The bus ride back to Andrew’s home was a hazy dream to Jason. When they got off the bus and started to walk, he kneeled down and threw up. Andrew helped him to his feet.
As they entered Andrew’s home, Lin Cho was waiting in the hallway with his driver/bodyguard, Kotang. Kotang stood nearly seven feet tall; he was so wide that he had to turn his shoulders to get through most doors. He had once been a Japanese sumo wrestler, but after he had murdered a woman in Japan, he had fled to Great Britain. Cho looked at Andrew as they entered. He noticed that Jason was covered in blood.
“Is he all right? You should not have taken him. He is too small. I knew he would get hurt.”
“No, Father, he’s fine. Jason killed him. It was his first kill, and he’s just shaken up,” Andrew said as he took Jason to the kitchen. Cho and Kotang followed.
“Jason killed him? It seems you have found a worthy friend. A boy with his looks, a Westerner, could be very useful to us.” Cho grinned. Jason pulled off his shirt and stuck his head under the flow of cold water. He watched the water turn red as it washed the blood off his face. When he was clean, he dried off. He faced Andrew.
“Did I do all right, Andrew?”
“Yes and no. I never told you to kill him. You were supposed to keep watch. But, damn, you were so fast!”
“Boys, I am going to see Boudica in an hour, and I would like you two to join us.” This was the break Jason had been hoping to get—a chance to meet Boudica.
Chapter 8
Andrew smiled at Jason. They both sat in the back of Lin Cho’s Rolls-Royce on their way to see Boudica. Andrew told Jason to keep the black leather jacket because it suited him.
Jason didn’t reply. He was still thinking about the shopkeeper. He couldn’t feel a pulse! Maybe he had been feeling in the wrong place? He told himself that had to be it. The knife was there just as George had said. It must have been a fake knife with animal blood.
They eventually came to a large industrial park. At the far end was a huge, dirty building with many other buildings connected to it. Trucks drove in and out of the large, guarded gates. An eight-foot fence topped with barbed wire surrounded the entire compound. Security cameras were mounted every forty feet. Jason noticed security guards with guard dogs patrolling the perimeter inside and outside.
“Is this a prison?” Jason asked.
Cho and Kotang laughed at his remark.
“This is Boudica’s factory. Have you heard of ‘B Food Company, Ltd.’?” Andrew asked.
Jason paused and thought as the car stopped at the front gates.
“I think so. Don’t they make breakfast cereal?”
“Yes, the top selling brand is Coco-Bites. Boudica owns the company. She is the ‘B’ in ‘B Food Company.’”
Jason looked confused. If she was head of the Triads, why would she also own a children’s breakfast company?
Kotang drove up to the large building. The once-red brickwork had turned black over the years with grime from London’s smog and pollution. The tiny windows had bars across them. Inside was just as dark and gloomy. As they entered, Jason could taste sugar in the atmosphere and a strong, pleasant smell. It reminded him of his kitchen at home after Mrs. Beeton had been making his favorite food: carrot cake.
Large stainless steel containers of flour and sugar with connecting pipes filled the interior. Workers with white coats, gloves, and blue hard hats walked briskly and checked various dials and gauges.
Pallets of cereal boxes were stacked from floor to ceiling. Forklift trucks loaded with boxes and various supplies sped around. A conveyor belt carried what Jason could only describe as thousands of cereal boxes.
They walked up a large metal stairway and followed a walkway suspended from the ceiling to an office at the end.
“Boudica, how are you?” Cho smiled and bowed.
Behind a desk sat a figure. Jason looked and made eye contact. She stood and glanced at him. She was slender and tall, Chinese with blond hair. Her skin was white and looked pale compared to her bright red lips. She had dark, intelligent eyes and wore a tight-fitting purple silk dress cut above the knee. As she walked around the desk to shake Lin’s hand, Jason watched her. She had a large slit on the side of her dress, and as she walked, it opened and slid so high that Jason was sure it would reveal her underwear. Her glossy black boots with large heels made her look even taller than she actually was.
