A/N: Hello everyone! I've decided that I should post my updates a day early this week as I have a big concert on Saturday night and I am doing a ton of rehearsals and set up all day tomorrow. I likely won't have time tomorrow, so here they are today. Happy Thursday all the same.

Chapter 27: Evasive Maneuvers

After an hour of negotiations with Doris, in which she sided with Danny, she finally agreed to Steve's plan, and shortly after, she made her way out to the hotel where Gladys was posing as on of her many aliases - Dahlia Fillee. After having argued her way down to one man to assist her, Doris was joined by Lou Grover's right hand man, one Carmine Booth, and they were dressed, briefed and sent out to do what Doris did best.

Carmine was a tall, slender man, in his late thirties and sported a military style buzzcut that put Steve at ease with the choice of companion for his mother. He was just the sort of man Steve liked to keep around, and he knew he could trust him, if Lou did. For the purpose of this particular operation, Carmine and Doris would go in, under cover, as Gladys had seen Doris's face at the airport, and Carmine had been hanging around Five-O because his commanding officer had become part, though perhaps unconsciously, of the group and catastrophe that was this investigation.

Doris sported a long, dark, wig braided and snaked around her head. Her make up was overly exaggerated to cover the prothetic nose and chin that had been plaster to her face. She wore a blouse of pail pink flowers and an a-line skirt, black, that she was sure she could run in, if need be, but which made her legs look longer and gave her a very professional air. She wore a pair of very feminine, very modern, glasses with a miniature camera wired into them, and bright blue contact lenses that changed her eye colour and fake teeth changed the look of her mouth and the way she spoke. Overly exaggerating a southern style accent, she was deep in character and hoped that it would be enough to fool the woman whom she had come face to face with earlier in the week.

Carmine, on the other hands, hadn't been seen, directly, without his full SWAT gear. Steve was certain he wouldn't be recognized, so aside for losing his protective gear and dawning a wig to give him a full, and very modern, hair style, he simply wore a suit combo of trousers, a button down shirt with a waistcoat, but no jacket. He rolled the sleeves of the shirt up and kept the collar unbuttoned, but still, he looked remarkably fashionable and business-like. He also sported glasses that had a camera in them and the waistcoat helped to cover the lines of the bulletproof vest that was tightly fitted and fastened to his torso.

Once Steve was sure that his mother and her one man back-up team were well equipped with every secret device that Toast could provide them with, the pair gathered their props and headed out - using Carmine's personal vehicle as cover.

They arrived at the hotel, and the wedding was already in full swing, and the grounds were swarming with people. Moving with stealth, they found their way into the crowds, using their own cameras and equipment as cover, and got eyes on the Waiholi brothers, but most importantly, they were within range of Gladys McMahon herself.

Steve had called ahead to the manager of the hotel, filled them in on the farce that was ongoing and gave them details of the under-covers and the story they would tell, and that would likely have to be sustained by the management team. The terms of the operation were agreed to, and a plan was put into place for evacuation if the situation escalated, and Doris and Carmine were let into the areas by the staff, with badges and keys provided to them, to get started.

Doris, and her assistant, moved through the grounds seemingly not paying attention to the wedding party, but pulling guests and others into set up shots in many of the same locations as Gladys. Doris used her sweetest, more bright and bubbly of language to convince the bystanders of her cover, and her accent put people at ease. Everyone seemed oblivious and very cooperative as Carmine shifted people, looked for lighting, backdrops, and followed Doris's instructions to get what she wanted. He held up screens and set up flash stands, making sure at every turn to stay out of Gladys's way but at the same time keeping themselves in the thick of things, and most certainly noticed by the woman and her two men, as they went about the same business that the other photographers were carrying out.

Going about their business as cheerfully as possible, Doris was shocked when Gladys herself walked up and stood next to the shot they'd lined up with the random couple they'd pulled off of the beach.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Gladys asked suspiciously when Doris straightened up and dismissed her subjects to fill out the paperwork with Carmine, who would make sure that they got away safely if Gladys started anything.

"No ma'am," Doris answered brightly, "but I visit often." She added with a smile. "But I am assuming you are a local?"

"I'm Dahlia Fillee, one of the best, most highly sought after photographers on this island, and you've been stealing my shots all afternoon." She accused as she scrutinized every inch of Doris McGarrett in all of her under cover glory. "This is one of the biggest weddings to be held here, and it's mine."

"So very sorry," Doris said genuinely. "I'm only here because the hotel chain is working to update their websites all across the planet. I work exclusively for Forte Family Incorporated, and all my work today has been for promotional purposes. I didn't mean to step on any toes."

"Well you are," Gladys stated harshly. "I'll deal with it, for now, but how much longer will you be here?" Gladys asked almost bitterly. "I have shoots here for the rest of the day, and into the evening and tomorrow, and I would like to not see you again."

"I'm only here today, or for as long as it takes to get my shots. We're moving on to Mumbai in the morning." Doris answered as Carmine rejoined her.

"Good, stay out of my way!" Gladys ordered.

"Shall we head inside?" Carmine asked with a clipboard in his hands and a check list to be completed.

"You won't see us again," Doris said kindly with a semi bow to the aggravated woman before.

