Jade Dragon (Action Girl Thrillers)
Page 4
Kyle showed his badge to the security guard. “Detective Kyle Travis, Homicide. Don’t let anyone else in. Got that?”
The Japanese doorman stood to attention. “Yes, sir. Anything you need. What’s the problem?”
“Just do your job.”
An old lady with a Zimmer frame brushed past Kyle and exited the bank. He gave her a brief once over, but nothing more. His attention was fixed on Nicole. She was looking straight at him. Even with sweat running down her face, the teenage girl was a beauty. No amount of cosmetic surgery could possibly improve the complexion of her soft, oriental skin. Nicole’s formal business suit provided an indication of social status yet concealed none of her athleticism. The blue eyed lady was Kyle’s ideal woman: young, sexy, and above all classy.
As he approached the counter, Kyle realized Nicole was upset with the woman behind the window. After some words of assurance, he introduced himself to Tasoto’s daughter.
“Are you some hotshot fresh out of the academy?” she snapped. “Coming in like the Lone Ranger, waving your badge around for all to see.”
Kyle took a step back, caught off guard by Nicole’s unfriendly response. She was right of course, but when it came to women he wasn’t used to going on the defensive.
“I’m being as discrete as possible,” Kyle reassured her.
“Of course.” Nicole didn’t appear satisfied at all. “Well, since somebody couldn’t keep her mouth shut…” She glared at the teller. “I guess you’re on the case, then.”
“Actually, it was the bank manager who contacted us. Like I told you before…” Kyle checked the employee’s name badge. “Joanna had nothing to do with it.”
“Oh.”
That piece of information soothed Nicole’s temper. She seemed embarrassed as she apologized to the cashier. “Sorry if I snapped at you before. I’m a little on edge.”
“I’ll take things from here,” Kyle told Joanna. “Nicole?”
The detective escorted the frightened girl to a seating area. Her palm was moist and warm to the touch. Though Nicole kept her chin up, Kyle suspected she was a wreck inside. He directed her to a coffee table and sat down opposite.
“Has the kidnapper contacted you?” he asked.
“I never said my father had been kidnapped.”
Nicole pushed back her hair. Her response was a classic case of blunt denial, an outright refusal to cooperate. For obvious reasons, the girl was reluctant to share information with the police.
Kyle kept up the pressure. “Then why mention your father? Or empty your savings account? Do you normally carry that much in cash? Nicole, I can understand you wanting to keep this private. But I promise—”
The girl slammed some photographs and a typed note on the table. “You want to help? Okay. I’ll tell you what I know, Detective Travis. She has my father, and he’ll die unless you give me back my money. She delivered those to my office this morning.”
“She?” Kyle couldn’t conceal his surprise. “What did this woman look like? I’m assuming she was a stranger.”
“I don’t know. I mean, I never saw her myself. My receptionist, Rebecca, was the one who received the package. The courier wore biker’s gear, but she seemed pretty sure it was a woman.”
“One hour from now,” Kyle muttered, reading the note. “When did you get this?”
“About thirty minutes ago.” Nicole’s shoulders sank. “She’s going to kill him, isn’t she? And now you’ve gotten involved, she’ll…”
Nicole trailed off, whimpering as she wiped tears from her eyes. Kyle rested a comforting hand on her wrist.
“Everything will be fine. I promise,” he said. “We’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“We? Who’s—”
Right on cue Lakeysia walked into the bank. Now the other customers had left, she spotted Kyle and Nicole almost immediately.
Kyle introduced them. “Nicole, this is my partner, Detective Lakeysia Symons.”
“Soon to be ex-detective.” Lakeysia glanced at the note. “Short, sweet and to the point. Gotta love that. Want me to call the cavalry, Travis?”
“We could use a S.W.A.T. team. And a hostage negotiator to be on the safe side. But no choppers. I don’t want to freak this wacko out.”
Nicole shook her head disapprovingly. “The kidnapper said to come alone. The wording’s very specific.”
“Got it,” said Lakeysia, blatantly ignoring the girl’s concerns. “I’ll go inform the lieutenant.”
