“Why now? Why after so many years, do you want me?” Catherine said softly.
“Because it took looking at this picture in the paper for me to realize what was important and why I was building what I've built.” George breathed in deeply the scent of her perfume. He closed his eyes and felt as if their souls were touching.
“Which is what?”
“Our family, restoration of our family to the honor it once knew. I want to see that honor passed beyond our generation, to the generations to come. It's hard to say this but. . . But tonight, for the first time I realized, I don't know my son as a man should know his son.”
“You amaze me; I've never known you to talk like this. You always said to not interfere.” Had he finally softened and changed his ways, or was this just another way to get something? After all, she thought, that other woman was there tonight.
George walked over to the coffee table, picked up the paper and showed their picture to Catherine. “Times change and we've grown Catherine. Tonight this picture made me realize my vulnerability. You're the treasure I've tried to protect by hiding it from view.”
“Instead you pushed me away,” she walked over to the sliding glass door that led to the balcony.
“I didn't want to -- Do you still have a lover?” George asked, knowing the answer was yes. When she didn't reply, he added, “I'm grateful you've been discreet.”
“What choices do I have? You gave up your rights long ago when you took Rose.”
“Why must you always mention her name?” George said angrily.
“Because she drove a wedge between us! She kept you from your family and from me! Because I fear, she will be the cause of the downfall of this family. Why else do you think I've done what I've done?” Catherine stated venomously.
“With her you are wrong,” George protested, but secretly he feared Catherine was right.
“Well, time will see who is right, good night, George.” Catherine walked to the door.
“Nothing will change your mind, Catherine?” George saw her hesitate at the door for the briefest of moments with her hand on the knob.
“A bouquet of dead roses will.” She left as gracefully as she had come. The arrangement they made was sealed years before and while she desired George; she refused to accept Rose, his second wife.
George watched Catherine leave. He remained where he stood, contemplating her words. After much thought he walked over to the console and pressed the button summoning Tang. His second wife Rose, a marriage while secondary to Catherine, was done for political reasons to appease certain tong fractions back in the fifties. He had needed those loyalties for survival. Reaching for the teapot, he realized that Catherine had thought of his needs as always and had three cups on the tray. Yes, Catherine always thought of him, and yet his thoughts were on Rose, who never questioned his relationship with Catherine. Rose would never allow him to bring up the topic, preferring to be naïve in certain matters.
George wasn't totally content with his domestic arrangements as they brought more complications into his life than he needed. He hoped that as his children matured and became adults, they would ease some of his burdens by taking on some business responsibilities. Now it would be John's turn. Studying their picture in the paper made him think through again his complex family relationships. He stopped sipping his tea when Tang entered the room through the back door that lead to the servants’ passageway.
George looked at Tang; saw the bandages on his arm, hand, and the back of his neck, along with the various black and blue markings that the tee shirt revealed. He was amazed that Tang could move about freely, as if nothing bothered him.
“How bad?”
“Not bad, the bandages make things look worse than they really are. Just some scratches really.” Tang wouldn't admit everything hurt and that all he wanted was to go to bed, as such an admission, would be a sign of weakness.
“Please sit,” said George.
“Thank you.” Tang saw the tray and knew Catherine had been in the room recently.
“What happened?”
“We were attacked by a faction of the Eagles.” Tang let the importance of the information carry itself.
Instantly George's greatest fear was confirmed. He knew what would have to be his next course of action. He had known for a time of Richard's power plays and now he could no longer ignore them, or the man.
“Your men handled the situation, but not as well as expected. They will need to do better in the future.”
“Do you want retribution?” Tang asked, amazed at George's cool reply.
“Yes,” said George slowly.
“When, is the question? We could take out their club in Wan Chi at a moment's notice.”
“Taking out the Eagles would not solve the greater problem. First, we must discover who holds the power behind them.” George poured tea for himself and Tang.
