Here's a nice long chapter. I owe you one. :-)
"Who the hell are you?" Danny straightened himself, studying the man before him.
"Who do you think I am?" The stranger grinned. He spun around, doing a strange little dance. Then he cracked Danny over the head with a gun he had tucked in his belt. "Why I'm the one who set this all in motion. The mastermind. The boss. Call me what you will."
Danny fought to stay conscious. And this new bit of information was confusing, disconcerting. "You? Vitor's boss?"
"Now you're getting it." The man laughed. "Russian mobsters are always a good front. An easy one too."
"You're insane. Vitor was no joke." Danny let his head rest to one side.
"Oh I know that. But. You find the right things to dangle over someone's head. They'll do anything for you."
Danny began to piece things together. "So he was trying to get away from you by moving in on the games here."
"That's right. You certainly are a good detective. Too bad." He punched Danny. "Too bad you had to ruin my brother. He was never the same. Always worried. Paranoid. A fucking joke."
The man twirled around again before punching his prisoner – hard. This time the hit landed square in Danny's chest, knocking the wind out of him. He wheezed and groaned not hiding his discomfort. It really didn't matter how tough he pretended to be. What kind of show he put on. At that moment, he could not breathe. And he was having trouble wrapping his mind around what the lunatic before him was saying.
/././
Steve pulled the oxygen mask from his face. He felt stronger, but nowhere near 100%. Yet only one thing concerned him. Danny.
"Chin." Steve reached for his friend. "The neighbor's house."
Just then, Kono popped her head into the back of the ambulance. "Hey boss, you okay?"
He nodded weakly. "Danny?"
She bowed her head, averting her eyes.
Steve didn't know what to say next. And the rush of emotion trapped his next breath in his throat. Despite another coughing fit, he sat up, pushing Chin and the tech away.
"No sign of Danny." Kono recovered, doing her best to keep a straight face. "HPD is pouring over your house now."
"Okay, okay, good." Steve realized he was mumbling but he had one thing on his mind. Check the vacant house. He held on to that one hope.
Chin sensed his friend's idea. "I'll go with you, Steve."
Nodding, Steve stood up, covering a wobble by grabbing anything he could for support. His head throbbed and his chest was tight. He'd need that oxygen again before long. But first – Danny.
Once his feet hit the ground, he was back. He felt strong. Jogging the short distance, he realized he didn't have a weapon. He looked over his shoulder at Chin who immediately realized Steve's hesitation.
Handing his friend his spare gun, Chin took point.
/././
"No, I don't need the Russian mob to do my dirty work." The man paced the room, rambling. His voice was like knives sharpening. "No- they were just a cover. They wanted to have some fun. I let them."
Danny twisted his hands, hoping to find some room to move. His sprained wrist throbbed, the fingers on that side going numb. The straps were tight, too tight, digging into his skin. He'd be bloody soon if he kept this up. He decided he preferred duct tape.
Another quick and unexpected slap across the face stopped his mind from wandering. He blinked back hot tears. That one stung. And split open his cheek.
"And your nephew was an unexpected bonus. When I heard he was in over his head, well, I couldn't help but get involved." He all but giggled. "I've always liked E-train. The boy's got possibilities."
Danny couldn't hide his surprise.
"Yes, that's right. I know Eric." The man sneered and for a split second, Danny thought he recognized the voice. "That's right, Detective Williams. I know your entire family. Remember that."
/./././
"The house is empty, Steve." Chin and Steve stood in the large open living room. "No one's been here since the shoot out. The crime scene tape hasn't even been disturbed."
Hands on his hips, the Seal was in denial. "I was so sure."
Chin nodded, feeling the same sense of futility. But he fought against it, choosing to follow the next logical step. "We should get over to headquarters. Max called me right before I found you. He has some info on Danny's friend from Jersey."
"Danny's friend?" Steve blinked back an unexpected wave of nausea.
Chin caught the flinch, worry stirring in his chest. But he continued the conversation like any other day. "Jimmy, the restaurant owner. The poker games."
Steve ran a hand through his hair. "Oh yea, right."
"Steve, you sure you're up for this?"
"Danny's out there somewhere, Chin."
That was all he needed to say.
/./././
"You really didn't help my brother, you know." Danny's captor paused at the windows every now and then. "In fact, you made his life more difficult, miserable. Took him a while to get the business up and running again."
He smashed Danny across the face with his gun. His head hit the wall, and he saw not only stars but whole galaxies. Blinking back tears, he just focused on the voice.
"It was never the same. He couldn't keep up with the new guys. He lost his edge. We were losing money. "
"What the hell are you talking about?" Danny tried to focus but between the searing pain in his head and the blood in his eyes, he couldn't see much at all. "Do I know you?"
"Sure you do." The man leaned closer. The strong cologne he wore almost made Danny puke. He slapped Danny. "Take a good look."
"Still got nothin."
Another slap. "You're telling me you don't recognize little Joey Franklin?"
Danny's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed hard, trying to hide the acknowledgement. But Joey caught the flinch and then dragged Danny and the chair into the center of the room.
"See, you do know me. I knew you would. That's why I had to take care of this myself. All the rest has been window dressing. A tease for the final bout." He circled his prey.
