Thank you all so much for the incredible reviews. You were all so kind that I'm actually giving you another double chapter today. To make up the difference I wrote several new scenes for Chapter 5. I am so inspired by writing with Mari and ilna in The Real World universe that apparently I can't stop adding to fics even when I think they're complete. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!
Obsession
Apartment of Jack Fitzsimmons
Wednesday 12:40 P.M.
Danny was pacing nervously in front of the apartment building where Jack Fitzsimmons lived, under the awning in an effort to escape the continuing rain, when his partner's blue Silverado pulled up and took a space close to the door. As Steve got out and jogged towards him Danny took a deep breath and fortified himself for what he was about to do.
He had spent the last half hour rehearsing various ways of breaking the news to Steve that Jack Fitzsimmons was not only a suspect in the brutal slaughter in the warehouse but he was apparently also the man who had been sending Catherine gifts. And that on top of that had been following her all over the island taking her picture without her knowledge.
The revelation had chilled Danny to the bone. There was no doubt in his mind its effect on his best friend would be a hundred times worse.
"What'd you find?" Steve asked as her shook off the raindrops. Danny opened his mouth to speak but then realized there no words that could soften the news. Steve simply had to see for himself.
Steve could tell by Danny's reaction to the question, the way his face stayed tight and without a hint of a smile, the way his partner couldn't quite meet his eyes, that something was very wrong. "Danny?"
"You're gonna have to see it." Danny turned on his heels and started into the building without another word. Steve followed with a growing sense of unease. It was a never a good sign when Danny had nothing to say.
"What is it?" Steve tried again.
"It's just … I can't … It's really best if you see for yourself."
They entered the building and crossed the carpeted floor of the lobby in silence. Danny pressed the up button on the elevator and stared at the doors, waiting. His posture was stiff and his gaze was focused forward, not glancing at his curious partner to his right.
Finally Steve couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"What's going on, Danny? What'd you find?" he asked impatiently.
The elevator doors opened and the two men stepped in. Danny pressed the button for the third floor and waited until the doors closed before continuing.
"Nothing to do with the murders … well at least not at first glance … but we may have found some information on … well on … something else we've been dealing with."
"Why are you talking in riddles all the sudden?"
"I told you, Steve," Danny said in a clipped tone. "You need to see it."
The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. The two men stepped out and crossed the hall to the doorway of Fitzsimmons' apartment. Danny paused with his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.
"You need to promise me you're going to keep your head. That you won't go all SEAL crazy."
"Danny …" Steve couldn't imagine what could be in that apartment causing this kind of reaction from his partner.
"I'm serious, Steve."
Something in Danny's tone told Steve that they weren't going anywhere until he agreed. At this point he just wanted to get inside and see what had Danny so rattled.
"Ok. You have my word. I'll keep my head."
"Ok. Good. Just remember you said that."
Steve followed Danny through the apartment, taking notice of the fact that it was very clean, almost unnaturally so. There wasn't an item out of place. The magazines on the coffee table were perfectly aligned and the books on the shelves were arranged by height.
When they reached the room in the back Danny took one last look at his best friend then opened the door and stepped in. Steve followed.
A second later Danny heard an audible gasp from behind him. He turned around, bracing himself for Steve's reaction.
"What the…." Steve stood frozen in place, his spine straight, his jaw clenched, as he looked around in disbelief. His head turned as though on a swivel. Danny could hear his heavy controlled breathing from five feet away.
Steve walked very slowly and deliberately towards the far wall, taking it all in.
"This guy has been … how did he … "
Danny stood back and gave Steve a minute to process what he was seeing.
Steve studied the pictures one by one, trying to ascertain when and where each one was taken. "Are you saying this guy is the one who's been sending Catherine all the … the flowers … and the balloons …"
"It looks that way," Danny said as calmly as he possibly could. He knew he needed to stay in control for both Steve's sake and Catherine's.
Steve pulled out his phone without taking his eyes off the wall of pictures.
"Who are you calling?"
"Catherine."
