Mondays' Music Moves Me to a Happy New Year

Hard to believe it is the end of another year, and beginning of another.  Right now I am in one of the most beautiful places I have ever known, Sedona Arizona.  With that being said, here is one of my favorite singers with two pieces, one a classic Christmas song, and second a new years song.

So here is Barry Manilow with Two, songs for the price of one.

This has always been a song I liked, because for many years I lived inside of it, many failed relationships and wishing for second chances.  So here is Dan Fogelberg .

Here's something I never heard before today. this is Abba's Happy New Year/

Day 15 of a 31 day Challenge. Our Choices determine our world.

I can not believe that history keeps repeating itself, however once again children have become targets in both the U.S. and China.

I don't know how many were killed or injured, and in all honesty I don't want to know.  Because it becomes about numbers and not people then.

I have a memory that I would trade in for a few thousand dollars, because I remember way too much and most of it is the painful stuff.

However this incident has triggered me to to think about songs dealing with choices.  So be prepared for some very powerful music and think about how this impacts you.

First up is a cover of Phil Collins song "Another Day in Paradise.  Think about this song when you are walking down the street in your city and are approached by a street person.  Remember this could be you...

The next song was from David Gilmore's Pink Floyd album The Division Bell, that came out in 1994.  It is preceeded by Dr. Carl Sagan and  it too has  you thinking about choices.

Next is a song by Pat Benatar.  This song was from one of her last albums, and was very powerful, as has been the majority of her music.  This was about how sometimes we become abandoned people.  He Used to be Somebodys' Baby.

Clannad had a song called I See Red, which again deals with decisions, what we allow to happen to us.  Do we pay the price and give into the anger or do we find a way to be calm and turn around our lives and those of others.

Back in the mid 1960's Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones recorded a song that at times in my anthem.  It is a song about how anger can blind us and turn our world upside down.  PAINT IT BLACK

I can not think of a better piece to end this with, than THE DOORS, THE END.

So do we have a world where everything is painted black, or do we STOP NOW and change things and make this world be one where our children will know love, hope joy happiness and not have to fear death by a stranger or family member.

It comes down to us.  What we believe and what we do or fail to do.  If we remain in the same mindset, then   things will only continue to get worse.

We can make a difference, we can be sure that no more children die by some mad person, but we have to change how we think and respond and what we teach our children.

Something to think about.

Day 14 of a 31 Day Challenge Call Me Java A Knight In the Studio

Java Monday was still looking at the damage done by the Trans Am that crashed its' way into the precinct and then left just as fast without any damage to it.  The one good thing that had come from the Trans-Am and Michael Knights; visit was they had coffee and doughnuts now.

"Yes, yes, I understand.  Yes, but why haven't you contacted Five-O?  I see, alright, alright I will try and see this gets' passed on.  Yes, yes thank you."

Ima Doughnut hung up the phone and shook his head then looked at his partner, who was still looking at the hole in the wall.

"Hey, Java, you aren't gonna believe this?"

Java Monday looked at his partner and in his deep monotone spoke.

"What, The Lone Ranger just showed up , or was it Batman?"

"No, but almost as strange.  That was a Lippi Akanna Hatoshi.  He was calling to let us know that he has a lead for us concerning the location of Harmon Rabb Jr."

Java was already slightly in shock, because there was no announcement to the press about Rabb.  He walked over to his partners' desk and sat across from him.

"Alright Ima, tell me."

"Mr. Hatoshi was saying he has a direct message for Rabb, that Rabb left it in his studio on Oahu."

"Wait, that call was from Hawaii?"

"Yea, and before you ask Hatoshi said he hasn't been able to reach Five-O so he took a wild shot and called us.  Said he remembered how we had dealt with the Cereal Killer case a few years back, felt we might somehow be involved."

Java Monday now was rubbing his chin with his left hand, he was looking past his partner into thin air.  He stopped rubbing his chin and snapped his fingers.

"I remember Mr. Hatoshi, he was visiting us at the time, a visiting M.E. from Hawaii.  So what did Lippi have to say?"

"He said that Harmon Rabb Jr. had stopped by his studio and left a message, that for the past few days Hatoshi has been trying to contact Five-O and has not been able to get through.  So, he wants' us to get the word out.  Said he has not touched the note and will be available to which ever law enforcement agency gets to his studio first."

