Chapter 3

Six Hours Later; Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu

Chin and Danny were pacing about the waiting room as they waited for Kono's doctor to come back to them. Danny was still in his animal form, too emotionally wired up to calm down and shift back. Danny had jumped into the back of the ambulance with Kono, despite protests form the EMTs. Sargent Kupani had told the EMTs that Danny was a shifter and that he had shared blood with Kono, as they had been loading her into the ambulance. The look of open shock Danny had received had almost been worth one of the EMTs muttering something awed about shifters. One man obviously thought Danny was a shifter whose form was some kind of domesticated dog, rather than a wild predator. If he had known otherwise, Danny was sure the man would have held his tongue when he muttered at his awestruck partner that he simply turned into a damned haole mutt. Danny had felt vindicated though when the other EMT punched his coworker, and told him to shut up.

Before the ambulance had even left Danny had heard Ailani on her cell phone calling Chin and telling him to get to Queens Medical Center. And sure enough by the time the EMTs were rolling Kono into the ER, Danny hot on their heels, Chin was already there at the reception desk trying to get some information out of the hassled and overworked looking nurse.

Which brought them back to where they were now. Sitting in a private waiting room, as Danny's animal form seemed to be freaking out many of the other patrons of the hospital, waiting for a doctor or nurse to come by with an update. Occasionally Danny would manage to collapse on the long couch next to Chin, who would pet him in an unconscious fashion as he stared at the doors. It didn't last long though, and one or the other of them would get up to pace about again.

John had called an hour back for an update, and Chin had had to tell him that Kono was in surgery and no one had come back yet. John and Duke had managed to get Snag Min to talk, how Danny didn't want to know. But the snakehead had confirmed that he was bringing in people, though he denied that he was bringing in Ochoa. Fortunately, Sang Min's little speech to Kono had been enough for them to seize all his containers at the pier, three of which were full of men, women, and children who didn't speak English. But the last one was the one of most interest as the inside was set up like a four star hotel room, or as close as you could get without plumbing. From what they could tell this had been Ochoa's private container.

Ochoa was already on the island.

John was at HPD speaking with IA now that they had no choice but to bring to their attention the fact that a known snakehead had revealed he had a mole in HPD to an undercover agent, and that said agent could potentially reveal that HPD was closing in on him. They still didn't know whom it was selling them out, only that it was someone in Danny's department. Danny didn't like that John was forced to get a headhunter involved in the matter, but at least they were able to keep the knowledge that Sang Min had been captured to the bare minimum possible.

Of course when he could calm down enough to change back to human form Danny had a lot of questions he wanted to ask about the investigation. Not the least of which was if John had heard from Meka or Amy yet.

"Mr. Kelly, Detective Williams," came a cool voice near the doorway.

Chin and Danny both snapped too attention, turning to face the doctor standing in the doorway. Danny whined low in his throat at the scent of Kono's blood that clung to the man. The doctor, a middle aged Hawaiian man with thinning but still black hair, looked nervously at Danny.

"How is she," Chin asked in a rush.

"She made it through the surgery just fine. All the bullets have been removed and the blood transfusion Detective Williams provided on site," here the man looked nervously at Danny again. His adams apple bobbed in his throat before he managed to look away from the large canine shifter. "The blood he gave her saved her life. I've never seen anyone heal so fast. After seeing that I have no doubt that if he hadn't given her his blood, she would have died before we could get her onto the table."

Chin gasped and his legs gave out. Danny swooped in, pressing his body against Chin's back, offering support.

"Oh, thank God," Chin whispered.

The doctor cleared his voice, the cold edge having faded to something warmer, if not more nervous. "We need to keep her overnight at least. Just to make sure she recovers from the surgery without complication."

"Okay." Chin took a deep breath. "Thank you."

"Of course." The doctor nodded. "You can go back and see her, but I will have to request that Detective Williams wait to visit until he has resumed his human form."

"Yes. Yes, of course." Chin looked over his shoulder at Danny.

Danny nodded that he understood, and the doctor seemed to take that as permission to leave, practically running out of the room.

Danny nuzzled Chin, licking his cheek softly. Chin twisted in place, wrapping his arms around Danny's neck and crying silently into his fur in relief. Danny leaned into his hold and sighed happily as his skin began to tingle and the shift took over, rippling over him in a pleasant wave. Chin didn't seem to notice, even when Danny encircled him in his strong, but bare, arms. He let the man cry out all the emotions that had been building inside him since he watched Kono head off with the rest of them while he was forced to stay behind. If he cared at all that he was kneeling on the ground embracing a naked man that he had known for barely a month, he didn't show it.