"Don't … wait … we've got this, Steve. Chin is on his way to pick her up her right now. She's still at HPD. She's safe."
"You're sure?" Steve spun towards Danny.
"Yes."
"Tell me you're positive, Danny." Steve's tone and demeanor were deadly calm but Danny knew his partner was anything but. He was seconds away from exploding.
"I'm positive." Danny said confidently, though his assurance didn't make Steve relax at all. "Besides, this is something you … we … need to talk to her about face to face. Telling her over the phone … let's not do that. You need a few minutes to … get your thoughts together before you tell her anything."
"I'm fine." Steve insisted.
"You are the exact opposite of fine."
"You're sure someone we trust has eyes on her?" Steve demanded.
"Yes. Chin's meeting her at HPD. He called and asked her not to leave till he gets there. Then he called Duke and asked him to make sure Catherine stays in the building. He's gonna take her back to HQ and meet us there."
"She doesn't know about any of this?"
"Not yet. Chin's not gonna say anything till we get there."
Steve continued to stare unblinking at the pictured covering the walls. "How did this guy even … I mean has he even ever met … has he ever had any contact with Catherine?"
"I don't know. Chin's gonna pull a driver's license photo as soon as he gets back to the office. We can show it to Catherine … see if she knows the guy."
Something caught Steve's eye and he moved towards the desk in the corner of the room. He reached out slowly towards an item lying on top of a pile of what appeared to be trash.
Suddenly the air in the room was even more charged with tension. Danny could see his partner's shoulders tense and his fist clench.
When Steve turned back towards Danny, his jaw clamped tightly, his face a mask of rage, he held a small, dented white pastry box with Rita's Sweet Shoppe printed on the lid. Danny stepped closer and saw the name S. McGarrett scrawled on the top in black marker.
"What?" Danny asked.
"This guy has been to our house," Steve spat out angrily. "He's gone through our trash."
"How do you know?"
"This … I threw it in the garbage myself. At home."
Danny's stomach dropped. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. I called Rita's last week and ordered Catherine one of her favorite red velvet cupcakes. I knew the Terriaga case had been a tough one for her and I wanted to get her a little treat." Steve's voice was rising with every word. "When I got there it was waiting for me." He thrust the container towards his partner. "My name was written on the lid. See?"
Danny's own jaw tightened as the implications of what Steve was saying became clear.
"I threw this is the garbage when I put the cupcake on a plate to surprise her. This guy has to have been to our house."
"Steve, we'll get him." Danny put a calming hand on Steve's forearm.
"Damn right we will. Do you have pictures of all this?"
"Yes."
"Then let's let CSU handle cataloging it all. I want to get back to HQ and see Catherine."
Five-O Headquarters
Wednesday 1:30 P.M.
Steve strode quickly into headquarters with Danny close behind and immediately called for Catherine. He wasn't going to be satisfied until he saw for himself that she was safe.
"Catherine!"
He tried with limited success to keep the panic out of his voice.
"Catherine!"
"I'm here," she said with a smile as she walked out of Chin's office. "What's going on? Chin hasn't let me out of his sight since he came and got me at HPD. "
Steve crossed to where she was standing in three long strides and wrapped her in his arms. He hugged her tightly, uncharacteristic behavior for the office, and kissed the top of her head.
Catherine pulled back and gave him a questioning look when she heard his heart pounding in his chest. "Steve, what's going on?
She looked past him to Danny and Chin who both wore grim expressions.
"Are you ok?" Steve asked, looking her over.
"I'm fine." Catherine tried desperately to get a feel for what was going on and why all three men were acting so strange.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she assured him, "except for the fact that you're scaring me."
Steve gave her another quick hug then took her hand and tugged her towards the smart table where Danny was uploading the pictures he'd taken at Fitzsimmons' apartment.
"Jack Fitzsimmons," he said tightly as Chin swiped his picture up onto the overhead screen. "Have you ever met him?"
Catherine studied the picture. "Not that I know of."
"Think carefully. Have you had any contact with him at all?"
