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Witness (1/3)

As the partners drove up the winding driveway of an opulent mansion, Danny quipped, "I think you're underdressed. Actually…" he glanced down at his own slacks and button down. "I think I'm underdressed." He let out a slow whistle. "I thought this was a bed and breakfast the first time Grace and I drove past it. I was taking her to school right after I got here. She said it looked like a pretty hotel."

"It's a nice place," Steve agreed. "I remember when I was a kid the previous owners used to throw a yearly Halloween party for all the local cops and firemen and their kids.

"Can you imagine how long it takes them to mow this yard?" Danny said as he looked out over the perfectly manicured landscape.

Steve snorted. "I'm sure they have gardeners to take care of that."

"I'd like to know what it feels like to live this," Danny said. "Even just for one day."

"Maybe they're looking for a new head of security," Steve teased. "They certainly should be. How in the world could their current guy allow someone to get into this house … in the middle of the morning no less…and steal jewelry that's worth more than we'll ever see in a lifetime?"

"Speaking of…" Danny elbowed Steve as they approached two men standing on the large front porch wearing jackets emblazoned with the name of a local security company. They were talking to Duke and several other HPD officers.

"Steve. Danny." Duke pointed to the man beside him. "This is Chet McMasters. He owns Island Security. They've been handling things here since the Malikoa's bought the place four years ago."

"Have there been any other break-ins?" Steve asked. "Any issues at all?"

"None," Chet replied adamantly. "I run a tight ship and my guys are the best on the island."

There was something about the man's attitude that put Steve and Danny off immediately. HPD had run a cursory records check on both McMasters and his company as soon as the robbery was reported. On the surface they appeared squeaky clean. But quick initial impressions could often be deceiving.

"Then how did someone manage to cut the feed from every security camera on the property, get into the house, steal the jewelry, and get out again without anyone from your company even noticing?" Danny asked.

"I have no idea," Chet growled. "But when I find out I'll let you know."

"You don't have to worry about that," Steve said. "We'll find out for ourselves." He turned to Duke. "Full statements from every person who works at the company, starting with anyone who has ever set foot on this property." He looked over his shoulder at Chet. "Today."

"I have a business to run," Chet blustered. "Some of my other customers are nervous thinking there's a jewel thief on the loose targeting wealthy islanders. I have to provide extra security for them. I need all my people."

"Make them available," Steve said as he walked towards the front door. "Or I'll send squad cars out to get them."

"Asshole," Chet muttered as Steve and Danny entered the house.

"What was that?" Duke asked.

Chet just glared at him.

"I'll need a list of all your employees within the next thirty minutes," Duke said. "Put everyone who has ever worked at this house at the top. We'll start interviews at the station in an hour."

"The forensic team didn't find much," Jadon reported as soon as Steve and Danny entered the house. "No fingerprints anywhere. No trace the guy was ever here except the open safe and the missing jewelry."

"Luckily Maya got a look at him or we wouldn't have anything to prove he was ever here," Robert Malikoa said as he joined the group.

"Mr. Malikoa, this is Commander McGarrett and Detective Williams from Five-0," Jadon said. "This is Mr Malikoa, the homeowner."

"Call me Robert, please," he said as he extended his hand to first Steve, then Danny. "The most important thing is that no one got hurt. That goes without saying. Still … I'd like to know who invaded my home and how they managed to get past security.

"I'll just tell you now that I'm the one who called the governor directly and asked her to assign the task force to the case. I'm sure HPD would have done a great job on their own but this is my family we're talking about. My wife and I have three young children. I wanted the best cops in Hawaii looking into it. Normally I hate string pullers, but this is a matter of my family's safety."

"We understand," Steve assured him. "We'll get to the bottom of this."

"Thank you. My wife is a little nervous about staying here until we know what happened so my family and I are checking into the Hilton for a few days. You can have a free run of the house to do your work." He pulled a card from his wallet "Here are all my contact numbers. I'll make myself available for anything you need."

Steve nodded. "You said something about a witness?"

"Yes," Robert said. "Maya. She's our housekeeper's daughter. She's ten. She was here helping Esmerelda, that's her mother, when the robbery happened."

"Where might we find her?" Danny asked.

"She's in the living room with her mother and one of the officers." Robert pointed down the hall and to the left. "Both she and her mother mean the world to us. I've told them both to call if there's anything you need. But if you think they need extra security, or anything to ensure their safety, please let me know. I'll take care of it immediately."

