Note: thanks for the reviews and follows. Sorry about the every other day update, I might be persuaded to post sooner if I get enough reviews. lol. Busy working on the next one too.
Chapter Two
Steve and Danny located the address for the grandmother and had just knocked on the door. Movement could be heard inside, and slowly the door opened revealing a frail looking old lady.
"Mrs. Lomax?" Danny questioned.
"Yes dear, that's me. How can I help you?"
"I'm Detective Williams, from 5-0. This is Commander McGarrett." Danny explained indicating to the badge on his belt. "Please can we come in? We need to speak with you about your granddaughter."
"Oh, yes. Of course." She replied backing away from the door and allowing them to enter, "is Channing ok?"
"Why don't we take a seat?" Steve suggested knowing the news of what her granddaughter had done wouldn't be easy to listen to.
The elderly woman nodded and made her way to a high back chair and indicated for the two to sit on the couch opposite. Both men took up the invitation, and Steve nodded to Danny to take the lead.
"Mrs. Lomax when was the last time you saw your granddaughter Channing?"
"Er... It was the day before yesterday. We had lunch together, why? Is she ok? Oh please don't tell me she has been hurt."
Danny sighed knowing he was about to break the woman's heart. "Mrs. Lomax, I'm afraid Channing got into a fight with one of her housemates this afternoon. Things got heated and Channing stabbed her friend."
"Oh my goodness." Mrs. Lomax cried putting a hand to her mouth. "Is the girl ok? Was it Alex or Laura?"
"It was Laura, and I'm afraid she died almost instantly." Danny said softly.
"Oh no. That can't be, Channing wouldn't do something that terrible, she is a good girl. She wouldn't." Mrs. Lomax said placing her hand to her chest and grimacing.
"I'm sorry, but Alex witnessed everything. Your granddaughter killed Laura." Steve confirmed and the woman burst into tears and continued to grip her chest.
"Mrs. Lomax I know this is upsetting to hear but are you ok?" Danny asked concerned seeing the woman pale, and continue to hold her chest.
"Angina." She explained attempting to control her breathing, "my medicine is in the kitchen."
"I'll get it." Steve said immediately springing to his feet, "stay with her Danny. Try to keep her calm."
Danny moved next to Mrs. Lomax and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "Just try to calm your breathing, my partner is getting your meds. Nice and easy, Mrs. Lomax."
Steve quickly returned with a small red spray bottle, and the woman immediately spayed it under her tongue. Minutes later the pain lines on her face receded and her breathing calmed. Danny had remained by her side coaching her to calm down.
"Thank you." She sighed, "My stupid heart is giving up on me. Between that and my glaucoma I'm a mess. Thank you so much." She said smiling at Danny.
"I'm sorry we upset you. But we really need to find Channing."
"You're sure she did it?" The old lady asked, tears still in her eyes, and Danny nodded in confirmation.
"Mrs. Lomax, have you notice a change in your granddaughters behaviour lately?" Steve asked, "Alex said the girls suspected she had been using drugs."
"What?" The woman's face flashed with anger. "I told you Channing is a good girl. She obviously just made a mistake. Now if you don't mind, I'd like you to leave."
"Mrs. Lomax, I'm sorry if my partner offended you, it was not his intention. I'm sure you can appreciate that we have to look into all angles of this. If Channing was using drugs it could explain why she acted out of character." Danny softly cajoled the elderly woman.
"Of course, dear, I'm sorry. It's just such a shock." She smiled at Danny then cast Steve a disapproving look.
"If Channing gets in touch you need to persuade her to turn herself in. It's for the best because we will catch her." Steve stated.
"Here's my card." Danny said passing the woman his contact details. "If she contacts you I need you to get in touch."
"Of course, dear," The woman smiled and the two men said their goodbyes and left the house.
Walking back to the car Steve smiled at Danny, "what?" Danny spat.
"She certainly liked you. Me, not so much."
"Well you did call her granddaughter a druggie."
"Well she probably is."
"Possibly, but no one wants to be told that straight out. So what now? She hasn't seen Channing so what, the boyfriend?"
"Maybe." Steve replied. "I think we should head back to the palace, see if CSU and the dog squad turned up anything. Catch up with Chin and Kono. Then we can chase up the ex and run Channing's financials."
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
The boys arrived back at the palace to find Chin and Kono already hard at work looking through Channing's financials.
"Any luck with the grandmother?" Chin asked.
"Not really. She said she hadn't seen Channing since the day before yesterday. She's pretty frail, and got really upset when I mentioned drugs. She didn't think Channing would be involved with them." Steve explained.
"Well she was wrong." Kono stated and brought up photos of Channing's room at the shared house. "The drug dog found her stash. She had a removable floor board under the bed. The dog found 3lb of cannabis."
"3lb?" Danny questioned and received a nod from both Chin and Kono.
"That's way too much for personal use." Steve stated.
"Yep, which is why we ran her financials," Chin explained then indicated for Kono to bring up the data she had found.
"She has made deposits of large quantities for the last six months, but she also makes several transfers to her grandmother for large quantities of money too." Kono explained.
"Money from selling drugs, no doubt," Steve surmised.
"With that amount of drugs, and the fact that she is a collage student, I think it's pretty safe to assume she was selling her stash." Danny agreed.
