Asking questions and following leads… what could go wrong?
Hello everybody, I'm back with another story. Wasn't sure that I would keep up writing stories but this one wouldn't leave me alone. I wrote some of this story a little while ago, I went back to to read it and then it just wouldn't leave me alone so I did some editing and reworking on it and I am really enjoying it and think that some of you might too so here you go. Enjoy
The rhythmic hum of the waves echoed off the docked shipping containers, a serene backdrop to what was anything but a peaceful evening.
Steve McGarrett crouched behind a stack of wooden crates, his sharp eyes scanning the rows of shipping containers. He held up a hand to signal Danny to stop.
"You know," Danny whispered, edging closer to Steve, "a normal Friday night involves a movie, maybe a cold beer—not skulking around a dock chasing anonymous tips and invisible criminals."
Steve shot him a smirk. "Where's your sense of adventure?"
Danny huffed. "It's back in my nice, warm bed where I should be right now."
Before Steve could respond, a loud metallic clang echoed from deeper in the yard. Both men froze. Steve motioned for Danny to follow as he moved silently toward the source of the noise.
Around the corner, they spotted a group of men unloading crates from a semi-truck. The men worked quickly, their movements methodical, almost military-like. One of them barked orders in a language neither Steve nor Danny recognized.
Danny squinted at the truck. "Those crates don't look like your usual fishing supplies."
Steve nodded, pulling out his phone and zooming in to snap a picture of the truck's license plate. "Whatever they're moving, they're trying hard to keep it quiet."
Danny peered closer. "Too quiet. Okay I'll admit it was a good tip. What do you want to do? Call it in?"
Steve shook his head. "Not yet. Let's figure out who these guys are first. A busted deal here doesn't get us to the bigger players."
They stayed low, watching as the men secured the last of the crates in the truck bed. The leader barked another command, and the group dispersed, two men climbing into the cab while the others walked off into the maze of containers.
"Truck's leaving," Steve said, pocketing his phone.
Danny frowned. "We tail it?"
"No," Steve said, his tone firm. "We need more information before we make a move."
Danny raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like you, Mr. Kick-the-Door-In."
Steve gave him a pointed look. "Are you complaining about my lack of action Danno? Patience, Danny, patience." he chuckled at Danny's exasperated look. Let's run the plate and see where that truck's registered."
"Right, because criminals are always so meticulous with their paperwork," Danny muttered.
Ignoring him, Steve typed the license plate into the police database app.
As they waited, Danny tapped the dashboard impatiently. "So, we're just sitting here while they drive off into the sunset with who-knows-what in the back?"
Steve shot him a look. "You know normally you're the one preaching patience and procedure to me"
"Which is why I'm so confused by this sudden Zen approach," Danny retorted
A few seconds later, a match popped up. He glanced at the screen and frowned.
"Truck's registered to a rental company near the airport," Steve said, showing Danny the results.
"That narrows it down," Danny replied, voice thick with sarcasm. "Because now we only have 4,500 acres of airport to search"
"Which is why we're going to dig deeper," Steve said, his focus shifting back to his phone, he dialed Chin's number. The call connected after the first ring.
"Steve, what's up?" Chin's calm voice came through the line.
"Hey, Chin. We've been tailing a truck down by the docks, part of that theft ring we've been tracking. It's registered to a rental company near the airport. Can you run the company's info and see what pops up?" Steve said, glancing over as Danny huffed his annoyance.
"Sure thing. Send me the details, and I'll dig into it," Chin replied while Steve mouthed a "what?" to Danny
Danny, now firmly realizing that his Friday night was far from over, leaned closer to Steve. "Ask him about that lead Kono was following earlier."
"Oh, yeah," Steve added. "How's Kono doing on that other lead? The stolen electronics shipments?"
"She's still piecing it together. We think the stolen shipments might be moving through a storage facility up near Mililani," Chin said.
Steve exchanged a glance with Danny. "Alright, Chin, call Kono in. With these other guys popping onto our radar, I'm starting to get a feeling this is developing into something that needs our attention. Danny and I will meet you at the office."
Danny was just balancing four cups of coffee to the big smart table in the middle of the room when Kono entered the office. Kono was dressed in a short, skinny black dress, her black high heels clattering loudly through the late evening office.
"Wow," Danny said pleasantly surprised, briefly forgetting his tiredness; he almost dropped one of the cups when he took in Kono's appearance. "I stand corrected" he said looking towards Steve "wherever Kono is coming from…. That is what one should be doing with their Friday evening" turning back toward Kono, he held a cup out to her "Very nice dress, rookie," he said with a wink of his eye. "Your Adam is a lucky guy; I hope he appreciates what he's got."
Giving Danny a bright smile, Kono nodded briefly before she took the offered cup of coffee and turned toward McGarrett. "Sorry, I didn't have time to change," Kono explained apologetically, nodding toward Steve "So, what do we have?" she asked curiously.