Java Monday picked up a phone on his side of the desk and dialed.  He knew who to contact.

"Yes, Miss Street, I need to speak to Mr. Mason, thank you."

Now Ima Doughnut was really getting confused, he had a feeling this was just going to be one of those days.he had wished he had stayed in bed.  He remained silent and listened as his partner spoke to the legendary Perry Mason.

"Hello, Perry, yea this is Java... yea Java Monday.  Listen do you still have contacts either with NCIS or Five-O?"

"Good, listen let Gibbs know that he needs to contact a Lippi Hatoshi on Oahu.  Yea, he has a lead on the Rabb case.  Trust me, I wish I knew why this is being piggy backed, just the way it came in.  Thanks Perry, owe you a dinner.  Later."

"Ah, Java,  the captain wants to ....

At the same moment Perry Mason was sitting in his office, still perplexed by the call he had just received.

"Della, contact Paul Drake, tell him I have a special request of him.  I need for him to fly out to Hawaii.   I need for him to be my eyes there, this Rabb case just took a new direction and I am not about to trust phones to get this message to Gibbs.."

"Alright Perry, but aren't we going to be way out of league in this?"

"Della, that has never stopped us before."

What Perry Mason had said was true enough, in the years he had been a lawyer he had taken on cases that many lawyers would never have touched.  But as he sat behind his desk, he began to wonder if Della Street might not be right this time.  It was too late to worry the fat was in the fire.



Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his team had arrived in Oahu three hours ago and they quickly found themselves in the local NCIS office.

McGee, see what you can find on the local net here. Ziva check to see if anything has come through since we left D.C.  Tony, just stay out of..Trouble.."

Gibbs began to look around, he was trying to find a desk he could work from and it looked like there was only one vacant, way over in the far left corner near the water cooler.  He began to walk across the room toward the desk as another officer blocked his path.

"Well, well well... Leroy Jethro Gibbs, can't believe you are here?  What happened not enough JAG officers for you to persecute back in D.C.?"

Leroy Jethro Gibbs was taken aback by the verbal assault, he had made enemies in the past, but few of them    
were fellow NCIS agents.  He looked at this man, there was something familiar with the face, but at this moment he couldn't tell for sure what it was.

"You'll excuse me, Special Agent?"

The man did not move, his face was filled with unexplained rage and  furry.  His voice contained anger that had been pent up for nearly seven years and now was spewing forth like lava out of a volcano.

"Roberts, Bud Roberts.  I was one of Captain Rabbs' friends and I do not believe the way you nearly ruined Harms life."

Gibbs had forgotten the supporting players in the Harmon Rabb Jr. case from nearly Nine years ago... he remembered the case in general, but it had been minor in what came to follow.  It was irony that now he would run into another JAG officer from that time, and yet he knew it made sense.  This was how the universe worked, at least for him it was.

"Mister Roberts, that was nine years ago, and if you recall I did find evidence that got Rabb off the hook for the death of Lt. Singer.  So you work for NCIS now?"

Bud Roberts was still red faced.

"I am a consiultant for NCIS.  I am trying to help them find my friend."

Gibbs smiled.

"So are we.  So tell me Mr. Roberts, when was the last time you had heard from Mr. Rabb?:"

Suddenly Bud Roberts felt the wind go out of his sails, he began to stumble back, Gibbs quickly moved grabbing the closest chair he could find and put it behind Budd Roberts before he colapsed.

"Yes, whom were you thinking I was here about?"

"I ... I  wasn't sure.  Perhaps General MacKenzie?"

Now it was Gibbs turn to be surprised.

"Explain Mister Roberts?":

"About a week ago, General MacKenzie vanished, she was assisting with a JAG man investigation in Israel, JAG got a call telling us, she had gone missing.  I was contacted by the NCIS office here in Oahu because I was one of the people who knew the General.  Then about four days ago Harm, showed up and asked if I had heard from Mac, the General.  Now you are here."

"Mc Gee, I want everything on the disappearance of General Sarah MacKenzie, how long ago, and any details.  Ziva, see if Rabbs, disappearance could be tied to General MacKenzie's.  DiNozzo, find out what JAG man investigation General MacKenzie was involved with.  Now People!"

