Take me to Paradise

Trusting a Killer

Chapter 5

About two month later Clara found herself in front of the mirror in her bedroom. A few days after the dinner at Steve's Clara met someone at one of the parties hosted at the school for the teachers.

Jason was invited as a Plus-One for Sandra, another teacher for music. They had hit it off pretty good and so they went on a few dates.

Another one was today. She had already dressed in one of her two better dresses, which only left her to apply the make-up and do her hair. She left her glasses on, because what was the use in having contact lenses if you always forgot to take them out.

If Jason might like her better if she would leave the glasses off?

Clara was pulled away from her thoughts by a knock on her door. The teacher could feel a smile stealing itself on her features as she moved to open said door, but it was quickly replaced by a frown as she saw who stood there.

"Steve?" she asked and leaned on the door frame.

Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett was standing in front of her and giving her one of his knee weakening smile.

"Hey, I...wow, you look good." he said which caused her to blush furiously.

"Well, thank you. But what are you doing here?"

At the question Steve started to scratch his head to come up with a good answer but seemed to be devoid of one.

"I...Well...actually I wanted to ask you if you wanted to meet up with the gang again, tomorrow I mean."

Clara sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm sorry Steve, I really can't do that. I have a date tonight and I need to grade papers." She told him dryly and looked behind him as there was movement.

"Jason!" she said and went back inside her flat to get her purse.

At that moment Steve took the opportunity to get a closer look at this Jason. He seemed friendly enough but he still had a bad feeling about him.

"Aloha, I'm Jason Paulson. Nice to meet you." the guy said, putting his hand out for Steve to shake.

"Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett, nice to meet you, too." he said giving him a friendly hand shake.

There was no use to cause any suspicion.

Clara returned and grabbed Jason's hand, after closing the door behind her. Turning to Steve she gave him a smile, although it didn't reach her eyes.

"Well, we'll see each other again, I think." she said and left him behind at her closed door.

"Boss?" Kono asked and knocked on the door to Steve's office.

He looked up and motioned for her to continue. "We got a case."

Steve got up and followed Kono to the main room where she put all the information up onto the screens. The Commander was looking at the photos of the victim while Kono and Chin were typing on the work surface table.

"Emily James, 24. She was found this morning in a dumpster near Queen's Medical Center. COD was strangulation caused by a belt or something else. We're still waiting for the results from the lab."

Steve nodded his head and turned to Danny. "We're going to head to Max's and take a look at the vic's body."

Taking the keys to the Camero out of Danny's hands the two men headed out. "Why do you always have to drive my car?" the Jersey detective whined but still followed his partner.

Once they were inside the car the blonde looked at the commander. "What's wrong with you today?"

Danny had noticed that ever since Steve had gotten back from his visit to Clara's he was wearing a permanent sulk on his face.