"So where is she getting the stash from, and where is she now?" Steve pondered. "I think we need to go back and speak with Mrs. Lomax. I have a feeling she knows more than she was letting on. She got very jumpy when I mentioned the drugs."
"What do you want us to do?" Chin enquired.
"Can you two chase up the ex boyfriend. See if he knows where she is hiding."
"Sure thing, boss." Kono said shutting down the open files.
Steve and Danny were about to head out when Steve's phone rang. Looking at the caller ID Steve grimaced. "It's the Governor. I need to take this. Just hang on a sec." And Steve headed to his office for some privacy as he was sure he was about to get his ear chewed off.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Steve exited his office looking frustrated, "guys, change of plans. The governor wants to see me to go over the budget report."
"Oh dear," Danny said shaking his head. He had completed their latest report so knew that they had blown it after Steve pushed too hard during a pursuit, and sent the car they were chasing through a shop window, the week before. They all knew the call was coming, once the Governor saw the report.
"Yeah, he's not happy with me. So while I go grovel, Danny you go talk to Mrs. Lomax again while Chin and Kono go talk to Channing's ex-boyfriend. See if either of them was aware of the money. Danny, see what Mrs. Lomax has to say about the transfers."
Danny groaned, "Great, I have to see her alone?"
"You already have such a rapport with the woman Danny. She obviously liked you, so is more likely to open up to you without me there. Go have a coffee with her, get her talking. I'm sure she knows where Channing is, and is protecting her. This girl killed her housemate. We need to find her."
"Tough luck, brah." Chin said patting Danny on the shoulder and signalling for Kono to follow him. Kono just smiled in sympathy.
"Hey, you can always swap with me and go see the Governor." Steve suggested.
"Er.. On second thoughts, Mrs. Lomax will do me just fine." Danny said grabbing his keys.
"Yeah, I thought so." Steve chuckled. "Wish me luck."
"You need more than luck." Danny replied. "He is gonna hand you your ass." And with that he left.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Mrs. Lomax opened the door and looked confused to see Danny returning so quickly. "Detective Williams, back again so soon, and on your own."
"Yes, Mrs. Lomax, so sorry to bother you again but I have some more questions. Can I come in?"
"Now is really not the best time, Detective. After the upset of this afternoon my angina has really been acting up. I was about to have a lie down." And she attempted to shut the door, but Danny blocked it with his foot.
"Mrs. Lomax, I appreciate you have had a shock. But I really need to ask you a few more questions. It won't take too long, I promise."
"Oh, very well," Mrs. Lomax huffed and moved away to sit in her chair.
Danny resumed his earlier place on the couch and began to fill Mrs. Lomax in. "I won't mess about Mrs. Lomax. We found drugs in Channing's room. A lot of drugs, which leads us to believe she was selling them." The older woman shifted in her seat her features ridged. Then suddenly she stood.
"I need a coffee, how about you? Then we can discuss this further."
"Sure." Danny agreed hoping he could break some barriers down. Mrs. Lomax seemed different from his earlier visit.
A few minutes later the woman returned and handed Danny his drink, which he gratefully accepted and began to drink.
"As I was saying, Mrs. Lomax. We believe Channing was selling the drugs, and we know she has been transferring you large sums for money for the last six months.
"She has been helping me pay my bills, my glaucoma and heart medication isn't cheap you realise."
"I understand that, but the smallest amount was for $500 and she made weekly transfers."
"She helped me pay my utility bills. I told you she is a good girl."
"That certainly was good of her but where did you think she got the money from?" Danny asked sensing the increasing hostility from the elderly woman.
"From her job, she works in fashion. It pays well."
Danny knew this was a lie, Channing had no such job. Finishing his coffee Danny slowly stood, something was seriously off. "Mrs. Lomax, can I take a look at Channing's old room?"
"What, no." She said jumping to her feet and rushing passed him. "She hasn't lived here for over a year now. There is nothing left of her things."
"I'd still like to look." Danny said continuing to head to the bedrooms.
"No! Stop! "Mrs. Lomax said grabbing his arm.
"Mrs. Lomax, is Channing here? You know it's against the law to hide a wanted person?"
"No. She isn't here. I haven't seen her for a few days. I just don't want you rooting around in my things." She snapped.
"I promise I'll be respectful." Danny said calmly.
"I said no. You can't go in there without a search warrant, so leave now." She screeched.
"Actually, Mrs. Lomax, I can go in there if I believe a wanted criminal is hiding here. I don't need a warrant." Danny explained sidestepping her and drawing his gun.
He opened the door and entered, gun held high, and let out a shocked breath. The bedroom was flooded with artificial light, with row upon row of cannabis plants. Stood in the middle of the rows was Channing Scott who had obviously been trying to get rid of the plants, as several black bin bags were piled against the far wall. "Channing Scott, hands where I can see them." Danny yelled.
The young woman dropped the bag she was holding and slowly raised her hands. "Please don't shoot. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill her, I didn't realise what I was doing."
"You can discuss that defence with your attorney, now hands above your head and on your knees."
Channing complied and Danny moved in and handcuffed her.
"Please she's a good girl." Mrs. Lomax cried. "She did all this for me, the cannabis helps my glaucoma."
"You can get a medical card for that. You're under arrest too." Danny said taking out his phone and calling HPD for support.
TBC