Disclaimer: I don't own H50.

Author's Note: I made up all the street names, I'm not even sure if they're real in Hawaiian but they sounded cool. XD Thanks for the favs and alerts and all that good stuff! Don't forget to leave comments too! I love me some comments!

Chapter Three

I woke up feeling like I'd been asleep for a week and still needed a week's worth of sleep. Not the best way to start the day. With a groan, I forced my eyes open and had a moment of confusion as I stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling. The feeling passed as I remembered falling asleep on the couch in Danny's office at 5-0 HQ. After clearing up the facts of my file and what I knew about the current case, Danny had offered me the couch to get a few hours' sleep before we hit the streets.

I sat up and stretched away the cobwebs of sleep, at least as best I could without a healthy dose of coffee to perk me up. The door to the office opened and Danny poked his head in.

"Hey Sleeping Beauty," He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling, "Get enough sleep?"

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks and hoped my hair didn't look too horrible after sleeping on the couch, "How long was I out?"

Danny glanced at a clock down the hall, "About six hours. I was coming to wake you, see if you're ready to head back out on the street tonight. We figured you'd be more likely to get information out of any potential witnesses than we would."

Following him out into the bull pen, I nodded, "You're right, those girls wouldn't be caught dead talking to a cop. I'll need to go to my apartment to get changed, but I can be ready to hit the streets in an hour."

Steve, who had been leaning over the table, reading information on the screen, glanced up at our approach, "We'll be on the street, too, watching your back. Chin and Kono will be in a surveillance van while Danny and I make the rounds in the car. We'll keep an eye out for the sedan and anything else that looks suspicious."

At the mention of their names, Chin and Kono joined us around the table. Kono grinned over at me and stuck out her hand, "Kono Kalakaua. Nice to meet you."

I returned the grin as I shook her hand, "Leilah Monroe."

"I have to say, I really excited for this assignment," Kono continued. "I won't be the only girl for a change."

"I've never had a girl partner, either," I confessed.

"Don't worry, I make better back up than any man out there," Kono winked as Steve gave a hurt "hey," Danny scoffed and held his hands up in a 'what am I?' gesture and Chin just laughed. "Chin and I will give you a ride to your apartment so you can change."

"Danno and I will head down and get into position," McGarrett had his game face on. "You have an hour to get changed and get down there."

"I usually work on the corner of Kalani and Po'oi," The corner was in the heart of the district and gave me the perfect vantage point of most of the activity on the street. "The sedan is usually seen along Kalani, though one of the girls was picked up on Lanua. I can talk to the girls along Kalani when I get there, see what I can find out."

McGarrett nodded his approval, "Wear this so we can hear what's going on." He produced a small ear bud just like the one I usually wore, but this was smaller, more high-tech. "Both Chin and Kono, Danny and I will be listening in. You'll also be able to hear Chin who will have the microphone to keep in contact with you."

"You guys get all the good gadgets," I grinned as I took the ear piece. The one I had from HPD was one way; this one would allow me to know for sure I had back up at all times.

"Perks of working for the governor," Danny shrugged like it was no big deal before shooting me a wink.

I felt myself blush again and hoped no one else noticed as I followed Chin and Kono out of the office and down to the van. As soon as we were all in, buckled, and on the road, Kono turned in her seat to give me a knowing smile.

"What was that blush all about, Officer Monroe?" She teased, causing the blush to deepen.

I scoffed, "What blush? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't try to deny it," Chin grinned at me from the rear view as he drove. "I saw it, too."

"Devil's advocate," I mumbled as we pulled to a stop outside my apartment. It was a small building of only four units stacked on top of one another. My unit was the very top. There was no elevator, just rickety stairs leading to a small porch on each level. I wasted no time in leaping from the van and dashing up the stairs.

My apartment was small, but since it was just me, I didn't mind. Less to keep clean after working long nights on the street. A small foyer connected the living room to the kitchen and a bar created enough counter space to cook. A short hallway led to a bathroom and bedroom. My furniture was a hodge podge of whatever I had been able to get from yard sales and second hand stores around the island. I quickly shed the scrubs, tossed them in the laundry basket to be washed before returning them to McGarrett, jumped in the shower and threw on whatever hooker clothes I had laying around. At first, it had bothered me having to wear the overly revealing outfits all the time but five years had a way to numb you to the unpleasantries of the job. Tonight's outfit was a slinky black sleeveless dress and another pair of sky-high heels. I held back on the make-up, only swiping mascara on my lashes, and fluffed my natural curls into a sexy up-do. I didn't want to admit to myself that I was going for my natural look rather than my slut look because a certain cop would be watching, so I made up a lie that I was running out of make-up and this would have to do for tonight. It wasn't as if I was actually trying to get someone to pick me up, I reasoned.