“To not strike back would endanger our position and- -”
“All bases must be considered before we strike. I've called a meeting of the council for tomorrow afternoon. Do you have any proof of Richard's involvement?”
“No, his actions were too well planned.” Tang took the cup of tea George offered. “There is nothing to directly link him with the Eagles, yet I know it’s him.”
“You suspect him?”
“I know it's him. All the evidence –
“The evidence is inconclusive and not enough to justify a direct strike.”
“He's devious and a threat to the Society, not to mention your entire family!”
“Yes, I agree with you on that point.”
“If you agree, than why send John to work in the company Richard controls?”
“If I don't send him, I would only raise Richard's suspicions as to how much we know. By being so daring to attack not only us, but also the members of every major Society in Hong Kong, means Richard has someone with considerable power supporting him. We must first uncover who they are, or we will have other vultures to deal with.”
“Richard has too much control over John. What's to prevent him from turning John against you?” Tang sat on the sofa.
“He has already succeeded to an extent. No, the answer to his control is you.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“For now, nothing. Just monitor Richard's activities.” George drank his tea.
“But the Eagles?”
“They will be dealt with by the council. Now with regard to my son- -”
“Yes.” Tang drank the tea in one gulp and placed the cup back on the tray.
“I need to regain influence over John. If I made one error, it was not seeing Richard's control. Now that I do, I must break it, without raising Richard's suspicions, without turning John against me, and without alerting Catherine to the motive.”
“Then you know?”
“About Catherine?” George poured more tea into their respective cups. “Yes, I've known about Catherine for some time now.”
“The discovery- -”
“Difficult and not open for discussion.”
“So how will you regain control over John?” Tang felt puzzled.
“Through trust and anger.”
“I don't understand.”
“You will earn John's trust, redirect his anger and neutralize Richard's control.”
Tang listened, knowing that he, along with many others, owed his life and loyalty to George. In all things that George ever requested Tang do, he knew the answer but at this minute Tang was unsure. George took a major risk bringing him into his confidence. Given he was George's Hung Kwan, Red Pole, such confidence could be expected but still it was risky because Tang also reported directly to the Sin Fung, the Vanguard of the society, one James Yi. While Tang’s absolute loyalty was owed to George, he also owed Yi allegiance. It was Yi who had plucked him out of the gang, given him opportunities, and literally saved his life. He also knew that Yi, as Richard's nephew, would out of family loyalty, support Richard in any di
rect confrontation and that the outcome of the conflict between George and Richard would rest on Tang’s decision of support. Yes, he thought, George was risking a great deal.
George knew the risks all too well and was now calling upon Tang to decide firmly where his loyalty stood. Inward, George marveled at the similarity, to what had happened to him, in his own early years.
Tang debated within himself. How complete was his loyalty to George? Should he side with George, who was like a father to him, or side with his Vanguard, to whom he owed his life and to whom he was also distantly related. Given Richard was also his distant cousin, his thoughts were complicated. He stared at the newspaper in the empty silence George let linger.
George said nothing but stood and walked over to the window, knowing full well the importance of what he was asking and that he would have to wait for an answer. In the reflection of the glass, he saw that Tang’s eyes had focused on the photo of Lauren in the paper. He allowed the man to sit lost in deep concentration as he well knew what he was asking. The glass that reflected the room reflected as well the achievement of his life's ambition. Yet beyond the reflection, he saw the extent of his empire in the buildings and businesses spread throughout Hong Kong territory and wondered about its stability. Just as he could see it clearly in the reflection, he knew that as the sun rose and the lighting changed, the reflection would disappear and just as easily, so could his empire that he once thought so secure.
Tang had become the key to his future.
Chapter Six
Ze-Shan paced nervously back and forth in Tang's living room. Suddenly, he banged his leg against the coffee table. “Ay-ya,” he uttered.
