Blue Heart, Part 2
Sometimes a cop got lucky. Dozens of hours of legwork paid off. This was one of those times. Kono was standing in front of the telex, waiting for it to magically spring into life with fingerprint information. His phone rang. Kono ducked into his cubicle to get it.
"Kono, it’s Duke," the Sarge’s voice said. "Listen, your hooker's tip from last night is paying off, along with some other things. One of our TV tips was from a lady saying a guy at her apartment complex spent a lot of time yesterday tinkering with his old brown Chrysler. It was scratched up. Talked to the apartment manager, the place is rented to a Donald Earl Blackmore. 2800 Mauna Loa Avenue, Apartment 435. Pick him up?"
"Yeah, Sarge!" Kono exclaimed. "Me and Danno'll met you there."
Kono rousted Danny and they went racing out of the palace. He couldn't count the number of times that he'd run down these stairs just like this, on his way to help bag some scumbag who had killed or raped or robbed or swindled. Snapping the cuffs on, while McGarrett barked out, "Book 'em!" used to give Kono a deep feeling of satisfaction. Lately, though, he couldn't help thinking of the many arrests that never led to conviction, or any hard time served. Kind of made you wonder what it was all for, sometimes.
He told himself it didn't matter. But then he thought of Cleo Kaina.
They met Duke and two uniformed officers at the apartment house on Mauna Loa. It was a huge, shabby, cinder block affair, one of those built in a hurry after the war. It would be forgotten until it fell down. "Building 4," Duke said, "Third floor." He jerked his head toward a brown Chrysler in the parking lot, a visible scratch on its broad hood. "The car's right there."
"Okay," Kono said. He drew his gun out of its holster. "Let's go in."
Swiftly but without too much excessive noise, Kono and Danny climbed the three flights of stairs, followed by Duke and the uniforms. Feeling a little out of breath, Kono thought of Duke's recent heart attack and whispered, "Hey, Sarge, shouldn't you still be on desk duty?"
"Naw." Duke shook his head grimly. "My kids go to King Kam too."
Danno tapped on the door with the barrel of his gun. "Blackmore!" he hollered. "Police! Open up!"
They heard a voice inside curse loudly. Then, in a low, almost growling tone, the man's voice said, "What do you want?"
"Open the door, Blackmore," Danny growled. "And stand there with your hands up. We just need to ask you a few questions."
Several seconds ticked by. Then, the door opened, revealing a beefy middle-aged man, ugly, balding, with old acne scars on his cheeks and at least a day's worth of stubble. He slowly raised his hands. On each hand he extended his middle finger. He regarded them with a surly air of anticipation.
Kono whirled him around and slammed him against the rough cinder blocks by the door. He jerked Blackmore's hands behind his back and cuffed him tightly, so much so that Blackmore yelped. "What'd I do?" Blackmore demanded.
"You're under arrest," Danny told him, "For rape and attempted murder of Faye Sakata and Cleo Kaina."
"Who?" Blackmore sneered. "I never heard of the bitches."
A small audience of neighbors had come out on the apartment walkways, watching the proceedings with big eyes. All the same, Kono wanted to strike Blackmore and probably would have if Duke hadn't stepped in. "Take him downtown," Duke told the uniforms. "Put him in an interrogation room and let him wait."
The two Five-O cops and the HPD sergeant went into the apartment as Blackmore was taken away. "Careful," Danny reminded them. "Don't touch anything until we get a warrant. Let's just have a little look-see."
The apartment was spare and surprisingly clean, with little in the way of personal effects in the living room or kitchen. The bedroom featured an unmade bed, some fetid work clothes kicked into a heap in one corner, and a collection of porno mags scattered by and on the bed. From the looks of things, Blackmore was big on crotch shots and women in chains. The combination of the smelly clothes and the raw images made Kono feel a little queasy.
"Nice," Danny said sarcastically.
"I'll call for the warrant," Duke said. "We can get some officers in here to search the place and catalog anything we find."
"Main thing is," Kono said, "Get Che in here before you let anybody else in. There could be blood on those clothes belonging to the victims, or some other 'souvenirs' of the attacks. And find out how long he's lived here."
"Yeah," Danny said. "No personal stuff except the porn. Neat as the place is, it wouldn't surprise me if he just got out of the joint."
"Will do," Duke promised. Leaving the apartment in the Sarge's capable hands, Kono and Danny headed back downtown.
***
Phoning the office from HPD, Kono spoke with a harried Jenny. "You got a telex, Kono," she told him breathlessly. "Fingerprints on the bicycle matched a Donald Earl Blackmore. He just got out of San Quentin six months ago, did 10 years for kidnapping and rape. He's wanted again for skipping out on his parole."
