by Ronald Craig
"This is really crazy Charlie, but I don't see any other way for this to really be over."
"I think the Chief knows more than he is saying; talking about not having enough assets to keep us safe and this whole protective custody thing."
"After Hawaii, you insisted we get our passports for a trip to Mexico. I never thought we'd use them to hunt monsters in China."
"They aren't a onetime ticket. Let's pray for a future shared Mexican adventure."
*****
Charlie called Wentworth Software first thing the following morning to let James know what their plans were. Although very concerned with Charlie's plan, he understood because he had read all about the raids on Nelson Crown Enterprises in the morning paper.
"The word here will be you sold out and left, Charlie," James said. "One of my best customers imports gearboxes manufactured in China. If you let me know when you're arriving in Beijing, I'll have someone from the factory or a translator meet you there."
"That'd be great, James; the more street smart the better. It could get rough; I hate to pull someone else into this."
"You'd be going in deaf without help. I realize you two are resourceful, I am alive because of you, but you'll need some in country ears. Street smart; that gives me a better idea. I'll see if we can get an investigator over there to start looking."
"Thank you so much. We owe you big time, James. We'll be in touch with the flight info."
"Good luck; we need you back," James said and hung up the phone.
Charlie relayed the information to Jenny and then called Special Agent Baker in San Jose.
"Hello Mr. Watson, I was just about to call you. I have been in contact with Chief Walker and agree that given what we know, protective custody is warranted."
"Jenny and I had another thought. How much information can you give us on Nelson Crown?"
"I can't share anything I have with you. I can, however, see that we get you two into protective custody."
"We know Crown is in Beijing and you can't touch him there. We also know that he might have been caught at the airport if things had moved more swiftly and we wouldn't be talking about a threat on our lives now."
"I certainly can't support a vigilante effort to get him!"
"Special Agent Baker, we are talking about our lives here. Crown has already tried to kill us in an arson-set fire. We don't want to leave everything we've built and hide out. If, the Lord willing, we can drag him back to Hong Kong, then he is yours."
"I do understand your position, and realize handled differently we could have been more successful, but my hands are tied with what I can do here."
"You can probably, as a professional courtesy, share what you have with local law enforcement, say Police Chief Walker for instance as Nelson Crown resided in Marina."
"We are searching that residence as we speak without need of local support."
"Ok, here's the thing. Jenny and I are going to China and we would love to have your help in finding Crown there. If you believe you have done all that you can here, then our success is limited."
"Let me get you into protective custody."
"That’s just not going to work for us, at least wish us well."
"My hands are tied…"
"Loosen the knot and do the right thing," Charlie said cutting him off and hanging up the phone.
"I guess we'll go with whatever information we can get from the Chief," he told her. "I'll go talk to Pop, fill him in and get him going on the new sign."
"OK, I'll check on flights to Beijing. How soon do we go?"
"Jenny, I'd say as soon as possible. In fact, we should probably stay in San Francisco until our flight leaves."
"After I book the flights, I'll start packing. Chief Walker here we come."
"No, look out Crown, here we come," he replied and left to see Pop.
*****
Charlie and Jenny were met at the door by Chief Walker. "I should lock you both up for your own protection," he told them.
"Good Morning Chief," Charlie said. "What choice do we have?"
"I didn't say I don't understand. Jacque and Edwards are printing and compiling now what Baker sent over. You must have hit a nerve there."
"The power of wanting to do the right thing," Charlie said.
"Or planted guilt," Walker said. "We'll stay in contact with you. Baker said any credit card transactions or information from his residence will follow."
"That could prove to be very helpful," Jenny said.
"When do you leave?" Walker asked.
"Tonight, an 11:30 red eye flight, about a fifteen hour flight," she said.
"And your plan?" Walker asked.
"We will have some help from James Wentworth and hope to meet an investigator there through his contacts. Plan A is to drag Crown to extradition," Charlie informed him. "Plan B is to return without the threat on our lives."
"I didn't mention yesterday, Allen Richards was ordered by Crown to follow through where the fire failed, so to speak, but we grabbed him before he could place that call."
"We sensed as much with your concern for our safety. We love you too Chief," Jenny said.
"I only wish I could go with you. Nothing stupid now and keep us in the loop."
Jacque handed them a binder and Edwards was standing behind her quietly searching for words. "You know if there is anything I can do…" Edwards said.
"There is, keep an eye on Julia and Timmy in the event we are…delayed," Jenny said.
"Edwards, make some room on that wall for our victorious return," Charlie added to lift the mood.
"I like that much better. And Jenny, Julia and Timmy, that’s a given. We talked last night and she sends her and Timmy's love."
"I want you both back in a week and I get really upset when I don't get what I want. Don't for a moment let your guard down with this guy," Chief Walker told them as they all walked to the front doors.
"We'll be back, thank you all for the help," Jenny said.
"Get that bastard," Jacque said again drawing all eyes.
"Works for me," Charlie said holding the door for Jenny to pass.
