by Jsavage
“My brother was killed last year,”she oddly injected into their conversation. So, this was what happened he thought.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. what happened?”
“They don’t know, or aren’t saying. He was run over by a truck.”Ouch! Jake thought to himself. He knew Mi Ling didn’t have any other family. Her parents were gone with too many wars and older age. Her brother was all she had. Jake found he was feeling the same as he had once before for her. He had loved her, and had wanted to make her his wife, but country and her brother had come first. He wondered what now?
“What do you have to do with Wang?”
“Do we need to talk shop?”she asked. I just like being with you. Mi Ling had always had the innocent little girl thing about herself that Jake liked. She did that very well. He continued to hold her as they both sat up on the bed now, with him still within her. She pressed her head against his shoulder. From a country of some two billion people, and being rougher than nails, these people could and did display a surprising tenderness at times. Jake didn’t know if it was an act, or something else.
“I missed you Mi Ling,”he said.
“Me too,”she softly said, continuing to embrace him, and hold him from within. The room was dimly lighted as they just let time slip by. Each remembering their time before, and how it had been. Mi Ling now would like to marry Jake. She didn’t know if current events would prevent this from happening. She gave little thought to what her superiors would say. For her they didn’t matter. All that mattered was the love she had always felt for Jake. For whatever reason she had ways been drawn to him. Like he was a lover from her past, or something more. In the natural course of events, they fell asleep in each others arms, slumping quietly onto the bed, still intertwined. The stillness of the night and quiet was all there was for now.
Chapter Sixteen
Wang sat in his motel room wondering what to do next? He went over the offer in his mind. He wondered if the Americans were prepared to pay him his asking price? He also wondered how long he could keep his boss guessing? He knew the Americans needed the maps to be able to respond to his offer. He had until tomorrow night when he was to meet Jake again. He had done some research and found out his name. He also knew where he lived. He was trying to keep ahead in this game he had started. Five mill would be nice get away monies, though he wondered if any monies were enough to get away. He’d always be looking over his shoulder, and wondering about any strangers. He knew he wasn’t getting anywhere this way though. Such an opportunity wouldn’t present itself again. He knew he could be killed any time he didn’t please them. He felt he had no choice. He had to present them with something. He sat wondering what that would be? He also wondered how he could plan his death? Leading then to believe that he had been killed would get them off his back for good. He then could disappear into any large city, and enjoy himself. He thought perhaps Paris or LA would be two such cities, or even Toronto. He didn’t like the cold all that well and was leaning towards LA, with it’s China town. Where best to hide anything was in a group, or a collection of the same things. Wang wondered if he was being watched. He had seen one or two cars come and go from the paring lot in front of his motel room. Both had parked in the same place, for the same amount of time. Like they were following a predetermined schedule.
Wang left the radio on, along with one light and slipped out the back door. He peered around the corner, and saw one of the cars parked in the same spot in the lot. He had left the room key on the dresser before leaving. He had paid in advance. He also left the wreck of a car, which he wouldn’t miss. He had bought another car earlier in the day, and also found another motel across town. He made his way to the small two seater sports car. He had gotten a rather good deal for paying cash. It was a low mileage one owner car, which he was told had been traded by a divorced wife. Seems she was selling off ex-hubby’s play toys. He slipped behind the wheel. This is more like it he thought, feeling the coolness of the leather seat. His hand rubbed the leather steering wheel as he turned the key in the ignition. The car easily came to life as he shifted it into gear, and accidentally laid a patch pulling into traffic.
This thing has some get up and go he thought. He also thought this was more like it. A car more to his liking. They could keep that pile of bolts he had been driving. Now he needed new clothes and some cash to go along with his new car, which if he had his way, he’d have both real soon, via a Swiss or Cayman Islands bank accounts. He wasn’t planning on keeping all the money in one place in case things got rough. Multiple bank accounts with multiple debt cards was his plan, then perhaps a cross country trip to get lost with. And as far as something warm and sexy, he could always find someone who wanted some companionship, especially if he was paying the bills.