"Not that I remember." Catherine looked at Steve. "What's this about?"
"This is important, Cath," Steve said urgently. "Look closely. Do you know him from anywhere? Maybe not even work. Have you seen him around? At the gym? When you go running?"
Catherine looked again. She could feel the tension rolling off Steve in waves and knew that for some reason this was important to him.
"I really don't think I've ever met him," she said again.
Steve looked at Danny and Danny began to swipe the pictures he'd taken in the back room of Jack Fitzsimmons' apartment up on to the overheads.
Catherine looked at the screens. Her mouth dropped open. She froze for a minute, and then swayed slightly. Steve reached out his hand to steady her then took a step closer to offer a higher level of support, both physical and emotional.
"What … " she looked from Steve to Danny to Chin with a questioning look. "What is this?"
"The back room in Fitzsimmons' apartment." Danny stuck to the basics, not wanting to overload her with info until she'd had a few minutes to wrap her mind around what she was seeing. "This is exactly how Chin and I found it."
Catherine looked back to the screens and stared in disbelief. Her posture was rigid and she was taking deep breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth to try to stay calm. "Why has he been taking pictures of me?"
"We don't know," Danny answered honestly. "It looks like he's been stalking you for quite a while."
"How many pictures are there?" she asked in a trembling voice.
"Hundreds," Steve said solemnly. "But it's not just the pictures, Cath."
"What do you mean?" her eyes remained glued to the screens.
"He's been to our house."
Catherine's head snapped towards her Steve, eyes wide. "What?"
"I found the Rita's box from last week's cupcake in his apartment. He had to have taken it out of our trash can."
"Are you sure it was our box?"
"It had my name on top."
"What's going on here?" Catherine asked as her eyes were drawn back to the screen.
"I don't know," Steve said tightly. "But I'm not gonna rest till I find out."
Despite the gravity of the situation Catherine had to smile slightly at the determination in his words. That was her Steve. And she had doubt he would do exactly that.
"In the meantime, Catherine," he reached out, took her hand and squeezed it, "you go absolutely nowhere alone until we get Fitzsimmons in custody."
"Steve," Catherine started to protest.
"No," he cut her off with a tone that made it very clear he was not negotiating on this matter. "I know you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself but this guy is bad news. Are you forgetting the three mutilated bodies in the warehouse?"
Catherine opened her mouth to object then quickly decided against it.
"No," she acquiesced.
"This isn't about me being over-protective. This is about me," Steve pointed to Danny and Chin, "us … being smart. This guy is obsessed with you. So until we have him locked up you're with me or Danny or Chin or Kono when she gets back. And I'm gonna talk to Duke about getting around the clock protection from an HPD team as well."
Catherine looked again at the pictures from Fitzsimmons' apartment and the implication of what they meant hit her like a ton of bricks. "Okay."
Steve squeezed her hand again. "I mean it, Catherine. I'm serious about this."
Their eyes locked and she could see his fear for her safety reflected there. "I know you are."
"Alright," Chin said, "I'm gonna tear this guy's life apart brick by brick. By the time I'm done we'll know everything there is to know about Jack Fitzsimmons."
"Thanks, Chin." Steve's eyes were drawn back to the pictures on the screens. There was something about them that bothered him but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"I'm gonna check in with Charlie and see if there's anything in the stuff we found at the apartment to give us a clue as to where this guy might be," Danny said, needing to feel like he was doing something productive.
"I guess I'll go search my files to see if I ever came in contact with this guy that I don't remember," Catherine said, taking one last look at the pictures before turning her back to them.
"Check your Navy Intel records as well," Steve suggested.
"Ok but that might take a while."
"Take as long as you need." Steve pulled her into another hug that she gratefully returned. "Will you be ok without me for a little bit?"
"I'll be fine. But where are you going?" she asked.
"I wanna go over to HPD and pull everything they have on Jack Fitzsimmons and any accomplices he might have," Steve said, moving into planning mode. "I'm not waiting for them to do it. I want the files now." He pulled back, leaving his arms around her waist. "I'll be back as soon as I can. If you find anything, or if you need anything at all while I'm gone, call me."
