The Dragon Within His Shadow

by Phyllis M. Rumore

  Before he knew it, he was standing outside of Michiko's house, looking hopefully, up at her window. It took several minutes before he decided to check to see if she was home. He started walking up to the front door when Mike came out and looked hard at him.

  Mike had checked John out as soon as he learned his sister was dating him. He didn’t like John for several reasons, partly, because he was Chinese, but mainly, because he was in a Chinese gang as confirmed at the airport. Actually, it was more because he was in a Chinese gang, than because he was Chinese. He knew the gang world and understood the type of person within that realm. He had always tried to protect his sister and keep her from its grasp, which because of his own connections wasn’t always easy.

  “Hello.” Mike looked at John, knew what just transpired and came up with a solution.

  “Hi, Mike. Is Michiko home?” John asked.

  “Yeah, uh, yeah, she’s home. I’d thought you were going to get together tomorrow.”

  “I thought I’d just surprise her and say hello.”

  “Yeah, well,” said Mike.

  “What?”

  “You don’t look so hot. You look as if - -” but Mike cut himself off. He could sense that the man’s chi felt even stronger than usual.

  “Thanks Mike, but I’m okay. Things are fine.”

  Mike saw the bruises and thought John was going out of his way to be polite toward him. While he appreciated this, he still didn’t like the man. “What if I told you John that I know you are in a gang? That you were just in a heavy fight with a traitor at your cousin’s apartment and that your cousin is now on his way to a meeting?”

  John stood dumbfounded. “How did- - How do you- -”

  “How do I know? It’s a long story and neither of us have time for it. Your cousin’s life is at stake and if you want to save him, you’ll have to pay my price.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.” Mike looked John up and down.

  “What I’m hearing is an attitude,” said John. “Why should I listen to you?”

  “Listen John, this is the way it is. I’m involved and I have connections. These connections are very well informed. You have less than 35 minutes to save your cousin’s life.”

  “I know you run your own gang. Why should I believe you’ll help me?”

  “There’s no reason for you to trust me. But if you don’t, your dai low dai is dead.”

  John looked deep into Mike’s eyes and felt Mike was truthful. His gut instincts said to trust Mike, but he hesitated. “Tell me more.”

  “What you haven’t told Michiko, was that your uncle, whom you were visiting in Hong Kong, is one of the largest smugglers of things ranging from illegal aliens to drugs, amongst a slew of other, shall we say, businesses. The other thing you didn’t tell her was that you are in your cousin’s gang. Now today, you just came from his apartment where you found Charlie planting twenty plastic bags of white powder. How am I doing, John? Am I on track so far?” Mike watched his veracity drain color from John’s face. “When you confronted Charlie, he played dumb and then you fought, but your fight was interrupted by James. He’s gone off with Charlie to a meeting and after they kill James, they’ll look for you. And although I have no problem with you dying, I’d rather save my sister going to a funeral, especially yours.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because Charlie is a traitor and works for Kai, who wants the power and that guy has dealings with my associates. I’ve already told you too much to prove my position and you have to decide. Less than thirty minutes now. Will you pay my price?”

  “What? What is it?”

  “Here’s the deal. I’ll tell you how to save James and you never see my sister again.”

  “But, I love her.”

  “But, if you stay here, James dies. Decide.”

  “How can I choose?”

  “You have to choose. Think of this. If the rest of your brothers found out you knew and didn’t save one of them, do you think they’ll let you live?”

  “Mike, I love your sister. I love Michiko.”

  “If you choose her, then the only way for you, will be to switch sides and hope Kai will let you live. But, I doubt it. I know I wouldn’t, because then, I would always be watching you, waiting for revenge.”

  “As you pointed out, there isn’t much of a choice. Is there?”

  “No, there isn’t.”

  “Fine, I- - I choose my cousin's life. Tell me where,” said John in frustration.

  “You give your word. You’ll say good-bye to Michiko?”

  “You have it, but not now, later. Where?”