She looked down at Cho. “I understand Andrew took care of a little problem with his new friend,” she spoke in Chinese.
“Yes, Andrew has gained his reputation back. This will make our clients think next time,” Lin answered in Chinese.
“There had better not be a next time. This pretty boy—I don’t trust Westerners—why would you bring him here?” she said scornfully.
“He will be helpful to us. He actually killed the problem and helped Andrew in juvie. I’ve had him checked out. He’s harmless. As you know, the police and SYUI are watching our every move. They would never suspect a boy like him to be working for us. Plus, he’s now a killer.” Lin smiled.
“Come here, boy,” she ordered. Jason ignored the remark. As far as they were concerned, he didn’t speak Chinese. Andrew looked at Jason and nodded his head toward Boudica.
“What?” asked Jason in English.
Boudica smiled at him, her eyes still showing no emotion. “Come here, boy,” she repeated in English.
“The name is Steed. Jason Steed, miss,” he said as he approached. “You must be Boudica.” He held out his hand.
“Are you not afraid of me, boy?” she asked. Jason pulled his hand away as she put hers out. She was standing with her hand outstretched, furious.
“My name is Jason Steed.”
Cho raised his eyes. Andrew held his breath. Boudica looked shocked. Clearly outraged, she turned and went back behind her desk.
“We are already at full production. My plant in the United States will open next month. Within a year, I shall be the richest woman in China and will never have to smell this rotten stench again. The money will go back to our homeland, and I will once and for all rid China of Chairman Mao. China will be a great country again, and I, Boudica, shall be its queen. The stupid Western children and their addiction will provide me with everything I need to overthrow him.” She admired her long red fingernails and continued, “I have a place for you, Lin Cho. You have done very well. You and your family will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.” She laughed.
Jason started to shake nervously. What he had heard did not make much sense, but it was important he let George know. His ability to speak Chinese had been invaluable. It now made sense why SYUI had chosen him.
“Jason Steed, it was…amusing to meet you. I have never met someone so small and yet so confident before. You are right to be proud of your name. I apologize for calling you boy.” She held out her hand. Jason walked forward and shook it. It felt cold and stiff.
“Lin Cho, you and the boys have arrived just in time. We captured a spy and have him downstairs. They are interrogating him now. You must all come and meet him,” she said, pleased. They followed Boudica down the staircase, and the workers in the blue overalls bowed their heads. It sickened Jason.
They followed Boudica into a room that was like a hospital operating room. A man was strapped down to the bed, half-naked. Two Chinese men in white coats who looked like twins stood over him. Jason took in his surroundings.
“This is Officer Jim Kinver with SYUI. He has been spying on me. But now Jim has nothing to say. Well, Wing and Wong will get him chatting.”
Cho walked up to the bed and slapped Kinver across the face.
“Why are you watching us? What do you know?” Jim turned his head and looked away. He briefly made eye contact with Jason. Cho picked up a surgeon’s knife and cut a line across Kinver’s chest. He screamed o
ut in pain. Jason and Andrew flinched at the bloody sight and sound of his screams. Kinver then had a gag put across his mouth by one of the twins to prevent him from screaming. Boudica walked across and picked up a pair of wire cutters.
“Are you ready to talk yet, Jimmy boy?” she asked.
He glared at her and struggled against the leather ties that held down his hands and feet. His body fought like a wild animal trying to free itself from a trap. Without a second thought, Boudica cut off the small finger on his right hand. Blood shot out across the floor. One of the twins lit a blowtorch and scorched the stub to prevent him from bleeding to death. His sweat-covered face was racked with pain. He screamed against the gag. Jason felt like throwing up. He wasn’t sure he could watch any more.
“Tell us who else is involved or loose a toe!” Cho shouted.
