Once again, I apologize for such a delay between chapters. I haven't given up on the story and hope to update more frequently!
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The surveillance van was stuffy, and crowded.
Charlie nudged Danny and pointed to Steve and Riley, sitting next to each other, headphones in place, oblivious to the others. Both of them were bouncing their left knee, vibrating with nervous energy.
"It's uncanny," Charlie murmured.
Danny nodded in agreement. "It's downright spooky."
"Okay, Kono, don't forget we need three seconds of video to get the most accurate facial recognition," Steve said. "And the instant you feel like something's wrong, you give the word and we will be there." He nodded to Chin.
They watched the video feed as a heavily muscled man approached Kono.
"Lovely flower," he said, nodding at the flower tucked behind her ear, the identifying signal they'd arranged.
"Lovely morning," she answered, looking directly at him.
"Got it," Chin whispered. "We have a clear shot of his face; running it through facial recognition now."
The man pulled out the chair across the table from Kono. "What's a lovely young woman like you doing in the dark corner of the world?" he asked.
Kono shrugged. "I'm just trying to survive, man, just like anyone else. I work two jobs, but in Honolulu, that's barely enough to make rent. Just looking for a way to make some extra cash."
"Can't you ask family to help?" he asked. "Got any parents, aunties, anyone here on the island?"
Kono laughed. "Yeah, no. Not an option. Look, I know I can go to the lab near the university and get about twenty-five dollars to donate plasma, but they have limits. I can only go once a week, right? But I'm healthy enough to do way more than that. I surf, I get great food at one of my jobs, so I eat good. My metabolism is super fast, so I figure I make plasma just about as fast as you can take it. So, you acted like you had a better set-up. I'm interested, but don't waste my time."
"I can offer you money you've never dreamed of," the man said, "and it doesn't even involve a needle. It does, however, take advantage of that healthy body of yours."
"I don't like where this is headed," Chin murmured. "Get out of there, Kono."
"Look," Kono said, "I clearly know my way around the dark web, which should tell you something. Don't play subtle, man. Just tell me what you have to offer, straight up, or I'm out of here."
"Good girl," Steve murmured. "Get him to say it, we'll bust him."
"Okay, fine," the man said. "Wealthy men - and women - come to the island, they need . . . distraction. Diversion."
"So you're, like, what? A pimp?" Kono asked, allowing a little disgust to creep into her tone.
"I facilitate a mutually beneficial arrangement," the man said. "Companionship of a physical nature to the wealthy, while ensuring their privacy. Generous pay for you, while ensuring your safety. Consenting adults, no harm, no foul."
"Except if I get caught, I get a criminal record," Kono said. "Prostitution isn't something I'd planned on adding to my resume."
The man chuckled. "I have enough clients who are locals in . . . high positions. In the unlikely event that you were ever put in a position to be charged, I can assure you, there'd be no record."
"That's all we need," Chin said, "we've got him. Let's go."
Steve spoke directly into Kono's communication feed. "You want to do the honors, Kono? Read this asshole his rights."
By the time Steve, Chin, and Danny entered the building, Kono had the man against the wall, in handcuffs.
"This is entrapment," he protested loudly.
"Hardly," Chin said, shoving him with more force than was strictly necessary. "This isn't even what we were after, you scum."
"Hey," the man protested. "Like I said - consenting adults. People make their own choices."
"Yeah?" Danny demanded, putting a finger in the man's face. "That's why the first thing you do, right, is make sure these girls don't have parents, family, anyone they can go to for help. We know your kind; you prey on the vulnerable. Well, I got news for you, buddy. Your line of work no longer lets these girls take the fall for you. Catch up, asshole."
At the man's look of confusion, Steve smiled grimly at him. "Oh, had you not heard?" Steve asked, his voice a deadly calm. "We're not looking to charge anyone with prostitution. That's the old way of thinking. You're going down for human trafficking. If you're lucky, maybe you can help yourself just a little bit by telling us who else can get charged, for corruption and obstruction of justice."
#*#*#*#*#
It was well past dark by the time the paperwork was completed, and Steve and Riley headed home.