"Danny and I chased down a tip we received about suspicious activity down at the docks, we spotted a truck moving something but it looked to be just the grunt workers. We got a plate number, HPD database showed it's registered to a rental company by the airport" Steve said as he pulled up the photo that he'd snapped earlier on to the smart table. "Chin, any luck on narrowing that down?" Steve said pointedly, glancing towards Danny as he recalled his snide comment from earlier.
Chin stepped up and took control of the board, his fingers flying over the keys.
"Yeah. Truck's registered to a rental company based near the airport. Family-owned, been around a while, but nothing particularly extraordinary. However…" Chin's tone shifted slightly. "The trucks they rent out have been flagged in several investigations. Always small-time smuggling or theft, but nothing big enough to stick. The truck you tagged tonight has been rented out three times in the last month, all under different names."
Steve's jaw tightened. "Sounds like a front."
"Could be," Chin agreed. "What's your next move?"
Steve thought for a moment, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the edge of the table as his mind pieced together the next step.
"We'll pay them a visit," he finally said, his tone resolute. "We need to find out where they are delivering these trucks too"
"Danny and I will head to the airport, check out this rental company, ask some questions and see what shakes loose. Chin, you and Kono follow up on that electronics theft lead near Mililani. Let's see if there's a connection between the stolen goods and what we picked up on tonight"
"May I remind you that it is late Friday night, going now is probably a big waste of time" Danny exasperated.
But they could all see the look on Steve's face, he had picked up a scent; he was determined to follow the trail now.
"You could be right," Steve concurred "but on the other hand it might be exactly the right time to catch these guys off their game" he finished with a smirk. Danny, sighed heavily as he followed Steve out.
"So, questioning people at the airport, seeing what shakes loose, huh? That's your big plan. Should we print up some flyers that say 'Are you a criminal?' to speed things along?" Danny's hands bouncing along with his words as they walked towards the Camaro
"We'll start with the rental company and see where it takes us." Steve shrugged, nonchalant.
"Why do I get the feeling this is not going to go as smoothly as you think it is, Smooooooth Dog?" Danny questioned, really drawing out the nickname as they reached the car.
Steve shot him a sideways glance. "Because You've got a vivid imagination, Dannoooooo." equally drawing out the nickname.
"Yeah, well, experience teaches you things," Danny muttered, climbing into the passenger seat of the Camaro. "So, we just waltz in there and ask politely?"
"Something like that," Steve said as he started the engine. "Relax, Danno. It's just a few questions. What could go wrong?"
Danny turned in his seat, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No. C'mon, you didn't just say that! How could you say that? You've cursed us now."
Steve gave him a sidelong glance, amused. "Cursed us? Really, Danny?"
"Yes, really!" Danny jabbed a finger toward him. "You don't say things like that, Steve. Not in our line of work. It's like standing under a storm cloud and daring it to hit you with lightning."
"Pretty sure it doesn't work like that," Steve replied dryly, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Oh, it does. It absolutely does," Danny countered. "What could go wrong" he repeated "what could go wrong" shaking his head in disbelief "You know what the answer to that is? A lot. A lot could go wrong. You'd think a SEAL would know better than to tempt fate."
Steve suppressed a laugh. "You're being ridiculous. It's just an expression."
"It's not just an expression," Danny argued. "It's the universe's cue to drop a piano on your head. You're practically begging for things to go sideways."
"Things always go sideways with us, Danny," Steve pointed out. "Doesn't matter what I say."
"Exactly!" Danny threw up his hands. "So why give the universe extra ammunition?"
Steve finally let out a small chuckle. "Okay, fine. I take it back."
Danny frowned. "You can't take it back. That's not how this works. The damage is done. You've doomed us both."
Steve shook his head, amused. "You're exhausting, you know that?"
Danny crossed his arms and settled back into his seat, grumbling. "Just remember this conversation when we're dangling from a helicopter or dodging bullets later."
"You know," Steve said, glancing at him with a smirk, "I don't think you've gone five minutes without complaining since we started working together."
Danny pointed a finger at him again. "That's because I have plenty to complain about. You drive like a maniac, you constantly drag me into life-threatening situations, and you never, ever listen to reason."
Steve shrugged. "I listen. I just don't always agree."
Danny groaned, rubbing his temples. "You're impossible."
"And yet you're still here," Steve said, his tone playful as they approached the airport entrance.
Danny sighed deeply. "Remind me why I put up with you again?"
Steve pulled the car into the parking lot, his smirk firmly in place. "Because deep down, you love the excitement."
Danny scoffed. "No, deep down, I love staying alive, which is why I'm going to say it again: stop tempting fate."
Steve chuckled as they climbed out of the truck. "Duly noted, partner. Now let's go ask some questions."
"Questions," Danny muttered under his breath, as he exited the car. "Yeah, that's exactly what we'll end up doing."
To Be Continued
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