  “Lloyd Lake, in the Golden Gate Park.” Mike stared hard at John. “You have less than twenty-seven minutes to get there. My guys will be there, but I’ll hold them back.”

  “If it's true, thanks, if not, I’ll be seeing your sister on Saturday.” John turned and left.

  “Good-bye, John.” Mike watched John run up the block and around the corner.

  As John ran, he thought and in his thoughts, realized he hadn’t the faintest idea where Lloyd Lake was to be found. True, the man said the Golden State Park, but he didn’t know that park very well. He decided he would have to have help and in the time it took to run back to the apartment, he decided to call Tony, at the very least. He saw a pay phone, stopped and made a call. He was able to reach Tony who assured him he would meet John at the apartment building, as fast as he could. Tony grabbed two of the guys who he knew could be trusted, who were hanging out of the gang apartment before racing up the hill with the car.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Around the same time John walked in on Charlie, a group of men from the local tong had gathered in a Jackson Street restaurant’s private back room. True, there were other luncheons during the week, but the main one had always been on Wednesday as was today’s. That was when most men would attend to discuss problems they were having, or begun planning new business ventures. The first three courses had already been served when there was commotion just outside the door. The Chu Chi, who for this tong was Ng, remained sitting as others to his left and right, stood in opposition of the intruder.

  In some cities, the president of the tong used the title of Shan Chu, instead of Chu Chi, because they felt it carried more weight. Ng, however, felt the title Chu Chi was more than honorable and more in line with tradition. Besides meaning that he was the leader, Chu Chi, when translated, meant one who stands tall. That is, a person who towers over others to maintain support and run an organization. He felt the younger generations were too much in the way of upstarts to call themselves outright Shan Chu when they were just like him, leaders of the local tongs. Yet they did but that happened primarily, in the East. Here on the West coast, Ng strove to keep in line with tradition.

  “Good-afternoon, gentlemen,” Tang entered and blocked the advancing moves of the door guard without countering.

  “Tang?” Ng was surprised, but motioned and the door guard backed off Tang. Ng stood and turned to greet Tang, who walked over. “This is a pleasure indeed. When did you arrive?”

  “It seems I’ve arrived at a bad time.” Tang reached out to shake Ng’s hand with a firm handshake and quickly moved to position himself opposite Ng at the center round table, shaking hands with a few others present. The men in general, were startled by Tang’s unexpected visit.

  “Please join us.” Ng indicated for the man sitting opposite him to move for Tang.

  “Thank you.” Tang took the seat offered. By sitting down and joining them, he was showing he was sent to bring only a gentle reminder, or a simple request.

  “This is an unexpected, surprise,” said Larry, who was also seated at the main table.

  “Indeed,” said another. “I take it that our brother in Hong Kong is feeling better?”

  “Yes gentlemen, our brother in Hong Kong is very well and fully recovered.” Tang stated, rather flatly, as he disliked going through the rigmarole with anyone generally, and with th
ese men in particular, but he knew it was required. “I’ll be brief as I haven’t come to join your meal.” He held up his hand to prevent the waiter from placing a fresh place setting.

  “Please Tang, please. Stay and join us.” It was Ng’s look that persuaded Tang to remain.

  “Very well.” Tang lowered his hand, allowing a dish, cup and chopsticks to be placed before him. In Cantonese, chopsticks were called faa iji and in Mandarin kua izi. As Tang picked up and rinsed them with tea over the cup, he thought about his assignment. Even the simple task of rinsing his chopsticks meant something to the Chu Chi, a hidden message that the man acknowledged by nodding his head slightly. A fresh cup was immediately brought to him.

  Everyone knew Tang was there for a purpose and sat in anxious anticipation, fearing any thing other than polite conversation. Perhaps the Chu Chi knew, but he wasn’t telling anyone either. Tang’s unannounced arrival left them all on edge. But that was exactly, why he chose to visit today. He knew their meeting was today, just as he knew what significance his presence would mean to them. They looked at him without looking while they ate, wondering a thousand things, but not guessing the true purpose. It was good they were unnerved, he thought, as it would make his job easier.

