The Dragon Within His Shadow

by Phyllis M. Rumore

  “I've been thinking and thinking, but I still don't believe Charlie would betray me. There is definitely a traitor, but I can't see him as being involved,” said James.

  “Your judgment is being hindered by your emotions. Forget Charlie and start thinking, objectively. In this business, greed changes a lot of men and jealously has often led to regretful hindsight. Until this is all settled and the truth is uncovered, do not trust anyone, not even John.”

  “Listen Dad, I trust John. He’s my brother and there’s no reason not to trust him.”

  “He hasn't proven himself to you. Don't be hasty in your decision to put your life in his hands. Trust no one until they’ve proven themselves to you.”

  “Perhaps it's because you never trusted him that he hasn't shown himself to you Dad. He's a trustworthy man; I've seen that in working with him.”

  “Enough of this.”

  After a long pause, “do you think it's safe to visit Charlie in jail?” James asked.

  “The only way to judge the loyalty of a man is to stare into his eyes.”

  “Easier said than done,” James looked up and saw John standing by the door with his arms crossed. “Hey Dad, John's here.” He motioned to John to come over to the phone.

  John’s mind was in a whirlwind of confusion. He felt jealous because his brother was having the type of relationship he always wanted with his father.

  “Perhaps I should speak to him. Put him on the phone,” said George.

  “John, come take the phone. My Dad wants to speak to you,” said James.

  “He wants to speak to me?” John asked softly before hesitatingly, taking the phone from James. “Wei,” he said, Cantonese for hello.

  “Hello son, how have you been?” George tried to convey warmth with his tone of voice.

  “Fine.” John responded tersely in Cantonese.

  “How was your trip?”

  “Okay,” said John.

  “I heard you’re making progress, this is good news,” said George.

  “Keeping tabs? Don't worry. I'm doing my job, Uncle George.”

  “You don't understand, I’m concerned - -” but George was cut short by John.

  “You! What bullshit! You never cared about me before and now that I'm over five-thousand miles away, you want to talk to me? When I lived downstairs, you couldn't give a shit when I came or left. What do you really want? James and I got work to do today. You never talk to me except when you want to order me to do something, so what the fuck do you want?”

  “I see you’re still angry with me,” said George.

  “What did you expect? You banished me from Hong Kong! You threw me out and said I was nothing more than a stranger, that I'm not family! You discarded me like one of your whores! You pushed me away and now you're concerned.”

  “I didn't mean to push you away- - You don't understand.” George was frustrated that he didn’t know how to broach the chasm separating him from John and knew it was his fault.

  “I understand plenty!”

  “Son, I've always cared about you but, but- -”

  “I'm not your son! Have you forgotten your own edict? I'm not your son till I prove my loyalty and honor! That's what you said. I’m not your son. You said that. Well I'm going to prove I have loyalty and honor to myself! I don't have to prove shit to you!”

  “You are my son. I’m still concerned about you and your new life! I didn't mean to push you away. It was the only way that I felt I could reach out to you, to save you!”

  “Reach me? Save me? When I was growing up you weren't home. Whenever I needed anything, you sent me to Richard. You couldn't even take the time to help me learn about women. You sent Richard for that one too, or have you forgotten? Well, I haven't! I haven't forgotten anything. And now, now you’re worried and you want to talk to me? You've never talked to me before, so there's no reason to start now!” John fed up, dropped the phone, and looked hard at James hovering by the doorway pretending not to listen before storming out of the apartment.

  “John! John wait!” James called out, but it was no use. John had left. Spotting the phone, he picked it up. “Dad. Hello, Dad? Dad? Are you still there?”

  After a long pause, George responded. “Yes.”

  James heard the anguish in his father’s voice.

  “Yes James, I'm here. Don't say anything, I've failed John and it will be difficult to mend things.”

  “Dad, you were always there for me. I'm sure you were there for him.”

  “No, James. Perhaps I wasn't and that’s the bitter truth. Now enough. Tell your Mom I send my love and will check back in a few days. Do you suspect other connections?”

  “Like with Hong Kong support? No. No, I don't think so.”

  “Remember, you're a strong man. Think objectively and remember to use your head. If you do uncover connections to Hong Kong, or elsewhere, call me immediately.”

  “Yeah, Dad. Bye.”

  “Bye, James.” George hung up the phone and walked back over to the window. He was pondering James' predicament and considering as he did, any possible connections. While James' San Francisco gang was far removed, connections, nevertheless, remained. As such, risk, however large or small, was present and as yet non-quantified. He pressed a button on the desk’s control panel.

  A man entered the room quietly. “Yes, sir?”

  “Have my car brought to the main entrance.” George turned to face the unfamiliar voice.

  “Certainly, sir,” the man said in Cantonese as he drew a gun from his jacket pocket, took aim and fired several times, in one ghastly violent, rapid movement.

  The sound of gunfire startled George, who twisted with the bullets impact before falling.

  “After I've killed you,” the hit man said mockingly, as he switched to the Yunnan dialect.