 
Budd Roberts rose to his feet and extended his left hand to shake Gibbs hand.

Gibbs smiled and shook Roberts hand, then began to walk toward the vacant desk.

"Special Agent Gibbs, sir.  Thank you.  I am so sorry for how I reacted, I... I know that Harm and General MacKenzie will be in good hands."

Bud began to walk toward the exit, as Gibbs voice cut through the air.

"Mister Roberts, where do you think you are going?"

"Sir?"

"I need your assistance on this case, talk with agent Mc Gee, give him as much background as you can."

"Yes sir."

As Bud Roberts crossed the room, Gibbs made his way toward the desk, then stopped.

"Is there any Coffee in this place?"

"Sure Bro, right over here."

A tall athletic Polynesian nodded toward the coffee maker.

"You must be Special Agent Gibbs, from D.C.  I am Special Agent Hookano, this is my office Bro, but will be glad for any help you can provide.  Come we can have some Coffee and exchange some ....

Steve McGarrett was in his office now, he was tired from the flight and had a headache on the limited information he had, and the fact that he was still trying to deal with the fact that Danno could have betrayed an agent on assignment.

"Chin, I need to know everything on Harmon Rabb Jr.  Who he knew here in the islands, try and find out why he was here?"

"Duke,I need to speak with you privately.  Che, get me the Governor,  Alright gentlemen, let's get moving!"


TO BE CONTINUED...

DAY 13 Of a 31 Day Challenge The 121212 Concert

For the past two weeks, I have seen ads for a concert that was aired last night, the 121212 concert for Sandy Relief was perhaps one of the most amazing concerts to be aired.

This concert featured some of the most amazing singers of the last century, all gathered together in New York to help the city, New Jersey and Long Island with the recovery from Hurricane Sandy.  The singers all were in their prime and many came out of retirement to help.

To start the concert the Boss, Bruce Springsteen came out and set the tone, here is a man who is in his late 60's early 70's and he was at top form.  His voice as strong and clear as it was when he was in his prime.

Here is Bruce Springsteen in a duet with John Bon Jovi singing BORN TO RUN.

So who could possibly come out after the Boss?  Roger Walters.  Who?  Roger Walters was until 1994 the lead vocalist in one of the most progressive and powerhouse rock groups in the world,  The Group?  PINK FLOYD.

In 1994 Roger Walters split from PINK FLOYD and formed a group of his own, which of course he called PINK FLOYD,  For several months in 1994 you could find albums by two PINK FLOYD bands, in the end Roger Walters had to use his own name because the name PINK FLOYD was awarded to the original group.

Here is Roger Walters and Eddie Vedder singing Comfortably Numb, from THE WALL.

Next was something completely different, as MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS would have put it.  Adam Sandler and  Paul Shafer  from Late Night with David Letterman doing a rendition of  Hallelujah, only the way that Adam Sandler could.  Please not the language is a bit rough here, but it is still a great moment and down right funny at the same time.

After Adam Sandler's unique performance things got back to normal, well as normal as they can be when Mick Jagger and THE ROLLING STONES are the next singers on the scene.

Mick was amazing to watch, his voice is still as sharp and dynamic as it was when he was in his twenties and he still is as thin and able to dance the way he did back in the day.  I should be so lucky when I am in my 70's.

 John Bon Jovi was next on the ticket, it was amazing seeing someone younger than the majority of these singers, and someone who I remember first hearing in 1987 in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately I was unable to find a good quality of his performance from the concert last night, so I am borrowing this video from a previous concert he did, with Richie Sambora.  This version of WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE is just amazing and as powerful as the version he did last night.

I could not help but think how many young people only know this song because it was used as the main title theme for DEADLIEST CATCH, for seven years.  Amazing song, and Bon Jovi was amazing last night, considering he came out of retirement to sing.  Still can sing and as good as he did in his youth.

Up next was another classic British singer, a gentleman who has had many hits, and who still has a great voice,  Mr. Eric Clapton.

This is another video I had to use that is not from last nights' concert again because the sound quality was not that good on the recordings from last nights' concert.

