Cujo III – Reloaded – This Time It's Personal
Chapter 8
Here's the next. Thank you all so much for your response to the last chapter. There are references in this story to people or events in Cujo II but it's not at all necessary to read it first.
Imaginary Beta tried to weed out any errors but is never sure she caught them all. I hope she doesn't annoy you with her incompetence.
Disclaimer: I make zero money from this but have made a deal with ninja cats: if they stay off the keyboard and let me write, I will build them their own private fish pond and plant an acre of cat nip from my proceeds. Cats are apparently optimists and not very good at math - suckers.
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The Value of Communication
Sam Denning's virtues are many. He is intelligent, hard-working, well-spoken, ruggedly handsome, a sharp dresser and etcetera; but, despite all the attributes one could ascribe to the man, there was one that was lacking - patience.
Denning had been put in the infrequent position of being on the receiving end of what he usually dished out. The man he'd just spoken to, the C.E.O. of all things coffee, reasonably expected his operation in this state to run without any major hitches. The titanic-sized hitch vexing him right now was that several of his employees had been offed willy-nilly and there'd been no progress in solving the murders. The man was pissed and wasn't shy about letting the Governor of Hawaii know exactly what he thought of the state's law enforcement capability.
Denning was seething; and to say that he'd run out of something he hadn't much of to begin with would be understatement. He was in a very very bad mood and he felt the need to take this dark mood and share it.
Running a hand over his face as he tried to take a calming breath to lessen the chance of going up in an angry puff of smoke, he reached across his desk to punch the button on the intercom and growl, "Get me Five-0!"
….
Danny heard a familiar ringtone that wasn't his. Realizing Steve's phone was still in his pocket, he pulled it out and stifled a groan as he saw the display. There, staring back at him in all its electronic glory was a familiar face. Like Steve's official Navy photo that could be used to scare small children, Denning's, though a bit more artistically lit, could as well be used to frighten even not so small children. This conversation was not going to be at all fun.
Standing next to him was his partner who had a puzzled look on his face as he searched his pockets for his cell before remembering that Danny had taken custody of it. He held out his hand as the phone was quickly thrust toward him; the smug looking detective saying, "It's for you."
….
His human had left him again. If cats could be said to sigh in annoyance, that's what the little animal did.
He didn't like to be left alone – well, not in this way. He liked to be left alone as far as having to endure petting from the hands of those who had no permission to do so, (particularly the hands of the small humans which were usually sticky and smelled of all manner of things). He also didn't like to be alone in the hallway after being locked out of the room that had the large soft sleeping place in it. It bothered him immensely. What is all that noise about when his human and his female are in there?
Nope, sometimes he didn't like to be left alone.
This metal bed that usually sat on top of where there was sometimes hot food was just the right size in which to curl up. Sometimes, even though it was clean, it still smelled of delicious things. His human hadn't yet given up trying to make him stay out of it and he was very pleased to find it waiting for him when he'd jumped up to explore and had suddenly been overcome with the need for a nap. He was in the middle of a delicious dream of fat, slow-moving, mice; whiskers twitching and paws grabbing toward them in his sleep when there was a noise that woke him.
Hearing the front door open, he was instantly and fully alert; eyes wide and ears turned like pointed little radar dishes toward the sound. He quickly leapt out of the metal bed and ran to see who was entering his house. Skidding to a stop on the shiny ground, he waited for the door to unlock. As it slowly swung open he saw who it was and a low warning rumble came from his throat.
…..
Steve ended the call and blew out a breath. The headache that had finally started to abate was now back in full force.
Seeing the dark look on his partner's face, Danny felt almost apologetic for handing him the phone . . . almost.
If the idiot insists he's okay enough to be at work then he's okay enough to listen to our very likely unhappy Governor. This was one of those times he felt grateful to be only second in command. No, extremely grateful if the look on Steve's face was any indication. Danny concluded his prediction of the Governor's mood was correct as he listened to one side of the conversation which mostly consisted of tightly uttered 'yes sirs' and 'no sirs' and observed the SEAL's clenched jaw muscles and tense set of his shoulders as he listened with his eyes squeezed shut as though in pain.
"So, what does our esteemed employer have to say?" he asked as the tall man hit the 'end' button and jammed the phone into one of his many pockets before rubbing at his temples with both hands.
"Said if we don't find who's doing this and fast, we're outta work." answered the SEAL, sounding tired and annoyed.
"He's not serious." said Danny dismissively with an airy wave of his hand.
"Dunno man, he sounded pretty sincere. Apparently, the big kahuna of the coffee chain ripped him a new one and threatened to pull all the shops from the island."
"You know that's just an empty threat right?" replied the detective with a roll of his eyes, "The streets of Honolulu could be friggin' littered with the bodies of dead baristas but if there was the possibility of selling one more over-priced cup of coffee they'd never close up shop here."