  Sounds of gunfire roused Choi's guards as the man was audacious enough not to use a silencer. He didn't have time to check Choi's body as Lauren had entered the room from the adjoining library. Her screaming caused him to panic. He shot wildly at her three or four times before his automatic jammed. Heavily, she fell to the ground. The sound of men rushing caused him to make a mad dash for the elevator he had left propped open. Running into Li, he shoved the man’s head against the wall, stunning him. He made it into the elevator and used the master key to take the elevator express to the parking level. He wasn’t out of danger yet. He had to get out of the building before Choi's guards could seal off his escape. His adrenaline was pumping as he prepared for the elevator's basement arrival. Pushing himself flush against the wall, he squatted low. Usually, doing a hit was nothing too special and for the right amount of money, he would kill anyone. After all, it was just a job. Now, however, he had hit the Shan Chu and getting away with the hit would mean tremendous rewards as well as being a marked target for life, if his identity was uncovered. The doors opened and he pulled to the left, before dashing for the steel pillar and temporary cover.

  He scanned the parking area for trouble and finding none, dropped the spent magazine as he reloaded his weapon. He heard, rather than saw, the arrival of the other elevator just as he began running for his motorcycle. He failed to realize that he dropped his gun until it was too late. He hopped on the bike, and started it, just as the other elevator doors opened. He raced for the exit as Choi’s men flooded the area. Frantic wild shots rang out from behind him, as he made his way up the exit ramp full throttle. Pushing the bike hard, he tried to force it to go faster than it could. He felt panic rising when he felt something hit his leg but he couldn’t stop to check. He just kept pushing and pushing the bike to its limits as Choi’s men got in cars and began to give chase.

  Driving erratically through the streets of Hong Kong Island, he headed towards Kennedy Town, before turning down one narrow sloping street. It was crowded with various dai pai dong, food stalls, and people crowding around, haggling over prices. He figured a chasing car wouldn’t fit down the street, nor dare to follow him into the throngs of people
. It provided the scant extra two or three minutes' leeway he needed to reach a small boat that he had tied to the pilings, next to the steps leading into the depth of Victoria Harbor. He jumped off the bike, ignored the sounds of protests from the various people shouting and made his way to the waters' edge. Everything was intensified. He heard an approaching car honking and men yelling at having difficulty passing a tram and truck that were blocking access to the waterfront street. He raced across the road as best he could with his wounded leg and descended the steep stone steps before jumping into the small boat. Struggling, he tried to start its weak engine and managed to get it moving just as Tang, Li and their men, leaped out of their cars. Dodging bullets, he maneuvered his small craft between the various ships clogging the harbor. He pushed the boat to move faster, ever farther away from shore, while ignoring the cold stares from those on other boats. Slipping into the obscurity of the harbor, he began relaxing in the safety of his boat as he could no longer see Tang, or his men.

  Tang stood with his men at the edge of the harbor frustrated and cursing the assailant who was disappearing before their eyes. They were even angrier that there weren’t any boats to steal. Some of the men quickly began an examination of the area. Li took note of the bike left haphazardly in the street and ordered someone to watch it before he walked into the nearest shop. He grabbed the phone from a hysterical woman, who was screaming about the events outside her storefront window, hung up on her call, and made his own. Since the area was controlled by the Choi family, she wasn't about to argue with him. Li returned and approached Tang who was insolently, clutching his gun. He was staring after the perpetrator, seemingly memorizing every detail.

  “Did you make the call?” Tang asked. It would be his honor and loyalty questioned when the time came. After sixteen years of service, he wasn't about to have his record tarnished without giving a good fight.

  “Our men are on the way. You'll have your answers tonight,” said Li, one of Tang's most trusted men. Given the level of vehemence that was gathering monsoon strength within Tang's chi, Li didn't desire being within the man’s proximity.

  “Did anyone check the elevator?” Tang asked.

  “No. I don't think so.”

  “Then call back and have it searched. He had to have a card to use it. Find it if he left it, and trace the code number. Tell them I will be there within the next ten minutes and I want to know the minute I get back whose card it was. Got it,” said Tang in a wrathful tone.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Take over and see to it that the men do a good job. Check with the boat owners and their crews. I want to know where that bastard went! If he changes boats, or lands, track him!” Tang commanded.

  “Yes sir.” Li wanted to get away, far away, from Tang.

  “Have the men check to see if anyone recognized the fucking son of a bitch. Put the word out that anyone, anyone, who gives him up will be heavily rewarded.” Tang’s scowl made the underling quiver.

  “Got it.” Li set about directing the men who had arrived.

  Chapter Twenty

  John stormed out of the apartment building. He walked aimlessly down the hill towards Union in an attempt to dispel his frustrations caused by talking to his dad. For that brief moment when he spoke his mind, it was as if the floodgates had opened. All the years of pain from rejection and neglect were released but it wasn’t enough. For as soon as they had opened, they were closed. Spotting a fine suit in a shop window only reminded him of what his father had taken away. He stood staring at the suit lost in thought about his home. It wasn’t so much regret that he felt, but longing for what he thought was missing, love. It only intensified his jealousy for James and as much as he tried to shove it aside, it remained.

