“He's in shipping. How about you? What is it that you really want to do, Michiko?”
“What do I really want to do? Hmmm . . .” Michiko giggled to herself. No one ever asked her what she really wanted before. Truth was, she didn't really know.
“Yes, what do you want to do? Why are you laughing?”
“Cause you'll think I'm silly if I tell you.” They turned onto Clay Street.
“No, I won't. Please tell me. Is it a secret?” John was intrigued.
“To me it's not but I can't tell my parents, because they don't think it’s good enough.”
“What? What is it you want to study?”
Looking up at the second story window of her father's house, she could see her mother looking down upon her. “Perhaps another time. This is where I live and I have to go in now. Thank you again for saving my bag. I really appreciate it,” said Michiko.
“Michiko,” her brother, Mike, called out as he crossed the street. “Michiko, is everything okay?” Mike felt John looked suspicious and questioned why he was standing next to Michiko. True, he had a Japanese name like his sister but in an effort to be accepted, he used the name Michael.
“Yes Mikey. Mike this is John. John this is my brother, Mike. John was nice enough to help me carry my things home.”
“Hi Mike, nice to meet you,” John offered his hand.
“Yeah, nice to meet you, too,” said Mike, who shook hands with John, while checking him out. It wasn't so much John's clothes, which seemed normal enough, but the way he wore them. Then there was the way he stood that cast a level of suspicion in his mind. “I'll take those for you now, Michiko.” Mike reached to take the bag and books, John was handing back to her.
“I guess I should be going,” said John.
“Thank you again, for everything. It was very nice of you to help me,” she said.
“It was nothing. Can I walk you home again?”
“I usually pick up my sister from school,” said Mike defensively.
“Perhaps. On Thursday my last class at University is at 4 o'clock.”
“I'll be there, if you're sure it's okay,” said John.
“Yes, I'm sure. Meet me on the corner of Masonic and Anza. You’ll remember?”
“I'll be there. Four o'clock, right?” John watched Michiko nod her head in affirmation. “Okay. Nice meeting you, Mike. Bye.” John walked off and down along Clay.
“Bye,” she said as both she and her brother walked into their home.
“Why did you tell him it was okay?”
“Why not? I'm eighteen now and he seems like a nice guy. Besides, he saved me today.”
“Saved you? Little sister, what aren't you telling me?” Mike, gently, pulled her to a stop.
“Oh it’s just a secret my dear, sweet, big brother,” she said in Japanese. Breaking free from his gentle grasp, she walked into the house.
“What kind of secret? Did he touch you?” Mike responded, also in Japanese.
“Oh really, will you relax already? He didn't do anything to me, but for me.”
“For you? What did this guy do for you? I swear if he touched you. I'll . . . I'll . . .”
“You'll what? Beat him up? I doubt it. Besides, he's a very strong man.”
“Stop playing games. How do you know he is strong?”
“I just know,” she said giggling.
“No more! Where, when and how did you meet him? No more funny answers either. Michiko, this is me, your big brother, the one who worries about you.”
“Oh really Mikey, must you know everything? You're almost as bad as Dad.”
“Never mind all that, just tell me. Where, when and how did you meet this guy? What do you know about him?” Mike was getting frustrated with her twit act.
“Oh, really. Welllll, okay. I met him when he stopped the purse snatcher from stealing my purse.” She was annoyed with Mike’s over protectiveness.
“Purse snatcher? What purse snatcher?” Mike asked.
“What do you mean; 'what purse-snatcher?' I just told you, the purse-snatcher who tried to steal my purse. Really, at times you're so dense Mikey.”
“Stop calling me Mikey. It reminds me of that stupid TV commercial.”
“Well at times you're just so corny that I think you belong in a commercial.”
“Michiko, will you just tell me. Pleeeaase, Michiko, tell me and without the games.”
