Chapter 3

"Wow," Maya said as Steve held open the door so she and her mother could enter the bullpen. "DJ said your office was awesome and he was right."

Steve couldn't help but smile as she looked around the room with wide-eyed wonder.

"I'll be happy to show you around," he offered.

"Thanks!" Her face suddenly turned serious. "But before we do that I have to tell you what happened."

Steve led her towards the smart table and helped her step up onto the stool Angie and DJ used to see the screens better. "This is Chin and Kono. They're on the team too."

Maya's eyes lit up. "DJ's auntie and uncle! It's nice to meet you," she said politely. "DJ told me all about how awesome you are."

"Thanks," Chin and Kono said in unison.

"They're also police officers," Esme told her daughter.

"We are." Kono winked at Maya. "But that's not nearly as good as being a cool auntie."

Maya giggled.

"Okay, so do you want to tell us what happened today?" Danny asked.

"I saw the man who broke into Mr. Robert's study," Maya said.

Four heads snapped towards her with shocked expressions.

"You saw the man in the mask again?" Chin asked.

After Maya indicated with an emphatic shake of the head that she had, Steve looked at Esme who nodded as well.

"He didn't have his mask on this time but I know it was the same man," Maya said resolutely.

"How do you know?" Danny asked, keeping his tone as light as possible.

"Because of the thing he did with his feet," Maya explained. "I didn't even remember he did it until I saw him do it again. Then I knew it was him."

"What is it he did with his feet?" Steve asked.

"I was trying to tell you everything I remember," Maya said, her voice shaking slightly. "I promise I was. I really didn't remember until I saw it again…"

"It's fine," Steve assured. "You've been doing great so far. Just tell us what you saw this morning."

"Mom took me to the mall to get new shoes for school," Maya said. "After we were done she said we needed to go to the Apple store to get Dad a new charger. That's where I saw the man. Coming out of the Apple store."

"First off, congrats on scoring new kicks for the first day of school," Kono said, eliciting a broad smile from Maya. "But next, how do you know it was the same man?"

"When he came out of the Apple store he turned …" Maya stopped, replaying the moment in her mind, determined to get every detail just right. "Left. He was going left. But instead of stepping like most people do he … well he kind of … can I just show you?" Maya asked with a huff of frustration.

"You sure can." Steve offered her his hand and she hopped down from the stool.

She stood still, both feet on the ground, then raised her right foot and spun 90 degrees. "Like that," she said. "Like the people do when they're marching in parades."

"And he did the same thing when he was coming out of Mr. Robert's office?" Chin asked.

Maya nodded. "As soon as I saw him do it at the mall I looked closer and he was the same height and he walked the same way. I know it was him," she insisted.

"How long will it take us to get the cctv from outside the Apple store?" Steve asked.

"Give me thirty minutes," Chin said as he pulled his phone from his pocket.

Steve knelt in front of Maya. "How about if I show you and your mom around now and by the time we're done Chin will have some film for you to look at."

"Okay," Maya said. "Can we take a picture before we go? I wanna take it in for the first show and tell of the new school year."

Steve chuckled. "I'm sure that can be arranged."

Forty minutes later the team, along with Esme and Maya, were gathered around the smart table watching the security cam footage from outside the Apple store on the overhead screens.

"This is from around the time you said you were near the Apple store," Chin said.

They all watched in silence for a few minutes.

"There we are!" Maya said excitedly. "See, I'm carrying my new shoes!"

A few seconds later a man emerged from the Apple store, executed a perfect left face manuver, and walked towards the escalator.

"That's him!" Maya pointed to the screen. "That's the man who stole from Mr. Robert's safe."

"Can we get a close up of his face?" Danny asked.

"Not from this camera but give me a minute," Chin said as he switched to a different view. He fast forwarded for a few minutes then stopped the tape. "Gotcha!" he said as the man passed directly in front of a camera set up at the exit of the mall.

