AN: To my readers: Thank you for reading and for your feedback :)

Special thanks to my beta for her assistance on locations in San Francisco. Without her first hand knowledge, I'd be lost and so will the characters.

Chapter 29

Townsend Street, China Basin, San Francisco, 1972

The black LTD slowed as it neared the warehouse behind the disused pier. A gangly long faced man in his thirties walked out of the desolate building and approached the car. He held a wrench in his hand. The driver side door opened and a familiar face appeared.

"Tate called. He said you were bringing extra cargo."

"Yeah. Two cops, Charlie." Riley Griffin answered gravely.

"Where?" the man named Charlie asked.

"One's in the trunk. The other in the back seat."

"Dead?"

"No."

"Better hurry and prepare them for shipment before they come to. The area was crawling with black and whites earlier."

"I know. I had to take the long way round to get here."

"Get the one in the trunk, kiddo." Charlie instructed as he tightened his grip on the metal wrench then walked to the side of the car.

Charlie opened the back door and leaned forward to take a handful of the still form's coat when suddenly it came to life. Two feet shot forward into the unsuspecting hood's chest and sent him sprawling backward to land on his backside. In that same instant young Griffin had unlocked and opened the trunk of the vehicle. He too was met by a fully conscious cop who shot himself out of the trunk and barrelled into the youth, knocking them both to the ground.

Clambering to his feet swiftly, Charlie brandished the tool in his hand like a weapon and lunged at the older man who ducked down and rolled out of the car. He then used his legs once more to kick his feet into the door so that it slammed into his assailant's back. The man dropped the wrench and cried out in pain.

With his hands cuffed behind him, McGarrett failed to deflect the blow that left him senseless and lying on his back. From the corner of his eye he saw Stone had somehow got the upper-hand. The Lieutenant had rolled to his feet and was rushing toward him. Another blow to the face and McGarrett saw black spots dancing in his line of vision. Shaking his head to clear it the big cop gritted his teeth and brought his knee up hard into the young hood's side.

Griffin gasped and doubled over before a sharp pain exploded in his forehead from where a head butt landed. He rolled away from the detective and pulled out his gun from the waist band of his jeans.

"Look out!" Stone's eyes widened when he saw the flash of steel over McGarrett's shoulders as the detective rose unsteadily to his feet. Without a second's thought for his own safety, Stone dove forward and ploughed into McGarrett just as the sound of a gun shot rang in the air and both men landed on the hard asphalt.

…..

Kajukenbo Dojo, Pine Street, San Francisco, 1972

Sitting in the small office, Keller eyed Tate as he questioned him on his whereabouts all evening. The man sat behind his desk and answered him impatiently.

"Look Keller, it's really late and I'm tired. I have early classes and I'd like to get some shut eye." Tate rose from his chair and stood waiting for Keller to do the same.

"Thank you for your time." Keller sighed as he took the hint and stood up. Stowing his notebook away, Keller waited for Tate to lead him out of the office. When they reached the front doors the Inspector paused in his tracks. "One more thing, Mr. Tate."

"Yes?"

"Would you mind if I used your washroom? I've got a long drive home." Keller asked as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Tate eyed the young Inspector suspiciously before nodding and directing him in the direction of the communal wash rooms. Keller thanked him and plodded down a hallway passing Tate's office. As he walked along, he let his eyes wander around his surroundings. He did not believe a word Tate had uttered but he had nothing to charge him with. According to the instructor, he never laid eyes on Stone or McGarrett that evening and spent the entire time in the dojo. When he reached the washrooms around the corner, Keller pressed himself against the wall and peered around. He saw Tate at the front desk with his back turned to him. It looked like he was holding the receiver of the telephone in one hand and dialling a number with the other. Keller decided now was the time to do some searching on his own. He crept back down the hall and opened the door to Tate's private office. Thankful it wasn't locked the Inspector quietly entered the room and closed the door behind him.

…..

Tate re-dialled the number of the warehouse on Townsend Street and waited for someone to answer. The call rang out for the second time. He began to grow edgy wondering why Charlie and Griffin were not answering. Cursing under his breath, Tate slammed the receiver down. He walked away from the desk and looked down the hall. No sign of the Inspector but his office was still shut. He didn't trust Keller for one moment but to refuse him access to the washrooms would only arouse suspicion on his behalf. Sighing heavily Tate headed for the front door and walked outside. The air felt cool and refreshing on his face as he stood waiting.

…..

Keller pulled open the second drawer at the desk and quickly rummaged through the contents. Nothing but stationery. Pushing it closed he tried the last drawer. There was an address book. He flipped it open and found Barker's contact details inside but he knew that Tate could justify that to the fact that Barker was one of his students. Replacing the book back inside and closing the drawer, Keller headed for the filing cabinet. When he tried to pull the drawer open, it wouldn't budge and he realized it was locked. He tried the next drawer and it too was locked. Damn it!

…..

Looking back through the doorway Tate started to feel unsettled about the Inspector's prolonged visit to the washroom. With a furrowed brow he stepped back inside and proceeded down the hall. He stopped short when his eyes caught shadows that played across the floor from beneath the door of his office. Taking a deep breath he drew out his pistol then using his other hand he turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Steve Keller stood frozen like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.

"Lose your way, Inspector?" Tate asked in a low and dangerous tone. Before the Inspector could draw his own gun Tate already had his levelled at his head. "Move and you're one dead cop!" The taller man walked up to the Inspector and with his free hand he frisked Keller for his pistol which he found and stowed into his own pocket.

"Look you don't have to do this, Tate. Why don't we talk this over." Keller tried to talk his way out of his predicament but inside he knew he was in deep water and there was no one to pull him out.

"I'm willing to wager that no one knows you're here, Inspector. Just as you don't know where your friends Stone or McGarrett are." Tate replied in a low but deadly tone. His eyes flashed threateningly as they met Keller's.

"What have you done with them?" Keller demanded as his fear and anger manifested.

"You'll be joining them soon enough." Tate sneered.

"You son of a b…" Keller began as he made a grab for Tate's gun.

A shot rang out during the struggle and the gun fell to the floor.