  The meal completed, dishes were cleared and some of the lesser members left as was expected of them. The secondary level of gentlemen began calling for their private reserves of brandy. Their individual bottles, however, were not brought to the table as the Chu Chi had only his private and the best brandy brought out to honor Tang. These men knew private discussions were to be held, but for the time, they were to help in the welcoming of a brother, from the land of the Middle Kingdom. They too, knew they would be expected to leave at the appropriate time.

  As the brandy was served, another man forcibly tried to make his way into the room. Un-invited, he demanded to see Ng. After a brief struggle, Kai burst through the doorway.

  “How dare you enter like a brash scoundrel?! Have you no manners?” Ng stood and indicated for his bodyguard to subdue Kai, who was quickly forced to the floor and made to kneel in a subservient manner.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Ng, but I had to see you. It’s very important and- -” Kai became fearful of Tang’s eyes that focused on him and held him captured as securely as the physical grasp of the door guards. He’d never encountered such a strong individual before and saw Tang’s strength in a dual way. First, for his penetrating eyes that seemed to want to kill him. Second, because he sensed Tang was strong in the sense that he was strong within the Society, meaning very well connected within the upper echelon of the organization.

  Others in the room stood attentively, waiting for Ng to speak again. He in turned, looked over each man, making a mental note as to who moved to support him and who took cover. Ng settled back into his chair. “Release him.”

  “Yes sir.” The guard squeezed hard in warning, before releasing his grasp.

  “What’s so important that you deemed it necessary to burst into my private meeting?” Ng didn’t like Kai in particular, but didn’t favor James much either and only supported James because of his father.

  “I’ve news about the traitor. And- - And, I thought it was important for me to report.” Kai stopped and looked straight at Tang. It suddenly dawned on him who Tang was, as he recalled a picture his father had once shown him of the major players. He remembered his father telling him about Tang. His father would want to know Tang was here in the city and the private meeting he had entered.

  “Don’t worry about our visitor. Stop gawking and start making sense, Kai,” said Ng.

  “Yes sir,” Kai stood at the edge of the room not daring to move further.

  “What is this about a traitor?” Ng didn’t want to discuss such things with Tang present, but now he had absolutely no choice.

  “There are those of us who believe there is a traitor. We think- -” Kai stopped and again looked at Tang.

  “I said to ignore that gentleman. State what you have to say, or leave!”

  “We think Charlie’s the traitor. Definitely Charlie and maybe James’ took part, too.”

  “What are you saying? That James has betrayed us?” Larry questioned.

  “We think he is going to set us up. We’ve been following Charlie, and James, and found Charlie’s been making deals with another gang, the Cranes. I’ve heard him talking to one of the guys he was trying to recruit. Rumors have him storing the stuff at James’ place.”

  Larry, Cheung, and Ng looked at Kai with bemusement. If there was anyone who didn’t have to buy his way up the ladder, it was James. It was preposterous even to think such a thing.

  “Your accusations Kai are a bit extreme. Wouldn’t you say,” asked Larry.

  “No, they aren’t,” replied Kai, firmly.

  “James?” Tang stated, quizzically.

  “Who are you?” Kai asked of Tang.

  “He’s our friend,” said Ng. “Kai, perhaps you should explain why you think your brother is a traitor and how you came to this conclusion.”

  “For the past year money has been disappearing from our holdings. It wasn’t much at first, but now it looks as if fifty-thousand is missing that we’re sure. Then there are the missing guns and just last month drugs disappeared.”

  “And you think James did this?” Tang had heard John talking to George about Kai.

  “Perhaps not directly, but we’re sure he ordered it and can trace all the disappearances to Charlie. We stole Charlie’s safety deposit key and found he had a lot more money than he should have stashed away. Then there were the drugs. One of our guys- -”

  “And just what do you want us to do? This is a petty gang problem.” Ng really didn’t want to hear Kai’s list again, he was annoying in a kiss ass way.

