Nano Pono 8 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.
Who Did It?
“Thanks for what you said Danny. I appreciate it.”
Danny shrugged. “It's the truth. We both know that I really didn’t like you when we first started working together.” Steve chuckled. “But that didn’t last long. I also used to think that you were just insane. But now I know that there is usually a method to your madness. I may not agree with it, but I know you’re not really crazy though there are still occasions where I wonder.” He pointed at Steve. “If anyone asks, I’ll deny I ever said that.”
“I know you will.” Steve laughed as he parked the truck, noticing that Kono’s car and Chin’s bike already there. He laid his hand on Danny’s arm keeping him in the truck. “You’re the best partner too.”
Danny smiled at him as Steve released his arm and they exited the truck before heading inside.
They saw Kono working with a couple of HPD officers searching some crates. “Hey Kono find anything?” Steve asked as they reached the young detective in training.
“Boss, we found plenty. This crate seems to contain things from a Luakini hidden amongst the furniture and other regular cargo shipped by Nihipali’s company. Some crates contain Heiau relics. It seems that these were to be loaded with the normal shipment Nihipali’s company sends to the mainland.” She pointed at the crates she had been examining. “See the markings on the box that indicate what is supposed to be in the box. We found official inspection tape used to seal crates before shipment.” She scowled. “They are stealing and smuggling valuable antiquities and ancient religious artifacts. We've contacted an expert who should be here shortly. Hopefully he'll know what sites these may have come from.”
“You'll be relieved to know that Pouha stated all of this is fake.” Steve told her, waving at the surrounding crates. “HPD’s expert should be able to tell for sure. Did HPD catch anyone else?”
“Yeah. A couple of young guys were caught leaving after you chased after Pouha. They are on their way to HPD as we speak.”
“Good job. Where’s Chin?” Steve said looking around.
“Oh, he found the office and the computer.” She pointed towards a room in the back.
“Thanks Kono.” Steve called over his shoulder as they headed towards the small office. Reaching the office door, they saw Chin working on the computer. “Hey Chin, find anything that will help put Nihipali away?”
“Oh yeah. There is plenty of information here to put him and a few other people away for a long time.” Chin turned looking behind Steve and Danny curiously. “Where're your tag-a-longs?”
Steve and Danny scowled. “Jackson decided to head back to Maryland. He didn’t seem to like my driving or interrogation techniques. He also didn’t like the make-up of the team or how I run things.”
Chin’s eyebrows climbed. “There is nothing wrong with the way you run things. What didn’t he like about our team?”
Steve nodded. “He didn’t like the fact that I allow the people ‘under’ my command to ‘talk back’ to me. He felt that it shows a lack of respect.”
“Jackson was probably referring to me.” Danny smirked, ignoring the exaggerated shocked looks on Steve’s and Chin’s faces. “But Jackson really stepped in it when he questioned Steve’s decision to include you and Kono on the team. As far as he was concerned I was the only ‘legitimate’ member of the team until I opened my mouth trying to keep Steve from doing something truly crazy.”
“My idea was not crazy! Besides, it worked didn’t it?”
Danny ignored the interruption as he continued. “Steve did a good job of putting him in his place. I didn’t know that he had such a command of the English language.”
Steve rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t about to let him talk about my team like that. Don’t think that Danny didn’t make his opinion known.” Chin smiled knowingly. “Speaking of Jackson, we should head back to headquarters so that I can call the governor and tell her what happened.” They turned to leave but Steve turned back to Chin as he added. “We still need to find McNeil’s killer. So return to HQ with Kono and the computer so you can use our equipment to go through the hard drive.”
“Sure thing brah.”
*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*
About an hour and a half later, the four members of 5-0 were standing at the computer table. Mcgarrett had spoken to the Governor about the two Maryland detectives. The Governor had frowned as Danny had confirmed Steve’s report before she sighed and suggested that they discuss the problems with the visiting detectives with Governor Stevens who was en route to Hawaii.
“I spoke with Governor Jameson about our former observers. She apologized for putting us through that. Governor Stevens may not agree.” Steve told Chin and Kono before he shrugged. “Now back to business. What exactly did you find on Nihipali’s computer Chin?”
Chin pulled up the information on the central computer table. “It turns out that the items found in the crates are fakes, Nihipali was passing them off as originals to his buyers. They were being sold to ‘collectors’ who liked to buy illicit goods, thereby avoiding people who would have the ‘antiquities’ verified by an expert.” His fingers quickly danced over the table as more information flickered up onto the screen. “We can charge him with forgery, smuggling, selling on the black market and threatening of victims to change testimony.” He displayed two more files containing pictures of young women. “These two women were also harassed by McNeil but never got as far as the cops before being threatened.”
“They kept all of this on their computer? What kind of idiots are they?” Steve asked shocked.
Chin smirked. “The kind that think that no one else is capable of cracking their encryption codes.”
Danny smirked as he shook his head, “Dimwits. They were easy to crack for you weren’t they?”
“Definitely. They weren’t very sophisticated. By the time Nihipali goes to court, there might be more to charge him with since I haven’t finished going through everything.” Chin pulled up one more file. “You’ll find this last file most interesting.” He moved the file’s picture to a standing/hanging monitor.
Steve looked closely at the young woman pictured. “Is that who I think it is?” Chin nodded as he moved the file to the monitor next to the picture. “Well, what do you know? She did know about the harassment after all. What about her alibi Kono?”
Kono replied. “Unfortunately her alibi pans out.”
“So it’s possible that Makani did the actual killing for her.” Steve studied the information for a minute. “Chin and Kono, I want you to handle the arrest of Nihipali and the search of company’s offices. Let HPD take care of his accomplices while Danny and I speak to Makani. Don’t forget to eat.”
Chin and Kono nodded as they headed to their offices to prepare for the arrest. Steve looked at Danny, “Let’s grab some dinner than find our friend Makani.”
“Good idea, I’m starved.” The two men started for the door. “But no pizza with pineapple and ham do you hear me McGarrett?” Steve smirked as Danny pointed a finger at him. “I mean it.”
Steve chuckled. “Actually I was thinking burgers. Or do you have something against burgers?”
“Asshole.” Danny answered loudly as the door closed behind them.
Luakini: temple for human sacrifice
Heiau: Ancient Hawaiian religious temple