This takes place after the show ended with Terri moving to Hawaii. In this story, Janet didn't marry Phillip. She moved to Hawaii with Terri. They're sharing a condo in Honolulu. Jack stayed in LA, but he's not with Vicky. He will soon be in Hawaii, too, for a long overdue visit.

The characters from Magnum, PI, are:

Thomas Magnum: Private Investigator

Jonathan Higgins: Major Domo of novelist Robin Masters' estate

Rick Wright: Manager of the private, member only King Kamehameha Club

Theodore Calvin (TC): Owns his own helicopter service

The guard dogs are Zeus and Apollo

I don't know how much I will write for the other Magnum characters, but if you see any of those names, you'll know where they came from.

Thanksfor reading and giving this a try. Hopefully, you'll like it.

As Thomas Magnum reviewed the typed pages of notes that had been transcribed for his current case and saw how well-organized his files looked, he couldn't help but compliment the one responsible for his sudden and totally unexpected efficiency.

"Janet, you're a wonder. I knew I was right to choose you. I'm very glad you answered my ad."

Janet Wood beamed. "Thank you, sir."

The tall, dark-haired, well-built man with a trademark full upper lip mustache leaned against the arm of the sofa and crossed his tanned arms in front of his red printed Aloha shirt. He gave his part-time assistant of two weeks a warm smile. "Janet, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me 'sir' or 'Mr. Magnum'? My name is Thomas."

Janet's lightly tanned cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink as she shyly bowed her head. "I know. I just can't get used to this."

"What? Working in these small quarters behind the luxurious and spacious main house of Robin Masters' estate? Who could get used to that?"

They shared a friendly laugh.

"No," Janet said, playfully swatting his muscular, jean-clad thigh, surprising both of them. "You know I like it here. Not that I don't like Jonathan Higgins or the dogs, but," she said, looking around at the living room/dining room that definitely had a lived-in look to it, "this is…cozy."

Thomas tilted his head back and laughed out loud. "Cozy? I've never heard anyone describe my place using that word. My humble abode and I thank you."

Janet smirked and swatted him again. She was in a good mood but had no idea why. He moved away from the sofa and gave her a winning smile.

"You've definitely earned your money for today. What do you say we go to the Club for a bite to eat?"

"Sure," Janet said, returning papers to the file folders that were scattered on the coffee table next to the typewriter. "I'll meet you there in an hour? Maybe Terri will come, too, if she's not working at the hospital."

"Sounds great. I know Rick will enjoy seeing her again."

The petite, dark-haired, dark-eyed woman gave her employer a serious look. "You're not encouraging Rick that he has a chance with Terri, are you? I told you she likes him, but not in that way."

"I know, I know. But she's not seeing anyone seriously, right?"

"Well, no, but…"

He smiled. "Then, maybe the more time she spends around him, the more she'll see what a great guy he is."

"Maybe," Janet said, somewhat doubtfully.

Thomas escorted her up the stairs and to the white compact car she and Terri shared.

"See you in an hour," he said and waved.

He watched her as she drove off. What he didn't see was the frown that marred her lovely features. How could Terri Alden ever see Rick Wright as more than a nice guy when she only had eyes for Thomas Magnum, PI?

"Jack, I think it's great," Janet heard her say. "I'm looking forward to it, and I know Janet will be, too. In fact, she just walked in. I'll let you tell her the news."

They said their good-byes, and then Janet, after giving Terri a questioning glance, took the receiver from her hand.

"Hi, Jack," Janet said, anxious to hear the news. "How's it goin'?"

"Things have been okay. How about you?"

Janet made herself comfortable on the sofa and placed the phone in her lap. "I've been doing well."

"You sound happy."

"I am. You have a bit of excitement in your voice. What's your news?"

"I was just telling Terri that I'm going to be visiting you two soon."

Janet sat up straighter on the couch. "You are? Jack, that's great. When are you coming?"

"This weekend. I arrive Friday night."

"What! Jack Tripper, how long have you known about this trip?"

He laughed because he could so easily picture his friend's indignation. She had probably balled her free hand into a fist and was aiming it for the receiver. "For almost a month," he admitted. "But I didn't want to say anything until I was sure I could swing it."

"Are you coming with someone? How will you be able to fly such a long distance, non-stop?"

"I'm coming by myself, and I'll be fine."

She doubted that, but she wanted to give her former roommate the benefit of the doubt.

"Well, you know we can't wait to see you. It'll be like old times."

"It sure will. I have to attend conferences during the days I'm there in place of Mr. Angelino, but that shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Not at all. Terri will be working, and if I'm not at the flower stand, I'll probably be with Magnum, so it should work out great for us to spend the evenings together."

"What's a 'Magnum'?" Jack asked, clearly confused.

Janet laughed. "It's not a what, Jack, it's a who."

"Okay. Who is 'Magnum'?"

"I just started working for him part-time. He's a private investigator."

"A private eye?" Jack asked, sounding dubious. "Janet, why would you want to work for a PI?"

"Thomas Magnum prefers the term 'private investigator', and it's actually kind of fun."

"Oh, well, excuse me. But fun? I can't picture you hanging out with a private whatever. What happened to the flower stand job?"

"Oh, I still have that and love it, but working for Magnum is giving me a little extra cash, which I can use, believe me."

"You're not following him around on his seedy cases, are you?"

Janet rolled her eyes. Jack had watched too many movies. "No. I work out of his home."

"That's even worse!" Jack declared.

Janet couldn't help but laugh at her friend's obvious outrage.

"Jack, what is wrong with you? I'm not doing anything wrong, immoral or illegal."

"Well, we'll just see about that," Jack said. "Now, I really can't wait to get on that island and find out just exactly what my girls have been up to."

"Your girls?" Janet questioned.

"Yes. I still think of you and Terri as the women I like and need to protect. Is there something wrong with that?"

"No, but we're not exactly close enough for you to protect."

"I know. But I will be once I land on Oahu, so this Magnum person better watch out because Jack Tripper will soon be on his way."

Janet couldn't hide a smile. "I think we'll all be fine, Jack. You just have a safe trip and get here as soon as you can."

Janet continued to hold the phone in her lap after the call had ended. She took a moment to reflect on their conversation. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn she had heard a touch of jealousy in Jack's voice. But there was no way that could be possible, was there?

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Her startled look as his voice penetrated told him she had been very far away.

"Sure," she said, trying to recover. "Why?"

He pointed to the blank white piece of paper in the typewriter.

"Not that I'm complaining because we all have off days, but you have seemed distracted since your arrival."

Janet took a refreshing swallow of the cool beverage and then leaned back against the cushions.

"I'd like to ask you a question about your job, but if I'm out of line, just tell me. Okay?"

"Okay."

"What's the seediest case you've ever had?"

Thomas did a double take and then tried not to look affronted.

"I'm not sure I know what you're asking. Did you hear something from someone?"

Letting out a frustrated groan, Janet quickly rose from the couch. She raked her fingers through her hair as she paced a small area of the living room.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "This is all Jack's fault."

"Jack? The guy you and Terri were talking about at the Club last night?"

"Yes," she said and shook her head.

"You two seemed so happy to share the news that he's coming for a visit. You couldn't stop smiling last night. Why the frown today?"

"Something he said during our phone conversation started to bother me. I tried not to think about it, but it's there, nagging at me, and it won't go away."

"Does this have something to do with your earlier question about me and my 'questionable' cases?"

Janet sighed and tried to look appeasing. "Please don't take this the wrong way, Mr. Mag...I mean, Thomas, but it's just when I told Jack I was working for a private investigator, he seemed to lose it a little, and it really took me by surprise."

"He doesn't like private investigators?" Thomas asked, slightly amused.

"I don't know," Janet answered, running her fingers through her short hair once more. "The whole time we were roommates, the subject never came up."

"But now it has," Thomas said, "and it seems you care a great deal about what your friend thinks."

"Well, he is a good friend," Janet said. "One of my best friends, actually, even though we're no longer sharing an apartment."

"And he seems to be looking out for you by questioning your working for me?"

"Isn't it silly?" she said, trying to lighten the mood. "I told him I wasn't doing anything illegal. I'm not, am I?"

Thomas laughed. "Not that I know of. But if you're not comfortable, I'll understand. I'd hate to lose you, but you have to do what you think is best and what you can live with."

"Thomas," Janet admitted, "I've been having a good time since I moved to Hawaii. After some things in my life started to go very wrong, I wasn't sure what the future held for me. Terri moving to Hawaii and convincing me to join her has done wonders for my disposition. I really enjoy working with flowers, especially the exotic ones here on the island, but working for you is a nice change of pace. As long as you can assure me that I won't get carted off for doing something I'm not supposed to, then I want to continue working for you."

"What about Jack's concerns?" Thomas asked, deciding he wanted to be fair.

"He'll see for himself what a great guy you are when he gets here. I miss him so much, as does Terri, and we can't wait to see him, but I want him to see that I've adjusted to my new life here. A new life that now includes you."

"I'm looking forward to meeting him. The way you and Terri talked about him, he sounds like a heck of a guy."

"He is. Despite his, I don't know what else to call them except suspicions; I know you two are going to hit it off. I just know it."

After eating the somewhat tastier parts of his dinner, he accepted a blanket and a pillow from a particularly friendly blonde attendant and settled himself in his window seat. Not interested in watching the movie, he closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep. Thoughts of Terri, and especially of Janet, kept him from dozing off.

Larry had actually laughed outright and called his friend paranoid when he had mentioned that Janet was working for a private eye. Jack didn't see what was so amusing. He had legitimate concerns about this Magnum person, and he voiced them to Larry, which made matters worse.

"How did she sound, Jack?" Larry had asked.

"She sounded fine," he grudgingly admitted. "Happy, even."

"Isn't that all that matters?"

Jack was reluctant to agree. He had been happy once, but it hadn't lasted very long. He thought he had found his future with Vicky Bradford, but once a very basic and very important difference in their value systems was discovered, Jack realized he couldn't remain in a relationship with her. It had been an amicable but emotional break up. What he had counted on to get him through hadn't worked out the way he thought it would either. With Jack making his own plans for the future, Terri and Janet did the same. Jack thought Janet would be married, but at the last minute, for reasons Jack still didn't fully know, Janet had called off her wedding to Phillip Dawson. Thinking they would have each other as roommates to help them through their difficult times, Jack was handed another curve when Terri announced she had decided to move to Hawaii and that Janet would soon be joining her.

Throughout the years, roommates had come and gone. While Jack missed Chrissy and Cindy and even Terri very much, the one he missed the most, he realized, as the captain told the passengers they were free to roam the cabin, was Janet. There was just something about her that he could always count on. He could talk to her, and even though she would tease him mercilessly if he had done something to get himself into trouble which she thought he could have avoided, she always listened to his side of the story and wasn't quick to judge. He appreciated that more than he realized until now. She was easy to talk to, and he missed that. He missed having someone to come home to whom he could share his day with. Janet had moved on, and he suddenly realized that maybe he hadn't. Was he stuck in the past and did he wish Janet were stuck there with him? And if so, how fair was that to either of them?

Janet held a white and yellow plumeria and carnation lei that she had made especially for him. She knew the female Hawaiian greeter would also present him with a lei, but that didn't stop her from making sure she and Terri had their own special greeting waiting for their friend.

"Look at that shameless flirting he's doing," Terri said, pretending to be upset as she and Janet watched him eat up the dark-haired, dark-eyed petite Island beauty who placed a lei around his neck and gave him a quick hug, which he tried to lengthen only to hear her giggle and move on to the next passenger.

He straightened up when he spotted Janet and Terri eyeing him with mock disdain and raced to them, telling them it was their fault he had been distracted.

"Our fault!" they protested in unison.

"Now, now, ladies," he said, trying to cajole them with a winning smile. "I just thought you would be quicker to whisk me away, before that lovely young woman could, you know, lei me. I think you two are losing your touch."

Janet and Terri had to laugh as he opened his arms and affectionately embraced them.

"I know you already have one, but this lei was made especially for you by me," Janet told him, after they had separated.

"Now, I feel like I'm in Hawaii," he said, after Janet and Terri placed the colorful circle of fragrant flowers around his neck and kissed him on each cheek. "You two look wonderful."

"You don't look so bad yourself," Janet said, as the trio began walking towards the escalator which would take them to baggage claim.

"I knew I missed you guys," Jack said, looking from Terri to Janet while they watched the carousel for his suitcase to appear, "but I honestly didn't know how much until I saw both of you standing there waiting for me. This is going to be great."

"Yes, it is," Terri agreed, her smile bright and oh-so welcoming.

"We have so many things planned for you," Janet said, the excitement evident in her voice.

