Chapter Text
Apparently, that guy was Jimmy Sheehan, a target of the Boston mob. Unpleasant, to say the very least. Damon and I weren’t even invited to the Kalihi Motel, either. Kono did come back with a cool story, though.
Now, a few days later, I’m teaming up with Kono’s cousin to interrogate the idiot that’d decided to leave death threats to our newest vic before killing her. Lieutenant Kelly turns off his phone before the message can play again, and I clap my hands together. I’m suddenly reminded of the way Detective Williams had done this for me not two months ago.
“Let’s play are you smarter than a 23-year old,” I start, crossing my legs in the chair I sit in. “Because if I were you, sir, I probably wouldn’t leave death threats to the person I’m, y’know, going to kill.”
His expression doesn’t shift. “That’s because I didn’t kill her.”
“Oh, oh! And I can speak perfect Korean.”
Lieutenant Kelly chuckles. “She can’t.”
“If you don’t believe me on my word, then what if I give you the name of someone who might’ve done it?”
Lieutenant Kelly circles the chair. “We’re listening.”
“The other day I followed Morris to Maui.” Not a great start to clearing his name, but also, who am I to judge someone who has to stalk someone else? “She spent a couple of hours there, and then flew back.”
“What was she doing there?”
“I don’t know. She went to a small place near Kapalua. Didn’t see who she met, but their mail was addressed to a Jane Woodley. Couldn’t find anything on her.”
I sigh. “All that work, following your mark to a neighbor island, and the best you have is-“
“I’m getting to it,” he bites out. “That night, I followed her back to her apartment in Chinatown and sat on it.” Okay, we’re getting somewhere.
“When was this?”
“Last night. I saw a guy go in there five minutes before she did. I thought he lived in the building, but fifteen minutes later, I see him going down the fire escape with something under his arm.”
I smile, what I hope is an intimidating look. “Great job, man. Really. Don’t suppose you saw what he was carrying?”
“No.”
“Or, what he looked like?”
“Not that, either. I tried taking a picture, but it was dark. Did manage to get a partial plate, though.” Lieutenant Kelly glances down at me, and I meet his gaze steadily, then get off my chair.
“Sit tight.”
My coworker chuckles. “What do you think, kid?”
“He’s our best shot. You guys… have tech for the plates, right?” The lieutenant pats my shoulder.
“You doubt our capabilities. Of course we do.”
I like this guy.
Damon hasn’t picked up his phone all day, an extremely unusual trait unless aforementioned. Usually I wouldn’t be too upset, but this is kind of his whole new career that I’m updating him about. At least we’re just playing the waiting game, for now.
I’m just about done with the last chapter of my book when the front door of my loft opens up, and there he is. “Dude. Where were you?” He heaves a sigh, then starts rummaging through my snacks. “D. Seriously.”
“Out.” I hate when he gets like this. “And before you ask, yes, I saw your messages, and yes, I meant to reply.”
I mark my page and stand up, snatching the bag of chips from his hands. “Did you forget our whole partnership thing?”
He meets my gaze evenly. “Oh, so I’m sure you’d love to hear about the nasty hangover I had earlier, and also the insane case of blue-“
“Okay, okay. I get it, ladies man.”
Damon shakes his head and leans against my counter. “Sorry, Mar. Today just hasn’t been my day.”
The afternoon sunlight gleaming in through my windows illuminates his dark curls, making him shine like some kind of fairy. Or a prince.
I wonder what it would be like for this to be an everyday thing, for us to come home to each other. “Can I get you some water?”
My partner nods. “And that bag of chips back, please.” I nod, open it, and eat three pieces. Damon’s jaw drops, and I flip him off before handing the snacks to him. “I can’t stand you.”
“Then take a seat.” I grab a glass from my cupboard and fill it with a few ice cubes and water from my pitcher.
Damon scoffs. “What am I, a suspect getting interrogated?”
I slide him the glass of water, and when his eyes dip down to my chest, I suddenly remember my outfit: a black Lululemon bra I’d bought ages ago, and gray sweats. “All you need is some handcuffs.”
The smile that breaks across his face is the one he usually reserves for marks, and the cheeky expression sends butterflies swarming in my chest. Before I can say anything more, he grabs the glass and chugs. I watch the line of his neck, his deft fingers against the cup, and before I can stare further, I lift myself onto the counter.
“Since you so rudely decided to leave me on read,” I drawl, “Let me fill you in on our case.”
Damon is late. At least no one questions where he is when I jog into headquarters alone. “We’re sure Commander McGarrett is missing?”
Lieutenant Kelly and Kono exchange knowing glances. “ We’re not.” The door opens behind me, and I turn to see Damon trailing behind Detective Williams, widened eyes reading either Help me or This guy is crazy . Considering he’d punched Detective Williams not one month prior to this, the latter is a verifiable option.
“I just tried Steve’s satellite phone twenty times in the last hour, no answer.”
Damon’s wave in response is almost flippant. “And now you all know what I’ve been subjected to on the whole walk from the parking lot to here.”
I glance over with a raised eyebrow. “And how did you attempt to reason?”
Kono clears her throat. “The area they’re in is all deep forest. Signal could be blocked.”
“With that.”
Detective Williams shakes his head. “No, no. Something is wrong. Something is wrong, otherwise, why would Jenna lie to us?”
The glance that Damon and I exchange is full of irony. “A liar isn’t necessarily a kidnapper,” I remind.
“Or a murderer,” Damon adds, then under his breath to me, “If anyone can kill someone like McGarrett."
Kono snorts, probably having heard what was said. “Okay. What I want to know is if Jenna was involved in Bethany Morris’ murder.”
Lieutenant Kelly stays silent, not an unusual thing from him. Detective Williams flings his hand into the air, and high heels click against the tiled floor, signaling Agent Weston’s arrival. “Any word from Steve?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay, look. There’s gotta be any number of logical explanations to why he’s not answering.” Gotta love the FBI. Only when they’re on your side, though.
Detective Williams straightens up from where he’d only just leaned against the middle console. Poor guy’s slowly getting inconsolable. “There’s nothing logical about this. Okay? We just found out that someone we work with, someone that we trusted , has been lying to us for months. And now, might have something to do with our murder.”
I tap my nails against the console. “Then let’s solve it. Better than sitting around, waiting for Commander McGarrett to get back to us.”
Lieutenant Kelly nods. “Lori, did you get anything on the suspect Schulte saw scrambling out of Bethany’s place?”
“Yeah. Got a hit off his partial plate, it was a rental booked under the name Sung Paek. Dealer was faked, so I ran the name against hotel registries across the island and got a match.”
Kailua Inn. That’s a few blocks up from my place. Detective Williams glances at Damon and I, and I nod, for once, choosing not to complain. “We’ll hold down the fort, see if we hear anything from McGarrett.”
He gives us a quick thumbs-up, perhaps the whitest thing he could do, and with that, they’re off.