Shortly after Lakeysia left the premises, the bank manager brought a satchel over to the table and presented it to Nicole. The case was open, and the interior laden with cash.
“Two hundred thousand dollars,” the manager said. “In twenties as you requested, Miss Tasoto. I’m a good friend of your father. He and I meet often to discuss his company’s finances. I hope this works out.”
Nicole verified the contents and closed the satchel. “Thank you. And I appreciate you calling the police. It was the right move, despite my reservations.”
She placed her hand on Kyle’s. For a brief moment they looked into each others eyes. Then the manager handed Kyle a radio.
“Detective Travis,” he said, “I took the precaution you suggested. The transmitter’s concealed within the case lining. It’s impossible to detect without a comprehensive scan. The receiver has a five mile range. That should allow you to stay in contact and track the money remotely.”
Nicole retracted her hand, and gave the two men alternate glances. “Transmitter? Receiver? What’s going on?”
“You’ll go through with the delivery as scheduled,” Kyle explained. “Since we can’t escort you for fear of being spotted, we’ll monitor your progress and listen in by radio, just in case this mystery woman decides to try anything fancy. We’ll surround the building but stay out of sight. That way, once you’ve made the drop off and your father’s safe, we can grab the kidnapper.”
Nicole stared at Kyle open mouthed. “No,” she protested. “Whose crazy idea was this? What if she finds out? What then? My father—”
Kyle shook the girl by the shoulders. “Nicole. Nicole!” he yelled. “She won’t find out.”
“What if she’s been listening in? If she saw you arrive?”
Nicole scanned the lobby. She and Kyle were the only people in the room, but that didn’t appear to ease the girl’s mind.
“She won’t find out,” Kyle insisted. “Not if you play this smart. And we won’t move until you’re both out of harm’s way. Trust me.” He checked his watch. “Thirty minutes. Try to remain calm, Nicole.”
Nicole exhaled then wiped her forehead. “Easier said than done. Okay. I’m ready.”
***
Lakeysia kept her distance, tailing Nicole’s silver corvette along the back streets. Kyle urged her to drive closer, but she insisted on sandwiching two cars in between. He could understand his partner’s caution, but they’d nearly lost their mark three times already, and he didn’t want to let Nicole out of his sight.
Kyle checked the clock radio. “Ten minutes,” he estimated. “We’re nowhere near the drop point. Damn it. Why’s she driving so slow?”
“Don’t ask me,” replied Lakeysia with a shrug. “Maybe she’s not happy with two hundred grand and wants to collect her pop’s inheritance.”
Their worries regarding Nicole’s hastiness proved unfounded. Once they entered the industrial sector, the daughter put her foot down, made several forays into opposite lanes, jumped two red lights in succession, and narrowly avoided a head on collision with a garbage truck.
“Think she’s trying to shake us by any chance?” Lakeysia was having trouble keeping up with Nicole’s speedy, dangerous maneuvers.
Pedestrians stopped to watch the sexy Asian girl tempt fate in her flashy sports car, but not everybody appreciated Nicole’s driving antics. A motorcycle officer approached from behind, siren blaring out loud. As the cop overtook the unmarked car, Kyle realized the rider was a butch, unattractive w
oman with a wart on her chin. He waved his arms frantically, trying to get her attention. When that failed, he pressed his shield against the window. Eventually the woman noticed him, raised a hand in apology, and gave up the chase.
“Thought you liked fast women,” joked Lakeysia.
Kyle stared through the rear window. “Did you see that stupid bitch?”
“You mean the lady doing her job?” Lakeysia made it perfectly clear whose side she was on. Trust her to back the woman up.
Kyle was determined to deny his partner an easy victory. “Couldn’t she see our dash light for Christ’s sake?”
“That’s sorta difficult when it’s not switched on. We’re trying to avoid being seen, in case you forgot.”
Kyle ignored her and grabbed the radio. “This is fourteen eleven,” he shouted. “In pursuit of a silver corvette. License plate ID…” He glanced through the front windscreen.
“Try looking at the car’s behind instead of Miss Tasoto’s,” quipped Lakeysia.
