A Deal With The Devil
by
Trish
“So ya still gunna to come as da Devil to da party tonight?”
Danny Williams smiled at his Hawaiian friend’s
excitement as he stopped writing the report he was working on and looked towards
the large detective who stood in the doorway to his cubicle. “Yep, Sally picked
up the costume from the shop yesterday.”
“It’s gunna be a great night,
bruddah,” Kono enthused. “The beach, ono
food, good music and lots of girls. What more can a guy ask for?”
“A chance to get this report written and on Steve’s
desk before he changes his mind about us having the night off, bruddah.” Danny
lightly teased his colleague as he turned his attention back to the unfinished
report, aware that it had to be completed before he
could leave.
“I bettah let you finish
it.” Kono grinned, “Don’t wanna give da boss any extra time to change his mind.”
######
Hanging up the phone, McGarrett reached for the
intercom button and pressed it. He waited for a moment before he heard Danno’s
disembodied voice respond.
‘Yes Steve?’
“Danno, can you come in here for a minute?” He asked
before releasing the button and leaning back in his chair;
smiling as he planned his next few hours.
A soft rap preceded the entrance of his
Second-in-Command and he waited until the young sandy-haired detective had
closed the door and sat down
before he quietly informed him. “I just received word from Maui
P.D that Cohen has been sighted at Kipahulu near the Pipiwai Trail.”
“That’s a pretty rugged area, Steve; I’ve hiked there
a couple of times.” Danny told him, “Thick rainforest, easy enough for someone
to get lost if they don’t know the trails.”
“And you do?” McGarrett asked. Danny nodded, not liking where the
conversation was going as his boss softly said, “I’m afraid that you are going
to have cancel your Halloween plans for tonight, Danno. We can’t allow Cohen to
slip through our fingers again.”
Danny grimaced before swallowing his disappointment and
nodding his silent acceptance of McGarrett’s order. He knew how important
apprehending Cohen had become for Steve. It had almost become an obsession for
the lead detective and his closest friend and he knew McGarrett would not be
able to relax until they had the criminal behind bars. Cohen had been the
mastermind behind several vicious armed robberies across
It had taken Five O almost six months of investigation
before they were able to obtain enough strong evidence to bring charges against
him but he had been tipped off about the pending
arrest and had disappeared before one could be made. McGarrett had taken the
escape personally and had sworn to his men that they would bring the slimy
criminal to justice.
Drawing a deep breath to ensure his disappointment
didn’t show, Danny forced a small smile and asked,
“What time does our plane leave?”
“We’re booked on the midday flight to
“The Halloween party ain’t no
big thing, bruddah - always another one next year.” Danny smiled; no longer
concerned about missing the party as he focused on what equipment he needed to
pack for the afternoon hike.
######
Ben Kubota glanced across at the lead detective
sitting beside him; McGarrett looked tense and edgy and in fact had been almost
totally silent since he had picked up the pair at the Hana airport. Glancing into the rear vision mirror at the
younger detective who sat in the passenger seat behind him, the Maui Police
chief began a quick but concise report, “I sent the APB of Cohen onto the Park
Rangers and outlying ranches just in case he tried to hide out on the island
and this morning we hit pay dirt. One of the ranchers spotted a man fitting
Cohen’s description hiking near the Pipiwai Trail this morning. Unfortunately
when the Ranger spotted Cohen, he was leading a group of inexperienced hikers
along the Trail and wasn’t able to follow him when he disappeared into the
rainforest. The ranger was able to tell us the precise location where he last
saw Cohen and in which direction he had disappeared.”
“Bettah than nothing bruddah!” Danny smiled as he looked at McGarrett to gauge Steve’s reaction to the
report but McGarrett remained silent, his jaw clenched tight as he stared
ahead. Returning his attention to the Maui officer Danny continued, “We knew
from the coconut wire in
“Couldn’t think of a better spot to
have a small hideout cabin than Kipahulu.” Ben
observed.
“Yeah.” Danny agreed. “Not many people wander off the main hiking trails, too
easy to get lost. Someone could easily hole up in one of the small cabins for
weeks without ever being spotted.”
“Also a great area for growing
marijuana, bruddah.” Ben warned the two detectives.
“We’ve found a few small plantations in that area over the last couple of
months. Most of the plantations have belonged to local kids wanting to make a
quick buck but we’ve heard rumours of a bigger
plantation further off the trail. We haven’t been able to locate just where
that is yet “
“Hard to find in all of this
rainforest.” Danny sighed as Ben turned into the
“There have also been unconfirmed rumours
that hikers who have wandered off the main trail have been threatened or shot
at by two young men supposedly guarding the crop but so far no one has made an
official, or unofficial, complaint.” Ben
continued as the three officers alighted from the car and began to unpack the
two backpacks, radios and canteens of water from the trunk. “Not the safest place to be hiking at the
moment, are you sure that you don’t want some more men to help you search?”
“Be better if it’s just the two of us, Ben.” Steve
spoke for the first time since the ride from the airport as the two Five O
detectives shrugged into their packs. “I don’t want Cohen being tipped off that
we are searching for him by having too many people trouping around the
rainforest.”
Ben nodded unhappily as he handed McGarrett the radio . “How long do you think you will be?”
Danny glanced at his watch before he looked back at
Kubota, “We should arrive back here about noon tomorrow Ben, we want to check
out a couple of cabins I know of just off the main trail where Cohen could be
hiding.”
