Chapter 8 –new developments
Doc resettled the patient all the while keeping a discrete eye on the silent Danny Williams. "Danny you don't seriously believe its was Steve's car", Doc implored.
"I don't really know what to think any more Doc", Danny replied softly.
"But the Governor expects me to get a killer off the streets and that's exactly what I plan to do".
"When will Bobby be awake again",Danny asked looking down at his brother.
"An hour or two, don't forget Danny that his injury was life threatening, he's going to be with us awhile", Doc told Danny. "Though I dearsay he could ask to get transferred to a New York hospital once he's a bit stronger."
Danny touched Bobby's hand softly, "he shouldn't have to go through any of this".
Doc nodded his agreement, "I agree Danny. Doc looked down. "Look Danny I don't want to lay anything too much on you at this time but I do have a few concerns about your brothers recovery", Doc stated.
Danny immediately looked worried. "I've been watching him carefully since he regained consciousness and while he had been moving his left side slowly, there appears to be no movement on his right side. Now it might mean nothing as he is still recovering but I have to mention the possibility that the knife caused some permanent damage", Doc told Danny softly.
Danny looked stunned, "so that would mean his career would also be over', he remarked. Doc nodded, "I haven't said anything to him yet as I want to leave it a little longer. But if there isn't an improvement soon then things don't look too good."
Did you tell Liz", Danny asked. Doc shook his head, "no as I said it's just a possibility, I don't want to say anything until it's definite."
Danny studied Bobby, awhile longer. "Doc if you were asleep and someone moved you into a second car would you wake up", Danny asked.
"Probably", Doc responded thoughtfully. "So how could anyone move Bobby without him waking. Plus surely it'd take more than one person to move him, he's not exactly light," Danny stated.
"I see what your getting at Danny but if there was a second person the evidence seems to point to Steve", Doc remarked sadly.
"Yes, I know", Danny replied. 'I can't bring myself to think of Steve doing any of this. For the moment I will concentrate on finding that taxi driver, he may well be the key to all of this."
"What if he implicates Steve", Doc asked seriously. Danny looked like he'd already considered that possibility."I'll cross that bridge when I come to it Doc, right now all I want to do is find the guy."
"Well if you want to leave for awhile, I'm sure Liz will take care of her fiancé " Doc stated with a smile.
Danny smiled weakly back and with definite reluctance walked out of the room ready to get this inquiry under way.
On arriving at the Palace Danny noticed the burly form of Theo Kojak hanging about. For the moment Danny chose to ignore his presence. "Kono, Chin,", he called as he passed their respective offices on the way to Steve's.
The two detectives immediately made for Steve's office followed by Lt. Kojak.
"Right gentlemen ", he stated "I've been given the authority to take over the case".
"I want to go over the files for the past two victims and see if we can find anything that will give us a clear picture of this taxi driver killer.
Theo Kojak listened and decided to make an observation, "Detective Williams I assume from your line of inquiry that you're not looking at the Mc Garrett angle of this case."
Danny pursed his lips, "I think that we shouldn't get distracted by Steve's part in this, if indeed he had one. Finding this taxi driver will answer a lot of questions for us".
Theo nodded slowly, "You could do with assistance surely", he inquired. Danny decided it was probably better to have Theo Kojak on his side and working with them on this case. If he refused to allow him access he'd just sneak around and ask questions himself. Of course he didn't mention any of that to the Lt just said, "your help would be appreciated Lt." Danny went to Steve's desk and pulled out the case files opening them up he placed them before the team.
"Right lets look at these victims, 3 unrelated people", Danny began "Didn't the first victim come from New York", Chin interposed. "Yes he did", Danny mused ," but New York is a big place. We checked his background and he has no police record nor is he connected in any way to Bobby".
Theo Kojak looked down at the open case file gazing at the picture of the first victim. "Lyle Martin", he muttered softly ,"where have I heard that name before".
Danny, Chin and Kono all turned toward him.
Theo paced slowly, "Bobby", he remarked sounded stunned, "he mentioned his name just before he left to go to the airport".
Danny's eyes widened, "I'd mentioned to Bobby about the murder of Mr Martin and he'd told me the name wasn't known to Manhattan south, he never mentioned any personal knowledge.'
"I 'm sure he didn't know him", Theo frowned deep in thought, "I just remember him reading something and saying, "It's about that Lyle Martin Danny was asking about, probably not connected to his death but I'll tell him anyway".
"That was all he said and it didn't sound serious more like he'd found out something interesting", Theo told them.
"What was he reading", Danny asked intently. Theo bit his lip obviously thinking intently, "I'm not actually sure", Theo replied. "A newspaper", Chin guessed.
Theo shook his head, "it was smaller than a newspaper", he replied.
Danny paced the room, "it is a bit strange that Bobby knew something about the first victim then suffers the same type of attack."
"Yes", Lt Kojak admitted. "It also lifts this case into something more than just a random attack." Danny stopped pacing, "Steve had decided this was not an attack by a serial killer, because there wasn't a clear signature, just theft. Yet all of the victims had their luggage strewn about everywhere and we know from airport security there were no valuables in the luggage."
"What are you getting at Danny', prompted Kono seeing from their temporary bosses face that some serious thought were taking place.
"Someone was looking for something", Theo Kojak stated firmly.
"What about the second victim , he was just a tourist with no connection to the united States". So how does he figure in all this, Chin asked. "Maybe he doesn't", Danny stated. "Perhaps the second victim was meant to draw us away from a connection however slight between the first and most recent victim. "
"Yes and it was working", Kono mused.
"So we need to find out what it is Bobby knows", Danny remarked stating the obvious.
"If he does know something then there might be a very worried killer out there somewhere. The newspaper did report that Bobby was still alive", Theo reported looking worried.
"I have got guards watching him", Danny assured. "But no attempt has been made so far."
"Hmm you'd think the killer would try something if he was that worried", Chin remarked. "We are not using Bobby as bait for some crazed maniac", Danny told them pointedly. Chin looked embarrassed, "I wasn't thinking of that', he assured Danny.
Danny's further remarks were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. He picked it up and heard the familiar voice of Aaron Crocker tell him to hurry to a street address.
Danny asked the others to accompany him and ran quickly to his car.
It took awhile to reach the address as it was a lonely road a long way from a residential area.
Danny immediately saw the reason for the call parked at the side of the road, a Sunshine cab.
He barreled out of his car with the others right behind him. Danny slowed as he reached the car and saw what was inside, a very dead man with a bullet hole right through the centre of his head.
"I think that answers your question about why he never made an attempt on Bobby', Danny stated drolly as he looked at the body.