"Oh," came a startled famine voice.

Danny looked up over Chin's shoulder at the nurse who was blushing as she looked at them. Danny gave her a wide grin, one hand still carding gently through Chin's thick dark curls. "You wouldn't happen to have a spare set of scrubs I could borrow, would you?"

She blushed even redder, but nodded. "I'll just…just go get them for you."

Danny chuckled softly as she turned and darted away. "I think we embarrassed the pretty nurse, Chin."

Chin gave a hiccuping laugh into Danny's collarbone. "Yeah."

"Yeah," Danny said with a smile.

Chin gave Danny a quick once over. "I don't think you have anything to be embarrassed about."

Danny grinned and let go of Chin. "Never got any complaints from the ladies."

Chin burst out laughing, which of course, was when the nurse came back into the room. In her arms was a pair of generic green hospital scrubs, ones that would hopefully fit Danny since no one had thought to send some of his clothes to the hospital while he waited to hear about Kono. But to give them some leeway, they were still actively in the middle of a case. A big one. They likely couldn't spare one of the trusted few to make a run to Danny's house for some spare clothes. So Danny would deal with the scrubs.

"If you, uh, want to get dressed I'll show you to the ICU."

Chin's head snapped up to look at the nurse. "I thought she was doing alright?"

"She is," the nurse rushed ti reassure him. "It's just a precaution because of the shifter blood she got. They want to keep a close eye on her as her body goes through the change."

Danny squeezed Chin's shoulder. "She'll make it through, Chin. She lasted this long with those wounds, which means she got a great fighting spirit."

"He's right, Mr. Kelly. Your cousin is doing really well." The nurse smiled and reached out to help Chin up off the floor. "I'll lead you both back to her. Detective Williams, the doctors would like you to remain with her overnight in case she does a full shift while still under the effects of the drugs."

"Sure," Danny replied. He had planned on staying with her overnight even if they hadn't suggested it, just for that reason.

They made their way through the maze of waiting rooms, check-in desks, and hallways until they finally reached the corridor that Kono was being kept in. They had to wait for the nurse to get through the security check into the ICU, which slowed things down, but relieved Danny and Chin that Kono had an added layer of protection. Danny could already pick up the sterile smell of bleach along with the depressing mix of illness and recent death that lingered all over. It was the same scent as every hospital he'd ever been in. Danny hated it. A hospital was meant to be a place of healing, but to any shifter it felt more like a morgue where the bodies just hadn't died yet.

Needless to say Danny avoided them like the plague.

But for Kono, for this amazing young woman who had taken on this challenge they had thrown to her, before she'd even graduated…for her he would willingly spend the next twelve hours here.

The room Kono had been assigned was a corner room at the very end of the hall. There were two empty rooms between her and the next patient, adding a little extra security for other patients that wouldn't be able to escape from a disoriented shifter. The room was large for a hospital room, with an entire wall of windows. A second bed had been set up in the room against the wall next to the door, likely another security measure on the hospitals part. Kono herself was already safely resting in the main bed, an IV drip attached to her arm, and an oxygen mask attached as well. She had crisp white bandages wrapped around her throat and Danny was certain there was one low on her abdomen, and another on the shoulder. He couldn't see them because of the hospital gown and blankets, but he very clearly remembered the other two gunshot wounds Kono had taken before they escaped the warehouse. Though neither of the other two had been as dangerous as the first, which had nicked a major artery.

Still her color was good and her scent spoke of healing rather than death. Now they only had to wait to see if she shifted. Though with the apparent rapid healing the likelihood that she hadn't contracted it was pretty slim. But there was still that tiny percentage of a chance.

= = = H50 = = =

John McGarrett's House, Oahu

John took a long drink of his beer before walking out of the kitchen to the beach out back, where Duke was sitting in Steve's old chair. Duke was speaking too softly to hear from the house, but that was fine. John knew who Duke was speaking with and knew it was best that they keep the volume as low as possible in case anyone was spying on them. Chin hadn't had a chance to go through the house this week to look for bugs, so John wasn't willing to talk about their case where someone might be listening. Out here at least the sound of the surf would cover most anything a good spy signal might be able to pick up. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than using the phones at HPD.