"I will," she assured him.
"I want you to stay here until I get back. Chin will be here … "
"I won't go anywhere. I promise."
"Thank you. That's all I ask." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, letting his lips linger for a few seconds, then pulled back and headed for the door. "I'll be back before you know it."
Five-O Headquarters
Friday Noon
Over the last two days the team had talked to everyone they could identify who had known, or had any contact with, Jack Fitzsimmons since his arrival on the island. They re-interviewed his boss and his co-workers. They talked to his landlord and his neighbors. They found out that he was a regular churchgoer and they talked to his minister and members of the congregation where he attended services weekly. Absolutely no one had anything negative to say about the man who had been a newcomer to the island, arriving only a year before.
He was described as quiet, kind, helpful, loyal. No one interviewed had even the slightest hint that something so dark was lurking inside him.
The team went through HPD's records with a fine toothed comb looking for any contact Jack Fitzsimmons may have had with local law enforcement. As far as they could tell there was only one interaction and it was a strange one.
He had walked into the police station and attempted to file a report of a burglary. He said that nothing was missing from his apartment but he could tell that someone has been in there because things were moved around. The officer on duty took the report and told him to call back if anything else happened but there was really nothing they could do about the situation he described.
Danny contacted authorities in New Mexico, where Fitzsimmons had lived previously, and asked for any information they might have that could help with the case. Local law enforcement had no records of contact with him at aside from a few parking citations.
He had worked for 8 years at a company called McPherson Manufacturing. His boss told Danny during a phone interview that not only had Fitzsimmons not been a discipline problem on the job, the man had been sorry to see him go. Fitzsimmons was one of the best, most reliable employees he'd ever had. He promised to send along Fitzsimmons' employment records but assured Danny he wouldn't find anything amiss.
To this point they had found absolutely nothing that would indicate this man would be involved in either something as gruesome as murder or as sinister as stalking.
Everywhere Catherine went someone was with her. She understood why Steve, and the entire team, was so worried but she was feeling stifled. She had gone over and over her files looking for any place where her path might have crossed with Jack Fitzsimmons.
She couldn't find anything.
She wanted a break.
"Hey Steve," she said as she poked her head into his office. "I need to go pick up a few things."
"Who's going with you? I'm waiting for a call from Max but I can take it in the car if you need me to go," he offered, looking up.
"I'm just making a quick run to the drug store," Catherine sighed. "I'll be fine. It's broad daylight."
"I don't care," Steve said definitively. "You're not going anywhere alone. We have no idea where Fitzsimmons is and until we do you need to have someone with you at all times."
"I need to go to the drugstore to pick up some personal items," Catherine said testily. "Kono isn't here and I don't really feel like asking anyone else to trail along while I pick up tampons and birth control pills."
"If you don't want one of us to go with you call HPD and ask them to send over a unit."
"Are you kidding me?" Catherine's voice elevated. "I can make a simple run to the drugstore."
"You can, yes, but you aren't going to. At least not alone."
"I've had just about enough of this. I'm going to the drugstore. Alone."
"No, you're not." Steve tried to remain calm but his voice was rising to match hers. He knew she was frustrated. He understood she felt smothered. But he wasn't willing to take any chances with her safety.
Danny heard the raised voices in Steve's office and headed in that direction. Catherine had been growing increasingly frustrated with her constant protection detail and Danny knew it was just a matter of time till her emotions boiled over.
"Hey, what's going on," he said as he entered, trying to ignore the tension that was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"Nothing," Catherine said, lowering her voice as she realized Danny had heard her angry words.
"Catherine wants to go the drugstore by herself." Steve ratted her out.
"That's a bad idea," Danny said, turning to Catherine.
"Sure, take his side." Catherine came dangerously close to a pout, which was a sure indicator of just how tired and frustrated she was.
Catherine was not a pouter.
"I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm thinking of your safety," Danny said firmly.
