CHAPTER TEN - PART TWO

TEN TIMES MORE DANGEROUS

DIAMOND HEAD - O'AHU

With blue, luminous lights snapping and popping in the dark, Steve speeded down the highway. He wasn't exactly supposed to use the siren lights, and if Danny had been sitting next to him, he would've given Steve a speech about it. Except Danny wasn't sitting next to him. He was missing, and nobody seemed to know a damn thing about it. So having the lights on or off was the least of Steve's worry. He changed lanes, passing every car that was driving ahead of him. He was going fast. Ignoring the speed limit. He knew that, but it didn't outweigh the alternative. The faster he would get any answers, the faster he would find his best friend.

Steve took the exit toward Diamond Head.

The hillside part of the Diamond Head neighborhood was set on a slight rise. The houses there were built diagonally above each other, like a staircase, up against the rise of the montane Hawaiian landscape. Each street had its own layer up on the hill. It had a rich feel. Plus, it gave each residence a stunning view at the Head Crater. It's what real-estate people mean when they talk about location. However, the serene view alone didn't give the neighborhood its charm. The houses located there were more prosperous and exorbitant, and luxurious than anywhere else on the island. They were all set far back behind a wide velvet lawn, banks of exotic flora, big trees, and high hedges.

Steve drove up a few blocks before he made the turn into the destined street. He went past a few more obnoxious houses but slowed down when the headlights cast upon a white mailbox. Steve turned right into the drive of number 4406. Nosed slowly up a winding driveway. All the way around an enormous mature tree with a swing hanging on its biggest branch. Steve pulled up near the front door and parked his truck behind a black Mercedes. He climbed out and walked up to the door. Steve paused a second. Took a breath, exhaled some tension. Then he raised his hand and knocked a crisp double-tap.

After a beat, the door was opened by an expensive-looking woman: brown hair, medium height, slim, good bones. Carefully dressed, carefully looked after. Steve had known her for a few years now, and she went by the name, Rachel Edwards.

Rachel smiled at the sight of Steve, but it was a smile with a whole lot of suspicion behind it. Then she asked with her British accent. "Steven? What are you doing here?"

"Hey Rachel," Steve greeted and smiled back. "Is it okay if I come in?" He tried to compose himself because he had knocked on plenty of different doors at night to know how this must look. He was standing on her doorstep. Alone. Without his partner. Her ex-husband. The father of their kids. Zero possibility of good news. Besides, a knock at the door at night was the worst sound in the world for a cop's family. Rachel knew that, and she had tried to free herself of that, with the divorce, but little did she know that it didn't take a divorce to stop the worrying. It may have worked if they genuinely hated each other, but they had two kids together, whom they both loved dearly. And in Steve's opinion, Danny and Rachel still cared for each other too.

It only took Rachel one glance at Steve, and she was right back at being married to a cop. "Do I need to be worried?" She asked while she wrapped her cardigan tight around her body. Embracing herself for what might come.

Steve gave her a look full of sympathy and empty of judgment.

"Sorry, old habits," she apologized and did a step backward. She invitingly held the front door open and said. "Please, come in."

Steve stepped past her and said. "Thank you."

He went inside. There was an immediate right-angle turn to the left. It would probably lead to the living room or kitchen, so Steve took the liberty. This was no conversation to have in the hallway. He went ahead, looked around, observed the art hanging on the wall, and entered the living slash open kitchen. There, he also looked around. He had never been inside the Edwards' home. He'd been inside their previous house, but not this one. The interior had stayed the same throughout the move, few changes here and there but most of the furniture he'd seen before. The same was true for the Lawson-style couch. It was spacious enough for easily six people or five as there was already one spot taken by an enthusiastic little guy.

Charlie jumped off the couch and ran straight at Steve. "Uncle Steve!" He exclaimed and wrapped him with both arms around Steve.

"Hey, buddy!" Steve hugged the miniature version of his partner tight. Strange thing they all considered Stan Edwards as the kid's father when clearly Charlie looked exactly like Danny Williams. The resemblance was uncanny. The face was the same. The hair was the same. Even the body shape was the same. The shoulders were just skin and bone under a child's t-shirt for now, but somehow they already hinted at the muscles they would carry later. The eyes were Danny's own, except for the color, hazel, but cool, calm, reassuring. Exactly like Danny.

