Rachel Williams was frantic as she talked to the police officers who'd answered the call. Since Patricia Kinnard called her she'd been trying to reach Danny, but it kept going to his answering machine. She knew he was staying with Steve McGarrett, but again the answering machine kept picking up. Her heart was in her throat when she spotted chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua hurrying toward her.
"Rachel, any word?" Chin asked.
"No...she's gone, Chin and I tried to call Danny, but I keep getting the answering machine."
"I'll have them send a car to Steve's house," Kono told her and hurried toward an officer who was talking to several children.
"We have to find her, Chin..."
"We will, Rachel. Why don't you go home..."
"I'm staying right here."
"All right," Kelly said and watched as the officers and civilians combed the area in search of Grace Williams. When the call had came in he and Kono had been on the way to McGarrett's home after a long meeting with the governor, and they'd driven directly here. He saw Rachel fold her arms as she sat down and began to rock back and forth.
"Chin, they found evidence of a car parked at the north end of the park, and the dogs lost track of the scent there," Kono explained once she returned.
"Are they sending a car out to Steve's place?"
"Yes," Kono said and sat next to the distraught woman. "We'll find her, Rachel."
"How can you be so sure?" Rachel asked, her voice shaky with fear.
"I can't, but we've got everyone searching for her," Chin answered and looked around. God, he hoped he as right because the alternative was too damn scary to think about.
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Steve tried to be still as the car moved from paved streets onto hard-packed dirt. Each time they hit a rut, bis body bounced around and he thought he felt blood on his shirt. He didn't dwell on his misery, but kept thinking about what they would do once they found Grace. No matter what happened, Steve would make sure Danny and Grace were reunited and David O'Brien and the two IA agents paid for what they'd done. He straightened his legs in an effort to ease the cramps, but there was no relief as the car hit a particularly deep rut before continuing along the road.
Steve tried to feel around for anything he could use to pick the cuffs and felt something stabbing his arm. He shifted slightly until his fingers found the object and picked it up. It felt like a nail and a small smile formed as he lay on his side and twisted it until he could put it into his back pocket. He knew he could unlock them now, but with Grace in danger, Steve knew he was better off to wait until the time was right. All he would need was fifteen seconds and his hands would be freed.
That's when his training would kick in and nothing else would matter except getting the deed done, and he'd damn well make sure that happened. O'Brien, Sheffield, and Higgins had crossed the wrong people when they'd taken Grace Williams. It was going to be a pleasure to show them just how big a mistake they'd made.
Steve hoped once Chin and Kono realized they were missing they'd put a trace on their phones. The problem was that Higgins and Sheffield could realize their mistake any minute and make sure they got rid of them. Ignoring the pain in his side he twisted his body until he could reach his cell and used his fingertips to remove it. He felt around until he found something he could cover it with and lay back with his eyes closed until the nausea eased.
5050505050
Danny cursed Sheffield, Higgins, and O'Brien, but even more he berated himself for not seeing this scenario. How could he have missed the fact that O'Brien would do anything to get to him and that included going after Grace? He'd thought she was safe with Rachel, but somehow the bastard managed to get to her.
Williams thought about the man in the trunk and hoped Steve could find a way to get free, but he also understood that if they tried to do anything then Grace would suffer the consequences. He couldn't allow that to happen to his little girl. McGarrett's reputation as a SEAL was probably what got him shoved into the trunk, but that didn't mean he was out of the game. One way or another his partner would launch an attack when the time comes and Danny knew he had to be ready for anything.
"For a detective you're not a very good judge of character," Sheffield said.
"I knew you two were ass-holes the minute I met you so that should account for something," Williams snapped.
"What about O'Brien? You should have known he'd go after pretty little Gracie..."
"If he hurts her I'll tear the three of you apart."
"Idle threats, Detective," Higgins said.
"No, that's a promise and one I'm going to keep," Williams vowed.
"You know I really wish we had the time to let you try," Sheffield said.
"No, you don't!" Williams snapped.
"Why?" Higgins asked.
"Because I'd tear you apart and feed you to the sharks," Danny said softly, but there was no mistaking the threat and he smiled at the hint of fear in Sheffield's eyes.
