A MARKER IN PARADISE

by

Maura Kelly

[Marker, is a UPN show dealing with Richard DeMorra, who inherits a beachhouse and a legacy of 'favors' from his deceased father. Joe Rose, the father, was a rich corporate leader who, in appreciation, handed out markers to those he felt deserved his future help. When he died, he left this legacy to his only child, Richard. Aided in his assigned task, is Kimba Rose, Richard's stepmother, Pipeline, a local surfer, and Moch, the family executor.

Marker is set in the '90's, and is in the wrong timeline for Five-0. This story was presented to the editors, however, and it was such fun, that it had to be included. The idea was also mentioned that Five-0 and McGarrett are timeless -- to which we could only agree.]

Richard DeMorra had just finished writing in his journal and enjoying the sound of the surf right outside his door. The warm tropical air and the crashing of the waves were making him sleepy and he figured maybe this would be a good time for him to catch a quick nap. He had nothing pending, no markers to redeem at the moment and his "foster" sister Marcy was coming home for the week-end. A family dinner had been planned by his step-mother, Kimba, for later in the day.

The view of the inlet, from his ramshackled little beach house, was postcard perfect. His mind drifted from the pleasure at living in such a wonderful paradise, to the strange adventures he had experienced in his short stay in Hawaii. He had come here last year to attend his estranged father's funeral. In the will he had been given a legacy, something more than an inheritance: the tradition of the marker.

Physically, the marker was a coin-sized piece of molded plastic, scalloped around the edge, with the etching of a rose, and a number, in the center. Joe Rose had given the first marker to the old Hawaiian gentlemen who had sold Joe this piece of Oahu where the Rose estate was located. Sequentially, markers had been given to friends, or strangers, Joe deemed in need of a favor. They number over two hundred by the time Rose died.

His father, Joe Rose, had amassed incredible wealth and power from the heart of his island empire. In the building of a corporation, he had lost his first wife and only child, Richard, in a nasty divorce. Joe rarely visited Richard in New Jersey, and Richard only occasionally returned to Hawaii, the bittersweet land of his youth.

Richard could have chosen not to act as an agent for his father's whim. He could have left Hawaii right after the funeral. He was, however, Joe Rose's son, and more than bitterness would be needed to wash away the sense of integrity inherent in his bloodlines. He had taken on the incredible, sometimes perilous, sometimes touching, job of redeeming the markers. He had kept the old family house of his childhood, with a determination to fix it up himself and live there.

Richard had just gotten himself comfortable on the couch when he was rudely interrupted by his friend, Danny or Pipeline, as he was nicknamed, yelling at him frantically from the beach.

"Richard, Richard, are you there?" Pipeline sounded agitated.

Richard got up from his couch and sauntered over to the lanai of his house which faced the beach, and leaned against the railing looking down on his friend.

"Yeah, what's the problem, Pipeline?"

"It's Kimba."

"Let me guess, she has something she wants me to do before Marcy gets here, right?"

"No, no, I saw some man, I think it was that haole Fed sneaking into the house."

Richard's heart started to race at Pipeline's statement. "What man, Pipeline?"

"You remember, bruddah, that Fed that shot you a few months ago. Thorton."

"What? He's suppose to be in the federal pen."

"Well he ain't there now, and he's got Kimba."

Richard jumped down from porch onto the sand and headed over to the main house at a run. "Call Moch, Pipeline and hurry."

"Where are you going?" Pipeline asked but Richard was already gone.

Kimba saw Richard hurry across the grass towards the house. He was easy to spot since the back of the house had been built to be opened fully to enjoy the warm tropical weather.

She knew he would come because she had seen Danny hightail it towards Richard's after he had spied Thorton coming into the house and pull a gun on her.

When Richard stepped onto the patio and tried to approach the two people in the house, Thorton immediately grabbed Kimba by the shoulders and pulled her against him, using her as a shield he placed his gun to her head.

"How do you like this situation DeMorra, Huh?"

"Let her go, Thorton, it's me you want."

"Richard, no -- " Kimba started to say in protest.

"Shut up!" Thorton yelled as he hit her, sending her crashing to the floor.

