Chapter 4
Danny stumbled down the wooden staircase, aided by one of his captors, the man's pungent aftershave choking him with the acid scent of something he couldn't readily identify, it mixed with the smell of burned clothing and made him want to throw up.
His bad leg would not respond to commands and he hobbled on his good one, dragging the other and leaning heavily on the man's shoulder as he was marched downstairs. Danny's hands were cuffed behind him and he was gagged and blindfolded ensuring that nothing but muffled sound registered to him as he concentrated simply on staying conscious, the pain almost unbearable in his closed off world.
Noah had redressed the injury to his thigh but with the shrapnel embedded in his flesh every step was agonising as the foreign object grated against his nerve endings. His breathing was laboured from the damage to his ribcage and he wheezed against the gag.
"Come on, we haven't got all day!" Brett complained as Danny stumbled again and moaned, his mouth gripping the material clenched between his teeth as a scream tried to force its way past his lips. Brett gripped the injured man's shoulders, holding him upright as they reached the first floor landing. Noah slipped past them to close the private door to the club's noisy upper bar. It wouldn't do for the customers to see them taking their prisoner downstairs.
Noah nodded it was safe and Brett continued, half-dragging the detective along the carpet runner and rucking it up behind them so that Noah was forced to bend down time and again to straighten it.
If the trip from the attic had been difficult to negotiate, the next set of stairs was like a mountain and Brett was tiring as he tried to drag his charge to the head of the staircase. As they stood on the edge of some twenty steep steps, the older of Rent's two associates seriously contemplated pushing Williams down to the bottom, thereby negating the necessity for him to sweat any more.
He let Danny stand on his own two feet and watched him sway dangerously, taking a perverse sense of pleasure in playing with fate.
Danny didn't know how close he was to the edge or to falling to what potentially could have been his death as he sensed the ground shifting under him, his balance shot. He wasn't able to stay upright any longer and pitched forward only to find strong hands grab his arms from behind and pull him back from the brink by his jacket.
"You stupid idiot! You want to kill him?" Noah said in an angry whisper as Brett stood there immobile.
"Easier than getting the cop downstairs, one push and he's there!"
"Yeah and probably dead. The boss won't like that. How many times have I told you?"
"Well you take him down then bucko, you're so Goddamned fond of him."
Noah elbowed Brett out of his way and took his place at Danny's side. Gritting his teeth he turned the young detective around like a kid at a blind man's buff game and hoisted him up onto his shoulder grunting. Danny struggled, unsure what was happening to him and felt pressure on his ribs as he was crushed to Noah's chest.
Tears of pain welled up in his eyes and he bit down hard on the cotton, white needles of fire exploding in his chest. Finally he sagged, unable to maintain a hold on consciousness any longer as Noah hefted his weight more comfortably and carried him easily down the stairs.
Brett knocked on the door to Barlow's office and entered on command.
"Good, what took you so long?" Rent eyed his prisoner draped over Noah and was reminded of a similar occasion when his father's body had been hefted like a sack of potatoes over his phantom friend's shoulder before being smashed against a wall. A delicious sense of deja-vu thrummed through him.
"Uh, what do you want us to do with him boss?" Noah asked, eyes roving around the room for a suitable place to dump Danny.
"If he's not bleeding you better put him on the couch."
Without being told twice, Noah flopped Danny's inert body down onto a vibrant blue vinyl couch where he bounced once and lay still as death.
"I see he's not with us again." Rent was unhappy, he needed the detective to speak to McGarrett and wasn't a patient man.
Brett knew what was required of him and he stepped forward and slapped Danny twice. Nothing. The wounded officer never moved.
"He's really out of it this time boss. Who knows when he'll wake up!"
"Then I guess we will just have to wait, won't we?"
Steve leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes briefly, hoping without light his head would stop hurting. Together with Kono and Chin they had gone over the events leading up to the explosion and had all come to the same conclusion; aside from the connection with Steve's snitch Honu, there was as yet no clue as to who was behind the bombing.
McGarrett had spoken to Che Fong at the lab and discovered little more than he already knew. The bomb had been triggered remotely, which meant the would -be assailants were hiding somewhere within range, waiting for them to arrive; or more specifically – for him to get there. He didn't figure Danny was expected.
To him that spelled a contract and opportunity. But why not finish him off at the scene and why take Danno instead of him? That part he was completely baffled about. He wondered if there were different elements at work and put that to the back of his mind to mull over.
The materials used to make the bomb weren't unusual and any individual or organisation with enough knowledge and connections could put one together. Che said it was meant to kill, not maim, and had Danny Williams not been quick thinking and faster acting, they would both be dead. That made Steve's eyes open again – for all he knew Danno could be dead, or dying.