They still didn't have the proof they needed but both Meka and Danny were leaning towards Kaleo being the dirty cop who had been working with Sang Min and Bastille. John didn't know the younger man well enough to be able to tell on his own, but John was coming to trust in the other two as much as he trusted Chin and Duke. They both had a strong moral compass, good instincts, and excellent detecting skills. All things that were going to be tested if they were going to weed out all the corruption in HPD and in the Governor's office. John was positive that the Governor, or someone close to her, was involved with either the Yakuza or the Triads. Possibly both. He just had to prove it.

And Meka Hanamoa and Danny Williams looked to be his best bet to do it. Though if the hidden camera he managed to smuggle into the Governor's office last month worked, then that was all the better. Even if it wasn't court legal. It would still be enough for IA and for a government investigation into the matter, and if that cost him his job, well, so be it. He had a good long run in HPD and he wouldn't mind retiring once the corruption was purged.

He took another long drink from his Longboard, watching as Duke headed back up towards the house and him. Duke didn't look to worried, so hopefully that meant good news. "Well?"

"Kono made it through surgery. Danny is going to stay with her overnight in case his blood changed her, and she ends up shifting."

John cracked a small smile, pleased the fiesta young woman was going to make it. "Any word from Meka and Amy?"

"Yes," Duke replied, waving John to sit down. "They made it safely to Singapore and have contacted the authorities there. They managed to get a warrant and will be going to the bank in a few hours."

"Hopefully it'll be good news."

"Any news will be good news at this point," commented Duke.

A giddy shriek rang out from the house and the two men turned to look behind them. Grace and Billy were running out of the house towards them, with Kailani and Hiro chasing after them. The four children seemed to be playing tag, or something high spirited that made John smile wistfully at the sight. It had been so very long since his own kids were that age. Hell, it had been so long since he had even seen a picture of Steve look that happy, and he hadn't even heard from Mary Anne in years. At least Steve was willing to call him, or write to him, every now and then.

Duke stepped up next to him, putting a heavy hand on John's shoulder. "We're almost there, John."

John nodded, understanding what Duke was really trying to say. He appreciated the attempt at comforting John into believing that when all was said and done, his children would still want him in their lives.

"What's the next step in the plan," asked John.

"Well," Duke said, moving his hand off John's shoulder. "Danny is going to be stuck at the hospital with Kono, but we still have Chin, Ailani, and myself. I think we should stick to the plan and use our chance to trap Ochoa, and potentially Kaleo as well. We can ask around for someone to help us in an undercover role on our case. If he's our mole then he'll jump on the chance to get involved."

John nodded. "Will Yukino be okay watching the kids while we do this?"

"She'll be fine." Duke waved John's concerns off. "She has one of her sisters visiting and the two of them have agreed to take all the kids to the zoo."

"Alright then. Tell Yukino we'll be going ahead with the plan tomorrow. I'll let Chin and Ailani know."

Duke nodded and walked into the other room, already pulling out his phone.

John walked over to the phone in his office, picking up the received and punching in the number to Chin's cell. Once this was over, John knew Chin was going to start badgering him again about getting a real phone, but for now, his old 80s era landline worked just fine.

"John," came Chin's voice over the receiver.

"Chin," John replied. "We are going ahead with the original plan."

"What about Danny and Kono?"

"They'll stay at the hospital. Ailani will take Kono's place, and we'll be a man down. But will see about getting someone to take Danny's place on the raid."

Chin was silent on the other end. John knew he was thinking it over, contemplating possible problems, and weighing potential outcomes. He had to be careful what he said since the phone could be bugged, and Chin wasn't even a cop any longer and as such shouldn't be involved in the take down anyway. "Are you sure you still want me involved, John?"

"I still need you, Chin. You brought this to me and the contact trusts you."

"HPD-"

"HPD can take their complaints and shove it. They don't have anything to prove you took that money, Chin."

"That doesn't matter-"

"It does matter. You are a good cop, Chin. The best I ever trained up." John felt the growling heat in his chest building that always accompanied him talking to anyone about how HPD had, and still was, treating Chin. "I've got a plan, but I'll need to speak with the Governor about it."

"John-"

"Just be ready tomorrow. I'll pick you up after we leave HPD." John quickly hung up the phone before Chin could argue further. He wasn't sure what he was about to do was the right thing, but it could solve a lot of problems short term. The Governor was dirty, of that he had no doubt. But he had known her for years, even before she became Governor, when she was just another friend of his dead wife's. He still believed a part of why she was doing what she was doing, was to protect as many people as she could. Surely she hadn't always been a pawn of the Yakuza.

