by N Kuhn
“Lianna, Tuck,” he exclaims when he sees us, his beady little eyes widening. “Thank God you’re here. What’s going on? What is this need for security? I hired two guys for her like you said to, but please, explain to me what’s going on and why I’m spending more money?”
One thing that makes Len successful, is that he’s cheap. He doesn’t like to spend money if he doesn’t have to. All his productions come in under budget and on time. The question sits on his lips, as he looks expectantly at me. His beady little eyes not blinking.
“We had a mishap last night with some pretty nasty guys. But, I think Lianna has learned the error of her ways. Right? She’s sober today and ready to work. Aren’t you sweetheart?” Looking out of the corner of my eye, I see her fidgeting and giving me the evil eye. Unable to help myself, I fully turn to her, giving her a cocky grin that I’m famous for.
“Yes sir, I’m sorry about this mess,” she quietly whispers, sounding more like a chastised child than a famous actress that she is.
“Ok, great, here’s your new security team. Get to makeup now.” His voice booming with authority. Looking at this short, stocky man, you wouldn’t think anyone would listen to him. But, Lianna jumps at his command and marches toward the door. Part of me is relieved to have her away for me, the rest is unsure if she will be safe enough.
Turning to see the new security team, I instantly recognize Frank and Buzz. Both ex-military as well, I’ve worked with them before on details. They nod at me in unison, a slight smile playing on Buzz’s lips. They aren’t attractive by any means, but they are big, strong and will do what it takes to keep her safe. Having about fifteen years of experience on me, they know what they are doing, and I can be sure they will do what it takes to keep her safe. Relaxing a little, I nod back.
“Hey guys, I’ll be with you shortly and explain the situation in full. Stick by her side, no one gets near her. Got it?” Both acknowledging my request, and respecting the leadership I give out, they turn and follow Lianna out of the office.
Sitting in the small chair across from Len the Producer, I bring my leg up, resting my ankle on my knee. His real last name is Baker, but when we met for this job, he told me it sounded to plain and that Len the Producer had just stuck, and worked for him. Stretching back, getting comfortable, I settle in to tell him what’s really happening.
“Now, Tuck, before I pay you, what’s really going on?” he asks, as he pulls out his check book. Letting me fully explain before he says or does anything, I have his full attention.
“Sir, found her last night in Flaming Dragon, Little Tokyo. Apparently she went there with some of your extras. She was looking to score some blow, one guy said he knew someone. That someone turned out to be Akio Hokkaido. Son of the Yakuza leader here in LA. There were some, issues,” I pause. Len’s eyes widen at the name I’ve dropped. How do I put this nicely? Most of my clients don’t want the gritty details. But, in order to keep her alive, I’m going to need to divulge, and at least he knows what we are up against, because he sure knows that name. Most of everyone who’s anyone knows that name, and tries to be polite while steering clear of them. Continuing, “There may be a few injured or dead lower ranked guys from the Yakuza. Akio may have been pissed off at losing his chance to get into Lianna’s pants. There may have been a car chase and some threats. So right now, her life is in danger. They knew where she was staying. They are going to know where she’s filming, and it sucks that you have all these Asian people on set today. It will definitely make it harder to protect her. If it’s ok with you, I’d like to stay on security detail with her until I’m sure the threat is gone.”
Contemplating what I just told him, Len rests his chin on his folded hands, letting out a long whoosh of breath.
“Tuck, I appreciate that, but how dangerous are we talking? I’ve already invested a lot into this broad. I’m not sure I want to pay your extra fees on top of it.”
“Len, I’m not asking for more money that what you already owe me and half the regular bodyguard fee. This is a dangerous guy. It would be more damaging to my reputation if I let it go, and she dies. Plus, then you would be out of your millions you paid her. Think of it as an investment into your money.” Shaking his head, he blows out another long breath.
“You’re right. Here,” Writing up a check, he hands it to me, “But she better finish this movie. No more messing around.”
