Hunter turned to face him, “There must be a leak. Someone told Coslen we were coming.”
“I’m positive it wasn’t any of my people. I’ve known them for years. They’re all solid. Had to be at corporate; we’ll need to plug the leak, whoever it is,” Jarvis replied. He studied Hunter for a few seconds in silence. “Care to share?”
Hunter turned his head away briefly, “It seems that whenever we get close, we hit a stonewall. Whoever’s behind this is always one step ahead of us.”
“Hana Chao?” Jarvis asked.
“I think she’s involved, but somehow it just doesn’t feel right,” Hunter said with a shake of his head. “Where is she?”
“In London. Montgomery informed her she was terminated in a video-conference call. My guy who was with him texted me she didn’t take it well.”
Hunter shrugged and asked, “So what’s our next move?”
25
Later that day, Overbrook Farms
“So, another stone wall?” Don Carlos asked after Hunter had filled in Lena and him on the disappointing discovery at the raid on Global.
He nodded.
Later when they were alone Lena said, “You remember you promised to meet with Benny and Jake when you got back. Samantha told me the two of them are taking some heat for letting you leave town.”
“Yeah. I guess I can’t put it off any longer,” Hunter held her gaze, “I’ll give Benny a call.
An hour later he was sitting in the same windowless room at Southwest Detectives where he had been questioned the night he shot and killed the intruder.
“Is that off?” Hunter asked as he pointed at the video camera.
Benson shifted his eyes from Hunter to Loman who nodded, and back to Hunter.
“Thanks.”
Benson raised an eyebrow and waited.
“My name is Charles Hunter,” he began, “and Haley’s name is Haley Montgomery, the granddaughter of Michael Scott Montgomery, Jr., the Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder of Montgomery Mining and Minerals. I changed our identities and relocated to Philadelphia to protect Haley from whoever is responsible for the murders of her parents and is trying to kill her.” Ninety minutes later he finished the detailed narrative of the events that led to his, and his family’s arrival in Philadelphia.
During Hunter’s monologue, Jake Loman’s expression changed back and forth between admiration and shock in response to his friend’s revelations. Benson’s weary stone face gave nothing away.
When he finished, the three men sat in silence while the two detectives considered the implications of what Hunter had just disclosed.
“Quite a tale,” Benson was the first to speak.
Hunter smiled sheepishly, “How much trouble do you think I’m in?”
Benson took in a deep breath and blew it out, “Well, there’s using a phony passport with an alias to gain access to the country. I understand Homeland frowns on that kinda thing. Since you didn’t purchase the weapon you used to shoot the intruder…you did say it was Lena’s,” he paused and Hunter nodded.
“And your house is still under your aunt’s name, but since you’re paying the taxes, that’s not a problem. So, except for breaking into that Pirolli guy’s house and not reporting his death, I don’t think you broke any other laws. That is, unless you forgot to mention some minor felony that may have escaped your mind.”
Hunter shook his head.
Benson turned to Jake, “Whadda you think?”
The young detective was still processing the incredible saga Hunter had told them. “I know this may seem like a stupid question, but how do you afford everything? I mean you don’t have a job; you send Haley to an expensive private school.”
Hunter smiled, “It’s better you don’t ask.”
Loman’s eyes narrowed.
Hunter raised his hands in mock surrender, “I swear, it’s nothing you have to worry about.”
“OK, if you say so. But, there’s still the threat against Haley and, of course, that illegal entry into the country matter.”
“How about you guys leaving that entry thing up to Homeland?” Hunter asked.
“That’s easy for you to ask, but remember my wife works for them,” Benson responded.
“Do you really have to tell her?” Hunter asked.
Benson gave him a dismissive look. “So how are we gonna make sure Haley is safe?”
Hunter’s smile vanished. “Haley’s grandfather wants to lock her up in his mansion. I told him that wouldn’t work. He offered to have Len Jarvis dispatch a platoon of security guys; I thanked him but declined.”
“So?” Benson persisted.
“So, I have to get to Hanna Chao. I think she’s gotta have something that can help me find out what the hell is going on.”
“Did you know she’s coming to town?” Jake asked.
Both Hunter and Benson turned to face him.
“Go on,” Benson prompted.
“She getting some award from the Union League, this Thursday. Don’t you guys read the newspaper?”
Benson shifted eyes to Hunter, “Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned.
* * *
When Hunter returned home, he called Montgomery and Jarvis. “Hanna Chao’s going to be in Philly Thursday. Did you know that?”
“Yes, we already arranged to meet with her,” Jarvis replied.
“And you didn’t think that was something I should know about?” Hunter responded sarcastically.
“No, of course we were going to tell you,” Montgomery paused, “It’s just that we don’t want the meeting to be unnecessarily adversarial.”
“Unnecessarily adversarial? For all we know she might have ordered your son and daughter-in-law murdered and sent an assassin to my house. Someone to kill your granddaughter for Christ sake!”
“We don’t know that for a fact,” Jarvis said.
“Really? Who the fuck else would benefit?”
“I don’t know…Think about it. Her son’s not my heir. Even if God forbid, something was to happen to Haley, there’s no way the corporation passes to him,” Montgomery responded.