Chapter 29
Charlie and Jenny arrived in Beijing mid afternoon there. They sailed through customs as tourists without delay and waited for their luggage at the turnstile. They were told they would be greeted there and looked around the area for their contact. A young man approached them while studying a photo. "You Watson?" he asked.
"Yes, we're the Watsons," Jenny replied. "How did you know it was us?"
"I'm Jimmy. Have picture," he said showing them a photo of the two of them with Gracie Wentworth. "I take you, Mr. Chen waiting in office. One stop first."
Their bags arrived and they followed the young man to a waiting car. He put their bags in the trunk and held a door for Jenny to get in the back seat. Charlie slid in the other side.
"Mr. Chen number one in Beijing," he told them as the driver beside him was racing through the streets of Beijing.
"I'm pleased you speak English," Charlie said.
"Common here, not outside Beijing." They pulled to the curb and were surrounded by activity on the streets. "Mr. Chen say, you go here first. I wait."
They were standing in front of a hair salon that appeared to cater to American tourists as all the window posters were in English. They looked back at the car and received the answer. "Mr. Chen say, need look different."
"I guess Wentworth did get the best," Charlie said as they entered the shop. They were immediately seated in salon chairs for the transformation. When they were done they got back into the waiting car and were rolling again.
"Good job, I no recognize now," Jimmy said and then drove them to Mr. Chen's office.
"Mr. and Mrs. Watson, I am Steven Chen your P.I. and started working this case yesterday. Please sit down." He was in his early fifties with coal black hair and was of medium height and weight.
"Hello Mr. Chen, call us Charlie and Jenny. We were a little surprised w
ith the makeover?"
"I won't take any chances with your safety. I read the newspaper report on Nelson Crown, a very evil man, but also very wealthy. He can hire many eyes here so I thought it would be necessary to make that task more difficult for them. Charlie, with your hair trimmed in a business man's cut and the gray added, we have added fifteen to twenty years to you. Jenny, I'm sorry the length will take time to return but the black and gray will wash out long before then."
"We can live with that," Jenny said. "Maybe not my first choice of color but the style is fun. What's important is finding Nelson Crown."
"We have confirmed his arrival as a tourist, so no local contact was stated and even his first night's stay at the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport. The bellman put him in a cab this morning with his bag, but didn't know his destination. We are trying to get phone records."
Charlie looked around the small office and asked, "We?"
"I, too, have many eyes in Beijing and other resources if needed, developed over many years."
"Do you think we can locate him and get him to Hong Kong for extradition to the US?" Charlie asked.
"Hong Kong is almost two thousand kilometers from here; South Korea is less than half that. It would be much easier to support our local fishing industry."
"As in fish food?" Jenny asked.
"Jenny, I like this guy."
Steven laughed. "I understand his threat on your lives and eliminating that is job one. Extradition or being identified as the victim of car accident or drowning will do both. Your news media will let anyone holding a contract hit on you know that the money is gone. But only his death can guarantee he will never make another contract hit on you two."
"Where do we go from here? We have everything we could get on him in this binder." Charlie said handing it to him.
"That might prove useful. I'll review it. My sources will alert me if his passport is tied to a flight. I'm thinking he will stay close to the comforts of Beijing. With only one night at the Hilton, he has either secured a rental dwelling or has some contacts here. My driver will take you to your hotel and come for you at 9:00 tomorrow morning. Stay off the streets as much as possible but the hotel can set you up on a tour bus if you want."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen, we would have been lost without your help, but we are here to help," Jenny said.
"Just call me Steven. We'll know more in the morning."
Charlie stood and shook his hand. "Steven, thank you. We knew we needed to find support once we got here, but realize it wouldn't have been close to your caliber." They walked out of the office and found the car waiting at the curb. The same young man jumped out and opened a rear door for Jenny and Charlie walked to the far side.
Four blocks away they pulled up to the New World Beijing Hotel and the young man turned to face them and handed them an envelope. "Inside you find keys room 925, corporate room. Mr. Chen say no register, then not here. Use cash, no use credit card for expense. Can charge meal to room. English common here. See you tomorrow at nine."
"Thank you Jimmy, call me Jenny and this is Charlie."
"Jenny, Charlie, have good night." They got out of the car and stood outside the hotel a moment.
"I don't know if all this cloak and dagger stuff is required," Charlie said. "But if Crown is watching for someone coming after him, we could have easily walked into a trap."
"I'm very impressed with Steven. If he says jump, I'm off the ground," Jenny said.
"What if this old man says lay down?"
"Then I figure we'll work up an appetite for dinner." When they walked into the hotel they realized they had come through a side entrance where the bank of elevators were located and avoided the front desk while pulling luggage into the hotel.
"Steven has thought of everything," Charlie said.
"He sure has. We can't get too comfortable though."
"Not in my plans, outside our room that is," he said as the elevator doors opened.