Leaving the office, I quickly find Lianna’s trailer. Buzz and Frank stand on either side of the door, so it’s hard to miss.
“Guys, listen up. I’m taking head on this. Akio Hokkaido. Enough said, right?” Both men nod at me. Buzz raises his eyebrows and lets out a low whistle. Besides the Army, Buzz has spent time on the LAPD. He knows names like this all too well. No one will know better than him what we truly are up against. I’m hoping he can get the point across to her where I failed.
“Yea, she got mixed into something pretty nasty. I have to make arrangements to get my Hummer towed to the repair shop. They shot it up pretty good last night. No one gets near her. I want one of you on set all day, within ten feet of her, the other at a ready position close by. I don’t care if you have to be in the set, but out of camera frame, or if they have to edit you out. You do not leave her side. There’s some info I need to gather as well. There’s a friend that may be able to help with intel. I’ll be back in a few hours, and I’ll escort her out of here at night. Make sure you have extra clips, vests and gear with you at all time. She wears a vest if she goes anywhere that isn’t on set. You two will ride tail when we leave at night, until we hit the hills, then you can go home. In the morning, I’ll have you meet us back at the spot you left us at the night before. Easy enough?” As they both continue to nod, I spin on my foot and head out of there. It’s time I go see a man about some information.
Chapter 6
This is going to be a long day. Riding out to Little Tokyo, it makes me sick to be back here again. Though not as bad as it is at night, it still sucks. I call up an old informant to come meet me and talk about Akio. One of the great things of my background is all the people I’ve met. Some willing to work with me, some not so much, without encouragement. This guy, Razor, is a low life drug dealer, but he’s just a kid. His suppliers are in J-Town, so he has a lot of access to that area, and information. Pulling up next to the Watch Tower, I figure I can blend into the tourists walking around. Taking out my Ray Bans, and pulling them on, I strip from my suit jacket, roll my sleeves of the white button down up and get out. While driving, I had moved my gun, to my waist band, at my lower back, and covered it with my untucked shirt. Knowing how well made this shirt is, I know that no one can see the gun through the material. Got to love that Armani. Never, growing up had I imagined having a closet full of designer suits, Italian shoes or fancy cars. I’ve certainly exceeded all expectations of everyone who knew me.
Walking over, I lean up on the building in front of me. Placing my foot on the wall, I try to look as casual as possible. Seeing Razor heading up the sidewalk, his yellow Mohawk glinting in the summer sun, I shake my head. This kid never changes. His hair is always a Mohawk, but different colors. He’s hard to miss. Being the only Chinese guy in J-Town with an in has made him cocky too. Strolling up, he leans against the wall next to me, offering me a smoke. I don’t normally smoke, but like always, would prefer to blend in, so I light one up and casually puff on it.
“What’s up Tuck? I heard the craziest story this morning man. Blew my mind.” His hands mimic an explosion coming from his head, and the sound effect from his mouth has me laughing.
“Oh yea, what’s that?” I ask him, though I already know what he’s going to say.
“I hear Akio Hokkaido is pretty pissed off at some white guy with a gun, come into his bar shooting his guys, taking his woman, disrespecting him, and that this chick is Lianna Landry. I also hear, same crazy ass dude took some of Akio’s guys on a car ride, leaving two of his men in the ER from an accident. Then, I hear, can you believe this Tu
ck, the same said dumbass shoots three of them in the Hilton, killing two. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this would you?” I can’t help but laughing so hard my entire body shakes, as he replays everything to me. I hadn’t really stopped to think about it all yet. That does sound crazy.
“Nope, don’t know nothing about that,” I say to him, as the chuckling subsides. Not looking over, I can feel him shifting nervously next to me.
“Why are you fidgeting like a little girl?” I ask, turning to him, a serious look replacing the laugh, I remove my sunglasses. Pinning him with my icy stare, he shrinks back against the wall. This kid owes me. He got into a scrape with an oil tycoon’s son a few years ago. I had to step in and handle it. The big guy wanted Razor dead. I handled the situation, and saved Razor’s life. He owes me, and knows it.
