Hi all! It's been two weeks since the previous chapter so now it's time for a new one. We're still staying with TC, Rick and Kumu but don't worry - next time we'll go back to Thomas and Juliet to see what they're up to. Enjoy the reading:)

Chapter 6

"Kumu? Kumu!" TC shouted.

"Why has the connection broken down?" Rick asked.

"I don't know, try to reach her again." His friend replied.

Rick immediately took the phone and dialed the woman's number but there was no signal. "Nothing." He shook his head.

"All right. Let's go there." TC stated, already holding the keys to his car.

They both stood up quickly, not wanting to waste any more time and went outside. Rick just hoped that one person working in La Mariana would manage to take care of all the customers. However, he knew that Ohana was much more important than running his business.

They hopped in the vehicle and took off with screeching tires. On their ride Rick studied his friend, noticing his firm grip on the steering wheel which turned his knuckles pale.

"Hey, man. I know you're worried about Kumu, TM and Jules, I am too but I'm sure we'll find out what happened." Rick said, trying to give him some reassurance.

"Yeah, I hope you're right." TC glanced at him before focusing on the road again and speeding towards Robin's Nest.

When they finally got there, it had already turned dark and the sun had been long gone but luckily the estate was quite well lit. They parked the car and got out of it in a second. They remembered that the last place searched by Kumu was the study in the main building so that was where they planned on heading right away. They stopped at the door and before going inside, both friends looked at each other, nodded their heads and reached for their guns just in case the house wasn't as empty as Kumu had told them.

Rick opened the door and they sneaked in very carefully. The living room seemed quite dark, it was only slightly lit by the lights coming from the garden. Still paying attention to any potential threats, Rick and TC made their way to the study. Before they got there, they noticed that the light was on. They stopped for a moment when they heard some noise, someone was evidently there and was using the computer. They strained their ears, trying to figure out what was happening there.

TC glanced at Rick and nodded his head, then pointed to the room. Having spent so much time together serving the country, they both knew how to communicate efficiently without using words. They both crept in that direction soundlessly, their guns in their hands ready to be used. They paused at the entrance, standing side by side with their backs against the wall, it seemed like one of their actions in combat when they served in the army. TC met his friend's eyes and gave him another sign. This time he counted down the time in which they were to get into the room with his fingers. They were ready for everything.

"3…2…1." He moved only his lips without using his voice.

Last glance at each other and then they stormed into the study, guns drawn, not knowing that they were about to get quite a surprise as they were met with a loud woman's shriek. They instantly drew back their guns at the sight that greeted them. There at the desk was sitting no other than Kumu.

"TC, Rick, you gave me quite a fright." She said weakly and they could see she was visibly shaken – her eyes grew wide and her hand flew to her chest. "What are you doing with those guns?"

"I'm so sorry, Kumu but when you told us to come here so suddenly and then the connection broke down, our first thought was that something bad happened to you and that you needed our help so here we are." TC explained.

Kumu looked at him and then at Rick who gave her a sheepish grin.

"All right. Mahalo for coming to my rescue." She stated with a smile. "Actually, you could think that, you see my phone went dead because I forgot to charge it last night."

"Why didn't you use the landline?" Rick asked.

"Because it's dead too."

"So can you tell us what it was that made you want us here so quickly?" TC asked the question Rick also wanted to ask.

"Of course." The woman replied and pointed to the floor nearby. "Look there. Can you see it?"

Rick and TC instantly turned their eyes to that place. Then they glanced at each other and after a few seconds both looked at their friend.

"See what?" TC asked, not really getting what she had meant.

"They're just shards of a vase." Rick added.

They both looked completely puzzled. The woman couldn't believe it – here there were two brave soldiers, having a lot of military merit and who supposed to know how to think logically and how to connect the facts but it seemed somehow they didn't know what was behind it.

"A vase? It's very ancient and one of Mr. Masters' most expensive vases." She explained.

"Okay, Kumu, we get it. It's a very old and important thing. How can it help us find Thomas and Juliet?" Rick spoke.

"It's broken." She replied.

"So?"

"It's evident a fight must have taken place here." Kumu explained.

"Kumu, how do you know that? Everything else seems to be intact. Nothing else is broken in this room." TC joined in, giving the place a quick look-over.

"For all we know, it could have been knocked over by accident." Rick stated.

The woman noticed that TC was pondering about that.

"Higgy would never break something this valuable and ancient, even by accident." He said and met Kumu's eyes.

She shook her head and gave him a sad smile. "No, she wouldn't."

"What about TM?" Rick asked.

"Yeah, that could be possible but even if he did that, Jules would never let him go away with it and beside making him pay for it, she would also make him clean this mess. That's for sure. Am I right, Kumu?" TC asked her.

"Yes, you are." Kumu confirmed his words. "That's why I started searching the security footage but I haven't found anything yet."

"Let's see that." TC said and all three of them gathered around Juliet's computer to see if anything there could tell them what had happened to their friends. They strained their eyes in order not to miss any details but for a long time nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary but then suddenly they got lucky.

"Here they are." Rick murmured.

First, they noticed the Ferrari driving up. They were surprised when only Juliet got out and went to the passenger's side, evidently checking on Magnum and talking to him for some time. Then the three friends got even more shocked when they saw Juliet helping Thomas get out of the car and how heavily he leaned on her while walking inside.

"What the hell?" Rick grunted.

