Chapter 10- something to believe in
"There's no evidence", Steve repeated for the second time to Chin Ho Kelly.
"No, both the body of the taxi driver and all his clothes went missing at the hospital", Chin stated calmly.
"Here I was hoping I might get out of here soon", Steve sighed. He looked at Chin Ho wondering anew why Danny was avoiding him, by rights Danny should be telling him this himself. "How is Danno doing with the investigation", Steve asked .
Chin looked solemn, "I think he's feeling frustrated but he's not giving up".
"Not giving up on clearing me or convicting me", Steve just had to ask that one.
"Steve, Danny doesn't think you are guilty", Chin sounded shocked. "Then why doesn't he come and see me Chin, Addison has told me Crocker is now stable so he can't use worry over his brothers health as an excuse", Steve almost shouted that comment.
Chin patted his back awkwardly. "I just think he is busy Steve", he placated the 5-0 boss. Steve nodded but wasn't convinced.
Chin left shortly after that . Steve sunk down and the hard bed and tried not to feel dejected.
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Danny looked at the file in front of him, ""our taxi driver's name was Francis Colby", he told the others. "One arrest for grand theft auto two years ago, hardly the killing type", he stated. "No, for a man like that to become a killer there has to be a pretty powerful incentive', Theo Kojak agreed.
"Like what", Kono asked. "Drugs, money, the usual", Danny replied with a heavy sigh. "Yeah but we come back to why those victims, Bobby would definitely not have had much money on him", Kojak noted.
Danny looked at the other file, "why did Lyle Martin come to Hawaii", he asked Kono. "For a holiday to look at wahines", ,Kono stated with a shrug. "Maybe that wasn't the reason", Danny suggested. "I'd like to know more about this charity Martin worked for".
Danny went to the phone book and search for some numbers. "I'm just seeing if that charity has a branch in Hawaii by any chance".
Soon he was dialing some numbers and having a conversations that involved a lot of comments of , "I see" and "alright". After about twenty minutes Danny hung up with a strange expression on his face. "Lyle Martin planned to give the money he received to the Hawaiian branch to aid their charity work here. He was coming to Hawaii apparently partly for that purpose as well as a holiday." The charity had applied to have the money taken out of his bank account now that he is dead. It was a long process because of the circumstances of his death. Finally they have clearance to get the money, only…", Danny paused significantly . "It wasn't in the bank account", Theo Kojak concluded. "Exactly', Danny agreed. "Which means he could have had the money on him at the time of the murder. "Just how much money are we talking about", Kono asked. "One hundred and fifty thousand dollars", Danny replied.
"That's a lot of money to give to a charity", Kono stated. "Not necessarily", Kojak told him, "this guy was a well off businessman who had quite a tidy sum to his name."
"What has any of this got to do with the killings and the disappearance of the evidence", Danny stormed fed up with getting nowhere.
"Someone was afraid that by analyzing the taxi drivers body or clothing that we'd find something out", Kono stated with confidence.
"Well we still have the car, not that it is telling us much. It does blood present from all three victims but not a huge amount.', Danny reported as he held the findings from Che's analysis of the taxi. "Is it enough to prove Steve's Mercury wasn't used", Chin asked as he came into the room. "No because the victims all could have been moved to a second car after the stabbing occurred", Bobby's recollections seem to suggest that.'
Danny responded.
"So we are left back at square one, not knowing a motive and having a dead perpetrator", Kono responded.
Danny scowled as his phone rang. "Hello', he snapped. His attitude soon changed though and he put the phone down with a look of wonder.
"He wasn't lying", Danny stated with a smile. "Who", Theo Kojak was confused. "Bobby stated that he'd pulled a button from his attacker's coat. But Doc said there weren't any missing from the Taxi drivers attire. So I thought that Bobby might have made it up because he felt guilty. However I forgot to tell the HPD detail not to search and guess what they just found.", Danny grinned at them. "Yeah but a button is tiny, a lot smaller than clothing or a body, exactly what could it tell us", Chin told Danny.