  “I want your permission to take James down. I want to show you the traitor he is. I’ve just got word that he’s selling- -”

  “And what did James say when you confronted him with this information?” Larry asked.

  “He couldn’t believe it was Charlie,” said Kai.

  “What do you want, Kai?” Ng asked.

  “If I can prove Charlie and James are betraying us, I want permission to take him down, lead the gang and get James’ cut.”

  “Anything else?”

  “No.” Kai was nervous and didn’t like Tang’s penetrating stare upon him.

  “We’ll discuss this later. Good afternoon, Kai.”

  Kai looked at the men around the table and left quickly, not wanting to overstay his welcome, given his clumsy entrance. He should have known the reason he wasn’t allowed in, was because of the Hong Kong visitor. He had to call his father and let him know about Tang.

  “That was an interesting visit. Who was that young man?” Tang looked at Ng.

  “That was Kai,” said Larry.

  “Richard’s son,” said Ng; “has grown into a fine young man. Wouldn’t you say so, Tang? I myself hardly recognized him when he came to us a few years ago.”

  Tang accepted the information with a slight nod of his head. In a way, Ng had just given him a present, a sort of peace offering in revealing the identity of Kai’s father. It was a very significant piece of information and one that Mr. Choi would definitely be interested in knowing.

  “An unfortunate interruption I must admit,” Ng continued after a slight pause; “And regarding you, Tang. Why have you come to San Francisco?”

  “I have some personal matters to discuss with Mrs. Choi. After all, I know she is concerned over her husband’s recent illness,” said Tang.

  “Yes, we heard some vague rumors about trouble?” Larry asked, quizzically.

  “Trouble that has been dealt with, I am happy to say,” Tang didn’t like Larry.

  “Really? It was rumored the trouble was from within,” said one of the men.

  “Then, there have been reports of the Gray’s making moves,” said another man.

  Tang heard, for the first time the Gray Society name, made a mental note to t
ell George and to find out the other man’s name later. He looked from man-to-man around the table. He had heard all the rumors associated with the attack. It was his responsibility, to bring the rumors to a halt, and to realign the tong back with George’s society. “When it comes to rumors, it is hard to know what to believe. Let’s look at Kai. He comes bursting into this room filled with rumors and innuendos. Do you believe or doubt him? What are his motives?”

  “He’s our trusted nephew. We have no reason to doubt him,” said Larry.

  “Wrong, there’s every reason to doubt him. The Society is being attacked on all fronts, including here. Mr. Choi has dealt with the issue in Hong Kong. The rival faction that had given support to the traitor has been eliminated. The traitor’s business exposed to the police with the traitor himself paying compensation for all costs. That traitor has been dealt with.”

  “But, still alive,” said Chung, another distant cousin of Richard’s.

  “And the business is now being run by a woman!” Mr. Chow was seated on Tang’s left.

  “Yes Mr. Chow, a woman indeed who has uncovered a long trail of conspiracy and illicit dealings within our Society. A woman who has found evidence that points directly at you.”

  “I have not- -” But it was too late.

  Tang’s arm rose swiftly and his hand came crushing down firmly on Mr. Chow’s neck in a tight eagle claw grasp. The man was in an awkward position. His death was impending and he knew it. His eyes mirrored the pain of his past choices. The others around the table just looked on, aghast. Some adverted their eyes, while others just looked down, watching without seeing.

  “All traitors will die at the leisure of Mr. Choi. Let that message be very clear.” Tang said firmly as he squeezed the neck one last time and the man died. In releasing his grip, the man fell onto the next man seated, who moved away, least he be soiled by association.

  “What is it that Mr. Choi expects, Tang?” Ng swallowed hard not daring to ask when the Gray’s would be dealt with, knowing their alternative name was Gray Death for a good reason.

  “Loyalty, Ng. Loyalty. Since you were obviously concerned and with just cause, I might add, when our brother was attacked, it was wise of you to suspend transfers of the society’s share of the profits. Since order has been restored, the transfers should resume. Don’t you agree?”