Tang ignored him and finished counting the money they had collected earlier. He walked calmly behind the bar, knelt down and opened the safe hidden underneath a secret loose floorboard. Placing the money inside, he thought over the night’s plans. He didn't particularly like Ze-Shan, which was why he had chosen the man for the job. It had taken him nearly six months to set things up the way George wanted and Ze-Shan wasn't going to mess up his arrangements. Replacing the floorboard, he stood and stared straight into Ze-Shan’s hardened eyes.
Ze-Shan walked over to the bar, carefully avoiding the coffee table. “I don't see why I have to baby sit that arrogant, bas-”
“Ze-Shan,” Tang picked two glasses from the overhead rack, and placed them on the counter, “you've got your assignment, deal with it. Besides,” he said, as he took a bottle of scotch off the shelf and poured. “It shouldn’t be too tough; he wants to go to Dragon's Lair.”
“Dragon's Lair? You don't mean the same club we collected from earlier?”
Tang heard the phone ringing, ignored it and Ze-Shan as he replaced the bottle. That they had visited the club earlier was no accident nor was it accidental that he had encouraged John to go there tonight. He had chosen Dragon’s Lair because its owner, Harvey Chan, was the lowest scum in his eyes. He disliked the man because he bought young girls from their parents, from places like Thailand, and then sold their virginity, or favors for that matter, to anyone who would pay. True, prostitution was a business, but Tang felt strongly that children, as young as twelve, shouldn’t be used.
“Shit.” Ze-Shan, recalled how they had roughed up Harvey earlier and was pissed off.
Tang finally picked up the phone. “Yes? Ze-Shan will meet him in the garage, in ten.”
Ze-Shan swallowed his drink in one gulp and knew there would be no arguing with Tang, once the man made up his mind. Fine, he thought to himself, I'll do the job. I’ll watch the little bastard but I might not be as careful as you want, Tang. He left without saying another word.
Tang swallowed his drink in one gulp before he squeezed his hand so hard that the fine crystal shattered.
*
As soon as the Porsche's door closed, John shifted gears and stormed out of the underground garage as fast as he dared. He turned sharply on to Magazine Gap road, and pushed the car to its limits. Skillfully he sped through the treacherous curves of the Peak's roads, causing Ze-Shan to shift from side-to-side as he took each one. John liked how he felt when he drove, equating mastery over the machine, with mastery over life.
Ze-Shan saw the speedometer hit ninety when they turned hard on to the narrow single lane Garden Road. He briefly closed his eyes in fear when John squeezed his way passed parked cars on the right and the car driving only slightly ahead of them, on their left. Bracing himself as best he could, he silently cursed Tang.
John slowed only when they hit traffic on Gloucester Road, which cut through the Wan Chai area of Hong Kong Island. As soon as they entered the Cross Harbor tunnel, leading to Kowloon, traffic cleared. John increased his speed, passing as many cars as he dared.
*
Harvey, the owner of Dragon's Lair, sat down at the farthest end of the bar and signaled for Jack, his bartender. It was difficult to move and even more difficult to find a way to sit that wasn't painful. He was confused and didn't understand what set off Tang. After all, he was willing to pay and knew the score like everyone else.
“Hurt much?” Jack asked sarcastically while pouring a brandy.
Harvey didn't respond and tried to sit up but no matter how hard he tried, he still looked as if he was hunched over the bar.
“You have to pay to do business an- -”
“Pay! Every week I pay. It's when something happens to one of them and I've got to pay more. That and Tang's attitude I can do without.”
Harvey adjusted himself on the barstool. He barely noticed Lara's approach, or her handing Jack a slip of paper with drink orders. He was too focused on trying to find a way to sit that wasn’t painful. Harvey watched Jack fill the order. When he felt Lara's gentle hands starting to massage his shoulders, he shrugged them off. All he could think of was, why? Why did Tang get so angry? What set him off? Everyone in Hong Kong argued, haggled over money. He thought of returning to his office, but didn't want to go back to the ransack mess that Tang had left behind. Instead, he turned his thoughts to Lara and the possibility of taking her out to dinner.