Steve swallowed and asked. "How'd the game go yesterday?"

Charlie pushed himself out of the hug. "Danno didn't tell you?"

Steve's face went slack, then recovered himself smoothly. "Can't I just hear it from the champion himself?"

Charlie bounced with excitement. "We won!"

"You did? That's great, buddy," Steve put out his hand and high-fived the kid. "Good job. I'm proud of you."

Rachel joined them in the living. "So to what do we owe this surprising visit? You're not here because Daniel asked you to apologize for him, are you?"

"No, I'm not here to apologize," Steve said, then asked. "Apologize for what, exactly?"

"For yesterday, as he left the game with you," Rachel explained and added. "Always important work to do, right?" She smiled, but Steve knew how Rachel really felt about the job.

Steve scratched the back of his head. "Actually, he didn't leave with me."

"Oh," Rachel frowned, confused, but let it slide rather quickly. "Well, Tracy, one of the soccer moms said a guy showed up near the end of the game. Joined Daniel and then left. I just assumed it was you."

Charlie started giggling. "Uncle Steve never wears a suit."

It put a smile on Steve's face. He looked down at the little Williams and defended himself. "Well, only when I have to."

Rachel referred her question to her son. "Did you see the man?"

Charlie nodded.

"What'd he look like?"

Charlie shrugged and faced Steve. "I don't know. He had dark hair, just like you," he answered and crooked his head to the left. "Where's Danno? Why isn't he here with you?"

"Oh, I uhm," Steve stammered, trying to come up with something. "I-I just need to speak with your mom about a surprise for Danno."

Rachel was kind enough to save him from having to lie any further. "Sweetheart, it's really time for bed. So say goodnight to Uncle Steve, and I'll be right there."

Charlie gave Steve another hug and said. "Good night, Uncle Steve."

Steve hugged the boy tight. "Good night, buddy. Sweet dreams."

Both Steve and Rachel watched Charlie trail off to the hallway and heard him climb the stair. Rachel walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottled water from the kitchen island. She offered Steve one, but he declined. Rachel put it back, and now that Charlie was out of sight and hearing reach, she pointed to the hallway.

"He might believe you on why Daniel isn't here, but I can tell when people lie. I picked up a trick or two along the way. I was married to a cop, remember?" She said it with a lot of ice in her voice. Not aimed at Steve. Aimed at whatever circumstance was forcing her to use the words married and cop in the same sentence.

"Danny's missing."

Rachel's face went blank. "Missing?" the word tumbled out of her mouth, and panic overtook her face. "As in you can't find him?"

"Not yet, but we will," Steve assured and asked. "When did you see him last?"

"Uhm," Rachel started nervously fiddling with the sleeves of her cardigan. "Yesterday morning, at the soccer fields. You know, the one's at Mililani Town."

"Did he tell you where he was going? Or if he had plans?"

"No, he didn't. I asked him if he could stay till the end. He said he would, but he was gone when I got back," the situation suddenly hit her. Rachel covered her mouth with both hands. "Oh god, you don't think something terrible happened?" she asked, and tears filled her eyes. "What do I tell the kids?"

"Rachel?" Steve seized Rachel by her shoulders before she would spiral. "Hey," he looked her in the eye. "I promise you we're doing everything we can to find him, okay? Right now, we're trying to retrace his last steps. Trying to understand what happened yesterday. But we will find him."

"Okay," Rachel nodded, and Steve let go of her. "The guy in the-the suit? Does he have something to do with it?"

"Could be, yes. We'll look into that. Maybe he can tell us more."

"Wait, maybe he's in one of the videos." Rachel said, pulled her handbag off the kitchen island, and started fumbling through the bag.

Steve frowned, confused. "What videos?"

"From the soccer game," She said as he pulled her cell phone out of her handbag.

Steve leaned forward. "You have footage from yesterday morning?"