"So, today was a success, of sorts," Riley said. "Although we're no closer to whoever is behind stealing these organs."
"Yeah," Steve said, sighing. "It was a nibble, but . . . the people who woke up without kidneys didn't go looking for opportunities to sell an organ. It was the longest of long shots to begin with, but . . . it was worth a try. Organ brokers have been known to deal with both options - people looking to sell and people they can snatch."
"Still, we took down a real asshole, so that's something," Riley said.
Steve hesitated, then took a breath and started to speak. "So, what he was suggesting to Kono -"
"Steve, seriously?" Riley asked, grinning. "You think you need to explain forced prostitution to me?"
"You said you had gaps," he said. "I don't - Riley, you were raised by . . . our mother, and . . . Joe, and Frank, and there was a lab, and - hell, I have no idea what you understand and what you don't. I'm trying to be responsible, here."
"Oh my God," Riley said, "you . . . oh, you are so sweet. You're worried that I don't understand . . . sex? Really?"
Steve squirmed uncomfortably in the driver's seat.
"Shelburne explained the logistics," she said. "There was a medical textbook. Illustrated. It was all very clinical."
"Oh, shit," Steve said, faintly.
"Frank realized that I didn't actually understand a damn thing," she continued, "and made sure I understood that there were people like the guy with Kono today. And then he yelled at Joe for a solid hour."
"For good reason," Steve said tersely. "God, our family is so dysfunctional . . . Mary . . . at least she had Aunt Deb. Somehow, Mary ended up with the best upbringing of all of us, and if that's not one of the saddest things I've ever said . . . I'm sorry, Riley. I'm so sorry that you didn't have . . . all the things you should have had. I'm sorry that Frank, of all people, had to . . ."
"In hindsight," Riley said slowly, "I think he figured it out. That I wasn't being . . . raised, so much as . . . developed. Like a prize piece of research. I knew a lot of 'what', but I didn't . . . she never explained why, or how. Frank knew that put me at risk, so he did what he thought was best to protect me."
"I'm glad," Steve said. "I'm glad someone did. Shit. So . . ."
"No, I don't have any questions," Riley said, smiling. "Steve. I did spend almost a year at University of Tokyo. I have gaps, I'm not - I'm not some sort of idiot savant. I'm comfortably educated on the topic, okay?"
"Okay," Steve said, relieved. "Good. Okay."
"Right," Riley said, nodding. "So you can quit puffing up like a blowfish every time Charlie and I share the elevator."
"I - I don't -" Steve stammered. He sighed in defeat. "Okay."
The whole uncomfortable conversation had been worth it, he thought, as Riley burst into a fit of giggles.
#*#*#*#*#
WoFat smiled at the man in front of him.
"So, my sources tell me that Five-O made an arrest today. We were successful," WoFat said. He steepled his fingers together thoughtfully.
"Respectfully, sir, we sacrificed one of our most lucrative . . . companionship service providers," the man said. "I wouldn't have thought you would have considered that a success."
"It means that we were correct on all counts - the governor predictably forced McGarrett and the others to leave the bodies on the dock alone and focus on this supposed organ trafficking ring, and they sent little Riley into the dark web to do it," WoFat said. "We killed the proverbial two birds with one stone."
"If you say so, sir," the man nodded.
"The Yakuza stay on the cutting edge of technology," WoFat said, "while the Khangpae refuse to change with the times."
"I don't understand the delay. You know where the girl is. Surely there's opportunity to take her," the man said.
"In good time," WoFat said. "But Shelburne destroyed my life. Sins of the fathers and all that . . . there are people who deserve to be taught a lesson. The CIA, the Navy - they think the girl is tamed, declawed, now that the technology has been destroyed. They have no idea what she's capable of. They'll start treating her like a civilian. They don't understand that she still holds so many secrets."
"The monks aren't so foolish," the man warned. "They already tried to get to her once."
"Ah, but the monks also refuse to change with the times," WoFat said. "No, the Yakuza will control the girl, and whoever controls the girl holds the keys. Allowing her to dabble in the dark web was an act of hubris; one they will come to regret."