"You're probably right but it's starting to put a dent in their sales which puts a dent in the funds from one of Denning's biggest supporters. You're probably also right about his threat being an empty one but I'd just as soon not have to listen to someone else ranting at me. I think you've got that pretty well covered."
"You're saying I rant?"
"Do I even have to say it?"
"I'm not ranting. I'm only pointing out to you how you can do things in a more civilized and acceptable manner."
"Yeah right." huffed the SEAL," And I suppose the volume at which this advice is dispensed and the many hand gestures that go with it are all part of making it a more memorable experience?"
"You do tend to pay more attention when those techniques are used, don't you?"
"Only when I can't block it out and your yelling isn't about to make my brain explode or make me want to beat the crap out of you."
"Steven, you don't realize how lucky you are. Not everyone has the type of friend who'll help one negotiate the vicissitudes of life."
"Vicissitudes? Really?" huffed the SEAL; his tone reminding the blonde that the 'word of the day' vocabulary building exercise greatly annoyed him at the moment.
Ignoring it, the detective continued in a purposely condescending tone, "I know that mammal to mammal communication is not one of your natural skills so I help out when I can", adding, "No, no, you don't have to thank me Steven." then flicking his hand as if to dismiss the attempt.
"Yeah, don't worry about me thanking you and those natural skills are going to be of help when I've had enough of your bullshit and decide to clobber your ass."
"Don't be so sure it will be that easy Rambo and I'll have you know there are admirers of my ass who wouldn't appreciate it being damaged. They think it's quite attractive as a matter of fact and have told me so very recently at the office."
"Yeah, like who?" asked the tall man in disbelief, "The only one outside the team I've seen you in conversation with in the office lately is the governor's aide . . . and he's a guy."
"No, not him, I'm afraid he's your fan my fine macho friend. He was only inquiring as to your availability and if it wasn't for my informing him he had no chance of seducing you: A – because you're straight and B – because Catherine would kick his ass if he so much as looked in your direction . . . you'd have been fighting for your virtue."
Steve only frowned at his friend. "Wait! You're saying the guy has the hots for me?"
Trying to suppress a smile, the detective asked, "Haven't you noticed him lingering a bit longer than necessary when he stops by to drop off Denning's requisition approvals?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah I guess, but I thought he was interested in Lori or Kono."
"So when he asks if there's anything else he can do for you when he's probably not asked anyone that question in the history of the governor's term of office – you didn't think it was a little suspicious?"
"No, of course not. I thought he was just being helpful." said McGarrett starting to look a bit anxious.
Shaking his head at the denseness of a guy who had an I.Q. that would put most people to shame but whose skills in human interaction were seriously lacking replied, "You have got to be the most clueless human being on the face of the earth, other than maybe Michelle Bachman."
Danny was happy to see the flush creep up his partner's neck as his face took on a sort of queasy, dismayed, worried look.
"Oh God." murmured the SEAL
"What?"
"I think maybe I have a date with Dave Matsui."
"What!"
"Well, he asked for advice on firearms. He said that Rick, Denning's regular bodyguard, was going to be taking a few days off and he didn't know if he trusted his replacement to keep the Governor safe. Said he wanted to learn how to maximize his accuracy with the gun he just bought if something came up. I agreed to meet him at the gun range on Tuesday and then he said he was gonna take me to lunch to pay me back."
Once again, Detective Danny Williams had occasion to double over in laughter as Chin and Kono stared at him in puzzlement.
Commander Steven McGarrett, once again, had occasion to wonder how his life had ever become such a fucking disaster. Maybe Danny is right about the communication stuff. He just wanted to go lie down in a dark place somewhere and pull the covers over his head and make it all go away. His headache was now twelve on a scale of ten.
"What's going on boss? You look kinda queasy, you okay?" asked Kono as she came up to the two men; one laughing his ass off and the other looking as though he was about to put a stop to it.
"I'm fine, let's go over the scene again. We have a murderer to catch." barked Steve as he stalked off, Danny happily trailing behind him.
…
The killer had once again left no clues. There weren't any footprints or tire tracks. The only possible witness had been seriously stoned and for all that it mattered could have seen the Easter bunny climbing back up the slope. In frustration, the tall man kicked at a rock and sent it tumbling down the hill to the parking lot below.
Standing with hands on hips, he looked down the slope at the large strip mall that bordered the industrial park; eyes roving over the various businesses occupying the concrete and glass scar on the landscape. There was something trying to get his attention. Something he couldn't quite bring to the front of his aching head.
"Chin!" he exclaimed, "See if you can pull up information on the locations of those other murders and find out what other kinds of businesses were in the area."
"You on to something?" asked the Hawaiian detective
"Maybe."
….