Kono felt overwhelmed by a sense of futility. Why did the system parole these guys, to go out and rape and destroy again? "Okay," he said numbly.
"They're going to telex his record over here for you," she said. Then, more quietly, "Did you catch him, Kono?"
"Yeah," Kono responded heavily. "We caught him. Danny and I are gonna question him now."
He heard a phone ringing in the background. "That must be Steve!" Jenny said. "Things are crazy around here with the Dalai Lama's visit. Talk to you later, Kono."
"Bye, Jenny," Kono said, but she had already hung up.
***
The interrogation wasn't going well. They asked him rapid-fire questions, switching off frequently, but Blackmore was having none of it. Certainly he was an old hand at being questioned by cops. In fact, he almost seemed to enjoy it.
"Okay, Blackmore," Danno said. "Let's take it from the top again. Where did you say you were on Tuesday afternoon?"
"I was out lookin' for a job," Blackmore said flatly.
"Where'd you go?" Kono demanded.
"I don't remember."
"How'd your car get that big scratch on it?"
"I don't remember. It was like that when I got it."
"When'd you get to Hawaii?"
"I don't remember."
Kono loomed over him. "Why'd you come here?"
Blackmore looked up at him from the straight-backed wooden chair. His hands were cuffed to the table.
"I heard Jameson was a great law-and-order man. California has too much crime," Blackmore smirked.
"You’d better know it," Kono said.
"I’m just kiddin’ ya," Blackmore said. "Everybody knows you come to Hawaii to get great pussy."
Kono slammed his hands down on the table, in front of Blackmore's face. "And did you?"
The corner of Blackmore's mouth lifted again. He waited a couple of beats, clearly pleased with himself, and then said, "Yeah. I did. As a matter of fact."
"Oh yeah?" Kono leaned in on Blackmore, breathing down his neck from the other side. "When was this?"
"Oh, let's see," Blackmore mused. He appeared to think it over. Then he spoke the words mockingly right in Kono's face. "I don't remember."
Kono shoved Blackmore's head. Danno picked up the back of Blackmore's chair and slammed it down again, hard. "Bullshit!" Danny yelled. "We've got your records on the way over here from California! We've got the lab working on your car and your apartment! We know you did it."
Danny wheeled around the table to face Blackmore. "We know it was you who raped those two girls. Make it easy on yourself, Blackmore. Tell us what happened. You really wanna be in here all night with us?"
"Fuck you," Blackmore retorted. "I don't know anything about those bitches. All I remember about the bitches you got over here, is they got squinchy eyes, and they yell a lot when you're ridin' em. I guess they must not be used to big dicks like I got."
"I gotta get outta here," Kono told Danny, and shoved out the door of the interrogation room. He heard Danny say, "Just you and me, pal," as the door locked shut behind him. His shirt clung to his back, completely sweated out. He felt hot and light-headed.
The HPD halls were lined with benches. Kono saw suspects sitting on the benches, waiting for a detective to have time to question. For what? Drug dealing, pimping, card sharping, petty theft, grand theft, battery, assault, cock-fighting.... An endless parade of vice.
He saw Duke down the hall at the sergeant's desk, talking with one of the other sergeants, Sakai. Kono roved down there. Maybe he could get some advice. Or maybe one of these guys could take over for him.
As soon as he had the thought, he dismissed it. He was a Five-O cop, and this was a Five-O case. It was his responsibility to handle it. "Anything new?" he asked Duke.
"We found some women's panties in the apartment," Duke said. "Torn, you know, dirty. Che is going to find out whether they belonged to our victims. And Jenny sent this telex over for you. It's Blackmore's record." Duke handed it to him.
Kono opened it and turned to the first page. "Sentenced to life in prison?" He gave Duke an incredulous look.
Duke just shook his head. "When he was 19, apparently, he kidnapped, raped, and strangled a neighbor girl, age 13. California jury sentenced him to life in prison. He served 20 years and got out. Then, a year later, he grabbed a woman off the street, raped her, beat her up real bad."
"This one didn't die," Sakai said. "So he got 10 years. Which brings us to today."
"Okay," Kono snapped the folder shut. "Fine." He stalked back down the hall towards the interrogation room. He felt a bounce in his own step, dangerous, invigorating, unstoppable.
Sakai looked at Duke. "He seems about ready to blow. Think we oughta intervene?"
Duke looked after Kono for a moment, then down at the folder containing the record of Blackmore's misdeeds. Finally he met Sakai's eyes, and said, "What for?"
Thoughtful, Sakai nodded his agreement.
***
"You got no right to treat me this way," Blackmore was telling Danno when Kono opened the door. "I got rights, Curly."