Steve and Catherine stared at one another, each digging in their heels.
Danny decided to take control before things got any worse. "I'm heading out to pick up some lunch. We can carpool."
"I guess I have no choice," Catherine said angrily. "I'll grab my purse."
She left Steve's office and headed for her own.
"She's a little testy," Danny said.
"She'll get over it." Steve watched her until she disappeared into her own office.
"You need to try to see her side here, Steve. She didn't do anything wrong … but she feels like she's the one being punished."
"I know," Steve acknowledged.
"She's used to being the one doing the protecting; not the one being protected."
Steve sighed. "I'm not giving in here, Danny. This is about her life."
"I get that. And you know what … deep down she gets that. But it doesn't make it any easier."
"I'm sorry. I know she hates this. But we can't let our guard down."
"I agree. I've got your back on this."
"Thanks.
"All I'm saying is … you might want to be a little more … let's say sensitive … to where Catherine is coming from."
"So you're saying I owe her an apology?" Steve winced slightly.
"A little one, yes."
"Do you want me to go with her?"
"No, I'll go." Danny smirked. "I need to give her the 'he's just worried about you' version of the speech."
Steve smiled. "You missed your calling. You should have been a mediator."
"It's never too late," Danny grinned. "I bet they get shot at less often."
"Maybe, but you'd miss me too much."
"If you say so."
Danny looked up and saw Catherine waiting by the door, purse over her shoulder, arms crossed over her chest.
"OK, we're outta here. Wish me luck. I won't let her out of my sight. I promise."
"Thanks, Danny. Really."
"Any time. Somebody has to keep you from screwing things up with the best thing that ever happened to you."
Steve smiled as Danny went out to meet Catherine. He watched from his desk as the two of them left then picked up his phone and made a quick call.
Danny's Camaro
En route to CVS
Friday 12:15 P.M.
Danny drove the streets in silence, letting Catherine stew for a few minutes so she could burn off some of her anger. She sat in the passenger's seat, staring out the windshield, arms crossed over her chest, purse in her lap, frowning.
Danny knew her anger was misdirected. Catherine took a tremendous amount of pride in being able to take care of herself. Steve took that same level of pride and had no doubt that in most situations she could handle herself against any enemy. Danny knew the same, as did everyone on the team. But this situation was different. They'd all seen the carnage inside that warehouse. And if the man who had anything to do with that was after Catherine, there was no way Steve, or any of them, were willing to take any chances.
"I know you hate this." Danny broke the silence.
"But I have no say in anything anymore so who cares," Catherine snotted.
Danny smiled. "Wow."
"What?" Catherine turned her head to look at him and if looks could kill …
"You've been spending too much time with Grace."
"What are you talking about?"
"You sounded just like her there for a minute. Of course she's 11 so a certain amount of 'life isn't fair' is to be expected from her."
"Very funny." Catherine went back to staring out the window but couldn't hide the small smile on her face as she turned her head.
Danny was happy to see that she had at least stopped clutching her purse strap and was beginning to relax just a little.
He decided to make his pitch.
"He's just worried you know. I don't blame him."
"I can take care of myself," Catherine insisted.
"There were three men in that warehouse, Catherine. You saw what happened to them. I know you're the Ramboette but … no offense … whatever did that to them … you couldn't stop by yourself."
Catherine looked at him and huffed.
"Do I have to put you in a time out, young lady?" He raised his eyebrows and she laughed out loud.
"Don't make me laugh. I'm trying to be mad."
"No, you're not."
"I'm not?"
"Nope. You're frustrated. And tired. And stressed. And maybe a little scared. And all of that is building up inside you and coming out as anger at Steve."
Catherine breathed out loudly. "You know what I hate most right now?"
"What?"
She sighed. "That you're absolutely right."
Danny barked with laughter. "Well that doesn't happen often so let me enjoy it."
Catherine smiled.
"Seriously, Catherine. You didn't see him."
"When?"
"When he walked into that room and saw all those pictures. I've never seen him like that. Never."