She'd come by to pick up the rest of her things. The last couple of nights had been spent at her new place but she realized she hadn't taken the box of inexpensive costume jewelry with her. Doris had a date tonight and didn't have time to go all the way back home before the time she'd agreed to meet her date at the restaurant. She'd have to take her shower and get dressed here and get that pair of rhinestone earrings that went so well with tonight's outfit. There were also a few things in the kitchen she needed to pick up. Steve had been packing up whatever pots and pans she'd not yet taken. Why ever did she buy that cast iron dutch oven? The thing was fucking heavy and she'd never even used it anyway. Maybe she'd let him keep it.
As she opened the door, the cat was sitting there as though guarding the place.
"So", said Doris McGarrett with a smirk, "We meet again."
The cat said nothing.
"Why don't you just let me by and I'll be out of your way soon enough?" she said as she sidled carefully past him.
He growled warningly.
"You know, that I'm bigger than you are, right?" she laughed
The cat neither confirmed nor denied the statement.
"Okay, how about this? If you don't let me by, I'm gonna kick your furry little ass."
…
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Besides, he was sneaky enough to get another shot at the tall female. He just had to be patient.
Finding the door open a crack, he hooked his paw through and pulled it open wide enough to slip into the room.
She was once again standing in front of the other female who looked back at her. It was strange how they seemed to move at exactly the same time and did exactly the same things.
Silently, he crept closer. Revenge would soon be his. He was almost in position to launch his attack when he saw it. Immediately, his heart began to race and he barely kept himself from voicing an exited chirp. The box of wonderful things is open!
It sat on the huge box that had many smaller boxes that fit into it. He'd explored its top many times but the dark wooden box that sat upon it was never open. She'd just picked up a thing that sparkled like the sun on the water and fastened it to her ear as he'd seen her do before. The other female in front of her did the same. Turning to pick up a bristly thing from the cloth sack behind her that had been laid on the sleeping place; she ran it through the long fur on her head. Perhaps now she was distracted enough for him to make his move.
"No you don't you little thief!" yelled Doris when almost faster than the eye could register, Cujo, in a sort of feline drive-by, snatched up an earring and disappeared under the bed with it.
"Give it back!" she said kneeling beside the bed and lifting the bedskirt. She spotted the cat just out of reach, the earring clutched possessively between his paws and a look on his face that said MINE!
Cujo growled in warning. The sparkly thing is his now. The tall female wasn't going to get it back!
"Okay you evil little creature, you wanna play rough with me?" she said in what the cat recognized as a return growl. Rising and going to the dresser, she picked up the atomizer of Chanel No. 5 and crept back to the bed.
Once again kneeling and pulling back the bedding, she said, "Last chance cat. You want to give it back?"
Cujo only stared back insolently. He knew the female couldn't reach him. He growled another warning just to reinforce his intent to keep his new toy.
"Alright, you asked for it!" she growled and with that, thrust a thing toward him and from it sprayed the most awful smell he had ever smelled in his life! It filled his nose and stung his eyes! It was worse than the time that strange two-colored animal with the fluffy tail had sprayed him! This was awful!
The cat, gagging and coughing streaked out from under the bed and out the door.
"Stupid cat!" muttered Doris as she fetched a coat hanger to reach under the bed to pull the earring out. "That'll teach you to mess with me! All McGarrett's aren't foolish enough to put up with your crap!" she called out toward where the cat had disappeared into the hallway.
….
He watched the others in the shop. Smiling to himself, he noted that it wasn't as crowded as it should be at this hour. There were one or two couples actually engaged in conversation in the cozy arrangements of leatherette chairs. Several individuals sat at the one long table fitted with convenient electrical outlets for their adapters or chargers and there were others who sat at the small individual tables scattered about.
All had heads buried in laptops; faces glued to electronic displays of information on smart phones or notebooks; eyes tracking lines of text on their tablets, some moving their lips and scrolling up or down for better comprehension. More than half of them even had earbuds sunk into the sides of their heads; feet tapping or head bobbing to a beat only they could hear. Some even hummed off key.
As he tried not to look at them he could feel his skin begin to prickle as his face flushed with the rise in his blood pressure. Taking a deep breath to regain composure he opened the pages in front of him and reveled in the scent of ink; the scent of glue used in the binding; the sensuous feel of the paper. Something wondrous and filled with knowledge for the taking was in his hands and it was available only a few feet but worlds away from this glass and chrome human parking lot for those attached to their electronic devices. They were such idiots to eschew the rapturous tactile sense of an actual book rather than a virtual one; the nearly orgasmic smell and feel of it. These poor clueless people had so very much to learn.
He was going to teach them.
*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0* Hawaii 5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*
Next chapter isn't even a twinkle in Cujo's eye but will try to update within a week.
Comments would be lovely if you'd care to share.