He continued down the road briskly, when suddenly he for the briefest of moment felt some hot strike him just above his right eye. Hands were frozen in a death grip on the steering wheel as the car now plunged off the road into a deep ditch. It didn’t burst into flame immediately like in the movies. The gasoline had to leak from it running on the under side of the car, over the hot exhaust pipes and muffler first, then it burst into flames. Wang was already dead from the shot from a passing truck, which disappeared down the road. Wang had gotten his nice new car, but no new clothes or money. Jake wouldn’t be meeting him tomorrow night. The car crash might have gone un-noticed if it hadn’t erupted into flames stopping traffic from both directions. Now the emergency vehicles with their sirens and flashing lights dotted the area. Jake who happened to be driving home wondered what had happened, as he was stuck in the traffic back up. He had just come from a briefing with his superiors, about his meeting with Wang tomorrow night. All had been arranged. Wang would have gotten his monies. They had viewed the maps Jim had just turned in. They had seen something more to the maps though they weren’t sure exactly what that was. They needed Wang’s input, whose only input now would be for a coroner to figure out the cause of death, from a burned up body from the bottom of a ditch, whose car flames weren’t making matters easy. They’d be lucky to find enough to recover. The fire department was having trouble getting water to the wreck. It was a rather a deep ditch. The shooter had planned well.
Jake was anxious to get home so when he finally moved in traffic far enough, he took a side road home. It was longer, but at the rate he had been going, he’d been at the crash site for at least another hour. He finally pulled into his driveway, then got out of his Jeep and walked to his front door, punched in the entry code, then turned the door knob and went inside. Being curious about the wreck he turned on the TV, where he saw and heard reporters reporting on the crash. Then to his surprise he heard the name Wang. Seems some of the car’s sales receipts been thrown from the car then found. Damn! thought Jake, if this was the same Wang. He had no reason to believe it wasn’t. He now knew how far the Chinese were prepared to go to get the files back. All the way to murdering one of their own agents. He wondered how they had been tipped off? Who had talked, or who had known to talk? And to whom? Jake hadn’t been able to follow Wang to his contact. Wang had been careful, at least as far as this was concerned. He now worried about Mi Ling. If they were following Wang, they had to be following her. This wasn’t good. He had to warn her, but wasn’t sure how to. Was she working at the same dive he had first met Wang? She had been gone when he awoke this morning. She hadn’t left any notes. Then he heard the shower running, and someone singing. It was Mi Ling. She liked to sing in the shower. He relaxed a little. He waited for her to come out of the bathroom. He listened for any more details about the wreck, when he saw a large truck pass by the TV cameras, with one Chinese man taking a keen interest in things. Jake noted the name on the side of the truck. Eastern Imports. Was this a coincidence? Were the gun men making sure the mark was dead? He’d check out the company with the agency.
Just then Mi Ling walked into the room drying her hair. The robe she was wearing was loosely tied at the waist, revealing some
of her breasts roundness. She came over to Jake and sat on his lap.
“You’re wet!”
“Naturally, I just had a shower.”She kissed him and put her arms around his neck.
“What are you watching?”she asked.
“Some wreck on the highway. Some guy went off the road into a gorge. He got killed and the car burst into flames.”
“How awful,”replied Mi Ling.“How about we go out to dinner? I feel like some Italian.”
“You going like that?”Jake teased.
“You mean like this?”she remarked, standing up and opening the bath-robe, and showing herself to him!
“That might be good for dessert.”
“You think so,”she said now closing her robe and once again sitting on his lap putting her arms again around his neck, then kissing him more warmly this time. His hand stole inside the robe feeling her breast and nipple. She felt herself grow excited.
