by Taylor Lee
Lei pointed to the chair next to her. In a voice that didn’t brook a refusal, she said, “Sit here, Alex.”
When he sat down beside her, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and said, “We will talk later.”
At that moment, he heard Bai’s soft accented voice and Elena’s luscious laughter in the courtyard. Bai had his arm around her shoulders when they walked in. Elena was ogling him, her eyes dancing.
Wyatt and Wan stood up to greet them when they entered. Alex kept his seat, more out of discomfort than rudeness.
~~~
Bai stood in the doorway, bowed slightly, then taking in all those present in one quick glance, said, “Good morning, everyone.”
Elena walked up behind Alex and put her arms around his neck. She whispered to him, “I love you, Alex. We’ll talk after breakfast.”
Alex tried to push her away, but when she continued to hold him, he put his hands over hers and held them. Staring down at the table, he blinked back the tears in his eyes.
Bai waited behind her and when she let go of Alex, he walked Elena to her place and pulled out her chair and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. When he passed by Lei, he leaned down and kissed her, as well. He looked at Alex and seeing his flushed, strained face and downcast eyes, he moved by without speaking. He met Wyatt’s eyes and exchanged a nod with his father, then went to sit at the head of the table.
The boys looked up just long enough to say good morning to him and Elena, then Gabriel and Jacob went back to teasing Deshi about dancing with Mariel Peters. The more Deshi blushed, the more insistent the younger boys became.
“You know you like her, Deshi. Don’t deny it. We counted. You danced with her four times,” insisted Michael.
Bai took in the young man on the brink of manhood. He remembered the battered three year old boy he had carried in his arms back to Wyatt and Lei. The young child had been kidnapped by evil men intent on stopping Wyatt’s race to the governorship. Bai had killed four men in the rescue, vaulting up the ranks of the Sing Leon and earning Wyatt’s undying gratitude.
Deshi had been the most beautiful child Bai had ever seen. Everyone who saw him raved about him. He had his parents’ black hair, Lei’s golden skin, and Wyatt’s incongruous blue eyes. He was as beautiful as Lei when he was a child, but as he grew to manhood, Wyatt’s rugged good looks kicked in and ensured that Nicolas Deshi would be as stunningly handsome as his father.
Bai grinned at his nephew and came to his rescue.
“That’s not all bad, Deshi. I’m pleased that you know how to dance. If Mariel is that pretty blond girl I’ve seen hanging around the stable trying to get your attention, that is even better.”
Deshi glanced up and confirmed Bai’s assumption with a shy nod.
“Yeah, but I think he kissed her!” Gabe said. “You saw him didn’t you, Jacob?”
Deshi blushed when Jacob nodded vigorously confirming he had seen the dastardly deed.
“That’s not true.” Deshi insisted weakly. “I took her outside to show her the kung fu center.”
“Yeah and when you were outside, you kissed her,” Gabriel taunted.
Lei stepped in and said, “All right, boys. That’s enough. Does anyone have anything to contribute to this conversation that doesn’t involve what Deshi did or did not do with an attractive young woman?”
She smiled at Deshi and winked when he grinned back at her, obviously grateful for his mother’s intervention and understanding of the delicate situation.
Jacob looked up and said in a serious voice looking over at Elena, “Well, Tobias said his mama thinks you are a bad girl, Elena. She said your dance was a bad girl dance.”
All the adults looked at him startled. Bai had just taken a sip of tea and choked on it. The other adults reacted similarly, either chortling or starting in surprise.
Bai regained his composure and with a twinkle in his eyes, wiped his lips with his napkin and said, “Hmm, Tobias said that, did he?”
Jacob looked at all the adults smiling or grinning outright, as in the case of his father and Bai. His face flushed bright red and angry tears flooded his eyes.
He insisted, “No, really. He did say that, he did! He said his mama said that Elena is a very naughty girl, that she danced a naughty dance and that nice girls don’t dance like that!”
Elena flushed, but couldn’t hide her smile.