"Why you -- " Richard started to cross the patio towards Thorton.

Thorton pointed the gun quickly down at the fallen Kimba. "Try it and she's dead DeMorra."

"Ok, Ok," Richard said as he backed up hands raised placatingly. "Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you, I promise, but just don't hurt her."

"That's better. Let's see, I need a jet to take me out of here and some money." Thorton paused a moment as he looked down at Kimba. "Mmm, I'd say the head of the Rose Corporation ought to be worth at least two million, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then get out of here and get me what I want and don't call the cops either or the price might go higher."

Kimba watched as Richard scrambled across the lawn towards the front gates. She raised herself slowly off the floor and moved over towards the couch. At a gesture from Thorton she sat down.

Daniel Thorton, was a renegade federal agent who had been caught by the police with a lot of help from Richard. Richard had been redeeming a marker from Pipeline's family to solve the murder of a girl that the two men had found on the beach. Thorton had been responsible for her death.

She nervously watched him as he paced up and down the living room. Kimba was very aware that he was a man quite capable of killing her without giving it a second thought. It was simply luck that she had been the only one in the house at this particular time. Leon had gone to pick up Marcy at the airport. Kimba was very grateful that Marcy's plane had been delayed and she wasn't here now in the middle of this.

Richard paced nervously in front of the estate gates, wondering when the police would arrive. He couldn't yet comprehend what had happened. Because of his having redeemed a marker some months ago a very dangerous man was holding his stepmother hostage.

Kimba was usually at her office at this time of the day but had stayed at her home today because Marcy, her pre-teen foster daughter had been expected in from school for the week-end and Kimba had been eagerly waiting to see her. So anxious had she been to see Marcy she had decided to work at the residence so she could be there to greet her.

"Moch, how could I have let this happen?"

"Richard, it's not your fault." Mooch answered as he came over and tried to calm his young friend. Moch was the family lawyer as well as an old friend. "You couldn't have guessed that Thorton would escape from prison let alone come back here."

" Damn, where are the cops?"

"They're coming, bruddah, just hold on."

Richard glanced over at Pipeline who seemed to be almost as agitated as Richard himself.

"They're taking their sweet time about it."

"Richard, did you see Kimba at all?"

"Yeah, Moch, I did. It looked liked Thorton may have roughed her up a bit before I even got there and he was not too gentle with her when I was talking to him. He wouldn't let me get too close." Richard started his pacing again. "When Pipeline came and got me I headed up to the house and told him to call you."

Richard stopped pacing long enough to look over at his old friend helplessly. "I thought maybe I could do something, talk Thorton into giving himself up, or trade myself for Kimba, but he wasn't interested. He wants money and a way off this island and he won't let Kimba go unless he gets it."

"Yeah and he didn't want no cops involved either, Bruddah." Pipeline reminded giving Moch a significant look.

"Danny, it was the only thing I could think of doing. And it's the only thing we could do, we can't handle this on our own."

"If he hurts her -- " Richard promised ominously.

Richard was amazed at how much he had grown to love Kimba as he had gotten to know her. She came across when you first met her as gruff and cold but that was a facade she used as head of the Rose Corporation.

When Richard had first come to the islands he had not trusted his stepmother but as he went about redeeming his father's markers he had gotten to know her well. Richard had also learned a lot about himself and his dead father as he met the different people his father had given markers.

Richard heard the sound of the cars approaching. "Finally, they're here."

The police cars pulled into the road in front of the gates. The lead car was a big black sedan. An older man and a younger curly haired man got out.

Steve McGarrett had been in a meeting with the Governor when Dan Williams had called. When Thorton had first escaped from federal prison, McGarrett had put every resource out to catch him. McGarrett had been very anxious to recapture ex-federal agent Daniel Thorton a man who had used his government power to murder and obstruct justice in Hawaii. Thorton, had even kidnapped a Police homicide detective. It had been young DeMorra, Kimba Rose and their friends who had saved the young officer and brought about the arrest of Thorton. McGarrett had not been pleased when he had learned of the man's escape.