"What do you mean?" Catherine knew this situation was hard on Steve. In some ways probably harder than it was on her.
"He was terrified. And then once he realized the guy had been to your house? All he could think of was getting to you and making sure you were ok."
"I guess I owe him an apology."
"A little one maybe."
"Sure take his side," Catherine teased.
"I'm not taking anyone's side. But just … it could be worse."
"How?"
"Frankly for a while there I thought he was gonna take you into protective custody and lock you in the blue room. Just insisting you always have someone with you … that's actually pretty restrained for him."
Catherine smiled and nodded.
"There's nothing he won't do to protect you, Catherine. If it makes you angry he can live with that as long as it also makes you safe. And I gotta say … in this particular case … and I'll deny it if you tell him I said this … I think he's doing all the right things."
"Is that why there's an unmarked HPD car following us?"
"You noticed that, huh?"
"Yes."
"Should we pretend you didn't?"
"That'd probably be best."
"Ok," Danny said as he turned into the CVS parking lot. "I'd appreciate it if we could spend as little time as possible in the feminine hygiene aisle. It makes me very nervous."
"Sorry, Danny. If I'm not allowed to misdirect my anger at Steve anymore you're next on the list. Prepare to learn more than you ever wanted to know about tampons."
McGarrett/Rollins Household
Friday 11:30 P.M.
"How you holdin up?" Steve asked as Catherine exited the bathroom, turned off the lights and slipped into bed. They hadn't had much time to talk since their sharp words in the office earlier in the day. By the time Catherine and Danny returned with lunch Steve had been called over to HPD. Their paths crossed a couple of times over the rest of the afternoon but they hadn't exchanged more than a few quick words.
Steve knew that all the extra security was wearing on Catherine's nerves but he was adamant that it was necessary to keep her safe.
"I'm good," she sighed. He held out his arms and she went into them happily. "I'm just … ready for this all to be over, ya know?"
"I know," he said as he ran his hands down her back in a soothing motion and kissed her on the top of the head. "I know you hate this, Cath, but I'm not taking any chances with your safety."
"I appreciate that." She put her head on his shoulder and curled more tightly into his side. "And it's been pointed out to me that I may have been misdirecting my anger a little earlier." She raised her head and looked him in the eyes. She could see the emotion clearly, reflected in the light coming in through the bedroom window. "I'm sorry I was pissy with you."
"It's ok."
"No, it's not. I was angry at the situation and at Fitzsimmons for putting me in this position and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted. But I owe you one too. I'm sorry if I was dismissive of your feelings. I didn't mean to be. I just can't even think about … please … I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you."
Catherine placed her hand over his heart, looked into his face and kissed him slowly but soundly. She pulled back slightly. "I appreciate your concern, Steve. Even if I don't always show it."
Steve kissed her again, more intensely this time. Between kisses he said, "Promise me you won't slip out alone … no matter how tempting it might be. Please."
"I promise," Catherine said, rolling onto her back and pulling Steve on top of her. "Now why don't we take our minds off things for a while?"
"I like the way you think, Lieutenant."
Five-O Headquarters
Saturday 10:05 A.M.
"I just don't get it," Steve said, the frustration evident in his voice as he looked over all the information that had been gathered on Jack Fitzsimmons which was currently displayed on the overhead screens. "There is absolutely nothing in this guy's history that indicates he could be a stalker … let alone a murderer. How did a man capable of participating in this," Steve pointed to a crime scene photo from the warehouse, "manage to fly under the radar up until now?"
"I have no idea." Danny was equally as baffled. "He has a good education, solid work history, stable living situation for the last 15 years. No history of arrests or problems of any kind with the law."
"I just got the copy of his employment file that his old boss in New Mexico sent along with his family medical records," Chin said as he crossed to the smart table. "It says exactly what the boss told Danny over the phone. Fitzsimmons was a good worker, rarely missed a day, never had any discipline problems."
"Anything in there about what made him decide to pick up and move to Hawaii?"
