CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

TRYING TO SMUGGLE TWENTY-SEVEN KILOS OF FENTANYL

FIVE-0 HEADQUARTERS - DOWNTOWN HONOLULU - O'AHU

Having called everyone to the briefing room the Five-0 Task Force stood in a half circle around the smart table. Jerry swiped on the device and let a photo appear on the centermost screen standing in front of the team. "Remember Tao Fong?" He asked in general.

After some thinking and looking at the photograph, Steve gave a brief nod. "Right, we found his blood on the parking at the Nakamura fields. Former MMA fighter?"

"Yes, there are multiple arrests linked with criminal activity from the Chinese triad and therefore Kim Leung," Jerry clarified. "But it turns out he's also the son of Randy Tao's sister."

Steve's eyebrows pressed together. "Randy Tao as in, the drug trafficker, Randy Tao?"

Confused, Lou shook his head. "Wait, his sister named her son Tao? After her maiden name, I assume? Original."

"That's not the point here," Jerry stated impatiently.

Tani questioned. "Didn't Duclair turn Randy Tao and his two sons into crispy fried strips, KFC style, but burned?"

Grimacing at the delineated explanation, Danny glanced across at Tani.

Jerry agreed and said. "Graphic, however, that's correct."

Steve was interested in how any of this seemed relevant. "What are you trying to say, Jerry?"

Having the undivided attention of all team members, Jerry then shared. "I think Kim Leung's trafficking drugs. In fact, I believe he's one of the top dogs now that Randy Tao and his sons are eliminated."

"There's honestly not one piece of evidence that could discriminate Leung," Steve mentioned.

Jerry shot Steve a puzzled stare. "Isn't there?"

Junior checked. "We looked into it, no?"

"We did," Jerry concurred and swiped a digital criminal record onto the flatscreen. "And Kim has been arrested for minor drug offenses. Did two years in Halawa for it. After his release, he was suspected of trying to smuggle twenty-seven kilos of fentanyl out of the country."

Lou's eyes widened. "He sold drugs after his release?"

Jerry corrected. "Manufacturing drugs actually, but that was until he stopped."

Lou shrugged, "He stopped? Why did he stop?"

"HPD, FBI, and the DEA had their suspicion, planned on arresting him for it. It was a bust. Kim possibly shut his operation down before the arrest. There was not one piece of evidence left. They had to let him walk."

Steve crossed his arms over his chest. "Then why do you think Kim's one of the top dogs now? If there wasn't evidence then, is there now?"

"No, there's not. Not officially," Jerry confessed. "However, the DEA raid happened earlier this year, around the same time that Randy Tao was eliminated."

Tani placed her hand on Jerry's shoulder. "I know you're not a big fan of coincidences, but they do exist, Jer," she said. "Kim clearly shut down everything for good because the DEA was closing in on him."

Jerry sided-eyed Tani. "You don't stop making drugs, even not with the DEA breathing down your neck. Not unless you have a business in mind that generates more money."

Intrigued, Danny said. "Continue,"

"Right— well, it didn't make a lot of sense to me either. Not until we discovered Bob Henderson was a DEA agent. If you think about it, why would the DEA be involved again if it's not about drugs? And why isn't there any record of Bob Henderson being infiltrated."

Lou admitted. "The guy has a point."

"He does," Danny agreed. "There was this one guy— big guy. Twice the size of an NFL player, who was definitely high on something strong."

"By any chance you mean, Oleg Antonov." Jerry swiped a DMV photograph to the screen standing left.

Danny instantly identified by saying. "That's him."

Jerry started summing up Antonov's record. "Former MMA heavyweight contender. He's proficient in six different martial arts. Got himself banned from legal competition. For all sorts of rule violations. In the past four months, he's been in six different countries. According to authorities he is suspected in all of those countries of partaking in illegal fights. Now these are high-stakes, underground bouts. Where wealthy fans pay big bucks to sit ringside. There are no rules. No refs. People die."

Tani enlarged a file herself and swiped it to the left screen as well. "Russian nationality but flew from Bangkok to O'ahu ten days ago. Same flight as Cheng Wu, aka the dead John Doe from the hospital."

Having Steve's full attention he looked aside at Jerry. "Anything else that fundaments this theory of yours?"

"Yes," Jerry said. "I've sent the list of Kim's associates over to the HPD officers tracking him. And together with Detective Williams' identifications, I have narrowed the long list down to fourteen guys that are or have been in active contact with Kim, including Tao Fong and Cheng Wu. And they all have one thing in common,"

"A criminal record?" Tani quipped.