"Yes, Tracy sent one to me. Some parents just film the whole thing instead of actually watching it. Can you believe that?"

"Excuses me for a second," Steve turned around, dragged the phone from his pocket, and made a call. "Hey Lou, I need you to compile a list of the kids that participated in Charlie's soccer game on Saturday morning. Both teams. Contact all the parents and have them sent every picture and video taken that morning. See if we can find any footage of a dark-haired man with a business suit on. I'm on my way back to the palace."

SKATE HANGAR - O'AHU

Danny didn't die.

He watched his chest rise and fall, fill and empty. It moved incredibly fast. But he was breathing, and breathing meant he wasn't dead. Not yet. Danny felt tired. And at the same time peaceful and vague. He lay there for a full minute, just breathing until his vision cleared and he could make out the arching roof above him again. He breathed some more. In, out, in, out. Up until his lungs functioned without him having to force the steps. Danny didn't know why he was still alive. Best guess. The giant had been instructed not to kill. He could make Danny suffer all he wanted, but he couldn't kill him. That was off-limit even for the man-mountain. Danny didn't know whether that was supposed to make him feel relieved or terrified. Probably terrified, as this fight could go on endlessly.

Danny levered himself upright. He was dizzy. The man-mountain was just standing there, smiling, watching Danny shape up. Danny realized, that not only would the fight go on endlessly, the guy was also going to take his time. He was going to really enjoy himself. That became clear when he smiled wider. Danny faced him front and watched how the giant got ready for another round. The guy took a breath. Then he moved and turned away. Walked ten feet. Turned back, and he came straight at Danny. Danny figured he could dodge one more time, maybe twice, maybe three times if he was really lucky, and then it would all be over.

Danny dodged whatever the guy threw for about a minute. The giant was fast, but he was getting out of breath. That's the thing about steroid-using weight-lifters. They forget to train anything but their muscles. The man-mountain was a prime example. He had weight-lifted himself right out of the frame. He was a show pony and nothing more. Knowing that, Danny feinted left, dodging another punch. He did that for another full minute. The guy stopped and stood there, panting. Now it was Danny's turn to watch him and smile, and it made Danny believe he might have some kind of chance after all.

Danny's smile pushed the guy over the edge. His eyes were blazing, and he came straight at Danny. Again, but this time it was like he was going to come and get Danny and tear him apart. For good. Danny stepped aside, grabbed the guy's left wrist, and turned his elbow inside out until the joint dislocated and then broke. The giant didn't make a sound. Danny let go of the arm as he was stunned. There was no yelp, no scream, or any kind of verbal outburst. The guy seemed impervious to pain.

In seconds the man-mountain closed the gap between them. His left arm was useless, so he would either throw a punch with his right, or he would do something entirely else. He did the latter. He raised his foot and stamped it down on Danny's right knee. The boot came down solid and heavy. Danny turned white and screamed in agony as he collapsed on the concrete. He could feel all his blood just drain away from his face. In pain, Danny wrapped his hands around his lower right leg, trying to keep his leg still from any motion. The giant stepped closer and towered over Danny. The guy pulled his foot back, held it, and looked Danny in the eyes. Then he kicked Danny's knee like he was aiming for a field goal right at the end of the last quarter. Danny heard it crunch, and he screamed again.

DIAMOND HEAD - O'AHU

Driving back to the headquarters, Steve felt empty and lost. Time was ticking away. Time he didn't have. Time he would never get back. He had promised Rachel they were doing everything to find Danny. They were; it only didn't feel like it. It felt like they were running around in circles, finding no clues or whatsoever. A ringing cell phone snapped Steve out of his thoughts. He glanced at the name that popped up on the screen. It was Jerry. Steve hit the button to answer the call and put it on speaker.

"Jerry, what'd you got?"

"Commander, I have a lock on Detective Williams' cell phone position."

Hope sparked inside of Steve, filling up the empty void he felt. "Where is it?"

"It's right here at the office."

Steve's brows snapped together. "What?"

— TBC / HAWAIIFIVE0 —

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has faved, followed or left a review this far. Also the guests who are reviewing, thank you!

Next chapter will be up on Monday. With more to come!

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