Chapter Eight "Break Out"

The interrogation didn't exactly go well. Hadley remained stoic and his lawyer never budged an inch.

"Mr. Hadley," Danny finally said, "you are being charged with four counts of first degree murder, attempted murder, evading arrest, and illegal weapons possession. Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"

The lawyer was about to say something when Hadley held up his hand. "I have nothing to say to you," he said. Then he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

Well, Danny could make do without a confession. McKenzie's drawing was enough and there was no way he was telling Hadley about that. He'd already tried to kill her once; no use aggravating him. So, Danny had him sent to temporary lock-up and called Chin to see how things were coming.

"Looks like you found the only evidence in the hotel room," Chin said. "I'm gonna drop by the lab and see if they have anything on the weapon you found."

"I'm sure they will eventually," Danny said. "Steve sent a picture that the witness drew of the shooter and it looks exactly like Hadley."

"You didn't tell him that?"

"No way. I mean, I know we have the guy, but something about him tells me this is far from over."

"He sounds lovely."

"Yeah, he's a joy. So, you'll be back once you're done."

"Yep, I'm on my way to the lab now."

"You're on the phone on your motorcycle?"

"No... I mean, I'm leaving the hotel."

"Just checking. We wouldn't want you falling in a ditch somewhere."

"Yeah, not if I'm buying you dinner this weekend."

"You are?"

"It was your idea, remember?"

"Well, not exactly." Danny looked out his office window to where Kono was sitting behind a computer, trying to get more information on Hadley.

"Anyway, congratulations are in order. So don't make plans Saturday night."

"You do know we haven't even been on a date yet?"

"What about the afternoon at the beach and the milkshakes?"

"I didn't think that counted."

"It does. I'll see you later."

Danny hung up and sat watching Kono a little while longer before going out to see if he could help.

H-5-O

McKenzie's daily meeting with Dr. Eisner went about as usual. She genuinely liked him, but it seemed like the worst hour of the day to her. It would have comforted her to know that Steve felt the same way. She told Eisner all she could remember of the last day and about remembering the shooting. She left out details as he had no use for them, and she did not want to go over them again. Eisner suggested coping strategies, but McKenzie thought that Steve's constant presence was more help than breathing exercises would be. She was beginning to feel more and more comfortable with her scary protector and she confided this to Dr. Eisner while Steve was trying to find a piece of plywood to substitute for the coffee table.

Eisner pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "How would you describe your relationship with Commander McGarrett?"he asked.

McKenzie stared at him for a second. "Uh... I don't know," she said. "I guess he makes me feel safe when I'm afraid. Not just because he's big and has a gun, though that helps."

"That's good. It's important to have someone you can rely on. Yet, I am concerned about how that will shift when you return to your normal life. How will you deal with living alone?"

McKenzie exhaled through her teeth. "I'm not sure. I'll learn to take care of myself."

"It's something you should consider anyway."

"Thanks."

They got up from the table and said their goodbyes. Dr. Eisner said he would make his visits every other day from then on. McKenzie was more than happy with that arrangement. When Steve came back inside he had found an appropriate board and McKenzie told him about the session while he "installed" it.

"I'm glad I don't scare you anymore," Steve said.

"You never scared me."

"Yes I did. In the car."

"Oh... well it was short lived."

"Anyway, it was counterproductive."

"Um, yeah. That's totally what I meant."

"What? Oh, I see."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I do. You can't help but build relationships in circumstances like this. I get it."

McKenzie smiled and settled into her corner of the couch. She picked up her book from the new coffee table. "How's your head?"

"Better." Steve unconsciously rubbed his forehead.

"Where did you leave off?"

"What?"

McKenzie held up the book.

"Oh, I finished the... third book."

McKenzie's eyes widened and she opened to Prince Caspian.

"You're gonna read to me?"

"Yes. I like this one and you have a headache."

Steve smirked and got comfortable in his own corner.

"'Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy...'."

H-5-O

It was only a few minutes after Danny's conversation with Chin that an officer came running into 5-0 HQ.

"Detective Williams!" he said breathlessly.

"What's going on?" Danny asked, looking him up and down.

"The suspect has escaped."

"What?"

"He overpowered the guard, took his gun, and got away. The ambulance just got here; it doesn't look good."

"Wait, so my suspect just walked out of here?"

"Or ran. There are about ten officers out looking for him."

Danny looked over at Kono. "Call Chin and meet me at the car." He turned back to the officer. "Do you have any other useful information?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. They just sent me to inform you. People are going over the security tapes now."

"Okay, I want everything they have sent to me. If anything immediately relevant comes up tell them to call me. And the guard is unconscious?"

"Yes. I don't know, but I don't think he'll make it."

"All right. Go."

Once the young officer was out of the room, Danny cursed. He dialed the last number he had for Steve as he headed out to the car.

"Chin's not answering," Kono said as Danny climbed into the passenger seat.

"Neither is Steve," Danny said. "Or whoever."

