This chapter is being delivered later than we had planned, and it is also a bit shorter than most, but we wanted to have something to you this week. It seems that while we have a LOT of this story written, most of it is for future chapters. We had to reposition ourselves and get our team back in the here and now! We hope you enjoy.
A Wrinkle in Time
by Sym64 and Cokie316
Chapter 14
"Do we need to stop at the hospital?"
"What?" Steve looked over at his friend behind the wheel. "I'm fine, Cath."
"To be honest, you don't look fine," Catherine softly replied and shook her head.
Steve reached over the console and snared her fingers in his, giving them a gentle squeeze. "You're doing it again," he said softly, a grin on his face.
"Doing what?" she asked, returning her hand to the wheel.
"Worrying too much," he replied. "Yeah, I'm tired, but it's a good tired, you know? Thankfully, it's Friday. If everything runs smoothly today, maybe we can get out early. In fact, how about a nice dinner? I've wanted to go to Morimoto's ever since I've been back. How does that sound?"
Catherine smiled. "Have you ever known me to turn down sushi?"
"Nah, you'll eat anything."
"Hey!" She smacked him on the arm.
"Ow! Careful, I bruise easily."
"Really? I hadn't noticed," she retorted.
"Careful, Rollins. Don't go bruising my ego." He turned to grin at her when she parked in a space next to the palace.
"I'll remember that. Hey," she added, after getting out of the car. "Do you think we can invite the others to have dinner with us?"
"That sounds like a great idea," he replied. "It's been a rough week. We all need a break."
H50 – H50 – H50
Chin came in shortly after Steve and Catherine had arrived. He entered the office and shook his head, smiling at Steve. "Just got back from HPD. The suspects have been booked and are waiting their lawyers. That was a pretty good haul this morning. You managed to solve six murders last night. And no telling how many more lives were saved. Great job, Steve."
Steve shrugged. "First, it was a joint effort and while we solved these murders, we don't know who killed Jerry. So we still have a lot of work to do."
Cath began typing on the large computer, her list showing on the screens above them. "Let's put together all we have on Jerry. First, the cookies had high doses of arsenic."
"Yes," Steve said. "I learned that arsenic production has ceased in the United States. But when I checked it, learned it is still used for poisons mainly in Asia. Probably easy to get from there. Maybe even here in some local Asia Stores. That's an angle we need to check."
Cath again began typing while Grover added another point. "We have an unknown female suspect who delivered cookies to Jerry. She was listed as Caucasian, petite with short brown hair. Maybe we can get something from a nearby traffic cam."
"I'll work on that," Danny said. "We know she was there at least twice."
Steve nodded. "Yes, two different afternoons. That may help in narrowing down the footage to look for."
"We also know that Jerry was speaking of someone he called 'Aunt Pat'," Chin added. "I will check with Jerry's mother to learn who she is and where Jerry saw her."
"Speaking of Pat," John said and turned to Steve. "At the restaurant last week, you heard two men speaking of "Jameson". On the news coming in this morning I heard that Pat Jameson will be here tomorrow evening to dedicate a park named in her honor. While the 'Jameson' they were talking about may have nothing to do with her, I'm going to check into her business dealings. I don't believe in coincidences."
"That's true," Steve said, reaching for his ringing phone. He instantly grinned and connected the call. "Freddie. Hey, buddy, how're you doing?"
His team, standing around the smart table stopped their discussion and looked at their leader.
"Good, man, good. Listen, Steve, could you come by see me in the morning?"
"Ah, tomorrow morning? I guess so," Steve replied.
"I really need to talk to you before my surgery."
"What surgery? You didn't say anything about any surgery," Steve said in alarm.
"It's no big deal. They're gonna fix my gut, so that I don't have to shit in a bag anymore."
Steve cringed at his best friend's words, vividly remembering the horrible wound Freddie had suffered. Back in the field, Steve had barely been able to keep his friend's intestines in. He had known right away that the bullet had done devastating damage. "Oh, OK. Sure, I'll come by around… when's your surgery?"