McGarrett also had somewhat of a personal stake in this. He had known Jim Rose and was well acquainted with his wife Kimba. McGarrett noticed the dark-haired young man standing at the entrance to the estate and assumed this was their son, Richard. He had heard the rumors about Richard DeMorra who redeemed the markers that his father had given away. He knew Richard had been involved already with helping a number of people and that had entailed some skirting of the law, but McGarrett had not yet heard that Richard had broken any laws yet.

McGarrett and Dan Williams walked over to where the three men were standing.

"Thanks for coming, Steve." Moch put out a hand to the Five-O chief in greeting. "This is Richard DeMorra, and you two already know Pipeline."

"Richard, this is Steve McGarrett and Dan Williams of the Hawaii State Police.

"Mr. McGarrett, Mr. Williams, I have just one question. How did Thorton get out?"

"Thorton killed a guard and escaped in a garbage truck," Steve told him.

"We were informed of his escape last night and immediately put out an APB," Williams added. "We found a stolen car this morning not far from your estate."

"Last night." Moch sounded amazed.

"Came right to our door, didn't he?" Richard said disgustedly. "He needed to get off the island."

"Yes, and what better place to find a jet and a lot of money and probably take a little revenge as well." Steve pointed out.

"He's already asked for the money and the corporate jet, Mr. McGarrett."

"How much does he want, Richard?"

"Two million, Moch, while he had a gun to Kimba's head he told me he figured the CEO of the Rose Corporation was worth at least that and I agree."

"We don't recommend giving into gunmen's demands." Dan informed.

"Look, Mr. McGarrett, Mr. Williams, I appreciate your coming but I'm only interested in getting Kimba out alive. So I'll give Thorton anything he wants."

"That's our primary interest right now, too. Getting Kimba out first, then apprehending Thorton is secondary," McGarrett clarified. "But you also have to understand that even if you give him everything he wants he probably will still kill her."

Richard looked stricken at McGarrett's remark. "That's what I'm afraid of.

"Bruddah," Pipeline drew Richard's attention. "Look who's coming."

Richard glanced over to where his friend was pointing and saw Kimba's white limo pulling up behind the many police cars that were blocking it's access to the estate.

Before it had even come to a full stop the back door popped open and Richard saw his "sister" Marcy get out and look around confused. Spying Richard, she dashed quickly over to where the men were all gathered.

"Richard? What's going on? Marcy looked around again puzzled at all the cops. "Why are all the police here? Where's Kimba?"

A horrible realization seem to come to her and she tried to skirt around the men and go towards the gate entrance. "Oh no, not again."

Richard grabbed her and turned her around to face him. "Marcy! Wait honey, it's all right."

"Richard, where's Kimba? Is she dead?"

Marcy looked fearfully around at the police and thought the worst. Her father had been murdered only a few months ago. Richard had been instrumental in helping her discover the circumstances behind her father's death and assisted in securing her inheritance as well. During the course of the investigation, Marcy and Kimba had become close and since Marcy's mother had died when she was young, Kimba had decided to become her foster mother.

"No, Honey, no." Richard assured her quickly as he pulled her into a comforting hug.

McGarrett motioned over Duke Lukela, another Five-0 officer. "Duke, let's move the men and cars within sight of the house."

"Okay, Steve," Duke agreed and began to issue the necessary orders.

"What are you going to do Steve?" Moch asked as he watched Richard still consoling Marcy. "Thorton said no police."

"We need to get him on the phone and negotiate, you know that Moch."

"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier. I can't imagine anything happening to Kimba."

"And nothing's going to happen, Moch, because we're going to pay the ransom." Richard told them as he joined the discussion.

"How's Marcy?"

"She's scared, Moch. I don't blame her. She's already lost her father this year. She's grown to love and depend on Kimba."

"I know."

"Mr. McGarrett, if it's all right with you, I'm going to have Moch get the necessary funds and put the corporate jet on stand by. I see you've moved your police cars onto the estate."

"Do you think that was wise, Steve?"

"Moch, Thorton probably already knows we're here, he's a professional. Displaying a show of force is the wisest move at this juncture."

"Danno," McGarrett motioned to his friend and second-in-command who was holding a cellular phone.

"We're going to contact Thorton," Williams explained to Richard. "What's the number?"

"555-2132." Richard supplied.