Seeing Jacob’s upset, Bai said as seriously as he could, “Well Jacob, let me say this. You can tell Tobias and especially Tobias’s mother, that she is absolutely correct. Elena is une très mauvaise petite fille, une méchante fille,” he said in ribald French, indicating that Elena was indeed a bad little girl, a naughty girl.
Elena flushed when she saw Alex clench his teeth and said, “Bai stop it. Jacob doesn’t understand that you are teasing me.”
But Wyatt, Wan, and Lei who all spoke French, couldn’t hide their amusement. Wyatt grinned at Bai and shook his head and Wan allowed the glimmer of a smile to cross his face.
Jacob said “What does that mean? What did you say, Uncle Bai? You know I don’t understand French.”
Bai said, “That’s quite all right, Jacob. I said that Elena is a lovely young woman and I love her exactly the way she is.” He added under his breath with a twinkle in his eye, “Le vilain, le meilleur. The naughtier, the better.”
“You might also suggest that Tobias ask his father his opinion of Elena’s dancing,” he said with a grin. “It might not square with his mother’s.”
Elena shot him a warning glare just as Nianzu came to the door.
Nianzu excused himself to the others at the table and said, “I need to speak with you, Bai.”
Bai was still grinning from the Tobias conversation, but with a wink at Elena, he folded his napkin and excused himself. He and Nianzu stood outside the doorway and talked quietly for several minutes.
Bai came back to the table and gave Wyatt and Wan a meaningful nod.
“I’m sorry to interrupt our breakfast, but it seems as though we have visitors. Sheriff Thompson and the Lt. Governor Quince are here, among others. I’ve asked Nianzu to show them to my office.”
Before he finished speaking, both Wyatt and Wan moved to the door.
Bai caught Elena’s eye and said, “Elena, please stay here with Lei and the boys. At least for the next while, all of you stay in the family quarters. Don’t go outside and don’t go near the infirmary. Quitin and Manzu are at the door and will escort you back to your chambers when you finish breakfast.”
Elena and Lei both nodded their understanding.
As the men started to leave the room, Bai said, “Why don’t you join us, Alex?”
Lei reached over and gave him a little push.
“Go, Alex, go with them.”
Alex looked down and shook his head, but his father came up beside him and said, “Let’s go, Son. I want you to come with us.”
Alex rose reluctantly, then along with Wyatt and Wan went with Bai to meet with their guests.
~~
Chapter 9
Nianzu returned to the group of men who were waiting in the courtyard. He spoke to Sheriff Thompson.
“Jim, Bai will be with us in a moment. In the meantime, he asked that I show you and the others to his office. We will meet there.”
Looking at the fifteen or so deputies with the sheriff and other dignitaries, Nianzu turned to Quitin, who was standing off to the side with a group of cold-eyed Sing Leon members.
“Quitin, will you and the men please take the deputies to the center court dining room. We’ve arranged for refreshments to be served while they wait to return to San Francisco with the sheriff and our other distinguished guests. We wouldn’t want them to come all this way for nothing and then turn around without experiencing our particular brand of hospitality,” Nianzu said with a slightly mocking smile.
Nianzu was Bai’s right hand man and constant companion. As Bai rose through the ranks of the Sing Leon, he brought Nianzu with him. N
ianzu was the same age as Bai, a kung fu master with handsome Chinese features. Like Bai, he was taller than most Chinese men. But in most other ways, he was Bai’s alter ego. Where Bai was hard, Nianzu was thoughtful. Where Bai commanded, Nianzu preferred to lead behind the scenes. Where Bai was arrogant, Nianzu was unpretentious. But he was smart with a sly sense of humor. And while Bai was sophisticated and had lived a privileged youth, Nianzu had grown up as a Poo Tow Choy, or hatchet boy, in the hard streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown. He would have died there, but Wan plucked him out of that cesspool when he was nine years old and made him Bai’s apprentice. Nianzu idolized Bai and would kill his mother, if he had one, if she threatened Bai.