"I'm up for anything," Jack said, and then added a disheartening caveat. "As long as it doesn't involve that Magnum private eye person. Which it shouldn't because you only see him during the day, right?"

Janet and Terri exchanged overt worried glances. If Jack felt that way, how could they tell him that he had been invited to attend a surprise birthday party for Thomas that his friends were throwing for him at the King Kamehameha Club the following night?

"This is great," Jack said, as he made himself comfortable at the glass-topped table. "With this warm weather, you must eat out here a lot."

"We try to," Janet said. "But our schedules don't always work. Especially Terri's."

"Still working long and crazy hours, even in paradise," Jack teased with an accompanying wink.

"Yes, but I get to enjoy my days off, too, which is nice."

"We both do," Janet agreed.

"Are you working seven days?" Jack asked, after taking a bite of his pizza.

Janet shook her head. "Sometimes I have to work at a flower stand on Saturday if the owner, Mr. Pineda, needs help, but usually, I only work Monday through Friday."

"For both jobs?" Jack queried, his tone skeptical.

"Yes, Jack," Janet answered with a laugh and a shake of her head.

"I'm just checking," he said, shifting in his chair. "I'd hate to think of you having to work all the time."

"Don't worry. I have plenty of free time."

"What about you?" Terri asked. "Are you still putting in a lot of hours at the Bistro?"

"Yes, but it's good, you know. I really like having my own restaurant to run. I'm learning so much."

And so the conversation went from there as they enjoyed each other's company once again. The hours flew until Janet finally said she had to call it a night because she had to work at a flower stand at the Waikiki Beach Hotel for a few hours the next day. Terri had Saturday off, so she and Jack continued to converse as they enjoyed the soft midnight breeze.

"You guys really seem happy," Jack said.

"And that seems to surprise you," Terri commented, her eyebrows raised.

"No." Jack quickened to correct the misconception. "I think it's great. I know you weren't all that happy when you left LA, and I know Janet was still getting over her break-up with Phillip, so I wasn't 100 percent sure what I would find when I got here. I'm glad things are going well. For both of you."

Terri smiled. "Thanks, Jack. We're so happy to have you here. We've missed you soooo much."

Jack tried to shrug off Terri's comment. "You're just saying that."

"I am not," she said, somewhat indignant that he would question her sincerity.

She rose from her chair.

"Let me show you what Janet and I have been working on."

With purposeful strides, Terri walked into the living room and retrieved a white piece of paper from the coffee table. She returned to the terrace and set the paper in front of Jack before taking her seat.

"Does that look like the work of two people who hardly missed you?"

Jack looked from the paper to Terri.

"Wow, Terri, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry I doubted you. This list proves you and Janet have found a way to spend as much time with me as you possibly can. I'm flattered."

"Well," she said, her tone softening, "you should be."

They shared a much-needed laugh before Jack saw the look of concern on his friend's lovely face.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"If you look closely at that list, you'll notice there's one troubling spot."

Jack perused the list and saw the many question marks after the event listed for tomorrow night.

"Surprise birthday party?" he questioned, looking to Terri for the answer.

She nodded. "For Thomas Magnum, someone you don't seem to be too fond of, even though you haven't even met him."

Jack leaned back in his chair and held up the paper for further inspection.

"You and Janet want to go to this party?" he finally asked.

"The truth is we were invited before we knew you were coming, so we said we'd be there. We told TC, one of Thomas' best friends, that you were coming from the mainland to visit. He extended an invitation for you, too. I know it's probably the last place you want to be, but..."

"You really want to go, don't you?" Jack asked, surprised at how excited Terri looked when talking about this party.

"Yes," she admitted, a hint of pinkish color spotting her slightly tanned cheeks. "I think...I mean, we think it would be fun. Janet and I talked about it, and we decided we wouldn't have to stay long, but we could make an appearance, especially since we already bought Thomas a gift."

"What did you get him?" Jack asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Well," Terri said, her voice growing even more excited as she leaned in closer to Jack. "Janet mentioned that the tape recorder he's using is pretty old and beat up, so we decided to buy him a new one. We hope he'll like it, and we also think it'll help Janet when she has to transcribe his notes, so it's actually serving a dual purpose. Pretty neat, huh?"

"Yeah, that is."

Jack continuing to study Terri unnerved her somewhat.

"Jack, what is it?" she finally asked, wanting him to stop his scrutiny.

"You like this guy, don't you? I mean, really like him."

Terri couldn't stop the color from rising to her cheeks. "Yeah," she answered. "I do, Jack. I like him a lot."

"But what about Janet?" Jack blurted out.

"What about Janet?" Terri repeated.

"Well, I mean, does she have a problem with you liking this Magnum guy?"

"Not that I know of. Why would she?"

Jack suddenly found himself feeling awkward. Based on Terri's reaction, Janet didn't seem to have an attraction for the PI. Jack had to ask himself why he assumed she would have.

"I-I just thought maybe she didn't want you to get involved with her business relationship, that's all."

Terri eyed him and then a slow grin spread across her face.

"That's not the reason. We may not have seen each other in over a year, but you can't fool me, Jack. You thought there was something going on between Thomas and Janet, didn't you?"

"Well..." he said, trying to cover his discomfort at having been found out.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because why else would she have taken on a second job?"

"You thought she was assisting him in more ways than one, huh?"

"Terri!"

"C'mon, Jack. You don't have to pretend to be offended with me."

"Why is she working for that guy?"

"I think she explained that to you when you called. Janet just wants to have some extra spending money. Things are more expensive here. She thought it would be something different for her and challenging at the same time. She really enjoys working for him."

"And that works out well for your plans, right?"

Terri ran her forefinger along the rim of her glass. "So far, it's just a mild friendship, if it could even be called that. Thomas is very nice, but I can tell there's a lot more to him than what you see on the surface."

"Okay," Jack said, after seeing Terri's expression soften once more when she mentioned Magnum's name, "I have to admit, I'm intrigued."

Terri laughed. "You mean relieved, don't you, that Janet doesn't want him for herself."

"Now what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing," Terri said, deciding a conversation about Janet and Jack could wait for another time.

If they stayed up any longer, they'd be witnessing the beautiful sight of a Hawaiian sunrise. Which wouldn't be bad, but still, they both needed some sleep.

"I know you meant something, but I won't push you," Jack said, no longer able to stifle a yawn. "Let's get some shut eye so we'll both look our best for tomorrow night's festivities. I'd hate to meet the infamous Thomas Magnum with bags under my eyes because you kept me up all night talking about him!"

"What happened? You were supposed to be home at noon and it's now three o'clock."

"I'm so mad, Terri, but kinda worried, too."

"What's going on?"

"Rafael was supposed to relieve me, but he never showed up. That's not like him. He's very reliable. I called his house, but no one answered. I'm not sure what's going on."

"Did you contact Mr. Pineda?"

"Yes, but his girlfriend said he had to go to the Big Island on business, so he's not reachable."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stay here until five and then close up for the day. I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to spend any time with you and Jack. What have you guys been doing?"

"We slept in late, actually," Terri said, a bit sheepishly, "and then we hung out at the pool for a while. We were going to come by the hotel to see you, but we thought you would be home soon."

"I should be there no later than five-thirty."

"Okay. Jack and I will just hang around. When you get here, we'll have to get ready to go to the party."

"I've been thinking about that, especially since my day got messed up. We don't have to go, Terri. I'm sure there are many other things Jack would rather be doing. Thomas and his friends will understand. I'll give him the present when I see him next week."

"No," Terri rushed to assure her friend. "Jack is sort of looking forward to it. I'd really like to go, Janet. At least for a little while."

Janet smiled. Her friend was so transparent. She wished she could nudge Thomas into taking a closer look at Terri, but so far, he was pleasant but not overly attentive to her.

"If you're sure it's okay with Jack."

She looked at Jack who was sitting on the sofa leafing through a magazine and looking very relaxed.

"It is, Janet. Believe me, it is."

"Okay. I'll see you guys in a little bit. Please tell Jack I'm so sorry our first day did not turn out at all how I had planned."

"I will. Hey, Janet?"

"Yeah?"

"See if you can close up a little early, okay?"

Janet took Terri's advice and was home before five o'clock. Jack greeted her with a hearty hug and told her not to worry about having to work late.

"I never did hear from Rafael," she said, her thoughts on the young man and his whereabouts distracting her. "It's just not like him to be so irresponsible."

"We have a party to get to," Jack said, trying to get her mind off of work. "You better look cheerier than that or people will think you're attending a funeral."

Janet playfully swatted Jack's arm and then told her friends she was going to freshen up.

By six-thirty, the trio was ready to hit the road. Dressed in black pants and a white button-down shirt, Jack couldn't help but to notice how lovely Janet and Terri looked. Terri wore a white gauze sundress that stylishly displayed her tanned neck and shoulders. With white-heeled sandals and a purse to match, she was ready to dazzle the partygoers. Janet's purple-printed halter dress, which showed off her shapely tanned legs, also highlighted her dark hair and dark eyes to perfection.

"I know all eyes are going to be on me when I walk in with the two of you beautiful ladies on my arms."

Smiling, they each reached for an arm and let Jack guide them to the car and then into the King Kamehameha Club as soon as the valet had been given the keys.

Jack took the time to notice his surroundings. Huge palm trees almost covered the paved entrance to the private club, but he soon saw where most of the people were gathering.

"We're in a banquet room upstairs," Janet informed him.

"Shall we?" Jack said, curious now to meet Thomas more for Terri's sake than because he saw him as someone who might be taking advantage of Janet.

As the trio, feeling carefree, walked into the middle of the Saturday night crowd, they had no way of knowing that they were being spied on.

Theodore Calvin, known as TC to his friends, spotted the threesome and immediately crossed the room to welcome them. With his lovely wife Tina at his side, TC introduced Janet and Terri to her, and they, in turn, introduced Jack to the newly happily reunited couple. Rick joined them a few moments later and more introductions were made.

"When is Thomas due to arrive?" Janet asked.

TC checked his watch. "Any time now. Jonathan is bringing him, which should be interesting."

Rick and TC shared a knowing laugh.

"Do you think he suspects?" Terri asked.

"Probably," Rick said and shrugged, his blue eyes lingering on how wonderful Terri looked. "But I doubt he realizes how many people are here."

"Shall we mingle?" TC asked. "We can introduce you to a lot of people until Thomas arrives."

"Sure," Janet said.

During the next few minutes, they were introduced to some of Thomas' former Navy buddies, along with a few relatives who had come from the East Coast, and a number of former and current clients, and then one of the waiters, Keiko, announced that Thomas and Jonathan had just arrived.

A hush fell upon the gaily decorated room. Some people stood near the bar while others stood behind the round tables that had each been set up to seat ten people. The minute Thomas entered the room, with Jonathan Higgins close behind him, everyone yelled "Surprise!" Thomas, wearing khaki pants and a navy blue pullover sweater, laughed and shook his head. His hazel eyes immediately sought out TC and Rick, and he wagged his index finger at them to let them know he knew they had been behind this. Within moments, his family and friends surrounded him, wishing him Happy Birthday and wanting to get the party started.

"Shall we find a table?" Jack asked, figuring they would see Thomas after the crowd had thinned.

"Sure," Janet said. "How about next to the window?"

"Works for me."

It also worked for the man who had been following their every move since they had left the condo.

Once everyone had been seated, TC and Rick announced that the guests were being treated to an authentic Hawaiian buffet and that they could start eating any time. Soft music from a live band played in the background as Thomas made the rounds to make sure he said "hello" to everyone. When he reached Janet's table, he took a seat next to Terri, which caused her eyes to light up like a Christmas tree.

"Thank you so much for coming," he said, looking from Janet to Terri and then to Jack. "Don't tell me. This must be Jack Tripper. Hello, it's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

They shook hands as Jack informed Thomas he had heard a lot about him, too.

"So, were you surprised?" Terri asked. "Really surprised?"

"Yes, I was. I mean, I figured something was going on because we usually celebrate all of our birthdays in some form or another, but this," he said, taking a moment to look around the room at all the happy and familiar faces, "is far more than I had imagined. I guess turning forty is a big deal, although I'm trying not to think about it actually."

They shared a laugh, and then Thomas asked Jack what he thought of Hawaii so far.

"I love it," he said sincerely. "I haven't seen much yet, but I really like it. I can see why some people think of it as paradise."

"I understand you're a chef and that you own a restaurant in LA. Good for you."

"Thanks. The restaurant isn't completely mine, but I hope to have one of my own someday."

"Janet and Terri rave about what a wonderful cook you are, so I'm sure that will happen for you. If you weren't on vacation, I'd ask you to cook a meal while you're here so I could taste your delicious food."