“Just be careful, bruddahs, don’t take any unnecessary
chances; not only with Cohen but with the trail itself. The weather bureau is
predicting storms tonight and the trail can become dangerous and tricky and
most of the streams in this area are prone to flash floods.” Ben warned. “Also
radio reception here is almost non-existent. If you two ain’t back by lunchtime
tomorrow, I’m sending in a search party whether it tips your guy off or not.”
“Mahalo, Ben.” Steve smiled, touched by the Police
Chief’s concern and lightly patted him on the shoulder before
he turned back to his Second-In-Command and asked, “Ready, Danno?”
“Ready, Steve.” Danny grinned as he adjusted his
backpack into a more comfortable position on his shoulders and waved his
farewell to Ben as he turned and led his boss towards the small signpost near
the edge of the rainforest that marked the start of the trail.
######
“Looks like the weather bureau was right, we’re in for
a storm.” Danny observed as he stared up at the dark clouds rolling across the
sky between the branches of the trees then he stopped to remove his back pack
to reach the canteen. They had been hiking at a steady pace for the last two
hours after leaving the main Pipiwai Trail just after passing the Makahiku Overlook.
The trail they now followed was narrow, rough and steep in parts and in
some places almost non-existent but the young Five O detective knew this hidden
path well.
Glancing upwards, McGarrett nodded as a flash of
lightning lit up the sky, “You’re right, Danno, we had better find some shelter
and sit the storm out.”
“There’s a cabin up ahead that we can shelter in. It’s
not the Ilikai but at least it’s warm and dry.” Danny told his boss as he slung the backpack
over one shoulder before adding with a grin, “And since it is Halloween maybe
we can spend the time telling ghosts stories around the fire.”
“Ghosts stories eh?”
Steve laughed, slapping the younger man on the shoulder as a clap of
thunder echoed through the trees. “Ok aikane, I’ll think about it but how first
about you lead the way to the cabin so we can get out of the rain? I doubt we
will find any trace of Cohen in this rain.”
Acknowledging
the request with a nod, the young detective began the arduous walk through the
rugged terrain as he followed the small, rarely used,
trail that he knew led past the tiny one roomed cabin ahead.
Danny felt the twigs beneath his foot break a moment
before something snapped around his ankle and his leg erupted in fiery pain.
Unable to stop the scream of agony that tore from his throat, Danny collapsed
as the bones in his leg snapped under the unexpected pressure. Instinctively he
reached for his leg as he desperately attempted to free himself from the cruel
metal teeth that now held him firmly.
Concentrating on where he stepped, McGarrett was startled by his companion’s agonized scream of pain.
Snapping his head up, Steve watched as Danny collapsed to the ground and
clutched desperately at his leg., McGarrett stared in disbelief at the bear
trap that was tearing into the tender flesh of his young friend’s ankle.
Dropping to the
ground next to the trapped young man, Steve quickly grabbed hold of Dan and
pinned him gently to the ground, aware that the more Danny struggled to get
free the more damage the trap inflicted.
“Easy Danno, easy.” He whispered shakily, “I
need you to try and stay still, aikane.”
“Oh God, it hurts!” Danny cried as he struggled
against Steve’s firm hold attempting to reach again for the reason of his
agony, “Get it off, Steve! ... Oh God, please… get it off!”
Blinking away the tears that threatened to blur his
vision, Steve glanced back at the rusty metal trap before he returned his
attention back to his friend. Danny was pale and shaking, already showing the first
symptoms of shock. He knew that he had to release Danny quickly from the trap.
“Danno, listen to me aikane! You have to calm down and stop moving so I can get
a good look at the trap.” Steve told the injured man firmly as Danny continued
to thresh under his hands, causing the trap to tighten its relentless grip
around his ankle and tearing deeper into the vulnerable muscles and skin. “Danno, stop fighting me!” Steve growled as he tightened his
grip on Danny’s shoulders and pressed the young man onto the ground, crushing
the backpack Danny still wore.
Instinctively obeying his boss’s growled order; Danny
forced himself to stop struggling as Steve cautiously released his shoulders.
Relieved that Danny had obeyed his order and had calmed down, Steve patted
Danny’s arm, “Good Danno, good. Just take it easy, I’m going to have a look at
the trap and see just how we can get it off your leg.”
Danny swallowed hard and nodded as he watched Steve
move down and study the steel trap that had trapped his leg.
“Its spring triggered.” Steve murmured relieved as he
carefully examined the trap being careful not to touch it in fear of causing
Dan more pain.
“Can you …get …it off?” Danny panted in pain as he
watched his boss’ examination.
Steve forced a small smile and nodded, “I can release
the spring if I place a counter weight on either side of the trap.”
“Do it!” Danny
moaned as he tried unsuccessfully tried to stop the tears that were now running
freely down his face and intermingling with the rain. “Just get it …off me!”
“It’s going to hurt aikane,” Steve warned, “Before I
can remove the trap, we have to place your foot flat on the ground so that I
can place my weight on both sides of it to release the locking mechanism.”
“Just …do it!” Danny begged.
Steve nodded, not trusting his voice as he patted his
friend’s shoulder in a silent show of support before moving down and gently
grabbing Dan’s leg. Swallowing hard, he steeled himself for the pain he knew he
was about to inflict as he looked up into Danny’s pain filled face and croaked
out between dry lips, “Ready?”
Drawing a deep breath as he tried to prepare for what
was to come, Danny bit down hard on his bottom lip and silently nodded.