Turning to the sheriff and the others, Nianzu motioned for them to follow him. He led them across the courtyard to Bai’s business center. None of the dignitaries had been to the center and their eyes widened in amazement at the magnitude of the enterprise inside. Thirty to forty Chinese men were busy at work at desks or clustered in small groups around large work tables. The whir of telegraphs spoke to the international scope of the business ventures and a hum of activity filled the room. The walls were crammed with maps, all marking the worldwide locations of Bai’s operations and large clocks surrounded the work space indicating the current time in major cities around the globe. Telephones, a luxury that were just beginning to be seen in the large business centers in the East, sat on every desk and most of the staff members sitting at the desks were talking on the telephone. A careful ear would reveal that as many as eight different languages were being spoken by various members of Bai’s business team.
The staff members looked up from their work with mild interest at the troupe of outsiders who were staring wide-eyed at the activity in the busy center.
Nianzu nodded to the staff, then pointed to several large suites on one side of the center and said to the guests, “This is Wan Chang’s private suite and this is Governor McManus’s. Wyatt and Bai have a number of projects in common and Wyatt has found it convenient to have rooms for his personal staff here at the complex. Bai and Wan also have offices at Wyatt’s Wyoming ranch. Bai’s office is straight ahead, but we will meet in the conference room in the back of the center. Please follow me.”
He ushered the group to a large room with walls of windows on three sides. Each wall had French doors that opened to the surrounding gardens. The sounds of birds chirping and the smell of flowers and fresh turned earth wafted through the wide open windows, creating the sense of meeting in the heart of an exotic botanical garden. A sixteen foot mahogany table anchored the center of the room. For the convenience of the guests, humidors and trays of cigar and cigarette accessories were stationed every three feet along the table top. A service buffet with urns of coffee and tea, along with platters of delicacies, took up most of the space on the entrance wall. Three Chinese servants stood discreetly to the side of the buffet and waited until the dignitaries had been seated around the massive table, then offered them refreshments.
~~~
Bai stopped for a moment to answer a question from one of his associates in the business center. He indicated to Wyatt, Wan, and Alex to go ahead to the conference room. He smiled to himself, knowing that the interruption allowed him to enter the meeting after everyone was seated, underscoring that he controlled the agenda.
He chose not to put a jacket or waistcoat over his silver and dark grey striped silk shirt. The open collared shirt and fitted black trousers conveyed the impression that this was a casual meeting--one of many that he would convene today.
His guests started to rise when he entered, but he put up his hand to stop them.
“Non, non, please be seated. I trust you all have something to drink and I urge you to try some of Wenco Ming’s pastries. She begins baking at three o’clock each morning and by nine o’clock we are lucky if there are any left.”
He walked around the table and shook hands with each of the guests, then moved to the head of the table and sat down. Taking a cigar from the humidor in front of him, he pointed to the humidors spaced along the table.
“I prefer Bolivian cigars, but there are Cuban and Columbian cigars, as well, in the humidors. Please help yourselves.”
He assumed a casual, pleasant demeanor and looked around the table with a slight smile.
“You all know my father, the honorable Wan Chang, and my soon to be father-in- law, Governor McManus. Of course, you know Nianzu, my lieutenant. For those of you who have not met him, Alex McManus, is my fiancée’s twin brother and in two days will be my brother-in-law. Alex arrived from China yesterday in time for the wedding.”
“Alex, I don’t know if you had the opportunity for introductions, but allow me. Greg Forester, the governor’s chief of staff is to your right. Next to Greg is Mayor Alono’s chief, Tom Creighton. I believe you know Lt. Governor Martin Quince. Those two formidable looking lawmen at the end of the table are U.S. Marshal Peter York and our good friend, Sheriff Jim Thompson.”
He nodded to each of the guests as he introduced them and then singled out the U.S. Marshal.
“It’s damn good to see you, Peter. I haven’t seen you since that Department of Justice event in Washington last fall. I’m sorry you didn’t make it to our party last night. I’m pleased you can join us today.”
Before anyone else spoke, Bai leaned back in his chair and allowed a wry smile to cross his lips. He nodded to the sheriff. “And, now, Jim, please don’t keep us in suspense. To what do we owe this honor?”