  A movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. He saw in the glass reflection, long black hair being tussled by the wind, along with a light yellow scarf. His eyes focused on the young lady who appeared to be about his age. He was mesmerized by her fluid movement as she tried to keep her hair out of her face and hold onto her books. His eyes remained transfixed as she prepared to cross the street, when he was distracted by a guy running toward her.

  John turned just as the thief bumped into the girl. The thief grabbed her purse knocking her and her books to the ground. Shocked at first, he looked to see if she was okay. He saw some people were bending to help her so John turned and chased the thief. Within a block, he caught the guy and tackled the man to the ground. The thief was no match for John’s improved Wing Chun, which was far more powerful because of his anger. Their fight was brief as John’s strikes were hard. Neither noticed the crowd that had appeared along with the young lady, who in gathering her things had followed.

  Those assembled watched John subdue the thief and hold him to the ground against the man’s protests. When John looked up and saw her face, he thought he saw a delicate flower with eyes that held a mixture of appreciation and concern. She looked at him and then away. He saw her uncertainness, grabbed her bag from the thief and held it out.

  “Here. Here’s your bag, Miss.” John felt better, calmer, just looking at her.

  “Thank you. Thank you very much.” Gingerly she took her bag from John.

  A police car took notice of the crowd and pulled over. After a quick assessment of the situation, one relieved John of the thief, while the other began taking statements. John got very nervous around the cops, who were asking whether or not the girl wanted to press charges. The young girl didn't know what to do. She didn't want to get involved, because if her father found out that she was down on Union Street shopping, instead of being at the library where she said she going, she would be in major trouble. Still she provided her contact information. John, on the other hand, just didn't want to get involved with the cops, period.

  “I have my bag back, do I have to?” She questioned.

  “Hey, Jackson.” The other cop walked over, “there’s a warrant out on him!”

  “Miss, we're going to take him in on the warrant, but you really should press charges,” said Jackson. “You look upset. Would you like us to take you home?”

  She was somewhat dazed, but how could she have the cops take her home? Then, her father really would ask all sorts of questions.

  John realized her apprehension. “If it's okay with her, I'll walk her home, officer.”

  Thinking quickly, she realized it would be easier to explain a nice young boy walking her home from the library than why cops were taking her home. “Yes. Yes, please,” she said softly.

  The cop looked at both of them. “All right, Miss. You're sure you'll be okay?”

  “Yes. Yes, officer, I'll be fine.”

  “I have your name and address. This is where to reach me if you change your mind. Okay?” Jackson gave her a piece of paper with his name and the station phone number.

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “I didn't get your address.” Jackson thought John had a rather anxious appearance, like a cat that ate the canary.

  “Look, I just tried to help the girl. Really, I don't want to get involved. Okay?” John saw the look and knew he had to give in. What a mess, he thought. He gave out the phony address he was told to provide if caught by the cops.

  “So John, its John? Right? You take care and make sure she gets home safe. Right?”

  “Yes officer.” John looked over at her and saw she was looking down demurely.

  It would be only the third time in her young adult life that a young man, other then her brother, would walk her home. Her old-fashioned parents were confusing at times now that they lived in America. She wanted to fit it and be like the other girls, but they seemed more aware of things than she was and always more popular.

  “Let me help you with your things.” John took her books.

  “Thank you. My name is Michiko,” she said, nervously.

  “Mine is John. Which way do we have to go?” He realized her name was Japanese, but didn't think much of it. He just liked the sensitiv
ity he saw in her almond-shaped eyes.

  She pointed up the block and they began walking at a slow even pace, neither being in much of a rush. For her, it was like a fantasy come true to have a young strong man walk her home and carry her things. She hoped her friends from school would see her with John, so she would be asked lots of questions when she went back.

  John felt comfortable walking by her side. In a small way she reminded him of Lauren, only he felt she was much more innocent.

  “Are you studying at the University of San Francisco?” Michiko asked.

  “No, I work for my brother. How about you, are you in school?”

  “Yes. I'm a freshman at the University. I go there with my brother who's a junior.”

  “Do you like it?”

  “Yes. Do you like working for your brother?”

  “Yeah. It's all right.”

  “What do you do?”

  It was an innocent question, to which he couldn't give an honest answer. How could he tell her, he was an enforcer and that his job was beating up people to collect tea money?

  “My brother has a restaurant supply store. I help him out wherever and whenever he needs help. Freshman at the university that sounds interesting. What are you studying?”

  “I'm taking the basics to get them out of the way before I concentrate on my major.”

  “What do you want to major in?” John was entranced by her soft voice.

  “I'm thinking of majoring in Bio. My mother said I should, since that was something I was good at doing. She says I would make a good doctor and to be a doctor, you need to know biology and stuff. So that is why I figured I’d major in Biology.”

  “Do you want to be a doctor?”

  “No, but science has always been easy for me and Mom says being a doctor is highly respectable and honorable. What about you? Do you think you’ll always work for your brother?”

  “No, but for now it's okay. One day, I'll probably take over my father's business.”

  “What does he do?”