Vengeance Will Be Mine XIII

Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii 5-0. I make no profit but my muse still craves feedback.

Thank you for all the lovely reviews. Please indulge my muse, she has a huge crush on Steve and she insisted on making this chapter Steve centric. Thanks.

Chapter 13

Steve had checked the airport café over for ten minutes and knew he had been played. Cursing Salter silently, he gave the café the once over a final time and confirmed that the three women sitting alone were clearly waiting for their flights and paid no attention to him. The only interest he had generated was from the two women working behind the counter but neither had spoken to him.

Convinced that this was a wild goose chase and most likely a ploy to separate him from Danny, he dialed his partner as he headed back to his truck. A chill ran through him as the phone continued to ring unanswered until it went to voice mail and breaking off the call he then brought up Kono's number. Before he could make the call to her, his phone rang, showing an unknown caller ID.

"McGarrett," he snapped out, suspicion churning in his stomach.

"Commander McGarrett, it is time we met," a voice that had to be Salter announced. "But first I want you to look at some pictures."

Steve's phone vibrated with an incoming text and Steve checked it quickly. His fears became reality as he scrolled through photos of Danny and Catherine held captive. Danny was bleeding and angry but alert; it was Catherine bound and unconscious that worried Steve the most. Rage flowed through him as he clicked back to the man waiting for his response. He pressed his lips tightly together briefly as he struggled to control his emotions.

"You are dead Salter," he finally spoke, his voice cold and deadly. "Your fight is with me but you can't bring yourself to come at me personally. Climb out from under your rock and meet me face to face. Or are you afraid?" Steve challenged.

"Afraid? No Commander, I'm not afraid but I'm not stupid either. You will get your face to face shortly," Andrew answered. "You will come to me and come alone or your best friend and lovely lady die."

"Why should I believe you will let them go?" Steve asked.

"I didn't say I would let them go but you have no choice but to do as I say. I have them and I decide their fate. If you bring HPD with you then they are the first to suffer," Andrew warned.

"Where are you Salter?" Steve demanded as second call tried to cut in. One quick glance told Steve it was Kono and with regret he ignored the call.

"Have I lost you Commander?" Salter's voice brought him back to the conversation at hand. "Maybe I misjudged your relationship with Rollins and Williams. Or am I right in assuming Officer Kalakaua is trying to reach you? She is quite the spitfire; if you want to keep her safe, don't bring her with you. This time I will finish what I started with her," Salter threatened.

"Where do you want me?" Steve repeated with a snarl. "Enough games. I'll come and you will release Danny and Catherine."

"Yes….you will come," Andrew laughed. "We will discuss Williams and Rollins when you arrive. Your lady is very lovely; I wouldn't mind keeping her company."

"I will kill you," Steve promised tightly as he got out to his truck and unlocked the door. "Just tell me where to find you."

"I'll text you the directions so that you don't make any mistakes. You have an hour and a half to show up…alone. If I discover anyone is following you, I will kill Williams immediately and then take the lovely lieutenant off the island with me," the voice taunted.

"And I will hunt you down," Steve swore. "Catherine will tear you to pieces; I will just need to pick up the mess."

"Threaten all you want Commander. The clock is ticking so we can continue this delightful insult fest or you can hang up and let me text you the directions. This is my game, my rules. I wouldn't waste precious minutes if I were you." The phone went dead before Steve could answer, leaving him hanging between feelings of fear and rage. He didn't doubt the threats Salter made against Danny and Catherine were true and he had no time to plan a foolproof rescue. The text came in with directions to an address out by Maunawili and Steve knew that time was tight. He stomped down on his worries, knowing that he had to keep his head in the game and keep his cool.

He placed the key in the ignition and was going to turn it over when his phone rang again. Clearly, Kono was refusing to be ignored.

"Yes Kono?"

"We have a problem Steve. Danny has walked into a trap. I followed up on his call and his landlord never called in a complaint," Kono said urgently. "I sent backup and they found Danny's car but no Danny."

"I know," Steve admitted quietly.

"How?"

"Salter called me. I have to go Kono. I'll get Danny."

"What aren't you saying Boss?" Kono questioned, not liking the puzzle pieces that she was putting together. "Why did Pearl call here asking about your condition? What exactly has Salter threatened?"

Steve hesitated, not wanting to get her involved in this. The one thing he did believe was that Salter would do exactly as he said if he smelled HPD was about to bust in. He couldn't risk it.