 Next up was the only woman singer for the evening, Alicia Keys.  This lady was amazing and she had one of the shortest sets.  At the end of the concert, Sir Paul MacCartney invited her back on stage and she did one last song.  I had hoped to use that version, but again the sound quality is terrible, so here is another version of Alicia Keys  singing EMPIRE STATE OF MIND.

Next on the chart, was another amazing group from the late 1960's early 1970's THE WHO.  This group has had a major comeback thanks to the CSI Franchise, which has used their music for main title themes for all three of their series.

The Who stole the concert.  Until them, everyone had a limit of 2 to 3 songs overall.  The kept going for 11 songs and I honestly think they would have continued if they had not been given the cut symbol.

So here is one of the most phenomenal bands of all time.  THE WHO, singing Baba O'Riley aka as Teenage Wasteland.  Which of course is also the main title theme from CSI NY.

Kanye West however his music is so filled with hate and foul language, it will not appear here.

Next was a gentleman who has been singing since the early 1970's he has done countless albums and put out an all instrumental CD just a few years back.  He is the Piano Man, Mr. Billy Joel, who performs here ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG, a song that I used as an anthem when I was a single man on the prowl.

Chris Martin was up next,  This young man did a duet with Michael Stipe of REM .

And to end the concert, the one the only, Sir Paul McCartney doing one of most powerful songs, the main title to the James Bond film LIVE AND LET DIE.

Yes once again I am having to use an older video from the days of WINGS, because the sound quality on the video from the 121212 concert was so poor.

So there you have it, the 121212 concert for Hurricane Sandy relief in a nutshell.  Hope you enjoyed this concert as much as I did watching it last night.

Note the actual concert ran for close to five hours and was one hour over the original time it was to have ended.  Yet no one pulled the plug.  Also no one was censored because it was live, THE WHO were heard without being censored as was everyone else.

This alone was amazing because just a few years ago, the censors would have been all over this concert for language.

How the world has changed.

Day 12 of a 31 Day Challenge Wordless Wednesday

Looking down East Colfax Avenue at sunset.  Photo taken mid 1990's using a cheap 110 camera with flash.

Day 11 of a 31 Day Challenge Miracle on 34th Street, why it has such a following

Last  night for the first time in my 52 years I watched "MIRACLE ON 34th STREET".

I kid you not, I had never seen this movie before, or if I had it made no impact on me, until last night.  Part of the reason I have avoided this movie, is it was about Santa Claus, and  for me Santa is not the true spirit of Christmas, or I should say his modern representation is not.

He has been used by parents to black mail their children to behave well, or they won't find a gift under the tree for them at Christmas time.

For me Christmas has nothing to do with presents, it has to do with the birth of Jesus into the world, whether you accept him as the savior of the world or not, for me that has always been the reason for the season and for many years I just gave up on Christmas because of this.

But four years ago when I got married I opened myself to the whole Christmas movie concept and to Christmas from a new perspective.

So last night I watched "Miracle on 34th Street" and found myself enjoying the movie tremendously.  Because as much as Santa has become a symbol for capitalism at Christmas time, this movie was about so much more and on so many levels.

For here was Santa being challenged if he were the real Santa, or a man who should be locked away in jail, because he is a threat to society.

The core of the movie is what do we believe, and can we believe in something more than what we can prove?

This applies to so many things.

What was sad though, is that everyone at one time did believe in Santa,  whether we were a little kid or adult we believed.

Now today, so many people don't.  We don't believe in things beyond what can be proven, and we have lost something in that process.  We need that magic of believing in things beyond what can be proven by science.  Because when you believe in Santa, you believe that anything is possible and that miracles can take place right before your eyes.

Day 10 of a 31 Day Challenge Mondays' Music Moves Me

Well it's Monday, and it's December so that means it is time for Monday's Music Moves me with Christmas music once again.

Last time out I posted some music from the STAR WARS Christmas special, and although there is music out there from this, I think I will wait til closer to the season to post additional clips, we will have to R2 D2 and see what develops.

So up first this time is another memory from my childhood.  Long before the terrible Chipmunk movies of the past few years, there was a one time Christmas special, titled Alvin and Chipmunks' Christmas Special.  I had the album from this and played it into the point it could not be played anymore, and that was a few years ago.  So without delay, here is Alvin and the Chipmunks with the Christmas song.