"Not before noon, they said."
"OK, I'll see you at oh-eight-hundred; that work for you?"
"Perfect. Thanks, man."
"Sure. See you then." Steve ended the call and turned to his team. "Sorry about that."
"What was that about? Friend of yours?" Danny asked.
"Yeah. My best friend. Freddie. He uh, he was injured and is now recovering at Tripler," Steve told them without elaborating.
"So, he's Navy?" Danny wanted to know.
"Yeah," Steve absently replied. He worried about the surgery his friend had to have. Neither Kelly nor Freddie had said anything about further surgeries. As far as he knew, Freddie was well on his way to recovery. Obviously, he had been wrong about that.
"Hey, I have news," Chin interrupted Steve's train of thought after hanging up his own phone. "That was Halawa."
"What you got?" Steve asked and pushed his worry to the side.
"One of the guards I know just called," Chin began. "And I've got to say it was a very strange call. He relayed a message that I should give to the 'Commander'."
"What message?" Steve asked, suddenly curious.
"The strip-o-gram's presence is requested," Chin read from the note he had jotted down. He looked at Danny who immediately burst out laughing.
"Kamekona wants to see you," Danny said, and could hardly keep the smirk in. He only stopped snickering when he saw the look on Steve's face.
"Very funny," Steve grumbled.
"What the heck is he talking about?" Catherine asked.
"Steve and I went to see Kamekona in Halawa when we investigated Wo Fat. And he called Steve a 'strip-o-gram'," Danny explained, again with laughter in his voice.
"Why?" Cath still didn't get it.
"Because he was in uniform."
"Anyway! Why does he want to see me? Did he say?" He glanced at the small smile on Catherine's face and knew that the strip-o-gram comments weren't over.
"No, just that you're required to come see him," Chin replied.
Steve checked his watch. "Mr. Kamekona will have to wait until after I talk with the governor. He's waiting to hear the details of the arrests this morning, so excuse me, please," he said while heading to his office. Not even trying to hide the heavy limp.
H50 – H50 – H50
"So, is he happy?" Danny asked a few minutes later when Steve returned.
Steve nodded. "Yes, and he wanted me to tell you all what a great job you did. He is quite pleased. And, he also said that since we've all been up for most of the last 48 hours, that we should call it a day. So, go home! Danny and I will head to Halawa and will leave after that."
"That's great," Chin said with a smile. "It just so happens that my wife has the day off, too."
"And I can go home and begin packing," John told them.
"Hey, anyone interested in going for dinner with us tonight?" Catherine asked the group.
"We have dinner plans with Malia's auntie tonight," Chin replied. "But thank you."
"Count us out," Danny said. "Rachel has already made plans for our dinner tonight. But thanks."
"Let me check with Renee when I get home," Lou told her. "As far as I know, we are free."
"Sounds good," Cath said. "Text me when you decide. John, how about you and Kilani?"
"We'll see," he told her, "but I know she was planning to pack all day today, too."
"You guys are anxious to move, huh?" Grover asked him with a grin.
"New chapter in my life," John agreed. "And yeah, for an old man, it feels kind of good."
"Old man, huh?" Lou said. "I'm guessing you could run laps around a lot of those young snots at HPD."
"Not planning to try it anytime soon," John told him, slapping the larger man on his arm. "Now let's finish up and get outta here. The weekend's calling!"
H50 – H50 – H50
Danny and Steve sat down at the same table they had talked to Kamekona all those weeks ago.
"How are you doing?" Danny asked after a moment.
"Huh? I'm fine."
"Right. Look, I know I don't always show that I care, but I do," Danny explained and squirmed in his chair. It was obviously uncomfortable for him to talk about it. "I worry about you. We all do. And quite frankly, you are anything but fine."
