HOMEWARD BOUND
Sam stared out the window wistfully, taking in the beauty of her island home as the plane approached O'ahu. The older gentleman next to her caught her expression. "Ever been here before?"
"I was born here," Sam smiled.
"Really?" He seemed shocked. Sam laughed.
"I know, I know. I still get 'the look' from native Hawaiians who don't believe me, but I was indeed born here. My father was stationed at the Naval base at Pearl Harbor."
"Well, thank you to your father for his service and I apologize if I offended you," he replied.
"Thank you and not at all. I got it all the time growing up. Being a tall, red headed tomboy on O'ahu was a bit of a challenge but I wouldn't change it for the world," she said proudly as she turned back to the window.
Plenty of other things I would change, she thought. But not growing up here. Not for a second.
Once Sam landed and got through baggage claim, she headed to the rental car kiosk. While she waited in line, she texted Mae who informed her that she and Paula were out shopping. Paula had insisted. Sam could just see the scene playing out in her head. Mae hated shopping but would have humored Paula, who thought retail therapy was a valid response to any crisis. So, Sam decided to use the delay to gather some intel.
Parking outside of the Honolulu Police Department, Sam stepped inside the precinct and was greeted by a perfectly perky young lady who asked her to have a seat while she located Detective Daniel Williams, the officer in charge of the investigation.
Within a matter of minutes, the receptionist informed her the detective was not in the office. Sam left her cell number and asked that the young woman give it to the detective when he got back in. "Is there anyone else working the investigation with him? I mean, John McGarrett was HPD." Sam assumed that they would have at least two or three officers on the case of a murdered, albeit, former cop.
"No, ma'am, Detective Williams is the only officer assigned to the case."
Sam stood there, trying not to look shocked. "I'm sorry, a murder investigation of a former officer only warrants one detective nowadays?" The tone in Sam's voice came off more threatening than she had intended but still got the appropriate response – this little wisp of a thing was definitely intimidated by the SWAT officer.
"I, uh, I'm sorry, ma'am, I really don't know. I'm just the receptionist." Never had she ever been more grateful to say those four condescending little words. The fire that flashed in this cop's eyes scared her.
"Right," Sam said, eyes narrowed. "Please ask Detective Williams to contact me as soon as possible." With that, she stalked out. She pulled out her cell phone and sent a quick text to call in a favor.
Feeling restless, Sam decided to do what she did when she was in LA and needed a break: she drove. Sam found the island's classic rock station on the radio and turned it up. Loud. She put the windows down, pulled her ponytail up into a messy bun and pulled into traffic, heading towards the beach. She tried to turn her brain off for a little bit. Didn't really work, but she put the effort in as Guns 'n' Roses, Journey, Van Halen and Lynryd Skynyrd blared through the speakers.
After a brief drive, Sam found herself at Kakaako Park. As she got out of the car, she couldn't help but take a deep breath. Sure, California had sun, surf, palm trees and their share of citrus but there was nothing – absolutely nothing – better than Hawaii. There was nothing like being home. As she was about to step on to the boardwalk, her cell buzzed. The email she had hoped for had come in.
The 'jacket' of one Detective Daniel Williams. She smiled down at her phone. It was good to know she still had people she could call when she needed them.
Sam walked along the boardwalk for a bit before finding an empty picnic table to climb on. She read through what she could on the small screen and discovered this Williams character actually seemed like a real stand up guy, the kind you want watching your back. Sam started to feel like this he was being railroaded, handed an impossible case. Jersey cop or not, there was very little in his background that she could find that would prepare him for catching the likes of Victor Hesse.
Sam closed the file and stuck her phone in her back pocket. Looking out at the Pacific, she sighed as a single tear ran down her cheek. The effects of yesterday's nightmare, which rolled into last night's nightmare, followed by an excruciatingly long plane ride were starting to take a mental toll.
Get it together, you freak, Sam thought to herself. It was only going to get worse over the next few days.
Sam lost track of time as she just sat and stared at the waves crashing on the beach. She nearly missed the vibration of her cell phone.
"Devereaux."
"Miss Devereaux, this is Detective Daniel Williams, HPD. I understand you were looking for me."
Sam was surprised by the fact that she had gotten a return call. This century, even.
"Detective, thank you so much for the return call," Sam started.
"Miss Devereaux…"
"Lieutenant Devereaux," Sam corrected.
"Lieutenant, really?" Danny asked, mildly surprised at the title.
"Yes, LAPD SWAT Lieutenant Samantha Devereaux. I was calling to inquire on the status of one of your cases."
"Really? Which case of mine has garnered interest from LAPD?" Danny asked cautiously.
"The John MacGarrett…murder." Sam choked out the last word, hoping the detective wouldn't catch it.
"MacGarrett? Huh. Well, Lieutenant Devereaux, I'm not sure why LAPD has a vested interest in the murder of an ex-HPD cop who hasn't left the island in years. Perhaps you could shed some light. Or is this of a more…personal nature?"
Dammit.
Maybe the ha'ole isn't quite so stupid after all, Sam thought. Play dumb? Probably not. Go the honest route and hope for the best. And by honest, she meant sentimental.