Duke had pulled the squad cars onto the estate within sight of the back part of the house and placed his men accordingly. Richard was standing with McGarrett and Williams behind a group of cars now parked on the vast back lawn. Moch had taken Pipeline and Marcy, under protest, with him to get the funds they needed for the ransom.

"Any luck?"

Richard heard McGarrett ask Danno, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"No, Steve, he still won't answer."

Richard wondered what would get Thorton to pick up the phone. It had already been a couple of hours since he had taken Kimba hostage. Richard wondered how she was fairing.

"Maybe, if I go up to the house he'll talk to me." Richard suggested to McGarrett.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Richard."

"Mr. McGarrett, the only reason Kimba is in there with that killer is because I wrecked his plans."

"And you're feeling guilty?"

"Of course I am." Richard said frustrated. "And I just can't stand around here doing nothing."

"He's answering." Dan informed them.

It had been a couple of hours now as Kimba had watched Thorton do nothing but pace up and down her living room in impatience. The phone had started to ring about half an hour ago, but Thorton had refused to answer it.

"Are you going to pick it up?" Kimba asked finally in frustration.

"Shut up."

"Well how are you suppose to get what you want if you don't negotiate with the police?"

"I told him no police. That's going to cost him."

"Him, you mean Richard, don't you?"

"If he had just stayed out of it when that woman was killed you wouldn't be in this mess now. I warned him, but he wouldn't listen."

"He was helping a friend." Kimba said realizing that it was to complicated to explain to this man that Richard had only been carrying out his father's wishes.

"Yeah, well that 'help' put me in prison and in my line of business you pay back the person who betrayed you."

Kimba regarded him with apprehension "You're going to kill me whether Richard gives you what you want or not, aren't you?"

"What do you think?" Thorton punctuated his remark by picking up the phone. "Who am I talking to?"

Williams handed off the phone to McGarrett as soon as Thorton had answered and then adjusted the radio in the black sedan so they could all hear the conversation.

"This is McGarrett of Hawaii Five-O."

"Well, well, the top honcho himself," Thorton responded in a sarcastic voice. "I'm honored."

"We want to negotiate for the release of Mrs. Rose." McGarrett started the conversation. He knew he had to go through the motions even if he doubted that Thorton would negotiate anything but what he was ultimately after.

"Negotiate? I already told DeMorra what he needed to do to get his step-mother back in one piece.

"Look, Thorton, you know the game." McGarrett told him candidly. "I've read your file and you've handled enough hostage negotiations yourself to understand that you need to give us something in return."

"Well, McGarrett, you're not going to get much from me. As you say, I'm familiar with the game, but I will let you talk to my hostage, I'm sure you'd like to make sure she's still with us."

McGarrett heard movement over the phone and then a female voice came on. "Kimba, it's Steve McGarrett."

"Steve."

McGarrett could see that Richard wanted to talk to his step-mother and motioned for him to wait.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm okay."

Anxious to reassure her, Richard stepped close to McGarrett and spoke into the phone. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of there."

"That won't be easy, DeMorra, I can promise you that. Just give me what I want and you only have an hour to do it in or she's dead."

Everyone heard the finality of the click as Thorton hung up the phone.

McGarrett motioned over to Duke. "Duke get your sharpshooters ready."

"Mr. McGarrett, there must be another way?" Richard asked the Five-O chief. "I know Thorton won't keep his end of the bargain, but we've got to at least try to go along with him."

"We're going to Richard, with as many safeguards as we can. It's just too bad this house is so open. If we could only find a way in where Thorton couldn't see."

"I know. The front entrance practically spills into the living room." Richard gloomily agreed. "And I don't know of any other way to get into the house that isn't easily observed."

"I do," a new voice interrupted their conversation.

"Marcy," Richard turned to see his "sister", Moch and Pipeline along with Leon. Moch was carrying an attaché case.

Richard hugged the girl. "I'm glad your back with the money."

"What did you mean, Marcy, about another way in?" McGarrett asked her, curious.

"It's a tunnel, that leads into the wine cellar of the house."

"Are you sure?" Richard was skeptical. "I've never heard Kimba mention anything about it."