“Then we’re missing something. They didn’t murder your son and his wife unless they would profit by it in some way, and Chao’s the only one still alive that we know of who might be able to tell us who’s behind all of this,” Hunter said.
“So, what do you suggest?” Jarvis asked.
26
Thursday noon, June 7, 2018, Philadelphia
They watched as the two SUVs transporting Hanna Chao and her security detail arrived from the two-block drive south on Broad Street from the Ritz Carlton Hotel to the Union League. The League’s classic Second Empire building, with its distinctive red brick and brownstone façade and twin circular staircases, has been a Center City landmark since 1865. For more than 150 years the Union League has been considered by some a symbol of what the city once meant to a young republic and by others as an elitist sanctuary where the old money Main Line gentry congregate to congratulate themselves for their good fortune of having been wellborn.
Three security men dressed in dark suits stepped out of the lead car as soon as it stopped at the curb in front of the imposing building. They scanned their surroundings before signaling the all clear to the trailing vehicle.
A tall woman wearing a black pants suit that clung to her body got out of the front passenger door. She moved on her stiletto high heels with the grace of an athlete as she opened the back door of the SUV. Hanna Chao, who was several inches shorter than the stunning woman, who presumably was a member of her security detail, got out of the vehicle.
The two women, trailed by two security men, walked up one of the curved stairways to the entrance. Photographers and cameramen from the local newspapers and TV stations documented Chao’s arrival.
“Who’s the woman in black?” Hunter asked Jarvis. They were watching from a window on the third floor of an office building directly across Broad Street from the Union League
.
“Her name is Qwon Du Pak. She’s a former operative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s, Reconnaissance General Bureau. For the past several years, Qwon has been Hanna Chao’s head of security.”
“What did she do for the RGB before she joined Chao?”
“She was their number one assassin, until she fell out of favor with the Dear Leader. Word is she had to get away before he had her killed.”
Hunter scanned the photos of the remaining members of the security detail one of Jarvis’ men had taken; Chao’s guards looked to be Korean. “Are they all former RGB too?”
Jarvis nodded, “We think they were too closely aligned with Qwon and had to flee for their lives.”
Hunter thought over the intel and asked, “Any surprises?”
“No.”
“I assume you have a plan in place.”
Another nod.
“OK then.”
Jarvis gave Hunter a knowing smile and said, “It’s time for you to leave,”
* * *
Benson and Loman were also watching Chao’s arrival. They were standing on the sidewalk at the corner of Broad and Sansom Street, a few feet from Chao’s SUV. From their briefing they knew the female body guard was Qwon Du Pak. Before she opened the back-passenger side door of the SUV to let Chao exit the vehicle, she fixed her eyes on Benson who returned her cold, dismissive stare.
“Do you think she knows who you are?” Loman asked as the two women and their entourage walked up the stairs.
Benson shrugged, “Probably figured I’m a cop.” He reached for the cell phone that was vibrating in his jacket pocket. The message on the screen read, “IT’S TIME!!!”
Loman saw the message and smiled. “Go take care of your wife. I got this.”
“Thanks.” Before he stepped away, Benson said, “Call me if anything goes down.”
“Sure. But I’m told that nothing dramatic ever happens at the Union League. Such behavior is frowned upon by the membership. Go have a baby and fuhgeddaboudit!”
* * *
Jake Loman, with his shield hanging on a chain around his neck, stood at the back of the grand banquet hall along with other police officers, security, and selected members of the media. There were over 300 invited guests seated at tables spread across the elegant room. At the front of the hall the dais had been set up on a platform three feet above the floor, where the governor, the mayor, several other elected officials, and the guest of honor engaged in small talk as livered staff served their meals.
Loman’s eyes swept the room looking for Qwon Du Pak. He found her standing against the front wall beside the door the waiters used to access the ball room. She had positioned herself to intercept any threat from behind the VIP’s table.
As the waitstaff finished the service, the Master of Ceremony, an anchor from one of the local news programs, stepped up to the podium. After introducing the VIP’s, he directed his remarks to a recitation of Ms. Chao’s impressive accomplishments and previous honors that led up to her selection as the Union League’s Business Person of the Year. He noted that this was the first time in the 50 years the League had bestowed this award that it had selected a woman.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to introduce Hanna Chao,” he concluded. The crowd stood as one and applauded.
Chao got out of her chair and made her way over to the podium as the audience continued to clap. She wore a simple, but elegant, Asian-style, red dress with a high collar, that emphasized her long neck. The dress accentuated the woman’s exotic appearance, the soft epicanthic fold over her eyes, her delicate features, and thick, shoulder-length black hair.
When she stepped up on the riser behind the podium, and raised both of her arms to acknowledge the audience, Loman, noticed that her left arm sagged and the left side of her face drooped. As the applause continued, Chao began to sway. Suddenly her body stiffened and she fell unconscious to the floor. The applause abruptly stopped as gasps and calls for help began to echo throughout the room.
“Is there a doctor in the hall?” the MC shouted as he and the other VIPs on the dais watched Chao’s arms and legs twitch uncontrollably as she lay on the floor.