"Look, Detective Williams, John MacGarrett is…was, my mentor and friend. I was just hoping that I may ask for a little professional courtesy and see where the investigation stood." Sam held her breath.
"Well, uh, I'm very sorry for your loss but as this is an active investigation – and you are not a family member – there is unfortunately nothing I can share with you at this time."
Dammit. She could here it in his voice – there was no way he was going to back down.
"I understand. Thank you for your time," Sam said tersely as she stabbed her finger on the 'end call' icon.
Fine, Sam thought. I'll just do it my damn self.
Frustrated by her phone call with the detective, Sam decided it was time to suck it up and head home.
Home. The word brought a small smile to her face.
Hawaii would always be home to her. Always had been. Then why the hell was she living in LA, she thought. I can't be thinking about that right now, she thought, running her hands down her face. One personal crisis at a time.
Sam headed back up the boardwalk towards her rental. She just reached the car when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Someone's watching me.
Sam kept her sunglasses on as she slowly turned around, as if to take one last look at the ocean. Nothing stood out, but she could still feel it. Someone's eyes were watching her. She intentionally dropped her keys and got down on all fours, as if feeling for them under the car. In actuality she was doing a cursory, visual sweep for an explosive or any other type of device under the car. Seeing nothing and not wanting to draw too much attention, she grabbed the keys and got in the rental. Holding her breath, she started the car. Everything seemed normal.
Normal? Then why did I just act as though I was in the middle of a desert minefield? Sam shook her head as she carefully pulled out of the parking spot.
I'm just imagining things. It's because of the nightmare. Hearing Victor Hesse's name after all this time is what did her in. It's just bringing up bad memories, she tried to convince herself.
Sam kept a vigilant eye at her surroundings as she made her way to the home of Jim & Paula Brookes to pick up Mae. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She hadn't noticed a tail. But still. She felt something was off. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
Sam made her way into the Brookes' neighborhood, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror. When she finally mentally kicked herself into submitting to the fact that no one had followed her, Sam drove up to the Brookes' house to see Mae sitting on the porch with Paula, drinking…well, with Paula, you never knew what you were drinking until you were under the table.
Sam had known Jim and Paula Brookes since she was 8 years old, when Jim had been stationed at Pearl with her father. Paula had become fast friends with her mom, Stella, and Sam had befriended their daughter, Tammy. Sam liked Tammy just fine. Everyone had hoped the two girls would become best friends, but Sam was having none of that. She already had a best friend.
Steve MacGarrett.
And no one was replacing him.
Sam smiled at the memories flashing through her head. She was so lost in thought, she jumped when suddenly Mae opened the car door. The two women just looked at one another and grasped hands with sad smiles. Sam silently backed out of the drive and headed for home. The constant glances in the rearview were not lost on Mae.
As Sam slowed the car to pull into their driveway, she took a moment to stop and look at the McGarrett house. Neon yellow crime scene tape was still taped to the front door. Sam's mind wandered as she parked the car. How many nights had she slept there? How many times had she eaten dinner with them on the lanai out back before ignoring the "don't swim for an hour after you eat" rule so she could race Steve down to the beach or just sat with Mary in her lap, braiding the little girl's hair? She had lost count of how many nights she sat on the beach with John, drowning in beer and liquor over Ben's death. John talked her down so many times…
They made their way inside the house, with Sam taking one last weary look outside before she locked the front door and set the alarm. Sam stole a look out the French doors leading to their deck. The urge to walk out those doors, through the yard and around the fence to the beach next door was so strong, Sam felt like she couldn't breathe. She was never going to be able to do that again. He was gone. John was gone and with him a piece of Sam's heart was gone, too. She dropped her bags on the floor where she stood in the middle of the living room and turned to Mae. Without a word, Mae walked over to where she stood and grabbed Sam as she crumpled to the floor. Mae wrapped Sam in her arms.
Mae had always marveled at the tough façade Sam projected. She knew there was so little Sam could tell her about her days in the CIA. The immense burden of what she did in the name of God and country and the fact that she could never speak of it…it scared Mae. Even now, as a SWAT lieutenant, Sam would retreat behind the walls she built to keep her emotions at bay. Every so often, the cracks in the armor would show and when they did, all Mae knew to do was to hold her and love her and pray to whoever was listening to give her girl some peace.
Tonight, the façade was crumbling. Mae was now holding the little girl she held night after night after her parents died. This was the young teen she consoled when her other surrogate mother, Doris McGarrett, died in a horrific car accident. This was the young woman who mourned the loss of the first boy she ever loved and the best friend she felt abandoned by when his father sent him away. This was the human behind the machine that was Samantha Devereaux.
And as quickly as the human had surfaced, the machine re-engaged. After a minute, Sam sat up, squeezed her eyes shut for a brief instant and wiped the tears away. The two women stood as quickly as they had fallen. Squeezing her hand, Sam looked into Mae's eyes and the look Mae saw was one of steely determination. It was the look of a woman on a mission.
And the mission was to put Victor Hesse behind bars.
Or better, in the ground.
Sam cupped Mae's face, kissed her cheek and walked upstairs, bags in hand.
And as soon as Sam was out of sight, a tear escaped. Mae looked heavenward.
"John, you better keep an eye on our girl."