Nano Pono 7 of 11
Disclaimer: Hawaii 5-0 and characters belong to CBS, I just wish I owned them.
Thank you my beta Traw for helping me keep on track. Any mistakes are mine for fiddling after she did her job.
A New Twist
The truck pulled up in front of a small warehouse. Before the men could exit the vehicle a car pulled out of the alley next to the building and took off. Steve took off after the car. “Did you get a look at the driver Danny?”
“Yeah. That was our guy.” He grabbed his cell phone and made a quick call. “Hey we need you and Kono to come with HPD to the address you gave. Pouha did a runner.”
“No problem, brah. I did some more digging on the address and it is owned by Nihipali.”
“Interesting. Thanks for the info. We’ll see you after we catch this guy. Omph, shit.” Danny grabbed the handle above his head when Steve took a corner too fast sliding sideways before taking off again full tilt. He wanted smothered a snicker when he heard Jackson squawking in the back.
“Are you insane McGarrett? Are you trying to kill us or catch him?!” Jackson screamed.
Danny didn’t even turn to look at Jackson. “Don’t waste your breath Detective. I’ve been trying to get him to stop driving like a maniac since I’ve known him, hasn’t worked yet. Just hang on because Steve will keep at it until he stops the other car. If you are going to get sick, open the window, this is Steve's truck and he wouldn't be happy.”
Steve smirked as his next attempt to get past the suspect car was blocked. The chase continued until Steve actually rammed bumper of the car as it made a turn causing it to spin out of control before hitting a wall. Both Danny and Steve were out of the truck with guns drawn before the vehicle had settled to a complete stop.
Danny pulled Pouha from the car roughly, after verifying he didn’t have a weapon in his hands, pushed him bodily up against the car, ignoring the man’s soft “Umph” as the criminal’s chest hit against the side of the car. “I'm Detective Williams and this is Commander McGarrett of 5-0 task force.” He quickly searched him finding a gun, knife and brass knuckles. “Really, brass knuckles? I thought these went out with Capone.” He cuffed Pouha and sat him so that he was leaning against the side of his car.
Jackson and Harris had exited the truck to watch. A pale Jackson was leaning on the truck.
“Tell us Mr. Pouha, why did you run?” Danny growled
Pouha spit at Danny’s feet. “I ain’t talking to no Haole cop!”
Danny’s eyebrow quirked. “Really? You might want to reconsider.” Pointing at Steve. “His idea of interrogation is to hang someone off a roof, or to toss them into a shark tank.”
Steve and Danny turned as one when they heard a thump to see Jackson passed out on the ground. “Is he afraid of sharks?” Danny asked.
Harris stared at Steve in shock.
“You may want to check on him,” Steve pointed to Jackson, “we’ll call the EMTs if he needs them.” Steve turned back to Pouha. “I think there might be a cliff near hear that I could dangle him over the edge instead of a roof.”
Danny looked as Steve askance. “Are you crazy? You might slip and go with him and I would be forced to break in a new partner. See, he’s crazy. Are you sure you don’t want to talk?”
Pouha shook his head stubbornly.
Steve continued. “We could tie him to the hood of the truck and take him along the cliff roads. Hopefully the ties would hold.” At first the suspect seemed unconcerned, maintaining his silence, but as Steve and Danny talked his eyes got bigger and they could see some fear in them.
“Whoa Steve, what’s with the new face? It’s a bit on the scary side.”
Steve smiled menacingly. “I’ve got it. I’ll have HPD send a helicopter here. It can land in the clearing we passed.” Steve indicated the road behind them with his thumb. “We can use the rescue pulley and dangle Mr. Pouha from the copter and fly around for a bit. Maybe dunk him in the ocean a couple of times.”
Steve reached for his phone as Danny reached out to stop him. “Oh no.”
Pouha yelled simultaneously. “NO, NO. Please, I’ll tell you what you want to know, just no helicopters!”
Steve’s smile changed to satisfaction. “Did you kill James McNeil?”
“No, that weren’t me. Don’t know who did it either.” Pouha was sweating.
Danny continued. “Then why did you run?”
“There is a shipment of phony Hawaiian artifacts in the warehouse that I was preparing for shipment.”
Steve suddenly seemed more menacing. “You’re using Nihipali’s business as a front to move phony artifacts, passing them off as genuine?” Pouha nodded. “Is Nihipali part of this operation?” Another nod. “Do you know who is responsible for threatening the young women who complained about McNeil’s harassment?”
Pouha nodded. “It wasn’t me, but a couple of enforcers. Nihipali didn’t want the cops digging into the business. He was afraid that his smuggling business would be found out.”