"Pull over," Higgins suddenly ordered.
"Don't tell me you're going to take him up on his threat?" Sheffield asked.
"Do I look stupid..."
"Can I answer that one for you?" Williams said with a grin.
"Shut up," Higgins snapped and returned his attention to the driver. "We need to get rid of their cell phones before we go any further."
"Shit!" Sheffield cursed and pulled onto the shoulder of the road.
"Hand it over, Detective," Higgins ordered.
"I..."
"Cut the crap and just pass it over...unless you want me to kill McGarrett right now," Higgins warned. "Of course I'd have to frisk him first."
Danny knew there was no point in denying the man and reached into his pocket and took out his cell. He watched helplessly as the man exited the car and threw the phone to the ground. The sound of crunching gravel mixed with what could only be the destruction of his phone and Danny knew they were in deeper trouble than he thought.
Higgins moved to the back of the vehicle and opened the trunk to find McGarrett in a semi-conscious daze. "Hey, Paul, McGarrett's looking a little green back here."
Steve stayed calm, lulling the man into a sense of safety and remained still as Higgins searched him, relieved when the man stood back without discovering the nail or the cell phone.
"Where's your phone, McGarrett?" Higgins asked.
"Home," the SEAL mumbled.
"Now why do I find that hard to believe?" the IA agent asked and patted the man down once more before shoving his hand against the wound to McGarrett's side and hearing a sharp cry of pain from the injured man before slamming the trunk closed and returning to the passenger seat.
"Sick sonofabitch," Danny spat. He'd heard McGarrett's cry and hoped the man wasn't beyond his help, because they would need each other if they were going to get out of this alive.
5050505050
"Chin, I just heard from the squad we sent to McGarrett's house. They're not there, but there's evidence that they left in a hurry," Officer Pamela Chong said.
"Damn," Kelly said and knew by the look on Rachel's face that she'd overheard. "Kono, I'm going to call HQ and see if they can get a lock on Steve or Danny's phones."
"All right," Kono said and knew they needed to get moving as soon as they had a lead. Something told her O'Brien had been one step ahead of them and now Grace Williams was paying the price.
"Kono, you have to find her," Rachel said.
"We're doing everything we can, Rachel. Grace is smart...you and Danny made sure of that..."
"Danny," Rachel said angrily. "He's probably the reason Grace is missing. I'll never forgive him if she's hurt because of him!"
"Danny' a cop because he believes what he's doing will help keep Grace safe," Kono offered.
"Is that why you do it, Kono, because if it is then you're naive because all you're doing is putting your family in danger," Rachel snapped.
"My uncle once told me it takes a special kind of person to be a cop, but it takes a strong person to be married to one," Kono said.
"I guess I'm neither," Rachel said and walked away.
"How is she?" Chin asked when he returned a few minutes later.
"Angry," Kono answered. "Anything on Steve and Danny's phone?"
"They're working on it," Kelly answered and reached for his cell when he heard the familiar tone. "Kelly..."
Kono listened to Chin's side of the conversation and prayed the news was good as she watched the canine officers returning empty handed. There was no doubt in her mind that Rachel Williams was angry enough to take Grace away from Danny, but she prayed the woman wouldn't go through with it. Danny didn't deserve that.
"Kono, we got a read on Steve's cell phone. They're headed north," Kelly told her and hurried toward his motor cycle. He handed Kono the second helmet and they were soon headed out of the city in search of their missing team mates and Grace Williams.
5050505050
David O'Brien touched the child's neck and felt the steady beat against his fingertips. He'd given her a sedative to make sure she stayed unconscious for several hours, just long enough to get rid of the other players in the game, his game to be exact. He moved toward the door and opened it, staring out into the darkness as the sound of a vehicle approaching reached his ears. He could see the headlights and his heart beat a little faster before he returned to the room and sat down with his gun pointed at Grace's forehead.
It was several minutes later when O'Brien heard voices outside the door and several loud knocks in quick succession before the door was pushed open and Steve McGarrett was shoved roughly inside. He couldn't help, but smile as Danny Williams stepped over the thresh hold, followed by Higgins and Sheffield.