"Steve….does he have Catherine too? You can't do this alone, you need help," Kono said quietly, correctly reading McGarrett's hesitation. "You can't let him dictate the rules."

"I have no choice Kono. I don't even know if he is holding them where he has told me to meet him," Steve finally responded in a low voice. "He will kill them Kono if he sees HPD."

"He may plan that anyway," Kono pointed out grimly. "He has been trying to hurt you all along. I swear I will track your truck or phone or any other way I can if you don't tell me where you are going. We will stay out of sight, I promise. Don't let Salter control everything Steve," she pleaded.

Steve closed his eyes tightly and took a few deep breaths. She made sense and he knew it and time was getting shorter. Kono would do exactly as she promised and would track him down if he didn't cooperate.

"Okay, I'll forward the directions and photos. I've got a time limit here, I can't delay. You have to hold everyone back until I get Salter occupied. No one moves unless I call you in. Understood?" he said urgently.

"I get it Steve. We will be careful," Kono assured him.

"I mean it Kono, the risk is too great," Steve said, his voice betraying his tension. He was anxious to get moving.

"Who taught me everything I know?" Kono said firmly.

"Thanks Kono," Steve said finally smiling.

"Get moving Boss. Send me the address and trust me, I've got your back," Kono stated. "Good luck."

"You too," Steve said breaking contact. He forwarded the texts to Kono and then started his truck. Driving away as quickly as possible, Steve considered hitting the lights and siren but he didn't want to end up leading any unsuspecting uniforms to the scene and spook Salter. He didn't have the time to explain why he didn't want assistance and risk Danny and Catherine any further. As he approached the address near Maunawili, Steve slowed and looked for a place to leave his truck. There was no way he would drive right into Slater's lair and give him the advantage of an ambush. He might be giving in to Salter's demands but that did not mean he was just going to surrender to him. He intended to win this confrontation or at least free Danny and Catherine.

Passing the drive that led to the address, Steve pulled over and parked several yards down the road. He locked up the vehicle after making sure he had several weapons concealed on his body, hoping that Salter would get careless this close to his revenge. Checking his watch, Steve disappeared into the concealing brush and made his way to the clearing which held the garage and two block buildings where he crouched in the undergrowth and observed his targets. There was a battered black Toyota pickup, a Buick sedan and a blue panel van parked in front of the smaller concrete building and Steve figured there were at least two to four other men with Salter. Holding his weapon ready, Steve moved as silently as possible until he was closest to the block buildings.

*H 5-0*

Kono stared at the phone waiting for the texts to be forwarded after Steve had hung up. Adam reached out to touch her shoulder gently.

"Kono?"

"Steve has heard from Salter. The slime has Danny and Catherine and is forcing Steve to come to him. I know he plans to give himself up to get them free but I don't trust Salter to do that," Kono said in frustration as she tapped the table and revealed the directions and the pictures. She cringed as she saw what Steve had been shown. "I need to arrange some backup that won't be discovered by Salter."

"Okay…you can do that, you know you can," Adam said calmly, trying not to look at the photos. He could just imagine how stressed McGarrett was seeing his friend and woman in this condition. "McGarrett trusts you." He squeezed her shoulder gently.

Kono smiled at him gratefully, knowing he was right. Steve and Danny, along with Catherine were depending on her and she wouldn't let them down.

"Well I have got the address but I need to be careful, Salter will follow through if HPD shows up on Steve's heels. Or he may just kill Steve on the spot as well. I have to give Steve time to do his thing. We need to come in from a different angle to this place. I am bringing up photos of the area, we need to move where they won't see us coming," she said thinking out loud as she worked. She looked up at Adam to see the concern in his eyes. She sighed and nodded. "Yes Adam, I am going along with the team. I can't stay here."

"Then so am I," Adam said firmly. He could see that she was going to argue but he held up one hand to stop her. "I may not be official but I am your backup and I am going. We do not have time to discuss this."

"All right," Kono agreed. She picked up the phone and dialed HPD headquarters. "This is Officer Kalakaua from 5-0 and I need a team to back up Commander McGarrett. We have a double kidnapping and I need a team here immediately."

End chapter.

Did you really think that I would send Steve in with no backup? The muse knows that while Steve is good….his hands are tied with two hostages. And he really has no time to plan. Thanks for reading.