"Probably because she didn't remember it was there." Moch answered for Marcy. "Actually I'd forgotten about it until Marcy mentioned it to Pipeline and me in the car."

"Yeah, bruddah, we were like trying to think of a way into the house."

Richard looked over at Marcy in dawning realization. "You told me you'd had fun exploring the house the last time you were home. Is that when you found it?"

"Yup, and I can show where the beach opening is right now."

Richard looked over at McGarrett. "Sounds like our best chance of getting Kimba out. We don't have much time either. Our hour already has ten minutes gone from it."

The tunnel Marcy led Richard, McGarrett and his men to, was located on the beach near Richard's property, diagonally behind the house. There were blooming plumeria bushes obscuring the entrance, but Marcy led them to the entrance unerringly.

"It's here, Richard."

Okay, sweetheart, you wait here with Pipeline now."

"Please, Richard, don't let anything happen to Kimba."

Richard gave her a quick hug. "I won't. That's a promise. Take care of her, Pipeline."

"I will, and you be careful, bruddah."

McGarrett led the group into the tunnel, shining his flashlight into the dark. Each man carried a flashlight, including Richard who brought up the rear. McGarrett wasn't really happy about bringing Richard along with them, but since he was most familiar with the house, they needed him. Actually, McGarrett wouldn't have put it past young DeMorra to go into the house by himself if McGarrett hadn't let him come.

McGarrett suspected that his cellular phone, which he had in his pocket and with which he planned to use to keep in contact with Danno, wouldn't work well underground. The tunnel was dank, dark and damp and McGarrett wondered how long it extended. From what the little girl had told them the wine cellar connected to this entrance farther down the tunnel. They needed to get into place in the house before the negotiations ended. Dan was going to show good faith by telling Thorton that they had the money.

The tunnel opened up into the wine cellar just as Marcy had described to them. McGarrett motioned for Richard to lead since he was the one most familiar with the house. Richard slowly worked his way up the stone stairs of the cellar with McGarrett and his men following behind.

Richard was anxious to get into the house and get Kimba away from Thorton. When he had talked to her on the phone briefly, she was stiff with fear, but putting on a brave front.

The wine cellar entrance was just off the kitchen. McGarrett gave last minute instructions to his men and then contacted Dan. "We're in the house now, Danno, get him on the phone."

McGarrett gestured for his men to move out. The police officers silently moved into positions surrounding the living room. Richard stayed with McGarrett and they concealed themselves in the entry-hall within a few feet of where Thorton stood talking on the phone. Richard saw McGarrett pull his gun from his holster and hold it up in preparation.

Richard wondered where Kimba was situated in the room. McGarrett had stressed that he wanted to establish that first since Thorton was not the type of man you could leave the slightest detail to chance. Being a professional killer, he could shoot Kimba before they would be able to stop him. They would get one chance and one chance only.

They heard him arguing with Dan on the phone. "You're stalling Williams, I want to talk to McGarrett or DeMorra, now."

"He knows something is up." McGarrett whispered into Richard's ear.

Richard nodded in agreement and gestured to McGarrett asking what they should do.

McGarrett slowly chanced a peek around the wall to see if he could locate Kimba. He caught a glimpse of her on the couch partially hidden by Thorton who continued to argue with Dan on the phone.

McGarrett didn't like the fact that Thorton was between him and Kimba.

Richard was listening to Thorton still arguing with Williams on the phone. Thorton obviously wasn't going to be happy unless either McGarrett or Richard himself talked to him. The sound of the phone being slammed down echoed through the room.

"They're up to something." Thorton said nervously.

"Who?"

"Come here," Thorton told Kimba as he grabbed her arm and pulled her up off the couch. "Maybe if I damage you a bit they'll get the message that I'm not fooling around here."

With Thorton moving Kimba off the couch, McGarrett saw his chance but before he could do anything, Richard jumped out of his hiding place.

"Thorton, it's me you want, not her."

McGarrett was not pleased about Richard's foolhardy move but used the distraction with Thorton to his advantage. He came out from behind the wall where he had concealed himself, just as Thorton shot Richard.