Still, he hesitated to call her. If he told her what was really going on then she could end up telling Wo Fat and Noshimura, which would destroy all the progress he had made over the last decade. But if he didn't tell her, there could still be problems with the take down since Chin was involved and not an actual policeman. The courts could simply turn around and release Kaleo and Ochoa.

Steeling his resolve, John pick up the phone again, dialing in the home number for Pat.

"Jameson residence," came the lightly accented voice of Pat's maid.

"This is John McGarrett. I need to speak with Pat, please."

"One moment Mr. McGarrett."

The maid put the phone on hold, obviously to see if the Governor wanted to speak with him, before simply handing him over to her. It was only two minutes, but it gave John time to waver in his decision again. Before he could hang up the phone, Pat was there.

"John," she asked, voice curious. "What can I do for you?"

"I was hoping you might be free this evening."

"Are you asking me on a date, John," she asked teasingly.

"Yes and no. It's a bit of business I need to discuss first, and if you'd still like to stay after, I'd be glad to have diner with you."

She was quiet for a long time, and John began to wonder if she had hung up. "What are you up to, John?"

"I've been meaning to give you your birthday gift for a week now, but I've been busy. I was hoping to drop it off with you, and ask you for some help as well."

"You didn't need to get me anything, John." She sighed. "Alright. Meet me here in an hour and I'll have Marion make us diner, and we can talk this over."

"I know, but you were Doris' best friend and you kept me sane after she died." John smiled sadly. "Thank you, Pat. For everything."

"You're welcome, John. I hope you know that I consider you my friend as well? It wasn't just Doris who I was friends with all these years."

"I do, and I appreciate it more than you know."

"Good. I just hope you know what it is you are obviously doing."

"Me too," he sighed. "I'll see you in an hour, Pat."

"Alright, John." The link clicked softly as she hung up and John set his own phone down, starring at it in the hopes that he had done the right thing.

"John," came Duke's voice from the living room.

"In here," he called back, setting the phone down.

Duke looked him over, brow furrowing. "What's got you troubled?"

"I just called Governor Jameson."

Duke sucked in a breath. "What? John, that wasn't wise!"

John dropped into his desk chair, rubbing at his eyes. "I know, but we need help."

"But the Governor-"

"She was a friend of Doris', did you know? They'd known each other since college. She helped Doris get her first job on the island."

"That's all well and good, john, but," Duke sighed. "What did you tell her?"

"Nothing. Yet." He looked back up at Duke. "I'm going to see her shortly."

"John-"

"I'm going to sneak in some of Chin's bugs, and give her a gift."

"A gift?"

"A clock with a nanny cam hidden inside. I've been meaning to give it to her anyway."

"That's fine, John. But what were you planning to ask her for help on?"

John sighed again and looked up at Duke. "I'm going to tell her that I will accept her proportion of leading her task force, as long as she reinstates Chin tonight, so that I can have him on the task force."

"Task force," asked Duke confusedly. "What task force?"

"She approached me last month about wanting to set up a task force to take care of immediate problems, and bigger cases." john shrugged. "It's an election year and if she is seen as doing something to ensure the safety of the population, then it's good for her."

"But I thought you were worried she was on the take?"

"I am," John said calmly. Now that it was done, or nearly so, he felt more calm and assured that he was doing the right thing. "Worried that is. But I think that I can sway her. If she is on the take, it's probably because she thinks what she's doing will protect people. And we've certainly had fewer gang wars in the last few years."

Duke looked out the windows at the ocean beyond, his lips pressed together in a scowl, and arms crossed over his chest. He was obviously displeased with John's choice, but John had anticipated that already. Duke was a good cop, he wouldn't like the thought that he had to trust someone who might be dirty, but John was sure that Duke could understand his reasoning. That the other man would accept it and let them move forward.

"I don't like it, but you know her better." Duke turned to look at him. "Just be careful, john, because it isn't just yourself who can be hurt if we misjudge this situation."

The joys laughter of the four children drifted to them from the upper landing, highlighting just what Duke was most worried about. John internally winced at the thought that he could cause any harm to come to these kids.

"I know, Duke. I will do everything in my power to prevent anything from happening to them."

Duke sighed. "That's all I can ask for."

"I'm going to get ready, feel free to stay here. I told Chin he could stay the night here as well."

Duke nodded. "I appreciate it. I'll stay until you get back, then I'll take my kids and head home. It'll be best to try and look like nothing has changed in our routines."

