Terri's Jack Lord Connection
Terri's Jack Lord Connection
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The Moon’s Beloved, Purest Rose of Waikiki By Isabeau Saberhagen © 3-2-2007 Chapter 7 The four days to Friday were not ordinary. Boring, yes but not ordinary. The only way any of those involved could or would liken it to is jumping the engine of a car that somehow you know is going to crash soon down the road. Getting the engine going means you’ll be injured or dead soon down the road, but not getting it going means you’ll be stuck in a sweltering parking lot until you find another way home. One is a bit more pleasant than the other, but you don’t want to go through either. It comes down to the choice of whether you want to be uncomfortable or in pain. There’s a difference, but not much. Lucia killed the days by tackling the first practice bust of McGarrett. Working with soft molding clay worked out the pose and his features. That part went easily enough but Lucia had settled on a sculpture technique that wasn’t widely heard of outside the art community. It’s known as a veiled bust and it utilizes fine line and detail to present the illusion of a face covered by a thin veil. Like dark rose slaps women who don’t have the right skin tone, a veiled bust bites the inexperienced and unprepared artist in the ass. Lucia however was considered a master of the technique. Surrounding her were sketches of the completed bust from every angle, guiding her as she shaped the tiny nuances of the folds in the veil while keeping the face and its expression intact. When she finally stepped away and admired the beginnings of her work she stopped breathing for a moment. Without knowing it she had just created the greatest masterpiece of her life. Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she brought her hand to her mouth and gaped. Nothing more beautiful, emotional, simple and sensual would ever come from her hands again. She cleared her throat and headed over to the kitchen sink and placed the clay trap in the drain. She would wash off her hands, fire the bust, and move on to the sculpting of the marble. ***** McGarrett was working like a man possessed. He fell right back into his old routine spending more time in his office than his apartment. The Five-0 team could have sworn nothing had changed. McGarrett once again scrutinized every bit of evidence coming up with answers they could never have found. He kept his personal life to himself again saying nothing he didn’t have too. He threw himself into the bird of paradise case, trying to find some other tell tale clue. It was like sifting through an endless sea of yellow sand looking for just a few flecks of gold, but gold he did find. A tiny shoe imprint left in the sand from Alika’s murder site. Not form the oversized ones it was just on the edge of the sidewalk and partially swept away. It resembled the toe of a medium sized fashionable boot. No sole imprint was possible in the course sand though. The next fleck gave another glimpse into the killer’s character. Each victim had had an honorable death. Alika and More died peacefully and might not have even known they had been kidnapped, and their bodies were unscathed. Greenwich had been stabbed but his death had been instant and nearly painless. He too was otherwise unscathed. The murderer valued honor and tried to preserve that of their victims. Barry had no recollection of the night Greenwich died. Steve had assumed the killer to be some sort of homophobe but the way he was treated, gently carried to the scene of the crime and then the dump site, with nary a bruise or scratch made him think otherwise. Barry was likely no more than a means to an end. The flowers spoke too. They seemed to appreciate beauty. It was a way to take the sting from death by placing the bodies in a relaxed position and put a flower near them. They respected the dead and tried to give them the proper rites. It was a weakness that almost seemed feminine. Indeed this entire case reeked of that feminine touch. Unfortunately unlike most female killers this one knew what ‘she’ was doing. ‘Her’ perfectionism and grueling attention to detail, coupled with ‘her’ obsession with him and any killer need to be recognized for their deeds was what made McGarrett sure he could catch ‘her’. He only worried about two things. One that ‘she’ if ‘she’ was female would be no ordinary woman and would probably beat their asses to hell before ‘she’ ever went down. The other was that it wouldn’t be the woman he was beginning to suspect it was. ***** Lucia’s clay bust came form the kiln with nary a mar on the glistening surface. McGarrett was becoming more than a mere mortal man, by her hands he would soon be the new Adonis, the new Eos, the perfect demi god of the modern world. Lucia’s mind vanished and was replaced by a simple yet endless