This is a song I never heard before, it is sung by the very popular group Celtic Woman, and it brings a different feel and bend to the Christmas season.  Celtic Woman and Celtic Pipes.

Not a conventional Christmas song, this is from the Doctor Who Christmas Special  "A Christmas Carol"  The song is less Christmas more Who, but it is such a beautiful song and so haunting I have to include it.  So for your purists, sorry, for those Whovians, and you know WHO you are enjoy.
Silence is all you know by Katherine Jenkins.

My wife and I are both huge Doctor Who fans, and each year we watch the Christmas Special, when we saw this adaptation of A Christmas Carol we both were teary eyed at the end.  Sometimes Doctor Who can convey a message about Christmas as well as the Church or Charlie Brown.

And now for something completely different.  I have heard Silent Night since I was a child, always in English, it is one of my favorite songs of the season.  This is the first time I have ever heard it sung in Welsh.  Enya with a special version of SILENT NIGHT, sung in her native Welsh.  Very beautiful and deeply touching.

What better way to end this than by a very unique version of the 12 days of Christmas.  This comes from the 50th state and has a very different take on the 12 days.  You may need to look up a few of the words, because they are Hawaiian.  But this is a fun way to end this chapter of Mondays' Music Moves Me.  The 12 Days of Christmas Hawaiian Style

So if you are Vegan ignore the 5th day of Christmas.

Til next time,

Okay one last piece Let's all dance with Frosty the Snowman

Day 9 of A 31 Day Challenge Christmas Past

Christmas has always been a special day for me, in the past it was filled with lots of presents, and family gatherings.

This was Christmas 1975  on the island of Kauai Hawaii,, that dapper youngt man in the Cole Jr. High Tee Shirt is me, that is my nephew David Akanna Espinda the IV or as he was nicknamed Loopy back then, and my Aunt Karen  We are all much older now, where has the time gone?

From when I was 11 onward the family would go to California to visit my brother and spend the holiday there, and when my brother got married in the mid 1970's we would spend the holiday with his family.

 My mom and dad on the deck of the Balcoutha in San Francisco Bay Harbor Christmas 1969

 My mom and I on the Balcoutha Christmas 1969

My dad and mom at my brothers house in Orinda, 1969

My Sister in Law Raygenis Stewart Richards, my Brother Geoff and my mother Evelyn.

Another photo of my Aunt Karen and my Mom, in Hawaii 1975

Me, my mom, my aunt Caren and David the 4th Hawaii

My brother Geoff, in front of a near naked Christmas Tree.

In 1986, I had Christmas in Las Vegas because from July 4th 1986 to August 7th 1987 I lived in Las Vegas.  I had Christmas in an international Coffee House and News Stand called the Newsroom, which unfortunately no longer exists.  It was one of the most unique Christmases I had had up to that point.

 The original Newsroom Coffeehouse on the Las Vegas Strip near downtown Las Vegas December 1986

 The Newsroom Mark 2 off Mark Twain Avenue near the University of Las Vegas, back when Tarcanian lead the athletic program

Sunset in Las Vagas.

Self portrait of me in Las Vegas 1986.  The Hawaiian shirt was a Christmas gift from my Aunt Caren from 1975.

By the time I had moved to Las Vegas, the family get togethers were becoming less and less frequent.  My brother had left a marriage he had been in since 1973 and it would be few and far between when we would see each other on a regular basis.

When my mom passed in 1998 the concept of family gatherings at Christmas was something that was a distant memory, until 2008.

In 2008 I got married, and had the first family Christmas for the first time in many years.  This year my step daughter Natasha came to Colorado to be part of the wedding, which took place Christmas Day.

We had gone to midnight mass before and came home and opened presents after words.

It was one of the more interesting Christmases I have ever had.

 Step daughter Natasha and her Christmas Bear

 My wife and step daughter laughing it up

Me getting a glass chess set.

My wife wrestling with the bear she got her daughter.

When I got married I got the best present I could, an extended family and family gatherings again at Christmas.

This was the best present in the world.  

It was nice to get something under the tree, but for me being with family was more important.  Having the opportunity to spend the holidays with mother and father in law, uncles and aunts step children and grand children was more than any other present.