"Obviously," Jerry commented. "But also a gym membership at 'Gym Shark'."

Steve frowned. "Isn't 'Gym Shark' owned by Kim Leung?"

Jerry gave a nod. "That's correct."

Danny pointed at the screen. "So his guy's work out there? That's not illegal, is it."

"It's not," Jerry confessed. "But using the gym as a facade and laundering money through it is."

Danny glared annoyed at Jerry. "You could've led with that."

Jerry shared a street-view image of the business on the right screen. "Gym Shark has several buildings all over the island, but the one that opened first is located downtown Honolulu."

The image showed the business upfront. A modern building. Big neon franchise sign above the centered double glass door and tall glass windows on both sides of the door. The gym was located on a short strip. A smaller business on the left and a store on the right.

"Looks fancy," Lou said after observing. "Also close to Pier One."

"Who needs a tanning salon in O'ahu?" Danny referred to the smaller business on the left.

Steve looked aside at his partner. "You do."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Fair point, but I could just get one for free is what I'm saying."

Tani leaned in. "You'd be surprised how many there are."

"Kim's smart," Steve contemplated. "A gym is just the kind of place that might place a large order of equipment and supplements."

"Look at this." Jerry tapped on the tech table and swiped a file to the screens. It contained a vertical list, divided into columns. At the top, typed in bold and underlined, stood Quarterly Earnings Sheet.

"That's a pretty strong revenue stream for a gym." Lou pointed at the $250.000 that was summed under Revenue earnings.

Steve scanned the financial record and concluded. "Kim Leung is using this place to launder his money."

Lou scoffed. "Hell, it might even be the stash house."

"All right, Junior. Lou. Go pick up Tao Fong. Let's see what he has to say about all this," Steve commanded. Then he turned to his partner, who to Steve's own surprise was still standing up and ordered. "You, go sit down in your office, take a break, and elevate your leg. If you do, I'll let you tag along for the interrogation of Fong," he bribed as he knew. "I know you want to."

"Fine," Danny breathed out and stumbled off to his office cubicle.

Steve looked to his left. "Tani, please grab a cold pack from the fridge in my office for his knee. Just shake the package to activate it," he explained and Tani went ahead to the corner office. Steve shared a look with the last remaining team member. "Jerry, contact the DEA. I want every report and every file Bob Henderson had on Kim."

Jerry nodded towards the smart table. "That won't be necessary, there's an incoming phone call from the DEA office as we speak."

"All right. Go ahead. Answer it," Steve said and waited for Jerry to connect the call. "McGarrett."

"Commander McGarrett. Special Agent Moore, DEA," a man introduced over speaker phone. "I have been told that you and your team have been trying to run a background check on one of my agents, Bob Henderson. You are to cease any more inquiries."

Steve frowned at the request before he answered. "With all due respect, I can't do that, Sir. Bob Henderson was murdered here on O'ahu. His death is part of a Five-0 investigation."

"Not anymore, the DEA will be taking over the investigation."

Crossed his arms over his chest. "And why's that?"

"I'm not obliged to share any information with you." The male voice said sternly.

"In that case, neither do I," Steve objected. "If you want our investigation, I suggest you phone the governor herself."

There was a scoff on the other side of the line and then. "Commander, I can assure you the governor's not gonna help you with this. So do yourself a favor and don't get in our way. "

With that said the call got disconnected.

Steve glanced aside at Jerry. "I want those files and reports, but do this low-key, understood?"

"God of Mischief."

Puzzled, Steve leaned forward with his shoulders. "What?"

"Loki. God of mischief. Brother of Thor?" Jerry rambled. "You don't watch Marvel do you?" he asked and the realization landed. "O, wait, you meant low-key, as in under the radar?"

"I did."

Jerry gave a nod. "Got it."

"Thanks, Jerry." And Steve went to his own office.

RENDITION ROOM - FIVE-0 HEADQUARTERS - DOWNTOWN HONOLULU - O'AHU

The lock buzzed and Steve pulled the door open of the rendition room. It felt cold and damp and the room was merely lit by the lights mounted against both side walls. Inside the square cinderblock box stood only just one chair and cuffed to that chair sat Tao Fong. Steve stepped inside and waited for Danny to enter as well before he shut the door behind him. The lock buzzed again.