“Stop that,”she commanded.“I’m hungry. Fed me first, then sex afterwards, only if you are good.”She now got up from his lap and headed to the bedroom to dress, but not before he was able punch her bottom. She turned and smiled at him, then raised her robe showing him her bare behind, then darted into the bedroom closing the door. Jake chuckled to himself, and then went into his bedroom to change. He too closed his door. The TV continued to report on the auto crash.
Chapter Seventeen
Jake and Mi Ling had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant Jake knew of. Mi Ling ate enough for two. How she maintained her slim figure was anyones guess. They had a lingering talk, and did some kissing. They weren’t in any hurry. They came home and retired to the bedroom, made love, and fell asleep in each others arms. Jake awoke the next morning early. He gently removed himself from Mi Ling’s embrace, and went to the bathroom where he performed his normal morning rituals. Then he had a bit of orange juice, with two pieces of toast with peanut butter and jam. He found the small 38 he kept in a kitchen drawer, and put it in the pocket of his jacket, just as he was about to leave. He remembered the name on the truck, Eastern Imports. He naturally stuck his cell phone in one of his pockets, and lastly checked for his Jeep keys, then he was out the door. Walking through the garage he picked up an odd shaped canvas bag with one hand. He exited the walk-in door onto the driveway. He slid into the Jeep putting the bag in the back on the floor. The drivers seat was a bit damp from early morning dew. He started the Jeep, backed up, and went down the street. Having put his cellphone into a holder on the dash, Jake was able to speed dial the office, as it were. He heard the phone dial then someone on the line.
“Hello Jake? Is that you?”asked Bill.“You’re up early.”
“Hey Bill! Did you hear about last night?”
“Yeah. Looks like our boy bought the farm.”
“Well looks like you’re going to save some money.”
“Did you go over the files and maps?”
“Not yet, they aren’t here. I understand Mi Ling is back.”
“Yes, and I’m not entirely sure I like her being back,”replied Jake.
“You don’t like getting up close and personal with her?”
“I never said that. She’s always been great, but she does come with some baggage.”
“Don’t they all,”replied Bill.
“Her brother got killed last year, now she is at loose ends. She’s looking for a husband.”
“What’s wrong with that? Weren’t you about to marry her last year?”
“Well that was last year. I’ve grown comfortable with my little beach house, and the dog.”
“Dog my ass,”responded Bill.“You now have your own personal harem of women up and down that beach any time you want them. You can kick them out in the morning and do as you please with the rest of your day. No honey do lists, and the like.”
“Well, who can blame me? Mi Ling didn’t want to marry me last year, now she does! It’s a bitch. You ever known a woman who knows what she wants?”
“No! So what are you going to do? You say no, then she’s suddenly pregnant with your kid, or giving you the greatest sex you ever had, then bang you’re married either way! You can’t win. But boy is that some dame! She has all those Asian woman looks. Do they train their women like it is rumored?”
“You wouldn’t believe the things she does. You could happily die in her arms.”
“Fella, I’d say you’re hooked. Now all she has to do is reel you in.”Changing the subject Jake asked.
“What do you know about Eastern Imports?”
“Not too much. The place is run by one SOB. Rumored to be high up in the government influence department. Doesn’t take no for an answer, and plays rough. Why? You hear something?”
“It’s not what I heard. It’s what I saw on TV. I was watching the news when an Eastern Imports truck drove by the scene. Someone was taking a keen interest in the wreck.”
“You think they tapped our guy?”
“It would be a good bet. It just seemed like too much of a coincidence.”
“You also think Mr. SOB was our guy’s handler?”
“I’d say so. I have the big ear with me. I thought I’d see what I could hear this morning. Eastern Imports ought to be really abuzz today.
“Just don’t let them see you, or get shot. Getting killed might solve your Mi Ling problem, but it would mean lots of paper work for me.”
“You’re a real sweet heart Bill,”said Jake.“Remind me to take you off my Christmas card list.”
“Funny guy! Just don’t get killed.”
“I’ll do my best,”replied Jake, pushing end on the cell. Just then the cell rang.