"Apparently he was the sole caretaker for his elderly parents. They died about a month apart two years ago. Left him all their assets."
"Anything suspicious about their deaths?"
"According to the doctor who was taking care of them Jack Fitzsimmons was a loving son who went above and beyond. Refused to put his parents in a home. Worked extra hours to pay for nurses to take care of them while he worked and when he wasn't working he spent every minute with them. Both of them died of natural causes."
"Girlfriends?" Steve asked.
"I'm still working on that," Chin responded.
"Maybe the death of his parents made him snap," Danny offered.
"Maybe," Steve said doubtfully. "But that'd be a heck of a snap."
Steve picked up a still picture taken from the surveillance camera inside the HPD bullpen. It was taken the day Jack Fitzsimmons had gone in to report that he believed he had been the victim of a break in. He'd said that nothing was missing but he could "just tell" that someone had been in his house. Thinking back to the immaculate state of the apartment he'd noticed the one time he was in it, Steve could believe this guy would know if any little thing was moved.
HPD took the report but there was very little if anything they could do to help. Steve wondered what it was Fitzsimmons was up to with that visit. Was there something he'd been trying to test about the HPD procedure? And if so, why hadn't he at least made up a story about something being stolen?
His thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of his phone.
"McGarrett," he answered. Suddenly his whole demeanor changed. "Are you sure? How many places on the island? That's great work, Charlie. Thanks. Can you send me the address?"
"Finally," Steve said as he looked at happily at Danny. "We caught a break. Charlie identified the paper some of the pictures of Catherine were printed on. He said it's a specialized brand. Only sold one place on the island."
"What are we waiting for?" Danny said as he stood up. "Let's go find out if they can tell us anything to help us find Fitzsimmons."
"Chin, keep digging on the girlfriend angle. Maybe there's something there that made him go off the deep end," Steve said as he and Danny headed for the door. "We'll let you know if we find anything out. Oh, and can you send that picture of Fitzsimmons inside HPD to my phone in case we need it to use it for identification? Thanks."
Chin headed for the smart table as Danny and Steve rushed out the door.
Danny Williams' Camaro
En route to Specialty Paper
Saturday 10:20 A.M.
As Steve and Danny pulled out of the parking lot and headed across the island the rain started yet again. Steve turned on the wipers, punched Specialty Paper in Honolulu into the GPS then dialed Catherine's cell phone. She'd taken the morning off for a dentist's appointment, under the watchful eye of a pair of HPD officers, and he wasn't sure if she was heading back to the office or not.
"Hi," she answered with a smile.
"Hi yourself," he said. "Where are you?"
"I'm home. I'm waiting for the Novocain to wear off before I head back to work. Where are you?"
"Who's with you?" Steve was instantly concerned.
"Calm down, Steve. I remember the rules. Officer Barnes is right here beside me and her partner is sitting out front in a patrol car.
"Ok, good. Danny and I are following up a lead and if it pans out you may not have to put up with all this extra security for much longer."
"Really?" Catherine asked hopefully.
"Really. Charlie figured out where Fitzsimmons bought some of the paper he printed the pictures he took of you on. It's a very specific brand only sold at one place on the island. Danny and I are headed there now to see if we can get a lead on where he might have been developing the pictures or having them developed. That might give us a clue as to where he is now."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed. I'm tired of feeling like a prisoner. I'm ready for things to get back to normal."
"I know you are. I am too. I'll let you know as soon as we find anything out."
"Ok, call me when you're on your way back."
"Will do."
McGarrett/Rollins House
Saturday 10:25 A.M.
"Good news?" Officer Barnes asked as Catherine disconnected the call.
"Steve said they may have a lead on Fitzsimmons."
"Really? That's great!"
"I know," Catherine said with relief. "No offense, because you've been great company, but I can't wait to get back to my regular life and not have to feel like I'm being watched over every second."
"I can imagine," Abbey said sympathetically. "What kind of information did they get on the guy?"
