Chapter 1

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Juliet read the email three times. Her emotions bounced from shock to sorrow to anger and circled back again. She finally settled on anger as it gave her something to focus on. She slammed the laptop closed and stood up, dizziness hitting her once she was upright. She leaned forward, placing her fists on the desk and closed her eyes in despair.

"Hey, Higgy…" Magnum's voice sounded behind her and she turned abruptly, interrupting him.

"What do you want now, Magnum? To borrow my laptop? To borrow some money? To have me use my skills to solve some stupid case you took on and are too inept to solve? Maybe you need TC and Rick to help you? You're a leech! You live here free of charge and drive Robin's expensive cars, none of which you'll ever be able to afford yourself, while giving nothing in return! Whatever he thinks he owes you, he's paid back in spades. Your friends have jobs, Magnum. Real jobs! Detective Katsumoto has a job, one you seem to relish interfering with. I have a job Magnum! You are constantly disrupting all of our abilities to do our jobs!" Her separating TC and Rick from her and Katsumoto firmly put them in two different camps. Friends and not friends.

Magnum stared at her in shock. He'd come in to see if she wanted to fire up the grill and share a meal, having a sudden craving for a cheeseburger. He stiffened when the thought that the grill didn't belong to him either, passed through his mind. He nodded. "Understood." He turned smartly on one heel and marched out of the main house. She watched him go and opened her mouth to call him back, knowing that she owed him an apology. She didn't mean what she'd said. Maybe at one time, but not anymore. He'd just been in the wrong place at the wrong time and she'd lashed out at him as the only outlet for her anger. She stopped herself, thinking he might need some time to cool off and she needed time to get herself under control.

Turning, she found herself face to face with Kumu, who was standing there with her arms crossed over her chest and a stern look on her face. "Kumu…I…" She stopped, not sure how much the older woman had heard.

"Would you care to explain that little outburst?" Bloody hell, the woman had to have heard all of it. She had a soft spot for Magnum and her expression left little to the imagination about which one of them she'd side with. Slumping her shoulders, she sat down heavily in her desk chair.

"I…I didn't mean…" She paused and finished baldly. "Ian Pryce escaped MI6 custody this morning and killed two agents in the process. I just heard from one of my contacts there, he figured I'd want to know." She took a deep breath. "I knew one of them, Kumu. He was a good man. He had a wife and two small children. He stopped going out into the field because he didn't want to get killed and leave them alone. This should have been an easy assignment and now his wife is a widow and their children have no father. I should've just killed Ian when I had the chance! If Magnum hadn't talked me out of it, those men would still be alive." Even she heard the despair in her voice.

"Did he talk you out of it or did he just remind you of who you are?" Kumu asked quietly, her face softening as she realized just how upset Juliet was.

"He talked me…" She sighed, honesty warring with her anger. "He reminded me of who I am." She admitted, albeit grudgingly.

"You aren't a cold-blooded killer, Juliet. Whatever that man has done, that's on him. It's not on you." Kumu paused. "Nor is it on Thomas. You owe him an apology."

"I know. I knew it the instant the words were out of my mouth. I just couldn't seem to make myself go after him."

"It's not easy to lose a friend to violence. Thomas knows that better than most."

"You sure know how to hit below the belt, don't you Kumu?"

Kumu put her hand on Juliet's shoulder and squeezed. "I'm just stating the facts. Thomas would understand what you're going through more than most anyone. You should be leaning on him, not hurling insults."

"Lean on Magnum?" She said snidely.

"Why not? Others do and they seem to be the better for it."

"I…okay, I'll apologize, but I'm not leaning on him!"

"You might be surprised." She patted the younger woman on the shoulder and left her to her thoughts.

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Magnum marched back to the guest house, thoughts swirling around his brain. He'd thought things were better between him and Higgins, that she'd come to tolerate, if not actually like him. She'd seemed to enjoy helping with his cases. It had to be better than just knocking around Robin's Nest with not much to do, other than pay the bills, train the dogs and do yoga. She was a woman of action, a kick ass ex MI6 agent. He'd obviously misread her and the whole situation.

Once he was inside, he quickly shucked his clothes and threw on his running gear. He left his phone on the coffee table, not wanting to listen to music or deal with any incoming calls. He was back outside and running on the beach within five minutes. He pounded along the sand, working things out in his head. Had he overstayed his welcome? Robin hadn't said anything, but would he? Even if he felt that way? Was he that much of a leech? Yeah, he cadged help from TC and Rick, along with Juliet, but they'd only ever teased him about it, had never seemed angry and he was always there for them in return. And, yeah, he never had much money. At least, not money he would use. He didn't charge the ridiculous rates some of his competitors did and, of course, that led to some of his clients being a little on the rough side, and maybe some had paid him in chickens, but still, he'd helped people. Hadn't he? Amanda Sako's face immediately flashed through his mind's eye. He was making amends for the things that happened to his friends because he brought Hannah deeper into their lives. Wasn't he?