Me and the extended family 2009, 10,11.  Me in the Broncos shirtm my wife, my step daughter, my daughter in law and step son.  Yes this is a family tradition.

 Our Lady of the Snows in Bellville Illinois

The family gathering with Grandma Dunn 2009 Farmington Missouri.

My step Son Josh and his wife Mary Christmas 2009

For the first time since 2008, it will be my wife and myself this year.  However knowing how things work out, by next year we will be in Arizona or Missouri, or even perhaps Hawaii for Christmas.  

For me, family is the greatest gift one can have on Christmas and something to be cherished.

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family, no matter where in the world you may be.

Day 8 of a 31 Day Challenge. My name is Java, the hunt for Harmon Rabb Jr.

Michael Knight was bothered by something, he kept tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, then he spoke up.

"KITT, where did you find the information on Harmon Rabb Jr?"

"I pulled it from the internet, I did a normal data search and...  Michael, do you think that the information could have been fabricated?"

Michael made a quick turn, burning rubber as he did.

"I do KITT.  Think about it, no one else in that room had any leads at all, somehow we manage to find information showing that Rabb, is in Hawaii.  NCIS had no idea where he was, and they and Five-O have the most sophisticated data bases and tracking systems of any origanization and they had no idea where he is.  We just manage to find he is supposed to be in Hawaii?  KITT, put me through to Devon."

"Devons' calling now Michael."

"Put him through pal."

Devon Miles image appeared on the monitor in KITT, alongside of Devon was Bonnie.

"Devon, I need to have a complete background check on Harmon Rabb Jr...."

"Strange you should bring him up.  The Secretary of the Navy just contacted us.  He is asking, actually insisting would be more precise a term, that we investigate the disappearance of Harmon Rabb Jr."

Michael whistled, he smirked just slightly as Devon had spoke.  

"Has the secretary of the Navy given us any background at all concerning Mr. Rabbs disappearance."

Devons' tone was the deep British accent, that usually indicated that they were going into a situation without being given all the details needed.

"At this time no, this is all....

While on the Delux 747 flying to Hawaii, Steve Mac Garrett was getting the same briefing from Jonathon Kay.

"... I can tell you Steve.  The Sec Nav is wanting this resolved as quickly as possible.  Rabb is a powder keg and we need to know if he left of his own free accord, was kidnapped or has turned against his country."

"You will excuse me Johnathan, but if memory serves Mr. Rabb, when he had been with the Navy, was with J.A.G. corps, he was a lawyer, I hardly think anything he knew would be valuable to any foreign power, unless they want to have a good lawyer.  Unless there is something else I do not know about Mr. Rabb?"

There was a long pause as Jonathon Kaye looked at his friend of nearly 30 years.

"I am sorry Steve, I am not able to go into details on this.  You and your team are to handle this.  That is anyone on your team except Mr. Williams."

Steve Mac Garrett was now getting hot under the collar, he had dealt with situations where he had only bits of information before, and had done well solving the case.  But he had never been told to pull any of his people, not in a long time.

"You will excuse me Johnathon, but you had better have a damn good reason for me not having my number one assistant on this case.  Now you need to tell me more... Now!"

Jonahton Kaye knew his friend was not going to like what he had to say.

"Steve, this is on a need to know basis, and the sec Nav feels....

Leroy Jethro Gibbs was receiving his briefing at the same time from the last person he expected Tobias Fornell of the FBI.

"... I have been authorized to tell you at this point."

"Okay, Tobias, you have given me the official word from the FBI, now how about explaining how come you are here before I have even had the official word from my own director in this case?"

"Listen, I would love to tell you why I am here, but it is the usual, need to know and the brass feel you now know exactly what you need to.  You are to find Rabb and get him back before there is an international incident."

Gibbs stopped, he took a hard look at his friend of nearly twelve years.  This was one of those times he wish he didn't know his friends tells so well.

"Personally Tobias, I am tired of the games, I am going to my office, if you choose to continue this there?"

There was a long pause then Tobias exhaled.  He too knew this would be the method to share what could not officially be shared.

"Really Leroy, I am not sure I have the time for this, however if you have any of that rot gut there I may be able to join you for a few seconds."

The two men stopped outside the elevator and waited for the doors to open.

