"Hey, Cuz, what's the word on McGarrett?" Kamekona asked when he spotted Kono walking toward him.

"Steve's doing better, but he's in trouble."

"Anything I can help with?" Kamekona asked. There were very few cops he liked, but McGarrett had proven he was a good man and treated him fairly.

"Maybe," Kono said and showed the big man a picture. "Have you ever seen this man before?"

Kamekona took the picture and studied it for a minute before looking at the woman standing next to him. "This man...he have something to do with what's happened to McGarrett?"

"Maybe, but that's not why we're looking for him. He may be connected to a case we're working on."

"He is dangerous, Kono."

"You know him?"

"I know of him...he's bad news. He deals in guns, drugs, but mostly women."

"Women?" Kono asked and saw the head nod once. "You're talking human trafficking?"

"Sometimes," Kamekona told her. "I hear stories about him and the people he works with. They are not good, Cuz, and you need to be careful. A pretty woman like you would make his employers very happy."

"I can take care of myself," Kono told him.

"I know, that's why I'm telling you all of this. Rumor has it a lot of the women he takes are used in films especially for certain clients who enjoy seeing them suffer before they are killed during the act," Kamekona told her and knew she understood.

"Do you have a name?"

"I've heard him called by many names."

"Jerry?"

"Sometimes...he's also gone by the names Tony and John."

"Any chance there's a last name?"

"Smith, but we all know how many John smith's there are."

"True, but maybe we'll get lucky with Jerry Smith or tony Smith. Do you know where we can find him?"

"There are several places, but he usually hangs out at a little place near the Outrigger. Promise me something, Cuz," the big man said.

"If I can."

"Don't go after him yourself. You take Chin and Danno with you and maybe a few more of your fuzz friends and don't get to close to him. He is a dog and he's riddled with fleas and they bite. His kind spreads diseases."

"I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were, but I know you want this bastard off the street and I don't want to see you caught up in it."

"I won't be," Kono vowed and took the picture back. "Thanks, Cuz, if you hear anything else give me a call."

"I will. Tell McGarrett to hang loose," Kamekona said and watched her leave. He said a silent prayer to the Gods that they help keep her safe before turning his attention to the customers standing nearby and smiling. "Sorry about that, but the pretty lady needed my help. Now what flavor Shave Ice did you want?"

5050505050

Steve nursed the cup of coffee as if it was nectar of the gods, but like all good things it had to come to an end. He looked at his partner, not really wanting to broach the subject of O'Brien, but right now he needed to in order to clear the air.

"What's got you scowling, Steve?" Williams asked as if he could read McGarrett's mind.

"We need to talk, Danny, and you're not going to like what I have to say."

"And how is that different?" Williams lightly teased, but he understood what his partner was saying. "Look, Steve, I may not like the things you say, but if what you say is right then I know how to admit when I'm wrong. This has to do with David doesn't it?"

"Yes," McGarrett answered and felt like the weight of the world was baring down on his shoulders.

"I'm listening," Williams said.

"Where do I start?"

"Start with why you don't like David," the Jersey native told him and saw resignation in the other man's eyes. "Look, Steve, I know you don't jump to conclusions unless it's your instincts and I've learned to trust them."

"That's just it, Danny, my instincts are not always right. I was wrong about Nick."

"Yes, you were and that just proves you're human...jut like the rest of us. Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you I believe you're right about David, but I'm ready to listen to what you have to say."

"Danny, the governor didn't put him on the task force because she thought he could do the job. She hired him as a favor to a man named Jake Partington with Newark PD."

"Jake Partington? I never heard of him."

"He came on after you transferred here, but Jameson has known him for a while. He contacted her when he found out O'Brien transferred here."

"Let me guess...he thinks he transferred here because of me," Williams said. "The truth is he did, Steve. He's going through a rough patch and was finding it hard to deal with his separation from Johanna. I know how that feels, Steve, so don't go saying it was different from how I felt."

"I won't, Danny, but you need to realize there was more to it than just that," McGarrett said and sat up. He stood and walked to the window, staring down at the people seated in the garden and wishing he was anywhere, but here.

"I'm listening," Williams said and watched his partner closely. Whatever was eating at him was close to the surface because Steve's eyes were filled with sorrow, and he was having a hard time getting to the point.

"Jameson gave me a file on O'Brien and you," McGarrett told him, standing and pacing in front of the bed.

"Me?"

"Yes, Partington seems to think you were both dirty cops and that's why O'Brien followed you to Hawaii," the head of Five-O explained.

"Partington's wrong."

"I know he is...about you, but Danny..."

"Steve, I now David. He's a good cop."

