by OMJ Ryan
‘Jonesy?’ she said, hoping he was still with her.
‘I’m here.’
Thank God, she thought.
Fingers pulled at her blindfold, and a few seconds later it was yanked free. The sudden rush of light forced her eyes shut. She blinked rapidly as her pupils adjusted. When she could finally focus, she took in her surroundings. Jones stood next to her, eyes closed as he too adjusted to the light. Then she turned to take in the wider room. Her stomach fell. Kneeling in front of her, hands tied behind their backs and blindfolded and gagged, were Wong and Li. Asian men stood at their shoulders, each wearing a red bandana pulled across their nose and mouth so only their eyes and the tops of their heads were visible. Each man held an enormous meat cleaver in their hands. Phillips’s mind was immediately drawn to the murder of Sergeant Cai Yang, decapitated with a cleaver.
‘Li, are you ok?’ she managed to ask before a heavy blow landed on the backs of her legs. In agony, she dropped to her knees. More pain surged through her shins and knees as she landed on the battered concrete. A second later, Jones was on his knees alongside her.
Another man, short and stocky, arrived, his face also covered with a red bandana. Unlike the other men, who wore jeans and boots, he was dressed in suit trousers. His black, polished shoes almost sparkled as he walked slowly towards the group. Up close, Phillips noted the heavy gold jewellery on his thick fingers and wrists. She guessed this man was the leader.
The bejewelled man stood in silence for a moment, moving his gaze from Phillips to Jones, then to Li, and finally to Wong. ‘It would seem that the actions of one have affected the many,’ said the man, his English clear but his Cantonese accent heavy. ‘It is unfortunate for you, Inspector Phillips, that you find yourself in this situation.’
‘How do you know my name?’ asked Phillips.
Jones shot her wide-eyed a look that urged her to be quiet.
‘We know a great deal, Inspector. For instance, we know that this man’s actions—’ He pointed to Wong as he stepped next to him, positioning himself directly in front Phillips. ‘—brought you to Hong Kong, where you have made a nuisance of yourself asking questions about certain organisations and institutions. Something that cannot go unpunished.’
Phillips stared at Wong. He was shaking uncontrollably. Li was shaking too.
‘I wanted you to see how we deliver justice,’ said the bejewelled man, his voice ice-cold. ‘Si wú duì zhèng!’ he barked in Cantonese.
Wong instantly tried to make himself smaller as the foot soldier behind him – still holding a cleaver – stepped to within an inch of him. The man raised the huge knife high into the air with both hands, then brought it down, with lightning speed and immense force, onto the back of Wong’s neck. The sickening sound of metal slicing through thick flesh and bone filled the air, and Wong’s head fell forwards, half off. Phillips almost vomited as she stared at the macabre scene. Jones, beside her, was shaking too. Another heavy blow finished the job, and Wong’s severed head dropped with a thud to the floor, followed a second later by his lifeless body. Dark blood, almost black in colour, spewed from the severed arteries in Wong’s neck, and a dark pool formed around the shoulders.
Li wailed like a banshee in his mother tongue, clearly begging for his life.
‘You have your justice, Inspector; we have ours,’ the bejewelled man said as he walked past Phillips and moved to stand next to Jones.
Phillips locked eyes with Jones. His eyes were wide, his breathing shallow. One of the gang members stepped behind him, a huge cleaver held in his hands.
‘The British ruled this territory, our territory, for over one hundred years, until we took back what was rightly ours. Yet, almost thirty years later, we find the British sneaking into our country, trying to tell us that how we operate – how we have operated for centuries – is wrong. Did you really think we would do nothing?’
Phillips didn’t know what to say.
‘Well, did you?’ the man shouted, so loudly it made Jones flinch.
‘We made a mistake,’ said Phillips, trying to control the fear in her voice.
‘Yes, you did,’ said the bejewelled man. ‘And now, like Wong, you must pay for it.’ He shouted instructions in Cantonese.
The man behind Jones raised the cleaver high into the air.
‘Please! I have kids!’ begged Jones.
‘You don’t need to do this!’ shouted Phillips.
