AN: To all my wonderful readers, thank you for all your support!
Chapter 30
Townsend Street, China Basin, San Francisco, 1972
The resounding crack of a gun firing left silence in its wake as the four men at the scene froze momentarily. It was enough time for Hawaiian detective Steve McGarrett to lash out and kick the gun out of the young hood's hand. Disarmed, a panic stricken Riley Griffin tried to scramble to his feet but a bellow of authority stopped him.
"Hold it! Don't even think about reaching for that gun, son, unless you want to spend the rest of your life behind bars!" McGarrett, who had risen to his feet, now stood between Griffin and the firearm.
Griffin's eyes travelled from the gun on the ground then up to meet McGarrett's steely gaze. Breathing heavily from the adrenaline rushing through his veins and his fear from the law, Griffin stood ready to pounce.
"Don't do it. Think about what you're about to do. If you kill us there'll be no turning back." McGarrett continued in lower decibels. He knew the SFPD Lieutenant was hit but he didn't dare take his eyes off Griffin to see just how badly Stone was hurt.
"Son, he's right. You reach for that gun and you will be throwing your life away and so will your friend here." Stone's pain filled voice issued from nearby and all heads turned to look at the wounded Lieutenant who lay on his side with his head raised off the ground. A crimson stain was seeping through his coat at the left shoulder.
The tall thin figure of Charlie Grayson was leaning heavily against the car with one hand pressed against his back. His eyes were watery from the pain and he too was breathing rapidly. "Say we let you both live, what's in it for us? We'll still be behind bars!"
"If you cooperate with us, we can put in a good word for you to the judge. Believe me, that could make a big difference in your sentencing. If either of you go for that gun, that's already attempted murder. Pull that trigger and you're both up on first degree murder charges, no matter who takes the shot." Stone paused to take a breath and winced before he continued, "Patrol cars are roaming the area as we speak. They're probably already on their way here after hearing that last shot your friend took. You might not even make it to the end of the block."
"You're bluffing! Get the gun, Griffin!" Charlie barked as he pushed himself away from the car and started to move closer to the gun himself.
"Don't do it, kid!" McGarrett replied through clenched teeth as he shook his head slowly at Griffin.
Griffin looked from Charlie to Stone who held him in his gaze then back to McGarrett. "I killed a man tonight. A cop. I didn't want to do it. I hit him and pushed him into the bay. My life is already ruined."
McGarrett realized Griffin was talking about Dan. His blood began to boil but he forced himself to take a deep breath and responded as calmly as he could, "No, no you didn't. He's alive. It's not too late to make amends."
Griffin swallowed then sighed and nodded in resignation. His shoulders slumped, all the fight leaving him.
"The great Sean Tate's most prized student turned coward! I can't believe this!" Charlie rushed forward, his eyes on the pistol laying several meters away.
Sensing what Charlie was going to do before he acted, McGarrett turned on his heel and kicked the gun away as hard as he could. Enraged the younger man grabbed McGarrett by his jacket with one hand and buried his fist into the detective's gut.
"No!" Stone yelled as he saw Griffin run for the gun amidst the commotion.
Kajukenbo Dojo, Pine Street, San Francisco, 1972
With the Kajukenbo instructor's gun now lying on the floor, Keller threw a punch that spun his adversary around from the impact of the blow. He reached inside his coat but his pistol barely left its holster before a well-placed kick disarmed him. A fist driven hard into his stomach knocked all the air out of his lungs. Before the Inspector could recover he was grabbed by the front of his shirt then thrown up against the desk. Dropping to his knees Keller didn't see the next blow land in his lower back below his ribs. A cry of pain was rent from his throat and he collapsed to the ground only to be yanked upright again. "What's the matter, Inspector? Having a little trouble breathing?" Tate slammed his knee into Keller's midsection. The blow sent sharp pains through his chest and his diaphragm seized up. The young Inspector gasped and choked, unable to breathe. Tate shoved him to the ground before delivering a brutal kick in to Keller's side followed by another in quick succession. Barely conscious, Keller reached up and gripped the edge of the desk as he tried to raise himself off the ground. Something crashed into the back of his neck and the next thing he felt was more pain followed by dizziness as darkness swallowed him.
Townsend Street, China Basin, San Francisco, 1972
The seasoned Lieutenant tried to use his elbows to push himself up and climb to his feet but the bullet wound in his left shoulder left his body drained and the pain forced him back down on to his side. Cursing in frustration and alarm he looked on as McGarrett folded over and dropped to his knees while Griffin grabbed the gun from the ground.
"Charlie!" Griffin called out as he aimed the gun at his accomplice's chest. "Leave him alone!"
"You gotta be kidding me! Oh come on, man!" Charlie threw his hands up in the air and glared at the younger man before him.
"Look, I ain't gonna spend the rest of my life in prison!" Griffin shouted back then reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a small set of keys. Keeping his gun trained on Charlie, the youth walked over to McGarrett. The winded detective groaned as he slowly rose to his feet and allowed Griffin to unlock the handcuffs. Rubbing his sore wrists McGarrett nodded his thanks. Griffin handed him the gun and stepped back as the detective approached Charlie and ordered him to drop on the ground with his hands splayed out. McGarrett carefully lowered himself to frisk the suspect for concealed weapons then cuffed the man's hands behind him. He then read him his rights. Grimacing he held an arm across his midsection as he proceeded to Stone. He removed the cuffs from Stone's wrists then pulled out his handkerchief and pressed the material over the wound in the Lieutenant's shoulder. Stone's complexion paled even more and he hissed in pain. Smiling apologetically, the big cop straightened up and walked over to Riley Griffin who stood with his head bowed down.
"Turn around, hands on your head." McGarrett explained to Griffin his rights and after searching his clothes for weapons and identification, he pulled the young man's arms behind him and placed the cuffs on his wrists. "What did you do with the guns you took from our holsters?"
"They're in the glove compartment in the car." Griffin answered.
"Sit," McGarrett helped Griffin into a sitting position on the ground then headed for the LTD and retrieved the two guns which belonged to Stone and himself. After helping Stone to his feet he returned his revolver. "The radio's been damaged. There should be a phone in there." McGarrett jerked his head toward the warehouse. "I'll call for an ambulance and back-up. Will you be alright?"
"Believe me, I've had worse McGarrett. This is just a scratch." Stone smiled wanly as he stood with his useless arm held close against his body. The detective nodded and ran into the warehouse leaving his wounded comrade to watch over the two young hoods who sat cuffed on the ground in front of him.