Brand 8

by Neil Hunter

  For Kwo Han the years passed quickly and profitably. Yet even at the height of his power he was still always eager to involve himself in something new. Any scheme which might add to his prestige and his wealth. As with the arrangement he had made with the man named Harvey Ruger. Two million dollars’ worth of pure gold to be brought out of America and shipped to Mexico in one of Han’s ships.

  Once in Mexico the gold became Han’s responsibility. He would arrange for its sale to one of his contacts in Europe. A man who would pay in cash and at the rate of exchange agreed Han would receive almost four and three-quarter million American dollars. It was a satisfactory arrangement which Han would complete by using the money to set up a partnership between himself and the San Francisco based American syndicate Ruger had put him in touch with. The Americans had the ability to reach right across the continent, as far as New York. Allied with Kio Han’s exceptional transportation and distribution network, the partnership would create a vast and dominant criminal organisation capable of stretching across America, and as far as China, North Africa and perhaps in the future even into Europe.

  The first part of the plan had worked to schedule. The gold had been located and started on its journey to Mexico. An unforeseen problem had arisen in the form of an American lawman who had discovered the whereabouts of Ruger and Sung Shan. It became clear to Han that the Americans wanted their gold back. The spoils of war to the victor. Even after such a long time had elapsed since the Civil War, the US administration – as with any government - refused to forgive and forget. Born out of the desperation of the national conflict, the Confederate gold was wanted for the coffers of the Union. Because of Ruger’s failure to deal with the man, and despite his eventual capture, concern had been raised over the possibility of the lawman having passed on information he might have picked up. Sung Shan had decided to keep the man alive, even to the extent of bringing him to Mexico so that he could be questioned thoroughly. But the American had managed to escape shortly before the ship dropped anchor, and had reached the shore safely, finding cover in the forest edging the beach.

  Despite a search by Kwo Han’s men the American had stayed free. He had inflicted fatalities upon Han’s men, and had killed two more men shortly after he had arrived in Agua Verde before falling into the hands of the Rurales.

  The whole affair had angered Kwo Han greatly. Not only had his organisation been compromised but he had been made to look a fool through the incompetence of his men. One man, a stranger to the area, had created total disorder. Kwo Han would have liked him dead very quickly but he had to proceed with caution. He could not afford to let the American damage his forthcoming business deal. He was concerned because the American had come into contact with a British agent called Hunt.

  It was not the first time Kwo Han had been involved with the British. His criminal ventures had drawn him to the wide expanse known as the Caribbean and much of it was favored by the British. Their Empire still exerted great influence and they had a reputation of being ruthlessly single-minded when it came to protecting their own.

  Kwo Han and Richard Hunt had crossed paths before. Each man was clever in his own way and despite their efforts neither had been able to overcome the other. Hunt, aware of the delicate nature of politics, had been forced to step back whenever he failed to gather enough evidence to lay at Han’s door.

  Han’s endeavour in Mexico had not gone unnoticed. The British had their undercover agents spread over the Gulf area. So it had not been a great surprise when Hunt had shown up in Yucatan. He had close contact with the local law force – in this instance Major Ruiz of the Rurales. Hunt had to step carefully until he had solid evidence against Han, and the Chinese, aware of this, made sure he operated carefully. It had been the usual game of cat and mouse.

  Han was mindful that Hunt would stay on his trail. His dogged single-mindedness would keep him in Han’s shadow until he had destroyed him. Han had already realised that the events which had taken place could make life difficult for him. Any careless mistakes would be grasped at by Hunt. He would be watching and weighing the facts. Han would be forced to tread a delicate path. But he had no choice in the matter. He had to go through with his deals. Too much effort and expense had been expended, and the stakes were far too high to even consider pulling out. Kwo Han was not thinking along those lines. As far as he was concerned the situation simply called for further arrangements to be made, and to that end he had already made preliminary moves.

  He glanced up from the papers he was working on when he heard the single, sharp tap on the door of his book lined study. Kwo Han pushed the papers aside. He rested his large, muscular hands on the polished surface of his huge desk.