"That rot gut, as you put it is in my other office in the basement.  But I will definitely give you a rain check on it, after this meeting."

The doors opened and as Leroy and Tobias were about to enter Director Vance emerged.

"Going somewhere gentlemen?"

There was silence.

"Let me save you the dance.  Rabb is considered a high risk, he has been working covert operations the last few years, and it looks like someone may have betrayed him.  He is at high risk, and is to be found before our enemies can do harm or capture and interrogate him.  I believe that was what you were about to inform Special Agent Gibbs, am I correct Mr. Fernell?"

"You know, if I had known you were going to tell Gibbs everything, I could have stayed in the office today.  See you later Leroy, you still owe me that rot gut."

Leroy watches as his friend walks to the elevator and gets in.  After the doors have closed he turns and looks at his director.

"All right, why?  Leon, you don't normally volunteer information, especially when Sec Nav is squeezing you like an an orange in a vice grip."

"I know the back history between you and Mr. Rabb, I know that in his eyes, there is still some bad blood there even after all these years.  After all you nearly hung him out to dry for the murder of a fellow JAG officer.  I also know you will be pig headed and push to find out what is really happening, and in this case we don't have the luxarry of time to waste on that.  Rabb needs to be found as quickly as possible, we are teaming up with FLAG, and Five-O on this one.  This is a team effort."

"Fine, so how long ago did Rabbs identity....

As the 747 turned and began to approach Oahu the tension was still intense between Steve McGarrett and State Department representative Jonathon Kaye.

"Alright Steve, your agent Mr. Williams was the last person to speak with Rabb.  Within two hours Rabb was on the run, his identity had been blown and all that anyone knows is that Daniel Williams was the last person to speak to Harmon Rabb Jr. before this.  Williams is persona non gratis, he is off limits to anyone in Five-O until we know what happened."

"Jonathon, wouldn't it be more logical for someone from Five-O to interact with Danno, he may open up and provide us with some information as to what happened, if he doesn't think he is a suspect."

McGarrett paused before completing his thought, in all the years he knew Danno, he never would have thought this way, and yet now... now for the first time he had doubts about his friend. 

"If he thinks he is a suspect he could react and go hiding, you know that as well as I.  So how about some truth now?"

"Steve, you're asking me to put my neck way out on the chopping block on this, I have already given you more information than what I was authorized to do...  All right Steve, but one of my men will be assigned as well, you will report directly to him.  No argument or this ends  with you not having access to Williams until the FBI deals with him."

"Alright Jonathon."

There was silence as the Jet began final approach to Honolulu International Airport.  A silence alien to the two men in the first class lounge.

Perry Mason drove up to the building that housed the Paul Drake Detective Agency, as he entered the building he realized the whole building was the Paul Drake Detective agency, his old friend had done very well for himself.

He got off the elevator on the penthouse level and walked to the reception area, a huge room that had offices looking out on the Los Angeles skyline.  A young woman, who reminded Perry of his own receptionist sat at the reception desk.

"May I help you sir?"

"It's alright Donna, I know Mr. Mason.  Hi Perry, long time, so what do I owe this visit."

Perry looked at his old friend, it had been five, or was it six years since he had last seen Paul; of course part of that had to do with the fact that he had moved to Colorado.  It had been hard to leave everyone and everything he knew, but it had worked out.  Now he was a judge in the small mountain Community of Manitou Springs and he was actually dealing with the young hot shots, who reminded him of himself a few years back.

"Can we talk privately, I need to speak to you on the record."

Paul Drake shook his head, his voice was a bit gruff.

"After six years and the first time we meet it is business as usual, alright Perry, I'll listen."

The two men walked down a corridor and entered a large office, there was a large leather chair behind the Oak desk and a private bar on the left hand side of the room, next to a collection of books at photos.  The first photo that Perry saw was an old photo of the five of them, Himself, Paul, Della Street, Hamilton Burger, the opposing council who Perry had locked horns with more times than he cared to remember and Lieutenant Tragg.  The photo had to be nearly thirty years old, since Tragg had died in the early 1970s' and Hamilton had retired shortly there after.

"You know Perry, I really haven't time for a small time case..."

"Paul, I apologize."

Paul Drake blinked and sat down behind the desk.  In all the years he had known Perry, he could think of maybe three or four times his fried had ever apologized.

