Take Two: Chapter Six

He sat in his truck for a good twenty minutes on the side of the rode, lost in thought. Steve was troubled. He thought about turning around and driving to Danny's house dozens of times. Each time his hand reached towards the gear, he changed his mind.

So, he considered driving to work. This too seemed futile. It was nearly midnight. Too late to go to work. Not too late to go to Chin's place, though. Steve nodded to himself and finally began to drive again.

Steve noticed Kono's car outside of Chin's home as Steve pulled into the driveway. There was a light on in the kitchen. Steve could see Kono sitting on the counter, speaking with her cousin. Chin had his hands on his hips.

At the sound of Steve's car pulling in, Chin looked out the window. "Good timing," he heard his cousin mutter behind him. Chin headed towards the front door.

"Steve. I was just about to call you." Chin called out after opening the door. Steve was walking towards him, keys in hand. "Everything okay?"

"Why?" Steve frowned, slowing his brisk pace. "What's going on?"

"I just got a call from Joel Novak. Apparently, when he got back to his hotel room tonight there was a letter for him. Something about an abandoned warehouse."

"What? When did he call?"

"Five minutes ago, maybe." Chin said.

"Joel seems to think his brother is being held there." Kono had appeared at the door next to her cousin. She nodded a greeting to Steve.

"You think so too?" Steve asked them.

"I think it's a lead we have to follow." Chin said. "And if Michael is there, then we're wasting time."

"I'll drive." Steve said quickly, and the three headed towards his truck. "We need to pick up Danny." He explained to them as he unlocked the truck and clambered into the driver's seat. "I was just with him. He wouldn't want to miss this."

"How is he, boss?" Kono asked.

"Uh," Steve sighed, searching for the words as he began to drive. He thought back to his conversation with his partner, specifically the wild theory about Mattie being alive. "He's pretty freaked out about the similarities. I can't blame him."

"Danny's place is on the way." Chin said, glancing at the address on his phone. "Joel wants to meet us at the warehouse, by the way."

"That's not advised." Steve shook his head. "Tell him to stay where he is."

Danny had finally been able to calm his anxiety and start to sleep when his phone rang. It was Kono. She, Chin, and Steve would be at his place in ten minutes. Danny hurriedly dressed and fixed his hair.

"Grace," he went to his daughter's room and gently tugged on her hand. "Gracie."

"Danno?" Grace had been asleep for hours now, tired after her night out.

"Hi." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear to get a better look at her eyes. They were the same color as her mother's eyes. "I've got a lead on a case, okay? Uncle Steve is going to pick me up really soon."

"But it's late." Grace protested softly.

"I know." Danny shrugged. "But I promise to be back in the morning, okay? I'll be back to take you to your mother's. I just want you to know where I am."

"Okay." Grace nodded.

"Okay." Danny repeated. "I love you."

"Love you, Danno." Grace kissed her father on the cheek as he enveloped her in a quick hug.

Danny's visit to Eric's room was less affectionate. Mostly because Eric was still awake, playing a video game on his phone in bed.

"Eric, go to sleep would ya?" Danny said.

"Oh, hey Uncle D." Eric blinked, looking up from his phone. "Why are you dressed? You headed out or something?"

"Uh huh. Keep an eye on Grace. You may be getting a call from me later, okay? About the case."

"No problemo, Uncle D."

"We got a hit at an abandoned warehouse." Kono explained as Danny squeezed in the backseat of Steve's truck. Kono's tall frame was folded up next to him, and they were shoulder to shoulder.

"I'm only going to say this once in your lifetime, but please drive faster." Danny rubbed his temples. He could already feel his heart beating wildly. He hated the backseat anyway, but especially in Steve's confined truck. He kept his eye on the door.

"All indications say Michael Novak could be in the building." Kono went on, oblivious to Steve's cautionary glance at Danny before he picked up speed.

"Joel received a phone call or something about this?" Danny asked Kono, since he was so close to her anyway. "Good to see ya," he patted her on the knee.

"Steve, is he drunk?" Kono asked.

"Hey! I'm right here." Danny protested.

"That's why we're driving him." Steve nodded.

"Buzzed. Let's settle on buzzed." Danny insisted.

"Danny," Chin pressed forward. "Joel received an anonymous letter this evening saying he should go to the warehouse tonight if he wanted to see his brother alive."

"Huh." Danny nodded. "And Joel contacted you immediately."

"Yeah. Why?"