"I love to cook, whether I'm on vacation or not, and it so happens that I have to attend a few conferences about cooking and restaurant management while I'm here, so it's not a total vacation for me."

"I have an idea," Terri said, her eyes lighting up once more. "Why don't you come to our place for dinner one night while Jack's here?"

"I don't want to make him cook while he's enjoying Hawaii."

"It's no problem," Jack said, meaning it but also seeing the opportunity this was affording Terri. "I'd like to experiment with some of the foods specific to the Islands. It'll be good practice for me."

"If you really wouldn't mind..."

"No, not at all."

"We'll figure out a night that's good for us and you," Janet said, "and I'll let you know when I see you at work."

"Okay. Great. I'm looking forward to it. I see TC is looking for me. I think it's time to cut the cake. I can only hope those pranksters don't have forty candles on the cake for me to blow out. See you later. Jack, very nice to meet you."

"Same here," Jack said, shaking his hand one more time, relieved he could say that and really mean it.

When the band began playing familiar tunes mixed in with some Hawaiian songs, couples took to the dance floor. Terri saw Thomas talking with a few friends and wished he would ask her to dance. But she knew it would never happen. Jack nudged Terri and asked her why she didn't go ask him to dance.

"I can't do that!" she said, looking and sounding horrified at the thought.

"Why not?"

"Because I just...I just...I just can't, that's why!"

Janet and Jack looked at each other and just shrugged.

"Why don't you ask Terri to dance?" TC asked Rick, as they sat at their table.

"Yes," Tina said. "Terri seems like a lovely woman."

"She is," Rick said, "but I see where her eyes are. She hasn't taken them off of Thomas all night. Just my luck."

TC chuckled. "Well, you know TM does have a way with the ladies."

"Yeah," Rick grumbled, after taking a swallow of his drink. "But why is it always my ladies who fall for him?"

Jack decided to try to another tactic.

"Hey, Terri. Maybe if you and I were to dance, Thomas would cut in. What do you think? Wanna give it a try?"

"Thanks, Jack, but I don't think so."

Then she looked at Jack and Janet and saw an opportunity for them.

"Why don't the two of you dance?" she asked.

"Us?" Janet said, pointing her finger at Jack and then at herself. "Why would we want to dance?"

"I don't know. The music is good, and you know you love to dance, Janet. Go on. I'll be fine."

"We don't want to leave you alone," Jack said, but he was not opposed to Terri's idea.

"Yeah," Janet readily agreed, not sure why Terri wanted her and Jack to dance so badly. "It would be rude."

"No, it wouldn't. Not if I don't mind, and I don't. So go on. You guys haven't had any alone time. Go enjoy yourselves on the dance floor."

"You're sure you don't mind?" Jack asked, already getting to his feet to pull Janet up from her chair.

"No, I don't mind. Now, go on."

"Okay," Janet said, shrugging. "But we won't be gone long."

As Jack and Janet blended in smoothly with the other couples on the dance floor, Janet couldn't help but think back to another time she and Jack had danced. She had made a fool of herself, thinking she could have a career as a dancer. Jack had come to her aid and instead of berating her for her silly thoughts, he had gently and kindly asked her to dance. Up until that time, she had never thought of them as dance partners, but something had happened that day, and she'd seen Jack in a different light. One she had to admit she liked. A lot.

Dancing with him now brought back some nice memories for her. She decided to share them with her partner.

"This is nice," she said, looking up into his clear blue eyes and smiling face.

"It is," he agreed. "I'm pleased I can say I'm having a great time. I'm glad we came."

"You're okay with Thomas now?" Janet asked.

"Yeah. I just wish he realized how much Terri likes him."

"I know. I feel so bad for her, but I don't want to interfere."

"It's probably best that you don't," he said, as he glided her across the room.

"Is this bringing back any memories for you?" Janet asked, realizing she was enjoying being in his arms more than she thought she would or had even imagined was possible.

"You mean that time we danced after that Michael guy had been such a jerk to you?"

"Yes," Janet said, letting herself relax fully in Jack's strong, capable arms.

"I always knew you were a wonderful dancer. You didn't have to prove anything to me."

"I'll never forget how kind you were to me that day, Jack. When I think of what you could have said to me..."

"Why would I have done that, Janet? You were hurting. I would never want to hurt you. Never."

"You never did, Jack. You were, and still are, the bestest friend I could ever ask for."

"We have a lot in common, Janet. We both thought our lives were going to take very different turns."

"Yes, I know," she said, not wanting to reflect on Phillip but acknowledging he would enter her thoughts anyway.

Jack stilled both of them for a moment to gaze into her chocolate eyes. She sensed he was about to ask her a very important question. She was right.

"Janet, have you ever wondered why it was that neither of us ended up with the person we thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives with?"

"Jack and Janet look very intense on the dance floor."

The sound of Magnum's rich timbre caught Terri off guard. She hadn't seen him coming but now that he was sitting next to her, she smiled.

"Yes, they do. I was just watching them."

"There's a lot of history there, I gather," he said.

"Very much so. They were roommates for eight years. I was their roommate for three."

"I wonder if Janet realizes how the tone of her voice and the expression on her face changes whenever she talks about Jack."

"You notice that, too, huh?"

Terri couldn't help but to grin.

"Is this a case of not seeing what's right in front of you?" Thomas asked Terri and flashed her a dimpled smile.

"Sometimes I think it is, but when Janet decided to move to Hawaii, I thought maybe I was the one seeing things that weren't there. But now that they've been reunited, I have to wonder."

"Maybe they'll figure it out," Thomas said with a wink.

"Maybe," Terri said, her voice wistful.

"Would you care to dance?" Thomas asked, holding out his hand for Terri to take.

"Yes," she said, trying to rein in her excitement and keep her pulse at a steady rhythm.

As Thomas led her to the dance floor and wrapped his arm around her back, all she could think of was that Jack and Janet weren't the only ones who needed to figure a few things out.

"Crazy day," she said, plopping down on his worn sofa. "We had such a good time at your party and we had another great day yesterday, and then today, wham."

Thomas perched himself in his usual place on the arm of the couch.

"What happened?"

Janet sat up straighter and clasped her hands together. "Some very strange things."

"Such as?"

"For instance, on Saturday, my replacement never shows up. I don't hear anything from anyone. I tried to call him, but there was no answer. I called my boss, but he was on the Big Island and wasn't available. So, last night, my boss leaves a message on our answering machine that he needs to meet with all of his employees this morning. He tells us that Rafael, the guy who was supposed to replace me on Saturday, is gone. Just like that. And now we're all expected to pick up the slack until he finds someone else."

"That's not that unusual, is it? If the guy's not reliable..."

"But that's just it. He was very reliable. Almost too reliable. He covered for everyone and seemed to be available every time Mr. Pineda needed someone at the last minute. He was a good worker, too. I think something happened but, of course, our boss isn't going to divulge those details."

Thomas' investigative ears perked up. "What do you mean you think something happened?"

"I don't know," Janet said, rising from the sofa. "But it's all a bit strange. I mean, even if Rafael had flaked out on Saturday, isn't there such a thing as a second chance any more?"

"Depends on the boss, I guess. How's this guy to work for?"

"He's been okay with me, but I haven't been there that long, and I've just been doing what he tells me to and I go where he tells me to go."

"You haven't had to cross him, you mean?"

"Right."

"Have you tried contacting Rafael since Saturday?"

"No. To be honest, I was afraid to. Mr. Pineda made it sound like he was gone from the island. The whole meeting just left me with this weird feeling I haven't been able to shake."

"I think you've been reading too many of my case files," Thomas said with a warm chuckle. "I don't have much going on. Why don't you go home, relax, maybe take a dip in the pool and enjoy Jack and Terri's company."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," he said, gently placing his large hands on her shoulders and guiding her to the staircase that would lead her out of his home. "Go home and enjoy the rest of the day."

Throughout the drive home, Janet kept a close eye on her rearview mirror and she could have sworn she was being followed. But if she were asked to give a description of the vehicle, she wouldn't have been able to, and she knew that would have been embarrassing.

Thinking Thomas was right and that she was letting her imagination run wild as a result of working for him, she entered her apartment determined to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening.

But her newfound determination didn't last very long.

She had no sooner sifted through the day's mail when the phone rang. Picking it up on the second ring, she heard a bone-chilling message from a male voice she did not recognize.

"I know what happened to Rafael Kentara, and if you don't want the same thing to happen to you, stay far away from Thomas Magnum. Got that, little lady?"

"Hey, Thomas, where's Janet? I thought she'd be here. Wait, don't tell me. She found out you can't pay her, came to her senses, and quit."

Rick chuckled at his own joke.

"Ha, ha," Thomas said. "For your information, I am doing very well financially since my last case."

"Good. You can pay your tab in full the next time you're at the Club."

"I'll be glad to."

He put on a blue print Aloha shirt over his Army green tank top and left the buttons undone.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to the hospital."

"Hospital? Why?"

"Nothing important," he hedged. "I just have to visit someone. That's all."

"Oh, I see," Rick said, leaning against the mantel of the fireplace and crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You're going to see Terri, aren't you?"

"Terri? You mean, Janet's friend. No, I'm not going to see her."

"C'mon, TM, you don't have to lie to me. I know what's going on."

"Rick, what are you talking about?"

"I saw you two dancing at your party. You like her, don't you?"

"Yes, I danced with her, but that doesn't mean..."

Rick pushed himself away from the fireplace and pointed a finger at Magnum.

"You'd better treat her right, Thomas. Terri is a very special lady."

Thomas held up his hands. "Rick, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't hurt her. I can tell she likes you. A lot."

"Rick, you of all people know I'm not looking to get involved with anyone right now. My number one priority, besides keeping my business going, is trying to find my daughter Lily. I have no interest in romance whatsoever."

"You can say that, TM, but it doesn't mean love won't find you."

"Rough day?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the coffee table.

Janet sat up when she heard Jack's voice and tossed the pillow aside.

"Kinda. I guess. How was your conference?"

"It was fantastic. I think I'm really going to enjoy the next few days. I'm glad Angelino sent me."

"That's good," Janet said.

She tried to smile, but Jack saw the concern in her dark eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked again.

"Sure," she said, a little too brightly, rising and heading for the kitchen to get them something to drink. "Why wouldn't I be all right?"

"Hello!" she said, after regaining her balance. "This is the last place I'd expect to run into you. I hope everything's okay."

"It is. I'm here to see a patient for an insurance company I occasionally do some work for."

"Oh. Well, don't let me keep you."

"It's fine. I'm not in any hurry."

"Did you and Janet talk about what night would be good for you to have dinner with us?"

"No, I forgot. Janet was at my place, but she was distracted by her flower shop job, so I told her to go on home and rest. I guess she forgot, too. Sorry about that."

"No problem."

But Thomas saw the flash of disappointment cross her face. Rick's words came back to him. He didn't know how Terri felt about him, but he did not want to lead her on.

"I'll talk to Janet," Terri said. "Is there any night that's not good for you?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Okay, then. We'll be in touch."

Reluctantly, Terri knew she had to say good-bye because she had to continue with her rounds, but when Janet's boss, Mr. Pineda, stepped off the elevator, her departure was delayed.

"That's Janet's boss," Terri said. "I wonder what he's doing here."

Thomas followed Terri's gaze and thought the medium-built man with black wavy hair looked vaguely familiar to him.

"Mr. Pineda," Terri called out, when she realized the man, who looked distraught, was lost.

He recognized Terri and quickly made his way to her.

"Terri, right?"

"Yes, that's right. And this is Thomas. Thomas Magnum."

Mr. Pineda's small dark eyes met Thomas', and recognition dawned. They both knew their paths had crossed somewhere along the way.

"You seem upset," Terri said. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm here to see someone, but I'm all turned around. Can you tell me where Room 612 is?"

"It's down this hallway, last room on your right. But, Mr. Pineda, I should tell you that the patient in that room isn't allowed any visitors."

"I know," he said, his voice sad. "But I have special clearance. The guard will let me in."

At the word "guard", Thomas' interest became keener.

"Okay. But we have strict rules for that patient. No more than ten minutes. That's it."

"I understand, Senorita," he said, and slightly bowed his head. "Mr. Magnum, would it be okay if I called you later? I need someone, and I don't think our meeting like this is a coincidence."

"Sure. Call me anytime."

He pulled a business card from his shirt pocket and handed it to the tired-looking, middle-aged man.

"I need to talk to you in more detail, but I feel I should give you a warning, too."

"A warning? About what?"

"Do you remember a man you helped the police arrest a couple of years ago, Ernesto Carlita?"

"The name sounds familiar. He was part of a gang, wasn't he, from the Big Island?"

"Si. They made their way to Oahu and were causing havoc here, too."