Kono motioned Danny outside. Leaving Blackmore alone for the moment, Kono filled Danny in on Blackmore's record. "He raped and killed a kid. He's an animal, Danny."
Danny nodded. "I know. All I can think about is that nice kid, Cleo, and her mom."
"And that nice mom, Mrs. Sakata, and her kids," Kono replied.
They stared at each other, then re-entered the interrogation room.
"One more time, Blackmore," Danny said. "We know you like to hurt women. We know you did these girls. Just give us your statement and get it over with. You oughta know the procedure by now."
"Fuck you," Blackmore said. "I don't gotta tell you nothin'. I got rights, and right now, I got the right to go to the can."
"Forget it!" Danny said. "I don't care if you piss your pants--"
Even as Danny spoke, Kono was jerking Blackmore out of his chair. "You wanna go to the can, we'll take you to the can!" he roared.
Blackmore struggled and tried to resist Kono's manhandling. "Let go of me! Jesus H! What the hell’s the matter with you!"
Kono uncuffed Blackmore from the table and refastened the convict’s hands tightly behind his back. Danny wrenched open the door of the interrogation room. Together, they kicked Blackmore through the door.
Blackmore stumbled and almost fell. Kono kicked him again. Danno shoved him. They both grabbed his arms and moved quickly down the hall, pulling Blackmore along with them.
"Jesus! Take it easy!" Blackmore hollered.
"Shut up!" Danny yelled back.
Kono kicked open the men’s room and they shoved Blackmore inside. Kono grabbed Blackmore’s shoulders and sent him caroming off the drab tiled wall. Before the big man could regain his balance, Danny kicked him against a urinal.
"Go ahead!" Danny said.
"I ain’t gonna piss in my pants," Blackmore said. "You gotta undo me." He narrowed his eyes at Kono and lifted one corner of his mouth.
Kono glared back, the adrenaline screaming through his veins.
"Aw, c’mon, you know you want to," Blackmore mocked. "I found out in prison that you brown boys like dick almost as much as your women do. Hell, maybe even more."
Kono grabbed Blackmore by the shoulders and slammed him back against the wall. Then he punched him in the face with his closed fist. Danny joined in, pinning Blackmore in the corner between the urinal and grimy wall.
Blackmore struggled and tried to kick them.
"Yeah, that’s right! Resist! Resist!" Kono urged. "Resist, you bastard!" He grabbed Blackmore in a choke hold. The son of a bitch was strong. He kicked out again, catching Danno in the shins.
Danny’s sweaty face flushed with rage and excitement. "OK, buddy," he rasped. "You want law-and-order, you got it! It’s Jameson time!"
Just then, Kono caught sight of a plunger in the toilet stall. An idea came to him, to give this unrepentant bastard what he deserved at last. Talk about law-and-order!
"Get his arms, Danny!" Kono yelled. He grabbed the plunger out of the stall. Such was his rage that he broke the thick handle right over his knee, without even feeling it.
"We’ll see how you like it, you bastard!" Kono promised. He yanked down Blackmore’s pants, and he and Danny threw Blackmore into the stall.
A moment later, out at the sergeant’s desk, Duke and Sakai heard a thick, hoarse scream.
***
Steve McGarrett pulled his car into his parking space in front of ‘Iolani Palace, weary but satisfied. The Dalai Lama’s visit had gone without a hitch. The speech at the East-West Center had apparently been spell-binding, with the Tibetan holy man holding forth on peace, Buddhist teachings, and the determination of the Tibetan people to preserve their culture. The governor was grinning from ear-to-ear by the time it was over.
McGarrett regretted that he hadn’t been able to actually listen to the speech. He had a genuine interest in eastern philosophy. But he had been too busy with security, first at the East-West Center, then at Washington Place, the governor’s residence, where Jameson hosted a private dinner for the Dalai Lama.
Then, it was off to the airport, where Jameson saw the Dalai Lama off on his flight to New York to speak to the United Nations. McGarrett, Chin, and a contingent of HPD officers kept watch on the small crowd waving signs in the terminal. But they were all friendly, just wanting to show their support for Tibet. It was enough to restore your faith in mankind.
McGarrett stayed until the plane flew out of sight, taking the Dalai Lama out of Five-O’s jurisdiction. Only then did he allow himself to relax. He sent Chin and the HPD men home, then headed back to Five-O headquarters to make sure there was nothing else that needed his attention before he called it a night himself.
He was surprised and disturbed to see Jenny’s car in the parking lot. Jenny often worked late to support the men, but he wouldn’t have expected her to be there tonight. Especially since he didn’t see Danno’s car, or Kono’s.
McGarrett quickened his steps, almost jogging up the stairs to the office. It bugged him to think that something might be going on that he didn’t know about.