“Tango Alpha Sierra Zero Tango Zero,” Kyle informed dispatch. “We’re responding to a ransom situation. There is to be no interference. You got that?”
“Nice job, Travis,” Lakeysia said. “Bit late in the day, though.”
Kyle’s partner pointed to a warehouse halfway down the street. Nicole had parked her corvette outside the front gate. She sat still, with her engine running.
Kyle scanned the surrounding rooftops. “Where the hell’s our backup?”
“Out of sight, like us.”
Lakeysia reversed into a parking lot, backing up from the street. A rusted, corrugated iron fence obscured Nicole’s car from view.
“You left her all on her own!” Kyle reacted angrily.
“Relax. We’re keeping a close eye on your girl.”
A flock of birds took flight from an advertising board opposite the warehouse, disturbed by a police squad in full body armor. Officers stood on a maintenance platform, sniper rifles at the ready. A flash of reflected sunlight alerted Kyle to S.W.A.T. team members holed up in a neighboring building, strategically positioned near upper floor windows. Some stared through binoculars, while others were busy checking their weapons. Nicole and her police escort team were the only people about. Most San Franciscans avoided this part of town, and the lowlifes who lived here were probably recovering from cocktails of alcohol and drugs served the previous night.
“Everything quiet out front,” a policeman reported over the radio. “No hostiles sighted.”
“You think she’s feelin’ up to it?” Lakeysia asked Kyle. “Point of no return. If you’re worried about her, we should raid the place now, take our chances.”
Kyle shook his head. “No. Any sudden moves, and Nicole’s father dies for sure.”
“Nicole? Seems to have stuck. Care for a word or two of advice? Don’t get on first name terms just yet. These things have a funny way of not working out.”
Kyle looked at the clock. He felt his heart beat faster as the final seconds ticked by. “It’s time,” he said, watching Lakeysia reload her gun. “You expecting trouble?”
Lakeysia flipped off her pistol’s safety catch, and holstered the weapon under her jacket. “The last person that didn’t got abducted, and the one before that turned up with his head missing. So yeah. I’m expectin’ trouble.”
Kyle was so freaked out by Lakeysia’s comments that he jumped with fright when Nicole reported in. “I’m exiting the car.” The radio transmitter the bank manager had planted in the satchel was cutting edge technology, and there was no loss of clarity in her voice. “Entering the warehouse n—”
The rest of her message was drowned out by the creak of rusty hinges. Footsteps followed, then a loud metallic clang.
“I’m inside,” Nicole informed them. “Oh God. I see my father. He’s been tied up. I’m walking over to him.”
Kyle opened the passenger door and drew his gun. Lakeysia remained behind the wheel. If she was nervous, she didn’t look it. Kyle listened intently. He could make out ambient noises over Nicole’s footsteps: squealing rats, clinking chains, muffled screams and – most worrying of all – a ticking clock.
“Detective!” Nicole yelled. “There’s some sort of—”
A ringing alarm bell interrupted her. There was a loud whoosh, and everything intensified. Rats screeched louder, chain links clanked faster, and the agonized moans became constant.
“Father! No!” screamed Nicole.
Lakeysia grabbed the radio. “This is Symons! Move in!”
Kyle was already sprinting towards the warehouse. Lakeysia gave instructions over the police band, but he wasn’t about to listen. Kyle reached the building a few seconds ahead of the response team.
A human fireball was chained to the floor. The Asian man writhed in agony, shaking his restraints in a hopeless bid to escape the inferno. Flames spread far, high and wide. Kyle froze on the spot. Half a dozen police officers followed him in, but there was nothing they could do either. A lake of burning oil ten feet in diameter surrounded the man, and it was impossible to reach him.
Despite the odds stacked against her, Nicole was determined to pull her father to safety. She raced towards the flames, and raised her hands to shield her face. Kyle tackled the girl and dragged her back. She kicked and screamed, thumping his chest. Nicole was a strong woman, and Kyle struggled to hold onto her. She elbowed him in the stomach, wrestled free, and shoved him away.
