"She is lovely, but you made a mistake, My Friend."
"How...she's the same coloring as the others. Pretty, but not beautiful. Isn't that what you asked for?"
"Yes, but anonymity was also needed. I asked for unattached females and this one was married."
"You also said it was important that we replace the one that died as quickly as possible. You ant me to fill the spaces with women who fit your criteria, then you need to make allowances for the liberties I am sometimes forced to take."
"What about her husband? Did you take care of him?"
"He's dead...Rico made sure of that," Cole Howard answered as his client reached out and took the woman's face in his hands. "She as difficult and we were forced to give her a sedative."
"Don't give her anything that will interfere with the plans I have for her."
"We don't use drugs unless you specify cocaine, meth, or heroin," Howard told him.
"Good, make sure it stays that way. I need three more before I make the delivery and I want them healthy."
"I will, trust me, the men are being very careful."
"I thin I'll spend a couple of hour with the lovely Mrs. McMillan. Is there a room available?"
"Of course," Howard said and watched s his boss lifted the woman into his arms and carried her toward a room at the back of the building. Perhaps it was time he availed himself of one of the others and a smile lit his face as he walked toward the bed where Tao Pham lay on her right side, her hair spread across the pillow as she slept with the aid of the sedative his boss readily supplied.
5050505050
Steve smiled at Governor's secretary and sat on the edge of her desk. The woman was in her mid sixties, with greying hair and sparkling blue eyes. She made no qualms about what she'd like to do to Steve if she was thirty years younger and hadn't met her husband. She flirted with him the minute she walked through the door and he enjoyed it as much as she did.
"Hi, Patty, is the governor in?"
"Yes, she's expecting you and told me to tell you to go right in. Would you mind taking the long way around the desk...I haven't had my thrill of the day yet," Patty Walsh said with a hint of an Irish accent as she wagged her eyebrows at him mischievously. She stood up and watched as he walked toward the inner office and knew her morning could not get any better than this.
Steve knocked on the door and entered when he heard the governor's voice. This wasn't the first early morning meeting he had with her, but he was surprised to see the man seated across from Jameson.
"Good morning, Steve, I'd like you to meet David O'Brien."
"We already met," McGarrett said.
"Really?" Jameson sounded surprised.
"Danny introduced us yesterday," McGarrett answered.
"Danny's an old friend. He's one of the reasons I agreed to take this gig," O'Brien offered.
"You make it sound like some kind of acting job," McGarrett said, disliking how cavalier the man was about their job.
"I doubt David feels that way, Commander," Jameson said.
"I don't, but their are rimes when I wish it was just some television show where we catch the bad guys and go home to a wife and kids who adore us. Danny had that for a while and I thought if anyone could make it work it would be Danny and Rachel, but even that didn't work out," O'Brien said.
Steve didn't know whether O'Brien knew about Danny and Rachel seeing each other again, and knew it was up to his partner when he did that. He wasn't sure what h=it was about O'Brien, but there was something about the man that grated on his nerves.
"Commander, I know this is unexpected, but I asked David if he would be willing to work with you as part of Five-O."
"We don't need anyone else, and if we did there are several officers at HPD we should consider first," McGarrett observed.
"David is more than qualified for the position, Commander, and he's had experience working the types of cases your team specialize in. The decision had already been made."
"Then why did you bother bringing me in on it?" McGarrett snapped.
"Because you are the head of Five-O and I wanted you to tell the others. I believe the decision to bring in another member of the team at this time is the right move. It will take some of the pressure off you, Danny, Kono, and Chin," Jameson said.
"I don't remember complaining about the pressure."
"You didn't, but there are several cases pending and Five-O will be stretched to the limits as it is. David can help, Commander..."
"I promise not to undermine your authority," O'Brien said with a smug smile.
Steve looked at the man, and wondered what it was about O'Brien that reminded him of chewing on tinfoil. His instincts were suddenly on high alert, but there was nothing he could put a finger on. He could almost hear Danny telling him he was being petty because Danny had been right about Nick Taylor, but Steve knew that wasn't the case.