Carefully lifting Dan’s leg, Steve desperately tried
to ignore the younger man’s sobs as he bent the leg at the knee and placed the
injured foot flat on the ground. Aware
of the suffering Danno was enduring; he swiftly placed both hands on either
side of the trap and pressed down with all his weight. His chest tightened with
guilt as Danny’s screams changed into heart-wrenching sobs as his weight slowly
forced the steel jaws open releasing their victim from its iron grip. Feeling
his arms tremble under the strain, he shouted, “Danno, listen to me, the trap’s
open. Your foot is free. I need you to lift your foot out of the trap… Danno, I
know it hurts but I need you to lift your foot!”
Hearing his boss’ order, Danny closed his eyes and
gritted his teeth before choking back a sob of agony as he lifted his injured
leg into the air. The pain was excruciating and he was unable to contain the
scream that erupted from his very soul as he mercifully slipped into blessed
darkness.
Releasing his grip on the deadly hunting implement as
soon as Danny had lifted his leg free, Steve caught and gently eased the
wounded limb onto the ground. He glanced at Danny’s pale face, grateful that
the young man had passed out and would hopefully be
spared the pain of having his leg bandaged.
Hurriedly shrugging out of his back pack, Steve
quickly searched its contents, pulling out the small first aid kit before
opening and placing it close to Danny’s leg. Reaching for the injured limb,
Steve gently pushed up the bloodied remnants of the leg of Danny’s jeans,
exposing the jagged and heavily bleeding puncture wounds that encircled Danny’s
ankle just above the edge of his hiking boot. He knew he had to remove the boot
before he could bandage the wounds but Steve hesitated a moment as he noticed
the strange angle of Danny’s foot. The trap had broken the bones in Danny’s leg
and Steve was acutely aware that by removing the boot, he could cause even more
damage but he also knew that he really had no choice. Danny was bleeding
heavily, although he could see no evidence of arterial damage he was not
certain if any veins had been nicked by the sharp steel teeth.
If he did not remove the boot and stop the bleeding there was a real
possibility that Danny could bleed to death.
Quickly unlacing the boot, Steve drew in a deep breath
and steeled himself as he carefully slid the boot
free, slipping the woollen hiking sock Danny wore off
a moment later. He heard Danny moan softly but tried hard to ignore the sound
as he grabbed several thick dressings from the first aid box and pressed them
firmly around Danny’s ankle. He held them in place as he fumbled for a bandage
before securing them tightly a few seconds later. Steve eased the leg back on
the ground, satisfied that he had managed to slow the bleeding as he looked
around the area searching for something to help splint and stabilize Danno’s
leg before he attempted to move him.
A loud clap of thunder echoed through the trees that
surrounded them; shaking the ground as the first heavy drops of rain began to
pelt through the protective canopy and stinging McGarrett with their
ferocity. Aware that any more first aid
measures were now going to have to wait until they reached the protection and
dryness of shelter; Steve stood and quickly repacked the first aid kit, placing
the pack back onto his shoulders before slinging Danno’s over his shoulder.
Reaching down, he slipped his arms under his injured detective and lifted him
off the ground. Staggering a little
under Danny’s dead weight he studied the rugged trail ahead. “I hope you’re
right about the cabin, aikane,” he whispered to the unconscious man in his arms
as he started along the narrow track, watching carefully for any more hidden
traps or snares. “We need to get you somewhere warm and dry and then treat your
leg.”
########
Creeping closer to the cabin, Cohen took cover behind
a tree as he drew his gun and silently watched for any sign of movement around
the small clearing and the surrounding undergrowth. He knew that this was
probably overkill but he could not take the chance of being
seen again.
He shook his
head and cursed himself silently for his own foolishness that had almost got
him caught. Bored of looking at the four walls inside his cabin, he had decided
this morning to take a little trek but the ranger had seen him and by the
startled look on the ranger’s face, he knew the man had recognized him -
probably from the media reports.
He had managed to slip back into the safety of the
rainforest before the ranger could react and had spent the day creating false
trails that lead away from the safety of his cabin for anyone who decided to
try and track him; the afternoon storm however had caught him by surprise a
mile from his hide away. The storm was intensifying and the torrential rain
made the small streams between here and his cabin too dangerous to cross
leaving him with no other option than to shelter in the abandoned hut.
He waited a few minutes more until he was satisfied
that he was alone before he silently stepped out of his hiding spot and hurried
across to the small cabin. Reaching for the door, he carefully reached for the
handle and turned it, expecting it to be locked. He
was surprised when the handle turned and the door swung open. He hesitated a
moment as he heard something move in the underbrush. He turned and squinted,
peering through the sheets of heavy rain as a figure carrying something emerged
from the trees. He turned and quickly stepped into the cabin pulling the door
silently closed behind him before he pressed himself against the wall and his
finger tightened on the trigger of his gun as he held his breath and waited.
#####
“Easy, Danno, easy. Almost there.” Steve murmured distractedly in response to the soft moan
from the man in his arms as he concentrated on keeping his balance on the muddy
trail.
He carefully traversed the last several yards in the
pelting rain to the small cabin that had been built
partially into a small grotto hidden by the trees. Reaching the cabin, McGarrett lightly kicked
the door with his foot, sending a silent prayer of thanks as the door swung
open and he staggered inside with his precious cargo held tightly in his arms.
He paused a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light as he looked
around the one room structure. It was obvious that the cabin had
long been abandoned; a thick layer of dust covered the floor and the old
wooden table and chair that sat in the middle of the room, even the old bed
against the far wall seemed to have a covering of dust that coloured
the thin blanket that covered the mattress grey.
