Chapter 7- Witness, for the defense or for the prosecution
"We want an interview with Mc Garrett', one reporter demanded as they crowded into the room leading to the HPD lockup. "Nobody gets an interview at present", the duty officer stated forcefully. "I suggest you all go out before I have you removed", he suggested.
The grumbling reporters all exited leaving behind a tall bald headed man. "Sir", the officer pointed at the door. Theo Kojak flashed his badge, "I'd like to speak with Mc Garrett", he insisted.
The HPD officer seemed to be debating whether or not to allow the visit. "Do you recognize this", Kojak dangled his Lieutenants badge in front of the man. "Of course I do, but you're from New York, you have no authority here", The HPD officer stood his ground. "I still want to talk to Mc Garrett,", Theo insisted.
The HPD officer finally nodded thinking perhaps the tall bald man would be able to aid the 5-0 boss .
Theo rushed forward straight for the cell that held Mc Garrett. The 5-0 boss moved forward thinking the Lt. had come to say something to him. Instead of words Theo simply reached through the bars to grab the other man. "You had better not be involved in this", he stated harshly. Steve didn't struggle in his grip but looked offended at the allegation. "I hope that's not even a serious consideration", he remarked calmly. Theo released him but his eyes remained unfriendly.
"Look instead of standing here accusing me people should be out after the real killer, Steve stated. "You can almost guarantee he's going to strike again."
Kojak nodded, "Alright fair enough", he admitted his anger suddenly blowing out like a candle. "Just point me to whoever's in charge of this case", he demanded to Steve.
"Danny", Steve stated. "I sincerely doubt it", Kojak told him firmly.
Steve bit his lip, "Chin or Kono then," he told the Lt.
"From what I've seen it seems like internal affairs have control", Theo mentioned. Mc Garrett slammed his fist into a wall, "That's the last thing this case needs", he remarked. "I agree and if I get my way maybe I can take over this case", Theo told the 5-0 boss.
Steve said nothing not wanting to offend the burly Lt. But he knew in his heart he'd rather have one of his own on this case.
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Danny sat stiff backed in the Limo looking nervously at the weapon being pointed at him. "For goodness sake, Clive put that thing away", a voice from the front seat demanded. "Well you said to make sure he got in the car sir", Clive protested as he slipped the weapon back in his pocket.
Danny reached for his own weapon then. "Danny, don't do that", the voice requested.
Danny froze there was something about that voice. "Who are you ", he demanded.
"Agent Brown", came the quiet reply. Danny's eyes rounded knowing that Agent Brown was the alias of the man who'd raised Bobby from infancy, Aaron Crocker.
"What are you doing in Hawaii", Danny demanded. "News travels Danny, I heard about what happened to Bobby and couldn't just sit there while my son died", Aaron replied with feeling.
"Well he's not dead. In fact his condition is rapidly improving", Danny told him. "I know those pills are certainly amazing", Aaron stated blandly. "You did that', Danny gasped. "You expect me to sit there and do nothing", Aaron remarked. "Yes it was a bit risky as those pills are experimental but it looked like Bobby was dying so I arranged to have them given to him", Aaron told Danny. Danny didn't look happy at the thought Aaron might have been risking Bobby's life but figured the older man was right, Bobby was at the time dying.
"So what do you want", Danny asked leaving the subject of Bobby and getting down to business. "For you to take charge of the case", Aaron replied. "I want to look into this myself. But for reasons you know have to be a bit careful. I'd like to be able to feed some information to the person in charge of the case. Because you know my history I want that to be you", Aaron requested.
They won't let me take over this case", Danny stated. My boss has been arrested for the crime and I'm the victim's brother, that's two counts of emotional involvement against me".
"Demand it Danny", Aaron stated smoothly.
Danny looked pensive, "Do you know anything about this you're not telling me", Danny asked.
Aaron shook his head, "No", he replied. "But I do think you should concentrate on looking at all the victims and leave Mc Garrett out of the equation for now."
Danny sighed, "Alright I'll do my best to get control of this case".
"Good I will contact you at the palace then", Aaron remarked.
Danny looked at the shadowy figure, "You seem sure they'll let me take over', he remarked. "Danny you're the best thing they have and make sure they know that", Aaron stated firmly.
The limo pulled over then, "You were taking a bit of a risk pulling me off the street like that", Danny told Aaron. "Yes, I'm sorry but I figured a dramatic entrance would get your attention", Aaron apologized.
Danny opened the door and got out noting they were right outside the Governors office. "No time like the present to get yourself made head of this case", came Aarons parting words as the limo smoothly drove away.