He ran until the sun started to set and then stopped, panting hard and dropped down onto the sand. He rested his arms on his upraised knees and watched the sun sink below the horizon. When it was gone and the sky was darkening, he stood up and headed back to the house, walking this time instead of running. Once home, he moved through the darkened house, not needing lights to find his way. He still hadn't decided on what he was going to do long term but he did know he needed some time away to get things worked out. He didn't have a client right now and he had a rainy-day fund. Eighteen months in captivity didn't leave you much opportunity to spend your paycheck. He had mixed feelings about that money, loath to touch it except in an emergency as it represented a time in his life he wanted to forget. He was starting to think this was a time when he'd make an exception. He quickly showered and slipped into bed, dinner and cheeseburgers a long-forgotten thought.

His sleep that night was less then refreshing, and he was up again before dawn. He showered, dressed and then began to pack. He didn't have much, so it didn't take him very long. He emptied the cabinets and refrigerator of food, packing the dry goods into a box and the cold food in a cooler. He knew he'd be back, if only to drop off the car and pick up his surfboard, which wouldn't fit in the sporty car. He just wasn't sure if he'd be staying and he wanted to be prepared. Done, he made one last circuit of the house, looking for anything he might have missed. Finding nothing, he grabbed his keys. Walking outside, he looked at the Ferrari and almost couldn't bring himself to get in. Squaring his shoulders, he fired it up and pulled it up to the front door of the guest house. He got out and opened the trunk, leaving the lid up. He knew the security cameras wouldn't be able to see what he was carrying out the door, as he was the one who'd placed them. If Juliet decided to watch the security tapes, she'd just be able to see his head as he walked in and out. He made two trips in about five minutes, packing away his current life in the small trunk of the car, gently laying his dress whites in their protective covering, across the top.

Closing the lid, he got in and turned the car around, heading off the estate. He stopped at the gate and entered his code to open it, knowing it would send an alert to Higgins's laptop, but he refrained from his normal wave at the camera, staring straight ahead. He drove through, watching it close behind him in the rearview mirror, wondering if this was a metaphor for this chapter of his life. Shaking it off, he headed into town, having several stops in mind. He pulled up to the bank just as it was opening and was their first customer of the day. He figured he'd need about two thousand for what he wanted and filled out the withdrawal slip. Once he had the money in hand, he strolled back outside, raising his face to the Hawaiian sunshine, letting it sooth away some of his tiredness.

He got into the car and pointed the Ferrari towards a used car dealership an old buddy of his owned. The dealership wasn't open just yet, although he could see people inside as he wandered around, looking at the available cars on the lot. He kept being drawn back to an older black Jeep Wrangler as he imagined himself in it. His spirits lifted a bit.

Inside, Erica McDonald listened with one ear to today's sales pitch as she watched the man in the baseball cap move around the used car selection on the lot. She watched him circle the 2001 Jeep Wrangler. He made her heart flutter for some reason. When the team meeting was over, she beelined for him. She'd just about reached him when her boss beat her to the punch.

"Thomas Magnum! What are you doing here?" The man's voice boomed out behind her. Her target turned and she opened her mouth to say something, but the man only had eyes for Heller.

"Eddie! Good to see you man!" The two bro hugged and Eddie stepped back, keeping his hands on Magnum's shoulders.

"You look a little peaked my friend." Eddie had retired from the Marines and settled in Hawaii before Magnum and his team had been taken. He'd heard about it through the grapevine and kept an ear to the ground waiting for something definitive. When he'd heard that the men had escaped, he hadn't been surprised. Those four were some of the most resourceful men he'd ever served with. When Thomas had moved to the island, they'd met up for drinks a few times. He'd asked about Afghanistan, worried about his friend, but had taken the lack of response for what it was. A desire not to dwell on it, not an indication that their friendship wasn't strong enough. He'd been devasted when he'd heard that Nuzo had been murdered, knowing how close he and Thomas were.

"That fancy Ferrari you're driving around finally let you down?" Eddie teased.

"Nah! She's a beauty, just not much good when I need to go off road or be inconspicuous." Magnum had filled Eddie in on his new field of work when he'd first arrived, and Eddie had been thrilled for him. "Thinking something like this might be more what I need for those occasions." He patted the hood of the Wrangler.

"She's a good work horse, and reasonably priced." He named a figure that made Erica's jaw drop as she hovered. It was significantly less than what they were asking, below book value and pretty much at cost. "I'll take you on a test drive myself. Just let me get the keys." He trotted off and Erica took the opportunity to introduce herself and make small talk. Magnum unconsciously charmed her, and she wished even more that she was the one about go with him for a drive. Eddie returned and the two men got into the car, Magnum in the driver's seat. He smiled at her and waved as he put the Jeep in drive and drove off the lot. If she stayed there and watched until they were out of sight, well, she was just doing her job to make sure everything was going as it should.

