The Blue Light Bar and Grill, owned by Rick Yamanaha, had become an H.P.D. hangout when the police station stood in downtown Honolulu at the edge of Chinatown. Additionally, it served as evening party central for the entire Hawai‘i professional wrestling community.
This evening, Leimomi Sanchez, the house singer, was in fine voice. Her ability to enchant and silence the rowdy audience never ceased to amaze David Chan.
“Let’s go into the back room,” suggested Four-9 head, Captain Delbert Kauhane.
Chan, Kauhane, and Sergeants Kona Kalahiki and Chin He Kelso, grabbed four Primo drafts at the bar, said their hellos to Rick and the bartender, Calvin Susuico, then headed for the relative seclusion of the back room.
“Okay, Kona, tell us what you got,” said Kauhane.
“The Governor’s friend, Sir George Masterson, head of MI6, called him today. One of their top agents lost his wife recently. It was on their wedding day. She was murdered in an attempt to kill him. Masterson’s convinced him to take some time off. Apparently, the guy was going to honeymoon here anyway, so he decided to come here for some R & R. Thing is, there might be trouble.”
“Great, of course there’ll be trouble,” said Chin He Kelso, the biggest Chinese Chan had ever met, Kelso being his adoptive surname. “Why can’t we ever get something that doesn’t have to have us possibly getting our asses get kicked, or worse?”
Chan said, “Come on, Chin, if it were going to be easy, we’d never get the call.”
“Yeah right,” said Kelso. “Why the heck did I ever agree to join up with this unit? I feel like every time we’re asked to step up there’s a good chance we’ll get put down. Sucks, brah.”
“Come on, Chin,” said Kauhane, “putting our lives on the line is a daily responsibility for us.”
“Yeah yeah yeah,” said Chin, “I accept that. But putting in overtime to up the odds of getting off-ed, why don’t we at least get hazard pay or something.”
“I’ll buy you your next beer,” said Chan.
Kelso laughed. “My life gotta be worth at least two, David.”
“Hey, guys,” said Kalahiki, “come on. This really could get hairy. Whoever it was who tried to kill this guy, Masterson thinks they might be hot on his trail right now.”
“So what,” said Kelso, “we’re supposed to babysit the guy?”
“Well,” said Kalahiki, “yes. The Governor says we’re supposed to watch him, but he’s not supposed to know we’re doing it. The guy knew his boss was buddies with the Governor, and he said he didn’t want the Governor to know anything about him coming.”
“So, of course,” said Kauhane, “his boss called Governor Henricksen pronto.”
“Right,” said Kalahiki. “That’s why we gotta do this sub rosa.”
“Ho!” said Kelso, “good thing I learned Latin when I went Saint Louis.”
“What? You went high school?” said Kauhane, elbowing Kelso. Everyone laughed.
“Okay, guys,” continued Kalahiki, “this is the scoop. He’s coming in tomorrow at noon, Pan Am flight two. So far, this is what I’ve planned. David, you and I will shadow him right from the gate. Chin, I want you to be scoping out the baggage claim area. Captain, he’s renting a car from National. You can be watching the shuttle pick-up area.”
“And how is it that this guy’s not going to be spotting us?” asked Kelso, scratching his head. “If he’s one of MI6’s top agents, he’ll be picking up on us from the get-go.”
“Well, that’s a chance we have to take, but I’ve tried to lessen the possibility. David, I’ve arranged for you and me to have dummy bags coming through to the pick-up carousel. That way, at least we’ll look like we have a reason to be hanging around there. Chin, I’ve also got a bag coming through for you. David, you’ll be going to ride the shuttle. So you and the Captain will be with our guy.”
“Okay,” said Kauhane, “the bogus luggage will work for you three, but what about me? Won’t I stick out like a sore thumb if I’m standing around the shuttle area?”
“No you won’t, boss,” said Kalahiki. He placed a package on the table and opened it. “Here you go, Captain, it’s a National employee shirt. I think I’ve got the correct size.”
“And me,” said Chan. “Once we get off the shuttle, what? I actually am going to rent a car?”
“Yes,” said Kalahiki. “I’ve already arranged that. Then you and the Captain follow the guy to his hotel. He’s staying at the Moana. I’ve got him in a corner room and we’re in the room next to his. I’ve got a camera concealed inside his room with a monitor in ours. Kelso and I will have gone straight to the hotel once you two get on the shuttle with him. Okay, guys, that’s what I’ve got so far.”
“That’s good, Kona,” said Kauhane, “good stuff so far. Okay,” he went on, “we’ll do eight-hour shifts. I want two of us on duty at all times. One in the room, and one in the lobby watching the elevator. If our guy goes out for any reason, we’ll always have two people on him if he stays in the vicinity. If he gets in his car to go somewhere outside of Waikīkī, then whoever’s on him at the time calls the other two to join in the tail. We’ll have four cars on him at various distances. Sound good to all of you?”
Kelso, always the skeptic, shook his head. “I don’t know. I still think a top agent will be able to spot us.”
“Well,” said Kauhane, “if he does, he does. So he gets pissed off, so be it. Bottom line, guys, we’re going to keep him safe until he gets off this rock.”
“Of course,” said Kelso, “if whoever it is who wants to kill him is on his tail, he could be dead before he makes it over here from England.”
Kalahiki said, “Well, it’s possible. He’s got transfer flights in New York and LAX. But let’s not paint the devil on the wall, man. We just gotta assume he’ll be here at noon.”
“Do you have a photo of him?” asked Chan.
Kalahiki pulled one from the paper bag and passed it around. Tall with black hair and piercing eyes, the man looked formidable.
“Looks as big and tough as you,” Kelso said to Kalahiki, who, if Kelso was the biggest Chinese Chan had ever met, then Kalahiki, a little taller and wider than Kelso, was one of the biggest Hawaiians.
“What’s his name?” asked Chan.
“It’s Daniel,” said Kalahiki. “Sean Daniel.”
Lanning Lee 