He was tired and felt a break might help him think straight.
"Chin, speak to Che and run a check on the materials used to make that bomb, find out any suppliers or manufacturers, top priority. I also want Duke and some HPD men to talk to Honu's neighbours, see if they heard or saw anything strange in the last couple of days. I want to know if he did anything out of the ordinary."
"Will do boss."
"What about me?" Kono asked, needing to be doing something to help Danny.
Steve smiled, "You're going to drive me home. I need to change out of these clothes and grab a shower but the way my head's spinning I don't think I ought to drive." He got up and wrapped an arm around his ribs before adding, "We won't be long Chin, call me at home if you have anything. I'll be back shortly."
"Sure thing Steve, I'll get onto everything."
McGarrett nodded and the two men followed their Chief out of the office.
Steve was uncharacteristically quiet on the drive back to his apartment. Kono glanced at him occasionally to make sure he was okay and could tell that McGarrett's brilliant police mind was working overtime, even if he didn't say anything.
The Hawaiian detective found it hard not to talk, he wanted reassurances regarding his friend and knowing that nothing much could be done to find Williams was making him tense. He rolled his shoulders, loosening the tight neck muscles and concentrated on the road ahead, but like his companion next to him, Kono was thinking of Danny.
Before long they reached McGarrett's apartment and Steve asked Kono inside for a drink whilst he changed. Kalakua readily agreed. He was parched and soon set about making coffee for them both. Although he'd visited Steve's place on numerous occasions he didn't know his way around the kitchen and it took a while to locate everything whilst Steve busied himself in the bathroom.
When he went to the refridgerator to get the cream, Kono saw the photos of Steve and Danny stuck on the fridge door, just a couple of buddy shots from where the two men had gone deep sea fishing. In one McGarrett's hand was on Danny's shoulder as the two men proudly showed off an impressive Pacific Blue Marlin they had caught between them. Both men were beaming at the camera and Kono smiled - he had been the one taking the photos that day.
Kono shook his head, trying hard not to get emotional before he needed to. No one knew where Danny was, but that didn't mean his friend had gone.
He sat down on the couch, coffee forgotten as he got caught up in his memories of their sport fishing trip. He heard the shower going and relaxed as he waited for Steve.
It wasn't long before the water turned off and Steve padded out into the living room, towel wrapped around his waist as he looked for his non-existent coffee. Kono winced as he saw the bruises on his boss' chest and shoulders, "That's got to hurt!" he commented.
"It looks worse than it is," Steve lied. "So where's my drink?"
"Oh sorry boss, I was just thinking about Danny I'll get it now!" the big man went back into the kitchen.
"Yeah Kono, we're all thinking about him."
Just then the telephone rang and Steve went to pick it up, automatically thinking it would be the office, "McGarrett."
"Well well, we finally speak." A strange man's voice said at the end of the phone.
Steve was immediately on guard. "Who is this please? How did you get this number?"
Hearing that, Kono appeared from around the kitchen doorway and caught Steve's eye. He could tell from McGarrett's face that this wasn't any ordinary phone call and he stopped what he was doing to listen.
Thomas Barlow chuckled, "Oh you know how it is mister McGarrett? A friend of a friend of an enemy of yours gave me your number. You would be surprised how much is known about the great Chief McGarrett's private life; your movements, your address, the people you value in your life." He stressed the word value' like a threat and Steve knew instantly where the call was going.
"Your office indicated you weren't there so it was just an assumption on my part that you were in residence at your apartment. I'm so glad we have the chance to talk. Who I am is of no consequence – what I want becomes more a question of what you want."
"What do you mean what I want?"
"Come come now you can't be that stupid surely? I told you that many of your enemies shall we say – understand – how close you are to the members of your unit and that there is one that you are particularly close to, like brothers in fact."
McGarrett's heart started racing. He was being toyed with and he didn't like it. "Get on with what you have to say and stop playing with me!"
Another laugh and this time something shifted in Steve's head and just for a second he thought he recognised the caller.
"I heard you had a bit of an accident and that one of your officers – Detective Williams - is M.I.A."
McGarrett mouthed across the mouthpiece Danny' to Kono and Kalakua came up to listen into the conversation with Steve, both men's ears close to the ear piece.
"You could have heard that anywhere if the coconut wireless is as good as you say it is!"
At the end of the phone Rent twitched uneasily, he thought this call would be simple but McGarrett was a difficult man to pin down, "True but not just anyone has the object you seek!"