“Tuck, it was nice knowing you, but you’re a magnet for death right now dude. Akio put a hundred grand on your head, fifty large on the girl. I came because I owe you my life, but now we’re even, because I’m saving yours by telling you to high tail it from town.”
“Raz, LA is my town. Nothing is going to happen to me, and I’m going to make sure nothing happens to the girl too.”
“Who is she man? At least tell me that, is it really Lianna Landry.”
“You know I don’t discuss my clients Raz. Now, what else you hear? Akio have any plans for hitting the studio over at Rockstar?
His eyes shift back and forth, scanning the area behind me. Taking a step back, he looks ready to run.
“Tuck, you should probably leave now. I’ll see you around man. Maybe you should get back to where ever you came from and check your girl, if you know what I mean.”
Quickly, he sprints away, not looking back. In his shades, I had seen a reflection of the men walking up behind me. More of Akio’s thugs. These ones would be easy though. We’re in public. Not much they can do to me here. Pivoting on my heel, I turn to face them.
“Morning guys, how’s your boss feeling today?” Stopping dead in their tracks, they stare me down, as if not expecting me to appear in front of them like I did. Taking a step toward them, I slowly put my hands behind my back. Not trying to make any sudden moves, I slowly untuck my shirt, getting my hand wrapped around my gun.
Whipping it out, I point it at them men. They already had guns at their hips, but I moved quicker. Shooting the first guy in the arm, people on the street start screaming and running. Trying to be careful and not hit an innocent person will be too hard. Dropping my gun, I rush towards the man that was in the middle.
Four years of high school football taught me some great things. The most important? How to take someone out, with my own body. Lowering my shoulders as I rush him, catching him in the stomach with my shoulder. As we both go down, I call on my karate training, flipping to my side mid-fall, I’m able to land myself in a crouched position. Popping up to my feet quickly, I catch the third guy off guard, knocking him out with a right hook to the jaw. A sickening crunch noise erupts, as blood spurts from his mouth. Ouch, something has to be broken. Not wanting to wait around, I run over to where my weapon had fallen, and turn back to the men lying on the ground.
“Tell your boss, it’s eleven me, zero him. He’s going to lose.” I start walking to my Jeep.
“Also,” pausing on the curb of the road, “Tell your boss to just forget Lianna, and me. We don’t want trouble. If he wants to stay alive, and out of jail, he needs to leave us alone.” Reaching my door, I rip it open, jump in and squeal the tires rushing out of the parking spot. Halfway up the block, I let out a sigh of relief. This just got a whole lot more dangerous.
Barreling into the parking structure off Rodeo, I figure now is as good a time as any to get my replacement suit. Plus, I need time to make calls before getting back to the lot. Sitting in the Jeep, I put the gun in my glove box. I can’t get measured with a gun in my back. It’s just going to be a whole lot of explaining I don’t have time for. My first call is Sal over at the garage I use. There’s no need to even explain to him what happened. He only asks me where it is. Still sitting in my Jeep, in the parking structure still, I pull out my phone, dialing a call to Razor.
“Yo man, I can’t believe your balls. You’re crazy you son of a bitch,” he screams into the phone without even saying hello.
“Listen, Raz. I need some intel. I need to know where Akio will be tonight. I have to end this before anyone else gets hurt. Guys approaching me on the streets, this is crazy. He’s going to kill some innocent people. He’s out of control.”
“Man, you need to back off this. Akio is dangerous and you will end up dead. I don’t even want to talk to you, that’s like signing my own death warrant.”
“Raz, please, you would be saving a lot of innocent people. Plus, you owe me. You wouldn’t be alive without me.” Pulling the guilt card. Normally works every time.
I’m met with silence from Razor. I can hear something in the background, but have no clue what it is.
“Hello? Raz, you there?” Looking at my phone screen, the call is still there, the call didn’t drop. All I hear is shuffling and a thud. He must have dropped the phone. Listening to what’s going on, that’s when I hear Akio. My blood goes cold, how did he get to Razor’s so quick? I just left those guys on the street not even fifteen minutes ago.