Smart ass Danny made another unfortunate appearance. "Well, it's not much of a fight with my hands tied behind my back."
"Tough guy. Smart ass. Yea, I know your type." Joey chuckled, hands on Danny's shoulders, breathing on the back of his neck. "I like it. Makes it easier for me to hurt you."
Then he was in Danny's face again. Huge toothy grin. Danny wanted to tell Joey he really should try whitening his smile. A crazed mastermind should look his best. But he kept his mouth shut, knowing any more wise cracks would just add to his pain.
As if Joey could read his mind, he struck Danny hard, twice in the gut. Then he slammed a size 12 boot into the detective's right knee, and Danny let out a yelp he wished he could take back. The look of sheer delight on Joey's face was frightening.
"I used to look up to guys like you. Cops. Then you wrecked everything."
Danny fought to remain calm, let alone conscious. He did know Joey Franklin. Moreover, he knew his brother Jimmy. Or he thought he did. He thought he had helped Jimmy all those years ago, busting up those backroom poker games. Turns out he was wrong. So wrong.
"And of course, you got Jimmy killed." Joey grabbed Danny by the hair and yanked his head back. He ran his fingers across Danny's neck, ever so softly. "It would be so easy to cut you. Watch you bleed. They say revenge is best served cold." He stopped and laughed. "No, oh no, revenge is best when it's warm and bloody."
Danny closed his eyes and slowed his breath. His heart rate was off the charts. Those long thin fingers skimming his neck were like nails on a chalkboard.
"You don't have anything to say about my brother? Gee, I thought you two were besties once." Joey gave Danny a good shake before releasing him.
"How did he die?" Danny closed his eyes. He could barely get the words out.
"You think I killed him, don't you?" Joey walked to the corner of the room, his back to Danny. "Wasn't me. I may have given things a bit of a nudge. But it was a group of neighborhood punks. Trying to make a name for themselves."
Danny didn't know how he was going to get out of this. Pushing that thought away, he steeled himself for what ever would come next.
"It's all your fault, Detective Williams. All your fault. And you will pay."
Joey took a knife from his pocket and sliced Danny's face. Slowly, carefully tracing the line of his cheekbone.
Pain was a funny thing. And right then, it did more to wake him up than scare him. Everything zoomed into focus.
He had to get out of there. He was losing ground.
Where was his damn partner?
/././
Max met Steve and Chin at the glass doors. They were waiting for him.
"Commander McGarrett – Steve - are you sure you're alright?" With a nod from Steve, the ME continued. "I received the toxicology reports this morning for Danny's friend. And I dare say they are a bit disconcerting."
"Disconcerting? How so, Max?"
"While they show the restaurant owner was indeed murdered, the actual cause of death must be called into question. Quite severely."
"What is it you are trying to say, Max?" Steve's voice growing more impatient. Sweat beaded on his brow. "Does this have anything to do with Danny?"
"Honestly, I cannot say anything regarding how this matter pertains to Danny's disappearance – not logically anyway. I could surmise that somehow his involvement with the deceased may have set off this recent chain of events. But. I can say, those boys who were arrested for the murder of Jimmy Franklin only partly contributed to his death. One could say they finished the job."
"Well, what started it?"
"Yea, come on, Max, spit it out."
"Jimmy Franklin was most definitely poisoned."
/././
Somehow, Danny found his voice. "So this is all about revenge?"
Joey chuckled. "Call it a game of chance if you will."
He walked around behind Danny. Not being able to see Joey was unnerving.
"Chances are, you could have died in that box. You didn't. But wasn't it fun? Something you can tell your daughter all about?"
This made Danny grit his teeth as anger boiled in his chest. Grace.
"Oh yes, I know you have a daughter. Grace. What a lovely specimen."
He wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut.
"You and your partner could have been killed by my Russian attack dogs. You weren't."
Danny listened and waited. He could feel every cell in his body shouting at him to escape and do it now. There was just no way out.
"See I like the old adage. What is it now?" Joey was suddenly in front of him; hand on his chin, chewing on a manicured fingernail. "Ah yes. It goes something like this – third time's a charm."
Danny pushed every bit of emotion down into his chest. He would not let Joey get the best of him. Even if he did kill him right then and there. No, he would go out on his terms.
And then he heard something that frightened him worse than his own death.
"You killed my brother, so I killed yours."
/././
"Poisoned, Max?" Steve was out of breath. He had to hold on to his desk. Chin noticed but didn't make a move just yet. "With what?"
Max double checked the paper in his hand. "I have been unable to identify the exact agent, though its effects are evident."
"You don't have any idea what it is?" Steve was visibly shaking.
"I hesitate to answer that question without further chemical analysis. Steve-" Max narrowed his eyes, studying the man in front of him with concern. "I wish I had better news for you."
Steve slid into his chair, eyes closed. "Okay, Max. Thank you. Good work."
His voice faded to a whisper, face had gone pale.
"Steve?" Now Chin was at his side, trying to make eye contact but his friend was dazed and unfocused.
Max grabbed Steve's arm, checking his pulse. "Commander McGarrett? Are you alright?"
Didn't say it wasn't a cliffie too. ;-)