"Are you telling me you have Danno!" McGarrett blurted out without thinking.
"Ah Danno' is it? Yes, I should have thought such a charming young man would have a nickname. Well he is here with me but I'm afraid your colleague is rather the worse for wear."
Kono's intake of breath was audible and Steve swiftly put a hand over the mouth piece, not wanting Danny's kidnapper to hear that he had another person in the room. "If Danny is injured and you don't hand him over immediatey I will have every law enforcement officer on these islands hunt you down. Oh, and that IS a promise!"
"Then let me reassure you that we have extended every courtesy to our guest. Why, at this very moment he is lying asleep on my couch. Nothing but the best for Danno' Willliams!" Barlow lied.
Steve cringed at the use of Danny's familiar name and wanted to throttle the scum for his casual attitude and use of it.
"Which brings us back to your question of what I want." Rent added when silence ensued.
"I'm listening."
"Well, first of all I shall come clean and tell you that the damage the explosion inflicted upon your friend is rather severe – or so it appears. I believe he may be in a great deal of pain and sadly I am not at liberty to alleviate the poor man's discomfort at present."
"You BASTARD!" Steve hissed and Kono was equally shocked by the kidnapper's statement.
"Now, now – I won't have you being rude about my dear departed ones! Name calling will not help the situation, or Williams. It seems to me, although I know little of these matters, that the longer Danny Williams goes without medical treatment the less likely he is to live. You see my point I trust?"
"Oh yes – I see!"
"Good, splendid in fact! So when I tell you the only possible hope for him is an exchange you won't mind giving it due consideration?"
Kono knew, just as McGarrett did, what the conversation was leading up to and the islander was shaking his head but Steve ignored him, "Cut the small talk and give me the bottom line. What exchange?"
"You – for him. A simple transaction and one that, for his sake if nothing else, should take place sooner rather than later don't you think? After all, the more blood a person loses the closer they are to meeting their maker."
McGarrett wasn't sure what to say. Bottom line was they, whoever they' were, wanted him. His life for Danno's. If he only knew who wanted him and to what purpose. He owed Danny Wiliams his life many times over and would gladly give it to keep his friend safe but Steve knew in situations like these no one normally came out alive so giving himself up could be pointless. He was perplexed and his head, although clearer for the shower, wasn't as clear as it would normally be.
Ignorning Kono's hand on his shoulder, he asked, "How do I really know you have Williams and that this isn't just a game you're playing?"
There was that laugh again, he had heard it before but where!?
"You policemen are so predictable. I thought you might want a demonstration but you should know that I do this reluctantly. Please hold the line whilst my colleagues awaken Prince Charming from his slumbers." He said politely and before Steve could reply he heard voices followed by a scuffle in the background and the sound of something heavy being dragged towards the receiver.
"Well the good news is that Danno' is awake however the bad news is that he's being stubborn and refuses to speak to you!"
Kono and Steve looked at each other anxiously, stomachs knotted with worry as they listened intently to what was happening. More voices followed by the sound of what appeared ot be flesh connecting with flesh then a grunt like someone in pain. The two Five-O detectives heard the kidnapper's voice in the background, 'You must talk to him Williams, you don't understand that your health depends upon it!" Followed by a distinct cry of pain. Steve felt sick.
Loud enough that McGarrett could hear Barlow then declared, "Very well, since he refuses to co-operate perhaps making him scream will help!"
Steve grasped the phone to his mouth, cutting Kono out as he yelled down the receiver "NO! Leave him alone do you hear me? Leave him alone!!"
But it was too late and through an agonising scream that pierced his heart Steve heard Danny shout, "Don't do it Steve!" another terrified scream and then the noise abruptly ceased.
McGarrett couldn't breathe, the walls were closing in on him all of a sudden and Kono's arm was on his, helping him to sit down before he fell down.
He felt guilt weigh heavily upon him. He did that. He caused them to hurt Danny. They made him scream because he didn't believe them. Now what was he supposed to do?
A breathless Barlow came back to the phone, "Proof enough McGarrett or shall I have a toe sent to you along with his badge?"
"I will have your hide for this - do you understand me!? You will never get away from me or the Law!" McGarrett hissed dangerously, the threat not an idle one.
"Relax. He's not dead, just rather uncomfortable. Now can we talk business or shall I have one of my associates sharpen his shears?"
Kono was horrified. He knew enough of his boss and friend's temperament to know what he was going to do even before Steve did.
McGarrett was utterly defeated, the toll on his body and mind too much for him to think straighter than Danny's pain and suffering. Taking a deep breath he replied, "We talk."