "Lt. Poole is on her way in."

"I wonder what she wants?" TC asked.

"Maybe just to see how Magnum is doing," Jonathan offered.

"Maybe," Rick said. "But I'd think she could find out more at the hospital."

"Well, we'll know in a moment, won't we?" Jonathan said.

"Who's Lt. Poole?" Jack asked.

TC turned his attention to Janet, Jack and Terri. "Lt. Poole is a good friend of TM's," he explained. "She's been a good connection for him on some of his cases where he needs to find out classified information."

"She works at Pearl?" Jack asked.

Rick nodded. He was about to say more when the doorbell rang. Higgins excused himself and several moments later, he returned with Maggie, who held the small hand of a bewildered six-year-old child, who had long, somewhat curly, brown hair and the most inquisitive, beautifulbrown eyes.

"I didn't realize you had so many guests," Maggie said to Jonathan.

"It's quite all right," he assured her. "We're all concerned about Magnum."

"I am, too," Maggie said, "and that's why I'm here. I'm going against orders, but I want to introduce all of you to Lily Catherine Magnum, Thomas' daughter."

As gasps of surprise and stares of astonishment traveled around the room, a small voice spoke in her native French. Only Maggie and Higgins understood what Lily had said.

"What did she say?" TC asked, still in awe at seeing his best friend's daughter in the flesh.

"She has only one question," Jonathan responded, shaking his head. "Lily wants to know where her father is."