"I am fine, Danny. But thanks for asking. It's just bruises," Steve told his new friend with a smile. "They hurt," he added.
"You are limping a lot more than you had been over the last few days, and I think your arm hurts pretty bad."
"I, uh, I kinda fell on it in the alley, and…" Steve said but stopped any further explanation when the door opened to reveal Kamekona.
"Ah, gentlemen, I see you got my message," the big man said when he sat down. "What, no uniform, Commander? And pardon my critique, but you look like you have been in a dog fight."
"What do you want?" Steve asked, already exasperated with the game.
"Why so impatient?" Kamekona shook his head at the two officers. "I asked you here to my humble abode so that I could do you a favor. But I was just thinking..."
"That's never a good thing," Danny mumbled.
"What about?" Steve asked.
"I have another 18 months in here, and I think you two fine gentlemen can reduce that for me."
"Oh, is that so? And why, pray tell would we wanna do that?" Steve now was curious though he chose to remain nonchalant.
"Because I have valuable information."
"Re—ally?" Steve asked doubtful. "You have information for us?"
"Yeah, and I think it should bring me very close to my release."
"Uh huh," Danny commented. "What information do you have?"
"What? Do you think I'm stupid?" Kamekona looked at the detective.
"Do I think… well…"
"Don't listen to Detective Williams," Steve interjected, leaning forward on the table. "If your information is as valuable as you say it is, I will talk to the DA and see what I can do to reduce your sentence. You have my word on that."
Kamekona stared at Steve on the opposite side of the table and with a nod, finally replied, "I trust you, Commander. Victor Hesse had a visitor yesterday." He looked around the room. "And I know that the meeting was not recorded, but I know what they talked about. And you won't believe what I'm about to tell you."
"Why don't you let us be the judge of that?" Steve asked.
Ten minutes later the two Five-0 left the interrogation room.
"Do you believe him?" Danny asked.
"Why would he make something up like that?"
"I don't know. To get a deal out of us."
"No, I don't think so. He knows we will check his story before we help him," Steve replied.
"You are actually going to talk to the DA?"
"I gave him my word, didn't I?"
"Whatever," Danny said and signed for his gun they got back from the guard at the counter. "I'm driving," he called over his shoulder and marched to the car.
"Fine by me," Steve mumbled and slowly limped after his team mate.
H50 – H50 – H50
"Wow, this is nice!" Renee Grover exclaimed after they had been seated outdoors at Morimoto Waikiki.
"It is," Cath agreed. "Glad they asked whether we wanted indoor or outdoor seating when I made reservations."
"I'm surprised it wasn't booked on a Friday night," Steve commented as they settled into their chairs.
"That's true," Lou replied. "But think of all the restaurants in this area. And I bet the tourists generally eat later than this."
"Regardless, it is perfect," Cath agreed, opening her menu. Glancing up, she said, "Hey, there's Danny. We should see if they want to sit here with us."
"Yeah," Steve said, standing. "We can fit another two chairs around here, can't we?"
"Of course," Lou agreed, also standing. "I'm coming with. I want to meet the woman who makes Danny Williams tremble in fear."
"Oh, Lou, that isn't true," Renee said.
"You haven't heard his stories," Lou assured her before following Steve into the restaurant.
"Hey, you two," Steve said. "This is a surprise."
Danny glanced up, surprised to see them at the same restaurant. "Hey, didn't know you were coming here. Rachel, this is Steve McGarrett and Lou Grover," he told them, waving his hands. "Guys, my lovely other half, Rachel."
Lou smiled. "Well, any woman's purtier than you, Jersey."
Steve smiled at Danny's wife. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Rachel. Would you two like to join us on the lanai? We have plenty room at our table."
Rachel looked Steve up and down and then replied, "Actually, no, we will stay indoors. I don't like the outdoor air messing with my hair while I'm trying to eat."