I grabbed a small clutch, tossed in my gun and badge per McGarrett's orders, added my house keys and headed out the door. Chin and Kono were still waiting patiently in the van when I scurried down the stairs.

"Looking good," Kono commented as I slammed the door and buckled in.

"I look forward to a day when I can accept that compliment when not looking like I belong on the street," I grimaced.

"You looking to put in another transfer request?" Chin asked as we merged into traffic.

"Yep, I was hoping after this case, I could ask McGarrett to write up a recommendation. It would be nice to have an evaluation from someone other than my captain in my file," Even though I hadn't really thought about it, as I said it, it sounded like a really good idea.

"I'm sure Steve would be happy to do that," Kono agreed.

Chin pulled over a few streets before the district to let me out. I usually walked to work, so we didn't want to raise suspicion by having a car drop me off. With a wave and reassurance that they'd have my back, the van pulled away and drove on. I pulled the ear bud out of my clutch and stuck it in my ear.

When I got to Kalani, Starla came running toward me, her cheeks bright, eyes wild and chest heaving, "Cherry! There you are, girl! I been looking everywhere for you! I heard you got arrested last night. Those damn foolish cops thought you offed Daisy." She paused and gave me a funny look. "I didn't know you had freckles? Are those real?"

So it was obvious I wasn't wearing as much make-up as usual. "Yeah, they're real. Anyway, it's not important." I waved my hand dismissively. "I was arrested," I confirmed but hurried on before Starla could completely freak out. "Don't worry, though. I gave them a statement, told them I found her like that and they let me go."

Starla shook her head, her eyes darting up and down the street as if to make sure no one was watching us, "I swear, girl, this street is going to Hell. Ain't safe no more. The girls are all scared, even those skanks from the whore house on Lanua are worried and they ain't even out on the street like us professionals."

If the subject hadn't been so serious I would have laughed. The whore house and the street hookers didn't get along, "Have you heard anything about Daisy?"

"Nah," Starla adjusted her spandex top, though her breasts still looked like they'd pop out with the slightest movement. "Rose thinks she got into the same sedan as the other girls. I tell you what, any sedan try pick me up, I tell the little weasel to take his business somewhere else. My little girl won't be very happy I end up dead like the others."

"You see the sedan, you let me know, ok?" I said as I glanced down the street. I could see Chin and Kono's van a few blocks down where Loki usually parked his van. I hadn't been able to spot Danny and Steve yet, but I knew they were out there. "I'm going to go talk to Rose."

"You be careful, Cherry," Starla grabbed my arm before I could walk away. Her expression was dead serious and I could see the worry in her eyes. "I know you've been asking around about these murders and while I'm glad someone cares and wants this sonovabitch off the streets, you ain't no cop. You could get hurt, girl."

I wanted to tell Starla the truth, that I was a cop and I would put this guy behind bars, but I couldn't. Instead, I clasped her shoulder, "I'll be careful but I can't just sit back while this guy terrorizes us."

Starla released her grip and I turned, intent on finding out if Rose could give me any new information. Rose usually worked one corner down from me on Kalani. She was a petite Asian woman who'd been brought to Hawaii by Sang Min and his sex ring three years ago. After he was sent to jail, she'd stayed on the street having no other job experience and no idea where to go even if she wanted to find a new career. Today, she was dressed in a yellow top with shiny gold stretch pants and yellow heels. Overall, the effect was like looking into the sun.

"Hey, Rose," I greeted, trying not to be rude by squinting when I looked at her.

"This my corner, Cherry," Even after three years on the island, her English was still choppy and her accent almost indecipherable.

"I know, I ain't lookin' to steal your business," I stayed back from the curb just to show her I meant it. Anyone driving by would only see her in that outfit anyway. "I just want to ask you about what you saw last night."

"I see nothing," Rose spoke quickly, her eyes suddenly fearful as she refused to look back at me. "I just do job, nothing more. I no see anything." She fell off into her native tongue and I had to hold up my hands to calm her down.

"It's ok, Rose," I practically shouted to be heard over her. "You know I'm not a cop, you can tell me what you saw. No one is going to come after you."

Rose quieted, shooting furtive glances up and down the street before she leaned in close to me and mumbled, "I see dark car, just like one that took other girls. He take Daisy and he hurt her."

"Did you see the man?" I asked, praying that she could give me some kind of description to work with.

She shook her head rapidly, "I see only car. Nothing else."

I knew I wouldn't get anything else from her so I thanked her and made my way back down the street. Whoever this guy was, he was good. No one had seen him, only his car. He'd taken off his license plate and blacked out his windows so there was no way to track him. I was beginning to think the only way to catch this guy was to let him come to me. The idea sounded better and better as I got the same response from the other girls along the street: no one had seen the driver but everyone saw Daisy get into the dark sedan.