  ‘Come,’ he said.

  The door opened to reveal a heavy-set Mexican wearing a sombre black suit. The man stepped into the study, closing the door behind him, and crossed to stand before Kwo Han’s desk.

  ‘Sung Shan made it sound urgent,’ he said.

  Kwo Han nodded. ‘Sit down, Cruz, and listen,’ Han said. ‘Yesterday an American shot and killed two of my men in Agua Verde. I presume you have heard about it?’

  Cruz’s eyes glittered. ‘I heard. He is a pistolero.’

  ‘I am not concerned with his ability to use a gun. Just the speed with which we can stop him using it again.’

  Cruz’s dark face hardened. ‘You want him dead?’

  ‘Yes. First, however, I would like to find out if he has passed on anything to that Englishman Hunt.’

  Cruz grinned, showing his large, white teeth. ‘You mean The Captain?’

  ‘Yes. A most clever man, Cruz, who seems to have a great deal of influence with the authorities. Beneath his rather casual exterior there lies a very dangerous threat to my business in Agua Verde.’

  ‘Is he some kind of policeman?’

  ‘Something of the kind. An agent who works for the British. He spends a great deal of time in the Caribbean. And now Yucatan. It is not the first time I have come up against him,’ Han said. ‘Captain Hunt, for all his pretence, does a great deal of prying. He asks lots of questions, innocent on the surface, but by the time he has all his answers the result is far from innocent.’

  ‘It could be why he took the American from the Rurales.’

  ‘I do not think he did it because he has a soft heart. That man, Brand, has been plaguing me all the way from America. Another government agent.’

  ‘What do you want done?’ Cruz asked.

  Kwo Han sat back in his chair. ‘Hunt’s curiosity is such that it would not take a deal of arousing. If he thought he might be able to acquire some important information concerning me, I’m sure he could be lured to a conveniently quiet spot.’

  ‘And then brought out here?’ Cruz grinned again. The idea appealed. ‘We could use our informants make Hunt believe they are willing to pass him information.’

  ‘Imaginative thinking, Cruz. Do it as soon as possible. I would like to have this matter settled before the buyers arrive. Remember, Cruz , I need the man alive. I do not mind how bruised he is as long as he will be able to answer questions.’

  Cruz stood up. ‘What about the American?’

  ‘I think that we can leave him for a time. He will not be going anywhere. By now, he and Hunt will have exchanged any information they have, so his threat has been reduced to mere physical violence. At this point Captain Hunt takes on a greater potential threat. Therefore, Mr. Cruz, we will deal with him first. Take him out of the game before he can instigate any action against me. The American will no doubt start looking for Hunt if he vanishes. If we work this correctly he will come to us. And then we will be able to deal with both of them at our leisure.’

  ‘Then Hunt is yours,’ Cruz said. He turned and left the room without another word.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kwo Han sat and stared out of the window. Out across the wide lawns beyond the sprawling hacienda the lush vegetation of Yucatan spread for miles into the hazy distance. At the back of his mind was th
e thought that he might have to leave Mexico long before he had intended. The possibility annoyed Kwo Han. He had taken a liking to the place. In his life he had travelled extensively, to many different countries. Of them all Mexico, left an impression on him. Especially this corner of Yucatan, with its pleasant climate and the availability to the Caribbean and America. One day he would have to find a permanent base for himself, and here would have suited him. But if things went wrong for him now that would be out of the question. He considered the money he’d invested here. The plantation, where he was now, with its flourishing fields. It would be a shame if he had to give it all up. Kwo Han slammed his fist down onto the desk top in anger. No. He would not give it up, at least not without a fight.

  The door opened and Sung Shan came into the room. There was an inner satisfaction to be had, Kwo Han realised, when he looked on Sung Shan’s suffering. Shan, faithful-to-death, as any Tong member had to be, took his recent failure extremely personally. Of all the Tong men in Han’s employ, Sung Shan was by far the best, and in all his years he had never once made a mistake. Until now. Had it been any other man Han would have killed him on the spot. But Sung Shan was special, and Han knew he would never find another so capable. He had realised that to let Sung Shan live was the best thing he could do. Shan would be grateful and he would also be aware that his continued existence depended on his future performance. There would also be the determination to serve with even stronger devotion.