When they returned twenty minutes later, she was waiting. "What did you think?"

"Hi Erica, I think she's just what I'm looking for." He turned to his friend. "Eddie, I'll take her. I'll put down ten percent and take out a loan."

Eddie grinned. "How about this? You want to take her for a few days? Make sure she's what you need?" Erica's jaw dropped for the second time in less than an hour. Eddie never let prospective buyers off the lot with a vehicle without either one of them in it or a bill of sale.

"You'd let me do that?"

"Sure! We do it all the time. Nothing worse than buying a car you only test drove for a few miles, just to find out it doesn't fit the bill! What do you think? Three days? Four?" It was actually against his policy, but he was worried about his young friend and figured requiring him to come back in a couple days would give him a chance to reevaluate his demeanor.

"Four should do it. Look, Eddie, I really appreciate it."

Eddie waved him off. "Don't mention it. Anything for a friend and fellow vet." They moved inside and filled out the paperwork, talking idly of what Rick and TC were up to, Magnum relating some of his funnier cases, causing Eddie to laugh. Finished, they stood up and shook hands. "You got a way of getting this home? Can't drive two cars."

Magnum frowned. He hadn't really thought about the logistics. "Not really. I guess I can take the Ferrari back to the estate and Uber back."

"Don't be silly. I'll have one my sales people follow you home and you can just bring them back."

"You sure?" Eddie smiled and nodded. "Then that would be great! Thanks again Eddie!"

"Not a problem buddy." They walked out of his office and right into Erica who was once again hovering. "Erica! Just the person I wanted to see. Can you do us a favor and follow Thomas home in the Jeep? He'll bring you back."

"Sure thing Mr. Heller, I'd be more than happy to do so." And she meant it. Not only would she be spending more time in the company of the handsome man standing next to her boss, but she might get some information out of him about Eddie. No one knew much except that he was a retired Marine and a good man to work for. She took the keys for the Jeep and followed them out to the lot. Magnum popped the trunk on the Ferrari and moved all his things to the other car. Eddie frowned when he saw the dress whites, not quite understanding why he'd be carting that around, but it refueled his worry. He caught his friend's eye, opened his mouth to ask and then shut if again. If he'd learned one thing about Thomas Magnum, it was that the man seemed like an open book until you wanted to know something he didn't want you to, then you might as well just give up before you started. If he wanted Eddie to know, he'd tell him.

"Thanks again Eddie, I'll take good care of her. I have a good feeling about this one."

"Great. I'll see you in a few days then?"

"Will do." He sketched a wave and dropped into the front seat of the Ferrari. He started it up and waved again as he pulled off the lot. He realized this was most likely the last time he'd be driving it and he really wanted to open it up, but that would mean he'd lose the Jeep. He kept an eye on the following car and was pleased to see that it kept up, even if he didn't have it in high gear. He turned into the drive and pulled up to the gate, entering his code once more. Driving through, he led the Jeep to the guest house.

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Inside the main house, Higgins watched through the camera. Last night, once she'd calmed down, she'd gone to the guest house to talk to him. First, to offer her apologies and second, to fill him in on what had happened. There'd been no lights on, and no one answered the door. She'd waited almost an hour before giving up. She'd kept watch on the cameras but never saw him come back and the lights never went on. She eventually gave up and went to bed, only to toss and turn. She didn't know if he never came home or if he knew how to avoid the cameras, something he'd never bothered to do before. She'd gotten up a bit later than normal and was standing in the office, savoring her first cup of coffee, willing it to wake her up, when the gate alert had sounded on her laptop. She'd brought up the feed in time to see Magnum drive through, never looking at the camera. Normally, he gave a jaunty wave as he waited for the gate to finish opening, just to annoy her. It made her heart ache a little to see him staring straight ahead.

Now he was back, with a blonde in a Jeep following him. She sneered at the camera. She didn't know why she'd bothered worrying about him. Obviously, he was fine and had just been out with one of his tarts. She watched as the woman got out of the car but made no move to go into the guest house with him. He was out a few minutes later with his surfboard and put it in the back of the utility vehicle. So, instead of working, he was going surfing. Typical. She expected him to get in, but instead, he got back in the Ferrari and drove it down towards the garage. She switched cameras, feeling a bit like a voyeur, and watched him park it beside the others. He patted the hood and walked away. She frowned, wondering why it felt like he was saying goodbye. That was silly, the car was an inanimate object. She was just imagining things. He moved out of range and she switched back to the guest house camera. He walked up the drive and went back inside, coming out in less than a minute. The tart got in the passenger side and Magnum in the driver's. He turned the Jeep around and headed down the drive, entering his code once more at the gate. This time, as it opened, he stared into the camera with no expression. She frowned, not liking it at all. She went to push the button that would open the intercom, but it was too late. He drove through and was gone, the gates closing behind him.

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