"Oh, I don't know." Danny shrugged, which was hard to do squeezed next to Kono. "If it was me, I would've checked the place out myself first before involving you lot."

"Remember, Danny, this guy isn't a trained detective." Steve said. "He's worried about his brother. Also his own safety."

Danny shrugged again, eyebrows furrowed. Steve drove into the lot and parked the car.

"Joel said the third warehouse." Chin said as the four left the truck. Danny sucked in the fresh air and rubbed the back of his neck. He certainly hoped the warehouse wasn't as confined.

Steve nodded, instantly heading towards the third warehouse in the lot. His three team members followed him. The handle was in the middle, at the bottom of the large door. Steve tugged upwards. It was unlocked.

"Okay." Steve frowned. "Something's definitely happening here. Chin and I will open the door. Danny, Kono, split up once you enter and take the sides. Chin and I will approach the center. Deal?"

"Deal, boss." Kono nodded. She nodded at Danny as well, who pulled out his gun.

"On three." Steve said. He and Chin bent down and reached towards the handle. "One, two, three." They lifted. Danny and Kono knew the drill. As they quickly entered the warehouse, guns out and flashlights on, they made sure to stay close to the wall and keep an eye out. So far, all Danny could see were countless boxes.

Chin and Steve quietly lowered the door and approached the middle of the room. More boxes. The place seemed to be void of human life.

"Michael Novak!" Kono called out frustratingly. There was no response. "Boss?"

Steve didn't answer. He cautiously kicked one of the boxes. It was empty, and fell over easily.

"Michael Novak!" Kono called again.

Quietly, from his corner of the warehouse, Danny also called out, but with a quieter "Mattie? You here?" No one heard him.

"Michael Novak!"

"The place is empty, Kono." Steve responded. "There's no one here." He kicked another box. This one scooted to the side, uncovering a door.

"An unexpected extra room." Chin noted. "Good kick, Steve."

"Huh." Steve shrugged. "I'd say we're in the right place. Danny! Kono! With me."

When the four gathered around the door, Steve lifted the handle. "Michael Novak?" he called. The space below was dark. Danny shined his flashlight to reveal a rickety staircase and a dark room. They couldn't see the entire room.

"Okay," Steve nodded to himself. "Kono, with me."

Danny was relieved not to go into the confined space. "Good call, bud." He patted Steve on the back as the two disappeared down the stairs.

This basement, as it were, was larger than Kono and Steve thought. Steve turned around quickly, shining his flashlight on the stairwell. The stairs looked old, and had definitely been in place for quite some time.

"Michael Novak?" Kono tried again. "Mich – Boss."

Steve turned around. Kono was gesturing towards an oil bin in the middle of the dark room.

"What is this doing here?" Kono asked, oblivious to Steve's shock.

Steve couldn't answer. He instantly returned to Colombia, thinking of Marco Reyes's face as he rolled the bin out, Danny's face when he saw the bin, and finally when Steve had opened the lid of the oil bin, and nodded silently at his partner. He remembered how Danny had fought Steve to take a look in the oil bin himself, and when he finally did, he had thrown up so violently Steve was worried his heart would fall out of his mouth. So, when Steve's open mouth finally formed an answer to Kono's question, it was simply the word "Fuck."

"Boss. Boss?" Kono shined her flashlight in Steve's face. "What's the matter?"

Steve lowered his gun. He put it back in his holster and walked towards the bin. "Kono," he swallowed, "When Danny's brother was killed, Marco Reyes cut him up and put him in an oil bin just like this."

Kono gasped. Her light from her flashlight moved quickly away from the bin. "I didn't know."

"No, I mean, no one knows." Steve said. "I just…I was afraid something like this would happen."

"This case is more about Mattie than we thought." Kono approached the bin as well. She reached a hand out.

"Don't touch it." Steve warned. "There could be something inside."

"Michael Novak?"

Steve was silent. "I don't know." He admitted. "But we should be careful. It might be wired."

The door above suddenly closed on them, removing any light from the basement.

"Hey!" Steve called. "Open it back up!"

"Michael Novak!" Kono yelled again.

"Hey, Danno!" Steve yelled exasperatedly. "Open the door!"

There was no answer. Steve headed towards the stairs. "Yo! Chin! Someone!"

"Look out!" Steve heard Danny yell suddenly. Then, a gunshot, followed by a thud. Another gunshot. Kono and Steve rushed towards the staircase and pushed open the door. Steve could vaguely hear Chin yelling at he and Kono to stop before the side of the door hit the ground, and there was an explosion.