  ‘Master Han,’ Sung Shan said.

  ‘I have been considering the events that led up to the American’s arrival here. If that fool Ruger had made certain of the American’s death I would not now have the complications that are bothering me.’

  Sung Shan regarded Han in silence. He wasn’t sure what was expected of him at this moment in time. He was also held back by a cautionary reluctance to say anything that might anger Kwo Han.

  ‘It has occurred to me, Shan, that now the gold is in my possession and the two representatives of the American syndicate are here, Mr. Ruger’s presence is superfluous.’ Kwo Han stood up and walked slowly to where Shan waited. ‘Let us face facts, Sung Shan. Ruger has proved, by the killing of his own former colleagues, that he is not a man to be trusted. He is also a man of extremely reckless actions as has been proved by his failure to kill the American, Brand. Such a man is dangerous. He could cause a great deal of harm at a time when too much has already gone wrong. I would not wish for such a thing to happen. Mr. Ruger is ruled by his greed for wealth, and such men cannot be given too much freedom. It would be wise, I think, if he was rendered harmless.’

  Sung Shan nodded briefly. He knew he had been given a command. The matter did not have to be spelled out for him. He had realised Kwo Han’s train of thought from the moment the Master had started to speak. As he turned and left the study, closing the door quietly behind him, Sung Shan smiled to himself. Kwo Han had offered him a chance to make a small redemption. He would not fail the Tong Master this time.

  Chu was waiting for him in the hallway outside the study. Sung Shan lifted his hand in a quick gesture and Chu fell in behind him. Sung Shan led the way across the hall and up the wide stairs to the next floor. He moved swiftly along a corridor until he was outside a certain door. Turning to Chu he spoke a few words. Chu reached inside his clothing and drew out a small, razor-sharp hatchet, the traditional weapon of a Tong killer. He passed it to Shan, who held the weapon out of sight as he turned and opened the door.

  Harvey Ruger glanced up as Shan entered. He was slumped in a seat by the open window, sweat beading his face. A bottle of whiskey stood on the small table next to his seat and Ruger had a glass in his hand. He stared at Shan through bleary eyes.

  ‘Hell, it’s the big man’s errand boy.’ Ruger’s words rolled out in a slur of sound. He lifted his glass and drained it. ‘Ain’t you got anything else to do ’cept keep botherin’ me?’

  Sung Shan crossed the room and stood before Ruger’s seat. He stared at the man silently until Ruger began to feel uncomfortable.

  ‘Cut it out, Shan,’ he grumbled. ‘Ain’t I got enough to put up with? Stuck here in this damn room because the big man downstairs don’t want anyone wandering round. Hell, it’s like bein’ in a damn cell. An’ when’s he goin’ to send them women he promised? Been so long since I had one I could start getting’ ideas about you.’

  ‘You have no need to worry any longer, Ruger,’ Sung Shan said. He savored every word. ‘Master Han has decided to solve the problem of your discontent. I am simply the bearer of the solution.’

  Suspicion was already forming in Ruger’s mind as he raised his head. There had been something in Sung Shan’s words that unsettled him. He had no time to query the matter. As Ruger looked up Sung Shan’s hand appeared, and the keen blade of the hatchet gleamed for a fleeting instant in the bright sunlight. Then the edge of the blade passed across Harvey Ruger’s throat. It bit deep, severing everything in its path. Sung Shan stepped to one side as blood spurted from the ugly wound. He watched as Harvey Ruger died, his body sliding from the seat onto the floor, his blood spreading across the polished wood.

  When it was all over Sung Shan left the room. He returned the hatchet to Chu, and gave him instructions concerning the removal of Ruger’s body. Then he made his way downstairs again to report to Kwo Han that his wish had been carried out.