will. The marble block was selected and sitting underneath a stream of water to cool her chisel and eliminate dust. The clay bust lay in a wooden trough of water. She was using an age old trick developed by Michelangelo. As the water evaporated and revealed more of the bust, she would carve away more of the marble. This kept her work even and timed. She picked up her iron chisel and its worn wooden hammer and brought them underneath the flow of water. The first hit of metal and raw stone rang in her ears like a cathedral bell. She expertly began to shape the marble, each hit was precise and not one mistake was made. The water in the trough lowered almost imperceptibly as time passed but she kept up with it and almost got ahead of it many times. The angelic face slowly emerged from under her tireless hands. ***** Two circles of Honolulu were a buzz with excitement. The first was the circle of society at large. Everyone young and old, native and migrant, high class and low was talking about McGarrett’s upcoming performance at Sally’s Bar. All the television stations were clamoring to get their cameras in and McGarrett was being marauded by independent reporters trying to get a juicy tidbit to sell to the highest bidder. The second was circle of high art society. Their unofficial queen Lucia was soon to exhibit her newest work, and rumors abounded of the muse that inspired it and her relationship with him. Perhaps at last their queen had found a king worthy of her. Or maybe she would demote him to former lover and friend eventually like the others. Or even better Oahu’s king had managed to play the heart strings of this Amazon royal. All agreed that the latter would be most fitting. ***** Quite secretly McGarrett visited the boutique of a friend of his late at night. The sign said closed but for this customer the owner had no problem showing his fine merchandise after hours. McGarrett had saved him from certain ruin after a professional robbery and he owed him every favor. “Now who is the very lucky lady, Mr. McGarrett?” “Ever heard of Lucia Cornwallis?” The owner’s eyes became as big as frying pans. “Yes sir, had her in here once. Very good taste, very expensive taste, and very knowledgeable.” “Knowledgeable?” “Yes, she could tell a quality diamond from a cheap one with just a glance. We don’t get customers like that often in here.” “Well then, I’d better chose wisely. Wouldn’t want to disappoint the lady now would we?” The proprietor smiled and shook his head, then produced a velvet tray from a safe behind the counters. “Normal customers don’t see these. They’re far out of their price ranges. My best stock.” McGarrett picked up and examined a particularly large bauble then set it back on its dark cushion. The owner looked a little disappointed. “Far out of her taste and even farther from my budget.” “A lady like that deserves only the best, Mr. McGarrett.” “And I’m going to give her the very best I can.” “Then about this lovely Tahitian pearl?” McGarrett considered it for a moment, noting the pale comet streak across the dark bauble. He then declined. “It might remind her a little too much of something.” “Ah, I take it jewels are more appropriate?” “They are.” “The perhaps some gold and…” “Silver, keep gold out of it.” “Alright, I think I have it. This beauty should be perfect.” The proprietor produced a small stone of dazzling light. “Diamond, Austrian crystal, and sterling sliver. Your lady showed quite a liking for these when she came in here.” McGarrett stood transfixed. That was one, no doubt about it. “How much?” The bauble’s current owner grinned. “7.” McGarrett winced. “But for you sir, 5.” “5?” The owner held his breath as he watched his customer deeply consider the suggested price. “Deal.” ***** Friday and Sally’s was swamped. The bar had never been more packed. At least three hundred people had crammed into the place and were running the house dry. Back stage was a bee hive had formed, the staff was a blur making the last minute arrangements, the performers were battling their butterflies, and the impromptu security was dealing with the overzealous cameras, reporters, and bar regulars that were trying to slip past and get in on the night’s action. Finally it was time for Lucia to take the stage. She was in her dressing room putting the final touches on an outfit she had had specifically made up for this. Sally poked her head in to see how she was doing. “Miss Cornwallis, you got five minutes and someone who wants to talk to you.” “Tell them to wait until after the performance. I’ll give a comment then.” “It ain’t a reporter honey.” “Then who…” Sally stepped aside and McGarrett came though. Lucia froze and motioned for sally to give them some privacy. McGarrett was stunned. “My God, Lucia.” She was dressed in the most divine gown he had ever seen. White voluminous cloth was pleated