The sheriff didn’t try to hide his discomfort. His ruddy face was more flushed than usual and he had a pained look on his face.
“Goddamnit, Bai, you know I hate like hell to be here. But, damnit, I didn’t have a choice.”
Bai nodded, as if in sympathy for the sheriff’s plight. Before the sheriff could continue, Greg Forester interrupted in his pompous, supercilious manner.
“Bai, I’m here on behalf of the governor, his emissary, and, of course, as your friend. The governor wanted you to know of his concern. Asked me to see if we can help in any way.”
Bai looked at the man who had been the most ardent of Elena’s many suitors and Bai’s least favorite. He couldn’t resist a jab.
“Always a pleasure to see you, Greg. Sorry Elena can’t join us. She has a few things to do in the next two days, preparing for our wedding. However, we should let Jim proceed so I will have some idea of the nature of the governor’s concern.”
With a dismissive nod at Greg, Bai said, “Please continue, Jim.”
“Look, Bai, you know we had a hell of a mess in San Francisco last night. Madam Torrento’s brothel burned to the ground. Fifty prostitutes were kidnapped.”
Bai quirked an eyebrow. “Hmm, kidnapped? How dramatic.”
The sheriff frowned. “A lot of people saw you and your men in the city last night, Bai. And, hell, you arrived late to your own goddamn engagement party. I didn’t see you before I had to leave and I was here until nearly ten o’clock.”
“Ah, yes, I was somewhat tardy. I had business to take care of.”
“Bai, this is a fuckin’ big deal. The city is in shock.”
Bai nodded in thoughtful agreement.
“I would expect so. I heard about the incident. I trust all of us were shocked to learn that a supposedly upstanding establishment like Madam Torrento’s had girls as young as ten and eleven working as prostitutes--a clear violation of the law. I’m not surprised the city is shocked. It is inconceivable that something as dastardly could be going on and nothing was done about it by any of our law enforcement or political entities.”
“Fuck it, Bai. I’m just gonna come right out and say it. We got fifteen deputies with us. We need to go out on your property and take a look. If there are any Chinese girls here, they will need to come with us.”
“Hmm, would that include my sister Lei, who is Wan’s daughter, Wyatt’s wife, and Alex’s stepmother? My servants? Wenco Ming, perhaps, who made these lovely pastries?”
The sher
iff shook his head with a disgruntled sigh.
“You know who I am talking about, Bai.”
“Actually, Jim, I’m sorry, I don’t. As you know, we will have a wedding here in two days. We’ve had to import additional help. You might indeed see Chinese girls and women on my property. I should add, none of whom will be leaving with you or your deputies.”
Lt. Governor Quince drew himself up to his full five and a half feet. He scowled at Bai, as if he was a schoolmaster chastising a recalcitrant child.
“God damnit, Bai. You could have burned down the whole damn city. There’s gonna be more than criminal penalties involved in this. Someone is gonna pay through his ass for Madam Torrento’s loss.”
Bai looked at the fat little man who had always reminded him of a bloated toad. He didn’t try to hide his distaste.
He warned, “Be careful, Martin. I believe you meant to say whoever was responsible for the attack could have burned down the whole city. I’m confident a politician of your ilk, like so many others we’ve been blessed with in this challenging decade, will want to be particularly careful not to slip in to slander.”
Ignoring Martin’s angry snort, Bai continued.
“Indeed, I do know the damage fire could do to the city. For that reason, I’m pleased that a large contingent of our Sing Leon members happened to be in the city last night to aid the fire chief. A true stroke of luck to have fifty volunteer firemen show up precisely when they were needed, don’t you agree?”
Bai paused for a moment and looked at each of his guests, his sardonic grin hardening to match his cold, mirthless eyes.
“I would like to return to the issue of the underage prostitutes who were working in Madam Torrento’s establishment prior to last night’s incident. I am curious, Jim. Were the crimes against those girls overlooked by the fine legal and political organizations you respectable men represent because the children involved were Chinese?”
