Chapter 2

Max peered into the tank as the drone powered net was almost ready to bring the disgorged human arm to the surface.

"It is definitely the upper extremity of a homo sapien male," he said.

"So, in other words, a man's arm," Steve said. "We figured that much out all by ourselves."

"I won't be able to provide you with any more details until I get it back to the lab," Max replied.

Steve scrubbed his hand over his face. "Any idea how long until we can get an ID?"

"It depends on if I can get prints, and if those prints are in the system," Max said. "If not, I'll have to try a DNA match and that will take a bit longer."

Max watched carefully as the net containing the arm made its way towards the surface.

"A cursory observation tells me this limb was not disarticulated by the shark."

Steve sighed. "Plain English please, Max. It's very early."

Max tore his attention away from the tank and looked at Steve. "The shark did not bite off the arm. It was already separated from the body when he ate it."

"Are you sure?" Steve asked.

"Fairly sure. Yes," Max replied. "The separation is too smooth. If it had been done by the shark the edges would be more uneven."

"Ok, that adds a new wrinkle," Steve said. "Just let me know the details as soon as you can.

(Aquarium Conference room)

"So wait," Danny looked confused. "Are we supposed to believe this shark just came across a human arm bobbing in the water with no body attached and decided to have a snack?"

"I'm just repeating what he told me," Steve said. "Chin, I want you and Kono to check all the other islands for any signs of unidentified body parts washing up. Danny and I will stay here and interview the witnesses. We'll meet up at the palace in an hour or so."

"Sounds good," Chin said.

As the cousins headed out Steve turned to his partner. "Ready?"

Danny nodded.

"Okay, let's get started," Steve said, breaking the silence in the room. The employees who had been present when the shark barfed up the arm were seated around a long conference table, looking slightly nervous about being questioned by the police.

Danny approached the first witness with a reassuring smile. He sat down across from the young woman, whose name badge identified her as Cara. "You were here when it happened, right?"

"Yes," Cara said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We were just getting ready to…"

"Hold on," Danny interrupted, "You're going to do fine. I know this was probably a scary experience. Take a deep breath. Start from the beginning."

Cara nodded, visibly calming herself as she did what he said. "Okay. We were preparing for the release of Hilda. Her tail injury looked much better and she was ready to go back to her shiver."

"Shiver?" Danny asked.

Cara nodded. "That's what you call a group of sharks."

"I did not know that." Danny smiled. "I learned something new today. Which my grandmother would say makes it a successful day."

Cara smiled, then continued.

"The vet techs were in the back, and I was just… just watching her swim. Everything looked normal but then all of the sudden she started to thrash, and then…"

Cara swallowed hard.

"Then she vomited up the arm," Danny finished for her, his tone steady. "Did you see what caused her to act that way? Any disturbance?"

Cara shook her head. "No, nothing. She just… she just started retching, and then…" A shudder ran through her. "I couldn't believe what I saw."

"Okay, thanks. You did great. If everyone else does as good as you we'll be finished in no time."


Forty-five minutes later the interviews were complete and Steve and Danny headed back to headquarters. None of the aquarium employees had seen anything at all unusual during the time Hilda had been at the rehab center. No strange behavior, no unknown persons hanging around. Nothing.

Danny sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "A shark puking up a human arm. What's next, a raccoon with a gun?"

Before he could respond, Steve's phone rang through the car's system. "Catherine." A small smile appeared at the sound of her voice. "Everything ok?"

"Hey, I'm just calling to give you a heads up," she said. "The local news is running the story online, and our office is getting flooded with calls. This could turn into a … excuse the pun, media feeding frenzy."

"Perfect." Steve sighed. "Just what we need."

"A video of the shark is already trending. It's only a matter of time before the public starts speculating about where the arm came from," she explained. "And the conspiracy theorists will immediately run amuck."

"As they always do," Danny grumbled.

"I've had several reporters pretty much insist on a press conference to reassure the public that everything is under control," Catherine said, her voice steady. "One of them threatened to go with the headline, 'Five 0 investigating a potential serial killer feeding victims to the sharks'. We need to control the narrative, can you give me anything?"

"Nothing yet but we're on our way to the office. Hopefully Max will have an ID on the body. That'll give us a place to start. I'll call you back," Steve said.

Danny shook his head. "Nothing more 'fun' than a hastily arranged press conference." He scowled. "What are we going to say? 'Sorry, folks, we're working on it'? That sounds reassuring."

Steve grinned. "I'll figure out what to say when I'm standing in front of the microphone like usual."

Danny dropped his chin to his chest. "That's what I'm afraid of."


"Max just texted," Steve said, looking at his phone as the team stood around the smart table watching video of the morning's events at the aquarium. "The fingerprints were in the system."

"Thank heavens," Danny groused. "I was getting tired of watching a shark throw up a human arm."

"I think it's fascinating how it came out all in one piece," Chin said. "I could watch this for hours."

"Be my guest," Danny said.

"The arm belongs to Leonard Kapalaua," Steve said. "His last known address was on the mainland."

Chin tapped out a search on the smart table. "Looks like he was reported missing about a year ago. Driver's license is from Oregon."

"Missing for a year from Oregon and part of him ends up in a shark in Honolulu?" Danny uncrossed his arms and ran a hand through his hair. "How does that even happen?"

"Good question," Chin replied, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he pulled up Kapalaua's file. "Looks like he was involved in some shady business before he disappeared. Insurance scams, mostly." He swiped three times and still hadn't reached the bottom of the guy's rap sheet.

"Insurance scams?" Steve echoed, raising his brow. "That could explain why someone might want him dead. Any details?"

"Take your pick," Chin continued, scrolling through the information. "There were 111 complaints filed against him by people who say he ripped them off for anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000."

Danny frowned. "I should have known this one wasn't going to be easy."

"Let's pull anyone from the list who lives in Hawaii or has ties here," Steve said. "We'll start with them."

TBC