Kinver again looked at Jason, who was trying to look away.
“I’m working alone,” Kinver protested. “I suspected that you are running a protection scheme. That’s all!”
Cho laughed and said, “They don’t send in SYUI for a small issue like a protection racket. You are lying. Good-bye, little toes.”
Kinver screamed as Cho removed a toe on his left foot. The pain from the blowtorch was worse. Jason’s stomach churned as the room was consumed with the stench of burning flesh. Boudica looked at Jason. She tilted her head and studied him.
“How rude of us, Jason. We are having all the fun,” she said, licking a spot of Kinver’s blood off her long white fingernail. “It’s your turn now.”
“No, thanks. I’ve already killed once today. No need to be greedy. You carry on. I’ll watch,” he said nervously, forcing a smile.
“It was an order, not a request,” Boudica snapped back. Jason paused. His brain was churning, trying to figure a way out.
I could take Lin and Andrew. I’m certain Boudica would be easy, the two twins probably as well, but Kotang is outside. He would snap me in half! I can’t risk fighting them all alone. If I lose, it’ll be me strapped to the bed, and that won’t help Kinver.
He walked up to the bed, desperately trying to think of something. Jason picked up a knife and put it back down. He then picked up a pillow off the floor.
“That won’t hurt him enough to make him speak, Jase,” Andrew scoffed.
Jason pulled off the pillowcase, folded it up tight, and placed it over Kinver’s face and nose. After thirty seconds, Kinver fought back, trying desperately to breathe, his face turning blue. Finally, Jason removed it.
“You’d better tell them what they want know. I’m new to this, and next time, I may do it too long,” Jason said quietly. Kinver’s eyes glared at Jason in total disbelief.
“Come on, Jason. It’s my turn,” Andrew said, trying to act tough in front of the others. Jason again pushed the pillowcase across his mouth and nose. The others in the room didn’t notice Jason’s fingers feeling Kinver’s neck just below his right ear. Once Jason found the right pressure point, he pushed down, and this blocked the blood to the brain. After a few seconds, Kinver was unconscious. Jason pulled the pillowcase away.
“Oops. Looks like I’ve killed two today…sorry.”
Boudica gestured one of the twins to check Kinver.
“He is alive but fainted,” he told Boudica in Chinese.
“You killed him, Jason,” she lied. Jason decided to play along.
“Good. Anyone who is a threat to Andrew and his family deserves to be dead.” Jason frowned.
“He’s not really dead. He’s just fainted. You’re a cold-hearted little brat. I like that.”
Chapter 9
Jason walked back into the Bristows’ flat. He wanted to contact George, but he was unsure if he was being followed. As he entered the living room, all eyes stared at him. Janice shook her head and looked away.
“Has someone died?” he sniggered.
“It’s not a laughing m-m-m-matter, Jason. We are trying to be flexible, but you have been gone all day. And why is your shirt bloody?” Mr. Bristow said as he stood. He walked over to Jason. “I don’t want to be heavy-handed, Jason. We all like you. But if I have to install discipline, I will.”
“I was at the park all day playing football. Met some new friends. Then some small kid fell off the slide. I helped him until his parents came to fetch him. I think they took him to the hospital,” Jason said, trying to look hurt. Mr. and Mrs. Bristow now looked very guilty for not trusting him.
Maybe I overdid it.
Janice watched through squinted eyes silently. She clearly did not believe his story, but Jason had bigger things to worry about. He had to get word to George urgently.
Jason lay in bed. The hall light that shone under the crack of his bedroom door went out. He decided he would wait a while for the Bristows to fall sleep and then sneak out. After twenty minutes, he climbed out of bed and started getting dressed when suddenly his door opened. He fell as he tried to quickly get back into his bed and under the covers.
“What are you up to?” Janice whispered.
“Nothing. What are you doing in here?” Jason hissed, trying to hide the fact that he was only wearing one sock and his underwear.