"Sometimes good cops go bad," McGarrett said. "Just keep an open mind, Danny, and take a look at what Partington sent the governor. If you still believe David is innocent then I'll back you all the way."

"Where's the information?"

"It's on a CD at my place...unless IA took it," the head of Five-O answered. "Look, Danny, check in the DVD player It should be there."

"I'll look at it, Steve, but right now I need you to tell me what's on it," Williams said.

"Pictures of O'Brien with several known drug dealers. He was supposed to be undercover at the time, but there were no charges brought against the gang members who did the buy. They got away with it on a technicality."

"I remember that case, Steve. David did everything by the book, but the judge who tried the case wouldn't let half the evidence in."

"We've all been in that situation, but some of the pictures were taken several months after the case was tried."

"Are you sure?"

"The pictures are stamped with time and date, Danny..."

"That can be done by anyone familiar with programs like photo shop," Williams said.

"There were also files that show some of his recent cases, including one that parallels the one we're working on now."

"The missing women?"

"Yes," McGarrett answered.

"Tell me more," Williams said.

"Just before he put in for a transfer there was a case involving several missing women matching the description of the ones we're looking for. Now I know it could be a coincidence, Danny, but the timing..."

"That's just it, Steve, it could be just the timing. I mean David and Johanna separating when they did and him moving to Hawaii when we gt this case..."

"Take a look at the files, Danny."

"What about me, Steve? What do the files say about me?"

"There were a couple of entries about you and some questions regarding an old case, but..."

"But you don't believe them."

"No, I don't, Danny. Don't ask me why because I can't give you a reason other than that I know you, and I trust you," McGarrett said and moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Fair enough. I'll go over to your place once I check in with Chin and Kono," Williams advised.

"Thanks, Danny," McGarrett said and lay back tiredly.

"Steve, what if you're wrong about me?"

"I'm not," McGarrett said and closed his eyes. He hoped Williams understood what he meant with those two words and felt himself drifting toward sleep, a bone weary tiredness seeping through him.

Danny watched him for several minutes until he was sure his friend was asleep. He thought about what Steve had told him and felt some of the anger being reborn. Why was it Steve, Chin, and Kono had trusted him from the start, yet they couldn't see David in the same light? Was it possible that Steve and the others were right and David was a dirty cop? One way or the other he would get the proof and stand his ground on what he found.

5050505050

Kono looked up as Chin and David stepped into the office. She knew they hadn't found out anything new, but she'd convinced Chin to come back so they could go over what she'd learned.

"Danny not back yet?" Chin asked.

"Not yet, but he's on the way. He stayed with Steve until they transferred him to his new room," Kono explained.

"How is Commander McGarrett?" O'Brien asked.

"Steve's fine," Williams said upon entering the office and hearing his friend's question. "All right, Kono, tell us what you found out."

"I talked to Kamekona and he recognized the man in the picture. He thinks his last name might be Smith and he hangs out at that little bar near The Outrigger," Kono answered.

"I know the place," Chin told her.

"If we go there and he's there he'll bolt," Williams said.

"What if I go in there?"

"Not alone," Chin said.

"Well, you or Danny might be recognized. I know you've been there a few times, Chin," Kono observed.

"I'm new and I could pass for a tourist. I even bought a couple of those flowery shirts," O'Brien offered.

"What if he makes you?" Danny asked.

"Then I'll leave," O'Brien answered. "I'm not stupid, Danny, we've worked together long enough for you to know that."

"There's got to be another way," Chin said. "Maybe we could get someone from vice..."

"We don't have time, Chin. We need to find out what this man knows and maybe we can find these women before it's too late," Kono said. "Look, I know how to handle myself. You and Danny can keep an eye on the place and I'll signal if there's a problem."

"I'll be there if she needs help," O'Brien told them.

"All right, but be careful and Kono, watch yourself because if this is the bastard we're looking for he'll shoot first," Williams advised and turned to O'Brien. "You go get changed and head over to the bar."

"What's the address?" O'Brien asked and took the paper once Chin wrote down the address.

"Kono, don't take any chances," Williams warned.

"I won't," Kono said and left the office to go home and change.

"Danny..."

"Steve and I talked, Chin, and I know none of you trust David, but right now he's the best choice to watch Kono. You and I won't be far away either. I figure as soon as they're in place you and I can go in. Do they have an outside Bar?"

"Yes, they do," Chin answered.

"We find out where this guy is and we wait in the other section," Williams said and hoped nothing would go wrong.

Author's Note -I was going to post this last night, but that storm blew in and put a damper on those thoughts so here it is now...Winnie