Caitlin changed the radio station and happily tapped the steering wheel in time to an old Dolly Parton tune as she drove towards to the club along the coast road. She loved the convertible she and Hawke had hired and her red hair streamed like a banner behind her as she pressed down on the accelerator. She grinned with exhilaration at the speed. God knew she loved being a wife and a mother but she appreciated the moment of freedom from her responsibilities. Her grin widened. In a sense, she mused, she wasn't free at all; she was after all driving to collect her husband and his best friend from a surprise bachelor party.

Hawke had been amazingly tolerant of the surprise but then it hadn't been his bachelor party. A frisson of unease rippled through her and she eased off the gas. She had a right to feel worried, she thought defensively. Neither of Hawke's own two attempts at a bachelor event had gone particularly well; he'd ended up in hospital after both. She had been relieved beyond measure when Hawke had called her to tell her everything was OK, that they were facing nothing worse than the usual bachelor party nonsense and to ask for the rescue.

She hit the indicator and slowed to take the turning to the club. She frowned at the police cars parked across the drive and gradually stopped the car by the empty guard hut. Her blue-green eyes swept over the scene; two cops by the cars and beyond them, a second set of uniformed officers standing guard while a set of plain clothes detectives were kneeled by something on the ground…a body, she realised. She reached for her purse, her gun and her id before she headed over to the uniforms. She flashed the id at them.

'What's happening, Officer Gilbert?' Caitlin asked reading his name badge before her eyes moving beyond the cop she was talking to and towards the activity by the body.

'Robbery, ma'am.' Office Gilbert answered. 'The five perps are still on site at the club-house. We think they have approximately forty-five hostages including the guests and staff.'

'They took out the guard here.' Caitlin surmised. She bit her lip. 'Can I use your radio, Officer?'

'Yes, ma'am.' Gilbert nodded and shifted aside.

Caitlin reached in and radioed the police headquarters. It took some tap-dancing around the radio controller but eventually she managed to convince them to patch her through to the house and to Marella.

'Caitlin?'

Caitlin could hear the hint of panic in the other woman's voice from being patched through to a police vehicle. 'Hi Marella. Call Red Star and tell them to have Mike Rivers bring Airwolf now to the club. There's a hostage situation with some robbery gang.'

'Done.' Marella said. 'I'll be there in ten minutes.' She hung up before Caitlin could argue.

'Who the hell are you?' The detective snatched the radio out of Caitlin's hand and gestured for her to get out of the car. She complied and handed him her id. He flicked it open, examined it and handed it back. 'Nobody called the Feds.'

'Two of our people are in the club.' Caitlin said crisply deciding that she would get less cooperation if she admitted she was simply a worried wife. 'And you are?'

The blonde haired forty-year old looked as though he didn't want to tell her but he sighed and introduced himself. 'Detective Strickland.' He gestured at his partner over by the body. 'That's Detective Loka.'

'You're handling the homicide.' Caitlin surmised. 'Who's negotiating with the robbery gang?'

Strickland's brown eyes narrowed on her. 'The Chief is up at the club-house.'

'If you can move one of these vehicles, I'll head up there.' Caitlin said.

'I can't allow that.' Strickland said.

Caitlin's fierce eyes met his. 'There are matters of national security involved, Detective. Now step aside.' She leaned toward him. 'Or I can disturb the Chief in the middle of his negotiations to tell him that one of his men is preventing him from having vital information.'

Strickland stared at her for a long moment and she stared back. He looked over at his partner before he waved at her. 'Fine. Gilbert, move your car and radio the Chief he has a visitor on the way.'

'Visitors. There'll be other agents arriving.' Caitlin informed him as she replaced her sunglasses and headed back to the car without waiting for him to reply. As she got past the blockade and started up the winding drive she allowed herself to worry about Hawke. She knew her husband and knew he wasn't the type to sit on the sidelines and do nothing. He might bide his time but he would eventually act especially if it looked like someone would get injured. She parked up on the green lawn and walked the last few hundred yards.

The Chief was a large Hawaiian man surrounded by a gaggle of officers. Caitlin could see that uniformed officers and SWAT were already stationed at various strategic positions around the club. She took a deep breath before she headed over to him. He looked at her but didn't stop talking to his officer giving instructions.

Caitlin waited as patiently as she could; she wanted his cooperation. The Chief finally stopped instructing his men who ran off to execute his orders. He wiped his bald head and motioned for Caitlin to move forward.

'Your id.' He stated.

She handed over her the thin black wallet containing her identification.

He examined it closely. 'What's the Department of Defence want?'

'We have two people inside.' Caitlin said.

'I thought it was a bachelor event for the guy who's marrying Tommy Chappelier's daughter.'

