Unexpected Choices2
"Joe!" Williams stood facing Jenny's husband. His face was white and he could see Joe had aged since the last time he had seen him. His was his fault; Joe was here in the first place. Words seemed hard to come by.
"How long have you been here?" Williams leaned on the wall facing Joe and biting his lower lip.
"Oh about an hour and a half. I just got done seeing her. Thank God she's alive." Joe leaned against the wall, the adrenaline rush quickly fading after seeing his wife alive.
"Joe, it's all my fault. If I hadn't… I should have…" Dan looked at Jenny's stricken husband another victim to his innocent suggestion.
"It's okay Danny she's alive and that all that matters. I'm going to go back up for now. She needs all the prayers you can give her." Joe patted Williams's shoulder, winked and then headed back to the elevators.
Williams nodded. "I'll see you later then." He shook Joe's hand and headed out of the hospital. The bright sunshine made him squint as he headed to his car. He squealed out of the hospital parking lot on a mission.
The police parking lot still looked the same as he pulled in. He could see the black bands all ready on the uniforms for their fallen comrade. He waved to a few men and made his way into the building. Following a familiar footpath he entered into a busy room.
"Hello June," Williams tried a faint smile. He could see the strain and stress on the clerks face. She continued with her work as they talked.
"Hello Danny. Isn't it sad about Mark? He was such a good cop." June patted the paperwork hard against the counter. It echoed in the din of the room. She was in her mid-thirties and had seen everything. Her cynical smile suffered when she talked about a fallen cop.
"Yeah, really sad. That's why I'm here. I want to take a look at the logbook." Danny tried smiling, his heart not really in it, still thinking of Joe, Jenny and Hickum.
"Sure, Danny. Not a problem," she reached under a counter and pulled out the huge book. "Although I'm not sure why you want it."
Williams found the page all ready book marked and noted the partial license plate Hickum had called in. "June, I want a readout on this partial and anything else you can give me."
"Danny. McGarrett was all ready here. He has everything and is waiting on the report." June was confused at Dan's request.
"What? Okay, thanks June. Give my best to Mark's family." Dan frowned as he left the room wondering why Steve didn't tell him he was handling this part of the case, he should be working it since he was the cause of it.
"Sure thing, Danny," the clerk waved to the confused detective.
The short ride to the office only made Williams anger rise quicker to the surface. Parking the car he bounded up the steps ignoring the looks and head shaking. By the time he had reached the outer office his breathing was heavy and he could feel the sweat pouring off of him. Ignoring the temporary secretary, Williams barreled into McGarrett's office only to find him on the phone. Watching McGarrett on the phone, the last hour kept turning over in his head. McGarrett seemed to be ignoring him only heightening Williams's emotions.
"Thanks, John. I'll talk to you later." McGarrett stared at him. "Danno I wanted you back in the office as soon as Joe showed up, not at HPD."
"What, you checking up on me or something? I had to do something only to find out I was left behind. What about trying to find the perp or even check on Hickum's record? Williams stood with his clenched fists behind his back.
"All ready done, Danno. Chin and Ben are following up on that." McGarrett's jaw was clenched, his palms flat against his desk.
"And what am I supposed to do?" Dan's voice rose, angry at being left out of the loop.
"Your job, Danno. I'm sure you have plenty of other cases to take your time. That is what the state of Hawaii is paying you for. Or have you forgotten?" McGarrett leaned back in his chair. "That's what I expect from you."
"Dammitt Steve. I want to help if it wasn't for me." Williams's voice descended.
"Exactly. If it weren't for you I would have a healthy and happy secretary right now. Instead of a temp and all of Hawaii knowing what happened. Oh the press was there all right. We made front page news, in fact so much that the D.A.'s office has taken an interest." McGarrett pounded on the desk.
"D.A.'s but why?" Williams shook his head, not sure what Steve was inferring.
"Why? To check up on us, as a precaution. That is why I want you to keep on the other cases. This one will die away as soon as something else peaks the press interest. As to Jenny, I prefer you not to see her right now, not until the Jackals aren't hanging around the hospital. Do I make myself clear?" McGarrett's eye's bored into Williams.
"Oh, you make yourself perfectly clear Steve. I'll make sure I'll make myself as scarce as possible. Now if you'll excuse me I have cases to work on." Williams turned around quickly then went into his office. He grabbed a few files and then left the office. He could feel McGarrett's stare burning a hole in his back of his head.