"Are they back? Has Ernesto been released from prison?"

Mr. Pineda shook his head, looking downcast. "Mr. Carlita was killed in prison, Mr. Magnum. And now the rest of the gang wants revenge for his death. They've started with my son, Rafael, but it won't be long until they find their way to you."

Thomas held up his hand. "Wait. Rafael? Are you talking about Rafael Kentara?"

"Yes."

"That's the name of the employee Janet said never showed up for work," Thomas said.

"That's right," Mr. Pineda said. "He didn't. He was attacked. He was found in a pool of blood in Duke's Alley, across from the International Marketplace."

"And he's your son?" Thomas questioned, wondering about the difference in their last names.

"Yes."

"But the patient in that room does not have that name," Terri said, still trying to absorb everything she had been hearing.

"The police have given him a different identity," Mr. Pineda explained, "but the young man lying in that bed, barely alive, is my son."

"How is he involved?" Magnum couldn't help but to ask.

"Before their leader got arrested, my son, who was living with my brother at the time, overheard something he shouldn't have. They threatened him, but they never got a chance to carry out their threat thanks to your hard work to help the police catch Ernesto. Once he was behind bars, the gang wasn't very strong, and they left my son alone. Now that Carlita has been killed, his brother wants revenge on everyone, and he's rounded up the gang. He's making them strong again. Stronger than they were with Ernesto from what I understand."

"How did they get Rafael?"

"They attacked him on his way to work on Saturday. He never saw it coming."

Terri's stomach muscles tightened. Saturday. Janet. She had been waiting for Rafael. What if they went after her? What if they went after everybody who knows Rafael or Mr. Pineda? Or Magnum? Terri looked at Thomas as she tried to calm her mounting fear.

"You see why we need to talk, Senor?" Mr. Pineda asked.

"Yes. You go see your son. I'll wait in the hospital lobby. We should talk in a neutral area that will still allow for privacy."

"Gracias. As the lovely nurse here says, I can't stay too long with my son, but I am on my way to see him."

Once he was out of hearing range, Terri pounced on Thomas.

"What does this mean? Is Janet in danger? Are we all in danger? You are definitely in danger if what Mr. Pineda said is true. Thomas, what are you going to do to keep yourself, and possibly the rest of us, safe?"

It was a question Magnum had been asked more times than he cared to admit, and to this day, it had never been an easy one for him to answer. What would his next move be? And would it be the right one for everyone involved?

Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder why he had ever decided to become a private investigator. As he gazed at the worried look on Terri's face and tried to think of some way to reassure her, he realized this was definitely one of those times.

When she entered the apartment, she found Jack and Janet sitting on the couch, talking and drinking what looked to be lemonade.

"Hey, guys," she said casually, stepping further into the room.

"Hi, Ter," Jack said. "We're glad you're home. We've been talking about what we want to do tonight."

"We were thinking about having dinner somewhere and then seeing a live show in Waikiki. What do you think?"

"Sure. That sounds like fun. But first, I have to tell you something."

Terri pulled up a wicker chair and sat across from Jack and Janet.

"You look so serious," Jack said. "Is everything all right?"

"Not really," Terri admitted. "Janet, have you heard any more about your co-worker Rafael?"

"No. Not since our meeting this morning. Mr. Pineda made it sound like Rafael wasn't on Oahu any more. Why?"

"Because I know for a fact that Rafael is still here. He's in the hospital, Janet, fighting for his life."

"What happened?" Jack asked, leaning closer to Terri.

Janet reached for the pillow once more. She knew something bad had happened, especially after receiving that chilling and mysterious phone call.

As Terri explained what had happened with Thomas and Mr. Pineda, Janet's heart began to beat faster and she found herself clutching the pillow so hard her knuckles were turning white.

"That is so bizarre," Jack said. "Is Magnum going to help him?"

"I don't know. They were going to talk after Mr. Pineda saw his son."

Jack glanced at Janet and saw how frightened she was.

"What is wrong with you?" he asked. "You were like this when I arrived, only now you seem even more afraid."

Janet tried to talk, but no words came out. She knew she had to tell her friends about the phone call. She swallowed hard and tried once more to get the words out.

"I didn't want to say anything," she began. "But now I think I'd better."

"We think you'd better, too," Jack said.

"When I...when I arrived home earlier, I got this really strange phone call."

"From who?" Terri asked.

"I don't know," Janet said and gulped again. "But it was eerie. It was a man's voice, but I didn't recognize it. He said that he knew where Rafael was and that if I knew what was good for me, I would stay far away from Thomas. And then he hung up."

"See, I knew it!" Jack exclaimed, jumping up from the sofa. "I knew working for Magnum would get you into trouble. Now, do you see why I was concerned?"

"Wait a minute, Jack," Terri said, rising from her seat. "Don't you think it's weird that whatever is going on is tied to both Magnum and Pineda?"

"No, not really," Jack said, knowing he was being stubborn about seeing another side to the situation but not really caring. "Janet is getting threatening phone calls, and the person mentioned Thomas, not Pineda. That tells me all I need to know."

Janet was about to respond on her own behalf when the phone rang. Startled at the jangling noise, she jumped and then motioned for Jack or Terri to answer it. Terri reached the phone before Jack could. She was surprised to hear Thomas' voice coming through the line.

"Hi, Terri. I wonder if I could speak to Janet, please?"

"Sure. She's right here."

Terri handed the receiver to Janet and mouthed that it was Thomas.

"Hello," Janet said, her voice a bit unsteady.

"Hi, Janet. It's Thomas. Since I know you've been wondering about your co-worker Rafael, I thought I would update you. Did Terri tell you about us meeting at the hospital with Mr. Pineda?"

"Yes. She was just telling Jack and me about it. Thomas, I need to tell you about something that happened when I got home."

"What happened?"

"I got a very weird phone call. It was a man's voice, but I didn't recognize it. He told me that he knew where Rafael was and that if I didn't want the same thing to happen to me, I needed to stay far away from you. I have to tell you it really scared me."

"Did you call the police?"

"No. Should I? I wasn't really sure what to do. I wanted to believe the phone call was a prank, but I realize now, it wasn't."

"I'm working for your boss, Carlos Pineda. I helped to put this gang's leader in prison a few years ago. Apparently, he was killed, and now the gang is getting together again and they are out for revenge. Carlos knew about the killing. That's why he was on the Big Island, trying to get some information that he thought could help protect his son. But he was too late."

"How is Rafael involved?"

"Apparently, he overheard a conversation during those earlier years. According to what Carlos said, some of the gang members think he has a friend in prison that he talked to who set up Ernesto's killing."

"Ernesto was the leader?" Janet asked, her head spinning.

"Yes."

"Why would someone call me?"

"I guess whoever it was who called knows you're working for me and thinks you know something or that you have ties to Mr. Pineda and/or Rafael because you work at the flower stands he owns. That's the only thing I can think of."

"Should I call the police?" Janet asked, her legs becoming wobbly as the seriousness of the situation began to sink in.

"Let me talk to Carlos and tell him what happened to you. Right now, there's not much for the police to go on."

"Okay. I'll wait to hear from you."

"Janet, you have to answer me honestly."

"All right. About what?"

"Do you feel safe in your home?"

Janet's eyes darted from Jack to Terri and back to the wall she had been staring at throughout their conversation.

"I'm not sure," she admitted, almost whispering into the phone.

"Why?" Thomas pressed.

"I can't be certain," she quickly pointed out, "but I think when I left your place, someone was following me home."

She heard Thomas' frustrated sigh on the other end of the line.

"I need to talk to Pineda, but I have a question for you," he said.

"Okay."

"How would you feel about staying here, in the main house of the estate, until I can find out for certain what is going on?"

Janet looked at her two friends who seemed just as worried as she was.

"I-I don't know, Thomas. I'll have to think about it."

"You do that while I make a couple of phone calls. I'll be in touch. Okay?"

"Sure. Thanks. Talk to you soon."

"What did he say?" Jack demanded, as soon as Janet replaced the receiver.

"Well," she said, clearing her throat. "He said he's working for Mr. Pineda to try to figure out what the gang is up to."

"And what happens to you in the meantime?" Jack asked.

"He said he needs to talk to Mr. Pineda, but he...he asked me if I would consider moving into the main house of the estate until this situation has been resolved."

"No way," Jack said, vehemently shaking his head. "I won't let you, Janet. What is that man thinking? Moving you into the estate is like giving these guys an open invitation to get you. They obviously already know you're working for the man. Talk about leading you to the slaughter. I won't let you do it, Janet. I won't."

"So, what happens to her, Jack?" Terri asked. "How does Janet keep herself safe? At least there's security at Robin's Nest."

"I can keep her safe," Jack said, with more bravado than he felt. "I don't want you living on that estate, Janet. It's too dangerous. If you need a bodyguard, then I'm the one who will protect you. And, unlike Magnum, I won't let anything happen to you. I will keep you safe."

"Jack, it's great you want to protect Janet, but what if this situation isn't resolved before you have to leave? What then?"

"I'll worry about that if and when it happens."

"You can't think like that," Terri protested. "Janet's welfare is at stake here. If you say you're going to protect her, then you have to have a plan. A long-range plan."

"She's right, Jack," Janet finally spoke. "You can't give up the reason you came here. You have conferences to attend and cooking shows to do at the hotel. Robin's Nest does have an excellent security system. Jonathan Higgins, the man who runs the place, gave me a tour when I first started working there. He wanted me to know that if I did something wrong, I would set off the alarm system. Luckily, Zeus and Apollo, his trained dogs, like me."

"So, you want to go to the estate? Is that what you're saying?" Jack asked.

Janet moved closer to Jack and rubbed the palms of her hands along his forearms as if to soften her words. "What I'm saying is that I want to be safe. I'm scared, Jack. I'm really afraid."

He saw the tears she tried so hard not to shed welling up in her eyes.

"Aww, Janet, don't do that. Please don't cry. It's going to be all right."

"No one can guarantee me that, Jack. No one."

"You're right, of course," he said, drawing her into his arms and holding her close to his solid chest, "but you know I had to try."

"Hold me," she said, as a tear slipped unchecked down her cheek. "Let me pretend,for just a few precious minutes, that none of this has happened. Okay?"

Jack gently stroked the back of her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Take all the time you need."

Terri smiled as she tiptoed into the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea. She hated what Janet was going through, but she thought of one possible bright spot. If Janet agreed to move to the estate, maybe all three of them would get to spend a few days at Robin's Nest.

Janet's bodyguard, a well-built, stocky man with blonde hair and probing green eyes, watched them discreetly from a safe distance while the dogs patrolled the area at Jonathan Higgins' command.

"It hasn't been that bad," Jack answered. "We've attended a luau, Thomas was able to get us an up close and personal tour of Pearl Harbor, and I can say I've been on Waikiki Beach. I'm doing fine. It's you I'm worried about."

"I wish I could be working or at least be more helpful in figuring out what's going on."

"Does Magnum talk about the case with you at all?"

"Not really. He says there's not much to report. According to what Mr. Pineda told him, there's not much action on the Big Island and now that Rafael is in protective custody, they don't know what the gang's next move might be."

Jack stopped walking and looked around at the impressive acreage.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say Robin Masters, the elusive novelist, arranged all this himself. I've leafed through a couple of his books since we've been here. This scenario sounds exactly like something he would write about."

"I wish this were fiction," Janet said and let out a heavy sigh. "Or a dream where I could wake up and know my life was still normal."

"Have you thought about what you are going to do once this nightmare is over?"

Janet shook her head. "I can't think about anything until this nightmare is over, Jack. How do I know how things are going to end? There may be nothing for me to plan for."

Jack placed the palms of his hands on either of Janet's slender shoulders and forced her to look at him.

"Don't ever say that. Don't even think that. Of course, there will be a future for you to plan for once this is over."

"You don't know that, Jack," she said, letting her utmost fear surface in the presence of her trusted friend.

Weary from trying to shrug off the feeling of impending doom and acting as though this was an every day occurrence, Janet let her guard down. She knew she had to release some of her worry before it totally consumed her and left her emotionally and mentally paralyzed.

"If you're really that afraid," Jack said, deciding to take the opportunity he had been given and voice an idea he had been toying with, "then why don't you leave Oahu and return to LA with me?"

"What if they follow us to LA?"

"Would it really be worth it to them? It seems to me they want Magnum and Pineda's son and maybe Pineda himself. If you were to remove yourself from any connection to them, wouldn't they leave you alone?"

Janet shrugged tiredly and Jack saw the effect this whole ordeal was having on her.

"Can we be sure?" was her reply.

No, Jack silently agreed and mentally kicked himself. At this point, none of them could be sure about anything.