Danny strolled out of the Governors office about 30 minutes later and headed for the hospital. He'd done some fast talking and had managed to convince the governor he could handle the case. He knew though that if he showed any sign of faltering he'd be pulled. Now he headed back to the hospital ready to interview the only witness they had, Bobby. The hospital had been trying to track him down and phoned the Governors number as a last resort. Danny had no doubt it was going to be difficult to hear Bobby's story so prepared himself as he waited for his HPD escort.
He felt rather like a truck had run him over more than once. In fact the truck was still parked on top of him. Cracking his eyes open a little he jumped as he saw the face of Doc Bergman looked at him. "Take it easy", the doc soothed, "Don't try to move too much".
Bobby let his head flop to one side and smiled as he saw Liz eyes wet with tears looking at him tenderly. Moving his head in the other direction he saw the even more surprising sight of Clara Williams and his mother standing companionably side by side and smiling as well. He lifted his head sure he was going to see Danny "Where", he crocked finding his voice unbelievably dry. "He was with the Governor", Doc reassured guessing who Bobby was looking for, "he's on his way back now".
Doc sat beside him, "Young man I'm going to have to ask you about the last thing you remember", Doc stated slowly giving his patient time to adjust to being awake. Bobby thought, he remembered the airport, getting in a cab, then…". Bobby raised his head and looked at his bandaged chest. "Stabbed", he replied.
Doc squeezed his hand confident Bobby's memory was no way impaired. He then began to check out his patient fully. He was just checking the chest drain when Danny arrived.
"Hi", Danny greeted Bobby softly his smile gentle.
"Hi", Bobby croaked back
Danny bit his lip, "I've been appointed head of the case Doc, so I'm going to have to question him", Danny told Bergman.
Bergman nodded slowly, "alright", he replied figuring he didn't have to tell Danny to take it easy and slow.
"Bobby, can you tell me everything you remember from the moment your plane landed in Hawaii", Danny asked. Bobby closed his eyes obviously thinking about that. Danny saw one of the IA men slip into the room he frowned at him but made no comment. The Governor had told him he would have to put up with their presence.
"I was tired", Bobby began," I'd pretty much jumped on the plane straight after my shift ended so I wasn't thinking too much. Anyway all I wanted to do was get to the hotel. I figured I'd ring you the next day and let you know I was here", Bobby paused swallowing and sucked at the ice Doc gave him.
"So I came out the airport and grabbed a cab, a Sunshine one." Bobby stated
"Can you describe the driver", the IA man interrupted. Bobby thought about that.
"To be honest I didn't see that much of him. He didn't exit the cab to open the door for me. I just climbed in and hauled my cases in after me."
You're a detective you must have noticed something', the IA man sounded disapproving . Danny was about to tell him to butt out when doc interceded, "if you upset my patient you can leave', he growled
"Alright, he was shorter than me, older, maybe in his late thirties and had dark hair. He had sunglasses on so I couldn't see his eyes", Bobby told them as he thought about the scant few things he could remember.
"Could you ID him from a mug shot", Danny asked. "I doubt it, yes I got those impressions but it was only a glance before we started driving"
"Alright what about the journey ,surely he spoke", The IA prompted. Bobby looked embarrassed. "I fell asleep', he admitted.
Danny nodded that explained why Bobby had put up little resistance to the attack.
"The next thing I remember…" Bobby shuddered thinking about that moment of intense pain that had awoken him.
Danny clasped his hand tight, "just take it slow', he reassured.
"Well the pain woke me, I could hardly draw in a breath, there was this sensation of being dragged", Bobby reported.
Bobby closed his eyes again feeling comfort from Danny's warm hand clasping his.
"That's a bit weird", he muttered. "what is Bobby", Danny asked.
"I was barely conscious and hardly aware of what was happening but I vaguely remember looking over at the cab", Bobby replied. "it had its light on and I could see it's colour clearly".
"So what was weird about that", Danny remarked softly. "It wasn't a cab anymore', Bobby muttered. "What", Danny remarked. "It was all long and black and in the fuzzy recesses of my mind I remember thinking this really stupid thought. I mean here I was probably dying and that last thing I could think of was…", Bobby paused.
"What', Danny prompted gently. "How much that car looked like Mc Garrett's", Bobby stated blandly .
Danny went pale right before his eyes and the IA man actually gasped.
"It was a stupid thought", Bobby repeated looking groggily at their expressions in confusion, "How could it be McGarretts car", Bobby's eyes slipped closed and his head slumped to one side.
"That's all you'll get for now gentlemen', he told them in a shocked voice. Doc looked at Danny's horrified expression; Bobby's testimony had just nailed Mc Garrett to the wall.