"Just stay away from the terrace and the pool side restaurant for the next couple of hours. We still have work to do." Gladys warned and moved toward the two men who were waiting for her. She nodded to them and they moved away leaving Doris and Carmine to themselves.

"Do you think she recognized you?" Carmine whispered as Doris leaned in and looked at the clipboard.

"I have a feeling she did, but she's not letting on." Doris answered. "We'd better move inside and watch our backs."

Carmine nodded his agreement, gathered up their things and followed obediently as Doris fled into the grand hotel.

5-0

While Doris and Carmine were out on location, Steve, Danny and their team worked hard from the bullpen. If Gladys had any clue about the take down of her businesses, she wasn't letting on, and the information coming in from her employees spoke to their obliviousness. As far as they were concerned they worked for people who were hardworking business people and they had no idea of their background. Chin, Lou and Duke all believed that the young people, Thomas, Karen, and the workers from the Candy Shop, were all telling the truth.

Meanwhile, back in the bullpen, Toast had found property up along the north shore that belonged to the Waiholi family, and was doing all in his power to map the location while following Gladys's every move at the Forte Hotel. Calls went out to Kawika about the Waiholies, and aside for the boys in question, the family was a hard working, tight knit bunch, who ran a quarry and ranch, and provided a lot of locally grown, products to the island.

"You know them well?" Steve asked the Kapu leader as he had made his way into the bullpen just for the purpose of helping his friends out.

"I know of them," Kawika answered. "The aunties always wanted the boys to take up with the Kapu, as many of the other young men of their family have done, but those twins are trouble, and always have been. I wouldn't let them in to corrupt the youngsters who are loyal and good members of our community. I don't think the Waiholi family hold that against me. I think they know that these boys wouldn't be a good influence and that they cannot change them now." He explained. "The strange thing, though, is that the whole family have been very quiet for several days. I haven't heard from any of my members within that family. I am concerned."

"Did they ever give you any reason to suspect they would get caught up with the twins?" Danny asked.

"No, never."

"But they would fit the profile of people targeted by Gladys. The family alone is a calling card for her influence. They may not have a choice." Steve added.

"Do you recognize any of these men?" Toast asked as the monitors around him flashed to life and the body-guards from the hotel were plastered all around the room.

"None of those men are my men, and none of them are Waiholi relations." Kawika stated.

"She may know better than to try and come after the Kapu." Danny said. "They are loyal to you, and I believe that you and your people would help them out of any jam. No, these men are different but I feel like something is up with the Waiholi family." Danny said as darkness settled in his tone.

"I hope you get to the bottom of this. Should I head up to their compound and have a look around?" Kawika asked.

"No, stay away from there. In fact, you should probably get as far away from us as you can right now. Hopefully she's too busy to have noticed you and tied you to us. We'll keep you posted as things change." Steve stated, and before he could protest, Steve had a detail of HPD officers escort Kawika back to his compound and they stayed with him for safety.

Once Kawika was gone, Steve returned to his office and began pacing, having evicted the families of the men who helped them to other offices so that he could think and plan, and just have his space to himself. He finally stopped when Wade Gutches and the members of SEAL team nine walked through the bullpen doors.

"I hear you've been needed some assistance," Wade stated with a laugh. "Called in by the Admiral himself, you must be in pretty deep. Must be important stuff. They sent in the big guns to pull us out."

"We have another McMahon situation on our hands." Steve admitted soberly as he waved the men into his office.

"I can see why they called us. What are your orders, Commander?" Wade asked seriously as all of his men who'd arrived with him stood at attention.

"I need you to shut down a construction zone that Gladys McMahon is using as a training facility and then I need you to disappear into the jungle around the site and keep a very close eyes on it and a cabin we think is her base of operations."

"And if we see her?" Wade asked.

"Terminate." Steve stated and his words sent shock waves of chills up all of the backs of the members of his team. "She's wanted now for acts of terrorism. She opened fire in the Honolulu International Airport yesterday morning and she abducted Danny and I. She already escaped prison once, eradicated dozens of women and children because their fathers failed her, took out the entire McMillan Bond family and she's gunning for Five-O. We'll be joining you if we can flush her out of the city, but if you see her, take her out." Steve explained.

"Are you sure, Steve?" Wade asked as he hushed his voice.

"She's a monster, Wade. Yes, I'm sure." Steve nodded. "Catherine and Toast will brief you on the target locations. Proceed with extreme caution, take anyone else you may find alive, we are expecting you to find more civilian families being held captive. I want to take to them and I want to make sure they remain safe while more men are still being forced to help Gladys. If I am wrong, they are already dead, so be prepared for mass casualties if you find them."

Wade nodded his understanding and ordered his men out of the office, side stepping he shut the door and turned back to Steve. "Are you really sure about this?" he asked one more time, and even more seriously than before.

"I have to be, and I see no other way to save Danny from these people. Ghosts, he can fight, but so long as the McMahon's bloodline exists, Danny and Five-O will always be in grave danger. We've under estimated the McMahons, and specifically Gladys, before. We don't have that luxury anymore. Bars are not going to hold her but bullets are going to have to kill her."

"And that's your final word on the subject?" Wade asked and made eye contact with Steve.

"Yes."