Spotting the bed, he began to carry Danny across the
room but he had only taken a few steps before he felt the barrel of a gun press
against his back as a familiar voice growled, “Hold it right there!”
“Easy, easy.” He said softly as he came to a complete stop and tried to reassure
whoever held the gun to his back, “I don’t know who you are but I promise we
mean no harm. My friend stepped into a trap. He’s hurt and I needed to get him
somewhere dry to treat his leg. Please just let me put him down on the bed and
then we can talk.”
“Okay but no tricks! Then turn around with your arms
up in the air” Cohen warned as he allowed the injured man to be carried to the
bed, watching closely as the dark headed man lowered the younger man to the bed
before he turned back slowly, his arms raised in the air
“McGarrett!” Cohen gasped in surprise as he recognized the man who turned towards
him. “How did you....?”
“Cohen!” The name exploded from McGarrett’s lips like a
curse as he found himself staring into the eyes of the man they had been
hunting as he instinctively reached for his gun.
“Don’t even think about it, McGarrett, You’ll be dead
before your gun even leaves the holster!” Cohen warned as he pointed his gun towards
the detective’s chest, “Now I want you to drop the backpacks and then take your
gun out slow and easy and place it on the ground then kick it over to me.” He
ordered, the gun never wavering as he watched McGarrett unholster
his weapon and lower it to the floor before kicking it across to where Cohen
stood. “Good, McGarrett, good. Now your boy’s weapon!” he ordered pointing
towards Danny with his gun.
McGarrett sighed as he turned and slowly reached for
Dan’s weapon, carefully removing it from Dan’s waist band holster. He hesitated
a moment as he felt the weight of the weapon in his hand and he consider the
odds that were against him if he turned and fired. A soft moan caught his
attention and he realized that he was the only chance that Danno had.
“Come on, McGarrett!” Cohen growled impatiently.
“I’m doing it.” McGarrett answered as he turned around
and placed it gently on the ground before kicking it across to their captor.
Keeping his gun trained on McGarrett’s chest, Cohen
knelt down and picked up both guns, slipping them both into his waistband as he
stood up again. “So how did you manage to track me here, Supercop?” He asked watching McGarrett closely.
“I promised you that if you tried to flee that I would
track you down.” McGarrett told Cohen softly, “And I always keep my promises!”
The criminal stared at the lead detective in disbelief
for a moment before he began to laugh, “You did too, McGarrett!” he chuckled,
“But I never really thought that you would track me down personally – I thought
that you would have sent one of your boys or a flatfoot. I guess the local
coconut wireless was right when they said that the great Mr. Five O always got
his man - eh?”
“I try.” McGarrett answered before the soft call of
his name from the man on the bed caught his attention and he turned quickly
towards it, ignoring the gun that was still pointed at
him as he crouched down beside his injured friend. He gently placed a hand on
the young man’s shoulder and whispered softly, “I’m here Danno.”
“Steve…it hurts…”
Danny moaned as his eyes fluttered open and he reached weakly towards
his leg.
“I know it does aikane.” Steve told him quietly as he
gently pushed Danny back down onto the bed and glanced down at the wet bloody
bandages that encircled Danny’s leg. “I’m going to re-dress and splint your leg
and then make you a little more comfortable my friend.”
“McGarrett!” Cohen roared as he rushed across the room and grabbed the detective
attempting to pull him away from the side of the bed.
Pivoting around on his toes, Steve jumped to his feet
and slapped Cohen’s hand off his shoulder. “If you’re going to use that gun
then use it! If not then get the Hell away! I told you my officer was injured
and I am going help him whether you want me to or not!” Steve hissed before he
turned his attention back to his detective, ignoring the criminal.
Cohen stared in disbelief as McGarrett turned his
back, the detective’s total disregard for the gun he held left him shocked and
more than a little startled. He was
unsure of what he should do; he had never met anyone that ignored his orders
before.
Ignoring the man behind him, Steve knelt back down
beside the shivering man on the bed as he pulled some dry clothes from the
backpack and began to remove Danny’s wet ones.
Using his own spare clothing to dry Danny he redressed him in clean
clothes and wrapped him tightly in the dusty blanket in an attempt to slow the
young detective’s decline into shock. He hesitated, uncertain as to whether he
should attempt to remove Danny’s soaked jeans, fearful that by doing so he
might damage Danny’s leg further.
“You’re going to have to cut the leg of the jeans
open, it will make it easier when we redress and splint his leg.” Cohen advised
as he stepped closer to the bed. McGarrett glanced up as Cohen asked. ”You said
something about him being caught in some type of a trap? “
“A boar trap, covered by dirt and leaves on the
trail.” McGarrett answered, surprised at the other man’s offer to help.
“Nasty! Knew it was only a matter of
time before those idiots really hurt someone protecting their damn crop!”
Cohen muttered before he ordered. “We’re going to need some hot water to clean
out the wounds, if the blood loss and shock don’t get him first then any
infection will if we’re not careful. Have you got something to use to cut his
jeans?”
McGarrett nodded and reached into his jacket pocket,
regretting having to show the pocket knife that might have proved invaluable
later as a weapon against their captor. No, treating Danno’s leg was far more
important than hiding any potential weapon.
“That might do the job.” Cohen murmured as he glanced
at the small knife, “I’ll get the fire going and start heating the water while
you cut away his jeans. It’s easier if you cut along the seams.” He added as he
turned away and headed outside in search of wood.