"Of course." John turned and walked out of the room. He had to change his clothes and grab the clock. Then he thought it'd be a good idea to ask for guidance and protection from any deity that might still be willing to listen to him.

= = = H50 = = =

1 Hour Later; Governor's Mansion, Oahu

John followed Pat's maid down the hallway to her office. It was late and it looked as if all the rest if the staff had already gone home save for this one live-in maid, and the security team. Which was perfectly fine as far as John was concerned. The fewer the people here, the less likely that one of them was working for Noshimura or Wo Fat. Talking to Pat was dangerous enough since he was sure she was working with them, but he hoped, he prayed, that she was still a friend enough that he could sway her back to the side of the law by convincing her what she was doing was not what was best for the people of Hawaii.

The maid opened the door to the Governor's office, gesturing him inside. He stepped past her, giving her a polite incline of his head before she shut the door behind him.

"John," Pat greeted him with a warm smile. "How are you?"

"Tired," he replied with a sigh. "I sometimes think I'm getting too old for this."

She laughed and pulled him into an awkward hug, what with the present in his arms trapped between them. "Never. I'm sure you are still fit enough to give those young recruits a run for their money."

He couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips.

She placed her hand on his elbow, gently guiding him to the sitting area in the corner of her office. A serving tray was already on the small coffee table and John could smell the wonderful scent of grilled ahi coming from under one of the domed plates. He let her guide him down onto the couch against the wall, so that he could see the rest of the room, and smiled. She still remembered that he preferred to have his back to the wall when he was seated anywhere but his own home.

"This smells delicious, Pat."

She laughed warmly and took the seat across from him, lifting up the two silver domes and setting them aside. "I'll make sure to pass on your thanks to the cook."

For a moment both of them seemed to just close their eyes and breath in the aromas of the fish, jasmine rice, steam vegetables, and the crusty bread that made up their plates. He hadn't eaten anything this nice in years. A meal like this was not a cheap one, especially on a cop budget. In fact the last time he had eaten grilled ahi was his last anniversary with Doris right before she died. In fact, as he thought about it, this was the exact same meal he had shared with his wife! He wondered if that was meant as a signal to him of something, or if it was mere coincidence?

"I haven't had a meal like this since Doris died," he said into the silent room.

"Oh," asked Pat. "I'm sorry, John."

"It's fine. Just haven't had a reason to buy ahi since she was killed."

Pat looked at him and set down her fork. "You believe she was murdered?"

"I have proof that the car accident wasn't an accident. It was a bomb."

"Oh," she exclaimed. "How horrible! Do you know who did it?"

"I have a lead, but not enough proof to take to court." He took a long drink of water from the glass beside his plate. "Someone killed her because I was getting too close to the head of the Yakuza on the island."

"What," Pat said, honestly surprised.

"I found out that Noshimura is the head of the Yakuza. I need a bit more proof to be certain he can't get out of it with a good lawyer, but if he was anyone other than who he is, I would have him in lock-up now."

"You're certain, John? Mr. Noshimura has done a lot of good for this island. He's well respected in the community."

"Exactly why I haven't brought him in on charges yet." He looked up at Pat, meeting her eyes. "There is no doubt that he is the head of the Yakuza and that he ordered the bomb placed on my car. If Doris' car hadn't been in the shop that day, I would have been driving and it would be my charred remains buried at the cemetery right now."

"Oh, John. I never realized you blamed yourself for her death!"

John shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable with the conversation. He hadn't spoken to anyone about his feelings in regards to his wife's death. He certainly hadn't expected that he would tell the woman he had started to think was working with the man who killed her. But here he was.

'Maybe,' he thought, 'I should have listened to Chin. I should have never come here.'

"John," Pat started, pausing for a moment in obvious uncertainty. "You aren't responsible for what happened to Doris."

"I am. If my investigation brought on her death, then it is my fault. We had a family, Pat! A family that I put in danger. I family I had to throw away to protect. God," he cried, pushing his hands through his hair. "I haven't seen my son since he was sixteen! And Mary Anne was even younger!"

Pat leaned over the table, taking his hand in her own. When he looked up her figured blurred slightly from the tears clinging to his lashes.

"There is a lot that you don't know, John. A lot that I can't say. But I can guarantee you that you are not responsible for Doris' death. If anyone is responsible it is Doris."

"What," he asked confused, one hand brushing away the tears from his eyes. The other hand still grasping onto Pat like a desperate lifeline. "I don't understand."

"It all goes back to Shelbourne." Pat hesitated again, something in her eyes telling John she was desperate to say more, but that she had already said too much.

