As Chin and Danny walked through the doors of headquarters, they heard Steve on the phone with someone, in his office, and he didn't appear to be very happy. The guys glanced at each other, before heading into the office, and waited to find out what was going on.

"Thanks, I appreciate you calling me so quickly." Steve hung the phone up in the cradle and glanced up at the guys. "That was Max. He was giving us an update."

"What did Max have to say?" Danny wondered.

"It was inconclusive." Steve took a deep breath and let it out his nose. Why was this case suddenly going no where quickly. It was almost like someone was purposefully trying to derail the case. Nothing would surprise him especially after everything that had happened to him since the governor had died.

That was certainly a blow in their case, but it wasn't a total set back. They still had their witness.

"What about the other woman; any word?" Chin asked. He was thinking about going over and checking on her and if she were awake, he'd ask her questions about the attack.

"Last I time I was there, she was still critical but stable." Steve sat back in his chair and yawned.

Danny glanced at Steve's clothing, realizing that it was the same he'd had on the day before; gray shirt and jeans. "You stayed all night with her. What happened to Jamison?"

"When I got there, I sent him home, and I stayed." Steve glanced up at Chin and Danny. Luce was their only witness to this case, and if she died, then the case would sit unsolved, and Steve wasn't about to let that happen. Max had to find a match. Steve knew the murderer was out there somewhere. "I want you two to go back to the apartment and go over everything again. I want this to be a solid air tight case." Steve debated internally whether or not he should go see Elisabeth or Luce, but he knew deep down, he had to go see Luce. He had to know that she was going to make it.

"We'll check in with you later!" Chin called as he and Danny left the office.

Something was bothering Steve, something about what Chin had told him the day before, that Elisabeth and Wofat had a past. What kind of past did they have? Did she investigate him or had they been together romantically. Neither of which Steve liked, but if he had to chose, he would rather she investigated him, because then that meant she could help catch the guy. Hell, she probably knew the things that Joe wouldn't tell him. And Joe sure as hell wasn't talking! It had been several weeks since he'd seen his mentor and friend.

Several minutes of debating, Steve decided it was time to end the lies, and picked up the phone, and dialed a number. He waited till someone answered, but it was just the voice mail. "I need to know about Elisabeth Hollingsworth's past. Call me as soon as you can. Thanks!" He hung up the phone.

So many questions, so little time.

"One way or the other, I will have those answers!" He said to himself before leaving headquarters.

***
Back at Elisabeth's apartment, Chin and Danny looked through the bedrooms carefully, but not finding anything. It was looking more and more like everything had happened in the living room.

"Clean in here." Danny walked out into the living room.

"Here too!" Chin walked out of the other bedroom.

The small galley kitchen and bathroom were clean as well. Chin walked over to the front door.

"No forced entry, so she let the person in." He turned towards Danny. "They probably chatted a bit and then when she turned to walk into the living room, the perp grabbed her from behind...Sera fought, probably grabbed something in the struggle..." He stopped and knelt down, to look under the tables.

After a moment, Chin spotted something shiny and reached in carefully to grab it. It was a piece of broken bottle.

"And..." He reached for it. On the broken edges, there was dried blood. " She swung and broke free."

"Could've run towards the fire escape...hoping to get away" Danny went over to the window, it was open, and dried blood on the sill of the window. He took a picture of it and Chin swobbed it for evidence. "Was this open before?"

Chin shrugged and he slipped through the window, and Danny followed. As they ran their gloved hands along the balcony, they find blood.

"It looks as though they fought out here too." Danny said.

"Yeah!" Chin knelt down, there were two pieces of broken nails. "She must have tried go down the fire escape and her attacker grabbed her and he or she pulled her back; the nails broke in the struggle." He picked up the pieces and stuff it into an evidence bag.

Standing up, Chin turned and looked back into the large bay window, imagining the whole scene and how it took place. He shook his head. It was horrible way to have died and very senseless. When he glanced back at Danny, he was on the phone.

"All right..." Danny was saying. "We're on our way." He shut the phone off and stuffed it in his back pocket. He had a solemn look on his face.

That look told Chin all he needed to know. "Luce is dead!"

In reply, Danny just nodded.

Now there were two women dead and the team was no where near being able to solve this crime.

