AN: Mahalo to all my readers - you rock! Special thanks to my beta for helping me improve in my grammar.
A get well soon tribute to "honu59"!
Chapter 27
Kajukenbo Dojo, Pine Street, San Francisco, 1972
The waiting ground on McGarrett's nerves and a muscle in his cheek twitched as he continued to stare at the entrance of the building.
"Let's go." Stone announced suddenly. He turned to see the detective in the passenger seat nod. Quietly, they climbed out of the car then walked up to the sidewalk. No longer obscured by the awning as they drew closer to the entrance of the building, Stone and McGarrett could now read the sign above the entrance, Kajukenbo. To the side of the front doors was the drive way that the Mustang had driven down. As Stone peered down the driveway, he could see a roller door which had been pulled shut.
"Tate." McGarrett whispered. There was no doubt in his mind Sean Tate ran the dojo and if they could find the driver of the Mustang in the premises, there was a sure chance they could link him with Tate.
Stone reached for the door-bell beside the door frame and pressed it. Through the glass he could see the blinds drawn shut. He waited for half a minute before pressing it again. Finally footsteps could be heard approaching the entrance.
The door opened and there stood a tall, well-built man sporting a look of annoyance as he shifted his gaze from Stone to McGarrett. "Yes?"
"Lieutenant Stone, SFPD. Are you Mr Sean Tate?" Stone asked.
Tate's eyes narrowed at McGarrett before he turned to face Stone. He folded his arms across his chest as he snarled, "It's a little late for lessons, Lieutenant. Why don't you gentleman come by my office tomorrow – with a warrant!" Tate tried to shut the door but McGarrett's hand slammed against the wooden crossbars between the glass panels which shook from the impact. "McGarrett, unless you would like to pay for damages made to my property, I suggest you take your hand away, now
"You're under suspicion of harboring a murder suspect!" McGarrett snapped.
Tate laughed sardonically and leaned against the doorframe, "You have no warrant and you have no proof!"
"Mr Tate, the car we followed from the scene of a heinous crime was seen entering the driveway of this building. The San Francisco Police Department is concerned for the safety of the community. I can obtain a search warrant without leaving the sidewalk I am standing on should you feel we would need one. Now that would simply be a waste of all our time." Stone explained.
"Unless you have something to hide," McGarrett added.
"Alright." Tate sighed exasperatedly as he stepped back and gestured for the two detectives to enter. "But I can assure you gentlemen that I have nothing that would be of interest to you. I'm a busy man so let's make this quick."
Stone entered followed by McGarrett who kept a wary eye on their host. Tate returned the detective's steely gaze with a smirk before leading his guests through the lobby. They walked past the front desk and into a back room that served as the Kajukenbo instructor's private office. "I'll just get my keys to the parking garage. If the person you are after did somehow enter the building that way then you'll find him hiding there. I keep the access door leading into the premises locked after hours. There's no way anyone can get inside that way." Tate informed the detectives.
McGarrett stayed outside the office scanning the lobby for any trouble. Stone stood at the doorway keeping his eye trained on Tate who opened a drawer at his desk and pulled out a set of keys.
"There's only one way to find out. Let's go." Stone replied, jerking his head out toward the lobby.
Tate flicked on the lights and walked down the short set of steps to the parking area with Stone and McGarrett following.
"Is that yours?" Stone asks as he pointed to what appeared to be a vehicle covered beneath a green tarp.
"Yeah that's my baby alright." Tate answered proudly.
"Take off the tarp." McGarrett directed as he walked toward the car.
"No. You can't just barge in here and start giving out orders! We're not in Hawaii, McGarrett."
"Alright, Tate, you can show us what's under that tarp or I can call in for a search warrant right now. Your choice." Stone cut in.
Tate was silent as he contemplated his options. With a heavy sigh he untied the cords keeping the tarp in place and peeled back the plastic revealing the blue Mustang beneath.
Stone and McGarrett gave each other a knowing look. This is the car.
"Were you out driving this evening in that car?" Stone asked sternly as he stepped up to the vehicle and peered inside the windows. Empty.
"No. I was in my office on the phone with my business associates." Tate folded his arms in front of him defiantly.
"Can your business associates verify the time you were on the phone with them?"
"Of course they can, we were having a conference! I was unable to attend in person as I have not been feeling well. I can give you names to a list of people who I spoke to this evening. I'm sure you can also check with the telephone operator for the records to the calls that were made by me."
"We'll do just that, Tate. In fact, let's go back to your office and we can start verifying all the details there." McGarrett proposed.
"If you want to waste your time, fine! Keep in mind I want my lawyer present should you be questioning me further." Tate briskly walked past the detectives and stomped up the steps.
Stone put his hand on the hood of the Mustang. Warm. "Tate, whether you were driving this car or not, someone has taken it for a spin. The engine is still warm."
"You're the cop, you figure it out! If someone has driven it, then it was done without my knowledge. In other words, I too would like to know who has been taking my car out for a test drive. I may have mastered the arts of Kajukenbo but being at two places at once is one art I have yet to master." Tate continued on his way without waiting for a response.
Stone and McGarrett followed the Kajukenbo instructor, keeping their eyes on his movements. They shared the same gut feeling that Sean Tate was a conniving individual, capable of conspiring in murder. He may be able to provide a rock solid alibi for his whereabouts but that didn't rule out his involvement in the crimes that could put him away for a very long time. The detectives knew they needed to tread carefully to ensure that this time around the charges did stick. He had already escaped trial for similar offenses in Hawaii five years earlier and there was no way McGarrett was going to leave San Francisco until Tate was behind bars.
As the three men entered the office, the tension elevated as mistrust and anxiety bounced between Tate and the two detectives. Stone and McGarrett were ready to make an arrest but without a warrant and a possible alibi things could go against them in the court of law. If Tate could prove he was on the phone during the time that Dan Williams was attacked then they needed to find the person who drove the Mustang. They would need to connect the two people together before they could lay a hand on Tate.
"Why don't you two fine gentlemen sit down?" Tate's sarcasm was not missed but nor was it paid heed to.
"No thanks. It's getting a little too cramped in here for my liking." Stone replied with a wry smile.
"Alright then, would you mind closing the closing the door, detective? I still have a couple of students in the dojo, training." Tate addressed McGarrett who stood behind Stone.
The big cop turned to reach for the door but instead found himself staring at a pistol pointed at his chest. "Hold it, cop!" The blond young man spat. Stone's hand reached inside his coat as he started to turn around but Tate seeing the distraction he needed, pulled out the drawer of his desk and took out his own gun.
"Don't try it, Lieutenant!" Tate sneered as he levelled the deadly weapon at the SFPD officer.
"It looks like we have ourselves a problem. Two problems to take care of, right Griffin?" Tate's smugness was replaced by a malevolent glare as he walked out from behind the desk with his gun held out in front of him.