"Oh, OK, well it's nice meeting you. Hopefully we can get together soon," Steve replied in a what he hoped was a nice tone. Her attitude irked him.
"See you on Monday," Danny said as the other two men left the table.
"Well, she surely checked you out, Commander," Grover mumbled before they made it to the lanai. "And I think there's some ice in her veins."
Steve gave a chuckle. "Maybe she's just reserved," he said.
"If you say so, my man," Grover replied.
"Are they coming?" Cath asked when the men returned.
"Ah, no," Steve told them while he sat back down at the table.
"She don't want to get her hair all mussed up," Grover said in a loud whisper.
"Lou, stop it," Renee said. "That's a valid reason."
"That's not a reason, that is BS if you ask me," he muttered. "You should'a seen the way she gave Steve the once over. Like she was checking out a rotten fish or something."
"Lou Grover, hush your mouth."
"I'm just sayin'…"
"Well, don't say anything!"
Catherine smiled and turned to Steve. "I don't know about checking you out, but she has angled her chair so that she can see us. And I think we are the hot topic of conversation at that table."
"Maybe she's just curious about all of us," Steve said, still not sure what to think of Danny's wife. She sure didn't make a good first impression with him.
"Then she should'a come and joined us," Lou stated. "But I'm gonna guess we'll have more fun at our table tonight than Jersey does."
"Lou…"
"Just my guess," he said. "But, you know, woman, I'm rarely wrong. Hey, I've got a question, Steve."
"Sure, what?"
The waiter who asked for their orders interrupted them. They paused their conversation for the important task of ordering food.
"Lou, you had a question?" Steve asked, taking a drink of his beer.
"Yeah, I'm just being nosy," Lou replied. "You mentioned your friend this morning. I take it he's in the hospital having surgery?"
Steve glanced at Catherine before speaking. "Yeah, my best friend. His name is Freddie Hart. We've been together since BUD/s. He-ah was critically injured on the op that brought me to Hawaii. He was just transferred to Tripler Army Hospital for rehab last weekend."
"Steve and his wife Kelly got married a couple months ago," Catherine told them. "And they are having a baby girl."
"Wow. A first baby is so exciting," Renee said.
"They won't know any excitement for a while is what I'm sayin'," Lou muttered, grinning at his wife.
"I'm sorry guys," Renee told them. "Apparently I can't take this man any place."
"What kind of surgery is it?" Lou asked. "Anything dangerous?"
Steve sighed and glanced out to the water. "Freddie didn't seem to think it was dangerous. When they fixed him up, they had to create an ostomy, but he said he's healed enough to reverse the procedure."
"That's great news," Catherine said. "And to do it this quickly sounds like he healed well."
"Yeah, that's true," Steve agreed, then made a face.
"So what's wrong?" Cath asked.
Steve shrugged. "I don't know. There was just something in his voice. It just didn't sound like Freddie." He shook his head. "I'm going to visit him tomorrow morning and if something's up, I guess I'll find out then."
"You know, if he's been in the hospital for a few weeks, I'm sure he is stir crazy," Renee said. "Maybe that's all it is."
"You're probably right," Cath agreed with her. "Just think about it, you would be out of your mind by now. And Freddie isn't any more patient than you are."
"Are you saying I have no patience?" Steve challenged his girlfriend.
"If you put it that way, Commander," Catherine replied with a grin. "Speaking of patience, I think I have watched you wince every time you move your fingers long enough now," Catherine said. "When you're done with Freddie tomorrow, get your arm checked out."
"My arm's fine," Steve replied and protectively held his casted arm to his chest.
"It's not," Cath argued. "You fell on it, and you've been in pain ever since. Get it checked."
"Listen to your woman, you're not gonna win anyway," Grover said and smiled at his wife.
"Fine. I'll go let a doctor take a look. But I'm telling you, it's fine," Steve gave in.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," Cath sweetly replied. "Oh, here comes our appetizer!"
H50 – H50 – H50