Returning from work, Terri entered the main house and when she didn't find Janet or Jack, she headed for the guest house, thinking they might be with Thomas. She knocked on the door; Thomas let her in.

"Hi," she said and smiled as Thomas ushered her into the house.

She made her way down the stairs, mentioning that she hadn't seen Jack and Janet.

"They went for a walk on the grounds," Thomas said.

"I hope they're being guarded."

"They are. The dogs are on patrol, and Frank is watching them from a close distance."

"Good."

"You must have been in a hurry to find them," Thomas observed, noting the fact she was still wearing her nurse's uniform. "You haven't even changed your clothes."

Terri looked down at her crisp white uniform and nodded.

"I guess I'm more nervous about this whole situation than I care to admit. I don't know. The house seemed eerie when I entered it and didn't find Jack or Janet. I know I'm being silly, but..."

"I don't think you're being silly at all," Thomas assured her. "It's obvious how much you care about your friends. Why don't you make yourself comfortable while I get us something to drink?"

"Okay."

Terri sat on the sofa and couldn't help but to observe Thomas as he poured each of them a glass of soda. The shorts he wore revealed his tanned muscular legs. She had seen him running on the beach and swimming in the tidal pool so she knew just how strong those legs were. Not to mention the rest of him. When her thoughts began to go in a direction she knew she couldn't allow them to, she quickly averted her gaze. Looking down, she noticed a photograph on the coffee table of a smiling Thomas holding a young girl in his arms.

After he had made himself comfortable next to her and handed Terri her drink, she decided to ask him about the picture.

"I couldn't help but to notice that photo," she said, pointing to it. "You look very happy there. Is the little girl a friend or relative of yours?"

Thomas picked up the photo which always brought a smile to his lips.

"This is my daughter Lily."

Terri almost spilled her drink. His daughter? But how? When? And where was she?

"Is she here?" Terri finally asked, once she had regained some of her composure.

"No," he answered, his voice suddenly filled with sadness. "They're trying to make me believe she's dead, but I know she's alive. It's just a matter of time before I'm able to put the pieces together and bring her home where she belongs."

"Who's trying to make you believe she's dead?"

Thomas returned the picture to the table and looked at Terri long and hard as if studying her.

"It's way too complicated to talk about," he said.

He saw the way Terri lowered her eyes and realized he had been too abrupt with her. He quickly tried to remedy the situation.

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it," he hastened to add.

Terri rose from the sofa.

"No, it's okay. It's none of my business, actually. I realize we hardly know each other. I shouldn't have expected you to just spill the details of what is obviously a very private and serious subject. I'm sorry."

Thomas placed his glass on the table and rose to stand across from Terri.

"Hey," he said, tipping her chin with his index finger, "please don't apologize. I shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss your concern. It's just that...well, it's not something I talk about much. Other than TC and Rick, no one knows the whole story. Not even Higgins, although he knows some of it."

"I understand. Rick and TC are your best friends. You guys have been through everything together. I shouldn't have pried. It wasn't my place. Forget I said anything. Okay?"

"No," Thomas said, continuing to gaze at Terri's attractive and concerned face. "I won't forget it. I don't want to forget it. I see how you care for your friends, too. In that regard, I think we have a lot in common, and I think we have some of the best friends in the world."

"I know I do," Terri admitted freely.

"I do, too," Thomas said, his voice lower than it had been. "And I know you can't take that for granted. It's true I'm searching for my daughter, but I also have a responsibility to your friends. I want this to be over, so Janet can be safe again."

Terri nodded. "I know you're doing everything you can."

After an awkward few moments had passed, Terri headed for the staircase.

"I should go," she said. "Like you said, I didn't even change out of my work clothes."

With an unreadable expression on his face, Thomas watched Terri ascend the stairs. When she reached the top landing, he looked up and spoke to her.

"When it's not so crazy," he said, thinking she would be someone he could easily confide in, "maybe we can talk. If you still want to, that is."

She nodded and left him with a smile.

Oh, she would want to, she thought, as she headed back to the main house. She would definitely want to.

Jack and Janet sat on a bench near the tidal pool and watched the waves as they crashed against the shore.

"What do you think?" Jack finally asked. "Should we mention my idea to Magnum?"

"I guess we could," Janet said, not sounding very convincing.

"But from the tone of your voice, you don't want to," Jack guessed.

Janet rose from her seat and stared out at the vast blue ocean that looked so serene.

"What will there be for me in LA?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her. "I've started a new life here. Or, at least, I've tried to."

"You would have me," Jack said, throwing out the comment to see what Janet's reaction would be.

She turned and offered her best friend a small smile, which he gladly returned.

"That's so sweet," she said, touched by his words which offered him a glimmer of hope, "but I'd have to make it on my own, Jack. The way I've been trying to do here. There are just some things I know I need to do for myself."

"Of course, you would make it on your own," he agreed. "I know you're an independent, '80's kind of woman. I would never take that away from you."

"I was just starting to feel like that again, and then this happens."

"So, we get through this, and then you can start living the life you want again."

Janet gave him a doubtful look as he made his way to her.

"Only this time," he said, wanting nothing more than to reach out and hold her, "maybe you'll be starting that new life in California."

Janet continued to look at him but didn't answer as the words "with me" were left unspoken, for the moment, by the man who had come to realize just how much he wanted Janet to return with him to Los Angeles.

"I'm glad we have some time alone," Janet confided.

"Why? What's going on?"

"Jack asked me to return to LA with him last night."

"He did?" Terri said, genuinely surprised. "What did he say?"

Janet looked thoughtful. "Well, he kinda threw the suggestion out there with not much leading up to it, but he said he's serious about me returning with him."

"What if this danger follows you out there?"

"I know," Janet said, setting down her coffee cup. "That's what I said. But what he said sorta makes sense, too. I mean, would they really follow us all the way to LA? For what? It's not like I know anything."

Terri frowned. "I don't think the problem is them following you to LA. I think the worry is would you make it as far as the Honolulu International Airport?"

"Gosh, Terri, I hadn't even thought about that."

"Are you considering returning to LA?"

Janet leaned back in her chair and let the morning sun warm her face.

"I don't know, Terri. I'm so confused. It was on impulse that I decided to join you here, but I have come to truly love this place. Until it all got so ugly. I honestly don't know what to do, and it makes me mad that I'm letting these guys, whoever they are, run my life."

"But you have to be careful, Janet."

"I know, I know. But I'm going stir crazy here, Terri. I need to be doing something. Anything. This waiting to see what happens next is driving me crazy."

"Can't you do more work for Thomas?"

"I've asked him, but he says I'm so efficient that he's now caught up. I heard Jonathan typing yesterday, and I asked him if I could type up his memoirs. But he said he types as he writes, so he doesn't have much in the way of notes. I don't know. Maybe I should go back to LA with Jack. At least, I'd have something else to focus on."

"But would you feel safe, Janet? That's the important thing."

"I don't know. That's the problem, Terri. I don't know anything anymore!"

Sitting across the table, Terri could feel Janet's frustration and wished there was something she could do to help her friend. But short of capturing the members of this gang, she didn't have a clue what she could do to make her friend's predicament any easier.

"Hey, Thomas," he said, moving to stand behind the counter.

"Why did I have to come here so early?" he complained, rubbing his temples.

He hid his eyes behind dark glasses and wore his Detroit Tigers cap on his head.

"Because I have some news for you, pal."

"What kind of news?" Thomas asked, willing the caffeine to kick in so he could concentrate on what his friend was saying.

"It turns out one of the waiters who worked your birthday bash knows the Pinedas."

"Yeah, so?"

"Guess who he saw here that night following Janet and her friends around?"

"Who?"

"Carlos Pineda's brother, Enrique."

"Why would his brother be following Janet around?"

Rick shrugged. "That's the $64,000 question, I guess. But didn't you say that when Rafael overheard something this gang said, he was living with his uncle? Could this be the same guy?"

The caffeine and adrenaline had most definitely kicked in.

"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?"

"What are you gonna do?"

Thomas stood, threw some change on the counter, and straightened his baseball cap.

"Pay a visit to TC. He owes me a helicopter ride to the Big Island, and I'm going to claim it right now."

"Speaking of paying," Rick said, but Thomas was already making a hasty retreat, "didn't you say something about paying your bill in full the next time you were here?"

"Gotta go, Rick. This is a pressing business matter. I'll catch up with you later."

"Thomas!" Rick yelled, but all he got was a wave as he watched Magnum run full speed towards his red Ferrari.

"One of these days," Rick muttered, as he collected the change and threw it into the cash register.

But he couldn't help but to be hopeful that maybe Magnum had gotten his first break in this case and that soon this ordeal would be over for Janet and the others.

"Go get 'em, TM," he whispered, as he wiped the counter and waited for the next customer to appear.

"Maybe it'll relax you a little bit," she coaxed.

Janet doubted it, but she had been spending entirely too much time alone. She enjoyed Terri's company and decided to take her advice.

"Can I ask you a question, Janet?"

"Sure."

"Since you've been working for Thomas, have you gotten to know him very well? I mean, do you guys talk about things other than business?"

"Not too much. We'd been keeping things pretty light as far as our private lives were concerned. Why?"

Terri sat up a little straighter on the chaise lounge and removed her sunglasses.

"Did you know he has a daughter? A very young daughter?"

"No," Janet said, shaking her head. "I had no idea. How do you know this?"

"I was in his house last night. When I got home from work, you and Jack weren't around, and it didn't feel right to me. I thought maybe you were with Thomas. He invited me in, and I saw a really nice photograph of the two of them on his coffee table. Of course, I had to ask. He told me her name is Lily and that some people, but I don't know who, are trying to make him think she's dead. But he said he knows better and that he knows she's alive."

"Wow, that's amazing," Janet said. "I had no idea."

"I wanted him to tell me more, but he said he couldn't. It's like I find out another tidbit about him, and then I can't go any further. It's so frustrating."

Janet smiled at her friend. "You really like him, don't you?"

"Yes," Terri admitted, her voice wistful. "I do. But I'm afraid there's so much I don't know about him that if and when I find out his life story, I'm going to be too overwhelmed to deal with it. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah," Janet said, her voice sounding far away. "I know exactly what you're talking about."

"You're thinking about Phillip now, aren't you?"

"It was just all so strange, Terri. I thought we had so much in common, and then, out of the blue, he accuses me of being jealous because Jack is with Vicky! What kind of sense did that make? If he wanted to get out of marrying me, he should have just said so. I would have respected him a lot more if he had been honest with me instead of putting it on me that I didn't love him and that, deep down, I wanted Jack. Have you heard anything as crazy as that?"

"I have to be honest, Janet. I supported you then when you made your decision to break it off with Phillip, and I want you to know that I will always support you because you are my very best friend, but I can't help but wonder if maybe, on some level, Phillip was right."

"What?" Janet said, looking at Terri as if she'd lost her mind. "You agreed with Phillip?"

"Not totally," she hastened to add. "I think he had some issues of his own, and Jack became a convenient excuse for him, but I think, whether you or Jack realize it or not, there is something between you two. A certain connection the two of you share. And I think, given the right circumstances, there could end up being a lot more than friendship between the two of you."

Immediately upon arriving at Island Hoppers, Thomas began to plead his case for TC to take him to the Big Island.

"I told you I can't today, Thomas. I already have a scheduled flight to Maui."

"So after that, drop me off at the Big Island."

"Oh, just drop you off on Kona? Like I can do that in my spare time? Don't I have to hang around to make sure you get off the island safely?"

Thomas shrugged. "Well, that would be nice, but..."

TC shook his head. "What's so important you have to go to Kona, anyway?"

"Rick got some information about a possible lead regarding the case I've been working on involving Janet."

TC glared at Magnum and shook his head. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?"

He threw down the wrench he had been using to tighten a screw on his helicopter.

"Let me make a phone call. Give me ten minutes."

Thomas gave him a dimpled grin. "Take all the time you need, TC."

"Who wants to know?" was the clipped retort.

Thomas held out his hand, but the man did not shake it. "My name is Thomas Magnum. If you are Enrique Pineda, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

"Like what?" he asked, his voice suspicious as his eyes darted back and forth.

He held the door closer to him as if ready to slam it in the taller's man face if need be.

"Like why are you stalking a very nice lady who's never done anything to you by the name of Janet Wood?"

The door was about to be slammed, but Thomas stopped its progress with his forearm.

"You know who I'm talking about, don't you?" he demanded, his voice rising an octave.

"What's it to you?" the younger man spat out.

"I know there's been some gang-related activity lately in Oahu involving your nephew. What do you know about that?"

"He got careless and now he's paying the price. That's not my problem."

Thomas' hazel eyes narrowed. "What do you mean he got careless?"