Lotus walked up and slammed a tray hard on the bar. Harvey saw her anger; closed his eyes and knew it was going to be a night on top of one of those days.
“Harvey!” Lotus was furious and didn't care who knew it. She looked at Harvey and then Lara, whose eyes connected with her own.
Lara saw Lotus with her hands on her hips and saw that stare that made her feel like she was looking at her with dagger-filled eyes. She returned the stare, but at fifteen didn’t know what to do and backed off.
“Harvey!” Lotus demanded attention.
Harvey looked up at Jack who offered him a pitied expression. He turned slightly to look at Lotus and instead noticed John Choi and Ze-Shan entering the Lounge. As they walked past the green and yellow neon sign of a phoenix set against the dark red wall, he let out a soft “ayyy-yaaa.”
“He's back, Harvey!” Lotus growled.
“He's a member. Of course he's back.” Harvey was not in the mood for anything. All he wanted was to avoid any further unpleasantness, finish out the night and retire early. When he looked at Lotus however, he saw no patience, just a furrowed brow. He knew trouble was not far away. She was a pretty teenager, but not pretty enough to compensate for her spitfire temper.
“You promised you would do something with that worthless dog! He shouldn't be a member!” Lotus stated vehemently.
Jack looked at Harvey, watched the man's face reddened with anger, and tried to warn off Lotus, but she was set on her course. She ignored him and pushed away his hand when he tried to touch her. She focused all her anger upon Harvey.
Harvey grabbed Lotus' hand, yanked her to him hard and with one forceful grip, swung her around until she was wedged in the corner between the bar and the wall. Her face registered disbelief, but he didn't care. It was getting harder with each passing minute for him to contain his anger. If he wasn't careful, she would set him off and he didn't need that k
ind of trouble, not tonight. “You'll serve him and serve him now. You hear me? Now, or Jack takes you to the Wall City.” Harvey picked up her tray and shoved it into her hands.
“You fear his father.” Lotus ignored Jack who rolled his eyes in disbelief.
Harvey smacked her across her face hard and pushed her towards John's table. “Go!”
Lotus, proud as ever, was humbled. Gingerly she walked a few feet before she stopped. She turned slightly to look back at Harvey. She thought as his lover, she was entitled to a certain amount of privileges, but saw as Lara moved to comfort him, just how disposable she was in his eyes. It angered her to see Harvey relax in Lara's caresses. She realized then how narrow the ledge was that she walked and just how expendable her life was at that moment. She trembled.
Chapter Seven
Richard sat in the cocktail lounge with two of his three partners. They were refusing to speak to him until their Shan Chu, Steven Lem, arrived. He tried to remain calm and knew Lem was late on purpose, but it still ticked him off. His attention was so focused on the two before him that he didn’t see Lem enter the lounge from the farthest side.
Lem stood in the doorway scanning the room and took note of Richard. He waited and wasn’t going to move until Richard saw him. When their eyes locked, Lem was pleased to sense Richard’s desperation mixed with anger. He allowed himself a smirk as he strolled over.
Richard saw Lem approach and thought only an over confident fool would dare wear a sport coat with a turtleneck in the Royalton, one of Hong Kong's most prestigious hotels. That Lem was also taller than he was, only annoyed him further. Nevertheless, Richard stood as Lem neared. They shook hands and with the simplest exchange of pleasantries, Richard unwillingly, stepped to the side.
Lem took the power seat that commanded a view of the entire room forcing Richard to move one seat over. If he noticed this slight, he didn't complain and Lem took this as another sign of Richard's vulnerability. A waitress approached with an exquisitely etched crystal decanter and glasses containing Lem's private reserve. Silently, the men watched as she placed the bottle next to Lem.
The Dragon Within His Shadow Page 4