"I can show you my credentials, Commander," O'Brien said.
"I don't think that's going to be necessary...is it, Commander?" Jameson asked with an edge of anger in her voice.
"No, I guess not since you've already made your decision," McGarrett said.
"Yes, I have. Please bring David up to date on the cases you're working on," the governor told him and turned her attention to the papers on her desk.
"Thank you, Governor, I'll see you at dinner tonight," O'Brien said and walked out of the office.
"Is there something you wish to say, Commander?"
"No...yes, why O'Brien?"
"I already told you. He has the credentials and since he is a friend of Danny Williams I thought it would be an easy adjustment for your team. Why are you so set against it?"
"Call it gut instinct," McGarrett told her.
"Gut instinct, Commander. How can it be gut instinct when you only met the man yesterday?"
"That's what instinct is...a gut feeling that something isn't right," the head of Five-O told her.
"Really, or is it that you don't want to admit you need help?"
"No, that's not the reason," McGarrett snapped.
"Give him a chance to prove himself, Commander. Talk to me in a week and if you still feel the same way then I'll listen to what you have to say," the Governor said and reached out to place her hand on his arm. "Give him a chance...maybe it'll help detective Williams adjust to being in Hawaii."
"I'll do it," McGarrett said and left the office. O'Brien was no where to be seen as Steve hurried from the building. He wanted a drink, but it was too early for that so he headed for the gym. Once there he changed into workout close and headed for the punchbag. He could feel several people watching him, but he didn't acknowledge anyone as he took out his frustrations on the bag. Sweat beaded on his forehead and dripped into his eyes, but it did nothing to distract him from his thoughts.
"Hey, McGarrett, what did the bag do to you?"
Steve recognized the voice, but chose to ignore it as he struck out several more times before latching onto the bag and breathing deeply through tightly clenched teeth. He knew Jacobs was a blow hard, but turned to face him anyway. "What do you want, Jacobs?"
"Just wondered what a hotshot like you is doing at the gym when you're supposed to be working."
"What business is it of yours?"
"I make it my business since you seem to be passing over everyone who deserves a position with Five-O. First you take that Jersey detective...then a disgraced cop and a rookie..."
"Did you ever think maybe I chose them because I know they'll put every effort into solving a case without whining about having to get their hands dirty? I heard you go for a manicure and pedicure..."
"Go to hell, McGarrett!"
"That's go to hell Commander McGarrett to you, Jacobs, or would you like to go on report?"
"Just like you to make a threat like that. I don't suppose you'd be interested in a few friendly rounds in the ring?"
"If it means shutting you up I'm game," McGarrett said and smiled at the man standing before him. Chris Jacobs was twice his size with arms like small tree trunks and knuckles that were deformed from hitting too many unsuspecting people.
"Hey, Doc, is there a ring free?"
"Number two is just finishing up," Makaio 'Doc' Manunui answered and moved toward the two men. "Hey, Steve, you work out pretty hard there, Brah."
"Hey, Doc, how's business?"
"Busy, we got..."
"Come on, Doc, cut the crap and set it up. I'm going to teach McGarrett what it's like to fight a real man," Jacobs told him.
"That true, Steve, you going to get in the ring with this bully?"
"I figure someone should cut him down to size," McGarrett answered.
"Others have tried, McGarrett."
"They weren't me, Jacobs," the head of Five-O said and reached for the bottle of water Manunui handed him.
"Enough talking, ladies, time's wasting," Jacobs told them and moved to the second ring as two men exited it. "We going to do this like real men or do you want protection, McGarrett?"
"You know the rules, Jacobs...combatants must use protective gear," Manunui warned.
"Rules are made to be broken, Doc," Jacobs offered.
"Not in my gym. You want to fight then you wear the gear. Otherwise take it out in the street!" the older man snapped and began re-wrapping McGarrett's hands as Jacobs motioned for one of the assistants to help him out.