Two men and a woman ran up to the dais. When the female doctor saw Chao having a seizure, she dropped to her knees, and felt for Chao’s pulse. “It’s a seizure! Someone call 911. Stat!”
Qwon Du Pak was also on her knees by Chao’s side. “Are you with her?” the doctor asked.
“Yes.”
“Has she had seizures before?”
Qwon shook her head and responded, “Not that I know of.”
Within minutes the sound of sirens could be heard in the now silent room.
The door behind where Jake Loman was standing burst open. Two para-medics pushing a gurney entered the room. Loman shouted, “Make room,” and led them, moving people blocking their path aside, as they rushed to the front of the banquet hall.
Loman reached for Qwon Du Pak and gently said, “Please let the EMT’s help Ms. Chao.”
One of the tech’s placed an oxygen mask on Chao’s face and checked for a pulse. The other secured her neck with a padded collar.
“Get her to the ER stat. She had a stroke,” the female doctor ordered.
The medics with Loman’s assistance carefully lifted Chao onto the gurney. Loman again cleared the path for them to exit the room. Qwon Du Pak and the two security men followed.
When they got to the wagon the para-medics carefully put the gurney into the vehicle. Qwon Du Pak moved towards the vehicle. The senior EMT raised his arm. “Sorry, Miss - you can’t ride with the victim. It’s against regulations.”
Qwon shoved his arm aside, and one of the men with her stepped towards the tech.
Loman, who had helped lift the gurney onto the truck, jumped down from the vehicle and stood between Qwon and the technician. “Ms. Qwon, we need to get your boss to the ER right away; any delay can be critical. These guys are only following procedures.” He turned to the technician and asked, “Where are you taking Ms. Chao?”
“Hahnemann.”
Jake turned to face Qwon, “It’s less than a mile from here, you can meet them there,” he said, closed the door and slapped twice on the back of the wagon.
The emergency vehicle with lights flashing and siren blaring immediately made a U-turn, drove across two lanes of traffic, and sped north on Broad Street.
Qwon’s eyes narrowed and she gave Loman a penetrating stare. She turned away shouted something in Korean to her companions and ran over to her SUV. Her vehicle was blocked by a car that had pulled over to the curb to allow the emergency vehicle to pass.
It took at least 90 seconds for the blocking car to move out of the way while the traffic that had been stopped by the emergency truck transporting Chao made its turn and sped away.
Horns blared and cars screeched to a stop as Qwon’s SUV drove across the two southbound lanes of oncoming traffic, nearly colliding with a truck in the northbound lane of Broad Street and ran the red light at Broad and Samson. By that time the emergency ambulance was weaving through the traffic in Penn Square circling City Hall.
Just as the ambulance approached the intersection with East Market Street, another emergency vehicle with flashing lights accessed the square and drove beside the vehicle transporting Chao. As the two ambulances continued around the traffic circle, another emergency vehicle that had been parked on the sidewalk on the apron surrounding the building joined the two other ambulances.
When Qwon’s SUV ran the red light at Penn Square and East Market Street, the three identical ambulances were approaching the turn to North Broad Street, one of the vehicles peeled off, and the other two continued around City Hall. Qwon followed the emergency truck north on Broad Street to the hospital.
27
Two pm, Hahnemann Hospital ER
Jake was concerned there might be further trouble when Qwon got to the hospital. He ran to his car, called for back-up, turned on his das
h lights and siren, and sped towards the hospital. He didn’t want to bother Benson, but knew his partner would be pissed if he didn’t keep him in the loop. His call went directly to voicemail and he left a message.
When he pulled into the ER entrance there were already several squad cars with their lightbars flashing in the driveway, surrounding an SUV. Qwon Du Pak and her colleagues were standing in front of the ER entrance. A police sergeant backed by six uniformed officers were blocking their access. The sergeant and Qwon Du Pak were standing face to face, inches apart.
Loman approached them, “Sergeant, is there a problem?”
The police officer shifted his eyes to Loman, who was holding his shield up for the sergeant to see.
“Detective, Ms. Qwon and her associates refuse to walk through the metal detector. I explained, that if they’re carrying weapons, they’ll have to lock them in their vehicles.”
It took Loman ten minutes to convince Qwon she needed to comply with the uniformed officers’ orders. When he escorted her to the ER admissions desk the clerk informed them there was no record of the admission of Hanna Chao.
“But that’s impossible! I saw the para-medics remove the gurney from their truck when we pulled into the drive. We followed the truck from the Union League!” Qwon shouted at the woman behind the desk.
In response to the ruckus, two uniformed security men approached the admissions desk. Loman flashed his shield and waved them off.
“I don’t know what you saw; yelling at me isn’t going to get you anywhere. There’s no admission for a Hanna Chao,” the clerk repeated.
Qwon turned to face Jake Loman, “I know what I saw. This woman,” she pointed at the clerk, “is lying.”
The admissions clerk was about to respond. Loman said, “Ms. Qwon, let me find out what happened,” cutting off the clerk. “Please take a seat,” he said.
Overbrook Farms Page 11