McGarrett frowned and turned towards the criminal;
bewildered at the man’s actions, “Why are you doing this, Cohen? Now’s your chance to escape.”
Cohen stopped and half turned back toward the lead
detective. “I might rob banks for a living McGarrett but I’m not a murdering
man! I was a medic in the army before I came to the islands and I have no
intention of watching a man suffer whether he’s a cop or not; not when I am
able to help.” He answered before he turned and walked out of the cabin.
McGarrett stared at the empty doorway before a soft
moan caught his attention and he turned back to Dan. Danny was watching him
closely, his pain filled eyes more coherent than before. “Was that Cohen?” He
asked in confusion, “Did we catch him?”
Squeezing Danno’s shoulder, McGarrett nodded, “That’s
Cohen, Danno and we didn’t exactly catch him.” He cryptically answered, “But he
has some medical background and is going to help me treat your leg.” Moving
down to the bottom of the bed, Steve released the blade from the handle of his
knife, “But first aikane, I have to cut your jeans so we can clean and bandage
your leg.” He saw Danny nod and bite his bottom lip as he slipped the blade
against the inside seam of Danny’s jeans and began to cut the material, being careful not to jostle the injured limb
any more than necessary.
Biting hard on his bottom lip, Danny tried hard not to
cry out as every tear the knife made pulled the material and moved his ankle,
sending fiery bolts of white hot agony shooting up his leg. Unable to stop the
tears, he choked on the swallowed sobs as Steve lightly squeezed his uninjured
leg and whispered, “I’m sorry aikane, I know it hurts
but we have to get your jeans off.”
Drawing a deep breath to calm his shaking hands, Steve
waited a minute for Danny to relax a little and gain some control over the pain
before he started cutting the material again, slicing through the thick
material until he had cut it up to Danny’s thigh he folded it back and exposed
Danny’s leg.
Something shiny around the ankle of Dan’s other leg
caught the lead detective’s attention and he felt his heart beat faster as he
realized what it was. He grinned with
relief at his injured partner, gently rubbing Danny’s arm as he whispered “You brought your back up piece with you. Good
thinking Danno. I think you just turned the tables on Cohen, my friend.”
Glancing towards the cabin door, he was relieved to find it still open and
Cohen nowhere in sight. Returning his attention to Dan, he carefully tugged up
the uncut pants leg as he quickly removed the small ankle holster and the
small.22 it held. Sliding them into his own waistband he pulled his shirt over
it, hiding the small bulge that it made.
“I have some dry wood to start a fire.” Cohen
announced a moment later as he re-entered the hut. “And there’s an old saucepan
in the corner I can use to heat up some water. Have you got more bandages and
supplies in your packs?’
“I have a first aid kit that has clean sterile dressings
and bandages.” McGarrett replied as he reached for Danny’s backpack and removed
the small red box before opening it and removing the needed items as Cohen lit
the fire.
Satisfied the fire was burning well, Cohen rose and
closed the door before he filled the small pot with water from one of the
detective’s canteens and set it on the flames to heat. He waited until the
water reached the temperature that he wanted before he lifted it from the
flames and carefully carried it across to the bed. Settling it on the small
rickety bedside table he turned his attention to Dan’s leg.
He grimaced at sight of the bloody bandages and nodded
silently for Steve to lift Dan’s leg. Leaning close to the injured man, Cohen
whispered a quiet apology for the pain he was about to cause. Danny nodded his
understanding and acceptance that any treatment to his leg was going to hurt.
Moving down to the end of the bed, the bank robber
glanced towards the two detectives and asked. ”Ready?”
With nods from both men he carefully unwound the bandage, exposing the jagged,
swollen wounds underneath. The puncture wounds encircled the ankle unevenly,
bleeding freely as the pressure was removed. Grabbing a clean handkerchief from his
pocket, Cohen dipped the material into the water and with a quick nod to
McGarrett to hold the leg tighter to prevent Danny from moving it; the ex-medic
began to clear away the dirt and the blood, exposing the tendons and white bone
beneath the torn skin.
The pain was excruciating and unable to stop the sobs
that tore from his throat, the young detective begged them to stop as he
struggled to pull his leg free.
His own heart breaking with every heart-wrenching sob,
Steve grabbed Danny’s leg tighter as he whispered soft words of comfort,
promising that they would be finished soon.
Satisfied that he had cleaned the wounds as well as he
could, Cohen reached for the dressings and pressed them around the limb before
tightly wrapping a bandage around the damaged ankle, preventing both the
dressings or joint from moving. “Almost finished, just need to splint the
ankle” He assured both men as he rose from the bed and hurried over to the wood
pile. Searching through the roughly chopped pieces of wood he found two
suitable for his needs. Returning to the bed he carefully placed both pieces on
either side of Danny’s ankle before securing them into position with a second
bandage he then nodded to McGarrett to lower the injured limb back onto the
bed.
Blinking away the moisture that blurred his vision,
Steve murmured, “Mahalo!” as Cohen silently began to clear away used, bloodied
bandage.
Cohen nodded and moved away, giving the two detectives
some privacy as Steve stepped towards the head of the bed and crouched down,
studying his pale and shaking friend. He
lightly placed his hand against Dan’s cheek, gently rubbing the back of his
finger against the now hot and flushed skin as Danny’s sobs began to fade. “I
know that hurt aikane and we had to clean the wounds. The pain should ease a
little now. Try and get some rest.”
The order was easy to follow as Danny allowed himself
to slip into the darkness that offered him a release from the pain.
