I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

The same goes for the fantastic show and wonderful characters portrayed in Flashpoint.

Notes: Arcanum: a secret or mystery; carefully hidden knowledge. thank you for the encouraging reviews! The posting schedule may be a bit haphazard due to a pending vacation and unfortunate job issues. But chapters WILL BE posted within a day or two of each other.

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*

Chapter Two

Danny parked just outside the bar which was at a busy intersection. Technically, it was an optimal location for any kind of business. However, this particular location was unfortunately in a shady part of town and while it was a hubbub of foot traffic, bikes and cars no one paid much attention to each other. Each person was intent on getting through the area and then on to his or her own affairs of the day. He noticed it all and then filed the knowledge away as he got out of his car and walked across the sidewalk. There were large potted plants outside the dingy doors in a vain attempt at decorating. But the dirt was a mass of snubbed out cigarettes and cigars; and at that early hour of the morning, the bar was also closed.

He shaded his eyes to peer into the establishment's dark and dingy interior. According to the posted sign, they closed their doors at two o'clock in the morning and would reopen again for a lunch-time crowd. However never on a Monday which obviously was a day of rest after a likely rowdy weekend. But looking at the gloomy interior, Danny was convinced that crowd at any time of night or day might be a kind word.

Confused by Ana's instructions, Danny checked down the narrow side alley that bordered another block of stores and arcades. A few indigents were either sleeping it off or rummaging through the dumpsters that were overflowing from a long weekend. Completely ignored by the neighborhood clientele, he found with some amusement that he was attracting little to no attention.

"This is odd." Danny sighed to himself as he slowly turned in a circle and then took a few steps down the alley. He turned again to scan the sidewalk for Ana. It was a strange place to meet, even for her and his uncomfortable feelings grew tenfold. Worried now that something had happened to her, Danny was about to call or text her back, when a raspy voice sounded from behind him.

"Hey mister, you wanna score?" Danny turned to come face to face with a scrawny older man. Definitely a strung-out junkie who was obviously blind or obtuse if he didn't have an inkling that the well-dressed man was a cop. He was wearing a badly battered baseball cap that partially obscured his face but Danny's eyes immediately latched onto the hideous tattoo traced into the skin around his neck.

'Uh, no." Danny didn't want any part of him as he tried to amble casually away and back towards his car where it sat placidly in the more welcoming daylight.

"You sure?" The voice became plaintive and more whiney. "It's good stuff. Sale price .. just for you."

"No, get out of here." He muttered it again quickly and frowned because if the guy kept it up, he'd have to arrest him. The junkie followed him though with his hand picking needfully on his shirt sleeve. But unbeknownst to Danny, his other hand was casually fiddling with a pair of brass knuckles hidden in his jacket pocket.

The rasp deepened into a cough as the junkie persisted. "You sure? I can set you up."

"Beat it, buddy. Not now." Danny was just a few steps shy of the Camaro when the man suddenly started to choke and tremble.

"Damn it!" Danny groused as he reflexively caught the falling body and yanked out his cell phone. The junkie was a mess as he sagged in Danny's hands. And as he convulsed uncontrollably, it was all the more difficult to call 911.

"Hold on .. hold on .. I'll get an ambulance."

Danny pounded out the three numbers as the man's knees buckled and he finally propped him up against his own car with one hand fisted in the dirty shirt. More annoyed than worried, Danny kept his one hand in the man's chest while the other held the phone to his ear. "Damn it. Just .. stay there and don't move .. I'm getting you help."

And as soon as the emergency services operator answered, Danny rattled off his need quickly. "This is Detective Danny Williams, Five-0 task force. I have a possible overdose at the corner of Keeaumoku Street near Mayor's Bar. Send me a cruiser and an ambulance."

The operator heard him quite clearly but then she only heard an engine revving, the solid sound of something solid connecting with flesh and then the clatter of the cell phone as it hit the pavement. In the middle of confirming his request, she glued her headset to her ear and waved frantically for her supervisor.

"Sir? Sir .. are you there? Hello?"

Danny had barely finished speaking when he sensed the changes through his hand. The junkie had ceased the violent shaking and had actually straightened to his full height. In surprise, Danny turned to face him just as a black van screeched up next to the Camaro. But it was all happening too fast and he barely had time to register the fact that the man's face had completely altered into an angry snarl. His hand flashed forward and something blocky glinted in the light before connecting viciously with Danny's chin. At nearly the same time, another blow slammed once into the back of his head. The simultaneous attack caused Danny to give out with a stunned gasp and his phone tumbled to the ground from numb fingers. He was unconscious before he vanished mere seconds later.

The junkie was left shouting after the van as he angrily demanded his payment. Palming an empty beer bottle, he heaved it down the road in a rage but missed the vehicle entirely. Cursing and continuing to yell, his violent anger sent one lone bag lady hurriedly rushing for cover with her over-flowing shopping cart of junk.

Left alone and now drawing unwanted attention, he took off in the opposite direction to run deeper between the buildings. There was a short lull on the streets as the excitement came to an eery end. And then just a few moments later, the much too brief incident was already forgotten. Those that had kept their eyes averted were long gone; while those who had watched with an avid interest shrugged and walked away. But sliding out of the shadows, the lone bag lady reappeared and cautiously checked the now quiet alley.

The pretty car was still parked on the street corner, but she didn't want that. Her brilliant eyes had sneakily watched the cell phone fall to the ground and she hoped it still worked. She would like to have that and she spied it under the front tire of the man's shiny silver car. Scurrying forward, she snatched the phone with her dirty fingers and then moved quickly away with her shopping cart. By the time she reached the next block, she was humming a silly tune while she stroked her special prize under her tattered sweater.

~ to be continued ~