"You're the one who's creating problems for yourself, Steve," Hesse says, biting out the name through gritted teeth, and Steve sees his fingers twitch for his knife seconds before he reaches for it, grabbing the first thing within reach - a lamp, something decorative - and tosses it at Hesse's head before he can arm himself.

He drops as Hesse reaches for his gun on the table, fires into the living room seconds after Steve manages to dive behind the couch. He's got the henchman's gun jammed into his boot, pulls it out and aims from the floor, around the couch, but only catches a blur of Hesse's back as he darts in.

"Don't shoot, McGarrett," Hesse shouts, "or I'll put a bullet in your man."