"Lets hope for something", Danny replied.
Two nerve wracking hours later Danny was in Che's lab. "Well Danny, Crocker's blood was definitely on that button as were his prints. But I also found prints and blood from a second person.", Che reported. He showed Danny the button." Now people forget that when they button things they touch the bottom of the button as well as the top. When Crocker grabbed the button he only touched the rim hence preserving the other prints underneath. Possibly the button was already partially loose which is why he could pull it free".
Danny looked expectantly, "who", he asked.
"Well it wasn't our taxi drivers blood Danny as it was a different blood type", Che responded. "Naturally I sent the prints for analysis but nothing has come back perhaps yet", Danny began to pace, "is it possible Che that the evidence went missing because our taxi driver killer wasn't the killer after all. Heck everyone knows we are looking for a taxi driver so perhaps someone gave us somebody that fit the bill. But there has to be more reason than just a hundred and fifty thousand dollars", Danny mused. He paced then said, "of course why didn't I think of that", then he left leaving Che to stare after him.
Ten minutes later Steve Mc Garrett was surprised to see Danny ushered in to see him, "Danno, it's about time", Steve chided gently. "I came to ask you something Steve", Danny realized he didn't sound very friendly but this case was wearing his patience out.
"What's that detective Williams", Steve changed to a business like tone. "Who would want to frame you", Danny asked
Steve actually smiled, "it's nice that someone finally got around to asking that question ", he acknowledged.
Danny looked away from Steve , "I'm sorry Steve, he finally stated, "I was avoiding the question of your involvement at all and pining all my hopes on that taxi driver hoping he was the key to finding out what this is all about". But now I find myself trying to find the link between some missing money and the killings", Danny replied.
Steve sat down on his hard cell bed. "Well Danno we both have a sizeable list of people wanting to hurt us. But when I was thinking about this case myself I always hit the stumbling block of who knew Crocker was coming here. You didn't."
Steve replied. "There was that list you obtained", Danny stated, "maybe someone else saw Bobby's name."
"Its possible Danno but it doesn't bring us any closer to pinpointing the person behind the frame", Steve stated neutrally. He found himself still disturbed by Danny lack of warmth toward him. Sure Danno was now trying to get him off the hook but it didn't feel like he really wanted to.
"Danno do you think I would hurt your brother", Steve asked bluntly. "No", Steve", Danny replied instantly. "Then why the attitude Danno", Steve asked bluntly.
Danny looked down, "I heard what you said about Bobby to that bar owner", he confessed. "Oh", Steve guessed that nights comments might come back to haunt him.
"Danno what can I say, only that I'm most sincerely sorry. I was feeling sorry for myself that night and said things I should not have", Steve stared right into Danny's eyes. Danny bit his lip, "That sounds like you didn't mean to say them not that you didn't mean them", Danny retorted. Steve sighed, "all I can say is sorry Danny. I'm not usually a selfish man but that night I acted like one. It will never happen again", Steve reassured. Danny nodded but left off making a verbal reply. He still didn't really know what his ultimate reaction to Steve's words was going to be.
"Let's get back to the questions", Steve quickly stated drawing Danny's thoughts away from focusing on his attitude towards Bobby".
Okay so the specific evidence that seems to suggest your guilt is the blood in the car, brief case in your office and two eye witnesses", Danny stated. "Yeah still shocks me about Crocker seeing my car", Steve shook his head. Danny looked at Steve, "he wasn't supposed to live to see your car", he pointed out. "So that would have just left one eye witness". "We never really checked her out but what if it was not just an accident that she was there that night", Danny mused.
"Indeed Danno and they would have had to use another Mercury just in case there was anyone else around". Hence they would not be too worried about what Bobby might say", Steve commented.
"I think I'll go talk to the witness", Danno remarked. Just then an HPD officer came and told him he had a call. Turning Danny left the cell without a good bye. Steve had this feeling things had changed between them for good and no matter what Crocker's future may be Danny still might end up walking away from 5-0.