The man shrugged. "Careless. Stupid. He wasn't taking care of business."

"What kind of business?"

"If my brother sent you to talk to me, tell him he knows exactly what kind of business I'm talking about."

And then, before Thomas could stop him, he did slam the door in his face.

"It sounds like some kind of family feud to me," TC offered.

"But why the gang involvement? And why did Enrique willingly give me some information? At least, I think he did."

"Maybe Rafael was involved with the gang at one time and was trying to get out."

"I don't think so."

"What's your next move?"

"I think I'm going to talk to Carol Baldwin, the Assistant District Attorney."

"Not Lieutenant Tanaka at the police department?"

"Not yet. I gotta sort this out, TC. Lives are at stake here, and I can't make any more mistakes."

The dogs sat up and barked at her words as if to tell her she had a brilliant idea. Janet thought she did, too. Frank would be watching her, the dogs would be with her, and she would be doing something other than thinking about her ordeal and wondering if she should, in fact, return to California with Jack.

After changing into a T-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes, Janet, with the trained dogs at her side, headed for the tidal pool that connected to the private beach. They were running in the direction of Diamond Head when suddenly she heard a noise in the nearby foilage and saw darts flying through the air heading straight for each dog.

"No!" she screamed, when she realized what was happening.

Frank appeared as if out of nowhere, but he was too late. The dogs had been tranquilized, and two bulky men with beards and menacing dark eyes held a gun on him and Janet.

"Come any closer and you'll regret it, I assure you."

A moment later, a woman with unruly reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes appeared and stood confidently between the two men.

"Where did you come from?" Janet asked, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she tried to catch her breath while willing herself not to have a heart attack at the sheer terror of being held at gunpoint. "Who are you?"

She tried to display some bravado, but she knew she'd failed miserably. Where was Magnum? Higgins? Jack? Who were these people and how did they manage to get on private, secured property?

The woman answered Janet's question as calmly as if she'd asked about the weather. "My name is Melinda Hanson. I'm Carlos Pineda's girlfriend."

Janet eyed her suspiciously, but she knew she had to take her word that she was who she said she was since she had never met Mr. Pineda's girlfriend.

"What are you doing here?" Janet asked, her stomach muscles clenching and unclenching as the men never took their eyes or their guns off of either Janet or Frank.

Janet prayed that the silent alarm had gone off and that help was on the way, but Frank assumed, correctly, that their intruders had somehow found a way to bypass it.

"We're here to take something, or should I say someone, nice and quietly," one of the men beside Melinda informed them, his deadly tone enhanced by an annoyingly ominous laugh.

When the second man made a move towards Janet, she knew, without a doubt, her worst fear had just come true.

"I'll tell you what happened," Jack said, jabbing his index finger into Magnum's chest and getting in his face. "They got Janet and Frank. Great job protecting her. You should get PI of the year for this one."

"Magnum, where were you?" Higgins asked.

"I went to the Big Island on a tip that Rick got. I don't know," he said, raking his hands through his hair, "maybe it was ruse. I'm just not sure. Did anyone see anything?"

"No," Terri said. "None of us was here."

"Exactly the way they wanted it," Jack said in disgust.

"Has there been any communication? Any phone calls, notes, anything?"

Jonathan shook his head. "I'm sorry to say, Magnum, but we've had no word at all. Yet."

With their hands tied behind their backs and their mouths gagged, Janet and Frank were thrown, unceremoniously, into an old abandoned warehouse that looked to be near the piers.

Once they were safely inside, the two men removed their gags but did not untie their hands.

"Why are you doing this?" Janet demanded, trying to show some spunk so they wouldn't think she felt totally defeated.

"You'll be of some use to us," Melinda informed Janet.

"You'll never get away with this," Frank said. "I'm sure the police are combing every inch of this island right now."

"Good," Melinda said. "We'll make their search even more interesting when your friend receives our ransom call."

On Kona, Enrique Pineda met Tyrone, Ernesto's brother, in a discreet location.

"I did what you told me to do. I implicated my brother and my nephew in your sick little scheme."

"Good," he said, "that means you get to live for another day. They nabbed your brother's pretty little assistant. She'll talk soon enough."

"I told you she doesn't know anything."

"We'll see about that. But the main thing is it's only a matter of time before Magnum comes looking for her. And when he does, we'll be ready."

"Magnum, where are you going?" Higgins asked.

"To my place. I need to sort a few things out. Let me know if you hear anything."

Jack started to go after him, but Terri stopped him.

"Please, Jack, I know you're beyond livid, but verbal sparring is not going to help Janet."

Jack nodded and tried to rein in his anger.

"I know. You're right. I'm just so frustrated."

"I am, too. And I'm also scared beyond belief."

"That makes two of us, Terri, because I'm terrified."

"I know you probably won't agree with this, but I'd like to go talk to Thomas. I don't know how much help I can be, but I'd like to try. For Janet's sake."

"If you want to go to him, go."

She gave her friend a half smile and then excused herself from the room.

After she'd gone, Jack looked out the doors onto the dusk that was beginning to settle on Honolulu.

I wish I could go to Janet, he thought, and then offered up a silent prayer for her safety.

"At least they're not keeping us tied up," Janet said to Frank, as they both rubbed their sore wrists.

Melinda had ordered their hands untied a few minutes earlier.

"Yeah, makes me wonder why," Frank said.

"Don't question anything too much," Janet advised. "Let's just be thankful they're being this civil towards us."

"I guess you're right."

Janet slid down to sit on the concrete floor with her back against the wall. She stared at her windowless surroundings and berated herself.

"I should have listened to Jack," she said, speaking softly but out loud.

"That friend of yours from LA?" Frank asked.

Janet looked at him in surprise that he had heard her but then she nodded.

"What was his advice?"

"To go back with him to LA. We should have boarded the first plane. Why did I hesitate?"

"I'm not sure that would have been the wisest thing to do," Frank said, trying to offer her some comfort. "At least with you still being here, the people involved know what's going on. What if this trouble had followed you?"

"And what if it hadn't?" Janet countered. "What if I had been able to make a blissful escape? I don't know anything about anything, so why am I here? I don't get it. But if I had left with Jack, maybe things would have worked out. But now, we'll never know, will we?"

"I wouldn't say that," Frank said. "I really think we're going to come out of this just fine. I have to believe that, and so do you."

Janet nodded, but she knew if Frank felt even half as confident as he sounded, that was still way more confident than she felt. What if she never saw Jack again?

"Is it okay that I'm here?" Terri asked Thomas, when she found him sitting on his sofa with a pen in his hand and a pad of paper on his knee.

"It's fine. Do you have some news?"

"No. I just thought it might help if you had someone to bounce ideas off of. I'm a very good listener."

Magnum gave her a wan smile. "Thanks for the offer. I wish I had some ideas to share."

"Why don't you tell me what your thoughts are? You must have some idea of what you think happened."

"The only thing I think I know for sure is that Enrique Pineda is either involved with this gang or is indebted to them. Very indebted to them, and is doing their dirty work to buy himself some time. For what, I don't know."

"Who do you think kidnapped Janet and Frank?"

"Someone associated with either the gang or Enrique or both. I talked to Carlos. I still don't believe he's involved, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out he is."

Terri nodded. "That's been bugging me, too. This all seems to revolve around him."

"But what's the connection?" Thomas asked, almost to himself. "That's what I can't figure out."

"Do you think he's running some kind of shady operation, and these people think Janet knows something or, worse yet, is involved with him?"

"That thought crossed my mind, but I still don't get the gang connection. Why would they rough up his son?"

"Do you think it was a set up to make us believe someone was after him when maybe he was in on it the whole time?"

"But he accepted police protection. Why?"

"To continue his cover," Terri suggested.

Thomas looked at Terri and gave her a small smile. "Do you read a lot of mystery or detective novels?"

"Maybe one or two," she said and offered him a hopeful smile. "Is any of this making sense?"

"Possibly."

The harsh jangling of the phone startled both of them. Magnum quickly picked up the receiver and said "hello". Within seconds, he knew this was the call they had been waiting for.

"$100,000, Magnum. That's for starters."

"Where and when?"

"Pier 21. Midnight tomorrow. Come alone, Magnum. Or you won't find your lady friend and her so-called bodyguard alive. Got that?"

Clear as crystal, Thomas thought, and then in a moment of uncontrolled anger, he threw the phone against the wall.

"What did they say?" Higgins asked.

"They want $100,000 by midnight tomorrow."

"If you need me to call Robin Masters…" Jonathan began, but Thomas cut him off.

"Thanks, Higgins, but I'm going to see if Carlos Pineda can come through for us. I need to test him, and this may be one way."

"You're playing games with Janet's ransom money?" Jack declared, totally baffled at Magnum's audacity.

"No. But I need to know who is on our side," Thomas tried to explain.

"And what if Pineda's not on our side?" Jack demanded.

"Don't worry, Mr. Tripper," Jonathan assured a visibly shaken Jack. "Mr. Masters will provide the needed funds. Of that, I can assure you."

Jack glared at Magnum. "I'm glad someone around here can assure me of something."

"You," Melinda said, pointing a manicured finger at Janet. "I need to talk to you alone."

Hesitating, Janet looked at Frank and then quickly followed Melinda to another part of the vacant warehouse when she yelled her command.

"What do you want?" Janet asked, trying not to let her fear show.

"I want to know what you told Carlos when you looked at his books."

"His books?" Janet said, confused. "What books?"

"Don't play games with me, missy. You know what books I'm talking about."

"No, I don't. I swear."

"What job do you hold at Carlos' company?"

"I work the flower stands. All over Honolulu. Why?"

Melinda let out an aggravated sigh.

"Son of a…you'd better not be lying to me," she warned.

"I'm not," Janet said, trying to figure out how to convince her captor she was telling the truth. "I promise you I don't know anything about any books. I sell flowers. That's all I do."

"Get back over there and don't talk. You're giving me a headache."

Noiselessly, Janet returned to sit next to Frank. Neither spoke, but Janet's mind went into overdrive. Books. Looking at books. Did Melinda think she had access to the accounting books belonging to Pineda's business? But why would she think that? And if she did, what did she think Janet would have discovered if she had reviewed them?

"She knows nothing," Melinda ground out to her two henchmen. "She knows less than nothing. What a waste. If Enrique is behind this, he is going to pay. Enough is enough."

"You're in as deeply as he is," one of the men pointed out.

"Shut up, okay," she said, rubbing her temples. "I'm trying to stay one step ahead of Carlos' no-good brother. Give me some space. And be quiet. You're all giving me a migraine."

"Thank you for coming, Carlos," Thomas said, as he ushered the man into the den.

"Of course. I'm so sorry to hear about Janet. I don't understand who would kidnap her."

Jack had a hard time standing still. He wanted to interrogate the man, but he knew he had to let the others handle this delicate situation.

"We're trying to figure that out ourselves," Jonathan offered.

"We received a ransom call," Thomas said. "The person demanded $100,000 for starters. I need to have it by midnight tomorrow. Any way you can come up with the money?"

Pineda hesitated only a moment. "It will take me some time, but I think I can manage that amount. I'll be in touch."

Once he had left, Jack pounced on Magnum. "So, what's the next move? What do we do now?"

"Hope that Carlos is a good guy who will come through for us."

"And that's it? You gotta be kidding me!"

"No, I'm not, Jack," Thomas said, looking deadly serious as he answered him. "I need to run a few errands. I'll be back soon."

Higgins nodded. "Very well, Magnum. I'll take care of things here."

Jack shook his head at what he perceived to be a cavalier attitude on Magnum's part. Jonathan gave him a look that said they would talk. Later.

Terri followed Thomas.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked. "I'd like to come with you. If you'll let me."

Thomas gave her a small smile. "I admire your spirit and your willingness," he told her sincerely. "But I need to do this alone. You're much safer here. Keep an eye on Jack. He needs a friend right now, and I need to get out of his way before he totally explodes."

She nodded and assured Magnum she would stay at the estate. He gave her cheek a quick caress which set her spine to tingling and thentold her he would see her soon. He turned to leave, but a warm, gentle hand on his forearm stopped his progress.

"Be careful, Thomas. Please."

"I will be," he told her and then headed for the guest house.

"That man is a total incompetent," Jack shrieked at Jonathan, once they were alone. "How does he manage to stay in business?"

"No, he's not," Higgins said, offering up a decanter of brandy which Jack declined. "As much as I like to say he is, the truth is he's not incompetent at all."

"Well, you couldn't tell it by this case," Jack said, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Sit down, Mr. Tripper. Let's chat for a bit, shall we?"

"What's there to chat about?" Jack asked, as he sat in a winged back chair across from Higgins, and then apologized for his rudeness.