“Nothing? Then why aren’t you in your pajamas?”
“I’m not tired. I don’t burst into your room. I respect your privacy. Now please respect mine and get out.”
“Not until you tell me what you’re up to.” She picked up the odd sock off the floor and sat on his bed with her arms folded.
“I’m not up to nothing. Just go,” Jason said, trying to pry his sock out of her grasp.
“You lied to my parents tonight. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I won’t let my parents get hurt. You’re not going out this time of night, are you?” Janice whispered. “Then I’m coming with you.”
“Out of the question.”
“I’ll call my parents.” She stood, and with her arms still folded, she looked at him with her eyebrows raised, questioning him.
I’m glad I don’t have a nosey sister in my real life.
They crept out of the apartment and ran down the flights of stairs.
“What’s the rush?” she asked, almost running to keep up with his brisk walking speed.
“The buses will stop running soon.” Once they arrived at the bus stop, Jason read the timetable and realized the last bus had left at ten. He took Janice by the arm and started running.
They came to a pub, and outside, a row of taxis were waiting for customers. Jason opened the back door and jumped in and pulled Janice with him.
“You kids are out bloody late. Where have you been?” the taxi driver asked.
“A party. Church road, South London. And we’re late, so make it quick please,” Jason ordered. Janice sat back and looked at Jason while he continued to give address details.
The taxi pulled up outside Scott’s home, and Jason climbed out.
“Janice will wait here until I get your money. How much do we owe you, sir?” Jason asked.
“Six quid, mate.”
Jason rang the bell at the Turners’ house and rattled the letter box at the same time. The second time he rang the bell, the lights came on in the house. The door slowly opened, and Dr. Turner peered around the crack, wearing his dressing gown and slippers. His hair was sticking up like he’d been electrocuted.
“Dr. Turner, I need six pounds to pay the taxi,” Jason asked, gesturing with his head at the taxi. The clackity diesel engine smothered the silence of the night.
The Turners were like a second family to Jason. They knew he was working for SYUI and that Scott was the contact. Nothing Jason did surprised them now. Dr. Turner waddled down the path and plucked banknotes from his wallet. Jason ran upstairs to Scott’s room and quietly entered.
Scott was lying on his back, fast asleep. Jason sat qu
ietly on Scott’s bed and placed a hand over his mouth and pinched his friend’s nose closed with his other hand. After a few seconds, Scott woke up struggling to breathe, twisting his head from side to side, trying to remove the obstruction.
“What? Who’s there?” Scott asked, still half asleep.
“Hello, mate. Wake up. I need your help.” Jason laughed. Scott cursed at him. “There’s no need to use that language. I’ve come to see you.”
“Thanks for the gentle shake to wake me up.” He cursed again. His bedroom light went on. Dr. Tuner came in, and he was followed by Janice.
“Who’s she?” Scott asked.
“Scott, this is Janice. Janice, this is Scott. I’ve some news, and it can’t wait. We need to inform George Young…now.”
Jason stood up and pulled the covers off of Scott.
“Get dressed, Scott. Jim Kinver could be dead by tomorrow. We need to act now. Dr. Turner, can you drive us to Scotland Yard please?”
“I don’t think I have much of a choice, but won’t that blow your cover if you are seen?”
“It’s a chance I’ll have to take. Scott, get dressed,” Jason said sternly.
“But there’s a girl in my room,” Scott whined, pulling the sheet over himself.
• • •
Thirty minutes later in a large office full of desks, typewriters, telephones, and files of paper, George stood in front of his assembled team. Most looked like they had just gotten out of bed—some dressed as if they had been out for the evening and not yet got home. He marched toward Jason and shook his hand.
“Good to see you again, cocker. I hear you survived the corner shop incident. Well done. I knew you would.” George was sweating and smelled of body odor as normal. Tonight his breath smelled of garlic too. George turned and shook Scott’s hand.
Revenge Page 5
