Disclaimer: I don't own H50.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the alerts guys! Don't forget to leave comments too! I'd love to have some feedback.
Chapter Five
I woke up the next morning feeling like I had actually done some good in the world. I was wide awake, perky and ready to hit the streets for another day of busting the bad guys. Amazing what a change in partnership and a little trust can do to a woman. Glancing at the bedside clock which read out ten o'clock, I sprung out of bed and geared up for a run. If I was going to take down a psycho killer, I had to be physically ready for it, especially since I had real partners counting on me now. I tried to run regularly anyway to stay in shape for the job, but lately I'd been slacking off, my motivation meter running low.
The island of Hawaii truly was beautiful with the sun smiling down and the soothing ebb and flow of the waves. Luscious greens assailed the senses and as I began my run through the streets, I could smell the salty ocean mixing beautifully with the tropical plants around me. The beauty of the island is what made me stay after high school. My father had been military, stationed at Pearl Harbor during my senior year – not enough time for me to assimilate socially, but plenty of time for me to fall in love with the landscape and not want to leave.
A soft breeze tickled my skin as I crossed the street and continued running along the boardwalk. Surfers and suntanners lounged around in colorful swim suits. Tourists gaped at the ocean, waved at all the locals, and clapped excitedly at the smallest things. I stopped for a short break at the hottest shave ice stand in town.
"Hey, Red," Kamekona, the large and in charge owner grinned out at me.
"How's it, Kamekona?" I grinned back as we exchanged a complicated high five. If anyone wanted to know anything about anyone on the island, Kamekona was the man to see. He had eyes and ears in places I couldn't even dream of.
"I hear you working with my favorite Haoles now," Kamekona served me up a large cherry shave ice. "I hear you know how to put a big smile on not only one man's face, but two."
I nearly choked on the icy treat as my cheeks burned hot enough to melt all the shave ice in his stand, "What? That's already gotten around?"
He laughed and with a shake of his head replied, "At least they don't say you suck at your job anymore."
"I guess anything to help business, right?" I mumbled before glancing around to make sure there was no one in ear shot, "Speaking of business, any word about the dead prostitutes?"
Kamekona also glanced around, "Nothing that you don't already know. A dark sedan, no plates, no one sees the driver."
"What about after he picks up the girls? Any one got an idea on where he takes them? Any hotel cleaning service working overtime to clean up a crime scene?" I asked, casually munching on my shave ice to look natural.
"Nah," Kamekona shook his head. "If you ask me, I don't think he takes them to a hotel."
I nodded, "I've been thinking the same thing." I finished my shave ice and tossed the trash in a receptacle before waving a thank you to Kamekona. I once again took off at a run, this time heading back the way I came. There was definitely something we were missing in this case and as I ran home, I went over all the facts over and over, trying to fit the pieces together.
When I got to my apartment, it was pushing eleven so I took a nice, hot shower to wash away the sweat and prepare myself for another hard day on the street. I took the time to straighten my hair, which I rarely did even though I thought it always turned out really nice. When the dark red locks were smooth and soft, I paraded out to the kitchen to brew some coffee. Savoring the wonderful aroma of the roasted beans and enjoying the feel of jeans instead of spandex, I was thoroughly enjoying myself when a knock at the door pulled me out of my revere.
I answered to find Danny on the other side of the door, looking just as crisp and professional as always. He smiled, friendly, his eyes immediately went to my hair, "You did something to your hair." I grinned as he continued, "It uh, looks very nice." It was funny to see his cheeks redden ever so slightly and my heart did a little tap dance in my chest.
"Thanks," I opened the door wider to let him in. I was surprised when Steve followed him; I hadn't even seen Steve standing beside his partner on the doorstep.
"We just wanted to come by," Steve was saying, grinning as if he knew that I hadn't noticed him. "To touch base with you before we head out tonight." His eyes traveled around my humble apartment and as he helped himself to a cup of coffee, he casually asked, "So, just you living here? No boyfriend, no significant other?"
My eyes slid to Danny, who for a moment looked horrified at the intrusive question but then his eyes slid to me and his expression was curious, intensely curious. "Just me," I replied though I directed the answer to Danny, complete with a coy smile and a twirl of my hair before turning a more serious answer to Steve, just to mask my flirting so he wouldn't feel the need to include it in any report. "Undercover work doesn't leave a whole lot of real social time. It gets messy if you try to have a normal life while working a cover identity."
Steve nodded thoughtfully before rinsing out his cup and rubbing his hands together, ready for business, "I've been thinking about the method of murder."
"Really?" Danny's sarcastic tone chilled the room, but Steve seemed unaffected, "You've had time to think about the case rather than just intrusive questions and devious antics that jeopardize our cover?"
"Yeah," Steve said nonchalantly. "And I think it's strange that this guy had these girls bound when he beat them. I mean, these girls are what, no more than a hundred ten pounds, most are drug addicts looking to pay for their next fix; they can't be much of threat. I think this guy binds them because he can't overpower them physically. He lures them in under the pretense of a job, then restrains them and takes out his anger on them."
His theory was definitely good and gave us a little bit more to work with, so I made a mental note to ask around to see if any of the girls could think of someone that would fit that profile. "They'd have to be small or handicap in some way, maybe even self-conscious in their abilities enough to think they didn't have the physical strength to commit the murders," I added. "That could also be why he didn't beat the girls with his bare hands."
Danny nodded his agreement, "This guy could be impotent, sees himself as not being man enough. These girls, strutting around a walking advertisement for sex, only remind him of his faults, rubs salt in the wounds, fuels his anger until he can't take it anymore and he takes it out on them, hoping to feel some kind of power or control."
"I think he might be wealthy as well," I said, pondering Kamekona's words. "There's been no indication that these murders have happened in a hotel, the bodies are always found at a dump site, not a crime scene. There hasn't even been word on the street of anyone trying to cover up the crime scene to avoid police coming in and ruining business. I think this guy has a place he can take these girls that's secluded enough for them not to be heard when they scream and that he can clean up without anyone even knowing anything has happened."
"Great," Danny threw his hands up, "So we're looking for a rich guy with a big house and privacy. That only eliminates practically no one. This whole island is a big private get away for rich people."
"No," Steve shook his head, his eyebrows drawn together in concentration. "I don't think it's a tourist; they wouldn't have that much privacy. They'd be on the beach, in a hotel with thousands of other guests. It has to be a local, probably someone who owns property further inland where not so many people wander around. I'll get Kono to do a search, see if she can turn up anything."
Steve pulled out his phone and turned his back so he could relay the information to Kono. While he talked, I noticed Danny watching me. I raised my eyebrows in question.
"You seem like a really good cop," He stated. "Dedicated, smart, you care about the people. I don't know why your captain doesn't see it."
"Thanks," I smiled, warmed by his compliment. "You seem like a good cop, too. All of you."
"Maybe after we solve this case," He began, hands fidgeting nervously, only to be cut off by Steve.
"Kono's on it," Said interrupter informed us. I almost slapped my palm against my forehead. Of all his attempts to set us up, he chose the moment Danny was going to ask me out to interrupt. I was caught between being giddy at the idea that Danny was really going to ask and wanting to throw Steve to the sharks for having bad timing. "Chin's going to pull up a list of all the owners of dark sedans to cross reference with. Maybe we'll get lucky and find a name for this guy."