and cut in the style of the Egyptian goddess. Her shoes seemed made of glass, and the glowing fabric was strategically layered and studded with gems of all colors and sizes. Upon her arms were veiled sleeves barely attached to the dress, extending almost to her fingertips and leaving her glistening shoulders bare. Around her neck was a silver banded choker form which dangled a silver square set with a magnificent square opal. Her earring matched this, and from the choker was a long thin silver rectangle that led from her neck to her dangerously low neckline. And draped all about were lighter than air shawls that seemed to ungulate around her and give her the halo of the heavens. She had donned a long dark wig that shone slightly green, and her perfect skin shone bright against the jewels lining her figure. Lucia smiled and McGarrett nearly fainted. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and waist and his whole body shuddered. “Lucia I…” “Yes?” she smiled so softly. His hand dove into his pocket and he plummeted to the floor. “Steve!” She thought he had passed out and was about to call for help, but then she saw his face slowly turn up to hers, and saw the shining bauble in his hands. “Lucia, Lucia my love, my only, my goddess of inspiration, my angel of the morning, noon, and night, please say you will be my bride!” For the first time in her life Lucia’s heart had complete control over her, while her brains whirled and tied itself in knots looking for the answer, her heart gave the only one a woman’s heart can give. “Yes.” “Yes? You will?!” She nodded, fighting back tears of joy. McGarrett hollered and swept her up into his arms with his own crystalline tears streaming down his face. He spun them around and captured her in their most passionate kiss yet. He placed her on her feet but kept her securely in his embraced as he slipped his engagement ring onto her finger. He kissed her countless more times till the knock on the door signaled Lucia’s number was about to begin. McGarrett followed her to the edge of the stage, and blew one last kiss as she stepped out. ***** The crowd fell completely silent as Lucia Cornwallis appeared before them. She seemed to glide across the stage casting an ethereal glow onto her audience. Danny watched from the bar as this goddess descended to sing for mere mortals. “Damn, Steve,” he whispered, “how in the world did you get so lucky?” Lucia stepped behind the microphone, and bowed to her audience. With that a piano struck up the first notes, and Lucia sang. “Forever may not be long enough for my love. I have a will, but I'm lost inside your time. If you could, would you come with me to the other side?
The song spoke of the ancient ways of love, life and death, when death itself was only an inconvenience and eternity was so easily grasped. When it ended Lucia was given a standing ovation, new male fans pushed their way to the edge of the stage trying to get some kind of contact with her. The TV newsmen that had come were already singing her praises, and Lucia bowed one last time and disappeared into the backstage. She was met by her fiancé. “Well honey,” he purred, “you were right.” “I was?” she smiled coyly. “Yes,” he brought his lips millimeters from hers, “I quite enjoyed that song.” “Is that all you enjoyed?” He smirked and covered her mouth with his own. One of Lucia’s friends came running up and promptly gushed over the ‘diamond Buick’ on her finger. Lucia laughed and introduced her newly affianced bridegroom to the friends she had flown in from London. Danny came up to inform McGarrett that everything was almost ready for his number. “Hey Steve.” “Yea Danno?” “What’s with all the squealing girls? Fans of yours?” “No, friends of Lucia from England.” Just then a big voice came bellowing over the crowd. “Steve! You’re almost up!” “Yea Kono, I know!” Kono came trotting around the corner to find his boss surrounded by excited twenty something girls. He shot Danny a questioning look. “Lucia’s friends,” he said. “Why are they so excited?” Kono looked almost afraid as a few of the girls began hopping up and down. “Because…” began McGarrett as he pushed his way past the posse and took both his friends under his arms. “As of tonight Lucia and I are engaged to be married.” Danny choked and Kono grinned from ear to ear. “That’s great boss!” Danny was not so enthusiastic. “Aren’t you going a little fast?” McGarrett glanced at his watch. “Not at all Danno.” “But Steve…” “Listen, chew me out later okay, I’m on.” Danny nodded and watched McGarrett make his way back through Lucia’s mob and emerge on stage. He then turned to Kono. “Come on brother, let’s go watch this.” Kono patted his shoulder and took off with him to the bar to watch their boss and honored friend make Honolulu history. ***** *Author's note*
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