CHAPTER 36

Two weeks later

Thursday morning, Iolani Palace:

Detective Danny Williams was a creature of habit. He was old school; he liked paper and would often request physical copies of everything. However, when he walked back into the Five-0 bullpen, he sighed in relief at the sight that greeted him.

The smart table.

Surprisingly, this was the one thing he had missed the most about their office space. His first impulse was to start playing around with it, but since he was not on duty he decided to forgo that adventure for the time being.

The Governor, sympathetic to their situation, had granted the entire team a month of leave with the option to extend until Commander McGarrett was back on his feet. While initially thankful for the extended period of time off, the team had opted to use the time to work on burying Marsden.

While Steve was still recovering under the watchful eye of Catherine, the remaining members of the Five-0 team had scoured through every single page of Marsden's carefully handwritten notes and built a solid case.

Marsden's lawyers, undoubtedly paid for with her extreme wealth, had refused to allow anyone to talk to their client under the pretence of her being psychologically unstable. Even with the growing pile of evidence they had, they were still denied access to the killer.

After Kono had made the discovery linking Marsden to the murders of several other men, Danny had searched through all the reports himself hoping to find the evidence that would put the final nail in her coffin. Instead, he had found pictures of mutilated corpses that would haunt him forever.

To know that Steve could have met the same fate as those men whose bodies were dumped and left to the elements had the entire team on edge. Steve hadn't told them much about his ordeal. He didn't have to; the damage inflicted on his body was all the visual evidence they needed. But knowing how these other men suffered…they knew there was more damage that couldn't be seen with the naked eye.

The last two weeks had begun to reveal the true extent to which Marsden had destroyed Steve McGarrett. Yes, destroyed. Danny didn't have another word for it. Sure, Steve was still putting up a good front, pretending that nothing had happened like he always did. He'd make jokes and smiled at the appropriate times. Except that smile never reached his eyes and the jokes were always self deprecating.

It was Steve, but it wasn't their Steve.

Steve was following doctor's orders, staying home and recuperating. Not once had he demanded his doctor allow him to go back to work. For a man that couldn't sit still for longer than twenty minutes at a time, Steve's obedience was very unusual.

And yeah, maybe Danny should have figured it out earlier.

The way Steve had paused when he stood in the doorway to his house like he'd seen a ghost should have been a red flag. The same house would probably never feel like a home again.

The dark circles under his friend's eyes that told of nights with little to no sleep. The loosely hanging clothes revealing several skipped meals. The stormy blue eyes that never stopped scanning his surroundings. Never resting. Never stopping.

Danny wanted to cry for what had been stolen from his friend.

Safety. Shelter. Comfort.

Even now, two weeks after Steve had rescued Danny and Catherine from Marsden's clutches, the man was still as stiff as a steel rod and constantly on alert.

What concerned Danny the most was that he'd stopped wearing short-sleeved shirts. Scars had never bothered his partner before. In fact, during one of the many times he'd seen his partner shirtless, he'd never once shown an aversion to the scars that seemed to litter his body.

Danny sighed, the sound echoing in the empty space. Danny glanced over at his partner's office. It had been restored to its former glory. Ship models, flags and medals; all back in their rightful places. Like nothing had ever happened.

Timeless.

What Danny wouldn't give to back to a time before all of this. Before Marsden. Before Nazeef. Before Fuentes and Matty. Back to when he first worked with Steve and before Danny understood what trauma actually was.

He walked inside his partner's impeccably clean office space and breathed in deeply. There was a faint scent of pine in the air that reminded him of Steve's house. The same house that he'd been held captive inside.

Danny balled his hand into a fist, struggling to contain his anger. The more he thought about it, the more he hated Marsden. Not just for what she'd done to Steve, but because now his daughter was once again exposed to the harsh realities of his job.

Grace had come home from school after hearing the news about her Uncle Steve being in the hospital again. The way she had taken it all in stride, like it was nothing out of the ordinary made him realise how grown up yet still so innocent his little girl was. He cleared his throat as a knot of emotion suddenly threatened to choke him.