McGarrett lingered near the bed for several minutes
his fingers lightly caressing Danny’s cool cheek until the soft hitched sobs
faded and Danny’s breathing settled into the deep, even rhythm of sleep.
#####
Standing near the table, Cohen watched in amazement as
he saw the iron façade of
“”He’s lucky, there must have been a few missing teeth
in the trap. I don’t think that any veins have been damaged.” Cohen informed
the lead detective quietly as McGarrett reached the table.
“Thank God.” Steve whispered, closing his eyes in
relief.
“He’s not out of the woods yet, McGarrett, not by a
long shot. He is suffering from blood loss and shock”
The bank robber continued, “His leg is severely broken and there was a lot of
dirt and rust in the wounds. I cleaned the wounds as well as I could but I
doubt it was enough. He is already showing symptoms of infection. If the
infection takes hold in his weakened condition, then there is a great
possibility that he may not survive the night. He needs to be in a hospital.”
“I know he does.” Steve hissed as he ran his hand over
the five o’clock shadow on his face. “But that’s not going to be possible with
the storm and the darkness. Even if I radio for help, the chances of a rescue
team finding us in stormy conditions at night are slim even if they did decide
to try and find us. “
“The radio is useless, there’s no reception here.”
Cohen stated quietly.
Steve nodded,”All we can do is wait until morning and
then hike out!”
“What do you mean we, McGarrett? I have no plans of
hiking out anywhere with you or have you forgotten just who has the gun here?”
Cohen growled as he pulled his gun from his waistband and aimed it at the
detective. “Tonight we might all be stuck in this lousy little cabin and I will
help you keep your boy alive if I can but in the morning we part company. You
and Williams will go one way and I am going another. I have no intentions of
returning to
“You are responsible for the deaths of four men and at
least six armed robberies. If you think that I am going to let you walk out of
this cabin a free man in the morning then you’re sadly mistaken.”
“I don’t know how you intend to stop me, McGarrett,
but I do know that you probably won’t believe me when I tell you, that I never
ordered anyone to be killed in the bank heists. In fact I told the guys there
was to be no gunplay.”
“That’s not what your partners told us and the jury.”
Steve challenged.
“Yeah, Davidson would tell you that,” Cohen laughed
ruefully, “He’d have said his own Grandmother instructed him to shoot anyone if
they resisted if he thought it would safe his hide.”
“Hendie backed up his story.” Steve reminded the bank
robber.
“You’ve spoken with Hendie, McGarrett; you must have
realized that he’s not too bright. He would repeat anything Davidson told him
to. He’s terrified of the man!”
“And he’s not terrified of you?” Steve lifted his
eyebrow questioningly.
“Why would he be? He knows that I would never do
anything to hurt him.” Cohen shouted, “My God, I hate violence! Okay, Supercop,
I admit to being greedy! I saw an
opportunity to relieve the banks of a little cash, so I took it BUT I never
gave the orders for anyone to be hurt. There was no need if Davidson and Hendie
had done exactly as I told them! It was Davidson who got the thrill out of
killing!”
“It was you who planned the robberies and gave the
orders, Cohen. You knew that there was a possibility that someone could be killed but you still went through with your plans.
You’re as guilty of those four murders as Davidson and Hendie.” McGarrett
growled angrily stabbing his finger in the air at the criminal. “So don’t you
try that ‘I didn’t pull the trigger so I’m not guilty’ act with me Mister
because you are as guilty if not more so than Davidson and Hendie. You were the
brains behind the robberies. You gave them the guns!”
“And I gave them the orders that there was to be no
shooting!” Cohen yelled frustrated that McGarrett did not seem to realize that
he had no blood on his hands, it wasn’t him that pulled the trigger, Davidson was the man wholly responsible for the murders.
“I’ve had enough of having to defend myself, McGarrett; nothing I can say is
going to convince you that I am innocent of those men’s murders. Just sit right
there and keep your mouth shut, Supercop or so help me –I will use this gun and
to Hell with the consequences. What’s one more murder when I’ve been accused of
being responsible for four I haven’t committed?”
#####
McGarrett sat silently waiting for his chance as
Cohen’s eyes began to drift shut as the warmth and the soft flickering light
lulled him off into an exhausted sleep. The grip on gun Cohen held in his hand
relaxed and McGarrett seized his opportunity as the gun slid free and cluttered
to the floor. Pulling the small .22 he had tucked in his waistband, McGarrett
smiled as Cohen’s eyes flew open and focused on the gun now held in the
detective’s hand. “I guess the shoe is on the other foot, Cohen. I want you to
ease the two guns out of your waistband and drop them on the ground, nice and
easy! Then slide them across to me.”
Shaking his head at the way the tables had turned,
Cohen did as he was told, as he sighed, “I guess this
means I’m going back to
“You’ll get a fair trial, Cohen and I promise you, I
intend to tell the D.A, about the medical help you have given Williams tonight.
It might help you get a lesser sentence.”
“I told you McGarrett, I’m not a murderer. No matter
whether or not you tell the DA about the medical help I‘ve given Williams, it
makes no difference to me. I did it because he needs help not because I thought
it would get me out of trouble.”
“No! No! Get away from me!”
The terrified scream from behind them caused both men
to jump and they hurried across the room to the terrified man on the bed. Danny
cried out again as he hit out at some invisible terror that only he could see.
McGarrett reached his side and tried to grab his arms in an attempt to stop him
from hurting himself as the young man struggled wildly, his eyes wide in fear.
“My God he’s burning up.” McGarrett gasped, alarmed at the heat radiating from
his friend.
