A/N: I think I should mention that the aftershock that didn't kill Pham is the same aftershock that let the looter escape, triggering Chin and Kono's car chase, and the same one that Steve and Danny felt just before they spotted the SUV perched on the cliff.

Chapter 11 — Blood Evidence

When he got the news, Steve turned the Camaro toward Honolulu General. They began questioning staff members, trying to locate anyone who had seen Pham around the time of the afternoon aftershock.

They decided to start with the pharmacy, because it was next to the cafeteria, where Dugan had been working when he heard Pham arguing with Kaylor. The cafeteria was still closed for construction though there was no sign of Innis or his crew when Steve and Danny approached the pharmacist.

He listened to their story and shook his head. "Arguing about the pharmacy inventory? That's not what I heard. They were down the hall there. I couldn't hear everything but I heard Kaitlyn's name a couple of times. Then Pham stormed this way toward the cafeteria and shouted back at Kaylor, 'I'm warning you. Leave Kaitlyn alone!'"

When Steve and Danny again barged past Kaylor's secretary, she called, "He's not here now!" The inner office was empty.

The woman told them Kaylor was inspecting the ICU.

"Was he here during the big aftershock this afternoon?" Danny asked.

"No, everyone was rushing around after the earthquake this morning. Dr. Kaylor left at lunchtime and I didn't see him again until he came back to the office after the aftershock. I thought it was funny," she said thoughtfully. "He looked particularly satisfied with himself. And…" She hesitated. Kaylor wasn't a warm personality, but he was an undemanding boss. She didn't want to get him in trouble.

"And …" Danny prompted.

"And I thought I saw blood on his sleeve," she said reluctantly.

"When was this?" Steve asked.

"Just before the paramedic came in and said her partner had found Mr. Pham's body. Dr. Kaylor hadn't even had a chance to get into his office. He just turned around and went out to the lobby."

"We'll be back," Steve warned.

"I'm sure you will," the secretary sighed.

"No," Danny said firmly when they got into the hall.

"I wasn't," Steve protested.

Danny eyed his partner suspiciously. "I have no problem surprising Kaylor in his office, but the patients in ICU don't deserve McGarrett storming the beachhead. I fully expect that being your partner will land me in the ICU eventually. I don't want anyone there to hold a grudge against me."

Steve strode down the hall, forcing Danny to hurry to keep up. "Once they get to know you, they'll just sedate you to shut you up," Steve said.

"I'll have you know, I only complain about people who don't know what they're doing, Commander Not-A-Detective."

"I know what I'm doing," Steve asserted.

"What are we doing?"

"Going to talk to Kaitlyn Binnix."

"OK," Danny admitted. "Now you sound like a detective."

They found Kaitlyn trying to organize her boss' paperwork. Her pretty face was twisted with sadness. Her eyes were red and swollen from weeping and she kept a wadded tissue in her hand to dab at her eyes, but otherwise she seemed calm.

"Why were Kaylor and Pham arguing about you?" Steve asked bluntly.

"What business is it of yours?"

"Pham was murdered," Danny said, just as bluntly. "You wanna answer the question?"

"Murdered?" she squeaked. "Look, it couldn't have been Trevor. He wouldn't." She sighed and started over. "Trevor and I have been seeing each other for three weeks now. Roland thought he was taking advantage of me, because Trevor has a reputation with the ladies. I told Roland I could take care of myself, but he felt responsible."

"Do you think Kaylor and Pham could have gotten into a fight over you?" Steve asked.

Kaitlyn thought a moment. "My boss could get worked up. He might have taken a swing at someone, but I don't think Trevor cares enough to fight over me," she said honestly. "Not yet," she added with a smile.

Kaylor's secretary just waved them past when they charged through. Kaylor was sitting at his desk in his shirtsleeves. His hospital white coat was hanging on a coatrack.

"You lied to us. You weren't arguing with Pham about the inventory. You were arguing about Kaitlyn Binnix," Steve accused.

"We argued about both," Kaylor corrected, unperturbed. "We started discussing the inventory, but then Roland inappropriately switched to my personal life."

"You don't think your affair with Miss Binnix is inappropriate?" Steve asked.

"In the first place, it's not an 'affair,'" Kaylor said with distaste. "Neither Kaitlyn nor I is married. She is not my subordinate in the hospital, so it can't be called fraternization. We are both above the age of consent. Roland had no business interfering."

"Did that make you mad?" Danny probed. "Did you follow him to argue with him and get into a fight? Maybe he attacked you and you defended yourself. I hear he had quite a temper."

"He had. I don't," Kaylor said shortly. "I am a surgeon, gentlemen. Getting excited when things go wrong is counterproductive. And I still don't see why you're wasting time investigating this. Roland's death was an accident." His gaze sharpened. "Wasn't it?"

For an answer, Danny donned his crime scene gloves with an ostentatious snap. He went to the white lab coat that was hanging up. Danny turned the right sleeve carefully and found blood streaking the under side of the cuff.

He touched it, then sniffed the tip of his finger.

"See, it's funny. Our medical examiner says Pham was murdered — bludgeoned with a brick — and you have blood on your sleeve."

TBC