***
Pulling up at a stop light, Steve set the cell down next to him. He couldn't believe that Luce had passed away. It seemed as though she was on the mend and now this? The doctor told him that the nursed checked on her at 11:30 and by 12, Luce was dead. There was something not right about all of this. And where was Jamison? He was supposed to be posted out side of her room. He should have been there!

The light turned green and Steve drove on. He picked up his cellphone and dialed Max. "Meet me at the hospital." He ended the call and as he was about to set it back down, he had a text. It said, 'Meet me at Dottie's Cafe in about a half hour. I'll explain more then.' There was no number associated with the text, nor was there a name. Who was it from?

A few minutes later, Steve parked in front of the hospital. He noticed both Danny and Max's Camero's parked along side two patrol cars, and two of the officers were arguing next to one of them. Steve watched them for a moment, wondering what was so important, they had to argue outside a hospital. Slowly, Steve got of his truck, and headed towards. They two officers quickly noticed and stopped talking.

"Sir!" They both said in unison.

"What's going on?"

"Lt. Commander..." Jamison said nervously. "Sir! We were just, I was just..."

"Sir, we were just discussing the Maris case." The other officer spoke up. He was more calm than Jamison and that made Steve more interested.

"It didn't look like it." Steve stood with with his hands on his hips, waiting for an answer, but he knew he wasn't going to get one. "Jamison, come with me." Steve looked at Jamison, knowing the young man was hiding something.

"Yes sir!" Jamison nodded.

The men walked over to the truck and Steve turned to face Jamison when they came to a stop.

"The doctor told me you weren't outside of Ms. Maris' door, is that right?"

Jamison remained quiet.

"Answer me," Steve said forcefully.

"I was approached..." Jamison had begun nervously.

"By who?"

"A man, I didn't get his name, but he just told me he was the victim's friend and wanted some time with her, asked me to give it to him and his friends. I didn't think it was a problem. I left to get coffee and when I came back, he was leaving. I thought she was okay. I didn't know."

"You didn't think it was a problem? The girl is dead!"

"I know. I am sorry sir!"

Steve was definitely pissed. "What did he look like?

"About 5'9, oriental, dark hair, expensive suit, politely spoken, young, probably middle to late 30's, 150-160 pounds."

Again Wofat got in and out. It was looking a lot like he was apart of this case.

"I don't want you to leave this spot! Understand me?"

"Sir, there's more..."

"What?"

"One of his entourage came back and gave me money. That's when Smith saw me take the money. Before you got here, he was trying to get me to give it up. I was scared. I didn't know what to do."

That upset Steve even more. A young guy screwed up his career for a little cash.

"You should be scared." Steve motioned for Smith.

"Yes sir?" Smith asked once he arrived.

"Keep an eye on him." Steve headed into the hospital.

***
As Steve entered Luce's room, he noticed Danny and Chin were talking in the corner of the room. It looked like they were going over something on the Ipad. Max was examining the body.

"Chin. Steve motioned Chin over to him.

"Yeah boss?"

Pulling out the cellphone out of his back pocket, Steve quickly found the text he'd received from earlier. He needed to know who it was from. "I need you to check this text out and tell me who it's from." He handed the cell over to him.

Chin read the text over quickly. "I'll see what I can do. Oh by the way, I did a digital reenactment." He handed the Ipad over to Steve and hit play watching the scene play out. It was only a matter of minutes before it was over. "All the evidence we found, supports that."

What more could Steve say but "Okay, thanks Chin. Be sure to email that to Elisabeth when you get a chance. I think she'd want to see that."

"Already on it!"

Steve turned toward.

"I talked to the nurse." Danny had said. "She said everything was fine when she left, and when she returned to give her meds a little while later, the girl dead. The machines were all off as well. She wasn't sure how long but they did try CPR on her to no avail."

Steve nodded, taking the information. "I just had talk with Jamison. He told me that an oriental man mid to late 30's, 5'9, 150-160 pounds, stopped by. Who does that sound like?"

"Our old buddy, Wofat!"

"Yep! And get this, Jamison took a bribe, but I bet that Wofat never figured this guy's conscious would get the better of him."

"That's to bad Jamison ruined a promising career!"

It was quiet until Max turned toward the two of them and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his gloved hands.

"So what you got Max?" Steve wondered.

"No obvious signs of trauma. It appears she died of natural causes, but I won't know for sure until I get her back to the lab," Max had replied. "Once there, I can give her a thorough examine and get the results to you ASAP."