Steve turned around and faced the guy chained to the metal chair. Steve looked good and carefully at the guy. Trying to read the signs. They had let Tao Fong wait and sweat close to an hour but he didn't seem impressed by that. Right away Steve could tell Tao was a hardscrabble boy, lean and furtive. He wasn't sweating and he wasn't shaking. He simply stared straight into the abyss. Such a guy would give nothing up. Except by accident. Triad guys don't get a college degree. There would be some kind of side door. Some kind of trigger. Maybe approval. Tao was the type of guy who most likely never had much of that.

Steve noticed a shared glance between Tao and Danny. They knew each other. To what extent Steve would never find out. He placed his hands on his hips and waited for Danny to take the lead but that didn't happen.

Then after a beat, Steve said. "Okay, so here's what's gonna happen. You will tell us everything we want to know about Kim Leung, about his businesses, the underground fighting, and the drug operation he runs. And in return, we will let you off the hook."

The guy shot a look at Steve. "Why do you even think I would know anything?"

"I don't. You're right," Steve acknowledged. "So help me understand how a guy like you. A strong, tough, prize-winning, but former, MMA fighter turns into an errant boy for your uncle and later Kim Leung. Didn't have it in you to take your uncle's business, did you?"

Tao straightened in his seat. There was something in his eyes. Steve had found the side door. Then a smile transformed Tao's face and he started laughing.

Steve stayed serious. "Sorry, is there something funny?"

"You two have nothing on me. You think you can keep me here?" Tao moved in his chair. His handcuffs clinked against the metal of the chair legs. "You're wrong. My lawyer will have me out of here in no time."

Now it was Steve's turn to smile. "No, you're the one that has it wrong. Because right now you're in a four-foot thick cinderblock box, 60 feet underground," Steve pounded a few times against the concrete with his fist. Solid as could be. "Nobody knows you're here, especially not your lawyer and that's because we didn't call him. You're not getting out until you tell me what I want to know."

"I have rights."

"No, you don't," Danny said, livid. "You gave up your rights when you decided to be on Kim Leung's payroll."

Steve looked aside at his partner. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to let Danny join Steve in the interrogation. The two men clearly had a bone to pick with each other and Danny even more so with Tao then visa-versa.

"You're cops," Tao said, calmly.

"We are, but do we look like regular cops?" Steve questioned. Tao didn't say anything which Steve took as a no. "We don't because we are the kind of cops that would just shoot you instead of arresting you."

Danny agreed. "It's definitely less paperwork to just put a bullet in you," he said and took a step to his left, closer to Steve. "And let me tell you, my partner, over here— he hates doing paperwork. He hates it so much that I always end up doing it and let me tell you, I don't feel like doing the paperwork today either."

In one swift move, Danny pulled the gun out of Steve's holster.

Shocked, Steve reacted. "What are you doing?"

Danny jammed a bullet into its chamber and clicked the safety catch off. "We need information."

Steve watched Danny slowly point the gun dead center to Tao's chest. "So you're gonna shoot him?"

Danny placed his finger on the trigger. "I haven't decided."

"Give it back," Steve held out his hand but Danny didn't budge an inch. "We'll get the information out of him, okay? Then he'll get booked and go to jail, and I'll do the paperwork this time, all right?"

Then with his arm slightly trembling Danny lowered the gun. He either quivered from the sudden adrenaline or Steve's guess, his right shoulder was giving him trouble. Danny clicked the safety catch back on and handed over Steve's gun. Who gladly put it back into his holster.

"What's this? Good cop, bad cop?" Tao mocked. "You got the wrong guy to mess with. I'm not scared to go to jail."

"We got the wrong guy," Danny snorted. "Here let me ask you, did you play a lot of Monopoly when you were a kid?"

Tao frowned. It was the first time Steve had seen the guy confused. "What does that got to do with anything?" Fong asked.

"Simple yes or no," Steve said, not knowing where his partner was going with this. But it was working.

"I played," Tao answered.

"Then let me explain to you that the jail from Monopoly is very different from the one you're going to if you don't cooperate. Very different," Danny said, deadpanned. "Nobody's gonna bail you out or whatever the rule is."

It earned them an eye roll from Tao, so Steve nudged his head. "Why don't you start by giving us Kim's crew before they come in and flip on you?"

Steve got completely ignored and watched Tao's eyes lock with Danny's. "I remember you, you know. You are the cop."