The cleaver came down with a heavy thud, and Jones’s whole body slumped forwards onto the floor.
Phillips screamed and tried to scramble to her feet, but was pushed back down. She stared at Jones, unable to take in what had just happened. But then she realised that his neck was intact and there was very little blood. As her mind raced, someone stepped into her peripheral vision. Phillips turned to face them, but something heavy struck at the base of her skull. For the second time in as many hours, her world went black.
24
‘Jane. Jane.’
Phillips heard her name being repeated as she regained consciousness. Opening her eyes and blinking them into focus, she found that she was lying on her back and looking up at Billy Li. His face above her was full of concern, lips pursed, eyebrows drawn together.
‘Are you ok, Jane?’
Phillips was suddenly reminded of Jones and sat bolt upright, her forehead just missing Li’s chin. ‘Where’s Jones?’ she said, reliving the horror of what had happened to Wong.
‘He’s alive,’ said Li, moving to one side so Phillips could see Jones, still unconscious, lying face down next to her. They hadn’t been moved. ‘It looks like they hit him with the blunt side of the cleaver at the base of the skull. They did the same to all of us. I think they hit you and I at the same time. I remember Wong, and Jones, then I heard a thud and was knocked out cold.
Phillips lifted her hand to the back of her head, which throbbed worse than any hangover. It was then she realised her hands were no longer tied.
‘It looks like they cut our bindings before they left,’ Li commented, seeming to read her mind.
Phillips rubbed her wrists and flexed her fingers, then leaned across and felt Jones’s pulse. To her relief, it beat strong in his thin neck. Next, she allowed her gaze to fall on the decapitated body of Wong. Her mind raced. ‘They killed Wong, so why not us?’
‘Wong led you to Hong Kong and into their world,’ said Li. ‘That was a huge mistake on his part, so they executed him in line with Triad protocol. We were given a warning of what would happen if we try to remain in their world. Those cleaver blades will be facing the right way round the next time, I have no doubt about that.’
Just then, Jones began to stir, groaning as he opened his eyes.
Phillips moved closer to him. ‘It’s ok, Jonesy, you’re safe,’ she said softly as she placed her hand onto his back.
A few moments later, he lifted himself slowly onto his hands and knees. ‘What the hell happened?’
‘Looks like they knocked us all out,’ said Phillips.
Jones eyes widened. ‘Jesus. I thought I was a goner.’ He dropped down onto his bottom and reached up to check the back of his neck. ‘When he lifted that cleaver above my head, all I could think about was Sarah and the girls.’ Tears welled in his eyes.
‘I know. When he brought it down on your neck and you slumped onto the ground, I…’ Phillips couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.
Each of them remained silent for a long moment.
Eventually, Phillips was the first to speak. ‘So, what happens now?’
Li pulled out his phone. ‘I’ll call this in, and we'll begin an investigation into who was behind Wong’s death.’
‘What about the warning? What if they come after you again?’ asked Phillips. ‘You said yourself, they won’t hesitate next time.’
‘I’ll take my chances, and besides, I have the weight of the Royal Hong Kong Police behind me. There is no way they would attack a properly manned squad. It would bring too much atten
tion to their activities. It’s only because I was alone with you that I suffered your fate.’ Li got to his feet, then helped Phillips to hers.
‘I’m sorry about that,’ Phillips said as she in turn pulled Jones up from the floor. ‘It’s a bad habit of mine.’
Li’s brow furrowed. ‘What is?’
‘Getting myself and others into trouble. Hey, Jonesy?’
Jones nodded as he continued to rub the back of his neck.
‘What about you?’ said Li. ‘Now Wong is dead, what will you do?’
Phillips let out a loud sigh and shook her head. ‘Well, if possible, I’d like a tissue sample from Wong’s body – just to be sure it matches with what we have on file.’
‘I can arrange that,’ said Li.
‘And then? Well. Wong mentioned he was at Carpenter’s house, but that someone else committed the murder. I guess that’s our next avenue of enquiry – finding the accomplice,’ said Phillips.