"It's quite all right. I understand you're upset."

"Of course I'm upset," he said. "Wouldn't you be if your best friend had been kidnapped and you had no idea why?"

Jonathan nodded after taking a swallow of his brandy. "Indeed I would be. I would be even more upset if the woman meant more to me than a friend."

Jack, who had clasped his hands together and had placed his arms on his jean-clad legs, stared at the older man with the proper British accent. "What are you talking about?"

"Janet, of course."

"Mr. Higgins…"

"Please, call me Jonathan."

"Okay. Jonathan. Janet and I are very good friends and have been for a long time. Actually, we're best friends, even though we no longer live in the same state."

Jonathan gave Jack a small grin and a knowing wink as he sloshed the amber liquid in the tumbler. "I've seen people who are worried about their best friends, and yes, they are usually quite upset. But you look ready to jump out of your skin. You can't sit or stand still. You look like a man who has just lost the love of his life, Mr. Tripper. And quite frankly, there's nothing you can say to convince me otherwise."

Jack stood at Jonathan's words. "Love of my life? No, that's not true, Mr. Hi…Jonathan. Yes, I care about Janet. A lot. I don't want any harm to come to her. But the love of my life? That's not the kind of relationship we have."

"Mr. Tripper…"

"If I'm going to call you Jonathan, then you should call me Jack."

"Okay, Jack. Let me just say that one does not have to be in a certain kind of a relationship to have deep feelings for someone. The feelings are there, whether one chooses to acknowledge them or not."

Jack paced the room while rubbing his hands together. "I just…I've had a bad feeling about this since Janet told me about the phone call. I told her I wanted her to return to LA with me. Seeing her again made me realize how much I've missed her, but I couldn't say I was honestly ready to begin a serious relationship with her. I just knew I wanted to keep her safe."

"Of course, you did," Jonathan said, now standing next to Jack. "That's what one always wants to do when one is in love."

"He's inside," Rick said to Thomas when he arrived at his friend's private office at the Club.

"Thanks," Thomas said and then entered the room.

"Look, man," the waiter who had given the tip to Rick said, as soon as Magnum entered the room, "I didn't make up that story. Enrique was following your friends around the night of your party. Why, I don't know, but he was."

"And what made you decide to come forward when you did?"

The young man shrugged. "She seemed like a nice lady that night. I felt bad when I heard she had been threatened."

Thomas' gaze narrowed. "Who told you Janet had been threatened?"

The waiter had the decency to look embarrassed. "I overheard you guys talking about it. At first, I didn't think anything about it, but then I remembered seeing that guy here. So, I decided to tell Rick."

"And how did you know the guy was Pineda's brother?"

"Hey, man, I know Rafael. He introduced me to his uncle a couple of times. I knew it was him."

"For your sake," Thomas said, "you'd better be telling me the truth."

After assuring him he wasn't lying, the waiter hastily left the office. Rick walked in moments later followed by TC.

"Anything?" Rick asked.

"Not really," Thomas said and sighed.

He straightened his baseball cap as he tried to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Anything we can do, TM?" TC asked.

"Thanks, guys, but I don't think so. At least not now. I'm going for a drive. Maybe it will clear my head. I'll be in touch."

When Magnum's drive didn't produce any results, he returned to the estate but not the house. He wasn't ready to face the questioning eyes he knew he would rightfully encounter. Especially from Jack. Instead, he walked to where the kidnapping had taken place, wondering if he'd somehow missed a clue. Night had fallen, but the full moon provided enough light for him to look around. Halfway down the tidal pool, he found a bracelet lying in the sand as if waiting for him to finally find it. He picked it up and inspected it. The stones looked real, but he was no expert in that field.

Janet's? He couldn't be sure, but he didn't think he'd ever seen her wearing a bracelet, much less one with diamonds and rubies. Had an honest-to-goodness clue finally come his way?

Clutching the bracelet inside the palm of his large hand, he raced back to the main house, eager to ask Terri or Jack if they recognized the jewelry. He found them both with Higgins in the den.

"I found this on the sand near the tidal pool," he said without preamble. "Do any of you recognize it?"

"I don't," Jack said immediately.

Terri looked at it, whistled and shook her head. "I don't either, but I wouldn't mind owning something like that."

"What about you, Higgins? Can you think of anyone who's been here lately who might have lost this bracelet?"

Jonathan shook his head. "No. Unless you've been entertaining…"

"I haven't," Thomas said quickly, and then smiled apologetically at Terri when he noticed her looking at him curiously.

"Then I would have to say it doesn't belong to anyone we could identify," Jonathan concluded.

"So, does this mean the kidnapper is a woman?" Jack asked, incredulous.

"Possibly. Or a lady was present for some reason when the kidnapping took place."

"You need to take that to the police," Jonathan said.

"I know," Thomas said, continuing to hold the bracelet in his hands as if willing it to talk to him. To tell him the missing pieces he hadn't been able to yet identify.

The buzzer sounded; Jonathan asked who was at the security gate. When Carlos Pineda identified himself, Jonathan allowed him entry and then waited for him at the front door.

"I need to talk to Magnum," he said.

"Of course. Right in here, Mr. Pineda."

As soon as Carlos entered the room, his dark eyes were drawn to the bracelet Magnum was holding up for inspection.

"Where did you get that?" Carlos asked.

"I found it on the sand by the tidal pool," Thomas said.

"But that can't be," Carlos said, his legs growing weak as he thought about what this discovery could mean.

"Why not?" Jack asked, watching Carlos very carefully and noticing the change in his pallor.

"That bracelet. That belongs to my girlfriend. I gave it to her for her birthday. There's no way you found that piece of jewelry here. No way at all!"

"No," Carlos admitted. "I haven't seen her today."

"C'mon," Magnum said. "We're going to the police."

But before they could leave, the buzzer sounded from the front gate. Higgins answered it.

"It's Lt. Tanaka," he informed the group. "He'll be here in a moment."

"Good evening," he said, nodding towards the occupants of the den as entered with two of his men. "I have something I think all of you will be very interested in. Especially you, Mr. Pineda."

"What is it?" Thomas asked anxiously, as Jack hovered nearby wanting to know, too.

"Does this look familiar to anyone, maybe you, Mr. Pineda?"

He held up a sketch that had been done by the police department.

"What does it mean?" Carlos asked, a sickening feeling taking over the pit of his stomach.

"A witness came forward earlier tonight," Tanaka informed them. "Said he saw some unusual activity in a warehouse near the piers. Identified this woman. Would you care to confirm her identity, Mr. Pineda?"

Carlos knew he had no choice but to come forward. "That looks like my girlfriend Melinda," he admitted.

"What are we waiting for?" Jack said. "Let's get to the piers."

"Excuse me," Tanaka said, turning his attention to Jack. "But none of you," he continued, his focus now strictly on Thomas, "is going to the piers. Do you understand that? This is a police matter, and the police will handle it. Got that, Magnum?"

Thomas nodded and handed over the bracelet to one of Tanaka's men.

"I just found this by the tidal pool. Carlos pretty much admitted it belongs to his girlfriend."

"Wonderful," Tanaka said, and told his man to seal it as evidence. "Never hurts to have as much evidence as you can. Mr. Pineda, you're coming with me for questioning. I'll be in touch."

After the lieutenant left, Magnum excused himself.

"I'm glad the police are handling this now," Jack said. "They'll find Janet, right?"

"They seem to be on the right track," Higgins admitted. "I guess we'll wait to hear further word."

"Is this really like Thomas, though?" Terri had to ask. "I mean, I know the lieutenant told him to stay out of it, but is that what usually happens? Wouldn't he still want to be involved? Insist on going to the police station or something?"

"You're quite right, Ms. Alden. It's not like Magnum at all to give in so easily. Perhaps I should go check on him."

"If you wouldn't mind," Terri said, looking cautiously at Jack, "I'd like to go find him. Is that okay?"

"Just be careful, Terri," Jack said. "Be extremely careful."

"I will, Jack. I won't risk any harm. I promise."

She gave Jack a peck on his cheek, smiled at Jonathan, and then went in search of Thomas.

Janet willed herself not to go to sleep, but despite her anxiety, she felt her eyelids growing heavy. It was so dark in the warehouse and quiet. Almost too quiet. The next thing she knew she was dreaming of Jack. It was a wonderful dream. They were enjoying a fun-filled day on Waikiki Beach. They were talking and laughing and about to share an intimate moment when the sound of gunfire erupted right in the middle of her lovely dream.

She awoke with a start and tried not to scream. The dream had seemed so real. She stood up and listened for sounds, any sounds, but none was heard. She looked over at Frank who had finally given in to sleep, too, and then she settled herself closer to him. Knowing someone had to be watching them, she tried to focus on the first part of the dream when everything was still all right in her life so she wouldn't freak out about what was happening now.

Thinking about being with Jack on the beach brought back the memory of the conversation she'd had with Terri that morning. Had it really only been a few hours ago? She felt as though a lifetime had passed, and yet, she knew, in reality, not that many hours had gone by and that there was an excellent chance they would be rescued soon. Janet clung to that hope as she replayed the morning conversation in her mind.

She remembered she had wanted to make one thing perfectly clear to Terri. She had not been jealous of Vicky and Jack. When she and Jack had talked after Phillip had proposed, she realized that life as she had known it was about to change, drastically, so maybe she felt a little melancholy for the things that would no longer be, but she was also excited as she planned for her new life with Phillip. That is, until he began acting stranger and stranger, and she couldn't figure out why until he accused her of having feelings for Jack.

His cruel words had stung and hurt her. She felt as though the man she had planned to spend the rest of her life with didn't even know her. And that she didn't know him. When she suggested they spend some time apart to reexamine their future, he took that as a sign that he had been right and that she didn't want to commit herself to him.

Turning to Jack during that time had been the last thing she'd wanted to do, but he knew her so well that it was only a matter of time before he learned the truth from her. Yes, she leaned on him, but there was never anything more between them. She respected his relationship with Vicky.

Until she saw how much his break-up with Vicky had hurt him. They had been there for each other, both nursing their wounds, and that was when she realized that maybe something could develop between them, but she didn't want that. It would be a rebound relationship, and she felt she would never know for sure if what they had felt for each other was true love or if one or both of them would just be buying time until someone better came along. She couldn't risk that. She wouldn't risk that. Jack meant too much to her. She never wanted to lose his friendship.

And that's why, when Terri had invited her to join her in Hawaii, Janet jumped at the chance. She saw it as a chance to start over with a clean slate. Leaving Jack behind in LA had been one of the most difficult things she'd ever had to do, but she knew they would both be better off in the long run.

She believed that, too, until he showed up in Hawaii this week. As much as she tried to deny it, something stirred inside her when she saw him at the airport and when she spent time with him. She wanted to believe he was feeling it, too, but she couldn't be sure. Until he offered to take her back to LA with him. Oh, how she'd wanted to explore his motives for that idea in more detail, but she was too afraid to find out why he had mentioned it. The fact they were in the middle of a crisis didn't help matters either. But now, she knew if he offered again, she would go back to LA with him. She only hoped she got the chance to tell him that.

Terri found Thomas holding a flashlight and hunting through the shrubbery and the sand near the tidal pool.

"Looking for more clues?" she asked.

He jumped at the sound of her voice and then straightened to his full 6'4" height.

"Yes."

"Any luck?"

"No."

"Why do I think you're using this as a way to keep your mind off of what is going on at police headquarters?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you want to be there, Thomas? Don't you want to know what Carlos may be telling the police?"

"Tanaka will tell me," he said, sitting down on the concrete ledge that surrounded the water.

Terri sat next to him.

"And what about the piers?" she pressed.

Thomas looked at her. "What about them?"

"Don't you want to go stake out the place? Find out for yourself what may be going on there?"

"Why are you so anxious to have me go against police orders?"

"Because I can't believe you're now going to sit back and do nothing."

"What would you like me to do?" he asked.

"Aren't there still missing pieces? Things the police don't know about. Things you could and should be following up on?"

Thomas shrugged. "Depends on what they find out from Carlos."

"That's another thing," Terri said. "Now that the police are questioning him, how does he get the ransom money you need?"

"With the police closing in on whoever did this, I don't think the ransom money will be needed."

"So, you think Janet and Frank are going to be rescued."

Thomas nodded and looked out towards the sloshing dark water. "Yes, I do."

"So you've washed your hands of this case?"

"I wouldn't say that. I'll be of whatever help I can be, but you have to admit, Terri, this hasn't been my best case."

"That's what I'm talking about. I realize I don't know you very well, but I can't imagine that you just give up like this every time the police get involved. They probably get involved in most of your cases, don't they? Or vice versa?"