Jenny sat at her desk, just like always. She had a sheet of paper in her typewriter and was trying to type. But she wasn’t having much luck. To his horror, McGarrett could see that her face was wet and her eyes and nose red. Jenny was crying.
For a desperate moment, McGarrett thought of backing out the door. He would almost rather face an armed madman than a crying dame. But instead he hurried in.
"Jenny! What is it?" he demanded.
Jenny looked up at him. "I waited for you, boss," she said in a choked voice. "No one wanted to call you while you were busy with the Dalai Lama’s visit." She dabbed at her nose with a wadded Kleenex.
McGarrett came around the desk and grabbed Jenny by the shoulders. "Easy," he commanded. "What’s happened?"
"Danny and Kono caught that guy who committed the rapes – a guy named Blackmore –" she told him.
McGarrett’s blood ran cold. Surely someone would have told him if one of his men had been injured.
Jenny continued, "They had him in for questioning, and something happened. Blackmore ended up in the hospital. He’s there now."
"What do you mean, something happened?" McGarrett could hear the harshness in his own voice but he couldn’t help himself.
Jenny shook her head. "I don’t know exactly, but Duke was the one that called. He said that something bad happened to Blackmore in custody, and to tell you as soon as you got in. I think you need to go over there, boss." Jenny dissolved in more tears and hiccuping.
McGarrett couldn’t understand why she was so upset. It sounded like it could be a mess, to be sure, and Duke had been right to make sure it came to his attention right away. Whenever a suspect got injured or ill in custody, the newspapers were all too quick to cry police brutality. But it would all blow over in a day or too. There was no reason for Jenny to carry on so.
Maybe she was just exhausted. He pulled out his handkerchief and pressed it into her hand. Then he pulled her to her feet and steered her towards the door. "Easy, Jenny. Easy."
Once they were out in the parking lot, McGarrett attempted what he hoped was a benign smile. "I don’t want to see you a minute before nine o’clock tomorrow, honey," he said.
Jenny nodded and took a deep breath. "OK, boss," she said bravely. "Maybe things will look better in the morning."
"That’s the spirit," McGarrett said. He watched until she pulled out of the parking lot, then jumped in his car and sped off for Queen’s Hospital.
***
Somewhere inside his body, he felt a terrible weariness. It was only made worse by the fact that he had let down for a few minutes, after the Dalai Lama’s visit ended, and now he had to get energized again. But it couldn’t be helped.
The first person McGarrett saw as he charged down the corridor of the hospital was Dr. Hanson. McGarrett had dealt with Hanson before, when Danno had been shot and almost died in this very hospital. The doctor was a cool customer.
Hanson caught sight of him at the same time and stopped. With big glasses and a skinny, dumpy physique, the doctor wasn’t the least bit physically intimidating. Yet, somehow, McGarrett felt an almost threatening vibe from Hanson’s body language.
He plunged ahead anyway. He wasn’t about to take any guff from Hanson. "I understand my men brought in a prisoner earlier," he said crisply.
"Yes," Hanson said, tilting his head slightly to one side to look at McGarrett through his bifocals. "Donald Earl Blackmore. Do you want the details of the case?"
McGarrett raised his eyebrows and nodded impatiently.
"Perforated large intestine," Hanson said, "with internal bleeding and immediate sepsis due to contamination from waste inside the body. We did an emergency colostomy. He’s in post-op now."
"What the hell caused that?" McGarrett demanded.
"A blunt object inserted into the rectum," Hanson said coldly. "With great force."
"What?" Involuntarily, McGarrett stepped back from the doctor. "What the hell do you mean?"
"Sounded plain enough to me, McGarrett," Hanson told him. "What part do you need me to spell out?"
McGarrett felt stunned, like someone had just knocked the wind out of him. He grasped for an explanation. He had heard of such a thing, of course – being a cop, there wasn’t much in the way of human brutality he hadn’t encountered. But what he couldn’t understand was how—
"How long ago could this have happened?" McGarrett wanted to know. "How many hours?"
"He barely made it to the hospital," Hanson said. "He almost died in the ambulance."
"But how long a delayed reaction, doc? When might the injury have been incurred?"
Hanson’s expression was a mixture of pity and contempt. "It was a trauma injury. No delayed reaction. Anybody with this type of injury would die within a few minutes without medical attention. Now if you’ll excuse me, McGarrett, it’s been a very long night. As they say in my profession, call me in the morning." Hanson turned on his heel and walked away.
McGarrett’s mind whirled to make sense of what he’d just been told. If Hanson was correct, the brutal injury had been inflicted while Blackmore was in police custody. But how—
He had to find Danno and Kono. His men would be able to explain what had happened. Then he would know what he was dealing with, and be able to fight for them.