‘And will you be pursuing that line of enquiry in Hong Kong or the UK?’
Phillips took a moment before answering. ‘I’m still sure Wong was connected to Genji and the Gold Star Trading Company, but I can’t prove it. At least not here, anyway. To do that, I need to be back in Manchester with my full team.’
A relaxed smile crossed Li’s face. ‘So you’ll be leaving us?’
Phillips nodded. ‘There’s no need to look so bloody pleased about it, Billy.’
Li caught himself and straightened his face. ‘Sorry. It’s just my life has been less than straightforward with you here, and I’m not sure I could cope with any more excitement.’
Phillips stepped closer to Jones and put her arms around his shoulders. ‘And besides, I promised Jonesy some time off, didn’t I?’ she said with a smile.
‘Well, before you go anywhere, you’ll need to be checked over by a doctor. I’ll be stuck here for some time with the team, but I’ll get one of my sergeants to take you to the medical centre. They’ll make sure you’re safe to fly.’
‘Ok, that sounds like a plan,’ said Phillips. ‘I think we’re both ready to go home, aren’t we Jonesy.’
‘Too bloody right,’ said Jones.
‘If you’ll excuse me,’ said Li, then pulled out his phone and got busy making calls.
Phillips pulled out her phone and searched through the contacts. ‘Before we do anything, I’d better update Fox on this shit-show,’ she said as she placed the handset to her ear.
‘Give the old cow my love,’ said Jones sarcastically.
Phillips grinned and flashed a playful V-sign.
A split-second later, Fox answered. ‘I hope you're ringing with good news, DCI Phillips.’
25
An hour later, and after they’d both received a clean bill of health at the medical centre located on Kennedy Road near Hong Kong Park, Phillips and Jones made their way out into the heat of another summer evening. With their flights back to the UK booked for the following day, they had some time on their hands.
‘So, what do you wanna do for your last night in Hong Kong?’ asked Phillips.
Jones blew his lips. ‘After today, anything that involves beer, Guv.’
‘Dan told me to check out a place on the other side of the Park. It’s called The Upper House Bar,’ said Phillips, and led the way down the street.
Ten minutes later, Phillips and Jones took stools at an open window in a bar overlooking the harbour, each with a frosted glass on the high table in front of them. Phillips had chosen a gin and tonic, and Jones, as ever, was enjoying an ice-cold beer.
After a long moment of silence, Phillips addressed the elephant in the room. ‘So, how are you feeling about what happened today?’
Jones stared out over the water, eyes glazed. ‘Shocked,’ he murmured, then took a long drink from his beer.
‘I’m so sorry I put you in that position, Jonesy. I had no idea it would go south so quickly.’
‘But how could you know that would happen?’ said Jones. ‘I mean, I’ve seen some shit in my time – we both have – but nothing could have prepared us for today. They cut the guy’s head off right in front of us, for God’s sake.’
Phillips remained silent as the image of Wong’s decapitated body flashed to the front of her mind.
‘This place is so fucked up. It’s insane.’
Phillips nodded. ‘I just can’t help wondering if Li knew what was coming.’
Jones recoiled slightly on his stool, an eyebrow raised. ‘Li? Seriously?’
Phillips took a drink. ‘It’s possible. After all, he tried to warn us off speaking to Genji. What if he is corrupt?’
‘I can’t see it, Guv. If he was working with the Triads, then why not just give them Wong’s address in the first place? Why take us along with him. That doesn’t make sense.’
‘No, I guess it doesn’t. But then, nothing about this case makes sense, does it?’
‘Not a bloody thing.’ Jones drained his glass and slipped off the stool. ‘Fancy another one?’
Phillips nodded. ‘Yeah, I really do!’
A few minutes later, Jones returned with their drinks and retook his seat. Phillips drained the remnants of her first drink and pushed it to the side of the table.
Jones said nothing as he continued to stare out at the busy harbour below.
‘It’s weird being back here after so many years,’ said Phillips.
‘Do you miss it?’
‘I thought I did until this trip. It was always in the back of my mind that I’d one day move back here, but I’m not sure I want to anymore.’