Their room was a one bedroom suite with a magnificent view of the city casting shadows as the sun was setting. Charlie turned from the window, threw the spread back on the bed and sat down. He was already dressed following his shower and looking at a photo of Nelson Crown. It could have been the cover of GQ magazine and the deadly monster lurking behind those eyes was well hidden. He was forty eight, 5-11 at 180 lbs, according to the file, with short dark hair. Clean shaven with a grin, a deceiving facade for the monster behind it.
"Who is this woman in my body!" came a cry from the bathroom when the twenty years added showed in the mirror. He put the photo down and went to join her.
Remembering her response to him when they were searching for Gracie Wentworth and he had shaved off the beard and mustache he said, "Don't tell my wife, but you're hot lady!" He moved in beside her as she looked in the mirror. "I only hope when we really are as old as we look that we can muster half the heat."
"When I get dressed, we definitely need some photos, old man. It's really annoying though, you look very distinguished and I just look older," she said as he moved out of the bathroom and sat on the bed.
"When you got it, you got it. Hurry up old woman, I'm starving," he said laughing.
"Wasn't your attitude before when we pulled the covers off the bed. Watch yourself, mister this room has a couch. Should we call the Chief for an update?"
"According to the flight attendant, we are sixteen hours ahead of them. So their eight to five workday today, is our midnight to nine a.m. tomorrow."
"Early morning calls or email is what you're saying then."
"Yes. I hope we can check our email tomorrow in Steven's office," he said.
"OK, I'm ready."
He stood up and faced her, "Wow. We've been married, what, twenty plus years and you still got it babe."
"Do you mean it or are you considering the couch option?"
"From the bottom of my heart."
The hotel had a very nice dining room, Tian Tan Kitchen on the ground floor so they had dinner there. Charlie was relieved he didn't need to learn the art of dining with sticks and could order a steak. Jenny's attitude, when in Rome, was more adventurous and went with the server's recommendation for a local specialty. After dinner they decided it would be safer to stay close to the hotel that evening and chose, Yin on 12, the bar on the top floor over going to the shopping mall across the road. They were on the outside balcony of the bar overlooking Beijing.
"Somewhere out there a monster is licking his wounds and scheming future atrocity," Jenny said in disgust.
"And tomorrow we'll do everything we can to change his plans."
"I'm doing it again, sorry, letting him steal this moment from us."
*****
The Watsons were up and dressed early the following morning and placed a call to Chief Walker.
"I wish we were here for different reasons, Chief, but through Wentworth we have a great contact here in Beijing," Jenny told him.
"We just received some information on Crown's credit card account, a second ticket was purchased for a Judy Morrison. The flight was out of San Jose through Los Angeles to Beijing. The down side is we get nothing running her name; probably an alias. She apparently worked in the Marina Law office, according to Richards."
"We've seen her. When Charlie and I went there, she was the receptionist. Her desk was in the open office area just inside the door."
"China Airlines, Flight 412 has her in the air now with an arrival in Beijing at eleven a.m. your time. If you saw her, then she also saw you two."
"We've aged twenty years since we left California, Chief," Jenny said.
"I can only imagine, it has to be very stressful."
"No I mean literally. Our first stop en route to see our investigator was a makeover in a beauty shop. Mr. Chen, our investigator, didn't want to take any chances with us being spotted here."
"That seems a little extreme, but I see the logic. Better than a big floppy hat and sun glasses, I imagine. Sounds like you're in good hands. Wit
hout getting anything on her, it looks like you and Charlie will be our only way to spot her. Even with the makeover, you may not want to be seen together at the airport."
"That's good advice. Even my eyebrows aged twenty years. Anything else to help us locate him here?"
"The FBI instead of freezing Crown's accounts is monitoring them with a limit set in hopes that, like now, in a panic and urgency mode, he will make a mistake and they can get a fix on him. The FBI was too late to stop a major wire transfer to the Bank of China so the money trail may be lost now."
"Do you think sending the money here might imply this is not just a stopping place to a different country?"
"In his shoes, I would have sent the money to my final destination. Maybe he plans to be there awhile," Walker said. "On the other hand Jenny, Crown is not stupid. He knew we would see everything going to Beijing, including himself, the money and Judy. A few days there, new ID and we've lost him to the world."
"We're off to see Mr. Chen now and will let you know if we spot Judy. Thanks a lot Chief."
"Good luck; be safe and come back to us."
Jimmy was waiting in the car at the side door when they walked out of the hotel. As was his habit, he jumped out to open Jenny's door. "Good morning Jenny and Charlie."
"Good morning Jimmy," Jenny replied.
"Mr. Chen say, Crown connected bad people in Beijing."
"I can't say I'm surprised," Charlie said sliding in beside Jenny.
"On the flight over we read of contacts all over the world and a few in China but they didn't mean anything to us," Jenny said.
"Mr. Chen have information," Jimmy reported.
"Good morning Steven, "Charlie greeted as they walked into his office. "Jimmy told us you have some news."
"Please take a seat. I hope you had a pleasant evening."