Richard heard Kimba scream his name as he was slammed against the wall from the impact of the bullet. A second shot rang out as McGarrett shot and killed Thorton. Kimba rushed over to where Richard had fallen.

McGarrett checked to be sure Thorton was dead, picked up his gun and handed it to one of the many officers who had moved into the living room as soon when they heard the shooting. McGarrett then joined Kimba, where Richard was lying.

"Richard! Richard!"

Kimba felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see McGarrett crouched down beside her. "He's okay, Kimba, look."

Kimba looked at what Steve was pointing to. In the anxiety of the moment she had not seen the bullet proof vest Richard was wearing.

Richard started to groan and slowly opened his eyes still a little groggy. "Oh that smarts."

"Let that be a lesson to you young man, no more foolhardy stunts when you're working with me." McGarrett told him gruffly, in relief.

"Kimba!" Richard sat up quickly. "What -- you're -- you're all right?".

"Yes, I'm right here, Richard, I'm fine."

Richard wiped away some of the tears streaming down Kimba's face. The anxiety mixed with relief. "Heh, it's okay." He reached his arms around his stepmother in a reassuring embrace filled with his own fear and relief and his love.

Marcy had been glued to Kimba's side ever since she had been allowed into the house. Moch finally persuaded her that Kimba would still be there when she got back from the kitchen where he and Pipeline had gone in hopes of finding something to eat for everyone. Dinner had come and gone many hours before.

Moch was aware that Richard was still feeling guilty about what had just happened and Kimba was the only person who would be able to put his mind to rest. His clever maneuvering gave Kimba and Richard their first moments alone together.

"I'm sorry, Kimba."

"Richard, it wasn't your fault."

"But it was because I redeemed a marker, Thorton almost killed you."

"He almost killed you, twice."

"Kimba -- "

"Okay, I admit I don't want to go through something like that too often -- actually never again would be just fine."

"Amen to that." Richard sighed.

Kimba smiled at his prayerful remark and then continued. "But you were only doing your job, the one your father had asked of you. I can't fault you for that. By the way," she said, tapping him on the knee, "maybe we should do something about the security around here. Everybody's always breaking in. Just after you arrive on the Islands. What a coincidence."

Richard gestured around him at the open room looking out over the stars and the sea. "Yeah, like this is an easy place to secure." He gave her a suspicious look. "You mean my father didn't have these problems when he redeemed markers?"

"Well, a few," she admitted,. "that's why we have powerful friends in the right places."

"Like McGarrett, king of the cops?"

"Like McGarrett."

"So, are you sure you're all right, really?" Richard asked concerned as he gently touched one of the bruises on her face that had been put there by Thorton.

"Yes, I am, besides, I'm not the one with the sore ribs remember?" Kimba reminded him as she stood up and offered him her hand to help him up off the couch. "How about something to eat?"

"Great idea, I'm starved."

"Me too." Kimba happily agreed as she and Richard headed to the kitchen to join the others.

McGarrett looked over the Pacific-by-sunset; heard the gentle rush of surf against the windward sand, the palms rustling gently in the evening breeze, and the subdued sound of happy conversation from the kitchen. The blue/white caps of surf were bronzed in the glow of the ebbing sun. For a moment, Eden was at peace. He was satisfied. He was always happy when a case ended the way it should. Thorton was dead, although McGarrett had not wanted to kill the man. The threatened family were happy and safe and together. Not a bad days work in paradise.

Danno joined him and they strolled back across the lawn now empty of police cars and headed toward the black sedan. McGarrett casually pulled an object out of his inside pocket and started flipping it into the air and catching it as he and Dan walked.

Williams noticed oddly that the thing reflected off the setting sun. It seemed to Dan that the object was a small plastic disk.

"What's that, Steve?"

"What, oh, this?" Steve flipped the object over to Dan who caught it deftly. "Just something a friend gave me once a long time ago."

Dan turned the disk over in his hands and saw that it was indeed made of a thick plastic. It had serrated edges with a rose silhouetted or imprinted on it. Below the rose was the number l7.

Dan flipped the disk back to Steve, having satisfied his curiosity. "What is it?"

Steve turned and smiled at Dan as he caught the object in his hands as deftly as his friend. "Well, you might call it a marker."

PAU