Danny looked disgusted. “You’re sure you know nothing about McNeil’s death? You haven’t heard any rumors?”
“Only that Makani’s cousin wanted McNeil dead.” Danny waved his hand encouragingly as he rushed on. “He’s not an enforcer, but he might have done it for his cousin. I don’t know her name, her mother kept her away from Makani and us. That’s all I know, I swear.” Pouha finished as he looked at Steve pleadingly.
“So where can we find Makani?” Steve asked.
Pouha gave them the address.
Steve and Danny looked at each other satisfied.
“I still say you’re crazy, McGarrett.”
Steve smiled brightly.
"That was not a compliment you neanderthal!"
Steve pouted before smirking. “Book ‘em Danno.” Danny rolled his eyes before booking the suspect as HPD pulled up. Meanwhile Steve walked over to Harris and Jackson who had regained consciousness. “We’ll be leaving to check out the building before we arrest Nihipali for smuggling.”
Jackson stood up his legs still shaky, he had had enough. “We’re going back to Maryland! I don’t understand what is so great about your task force!” Steve’s face blanked, eyes narrowed. Danny had heard the yelling as he joined his partner, crossing his arms. “When I first arrived I wondered what kind of task force you ran. You’re a naval officer yet you have a cop who has taken payola working for you. You have an inexperienced rookie!” He pointed at Danny, “He’s the only one on your task force that seemed to be acceptable for a task force until he opens his mouth. He speaks to you like an equal, and without any respect for your position.” He flung his arms out. “You drive like a maniac. You threaten the suspect to get a confession. I don’t understand how your task force is so successful.”
“Hey! I resent your accusation that I don’t respect Steve. He’s the best partner I have ever had and the best leader for our task force. Doesn’t mean he’s not crazy. Furthermore, you have no idea how to run a task force. It is a team of people working together, not a group of people who are supposed to ask how high to jump when you snap your fingers. That is not how to earn true respect for yourself and not your position. As for Chin he is one of the best cops and an honorable man who I trust to back Steve and I up any day. Kono has the instincts of a veteran detective. You really should have kept your mouth shut Jackson, Steve has his blank face which means he’s pissed beyond belief and a pissed Steve might decide to hang you from a helicopter in which case I would help him.” Danny flung at Jackson.
Steve stepped intimidatingly into Jackson’s personal space, arms crossed over his chest, his voice was deadly. “First, I don’t know how you heard about Chin, but he did not take that money. IA never could prove anything so they spread malicious gossip to get rid of him instead of doing their damn job.” Jackson looked like he was going to object, Steve kept right on going as he pointed at Danny with his thumb, “IA believed his late partner was selling out HPD for money. They were so convinced Meka was not going to receive a proper police service, despite the evidence being circumstantial. We proved Meka innocent and found the guilty party. So you will excuse me if I don’t believe IA about Chin. As for Kono, Danny got it right in one. She could also hand you your ass on a platter in a fight.”
Steve paused, taking a deep breath. “You question how I run the task force? Danny pegged it; we are a team who works together for a common goal. Each of us has talents and strengths that enhance our team’s efforts to get the job done. I chose each member for their strengths and value their input. Just because my people are allowed to speak their minds does not mean that they don’t respect me. When I choose to give an order, it's followed, even if it is questioned. If I had wanted grunts, I would have looked for fresh faced cadets, not intelligent, capable people.” Danny looked pleased. “As for my driving and interrogation techniques, it gets the job done. I was asked to clean up this state by any means necessary, and that's what I do.” He signaled one of the HPD officers. Once the man was close enough Steve spoke. “Please see that the detectives are delivered to HQ so that they can pick up the rental car and return to their rooms.” The officer nodded and headed for his car. “I will be contacting the governor about the abrupt end to your stay.” With that Steve opened the driver’s door of his truck and hopped in.
Danny paused as he added. “One last thing. I used to think like you did about his methods and I still try to get him to follow procedures. Just remember he’s not a cop, he’s a SEAL and does things the SEAL way. He's dedicated to putting away the criminals in this state. He is fiercely loyal to his team and I know without a doubt that he respects us. In turn he has earned our respect. Detective Harris, have a safe trip home.” Finished Danny headed to his side of the truck. “Glad you crashed your truck for once and not the Camaro Steve.” Was the last thing that Jackson and Harris heard before Steve drove off.
A/N: I’m not familiar with Hawaii so I am avoiding giving actual names of streets and such. I would probably put the warehouse in the middle of the jungle or something like that; best to just avoid the possibility.