None of that mattered right now.

Because today was the day.

The day he finally got to face the woman that had tortured his friend and turned their entire world upside down. The day he could bury Marsden with her mistakes.

It was going to be a very good day.


Thursday morning, McGarrett residence:

Her ice cold fingers wandered slowly downward, the soft touch making his skin crawl. Hot bile rose up in his throat as every muscle in his body spasmed.

He tried to scramble away, but his body refused to move. He knew he was still tied down, completely at her mercy.

She smiled at his struggle. "You can't escape me, Steve. I will always be with you," she leaned her head down on his chest and poked at where his heart was. "Right here."

The glint of the blade suddenly came into focus. He flinched as the sharp torture tool came closer; her laughter growing louder as he pulled against his restraints.

"No!" he screamed as the blade pierced his skin.

He watched as the edge of the knife drew a love heart right over where his own heart was. His screams were ignored as the blade dug deeper inside…

He bolted upright, sucking in air as though he'd almost drowned. It took a few moments for him to realise that no, he wasn't drowning. At least not in the true sense of the word.

Steve gulped in air as he waited for his heart to stop hammering. It took him a moment to realise that while he was home and safe in his bed, there was still something missing.

Catherine.

The feeling of panic caused by his dream suddenly returned. He took a deep breath as he remembered the conversation they'd had the previous night. She would be going to Pearl for a meeting early in the morning and wouldn't be back until after midday.

He looked over to the empty side of the bed, the feeling of trepidation not easing one bit.

'She's fine,' he reminded himself. 'She's okay. They are all okay.'

Those were the words he constantly had to tell himself, like a broken record. Not that they ever helped. Marsden's words kept repeating themselves inside his head and he couldn't rid himself of her. Night after night, the same dream…memory, nightmare? He had no idea what was real anymore.

Pulling himself out of bed, he trudged to the bathroom and turned on the shower. As he pulled his shirt over his head, he caught sight of himself in the mirror.

His fingers involuntarily traced the pinkish lines covering the majority of his upper chest and arms. He squeezed his eyes shut against the onslaught of memories. Marsden had restrained and humiliated him. For what?

He opened his eyes and took in the spiderweb pattern that now adorned his skin. It disgusted him. In damaging his tattoos, Marsden had not only disfigured him, but she'd destroyed the precious memories each piece of art represented; good and bad. Now those memories would forever be tainted.

He'd thought about covering them with more ink, like he'd done on previous occasions, but he knew he would never escape her if he did. She'd left a lasting impression on his skin, commemorating the moment she took away everything he ever loved. Every time he looked in the mirror he would find himself back there, at her mercy, helpless and scared.

It had been two weeks since he'd rescued Danny and Catherine and Marsden had been put behind bars to await trial. He hated that so much time had passed and yet he was still stuck in the past. Plagued with nightmares, so sick to his stomach that the thought of food made him run to the bathroom, he felt like he was still in captivity.

He felt empty inside, like Marsden had stolen a part of his soul. And every day, she took a little more.


Thursday morning, Rendition:

Danny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He stared at the metal door like it was a bomb, primed to explode the minute he so much as twitched. His skin was crawling with unease but he ignored it.

It was time to end this. He owed Steve that much.

Behind that door sat the woman he had grown to hate with every fibre of his being. He'd waited two weeks to be in the same room as Rebecca Marsden and he was not about to back away now.

He patted his pocket, checking for the third time that he had the notebook. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she realised she wasn't going to get away with kidnapping and torturing. It would be a small achievement in the grand scheme of things. It wouldn't change how much Steve had suffered nor would it allow the man to recover in an instant. Regardless, Danny knew his partner needed closure. Only then could he truly start to heal from this ordeal.

Danny pulled the door open and stepped inside. He allowed the door to slam behind him. He took a moment to look around the room. It was exactly as he remembered it; a dull blue light, the drain, no ventilation. It always made him feel claustrophobic. Perfect.