"Sometimes," he admitted. "It depends on what's going on."

"Why are you so willingly throwing this one away, especially when it involves someone you know, and I thought, you liked."

"I do like Janet," Thomas said, rising from the ledge. "I like her a lot. I think she's a wonderful lady."

"Then help her, Thomas. This case isn't over yet."

She rose from the concrete to face him.

Thomas shrugged his shoulders. "What do you want me to do? I have no other leads."

"Are you sure about that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Based on what the police said, you know there is at least one witness who saw something at the piers. I can't believe you don't want to talk to this person. I can't believe you're not combing the warehouses in that area instead of looking for something you know you're not going to find here."

Terri's words hit too close to home for Magnum. He had been willing to let the police handle everything. He was almost relieved when Tanaka ordered him to stay away from the warehouses in front of everyone. Was he losing his nerve? If he was no longer willing to take a risk, then he knew he had to get out of the PI business. Janet was still being held captive, and he wasn't doing anything to try to help her.

"Talk to me, Thomas," Terri said, placing her hand on his left shoulder. "What is really going on?"

Thomas turned and looked at her. "I can't believe you know me this well. Maybe it has something to do with that nurse's uniform you wear. Nurses are supposed to be able to read the human condition and respond to their needs, right?"

"In some ways, that's very true," she admitted.

He sat back down on the concrete slab and looked down at his hands. "Michelle, my late wife, was a nurse."

Terri sat down next to him and kept her hand on his shoulder.

"Late wife?"

He nodded. "I do believe she is dead, but I don't believe they killed my daughter, too. Everything in me tells me she got away. But where she is, I have no idea. I've really been trying to concentrate on Janet, but my focus is split. Every time my phone rings, I think it's going to be someone with news about Lily. I haven't been able to give 100, and I know that's wrong. Jack is right. I should have left this case alone and let someone else handle it."

"Jack is out of his mind with worry about Janet. He cares about her so much, but that doesn't mean he's right about you."

Nervously, Thomas stood again. Terri followed.

"Normally, I can put the pieces together, but my mind is so frazzled that I'm sure there's a hint of what the answer is right in front of me, only I can't see it because I'm not focusing."

"It's okay, Thomas," Terri said, trying to be supportive, "you don't have to do this all by yourself. We can all help, but not unless you're in the game."

"There has been something that keeps coming back to me. Maybe I will go check it out."

Terri smiled. "Can I come, too?"

He placed his hands on her upper arms and gave hera tender but serious look. "I'd prefer it if you stayed here."

"I know," she said. "But I had to try."

"You're very good for me," he told her sincerely. "Let's get you back to the house safely, and then I'm on my way to check something out."

They walked in companionable silence back to the main house. Once Terri had entered the den, Thomas thanked her for the pep talk and told her he would be back soon.

"Thomas," Terri said, before he had left her side.

"Yes?"

"I said I wanted you back in the game, but I want one thing understood."

"What's that?" he said, the corners of his mouth starting to turn upward into a smile.

"I don't want you playing hurt. Got that?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, giving her a mock salute. "Don't worry. I never go against a nurse's wishes. I know how much you nurses can hurt a guy."

Terri tried to laugh off his comment, but she wondered just how much Thomas had been hurt and if, at some point, he might allow her to help take that hurt away.

Perched on the edge of the desk, Thomas waited for him to enter.

"Yes, it's me. I thought of a few more questions I'd like to ask."

"Such as?" Tony said, taking a seat in a guest chair.

"For starters, when we talked earlier, you mentioned that you came forward because you heard Rick and me talking about Janet being threatened and you said you liked her."

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, here's the funny thing. I don't remember talking to Rick about this on Club premises."

Tony looked from Thomas to Rick and back to Thomas while laughing nervously.

"Sure, you did. How else would I have known? You must have forgotten with everything that's going on."

"No," Thomas said, shaking his head. "I think I would have remembered that particular conversation, but just in case I am losing it, let's ask Rick, shall we?"

Rick jumped right in. "You know, Thomas, you're right. We didn't have a conversation here about Janet where Tony could have overheard."

"I find that so interesting," Thomas said. "So, who told you about Janet being threatened, Tony, and this time, I want the truth."

The young man squirmed in his chair. He thought about bolting, but he knew Thomas and Rick would grab him before he even made it out of the chair. Damn, why had he messed up his story when all he'd really wanted to do was try to help his friend Rafael.

"I'm waiting," Thomas said, growing agitated.

"Okay, okay. Rafael told me his uncle was going to threaten Janet. He wanted to tell his father, but he was afraid to."

"Why was Enrique going to threaten Janet?"

"Apparently, he found out that his brother planned to promote Janet. He thought she was doing an excellent job and considered her one of his best, if not the best, workers he had. He found out from her that she had taken care of some accounting ledgers when she worked for a flower shop in LA. Apparently, he had decided to ask her if she would be interested in taking on that role for his company."

"So, what was Enrique doing with the books that he didn't want Janet and Carlos to find out about?"

Tony shuffled his feet and looked down at the carpeted floor. "Rafael said his uncle was stealing from the company. He was afraid Janet would find the discrepancy if she inspected the books. He only wanted to frighten her, Mr. Magnum, so she wouldn't take the job when Rafael's dad offered it to her. He wasn't going to hurt her."

"So you say. And was Rafael helping him?" Thomas pressed.

Tony barely nodded. "Sort of. But it wasn't like that, Mr. Magnum," he added, looking at the private investigator with fear in his eyes. "He felt indebted to his uncle. He didn't want to steal from his father, but he was caught in the middle."

"And the gang beat him up because his uncle was late with a payment?" Thomas guessed.

"The gang thought Rafael had sold his uncle out. They thought he'd gone to his father and told him what his uncle was doing. But he hadn't. He wouldn't."

"But then when he was attacked, he decided to make them think they were right by accepting police custody."

"He's scared, Mr. Magnum. He didn't know what to do."

"And the gang thought they were losing their money-making machine."

Tony nodded.

"How is Carlos' girlfriend involved?"

Tony's almost black eyes darted from Thomas to Rick and back to Thomas. "Am I going to get any kind of protection for being a snitch?"

Thomas looked at Rick. "Call Tanaka. Tell him there's someone here he'll be very interested in talking to. You'll be taken care of," Thomas said, "if everything you're saying checks out. Now, tell me about Melinda."

"Well, when one of the gang members, I swear I don't know who, found out about Rafael selling out his uncle, he went to Melinda and put pressure on her. She was supposed to make sure Janet was temporarily detained and so scared she would never go near Mr. Pineda's business again. And then, Mr. Magnum, they were setting a trap for you."

"One of Tanaka's men is on his way," Rick informed them.

"Great. Keep Tony here until he arrives. If you run, Tony, you're on your own. Got that?"

"Yes, sir."

"One more thing. Where's this gang's hideout?"

Tony's eyes grew wide with fear. "I don't know, Mr. Magnum…"

"Tell me where they hide out, Tony. I'm not playing games."

"But you can't go there. It's too dangerous."

"For the last time, tell me where they are!"

"One of the abandoned warehouses near the piers. I don't know which one. I don't!"

"That's okay," Thomas said, checking to make sure he had his gun secured on his person. "I'll figure it out when I get there."

"Thomas," Rick said.

"I know, I know. I'll be careful."

"No. This is crazy, Terri. This is all so damn crazy."

"I know."

She knelt next to Jack and placed a comforting hand on his knee. "But we have to believe that the police will find that warehouse and find Janet and Frank alive inside of it."

"They have to," Jack said, leaning forward in the chair. "I don't know what I'll do if…I can't say it. I can't even think it."

"Janet is going to be all right. You have to believe that, Jack, and so do I."

Jack looked at Terri's concerned face. "If…when," he quickly corrected himself, "she does make it out of this, do you think she'll return to Los Angeles with me?"

"After this ordeal, I say she'll be the first one in line for the next flight to LA."

"I want her to return with me, Terri. I really do. And not just because of this situation, although this has made my decision a whole lot easier, believe me."

"She knows how you feel, Jack. She knows you want her to return to LA with you. But once she's rescued, you have to give her some space, okay? She's not going to get over this so quickly."

"I'll give her all the time and space she needs," Jack promised. "As long as she comes out of this alive and agrees to let me help her."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow and made a discreet move in that direction.

Thinking it was one of the gang members, he approached cautiously. He saw a door move and headed for it. When his full frame filled the open doorway, a woman let out a startled gasp. The gun was pointed right at her. In a flash, Thomas recognized her as Melinda and knew he had stumbled upon the warehouse where they were holding Janet and Frank. He started to yell for Melinda to give herself up when a shot was fired from behind him. Magnum hit the concrete hard and didn't move.

In the chaos that ensued, Melinda screamed when she saw Thomas lying in a pool of blood and ran from the warehouse. Frank saw it as their chance to escape. He grabbed Janet's hand and they made a run for it, albeit on very shaky legs. They had just made it outside when they ran directly into Tanaka.

"Get in the car!" he yelled at them.

"What about Thomas?" Janet couldn't help but to ask.

The sight of him bleeding as he hit the floor was something she knew she would never forget.

"We've called for help," Tanaka said. "Get in the car."

Moments later, Tanaka's men captured Melinda and her two henchmen and threw them into another squad car.

The police car with Janet and Frank inside was about to drive off when Jack, Terri and Jonathan arrived, having driven at breakneck speed when they'd heard the news.

"We heard there's been a shooting," Jonathan said.

"And a rescue," Jack added, antsy for news about Janet.

"One of the kidnappers shot Magnum," Tanaka said. "But the hostages are safe. They're in that squad car if you want to see them. They need to go to the station and maybe the hospital before I can release them."

Jack and Terri had already taken off before the lieutenant had finished his sentence.

"Janet!" Jack yelled, as he raced toward one of the police cars with Terri following close behind. "Janet!"

"That's Jack," Janet said, reaching for the door handle to let herself out. "I have to see him."

Before anyone could stop her, she was out of the car and literally falling into Jack's strong arms.

Terri saw for herself that Janet was physically okay. She caught her friend's eye, gave her a small smile, and left the two of them to talk. She went in search of Magnum.

"Janet," Jack said, breathing a big sigh of relief even as he was unable to believe he was actually holding her in his arms. "Thank God you're all right. You are all right, aren't you?"

"I'm terrified," she said, burying her head into his solid chest. "Never let me go, Jack. Please. Never let me go."

"I won't," he promised, as he held her closer and tried to calm her shaking body by rubbing her back. He placed his chin on top of her head as he continued to try to still her trembling body. "I swear I'll never leave you."

"I need to go to the police station," she said, when a moment of clarity occurred. "Come with me, Jack. Please come with me."

He pulled her back for only a second to stare at her haggard but still beautiful face. "Try and stop me," he said, and then drew her back into the circle of his arms and held her against him until the police officer told them they had to get into the car.

"Thomas!" she pleaded, kneeling next to him and clasping his semi-cold hand in hers. "Thomas, can you hear me?"

"Terri?" he said, barely able to speak.

"Yes. Thomas, I told you I didn't want you playing hurt."

She tried to smile for him, but she couldn't stop the tears from running down her cheeks. He looked so pale. She knew he was losing a lot of blood.

"Well," he said, struggling but needing to speak, "now you have to take care of me. But don't hurt me, okay?"

"I won't," she said, holding his hand against her warm cheek. "I promise you I won't."

"Janet?" he said, trying to concentrate on what he wanted to say as his voice started to fade. "How is Janet?"

"She's okay," Terri said. "She and Frank are with the police. They made it out alive, Thomas. They're going to be all right."

"Thank God," Thomas said.

"You need to save your strength," she instructed, when she saw the EMTs starting to work on him.

"I need…I need to tell you one more thing," he said, clearly fighting for every breath, every word.

"What?"

"In the drawer…in my room…my nightstand…"

"Yes, Thomas?" she said, trying to stay out of the medics' way but wanting to know what he had to tell her.

"There are…there are a few journ…journals…"

"Okay," she said, wanting to let him know she was hearing him.

"They're for…they're for Lily. If I…if I…if I don't…don't make it, please…Terri…please…give them to my…my daughter…for me…okay?"

The tears continued to spill down Terri's cheeks. "Okay, Thomas. I will. But you're going to be all right. You are."

"One…more…thing?"

"What, sweetie?"

She couldn't help but to use an endearment for him.

"Tell Lily…her father…loved her…very much."

"Oh, Thomas, I will. But you'll be able to tell her yourself because you're going to get better. You are."

"Promise me…you'll…tell her?" he asked.

"I promise," she said, clutching his hand as she caressed it against her cheek.

"Thank…you," he said.

And then he let the peacefulness envelope him as he slipped quietly into an unconscious state.