"Send that over to HPD and have them check it against their mugshot catalog," Steve said. "Also, let's run it through our own facial recognition and see if we get a hit."

"On it," Chin said.

Steve's phone rang and when he looked at the screen he recognized the name of the assistant PA handling Rico Miliani's case.

"McGarrett."

"Hi, Steve. Jim Wilkins here. How bad do you want whatever information Rico Miliani might have on who's behind your jewelry theft?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Found him!" Kono said as the overhead screens flashed indicating a match.

"Don't make him any offers just yet." Steve smiled. "We have an even better witness. And I think she just helped solve the case."

Inside the living room of the beach house, Angie sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by her stuffed aardvark, goat and giraffe, while DJ sat with his back against the sofa, Cammie's head in his lap, engrossed in a book. At the sound of Steve entering the front door, both kids jumped up and Catherine entered from the kitchen, a bowl of freshly popped corn in her hands.

"Hey, guys," Steve began amidst greetings and hugs, "Guess what?"

"Maya helped you catch the bad guy!" DJ announced. "Her mom called a little bit ago."

"Yay for Maya!" Angie added. "She told you a clue, right? Mommy said."

"Mommy's right. She saw the bad guy again and we found him because of what she told us. Her clue helped us catch the thief."

"Stealing is very very bad," Angie said with a frown. "Is he in jail?"

"He is." Steve took a seat on the sofa and she hopped into his lap. "He won't be stealing from anyone else."

DJ beamed. "It's so cool Maya helped solve a real crime. I'm gonna tell her I'm proud of her. She did so good."

Catherine nodded, "Maya's a very brave and smart girl."

Angie's eyes widened with a mixture of admiration and excitement. "Maya is brave like you and Daddy."

Steve chuckled, "Maya showed us that even the smallest act of bravery can make a big difference."

DJ's face lit up. "That's awesome," he said, "I hope someday me and Angie can help people like you guys do."

Catherine placed a hand on DJ's shoulder. "You're already doing it, sweet boy," she said, her voice soft. "You have a heart of gold and always try to help others and so does your sister." She ran her other hand over Angie's hair. "Never forget your words and actions have the power to make a positive impact in the world, because you both do it every day."

Angie jumped up. "And when I grow up, I'm going to be on the team!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with determination.

Steve shared a look with his son who was smiling at his little sister. "You can be anything you want to be.

After Steve locked up his weapon and changed his clothes the family settled in to watch a movie, popcorn bowl in the center of their little group. Just as Catherine was about to press play the sound of Steve's phone broke the stillness.

"McGarrett."

On the other end of the line, a familiar voice was filled with gratitude. "Commander? It's Esme, I just wanted to thank you and Detective Williams again for everything you've done. My Maya is happy she helped catch the bad guy and she isn't exhibiting any signs of being scared or worried. We just got back from meeting with a counselor and he said she's doing beautifully. I know a big part of that is thanks to you two."

Steve's tone softened. "You don't have to thank us, Esme. We were glad to help. She's a great kid."

Esmeralda's voice cracked with emotion. "She hasn't stopped talking about how you both came to save the day. She thinks the world of you and your whole team, and so do my husband and I."

"Maya did everything right. She backed away so the thief didn't realize she was a witness, she came to find you and she told us all the details she could. When she remembered more, she told you right away so we could get that information. Tell her we're proud of her and we're always here if you need anything."

Esmeralda's gratitude resonated through the phone. "I appreciate that more than you know."

Steve disconnected the call and laid his phone on the end table. "What are we watching?"

"Peter Pan," DJ said excitedly.

"Good thing Captain Hook's not real," Angie said. "Or Daddy would have to arrest him like all the other bad guys and then we wouldn't have a movie to watch."

Catherine snorted a laugh. "That is a good thing. But Daddy already put the bad guy in jail today so now he can just relax and watch the movie."

Steve smiled. "The perfect end to a good day."

THE END

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