The woman sitting in the chair surveyed him with a calm expression. She wasn't at all intimidated by him or the fact that she was handcuffed to a steel chair in the middle of what could be construed as a torture chamber.

"Rebecca Marsden," Danny announced, the name leaving a sour taste in his mouth as he spoke. "Or should I say Natalie Griffiths from Portland? Or perhaps Cherie McLaughlin of Minnesota? Maybe Holly Porter as you're known in Jacksonville? You've certainly moved around, haven't you?"

Danny wasn't surprised when none of those names got a reaction from the woman. When Kono had done her research, she'd found a blonde woman had always been questioned in relation to the murders but she'd gone by a different name every time.

He leaned against the far wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "Which name do you prefer to go by?"

Marsden just blinked at him. Almost like a zombie.

Danny's first instinct had been to check the woman they'd arrested was indeed the same person that had been suspected of committing several murders. A quick analysis through a facial recognition software had revealed that Marsden was, in fact, all of those people plus many others. Over the past ten years, the woman had adopted many personas.

Anyone looking from the outside in would wonder how this innocent looking woman could have drugged and tortured several men twice her size. As the old saying went, never judge a book by its cover. Men that had the misfortune to encounter her were not seen again.

Except Steve McGarrett. He was the exception to the rule and Danny needed to know why.

Danny wasn't sure what to think of her. It was clear she was delusional, completely detached from reality. Probably a psychopath. If not, probably just a sadistic she-devil that enjoyed watching men suffer.

"Miss Marsden?"

"I will not be answering any questions without my lawyer present," she finally answered.

Danny snorted a laugh at her response. "Look around you! Do you know where you are? You don't get a lawyer until I say so!"

She tilted her head to the side, much like a dog. "Lawyer."

Danny pushed his body off the wall and took a few steps closer. "No."

Anger flashed in her eyes and Danny felt a sense of victory over her.

"You know the definition of that word, don't you Miss Marsden?" Danny asked, keeping his tone casual.

"Of course I do," she growled.

"I'm guessing it's a word you don't hear often then, because it usually means someone doesn't agree with you," Danny paused for a moment and when it was clear she wasn't going to say anything, he continued. "That's why the drugs were necessary. They can't say no if they're unconscious or unable to fight back, right?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Marsden snapped.

"We both know that's a lie," Danny replied. "So why'd you do it? Does watching men in pain get you off?"

Marsden glared at him but it was her mouth twitching upwards that gave her away.

Danny smirked. "You don't have to say anything. I already know the answer."

Danny reached into his pocket and pulled out the notebook that Kono had pulled off the woman. He opened it to the page that had caught his eye the previous day. "You really shouldn't leave incriminating evidence like this lying around. For someone as intelligent as yourself, I'm surprised that you didn't have it under lock and key."

Danny looked up and watched with satisfaction as the colour drained from her face. 'Gotcha!' he thought. He started to read a passage from her notebook.

"I felt butterflies in my stomach as I stood outside the door. All of my preparation and planning had finally come to fruition. Gabe (or should I say Doctor Ruskin) told me he was being uncooperative. He doesn't know what he's talking about, stupid man. All I need is a little time with Steve and he will see the truth."

Danny paused for a moment and breathed deeply. He knew what was written in the next passage and he wanted to wring Marsden's neck for playing with his partner's mind that way.

"I knew he recognised me the moment I walked into the room. All that time I'd spent getting to know his routine had paid off. Those fleeting moments of interaction had lead to this. It was intoxicating to know that I finally had him all to myself. I told him about our marriage (or at least, what I envisaged it to be) and how he returned to Hawaii because his father was sick. The look on his face was priceless. I struggled not to laugh when I told him Hesse and his taskforce were all made up, a coping mechanism to protect his fractured mind. I knew he was different to the others when instead of going with the story to appease me, he fought back. This was going to be so much fun."

