Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii 5-0 or any of its character.
A/N: Sorry for the delay…I have an excuse but it's just not a very good one!
After about half an hour, the team set off to their positions again, hoping this time they'd be more successful.
Danny settled himself into a booth with a newspaper and a cup of coffee and prepared to wait. There was nobody else in the café except the waitress who worked away behind the counter not taking much notice of the blonde detective. Every so often she'd amble over to him and top up his cup of coffee and then head back in behind the counter.
After what felt like ten cups, Danny was rewarded with the arrival of Michael Chi; shortly followed by Tommy Benton. They didn't even look at each other. They just ordered their coffees and seat down; Chi towards the back of the coffee shop, while Benton sat at the counter. Danny sat covertly watching their every move, sending Steve a quick text.
They're here.
A minute later Tommy stood and walked to the restroom with Chi standing up shortly after, picking up the newspaper left at Tommy's place at the counter, throwing a few bills to the waitress and leaving the coffee shop.
Danny was torn between staying to track Tommy or follow Michael Chi. Quickly deciding to follow Chi, he sent Steve another text.
Following Chi. Tommy still here.
Handing the waitress a few bills, whispering croakily, "Keep the change." Danny hurried out the door; spotting Chi, he followed him down the street staying well back but still keeping his quarry in sight. Danny followed him for two blocks, and then saw him going down an alley but instead of following, he walked past the alley and walked on another bit. Turning around he walked slowly back the way he came. Strolling slowly past the alley way throwing veiled looks down to see was Michael anywhere. So preoccupied with the alley, he didn't notice Tommy coming up behind him. The first thing he knew that his cover was blown was when he felt the muzzle of a gun stuck into his back.
"Alright copper, no funny business. Just walk calmly down the alley. Don't be a hero."
"Alright, alright. No need to bruise me with the gun," Danny muttered quietly, pulling his hands out of his pockets, dropping his wallet as he started to walk down the alley.
As they walked, Danny spotted a navy SUV parked at the far end, idling.
"Ok get in", growled Tommy pushing Danny again in the back.
"Hey go easy, I'm moving," Danny replied in a whisper as again he felt the gun pushed into his back. He knew there was nothing he could do and just hoped Steve would see his wallet.
He climbed into the back of the SUV and promptly had a canvas bag put over his head. "Put your hands together in front of you copper," Tommy commanded. Danny did as he was told and felt the zip ties tighten around his wrists. He knew there was no hope of doing the "Jersey Slip" with these damn things. He couldn't figure out though how Tommy knew he was a cop, but felt he'd find out soon enough.
Steve had got to the coffee shop ten minutes after Danny had text him and looked around, but couldn't see Tommy. He strolled into the restrooms, no sign either. Eventually he walked up to the waitress, taking his phone out of one of his pockets.
"Excuse me ma'am, I'm with 5-0. Did you see this man here?" showing a picture of Tommy.
The waitress smiled at the strapping Commander, then turned her attention to the phone.
"Yeah I think so; he left a couple of minutes ago."
"And what about this one?" showing her a picture of Michael Chi.
She studied the picture closely for a couple of seconds. "Yeah he's gone a little while now, actually I think he walked in right behind the other guy, but they weren't together," she replied flashing the ex-SEAL a dazzling smile.
"Thank you ma'am," Steve said and turned to walk away but then decided to ask her another question. "Sorry, one more question. There was another man here too. Did you notice when he left?" showing the waitress a picture of Danny and himself smiling together with his arm loosely laid around Danny's shoulder.
The smile on her face disappeared instantly, typical she thought as she misread the relationship between the smiling pair in the photo. "Yeah, he left about ten minutes ago. He left behind the second guy you showed me. He didn't sound too well. Probably should be tucked up in bed. Could do with some TLC," she quipped and then turned back to her coffee pot.
"Huh?" Steve said looking blankly at her, but recovering himself quickly. Steve spoke her again, "Thanks for all your help. If you see either the first guy that left or the last guy, please call this number," and he handed her a card and left; wondering what she meant by her last comment.
The waitress took the card and nodded and then admired the view as the Commander walked out of the café, thinking to herself why were all the good looking ones unavailable…she was sure she could "change" him!
Once outside, Steve started to dial Danny's number but had second thoughts because his partner probably couldn't answer him, so he text instead.
Where u now?
He started down to the left, walking two blocks, scanning the area for either his partner or the two criminals. Just as he was going to head back he spotted something at the corner of the alleyway. Bending down he picked up a leather wallet, which looked unnervingly like Danny's. Opening it he saw a picture of Grace, he and Danny smiling back at him. He looked up and down the street, and then turned to look down the alley but saw no-one.
"Damn it Danny, where are you?" he said into the silence.