"That's right, and I remember you too," Danny said as his face grew a shade paler. "I also remember you punching the life out of me while I had my hands tied,"

Tao smiled broadly up to the point where his teeth showed. "Wasn't much of a difference when your hands were untied, but I doubt you remember any of that. You were pretty bad off. Just dropped to the floor after one solid punch."

"You," Steve gave the chair a powerful kick between the guy's legs. "Shut up."

It didn't rattle Tao, he stared straight past Steve and kept his eyes laser-focused on Danny. "I'm just glad you made it back home to your son. How old is he? 5 or 6?"

Steve watched Danny's blue eyes turn dark and there was something in them that made Steve shudder.

"Seems to me the roles are reversed," Steve took a step aside so he could lean against the wall with his shoulder. He crossed his arms over his chest. Shared a glance with Danny and said. "Go for it."

Danny dropped his cane on the floor and pushed up his sleeves. Steve could feel the tension build. Then Danny launched a huge scything roundhouse punch with his right hand. His fist hit the side of the guy's jaw like a sledgehammer. Tao's feet left the ground and he flew sideways, off the chair, and landed crumpled on the floor. As Tao's hands were still cuffed he landed in a terrible position.

"Not so fun is it?" Steve asked rhetorically while smiling down at the guy.

"You can't do that!" Tao exclaimed at Danny as he spat out some blood. Then he looked up at Steve and fumed. "He can't do that!"

"He can do whatever he wants," Steve informed and squatted down to Tao. "It's called rendition. This room is four stories underground. Nobody's gonna hear you," he gloated and added. "I did hear you say you remember my partner, so you'll go to jail for kidnapping and extortion, for how long that is up to you," Steve straightened, grabbed Tao by the collar of his shirt, and pulled him back on the chair. "I'd start talking if I were you."

The lock on the door buzzed and was opened by Jerry. "Guys, sorry to interrupt, but I found something you might want to see."

"I'll go," Danny said, grabbed his cane off the floor, and shambled to the door.

RENDITION ROOM - FIVE-0 HEADQUARTERS - DOWNTOWN HONOLULU - O'AHU

"All right, what it is?" Danny asked as he locked the door of the rendition room behind him.

"Follow me," Jerry said and walked down the cinderblock corridor to the room that was designated as his office.

Danny did as told and started moving after Jerry, gingerly and leaning heavily to the left while relying on the support of the cane.

Stetting one step into Jerry's bunker Danny stopped. "What's all of this?" He questioned as his eyes landed on the back wall. It was covered by pictures pinned to it. A red twine created a timeline between some of them and documents containing all kinds of information were tagged alongside the photos. The images captured Danny's nightmare. Surveillance headshots of Kim Leung. The parking lot at the sports field. The skate hangar. All were bloodstained and photographed by CSU.

"Oh, this?" Jerry turned briefly to the back wall. "It gives me motivation for the search."

"Motivation?" Danny arched his eyebrows. "Please take it down."

"Why?"

"Why?" Danny repeated and pointed at the image where a massive blood puddle had spread along the bottom of the skate bowl. "Jerry, I don't wanna see this every time I come down here."

Jerry narrowed his eyes. "You never come down here."

"I'm standing here now, right?" Danny said, pointing at himself.

Jerry kept his narrowed eyes on Danny. Then they widened as Jerry's eyes flicked down on Danny's chest. "You are bleeding."

Danny looked down at the pinkish stain in his button-up shirt. "Ah— that explains it."

"Explains what?" Jerry asked concerned.

"The stabbing pain in my chest," Danny said, grimacing. Now that the adrenaline had faded he realized punching the life out of Tao Fong hadn't been such a good idea after all. His shoulder was sending out flares of nerve pain and he felt a sickening throb in his chest. Danny clutched his left arm onto his chest. Without the support of the cane, Danny slumped against the door frame.

"Maybe you should sit down?" Jerry suggested.

Another shock of pain shot through Danny's chest and his face contorted. "Maybe I should."

Jerry helped Danny sit down on the worn-out couch standing in the corner of the office-like room. "I'll get Steve."

"No—" Danny grunted out firmly. "You will not get Steve. In fact, you'll not say a word to him about this. Just go and grab the first aid kit upstairs, please."

Jerry gave a firm nod. "On it," and left Danny alone.

— TBC / HAWAIIFIVE0 —

A/N: Loads of information, dialogue and twists. Loads more to come. Stay tuned :)