"Where do you think he would go?"

"Try the lab first. He might try to destroy the evidence. We have no reason to suspect he knows where the witness is."

"We don't know where the witness is," Kono said, pulling out onto the street.

"Well, I could find out if her phone's on."

"Then so could Hadley."

"Maybe, but he still doesn't know she gave us his description. Chin didn't answer his phone, so he might need help. Anyway, if Hadley does know where the witness is, Steve can handle him."

"True."

Danny noticed a slight increase in the speed of the car as Kono's expression hardened. She was worried about her cousin and Danny couldn't blame her. He was worried too.

H-5-O

McKenzie read until her voice got tired and Steve suggested they get some fresh air. He had been feeling a bit jumpy from lack of activity. There was a trail close to the house that went up to a cliff overlooking the ocean and they both thought it looked promising.

For a while they walked in silence, enjoying the nice day and the view. Sometimes McKenzie would ask Steve what certain plants were. Sometimes, he knew the answer; sometimes he didn't.

They were about halfway up when McKenzie decided to stop to catch her breath and tighten her shoelaces. She put her right foot up against a fallen log and undid the laces. She then proceeded to tug on them and the log shifted under her weight and dropped out of sight. McKenzie fell forward, suddenly seeing a deep ravine below her. She didn't have time to scream before the sensation of weightlessness ended and she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt herself moving backward. She felt her feet touch solid ground and the arms slipped away. She turned around to see Steve standing there, his face a mask of concern.

Exhaling deeply, she said, "Thanks."

Steve gave a sort nod and took a step back.

McKenzie knelt on the path and finished tying her shoes.

"Do you want to keep going?" Steve asked.

She looked up at him, her hair falling in her eyes. "Sure." She stood up and Steve seemed satisfied. He turned and continued up the path and McKenzie followed. As she watched his back, she thought of what she had told Dr. Eisner earlier. Just being near Steve made her feel safe and protected and not without good reason. But there was the little matter of going back to normalcy after all this and she wondered how she would feel when he wasn't always there. McKenzie was not a particularly nervous person and did not tend to worry about things beyond her control, but now that she actually had something to be afraid of, she wondered if she would ever feel quite as safe on her own.

It's your mental problems talking, she thought.

And until that stopped, she would continue to view Steve as her personal security blanket, bodyguard, burglar alarm, nightlight, and safety net. She wasn't sure if this was healthy, but at the time, couldn't be bothered to care.

H-5-O

Chin still wasn't answering his cell phone, but when Kono parked in front of the lab, his bike was right there. To be fair, Chin was a little preoccupied inside. He opened his eyes when he heard the sound of his cousin's voice calling his name. It took a second for him to remember what had happened and call out for help.

Danny and Kono came rushing into the room sideways. Or so Chin thought until he remember he was laying on the floor. Kono's eyes became nearly circular when she saw him and Danny immediately called for an ambulance.

Meanwhile, Kono turned Chin over onto his back so she could look at the ugly bullet wound in his right shoulder. At first all she could see was blood and it darkened at the center of the wound. She put her left palm over her right and applied pressure.

Chin was still a bit too dazed to register that he was in pain, but it didn't last long. Coming completely back to reality, he half sat up and cried out.

"Whoa," Danny said, helping Kono return Chin to the floor. "Calm down there. Are you hurt anywhere else."

"No," Chin answered through gritted teeth. "I barely got a shot off before he hit me."

Danny noted Chin's sidearm laying nearby. "Okay, we'll get to that."

"Danny, he took the evidence and shot the lab techs. He didn't see me at first though."

Danny and Kono looked to where two bodies were laying on the other side of a steel table. The blood pools around them told Danny they were dead already, but he checked just in case. Coming back to Chin and Kono, he heard sirens nearing them.

"Okay," he said, "Kono, you go with him to the hospital and I'll stay here and see what I can find. I'll bring the car later."

"What about my bike?" Chin asked.

Danny was amused that he would think of that. "I'll have an officer drop it off at your place."

"Tell 'em to be careful with it." Chin's speech was slowing.

"Hey," Kono said, "stay with me cos."

Danny could hear the strain in her voice. He knew Chin was more like a brother than a cousin to her and seeing him hurt must have rattled her.

The EMTs arrived and took over. Danny and Kono stood back to let them work. As they followed Chin outside, Danny placed a reassuring hand on Kono's shoulder.

"He'll be okay," Danny said.

"I know," Kono replied. "I'll be fine."

"All right. you want me to bring you some clean clothes?"

Kono looked down at the blood on her knees from kneeling on the floor and on her shirt from her hands. "Yeah," she said, digging in her pocket. "Here are my keys. Thanks."

Danny took the keys, ignoring the blood smeared on them. "I'll see you soon."

She nodded and jumped in the back of the ambulance with Chin. "Be careful, Danny," she called just before the doors closed.

Danny hadn't exactly thought about it. Arnold Hadley was out there somewhere, armed and dangerous.