"Fine!" Steve nodded as he walked over to the window, looked out at the parking lot, thinking about everything that happened in the past few days. Elisabeth and Wofat come forefront to his mind.

"Steve..." Max said, breaking his train of thought.

Steve hadn't realized that Max had come up next to him and he turned to face the little guy. "Yeah..."

"When you and I spoke this morning and I told the samples were inconclusive; I lied."

"Why would you do that?"

"I was forced too by my superiors."

His superiors? Where they just as corrupt as the whole department had been?

"My superiors told me that I couldn't tell you the match and that I was supposed to get rid of them, but I kept a copy in my computer for safe keeping."

"Was there a match?" Steve was surprised.

"Yes." Max continued on in his short clipped tones.

"Let me guess, Wofat..."

"Yes!" Max looked surprised. "How did you know?"

"He seems to be the likely suspect at this point for both of the murders." Steve said annoyed.

Chin made his way over to Steve and Max, interrupting the two men. "Excuse me. I think I might have a name for that number you wanted." He held up his Ipad and Steve looked it over, then at his watch.

"Max as soon you as you find anything about the girl, you call us. Danny, Chin, keep an eye on Jamison. Do not let him out of your site!"

Danny and Chin nodded.

"I gotta go to a meeting." Steve headed for the door.

"You might want this!" Chin said.

Steve turned and Chin tossed the cellphone at him.

"Thanks!" Steve nodded at Chin and headed out.

***
Standing outside Dottie's cafe, Steve glanced through the window, spotting Fryer in a booth, waiting for him. He didn't want to do it this way, he preferred getting the information from either Elisabeth or Joe, but since they weren't talking, this was his only way.

Steve took a few deep breaths, letting out through his nose, as he walked inside the cafe. It was relativity small. To the left the counter full of people and waitresses on the other side taking the orders, along with the cooks, making the meals. To the right, full size booths with families, and in the middle, single booths, where Fryer had been drinking his coffee and going through a large file. Steve realized it must have been the file with the information he desperately needed.

Slowly, Steve walked over to Fryer and stood in front of him, quietly. After a moment, the captain looked up and smiled.

"Sit down." Fryer gestured towards towards the other seat across the table.

Steve slide in effortlessly, quietly, waiting for Fryer to hand over the information.

"Coffee?" Fryer held up his white, chipped cup.

"No thanks!" Steve waved off the offer.

"Suit yourself. The coffee here is excellent!" Fryer took sip, enjoying the coffee. "Food too!"

"Is that..." Steve pointed at the file, changing the subject.

"Yep!" Fryer slide the file over to Steve. "This isn't anything official, no one knows it exist, although it would destroy a few careers, I'm sure, including mine and maybe hers."

Destroy Elisabeth's career? Steve wasn't going to let that happen.

"What's in it?"

"It's just basically notes and thoughts on each of her experiences. First time, rookie, out on her own...I advise you to keep this to yourself."

Steve nodded, though he trusted his team enough to let them know what was going on. They've proved time and time again, how he could trust him, especially after how far they went to save him from Wofat. The torture that he succumb and the death of Jenna was prevalent in his mind and he quickly pushed those thoughts away.

Fryer gulped down the rest of his coffee, pulled out his wallet, and tossed a few bucks on the table. "Keep that as long as you need." He stuffed his wallet back in his pocket.

"I appreciate what you're doing and what you're putting on the line."

Nodding, Fryer stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Steve glanced down at the file, ran a hand over it, and looked up and around before he opened it. He was definitely nervous because he knew it was going to give him the answers he was seeking. The answers he could never get before.

Steve quickly scanned through the first few pages. It was the beginning of her investigation, though none of it seemed useful, until several pages into it, and saw the word Shellbourne. He had begun to read what she had said, 'On July 24, 2006, Wofat and I headed back to his place for dinner after The Pirates of Penzance, when he received a call at eight thirty pm. He started off speaking in Japanese, thinking I didn't know the language, but I'd taken a few classes to understand some. During the conversation I heard Shellbourne mentioned several times. I thought it was important so I made a mental note of it and to find out more information later. The call ended at eight forty five. And by nine, I was home for the evening, alone.' The word alone told Steve that Elisabeth wanted more time with Wofat personally, rather than professionally and that made him feel even more jealous than he had been before.