“Hello My Love,”said Mi Ling.“Where’d you go this morning? I wanted a little morning delight.”
“I had something to do early. It’s important.”
“Like not telling me about Wang getting murdered yesterday.”The tone in her voice was suddenly serious. He knew how she could get. For a small woman she was deadly. A fifth degree black belt with extra training in the single blow killing arts. He had seen her in action. He couldn’t believe her speed. Not more than one hundred and ten pounds soaking wet, but deadly none the less.
“Where are you going?”she asked.
“To possibly listen in on the killers conversations. I have big ear with me.”
“And where is that? Eastern Imports?”He was stunned she knew, but she had always known things in the past. He had forgotten this also about her. There was much depth to this woman. It was part of what attracted him to her. She was much more than a tiger between the sheets.
“Be careful. Lu Wong is most dangerous. I hope you took your 38 with you.”
“Is there nothing you don’t already know about?”he asked.
“Just be careful my love. I’d like some sex when you get back.”The phone went quiet save the dial tone. He pushed end on his cell. He now concentrated on driving. It was going to be another beautiful day in Old Sunny California. He already knew where Eastern Imports was located. Down on the docks. In the old section. He tried to keep his mind on matters at hand, but with Mi Ling coming back, she had awakened some old feelings in him. He knew what he had told Bill, but he had never really stopped loving her. Yes, having a house and your freedom was nice, but waking up with Mi Ling in his arms was heavenly. It always had been. How could he have forgotten? He now was approaching the docks. Where he needed to go was still some miles away. He parked the Jeep inside an old friends airplane hanger. He usually did this when he had business in the docks. He also knew of the old under ground tunnels that ran through out the docks. A hold over from the war years. The tunnels were are regular tourist attraction, so they were kept free of rats and other crawling things, plus kept clean and well lighted. Today wasn’t a tourist day. The tunnels were empty and dark. Jake had brought a flashlight. One of those new LED bulb ones which gave off a good light with less battery drain. He wouldn’t want to get caught down here without some light, so he had brought two of the compact flashlights.
They hardly took up any space in a pocket. Jake climbed down the ladder in the north end of the old hanger. He reached bottom, and turned on one of his lights. It shone brightly. He held the canvas bag in his other hand. Eastern Imports was north west of where he was now. The tunnels were clearly marked. Jake put his cellphone on vibrate now thinking about having to remain as quiet as possible. He didn’t believe the guards made regular tours though the tunnels on non-tourist days but just in case they did, he secured anything that might make noise. He started out. He hadn’t thought that close spaces bothered him before, but now he wasn’t so sure. A nice time to find out he thought. He focused his mind on the here and now. He felt for the 38. It was still where he had put it in his left jacket pocket. He could shoot with either hand easily. He now came to the west avenue. He took it. He checked the compass on his wrist band, and he was going due west. He should be coming to another ladder in one of the other old hangers soon. Sure enough there it was. Jake turned off his light as he started to climb the ladder. It was really dark, so he turned it on again. He poked his head up, much like a gopher. He didn’t see much except for mountains of boxes stacked on each other. He listened for any sounds. All he heard were the distant sounds of fork lifts. He exited the hole and walked towards a dirty window, and peered out. Bingo! He was next door to Eastern Imports. He surveyed the building. There were the loading docks, with a few trucks parked in them. It was early, but this didn’t mean much on the docks. Freight came and went all hours of the day. He saw someone open a side door, and walk inside. He made note of the tunnel he had just come out of. The tunnel ought to continue right under Eastern Imports he thought. It occupied one of the old hangers. Jake walked back to the ladder and descended down it. He proceeded towards the Eastern Imports hanger building. He began to hear voices. They grew louder as he got closer, to the point he could hear perfectly what was being said. He stopped, and somewhat shielded his flashlight with his hand. He now sat on the tunnel floor. It was cool. He rested up against the wall, when he heard.