"Shelbourne," he whispered. He had already gotten that name from one contact, but he still didn't know who it was, or what it meant!

He squeezed her hand again, suddenly certain that this woman might be working with the Yakuza and the mysterious Wo Fat, but she wasn't corrupted. She had her own plans in motion, perhaps even plans similar to John's own. Steeling his resolve he decided to give her the clock. He still wouldn't tell her about the camera in it, or the bug he had placed under the coffee table. But he would tell her about the mole in HPD and that they were going to take down a drug runner and how he needed Chin to help.

He gave her a weak smiled, released her hand, and picked up the wrapped box sitting on the floor next to him. "Happy late birthday, Pat."

She gave him a sad smile, obviously understanding that he wanted to change the subject. "Thank you, john. You know you didn't have to get me anything."

John shrugged. "I've not been a good friend recently as my new partner has made clear to me."

"Oh," she asked curious.

"Yeah," John smiled and shook his head, cheeks still damp from his tears. "He's fresh from the mainland. He's a damn good cop. Eighty-seven solved cases since he made detective, all prior to coming here. He's already got three solved cases under his belt for HPD despite them not wanting to work with him."

"That is impressive," she replied honestly.

"Yeah." John shook his head. "He moved here for his daughter. Apparently the ex-wife took the kid and ran from New Jersey to here when she remarried and the guy up and moved just so he could see his daughter every other weekend. Poor guy got put through the ringer in the divorce because the wife was rich enough to afford an expensive attorney."

"That doesn't seem fair."

"No, it's not. We've been partners only a short while now, but I can tell he is a damn fine man. I've never seen a guy so dedicated to his child as Detective Williams is."

"He sounds like he's impressed you."

"He has. I'll be sad to lose him as a partner with Detective Hanamoa comes back from vacation."

She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before beginning to carefully pull open the wrapping paper on the heavy box he had handed to her. "If you decided to run the task force, you could always request Detective Williams be a part of it."

"That's one of the things I was hoping to talk with you about." He smiled and gave a pointed look at the package she was holding.

She looked down, chuckling softly, and finished unwrapping it. Setting the paper carefully aside for her maid to recycle, she opened the box. "Oh, John! You shouldn't have."

With great care she lifted out the antique clock, brushing the box off her lap so she could rest the clock against her legs. "It's beautiful!"

"It is." john filed again. "I know how you love your antiques."

"John, this must have cost a fortune!"

"Not really. I save the shop owners life once and he gave me quite the deal on it. Especially once he knew it was a gift for you."

Pat smiled at him, running her fingers over the polished wood. "I know just the place for it."

She stood up and walked back towards her desk. She set in on the desk and turned back to the end table behind, and to the side, of her desk. With quick, deft movements she removed the more modern clock that had been sitting on the table, and put the antique clock in it's place. She stepped back, looking at it with a frown, then shifted it about until she was happy with it's placement.

"Perfect," she said to herself. "That's just the spot."

She stood for a minutes longer, admiring the way the light played off the wood. It really was a beautiful clock. John stood up, and walked over to her. He stopped beside her, their shoulders brushing.

"I'm glad you like it, Pat."

"Thank you for getting it for me, John. It really is too much."

"Nonsense."

She turned to look at him, a mischievous smile dancing across her face. "Now what favor do you want for it?"

John chuckled. "I'll take the job of running the task force, but I'd like to have Detective Williams, his partner Meka Hanamoa, and Officer Duke Lukela all made part of the task force if they'd agree. Also, I am hoping that you'd be willing to reinstate Chin Ho Kelly and assign him to the task force."

She looked up towards the ceiling, a thoughtful look on her face. "Kelly…Kelly. He's the one who stole the money from the HPD Assets Forfeiture Locker?"

"He was accused of it, but there has been no proof that he ever stole the money. IA wasn't even willing to look for other suspects, and even though he was cleared no one trusted him again. So he quite."

"You trust him, John?"

"I trained him, Pat. I know Chin Ho Kelly. He would never steal from anyone. He's a good kid and he doesn't deserve what IA and HPD did to him." He looked her in the eye. "I need people I can trust to have my back if we do this, Pat. I need Chin Ho Kelly."

She met his gaze, looking for something in his eyes. "I'll see what I can do."

"Can you do it before tomorrow? I need him for a raid on a major drug cartel."

She sighed. "Fine. Let me fill out the paperwork."

"Thank you, Pat. You're the best." John smiled and glanced at the clock behind the Governor.