She stopped midway up the steep steps they were climbing. “Oh, all right. I was walking home from classes, when I stopped and was waiting on the corner of Union and Webster for the light to change. Suddenly this guy came out of nowhere and grabbed my bag. Really! I got scared and screamed and John was- - I don't know where John was, but he was around somewhere. Anyhow, I guess he saw the guy grab my bag and chased him. Oh, I don't know how far, maybe about a block. Really! Next thing I know, he's got this guy cornered against the wall, the police arrived, there was this big crowd and the guy was this bloody mess. Well, you know. And, everyone was watching. And, well, I . . . wellll, I was just so nervous and so frightened. And then, he walked me home. Oh, and the cops said that the thief was wanted on another charge and I should think about pressing charges against the guy, but I said I was just happy to get my bag back. Really! Now, that really is everything. We should get upstairs; I'm late as it is.” She left her brother standing bewildered, as she ran up the rest of the steps.
Mike was stunned, as he had never heard her speak so fast in his entire life that he didn’t notice she was bouncing up the stairs. “Wait, Michiko. Hey, wait up! What else?”
“There’s nothing else,” she called down from the upper landing.
She was happy thinking she had a date, a real date all to herself on Thursday. She could hardly believe it. She had dates in the past but her parents always made her double up with her brother or cousins which took all the fun out of them. This one would be hers alone. Her mind began filling with mindless daydreams as she began imagining all sorts of scenarios.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tang's return to the Choi apartment complex was less than thirty minutes from when he started his chase across Hong Kong Island. He walked directly passed the assortment of media and police present on the scene. He was amazed at how fast word had spread and they had managed to converge upon the building. Within his mind were negative thoughts he had failed in his responsibility for the family’s security. With difficulty, he pushed these to the back of his mind. For the moment, it was imperative to gather as much information as he could. It was his duty to inform everyone and his first priority was to locate the Fu Shan Chu. Afterward, he would call the Choi's sons in California, as well as the rest of the family. Given Catherine was not home, it was a safe deduction that she was with Richard and would tell him everything no matter what. At least he would be spared the task of speaking to that intolerable man, he thought. Even if Richard was Heung Chu, the Incense Master, he disliked the man and didn’t trust him.
As the Red Pole Tang reported to Jim Tsao, who at present was the Vanguard, the Sin Fung, who in turn reported to the Fu Shan Chu. Exiting the elevator on Catherine Choi's private floor, he found the household a buzz with activity as police were all over the place. One rookie police officer stood, preventing him from entering.
“Let me pass,” said Tang with intimidation.
“Sorry sir, no one's allowed in.” The brash youth, stubbornly, stood his ground.
“I live here. Let me in, or get your superior.” Tang felt agitated with the pip-squeak.
“I'm sorry, sir, but I have my orders. Please, you'll have to wait in the lobby.”
“Listen - -” Tang was about to berate the man when Thourson turned the corner.
“Tang, how are you? I haven't seen you in some time. I trust you've been staying out of trouble,” said Thourson, in his peppy British accent. He was neatly attired as always, in his traditional tailor-made, charcoal-gray suit. “You can let him pass, officer.”
The officer responded at
once but gave Tang a strange look. Tang brushed by him unappreciative of the police presence but given the sound of gunfire, he was sure one of the servants thought they were doing the right thing by calling them.
“Thank you, Thourson.” Tang tried his best to be polite.
“I don't suppose you know who did this, do you?” Thourson looked at Tang’s worried expression. He didn’t have to be told Tang didn’t like his territory invaded, he saw it on his face.
“I know about as much as you do. Actually, I believe you know more than we do.”
“Really? Well, that would be a first.” He walked with Tang to the base of the staircase. “Given that it was Mr. Choi who was attacked personally, we believe it was an inside job.”
“That would be a logical assumption.”
“Do you have any theories Tang?”
“No. None. Not yet, anyway.”
“Exactly who was it that you were chasing all over Hong Kong Island?”