"Delivered as promised," Sheffield said with a grin.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Fish-Bait," O'Brien said
Danny made a move toward the bed, but stopped when his ex-partner cocked the weapon. "I swear I'll kill you if you hurt her!"
"I'm sure you would, but I'm afraid you won't get the chance," O'Brien said and nodded toward the man sprawled on the floor. "What's wrong with your SEAL?"
"You and you're goon squad are what happened to him, David," Williams snarled.
"Really? Goon squad, Danny?" O'Brien said and chuckled softly. "I haven't heard that since we went to that monster movie marathon back in Jersey."
"Who'd have thought the real monster was sitting right beside me," Williams said, fighting the urge to move toward the bed. He knew Grace was alive because he'd counted every breath she took while watching the man he'd once called friend.
Steve lay quietly on the floor and waited until Higgins and Sheffield were busy watching Williams and O'Brien. He carefully removed the nail from his back pocket and kept his eyes closed as he listened to O'Brien and Williams and hoped Danny would give him time to release his hands.
"Looks like McGarrett's opened up his wound again," O'Brien said of the stain on the man's shirt. The man hadn't moved since being shoved into the room, but something told him the man wasn't as out as he wanted them to believe. "Then again it doesn't really matter since blood loss won't kill him...at least not blood loss alone."
"What are you talking about?" Williams asked.
"Well, My Friend..."
"I'm not your friend..."
"You wound me, Danny. I'm guessing you don't appreciate my choices, but you should give me points for keeping little Grace unconscious so it won't be necessary to kill her," O'Brien said, and kept his gun pointed at the sleeping child. "Now, there is a price to keeping her alive, Danny."
"What price?"
"Your soul."
"Knew you were the devil," Williams said and wanted nothing more than to wipe the grin from the man's face.
"That I am and now, Danny, it's time for you to do your part to keep your little angel alive. Charlie, empty your gun except for one bullet."
"I'm not stupid, O'Brien, you're not using my gun," Higgins said.
"You're smarter than you look," O'Brien commented and reached for the gun he'd purchased from an alley in Jersey.
Steve worked at the locking mechanism while listening to the conversation taking place in the room. He kept his eyes closed and remained quiet while numbed fingers worked to release the cuffs. O'Brien was crazy, and in control and right now that made everything that much more dangerous. He felt the cuffs open, but didn't move as he listened to Danny's old friend talking.
"Tell me something, Danny...what would you do to save Grace's life?" O'Brien asked.
"Anything," Williams answered.
"I'm so glad to hear that," O'Brien said and made a show of checking the chambers before tapping the barrel against his own chin. "The way I see it I have two major problems. You and McGarrett, although he does seem to be down right now."
"Don't be so sure," Higgins said and turned toward McGarrett as two shots sounded in quick succession. He reacted on instinct and turned just as pain flared in his back and his mind registered the hole in Sheffield's head as the man toppled backward. He reached for his gun as a smile formed on O'Brien's face.
"I meant four problems and now that I've gotten rid of you two I can take care of McGarrett and my old friend," O'Brien said and chuckled when Higgins struggled to get his gun free of the holster, but it was obvious he was dying as he dropped to his knees. "You two were fools, Higgins, just ask Danny how stupid it was to trust me."
Steve knew with Higgins and Sheffield out of the equation, the odds had just changed for the better. His hands were free and it seemed like O'Brien was counting him out, but the man's next words told him that was far from the truth.
"Now, Danny, there's one bullet left in this gun and it's meant for McGarrett. Remember what I said about Grace's life being the price of your soul...I know that's not exactly what I said, but the truth is that's exactly what I'm saying. You kill McGarrett...I kill you...I leave Grace alive and in the company of the owners of this little motel. The choice is yours, Danny...your partner or your daughter!"
Danny looked at the man who had once been his best friend and cursed his own stupidity. He looked at McGarrett whose eyes were closed, then at his daughter and finally at O'Brien as he reached for the gun.
Author'sNote—- We're getting close to the end of this one..Thanks again for the wonderful reviews. You guys are awesome...Winnie