"Apparently some of the paper he used to print the photos he took was extremely rare, at least here on the island."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They got a possible lead on where he bought it and they're hoping something there may be able to lead them to him."
"That'd be great," Abbey said. "I'm sure you're relieved."
"I will be as soon as Steve calls back and says they got him."
Danny Williams' Camaro
En route to Specialty Paper
Saturday 10:50 A.M.
As Steve made his way towards the paper store Danny flipped through the list that Charlie had sent him of pictures that had been printed on the specific paper in question.
"We may be in luck," he said.
"How so?"
"It looks like all of the pictures printed on this new paper were taken recently. I can tell because in several of them Catherine is wearing the necklace Grace picked out as thank you present for helping with her Social Studies project. So they had to have been taken within the last month."
Suddenly the thing that had been bothering Steve about the pictures all along came into sharp focus.
"Dammit," he said as he pounded his hand on the steering wheel.
Danny's head snapped towards his partner. "What?"
"Remember I said there was something that was bothering me about those pictures?"
"Yes. But I just assumed it was … you know … the existence of the pictures … and the thought of someone following Catherine around taking them … that was bothering you."
"Yes, that. But there was something else and now I know what it is."
"Are you gonna share?"
"You said Fitzsimmons has only been on the island for a year, right?"
"Right."
"In some of those pictures Catherine's hair was shorter, like it was when she first came back from the Gulf, but that was two years ago. "
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I know Catherine's hair."
"So he … where did he first see her? Was he here stalking her before he … when he still lived in New Mexico? Do you think he moved all this way just to be closer to her?"
"I don't know," Steve pulled into the parking lot of Specialty Paper and cut the engine, "Let's find him and ask him."
Specialty Paper
Honolulu
Saturday 11:05 A.M.
Steve and Danny entered the store, bypassed the endless rows holding every kind of paper imaginable, and went immediately to the counter. The man who turned to greet them with a smile was tall and tan, muscular build, looked like he did a lot of surfing in his spare time. If Steve had to take a guess he would say the man grew up on the island. He wore a nametag that identified himself as the Jeff West, Store Manager.
"Raining again, huh?" the man said jovially.
"Yeah. I'm Steve McGarrett; this is my partner Danny Williams. We're with Five-0. We want to ask you a few questions about some specialty photo paper you sold recently."
"Sure. I'll help if I can." Jeff smiled brightly, a skill honed over many years of working in retail.
"We're told you're the only place on the island that sells the new X5100 Hi-Def photo paper," Steve said.
"So far we are," Jeff answered proudly.
"Do you sell a lot of it?"
"Not yet. It's pretty expensive. But demand for it is starting to pick up."
"How much have you sold lately?" Steve continued to pepper Jeff with questions.
"I'd have to check the records but probably a couple of boxes."
"Could you identify the people you've sold it to?"
"Probably. Most of our customers are regulars."
Steve flipped through some pictures on his phone until he came to the one Chin had sent while they were on their way, taken of Fitzsimmons at HPD. "Do you remember selling any to the person in this picture?"
Steve held out his phone so the manager could see it.
Jeff West studied the picture carefully. "Yes. I remember making the sale myself."
Danny jumped in. "This guy is very dangerous and we need to get him off the streets as soon as possible. Do you have any information at all about where we can find him?"
The manager looked at Steve and Danny, confusion all over his face. "I'm sorry, there must be some mistake."
"I thought you said you sold this man the paper." Steve tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
"Yes … I mean no … I didn't sell the paper to the man in the picture. I sold it to the woman."
Steve lifted the phone immediately and looked at the picture. "Point to her."
The manager pointed to the officer standing directly to the left of Jack Fitzsimmons.
Officer Abbey Barnes.
"No, no, no, no," Steve said as he frantically dialed Catherine's number and held the phone to his ear. "Voicemail," he said as he hung up and redialed.
Danny dialed Chin. "Where are you?" he demanded when Chin answered.
"At the office, why?"
"Get to Steve's house right away. Catherine's in trouble."
Gold star for forestbornninjagirl :-)
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