Danny flipped to a few pages ahead in the book. "I knew he was smart. That's why I chose him, after all. But I didn't think he was that intelligent (note to self - acquire more men to keep him under control). So I did the only thing I could. I told him his friends and family weren't looking for him and that he had to suffer the consequences for trying to leave." Danny swallowed down the bile that threatened to make an untimely appearance. "There was something so satisfying about watching him struggle as the blade sliced his skin. It had to be done. I couldn't let his past hold him back anymore. It was the only way to rid him of the memories that stopped him from accepting the present. He actually asked me why I'd chosen him. I knew then that I had to protect him, keep him safe from those that threatened his happiness and wellbeing."

Danny snapped the notebook shut. "Bit of a rocky start to your relationship, wasn't it?" He didn't expect a response from her, so he continued. "The fact that he fought your every move didn't stop you. You wanted to see him in pain. But something changed, didn't it?"

When reading through her notes, he'd noticed a shift in the tone of her writing. It had changed from clinical observations of Steve's daily routine to journal-like entries of a fourteen year old girl. Something about Steve had triggered a change in Marsden.

"You never sent the others tokens of affection. What was so different about Steve?" he asked.

"I knew he could understand me," she answered with a slowly growing smile. "We've both been betrayed by people that we should have been able to trust."

Sure, Steve had definitely been lied to enough in his life that his faith in people should have been shattered but her perception of who had done the betraying was seriously warped.

"So who betrayed you?" Danny asked quietly.

Her eyes darkened with anger. "He did."

"Who did?" Danny interrogated.

No answer, only a fiery glare shot in his direction.

Danny shrugged and opened the book again. "That's okay. I can find the answer for myself." He started walking circles around the room as he flipped to the page he had bookmarked earlier. "I waited all day and then there he was. He pulled off his shoes and put them in the corner by the door. He called for me and I answered. I'd made him a cup of tea, just like always, but this one was special. It only took a second for the drugs to take hold. The pathetic look in his eyes when he realised what was happening was almost comical. It was a small mercy - that was all he was owed."

Danny stopped in front of her and waited for her to meet his gaze. "Your father didn't die from cancer. You killed him, Rebecca. What I want to know is why?"

"He deserved it," Marsden spat.

"And what did he do to deserve being murdered?"

There was a clang of metal on metal as Marsden surged forwards and the cuffs pulled taught. "He was unfaithful! My mother left because he couldn't keep it in his pants!"

"So you decided to make him pay?"

"He needed to understand that actions have consequences!" she screamed.

"So you killed him because he cheated on your mother?"

"Yes!" she yelled. "And the others too. They were all unfaithful. Unworthy."

Her face was flushed red with anger and Danny realised she believed every word she spoke. She'd killed those other men because they'd strayed.

"What about Steve McGarrett?" Danny asked quietly. "Was he unworthy too?"

Marsden breathed deeply and grinned toothily. "No…No, he wasn't."

"And you wanted to change that? So you had an excuse to kill him, like all the others?" Danny paused, expecting some kind of response. When he didn't get one, he continued. "The only problem with that is he never strayed. He remained loyal, even when you threatened to kill his family?"

Marsden shrugged, the cuffs jangling against the metal chair. "What can I say? I enjoyed watching him squirm."

Danny felt sick. "Why did you choose him? If you only wanted men that were unfaithful, why did you take McGarrett?"

Marsden laughed. "You haven't figured it out yet, Detective?"

Danny frowned. A sinking feeling in his stomach told him he should end the interview right then and walk out but he had to know.

Her laughter grew more hysterical. "The challenge!"

He turned on his heel and strode towards the door, the harsh sound of her howling laughter ringing in his ears.

"I waited two years for this and I broke him! I won! Good luck trying to put him back together!"

As soon as the door slammed shut behind him, he leaned against the nearby wall and allowed his weary body to slide down the wall as a heavy realisation hit him full force.

It was so far from over.