‘After today, I can see why,’ said Jones.
‘It’s not just today. So much has changed – which is hardly surprising. It was twenty-three years ago that I left.’
‘That’s a long time,’ said Jones. ‘Maybe it’s not Hong Kong that’s changed. Maybe you have?’
Phillips smiled. ‘Check you out, getting all deep and meaningful on me.’
‘Shut up,’ Jones shot back playfully.
Phillips took another long drink of her gin and tonic, then set it down again. ‘In all seriousness, though, I think you might be right, Jonesy. Maybe it is me that’s changed.’
For the next few minutes, they sat quietly. Phillips attempted to process their time in the city she’d thought she knew. She really did understand very little about the place she used to call home.
‘If you lived here for fifteen years, how come you never learnt the language?’ asked Jones.
‘We didn’t need to. Everyone spoke English, and the British saw no value in speaking Cantonese or Mandarin back then. I mean, it’s not as if China was ever going to become a superpower, was it?’ she said with a wry grin. ‘I really wish I had, though.’
Jones nodded.
With their drinks almost finished Phillips, decided it was time for a change of scene. ‘Have you ever heard of Victoria Peak?’
‘Sounds like a porn movie,’ chortled Jones, more relaxed now thanks to the beer.
Phillips chuckled. ‘Now you mention it, it does, doesn’t it?’
‘So, what is it?’
Phillips pointed an index finger upwards. ‘It’s the peak of the mountain behind us. It’s got amazing views of the city.’ She checked her watch: 6.45 p.m. ‘And if we set off now, we can probably get to the top in time for the symphony of lights.’
‘What the bloody hell’s that when it’s at home?’
‘You’re a detective, take a wild guess?’
‘A light show?’ asked Jones.
‘Bingo,’ said Phillips as she slipped from the stool. ‘Come on. The tram stop is just around the corner.’
Jones drained a last mouthful of beer from his glass. ‘Lights and trams? This place is just like Blackpool.’
Phillips smiled and shook her head. ‘You’ve never been much of a traveller have you, Jonesy?’
‘That’s not true,’ he said in mock defence. ‘When I was a boy, we used to go to Bognor Regis all the time.’
&nb
sp; ‘Well, in that case, I stand corrected,’ grinned Phillips as she turned and set off towards the door.
Thankfully, the queue for the Peak Tram was unusually small for the time of year, and they managed to get to the front and into a tram in just under thirty minutes. Phillips chose to stand at the rear of the last carriage for the amazing views as they ascended the mountain. It took less than ten minutes to travel from the bottom to the summit, and as the tram climbed over 1,200 feet, the beauty and scale of the city was steadily unveiled beneath them.
At the top, Phillips led the way to the main viewing platform, which offered uninterrupted views of the iconic city skyline and the harbour below; it was truly breathtaking, and warm air blew hard against their cheeks.
‘This is how I remember Hong Kong,’ said Phillips, and a huge smile spread across her face.
Just then, music filled the air, along with the excited chatter of tourists as they rushed to the barriers to secure the best view.
‘Perfect timing; the symphony of lights,’ said Phillips.
At that moment, lights began to appear on the sides of many of the city’s skyscrapers, and music boomed through the humid night sky.
‘Bloody hell. It’s like New Year’s Eve on steroids,’ said Jones.
‘I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it?’
For the next ten minutes they stood in silence, enjoying the show. When the spectacle was complete, Phillips gestured for Jones to follow her to the other side of the viewing platform which, in contrast, overlooked forests and water, with hardly a building in sight. ‘This is my favourite view in the whole of Hong Kong.’
‘God. It’s a bit different to the other side, isn’t it?’ said Jones.
‘That’s why I like it. It’s so unspoiled and untouched.’
‘What are we looking at?’
Phillips used her outstretched arm as a pointer. ‘That land mass ahead of us is called Lama Island. The large inlet of water to the left, over there, is Repulse Bay and if you follow the coastline farther along, you come to Stanley. All little slices of the real China, compared to the neon monster that has grown out of Hong Kong harbour behind us.’