Jacobs knew there was no point in arguing and allowed the young man to wrap his hands. He waited until the others were engrossed in what they were doing with McGarrett before reaching into his pocket and sliding a thin set of brass knuckles beneath the loose fitting tape of his right hand. All he needed to do was get close enough to hit his opponent once and he'd put him down. A smug smile formed as they made their way into the ring.
"You do this by my rules and you stop when I tell you to," Manunui told them.
"Hey, Doc, who's gonna referee?"
"I am, Richard," Manunui answered and wasn't surprised to find they now had an audience. "We go three rounds..."
"I'll put him down in one," Jacobs bragged and began moving around the ring wile his nemesis stood watching him.
"You sure you want to do this, Steve?" Manunui asked. He admired McGarrett and had known his father most of his life. Both men fought for what they believed in and he was pretty sure the commander could take Jacobs, but not without taking some major abuse. A simple nod was his only answer and he ordered both men to the middle of the ring. "The bell will signal the end of each round..."
"You won't need to ring the bell. McGarrett will hear them long before the round ends," Jacobs blustered.
Steve just smiled at the man, ducking when Jacobs swung around Manunui, but missed connecting with him. The bigger man was as graceful as a bull in a China shop, and Steve easily moved to the side as Jacobs swung his right fist and caught him a glancing blow to the shoulder. McGarrett knew he was toying with his opponent, but men like Jacobs were bullies and sometimes it took a hard lesson for them to realize their mistake, if they ever did.
Steve ducked out of the way when Jacobs launched an attack that would have shoved him backward into the ropes, and turned to see the rage in the other man's eyes. He had no idea why Jacobs disliked him, but right now the man was giving him a chance to work off some of his own disgruntled anger. As his nemesis moved in again, McGarrett sidestepped and drove his elbow into the man's lower back as he stumbled past him.
Chris Jacobs knew he could not out maneuver his enemy, but he didn't need to. All he needed to do was get close enough to use his right fist. He turned slightly as McGarrett's elbow connected with his lower back and cursed as pain erupted along his hip. He reached behind him and rubbed the injured area, silently cursing when he saw the hint of a smile on McGarrett's face. Rage made him want to press an attack, but he'd never been stupid and right now he needed to keep his wits about him if he was going to take the bastard down a few pegs...maybe even land him in the hospital.
Steve was like a caged tiger who needed to set things right...either escape, or get rid of his prey. He watched Jacob's eyes, and knew when the man was going to move and edged sideways, but this time Jacobs was a step ahead of him and changed direction. The big man faked a left, but before Steve had a chance to react he struck out with his right. The blow shouldn't have effected hi, but his vision blurred and he staggered back as a second fist plowed into his chest.
Jacobs could hear Manunui shouting at him, but he connected solidly with several punches to his opponent's cheek before delivering another right to his face. Still McGarrett wouldn't go down in spite of the blood dripping from a cut above left eye and dripping from a split lip. He had the bastard right where he wanted him and 'Doc' couldn't do a damn thing about it.
McGarrett staggered away from the man whose fists felt like solid rock when it connected with his head. He stayed out of Jacobs' reach until his vision cleared enough for him to move. He heard a cheer go up as he lashed out at Jacobs with his right leg and caught the man at the side of his right knee. The big guy stumbled and cried out, but didn't go down as Steve kicked out again and connected solidly with the same knee, but this time it was a solid hit that put Jacobs on his knees.
"Give it up, Jacobs, he's a SEAL and he'll never go down!" someone shouted from the crowd that had gathered around the ring.
Steve couldn't help, but smile at the comment. His training had kept him on is feet even when his body and mind told him to give it up. He could hear his mentor shouting at him to keep moving even when his muscles cramped and his gut heaved while his lungs fought to drag in enough air to keep him from passing out. He breathed past the pain and stared at Jacobs, daring the man to get back on his feet, but it seemed no matter how hard he tried, bis knee just wouldn't hold him.
"That's it! We're done here!" Manunui said and signaled for the man nearest the bell to hit it.