“Oh God Steve, help me! Don’t let them get me! No,
stay away!!!” Danny cried as he tried to break free of
Steve’s firm hold.
Placing a hand on the young detective’s cheek, Cohen
turned and grabbed the wet cloth in the bowl of water beside the bed before he
turned and started wiping Danny down as he quickly explained. “He’s delirious;
we have to get the fever down.”
Grabbing the second cloth, McGarrett began to sponge
his friend down as he whispered, “I’m here, Danno, I’m here. Nothing’s going to
hurt you, aikane, I promise.”
“They’re here. Can you see them? They’re ghosts,
Steve, I can see right through them!”
Danny whispered fearfully as he stared at a spot somewhere behind
Steve’s shoulder.
“There are no ghosts, Danno,” Steve tried to reassure
the terrified young man as he re-wet the cloth and continued to sponge Danny
down, “You’re sick at the moment and it’s making you see things that aren’t
real.”
Danny shook his head, “They’re real Steve! They want
me to go with them.”
Danny’s whispered words sent a cold chill through
McGarrett’s soul and he dropped the cloth as he grabbed Danny’s shoulders.
“They’re not real, Danny, You are not to go anywhere, understand, aikane! You
can’t give up on me now! That’s an order, Officer!” He told his detective
firmly.
“They want me to go with them, Steve!” Danny murmured
as his eyes slowly slid closed and his body began to relax. “They’re calling m …” The words trailed off as
Danny’s head rolled to the side.
“Danno!” Steve called urgently as he pressed his fingers into the side of his
officer’s neck, releasing his breath as he felt the weak, rapid beat of a pulse
beneath his fingertips.
“He’s getting worse.” Cohen said softly, “The
infection is starting to spread through his body. All we can do is try and keep him comfortable and his temperature down. If he
doesn’t get some medical attention soon McGarrett, he’s going to lose more than
just his leg.”
“He’s a fighter.” Steve growled as he picked up the
cloth and continued to his ministrations on Dan. “He’s not going to give up
without a fight. He’s going to make it!” Steve insisted.
Cohen shook his head as he stopped wiping Danny down
and stared at the dark haired man, “He might not have any choice in the matter.
He’s already weak from shock and the blood loss; his body isn’t going to cope
with the extra stress of an infection. He’s not going to be able to wait until
your rescue team arrives.” He told the stubborn detective. “He needs one of us
to radio for help.”
McGarrett’s head snapped up and he glared at the bank
robber. “And I gather this ‘one of us’ is you?”
“I know the area, McGarrett. I know the spots where I
am most likely to get the best radio reception. If you let me go, I could call
for help, tell them the situation and then tell them exactly where you and
Williams are!”
“And then disappear into the night?” Steve asked
sarcastically, “Is that the deal?”
Cohen shrugged, “Sounds like a fair deal to me. His
life for my freedom, what do you say?”
“NO! No way, Mister! You are going to stand trial for
what you did!” McGarrett roared. “So don’t you dare try and use Danny
Williams’s injury as your excuse to escape! You’re the reason why he is lying
on this bed. If you hadn’t fled before your trial then Williams would have been
safe in
The lead detective’s passion for justice took the
criminal’s breath away. Shaking his head he glanced towards the ill man in the
bed before he looked back at McGarrett. “I just hope you feel as strongly about
bringing me in when Williams dies, McGarrett.” He said softly as he re-wet the
cloth and began to sponge Danny again. “Because I think you are going to
realize that it wasn’t just the burning desire to see me convicted for my
crimes that’s motivating you now but it’s become personal. I don’t think you
want to see anyone slip through your fingers.”
#####
Rubbing the back of his neck tiredly, Steve walked to
the small window and stared out at the rainforest as the trees became more
distinct with the diffused light of the rising sun. Danny had finally fallen
into an exhausted, but restless, sleep after being tormented
all night by fever induced ghosts and monsters that only he could see. Steve
swallowed hard and blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall; Danny’s
condition was getting worse, his leg now swollen, red and inflamed with
tell-tale red lines of blood poisoning streaking the entire way up his leg. The
infection now out of control, his fever raging and the simple first aid
measures that he and Cohen could offer did little to stop the deterioration.
They had to get out of there. He heard Cohen’s footsteps as the criminal walked
over to his side but did not turn around and acknowledge
him as Cohen nervously cleared his throat.
“We both know that Williams’s condition is
deteriorating, McGarrett, if he doesn’t get some medical help soon he’s not
going to make it out of this rainforest alive.” Cohen whispered anxiously as he
glanced across the room towards the ill man on the bed before returning his attention
to McGarrett to plead his case again, “As I told you last night, you have a
choice to make - let me go with one of your radios and when I get somewhere
with some reception I can radio for help for Williams or you can force me to
stay here in the cabin and hope that your search party finds us in time to save
your boy’s life. And the chances of them finding you
in time are almost next to nothing. Are you willing to risk his life just so
you can say that justice was served?”
Steve turned and stared at Danny. He knew in his heart
that Cohen was right; Danno would not survive if they waited until Ben Kubota
sent out the rescue party. Danny had told the Maui Police Chief that they did
not expect to return until midday. He glanced at his watch and sighed, it was a
little after six. Rescue was still many hours away, maybe even longer if the
rain had washed all traces of their trail away. Danny needed medical attention
now. He turned back to Cohen. “Okay
Cohen, I’ll give you one of the radios and let you go for now but this doesn’t
mean that I’m not going to bring you to justice later, understand?”