'It is.' Caitlin took the wallet back. 'He's the Deputy Director of a sub-division of the Department of Defence. Both he and his best man are part of our team as is Marella Chappelier.'

'I see.' The Chief moped his brow again as his dark eyes regarded her thoughtfully. 'And what do you want here?'

'There is a chance that either man could be the target…'

'Unlikely.' The Chief shook his head. 'We think this gang has already hit two other exclusive clubs on Oahu in the last month.'

'OK,' Caitlin accepted folding her arms, 'but I think you should know that both men aren't the type to sit back and let things happen around them.'

'Are you saying they might provoke the robbers?'

'Not provoke,' Caitlin said carefully, 'but if they thought someone was going to get hurt, they would act.'

The Chief sighed. 'Great.'

'Look, Chief, I'm not interested in a turf war here. I'm a former cop and I know you're more than capable of dealing with this,' Caitlin began, 'but I know how my guys think and I just want them out in one piece. We could help you.'

The Chief regarded her for a long moment. 'Former cop, huh?'

Caitlin nodded.

'It shows.' He sighed. 'OK, here's the situation.' He started walking towards the club. 'About forty minutes ago, five men hit the club.' He pointed at a black van in front of the club entrance as they passed by. 'This was their vehicle. They shot the guard at the gate but he had already hit the alarm. It alerted us and we sent out a couple of cars.'

'From the station?' Caitlin frowned. 'Weren't there any closer vehicles?'

'I'm afraid there weren't but we got lucky; they were taking their time and were still here when we showed up.' Sumni gestured. 'The robber's wheel man panicked and ran inside. They've barricaded themselves in the garden room. We've got the rest of the building secured. We're calling the internal phone in there every five minutes hoping they're going to answer and we can negotiate with them.'

Caitlin sighed. 'I guess we have to wait.'

'That's the plan for the moment.' The Chief said as he led her inside.

They were still waiting when Marella arrived twenty minutes later and was shown in by a police officer. She immediately crossed to Caitlin who gave her a brief hug.

'Any news?' Marella asked.

Caitlin shook her head. 'The police are trying to contact them but so far nothing. How's everyone back at the house?'

'Worried.' Marella said succinctly. 'It took me a little while to convince them they should stay there.'

'They'll be OK, Marella.' Caitlin said reassuringly, not sure if she meant the mothers and daughter back at the house or the two men inside the club.

'Do we know if this is another attempt by the Cordelli's?' Marella asked refusing to be comforted.

'It's unlikely.' Caitlin told her. 'The police think this same gang was operating on Oahu until last month.'

'They've just changed islands.' Marella said.

'That's what we think, Marella.' Chief Sumni said interrupting.

'Chief.' Marella turned and accepted the hug he offered before she stepped back. She caught Caitlin' questioning glance. 'The Chief and my father are old poker buddies.' She explained.

'I can't tell you how sorry I am about this, Marella,' Chief Sumni said, 'but I'm sure your father and your fiancé will be fine.'

'Thanks, Chief.' She sighed.

'Sir!' The officer manning the phone yelled for the Chief who swept across the room to take hold of the receiver and pressed to put it on speaker.

'This is Chief Sumni. Who am I speaking with?'

'Call me John.'

'OK, John. We seem to have a little situation here.' Sumni said briskly.

'You could call it that.' John answered sarcastically.

Sumni wiped his brow. 'Well, let's not beat about the bush. You want out; I want the hostages.'

'You got that right.' John said.

'I'm sure you've got a list.' Sumni said.

'Yeah and the first thing I want is ten million dollars.'

Sumni frowned. 'I thought you wanted to get out.'

'I have over forty rich men in the room.' John retorted. 'I'm not about to waste this opportunity.'

'It's going to take some time to raise that kind of money.' Sumni said.

'You have until sun-rise tomorrow morning.' John said. 'In the meantime, I want some real food in here. Get some pizza. Enough for everyone.'

'Pizza.' Sumni said. 'If I'm giving you food and organising your money for you, I'm going to need something back in return.'

'When you're ready with the food, call me.' John said breezily. 'We'll talk.'

They heard the sudden click as the phone was hung up at the other end and then a dull tone.

Sumni replaced the receiver in its cradle. 'You, order the pizza.' He said gesturing at a young officer who jumped up to comply.

'I'll take care of the money.' Marella said firmly. She walked away before Sumni could protest.

He looked over at Caitlin who nodded in reassurance that Marella could really organise it. She sighed and followed her friend out to the car. Marella was on the satellite phone and she waited until the other woman had finished.

'It's organised.' Marella said wrapping her arms around herself. She looked up at the sky. 'We're supposed to be getting married tomorrow.'

Caitlin rubbed her back. 'You will. You will.' She said and hoped her quiet reassurance would come true.