Thick, black smoke rose from the burning petrol, so dense that Kyle choked on the fumes. “Nicole,” he coughed. “Get back!”
Lakeysia led a backup squad into the warehouse. She came to Kyle’s aid while the other officers concentrated on pulling Nicole away from the fire. It took three men to pin her to the ground. After a fierce scrap, she gave up her fight and lay still, panting for breath. Her face and clothes were black from exposure to the heat.
“Father!” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The police lowered their guns and watched the flames burn, powerless to act as Toshigi’s struggles became noticeably weaker. A badly roasted face was visible through the smoke. Fire ate through the handkerchief gagging the man’s mouth. Free to speak, he called out to his daughter.
“Nicole. It was her,” Toshigi croaked, struggling with every word. He rolled his eyes and tried to face her, but some unseen contraption held his head in place. “She wanted… you… to watch me die. She set… this whole thing… up.”
“Who?” asked Nicole. “Who did this to you?”
Her question went unanswered. Toshigi had uttered his last breath. His body fell limp, and was soon consumed by fire.
“Set what up? Father? Father!”
Nicole stared ahead, her expression a mixture of anguish and disbelief. Kyle placed a consoling arm around the girl’s shoulder, but his efforts to calm her invoked only hatred.
“You killed him,” she accused. “My father’s dead because of you. Because you interfered. Why didn’t you leave me alone?”
“Nicole, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah,” Nicole said, turning her back. “So you should be.”
She marched past Kyle and out of the warehouse. Lakeysia watched a uniformed policewoman escort Nicole to a black and white, and joined Kyle by the flames.
“Bet you twenty bucks she’s faking it. Acting that good, they should give her an Oscar. See she’s got you fooled. You know something. If you watched her eyes instead of her—”
“Will you give it a rest, Lakeysia?”
Kyle stooped down to collect a charred banknote, one of hundreds that littered the warehouse floor. The flames receded, and he saw the satchel Nicole had discarded.
Lakeysia removed a notebook and cheap Biro pen from her inside pocket. “The girl’s got money to burn. Wish I had the luxury,” she said, writing tidbits of information. “So, we on?”
Before Kyle could reply, firefighters rushed into the warehouse. The detectives stepped back while they sprayed dry ice over the flames.
“Or find his charred remains. I’m surprised the guy lasted as long as he did.”
Now the fire no longer posed a threat, Lakeysia moved closer to Toshigi’s body. She slipped on surgical gloves, and brushed white ashes off the dead man’s hand. A glint of light caught her eye.
“Your standard, everyday thief’s lockpick,” she determined, lifting the object by its long handle.
“A chance to escape,” said Kyle.
“While blindfolded and without the use of his arms or legs. I doubt even the Great Houdini would have escaped this one.”
“A game he couldn’t win,” Kyle pondered. “Wait a minute. This guy was a big games designer, right?”
“Something like that, I guess. I’m not into this new age console stuff. Suppose I’m too busy solving crimes. Why don’t you ask your new girlfriend? See what she has to say.”
Lakeysia nodded towards the entrance door. Outside Nicole sat in the rear of the squad car, drinking from a polystyrene cup.
“Think she’ll be alright?” asked Kyle.
“Depends if she likes coffee. Hopefully she doesn’t, then she won’t have an allergic reaction. She’s still better off than her dad.”
Lakeysia separated a dark gray shaving from the ash under Toshigi’s head, and brushed sticky residue aside to expose markings scraped into a concrete brick. The killer had left a cryptic message.
“Twelve E,” Kyle read aloud. “I don’t get it.”
“You ever known a psycho to talk sense?”
Kyle placed the charred twenty in his partner’s pocket. “My stake. No need to waste real money. You’re wrong about Nicole. Good cops don’t let previous cases bias them. You know, not every girl is a Triad hitwoman.”
Lakeysia stood up to confront him head on. “You’re the one who’s biased. You think you’re a good judge of the fair sex, don’t you Travis? Let me tell you something from my personal experience. A woman’s most dangerous weapon isn’t a gun, a sword or a firebomb.”