"Did he drink a lot after we had gone home yesterday?" TC asked his friend.

"No."

"Are you sure? Maybe you didn't notice?"

"Man, I was there the whole time. They were both sitting at the bar." He explained and then he remembered something. "After you all had left, he had only one more drink. And actually it was Higgy's drink."

"What?" That caught Kumu's attention. "What do you mean her drink?"

"They were sitting there, he was quite lost in thought and then before he even noticed, he took her glass and drank it in one gulp. That's it, there was nothing more. Soon they left together." Rick explained. "At least now we know they got home safely."

"Yeah but we don't know what happened next." TC replied.

"I think we're just about to find out." Kumu stated and pointed to the screen where a dark van parked near the house. Then a mysterious man in a mask got out and entered the house in the dark. He was followed by two other masked men. It all happened only a couple of minutes after their friends had returned home.

"They must have followed them." Rick said quietly.

Kumu and TC remained silent, they just nodded their heads. They couldn't take their eyes off the screen.

"Perhaps some of those men were in La Mariana observing TM and Jules. How could I not notice that?!" Rick exclaimed, his voice full of guilt.

"It's not your fault, brother. No one would have thought something like this could happen." TC told him and patted him on the arm, offering him a much needed support.

Rick gazed at TC. "I wonder what happened next."

"Well, we'll probably see that in a moment." Kumu stated and moved the footage forward.

She was right, not much time later, they finally learned more. The three of them sat there with their fists clenched and jaws set in anger as they witnessed the horrifying pictures showing first Juliet and then Magnum being loaded into that dark van, both evidently unconscious, and being driven away into the night.

They sat there for a moment before everything sank in.

"How could this happen?" Kumu whispered, shaking her head, not quite believing in what she had just witnessed. "Why them? Why someone would do that to Thomas and Juliet?" She continued.

"I don't know, Kumu." TC said, meeting her worried eyes. "Maybe they want money. They know Robin is loaded and would pay any ransom to free his friends." He really hoped that was the case, otherwise it would make the whole situation much more complicated and even more dangerous.

"What if money is not the thing they're after?" The woman asked the question both Rick and TC dreaded the most.

Both men exchanged concerned glances before replying. "Then we'll have to find that out, go wherever they're holding them and bring them home safe and sound." Rick stated as calmly as he could because he didn't want to make Kumu even more worried than she already was.

She didn't respond to his words but deep down she felt they were trying to put on a brave face, it was just like in a poker game.

Rick noticed her hesitation and wanted to lighten up the atmosphere at least a little. "Hey, those kidnappers were really lucky. If Zeus and Apollo saw that Juliet was in danger, nothing would stop them from attacking and hurting those men. I'm sure of it."

As soon as he had said it, he noticed the sudden change in Kumu's face. Her eyebrows rose in utter horror, she gave a loud cry and her hand instantly covered her open mouth.

"Kumu, what is it?" TC asked.

"What's wrong?" Rick joined in.

"The lads." She murmured.

"What?" TC spoke.

"They've been in confinement for the whole night and day. I have to find them." She stood up abruptly. "I need to feed them."

"We'll call Katsumoto. I guess we may need any help possible." TC said.

Kumu nodded her head in agreement and hurried away in order to check on the dogs. Rick took his phone and dialed the detective immediately.

Despite the late hour, Gordon Katsumoto was still at the precinct. He didn't know if it was just his imagination that all those criminals suddenly now – six days before Christmas – had it in for him and increased their illegal activities. He had twice as much job than usual. He let out a deep breath and put his head in his hands as he felt that somewhere inside a slight headache started forming. Because of that situation he had practically no time to see his son or his friends in the past few days.

Yes, he could say that he finally had some friends. In the past he was so engrossed in his detective work that having friends seemed something totally impossible but some time ago he met Magnum, Higgins and the rest of the group and although he was cautious at first, in the end he became a part of their Ohana. He was quite reserved and never liked talking about his feelings but having those people as his friends meant a lot to him.

He had just finished writing his latest cases' reports and was ready to leave the place, when suddenly his phone started ringing. I wonder who it is. He thought and smiled a little when he noticed the caller ID.

He answered it immediately. "Hey, Rick. If you're calling to invite me to another evening in La Mariana and a Christmas karaoke, I can tell you that I've just finished work and I'll gladly break away from all of it so I'm ready to drop by." He stated before even Rick could say anything.

"Oh, it's good to hear that." Rick replied, however Gordon felt something was odd in his friend's voice. It wasn't as cheerful as it always was.

"You know, we'd be very happy if you could come, although not to La Mariana but to Robin's Nest." Rick stated, now making the detective even more puzzled.

"What? Magnum's throwing a party?" He joked but when he didn't get any response from his caller, he got really worried. "Rick, are you there? What's wrong?"

At first he only heard a long sigh, then the man's words froze him on the spot. "Gordie, we have a situation here – Thomas and Juliet were kidnapped."

"What? When?"

"Last night after they got home. Three men in masks took them." TC replied.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Gordon asked.

"We've learned about it just now." Rick said.

There was a short silence as the detective needed to gather his thoughts. "All right, I'm coming over." He told them.

"Thanks."

"And Gordie?"

"Yes?"

"Bring the CSU with you." Rick added before he hung up.

Thank you for reading. Don't hesitate to share your opinion with me. Next chapter in two weeks' time.

PS. I'm so happy the new season is finally here. What about you?