“The man you and I will both be looking to capture.”
“Is that so? Well, yes, I guess you will. If your Sin Fung will let you live, I guess you’ll be looking for him.”
“What's the point, Thourson?”
“Nothing, really. Let’s just say I don't want to find someone floating in Victoria Harbor, or doing a nosedive off one of Central's skyscrapers, or hanging by a rope, wrapped up in Christmas paper on a tree. It causes too much paperwork.”
“Why Mr. Thourson, we thought any man would like to receive the dead eunuch, who dared rape his daughter. Mr. Choi and I thought it was the best gift we could give you. Considering.”
“Yes, but you killed him!”
“We didn't know you wanted to have that pleasure yourself. Next time I'll leave the man alive for you to play with. Now, will you excuse me? I should really attend to Mrs. Choi. I'm sure this is all very difficult for her.” Tang began climbing the stairs.
“She's not here,” Thourson followed Tang up the stairs.
Reaching the topmost floor, Tang noticed the police were searching for evidence, as they say, everywhere. He made a mental note to have the place debugged after they left.
“You will respect the privacy of the Choi personal quarters.” Tang looked back at a huffing Thourson, who was trying to catch up to him.
“Fortunately for you, some of your men will not let us in those rooms to determine whether or not searching them is necessary.”
Good for them, thought Tang. “Let me know what you need Thourson, for your investigation. Have they taken away Mr. Choi yet?”
“No, the paramedics are still working on him. They only got here about ten minutes ago and are having trouble stabilizing him.” He followed Tang as he went into Choi's home office.
“Paramedics? He's still alive?”
“Yes, Tang. Why? Did you think he was dead?”
“With all that blood- - Tell me what you need, we’ll cooperate, Thourson.”
“Papers listing who worked here would be a good start. No one wants to give any information either. Perhaps you can persuade your people to be a bit more forthcoming.” Thourson looked over at Tang, saw the anxiety and wondered how much information Tang would share.
“Very well, as long as you respect the family privacy. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Thourson wondered what it was that he was not allowed to see within those rooms. He knew from the brief few minutes his men had in the place that contraband and such were not to be found. There was nothing illegal or anything else to indicate that this place was anything other than the apartment of a very rich gentleman. Thourson had noted that while very little was about, what was present was all first quality. The rooms were delicately decorated with the best examples of art from Ming dynasty vases to the Monet. Entering Choi's private office, they found the medics trying desperately to revive George with CPR.
“Where’re you taking Lauren?” Tang asked as she was lead passed him unconscious, on a stretcher. The medics stopped a moment and he touched her forehead with tenderness.
“She’s going to make it. We're taking her to St. Mark's Hospital on Old Peak,” said the medic.
Thourson watched Tang, grateful to have the opportunity to return the friendship Tang had once shown him. Tang had found his daughter abandoned with her dress torn and tattered on a street corner. He remembered when Tang brought her home, how he helped find a doctor who would be silent about the affair. When she finally woke up, she told them it was her date that had raped her. That information was all Tang needed. He would never have had the guts to do what Tang did to that man. As an officer, he was torn between wanting to do what Tang had done and having the lad locked up for good. He was grateful Tang saved him that decision.
“She's been hit twice as far as we can tell. You must let her go now. She really needs to be taken to hospital.” The medic wanted to move, but Tang just stood staring at his patient.
Tang released her. “Yee.” One of his men, instantly, came over to him. “You and Chung go with Lauren. Make sure she gets everything she needs. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Yee proceeded to call into his walkie-talkie for Chung and went with Choi's daughter in the second elevator.
“Forensics will be here for quite a while examining the place for evidence. I trust you’ll not mind and give us your cooperation for the next hour or so. Right?”
“Do what you have to do.” Tang’s eyes focused on George lying on the floor.
“Yes. I think we understand each other.” Thourson moved closer to the action.
“How is he?” Tang asked the medics working on Choi.