Taking a few deep breaths, Steve let it out through his nose as he flipped a few more pages and hit on Shellbourne again. 'August 15, 2006, Wofat's bodyguard picked me up and brought me back to Wofat's house. When we walked in, I was ushered into to his bedroom at the other end of the house, and informed to stay there. I waited about five minutes before I snuck back out the meeting, but when I arrived, there were two large doors separating us. I opened one of the door slightly and was shocked to see Pat Jameson! I couldn't believe it! I knew if this showed up in my official reports, it would be expunged from the record. She wouldn't want anyone to know she was aligned with a criminal. Sitting next to her was Hiro Nashimori and his son, and Victor Hesse was next to Wofat. And there were a few other men I had not recognized, though no doubt heads of the crime families around Hawaii.

This time they were speaking in English, which was a total relief. Mostly the conversation was about their cover business around town and then Victor Hesse mentioned locating Shellbourne's safe house in New York, but by the time they'd gotten there, Shellbourne was gone. I kept thinking who was this mysterious Shellbourne? So I leaned in a little, careful not to get caught, when an older gentleman was escorted in. He and the governor seemed to be on friendly terms. I believe that they said his name was John McGarrett. They talked for a little while longer about mundane things in the organization and Wofat ended the meeting and I hurried back to the bedroom and sat down on the bed, waiting for him. When he came in, we didn't speak. He crossed to me, pulled me up into his arms, kissing me passionately. I had to pretend to enjoy it, but it was hard not. The man had skills.'

Steve slammed the file shut, jealously written all over his face. How could she not tell him she was involved with Wofat? That hurt him more than he realized, but the jealously was definitely overriding that. He stood up, picked up the file, and left the cafe.

Fifteen minutes later, Steve pulled up in front of Kono's house, put the truck in park, and got out, shutting the door behind him. He headed up the steps and knocked on the door, and took a few deep breaths, letting through his nose, suddenly nervous.

"Hold on..." Steve heard Elisabeth call.

A few minutes later, Elisabeth answered the door. She was surprised to see him and if she had to admit it, she missed him, too.

Steve noticed the red rims around her eyes and realized she must have been crying. He was suddenly reminded of the case at hand, but the burning file in his hand also reminded him of the relationship she had with Wofat. Allegedly.

Sniffling a little, Elisabeth finally spoke, "Come in. Kono just ran out to get some lunch from Dottie's Cafe about ten minutes ago."

Ten minutes ago? Steve must have missed her, but then again, he wasn't exactly thinking clearly at the time.

"When were you going to tell me?" Steve held up the file with a pained expression his face. "When where you going to tell me that you and Wofat had an affair?"

There was nothing in the files that gave away her true feelings for Wofat, but Elisabeth knew Steve was smart enough to read between the lines. She was shocked and upset at the same time. She didn't like the tone in his voice. It made her even angrier by the minute. To think that he was busy worrying about the past than out there solving her sisters murder. "I'm so sick of this vendetta you have against Wofat!" Elisabeth said upset, walking away from Steve. She couldn't stop herself. "My sister's killer is out there and you're worried about ancient history." The images of her sister's lifeless body flashed before her and she began to cry once again

Steve stepped inside, and forcefully turned her to face him. "Your ancient history is colliding with the present." He instantly felt guilty for acting the way he was.

"What do you mean?" Elisabeth looked up at him, shock written all over her face. She wasn't sure what to feel or even what to think.

"I think you better sit down for this." Steve had started to lead her to the sofa, when she stopped him.

"Tell me what it is." Elisabeth knew it was gonna hurt but she was bracing herself for the impact, that was surely to come.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not some wilting flower, just tell me, dammit!"

Taking a deep breath, Steve let it out slowly, and said softly, "Wofat is responsible for your sister and Luce Maris' murder."

What? Elisabeth had known deep down it was Wofat, but hearing it made it even more real for her. The walls she had build up had crumbled around her. She started crying and Steve pulled her into his embrace, but she pushed him away, though she wanted him desperately. If they really crossed that line, there was no going back. If something were to go wrong between them as a couple, the team would suffer and she couldn't allow herself to let it get them way. It was going to end here and now and it hurt like hell that it had to be this way.

"No!" Elisabeth held up her hands. "You can't. We can't. Let's just focus on getting Wofat this time!" She took a deep breath and let it through her nose. Making Wofat pay for her sister's murder was her new mission in life. Suddenly she was beginning to feel much like Steve felt to their nemesis.

TBC