A small smile crept over Cohen’s face as he nodded and
answered, ”Expected nothing less, McGarrett.”
“But be warned,
if you don’t radio for help like you promised and anything happens to Danny
Williams I will hunt you down and then the courts can have what’s left!” Steve
warned as he nodded towards the radio sitting on the table.
“I told you McGarrett, no matter what you believe I am - I’m no
murderer!” Cohen said softly as he picked up the radio. “You won’t regret
letting me go. I’ll radio a message to the rangers as soon as I have reception.
Hopefully Williams should have medical help within the next two or three
hours.” He promised as he walked to the door and opened it, calling over his
shoulder. “Aloha, Supercop!”
######
McGarrett glanced at his watch as he paced the room.
10 am. Cohen had been gone for almost four hours. He sighed and turned back to
watch the motionless man on the bed.
Danno had drifted into a deep state of unconsciousness almost an hour
ago. Time was running out.
He ran a hand over his face as he tried to decide just
what he should do - it was obvious that Cohen had played him like a fool and
used his fear for Danno’s life as the excuse to let him escape, now he faced
the hard decision of whether to leave Danno alone and try to find somewhere
with radio reception and call for help or to stay with the dying man and pray
the search party would find them in time.
Staring at his closest friend, he knew that just
waiting was not an option. Danny deserved every chance he could give him.
Picking up the radio, he walked to the side of the bed and lightly touched his
insensible friend’s shoulder as he promised, “I’m going to get some help,
aikane, I promise I won’t be long. I need you to fight a little longer, Danno,
just hang on a little longer.”
“Danny? Steve,
where are you?”
The muffled shouts from outside the cabin caught him
by surprised and he grinned and squeezed Dan’s shoulder. “It’s okay Danno, everything’s going to be okay! Cohen kept his
promise. The rescue party is here!”
######
Leaning against the cool white wall, McGarrett tiredly
stared out of the window. It had been touch and go for the last forty-eight
hours as the infection raged through Danno’s weakened body but now the doctors
were confident that the worse was behind them. The antibiotics were working and
Danny’s condition was improving, Danno would make a full recovery. McGarrett
shook his head; it had been close this time, too close.
A soft groan from the bed caught his attention and he
hurried across to the side of the bed and placed his hand on the patient’s arm,
lightly shaking it as he softly encouraged the young man to open his eyes. His
gentle persistence was finally rewarded as Danny
moaned softly and slowly opened his eyes staring up at the familiar figure that
hovered above him.
“Hey Danno.” Steve smiled.
“Steve.” Danny breathed as his eyes slowly focused on
the face just above him. “Where?” He asked as he
panned the room in confusion, his eyes settling a moment on the IV Bags that
hung above the bed before he looked back at McGarrett ,
his fear evident in his face as broken memories returned. “The
trap… my leg?” He gasped as he attempted to rise in the bed.
“”Easy, Danno, easy. “ Steve soothed as he grabbed the young man’s shoulders and gently, but
firmly, pushed him back against the bed. “You’re in the
“I thought…,” Danny whispered
as he relaxed into the pillow.
McGarrett smiled reassuringly, “I know, aikane, but we
were extremely lucky.”
Danny frowned in confusion, “How?”
“
Danny nodded tiredly. “A large crop?
Someone is sure to walk into the stakeout.”
“Then they are in for a surprise!” McGarrett growled,
“Assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder and then all the
cultivation, selling and distribution charges of a prohibited drug and that’s
just for starters.”
“What about Cohen?” Danny asked as he fought to stay
awake. “I seem to remember him being in the cabin or was I just dreaming?”
“No Danno, you weren’t dreaming he was there.” Steve
told him, unwilling to go into further details as he firmly suggested, “You
need to rest, Danno, we can talk about this later.”
“So we got him?” Danny pushed doggedly, refusing to
give in to exhaustion until Steve answered his questions.
“I let him go.” Steve answered honestly.
Danny’s eyes opened wide in surprise at the admission,
“Why, Steve? What happened?”
“There are some things in this life that are too
important to risk my aikane and your life is the most important thing I can
think of. You were dying and both Cohen and I knew that to stay in the cabin
and wait for rescue meant a death sentence for you. Cohen wanted his freedom
and was willing to make a deal - if I let him go he promised to radio for help
and send the rescue team to the hut. It was a deal that I couldn’t refuse -
your life means so much more to me than apprehending a criminal. I knew it was
a risk trusting him but it was a risk that I was willing to take.”
“I’m sorry, Steve.” Danny whispered softly as he
dropped his eyes, unable to look his boss and closest friend in the face for
fear that he would see the disappointment in McGarrett’s face at having to let
Cohen escape to safe his life.
McGarrett frowned, “Sorry, what for?”
“I know how important catching Cohen was for you Steve
and if it wasn’t for me …” Danny began but was cut off
abruptly.
“Danno, it was
NOT your fault that you were injured aikane! And as
for my decision to let Cohen go, If I had to make that decision again I
would! I would have made a deal with the
Devil, Danno, if it meant saving your life!” Steve admitted,
ignoring the tears that trickled down his face as he lightly squeezed the arm
beneath his hand.
A little over-awed and shocked at Steve’s confession,
Danny wiped the moisture from his own eyes as he whispered, “Mahalo, Steve.”
“No thanks necessary, Kaikaina .”
Steve whispered as he watched Danny’s eyes slid closed as the detective lost
his battle to stay awake, “I’m just glad that you made it through that
Halloween nightmare.”
PAU