“Razor, you have a nice morning walk?” he says, his voice sounding muffled through the phone line. “Some of our friends saw you over by the watch tower, with the white guy from last night. You know, the one I put a price on? But, did they see you trying to earn that reward? No, they saw you having a chat. So, what am I to think? When my employee is picking the wrong side of a battle?”
“I’m s-sorry man, I don’t know what you mean,” I hear Razor whine. This is not good. Akio continues to speak.
“Razor, I don’t think we will be needing your services tonight. El Burro doesn’t take kindly to traitors. The situation with him is already intense. Trying to keep this quiet is hard, and you’re just not the man for the job. I can’t trust you. You know that’s what you are now, right? A traitor, a rat. I want that man dead. You let him go. You must know him, must know his name, where he lives, something useful. Right?”
“No, man, he asked for a smoke, that’s it. Just some random guy asking me for a smoke.” Good boy.
“Razor, I don’t believe you. So, these two gentlemen are going to take you on a nice car ride. When you’re done, maybe you’ll have some info I can really use. I hear relaxation and riding around can help exercise the brain, trigger memories. If you don’t, then I’ll take you down to the wharf and let El Burro deal with you. He’s very, very good at getting information we need.”
Just that name sends chills up and down my spine. El Burro. I knew Akio had connections with him, but the fact that El Burro will be in LA tonight, I have to do something. I feel bad for Razor. They are going to mess him up. But I can’t feel guilty about it. That’s the life he chose, the people he chose to be around. Turning over the ignition of the Jeep, I slam it into drive. Nearly hitting someone walking to their car, the suit fitting forgotten, I turn the steering and gun it out of the parking lot. I need to get back to the studio, and quickly. Calling up a few of my old Army buddies, I fill them in. There were part of my crew back in South America. This is not just business for them, it’s personal too. It’s time to take down El Burro and we may as well get Akio while we’re there.
Storming my way into the studio, it’s chaotic. Too crazy for a normal studio. Looking around, everyone seems afraid. Beverly, the make-up girl comes running to my, sobbing.
“They took her. They took Lianna.”
“Who?” I yell, shaking her.
“Some guy, expensive suit, Asian. There’s, there’s a dead body,” she tells me, her cries breaking in between the words.
Shoving her out of my way, I stalk to the dressing trailers. EMT’s are there working on Frank and Buzz. A white sheet lays covering someone, red spreading from what must be the head.
>
“What the hell happened and why didn’t you call me?”
“We did sir,” Buzz tells me. Taking my phone from my pocket, I look at the screen and have four missed calls. Well damn. I must not have felt it vibrate. My whole body now pulsates with anticipation. I’m going to kill this son of a bitch.
“What happened?” I yell at them. Frank cowers in fear, but Buzz looks at me, unafraid.
“Tuck, we thought they were extras. Surrounded her asking for autographs. We had to come back for wardrobe change. Next thing I know, Frank’s on the ground, and this little punk,” he points to the dead guy, “is waving a knife around at me. We had Chase Franklin with us, he was chatting up Lianna. They knocked him out too. So, I shot his ass. But, in the scuffle, two other guys already had Lianna loaded into a car and were pulling off. With the amount of people milling around, I couldn’t just shoot at the car. If I missed, I could have hit someone. I just couldn’t chance it. I have the tags and they already been run by my boys. It’s listed to your pal Akio.” At least someone knows what he’s doing. Turning around, I survey the scene. Chase, the lead in the movie, and a young actor making a name for himself lately, is surrounded by female EMT’s with a bloody nose and already bruising eyes. Nothing a little makeup won’t cover. Pussy, I think to myself. I knew this was going to be bad, leaving her here. Should have stayed, I should have just called Razor. Then he wouldn’t be in trouble, and Lianna would still be here. Big time screw up, and now I have to fix it.