Steve turned to walk away, satisfied that Jacobs was down as 'Doc' latched onto his arm and shook his head.
"You should get checked out..."
"I'm okay, Doc," McGarrett said, unaware of the danger behind him. The shout came a moment too late as something connected with the right side of his head and he went down hard. He heard shouts of rage, but his vision blurred and darkness wavered at the edge of his vision even as Manunui knelt beside him.
"I beat the bastard!" Jacobs snapped.
"You blindsided him, Jacobs!"
"That makes you a loser!"
Steve heard the words, but he had no idea who had spoken them as he struggled past the pain and managed to sit up. He could see Jacobs leaning against the ropes with a shit-assed grin on his face. He felt Manunui lending support and stood up, shaking with the effort it took to keep from passing out. Blood ran into his right eye, but he blinked it way as he walked over to Jacobs.
"What's the matter, McGarrett? You a sore loser!"
"No, but someone once said 'you don't shoot nobody in the back' and I figure the same could be said in a fight...only a coward blindsides a man," McGarrett told him.
"You want to finish this now?" Jacobs spat.
"He's not worth it, Steve," Manunui said and kept his hand on McGarrett's arm.
"You going to let that old man tell you what to do?"
"Yes, and if you were smart you'd do the same thing, Jacobs!" the head of five-O snapped and fought the nausea churning through his gut.
"I always knew you were a coward..."
"Shut up while you can still walk, Jacobs," Manunui warned when he saw the rage in McGarrett's eyes.
"I'm not afraid of him!"
"Then you're as stupid as they say," Manunui said, surprised when Jacobs took a swing at him, shocked when McGarrett caught his right hand and bent it backward until the man was on his knees. He stared into his opponents eyes and saw something that chilled him to the core.
"What are you hiding, Jacobs?" McGarrett asked and pulled at the loose fitting tape. It didn't take much to reveal what he'd felt and he shoved the man with what strength he had left.
"Sonofabitch!" Manunui cursed and glared at the man sitting on the floor of the ring. "Clean out your fucking locker and get the hell out of my gym!"
"You can't do that!"
"He just did!" McGarrett spat and watched as Jacobs climbed unsteadily to his feet.
"This isn't over!" Jacobs snarled.
"Yes, it is," the head of Five-O spat. He watched as his nemesis turned away, stumbled out of the ring and limped toward the locker room area.
"That's one miserable bastard. You need to watch your back where he's concerned!"" Manunui observed and felt a slight tremble in the man's body. "Come on, Steve, I'll drive you to Queens."
"I'm okay, Doc, I just need a shower."
"I don't think so...that cut above your eye will need stitches and if he was hitting you with brass knuckles then you need a doctor to look at you," Manunui told him.
Steve frowned and reached up to touch the cut above his eye. The blood still dripped down his face and Steve could no longer keep his body from trembling as the adrenalin rush from the fight left him. From somewhere a chair appeared and he gratefully sat down.
"Now, Steve, we have two options and I'm not sure you'll like either one, but they are the only ones open to you," Manunui said. "I can drive you to the hospital..."
"I don't need..." McGarrett said and accepted a towel from another patron. He held it to his head and tried to focus on the older man.
"Or I can call an ambulance..."
"It's really not that bad! I'll just go home, shower, and..."
"What make's you think this was open for negotiations?" Manunui said, looking up as two of his employees escorted Jacobs out of the gym. "Come on...I'll drive you."
"I..."
"No arguments!"
"Wasn't going too..."
"Yeah, right, come on, hot shot," Manunui said and helped McGarrett stand. "Kimo, hold down the fort while I'm gone!"
"Sure, Doc," the younger man said.
Knowing there was no point in arguing, Steve stood up and slowly made his way toward the exit. Every step he took made him wince, but he tried not to show just how much he was hurting now that the fight was over. He made it to Manunui's jeep, eased his aching body into the passenger seat, and closed his eyes as the throbbing in his skull intensified.
Author's Note-Sorry for the delay...RL and the weather are conspiring against me. Hope you enjoyed this part...Winnie