"Apology accepted.  Sorry for blowing up at you Perry, but it just seems that all we ever do is see each other when we need help, I would like to see you, on occasion just to have dinner or get caught up,"

"Likewise Paul, and I promise that I will make that happen.  But you're right, unfortunately I do need your help again."

"Can't imagine it would be anything local, I mean last I heard you were a judge, where is it Colorado Springs?"

Perry smiled and sat down in one of the plush leather seats across from his friend.

"Manitou, about forty-five minutes from Colorado Springs.  Nice to know you still have an interest in what I am doing."

"Yea, well when the famous Perry Mason ends up as a judge in Colorado, it kind of makes the news here.  Hell if you ran for President it would make news here.  So, what's up?  Why are you back in L.A.?"

Perry folded his hands together in his lap, quietly he spoke.

"Have you hear of the Harmon Rabb Jr. Case?"

"Who hasn't.  Former J.A.G. officer go missing, and no one is sure why or where he is.  I mean the Navy has tried to keep a lid on this, but they haven't done so well.  Don't tell me?  You are representing Rabb?"

Perry smiled then his face became blank, as if he was concealing his winning hand in a poker game.

"No, nothing that simple.  I wish I were representing him.  Actually, I am in the middle of a massive investigation as to what happened to Rabb.  I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and now the Navy has given me a choice.  To remain un-involved, or to assist in the investigation.  They know how well I am connected."

"Perry, doesn't it strike you just a bit strange that they would bring you in on this?  They have one of the best intelligence branches of the armed forces.  Something is up here and now I think I am involved in this too,"

"My problem is Paul, that this feels bigger than a mere man going missing, especially since Rabb has been a civilian for the past several years."

"Not exactly Perry, I had been contacted on this too.  Apparently Rabb, is working for the agency as a contract employee.  If he has vanished the only thing that would make sense is his cover was blown.  Now you tell me Perry, why would a former Lawyer, now judge and a Private Eye be called into this kind of investigation.  It doesn't make sense.  Something is wrong here and I would love to know what is really going on."

"Paul, I have a feeling we will be finding out very soon."

At that moment two men in Naval uniforms entered the office.

"Gentlemen, if you will come with us."

"As I said, I thought we would be finding out soon."

At the same time, that Perry Mason and Paul Drake were being escorted from Mr. Drakes office complex,  Michael Knight was driving KITT off the ramp of the special long range jet used by FLAG to transport KITT on those occasional out of country assignments.  

As he drove to away from the jet he was still talking with Devon Miles on the link.

"Remember Michael, we are being brought into rather unusual circumstances, we have never been directly under the control of another government agency, and we have never been investigating a military case.  There are things about this that disturb me."

Michael drove onto Nimitz Highway and began to try and find his way.

"Glad to hear you say that Devon.  This seems so out of place.  I will be in touch as soon as I have met up with Mr. McGarrett.  KITT, try and plot the quickest route to FIVE-O headquarters from here."

"I'll do me best Michael, but don't expect me to pronounce these street names, they are to say the least next to impossible to figure out."

Michael smiled as he relaxed and began to allow KITT to take over the driving.

"Yea, the Hawaiian language is to say the least...  unique.
KITT, while you are checking on the fastest route, try and find out why the Secretary of the Navy got in touch with FLAG.  Our involvement in this, still bothers me."

"Very well Michael."

  As Michael turned onto Kinau Street a tall blond haired man whose hair was in an afro ran past KITT, he was dressed in a gray flannel suit and he glanced as he ran past KITT.

"KITT, run a facial recognition program, I swear I have seen that man someplace before."

"Checking.  Michael, that was Daniel Williams of Five-O, you very well may know him, he was at a convention of law enforcement officers the year that Michael Long became Michael Knight."

"I thought I remembered him.  KITT, let's see if we can offer Mr. Williams a lift, this may be a quicker way to get to Five-O than trying to follow these street references."

"Sorry Michael, he has vanished, perhaps it will not matter, we are almost at Five-O now."

Michael Knight exhaled and relaxed as KITT approached the building containing Five-O.

"Well soon enough we should know more as to why we are here.  Or so I hope."



TO BE CONTINUED...