“We're having trouble stabilizing him. He’s lost a lot of blood and is barely hanging on,” said the medic who was holding the intravenous high above Choi's body.
Tang watched as the men worked feverishly over George, his mentor. “Do the best you can,” he said to no one in particular. He watched Choi's motionless body being pumped with electricity to restart his heart. For a man used to killing, inflicting pain, and seeing men squirm; he was very much affected by the sight. He pushed his emotions and feelings deep within himself, and looked at the men. He communicated orders with his men via discreet signals, indicating for them to observe, or talk, or not to talk.
“Tang,” said one of the men who came up to him.
“Yes. What have you found?”
“They took a 9 mm bullet out of the wall.”
“Anything else?”
“No. They haven't been talking too much.”
“When they take Choi, I want you to go with him.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, honored to be selected.
“Keep your eyes and ears open.” Tang walked back over to Choi's still body. He struggled to keep his emotions from surfacing. He heard the men working over George saying things like; 'push another 10 cc's,' or 'apply pressure,’ or 'hold on, hold on,' and 'that's it, good we've got him.' He didn't care what they said as long as it meant Choi was alive.
“Will he live?” Tang finally asked.
“We've got him stabilized, but I doubt he'll make it in the ambulance,” said the medic.
“Make sure he does,” said Tang.
The medic got the point. “Yes, sir, we're doing our best. Get the elevator,” he ordered Tang. “We're ready to move.”
They left in a hurry with heart monitors beeping, and an oxygen mask firmly in place. Two of Tang's men went along with orders to report back to Tang every fifteen minutes. The sun had set and with it the impenetrability of the Choi Empire. And with sunrise, thought Tang, what exactly will the sunrise bring. Will it bring hope with Choi's promise of recovery, or despair, with the turmoil his death would bring? He would have to deal with the sons and wondered if they would enter into a power struggle to take over the empire. Regardless, the Fu Shan Chu would definitely take over the Society as soon as he was found and notified, if he didn't already know. Questions weighed heavily within his mind. He refused to worry whether or not he would be allowed to live.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Will your men be finished soon?” He had a long list of things to do, least of which included entertaining police all night.
“We should be out of here within an hour. Perhaps, you can help us.”
“Help? How?”
“We need to speak to the servants, but no one wants to talk. No one will say anything. Oh, excuse me. Yes, sergeant,” he said as a sergeant approached.
“The men found someone sir and they're bringing him up,” the officer said. No sooner had he spoken then the doors to the elevator opened.
“Where was he found?” Tang asked.
“They found him in the garage stairwell sir. Do you know him?” The sergeant asked.
“Yes. He's Mr. Choi's chauffeur.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. Have him treated for his wounds and then take him in for questioning. Tang, where is the access from the stairs to the apartments?”
Tang indicated the door next to the elevator shaft. He knew the perpetrator didn't gain entrance that way. According to what the police were saying, the hit was done with, for all evidence, a single semi-automatic. This indicated that the person was assured he wasn't going to have interference with Choi's men, or else he would have been much heavier armed.
“We are probably looking for one or two men, Thourson.”
“Yes, we were thinking that as well, and at least more from the staff. Please do us a favor Tang, and don't kill the staff until we can at least interview them.”
“Kill the staff? Whatever for? We like them. Well, most of them.”
“I'll make a note of that. In the meantime, call me if anyone recalls anything.”
“Yes, Thourson.” Tang was wondering where on earth Mrs. Choi was to be found. He was even more curious to know how far Richard was from her side. “Has anyone been able to locate Mrs. Choi,” he said into his radio.
Thourson curious himself, waited. “No? Any idea where she may be found?”
“I thought she would have returned to the apartment by now,” said Tang.
“She hasn't.”
Obviously, thought Tang. “I'll continue checking with the staff and get back to you Thourson. I’ll see to it that you receive the information you requested.”
The Dragon Within His Shadow Page 13