  Chapter Twelve

  When they had finished their meal Jason Brand and Richard Hunt took coffee and cigars on the roofed veranda at the rear of the hacienda. Beyond the soft light of the oil-lamps the night was black. The heavy scent of many flowers hung in the warm night air. For a time the two men simply sat back, enjoying the calm. Brand had learned to make the most of any offered moments of relaxation. In his life they were very few and there were long periods between each quiet moment.

  ‘I have the distinct feeling that this time Mr. Kwo Han isn’t going to slip through my fingers,’ Hunt said suddenly.

  ‘Sounds like you’ve tried before.’

  Hunt laughed softly. ‘I wish I had gold ingot for every time I’ve failed. I’d be a rich man.’

  ‘The way you’ve been talking about him makes him out to be a tricky bastard,’ Brand said.

  ‘Oh, he’s smart, I don’t deny it.’ Hunt sat up, jabbing his cigar towards Brand. ‘You ever had anything to do with the Chinese Tongs?’

  Brand shook his head. ‘I’ve heard talk. Never had contact though.’

  ‘Then you can’t realise the kind of people they are. Ruthless isn’t a big enough word. But that’s what they are. Completely ruthless. Fanatical to a degree. A Tong is a totally dedicated organisation which concerns itself with crime. With anything you think of from petty-crime right up to murder and extortion.

  ‘Kwo Han’s taken a liking to Mexico. He doesn’t have much in the way of competition. There is also the fact that he’s pretty well surrounded by potential customers. To the north he’s got the complete American continent. After that there’s a whole world waiting. I’m involved because he’s even made sorties into the Caribbean. Jamaica especially and we British get touchy about our colonies.’

  ‘You’re telling me? Still we got our revenge at Boston.’

  ‘I’d hoped that was forgotten.’

  ‘Usually is except once a year.’

  ‘Good. Now, Han is causing the USA and Britain problems all round.’

  Brand smiled thinly. He lifted his coffee cup. ‘So all we have to do is close the door on him. Just like that?’

  ‘I didn’t say it was going to be easy, old boy.’

  ‘Hell, I thought you did.’

  Hunt laughed softly. ‘Never did believe that story about you Americans not having a sense of humor.’

  ‘We also speak English,’ Brand said.

  ‘Well, almost.’

  ‘So where do we go from here?’ Brand asked. ‘We have Ruger and the gold here in Mexico. This Kwo Han character is involved, and so are a couple of San Francisco hardcases. It must add up to somethi
ng. A deal of some kind. But what?’

  ‘On the information I have, plus yours and the material McCord sent me, I can only hazard a guess, Jason. Tell me what you think. We have Kwo Han and a group of organised criminals from San Francisco, who by the way, happen to have connections with people on the American East coast. I think there is a merger on the way. A partnership between the two parties. The gold to be used as finance for the deal. By the time Kwo Han’s finished with it he will have it converted into American currency. Money that can be passed without problems. It’s a sad fact, Jason, but a true one, that crime is becoming organised in the highly populated parts of the world, and especially in America. And people like Kwo Han, professional criminals, have already seen the way things are going. If they get on the roundabout now they are going to end up very rich and very powerful.’

  ‘I hate to say it but you’ve made a hell of a lot of sense.’

  Hunt frowned. ‘I was afraid you’d say that.’

  ‘Next question is can we touch Han?’

  ‘Going by the book he’s done nothing wrong until we can prove it. You know the law as well as I do, Jason, and if you think the American way is complicated you ought to read the British rule book.’

  ‘That’s where I don’t have to worry,’ Brand said. ‘First thing I did when I joined up with McCord was to throw the rules out. Only one I work by is make sure you hit him before he hits you.’

  ‘A man after my own heart,’ Hunt grinned. ‘If I had a glass I’d drink to that. To hell with fair play, let’s get the buggers.’

  ‘Let’s not forget the gold,’ Brand said. ‘The US Treasury will never forgive me if I don’t take it home.’

  ‘No problem. Wherever the gold is we’ll find Kwo Han.’

  ‘Depending on how long he hangs on to it. Don’t forget this deal he’s got set up.’