"Thanks," Steve said. "We'll be in touch soon."

After getting a few more details of exactly what happened from Jadon, Steve and Danny made their way down the hall and before they knew it they stood in the Malikoa's expansive sunken living room, blinking in recognition at the woman and child sitting on the sofa before them.

Ten year old Maya was a familiar face. She was in DJ's class the previous year and had been to the beach house several times for birthday parties.

The woman jumped up. "Commander. Detective. I'm so happy to see you." She appeared flustered but was clearly trying to keep it together for her daughter's sake.

"I didn't realize you worked here," Steve said. "Mr. Malikoa referred to you as Esmerelda?"

"That's my full name." She smiled. "Usually I go by Esme but when I first started working here the Malikoa's oldest daughter thought my full name sounded like someone from a fairy tale. She started calling me that and it just stuck."

Steve smiled.

"Look who's here?" Esmerelda told her daughter. "Come and say hello."

Ten year old Maya got up and stood in front of Steve and Danny, her eyes wide with concern. Her small frame looked tinier as she clung to her mother's hand. Stray tendrils of shiny black hair had escaped her ponytail and her expression was serious.

Steve knelt down to meet her at eye level, his normally imposing crime scene presence softened by his paternal instinct. "Hey there, Maya," he said warmly. "I haven't seen you since school let out. How's your summer going?"

"Good," she replied softly. "Until this morning."

Steve nodded. "That must have been pretty scary. Can you tell us what you saw?"

Her posture relaxed a bit. "I'm happy it's you who came, 'cause DJ always says you're the best cops in the whole world." Maya's fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her eyes looking between Steve and Danny. "I saw a man," she murmured softly. "He was sneaking out of Mister Robert's study."

"Can you tell us what he looked like?" Steve asked, keeping his tone as light as possible.

"He was wearing dark pants and a black hoodie," she said. "And he had a mask on. The kind that covers your whole face except your eyes and mouth."

"Was he tall or short?" Steve asked.

Maya thought for a second. "He was tall. And very skinny."

"You're doing great." Steve smiled at her. "These details will really help. Which way did he go when he left the study?"

Maya pointed. "Towards the back door. I was afraid he was gonna come down the hall and see me but instead he went the other way. I snuck away as fast as I could to get my mom. I don't think he saw me."

Steve exchanged a knowing look with Danny, a silent acknowledgment that this case had taken a turn. Maya was their only lead. They needed as much information from here as they could possibly get. Knowing them would definitely help put her at ease.

Danny's eyes twinkled with a natural warmth as he crouched down beside her. "Well, Maya, it seems like we have a mystery on our hands. But like Commander Steve said, don't you worry, we'll catch the bad guy and make sure he pays for what he did."

A tiny spark lit Maya's eyes. "I want to help," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "Can I?"

Steve and Danny shared a glance, happy she wasn't too terrified. "Of course," Steve responded, his voice gentle. "That would be amazing. If we all work together we'll catch the bad guy and he'll never bother anyone again."

Esmeralda, who was standing with her hands on her daughter's shoulders, bent to kiss her head. "She's a brave one, my Maya. Let's sit down and you can tell Commander Steve and Detective Danny everything you told me, okay?" Over her little girl's head, she mouthed "Thank you," and smiled at their nods.

They spent an hour with Maya, gently coaxing out every detail she could remember, and as she revealed more about the intruder, pieces of the puzzle came together, gradually forming a picture of the thief.

When Steve and Danny bid Maya and Esmeralda goodbye, after Gerald, Maya's dad arrived to pick them up, they promised to keep their 'very important assistant' and her family updated on their progress. As they settled into the car, Danny turned to Steve, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of his lips. "I know I've said it before, but you've become damn good with kids."

Steve chuckled, his smile genuine. "I've had the best teachers," he admitted, thinking of his partner's example and of Catherine, Angie and DJ. "You were always right - having kids brings out a different side of you."

Danny nodded appreciatively, his gaze lingering on the mansion as they pulled away. "Yeah, fatherhood has a way of melting hearts," he mused.

As they drove back towards HQ, Steve and Danny shared a silent understanding. This was more than just a high profile theft. It was an opportunity to show Maya that she was strong, and that she'd done a great job, which would help her adjust to what she'd been an unwitting witness to. Feeling like she was assisting would go a long way to her not being afraid going forward.

TBC on Monday

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