Honolulu Blues

by Larry Darter

  After a few more days passed with no sightings of young Asian men dressed in black riding about in dark SUVs with limo-tinted windows, I vacated Kevin's guest room and moved back to my flat. Kevin wasn't happy with my decision. He continued to insist that the syndicate hadn't forgotten me, that they were only biding their time while they worked out a new scheme to get even with me. But I was determined to carry on with my life and get back into my normal routine.

  After I was back home, I rang Mike to let him know. We chatted for a bit, but things were strained between us. More strained than I had realized. He didn't ask to come 'round to visit, and being a bit of a stubborn cow, I didn't invite him to. We hung up, leaving me feeling things might be over with us. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, actually.

  Another week went by. I'd stopped looking over my shoulder every time I was out and about. I went to the office I shared with Jackie every morning. An insurance company had hired me to investigate a suspected fraudulent claim. After a month had passed, the uncertainty I felt over the chances I'd be subjected to further threats from a criminal gang waned and was replaced with normality. Hong Kong felt comfortably far away again.

  That is, until the phone call came.

  It was a Friday evening, the end of another week of work. I'd just been down the road to Udon Noodles on Kuhio for takeaways and was walking back into my flat when my mobile rang. Putting the food on the table, I pulled out the phone, answering without a glance at the screen. I recognized the voice.

  "Hello, T.J.," the caller said. The voice belonged to the man I'd spoken with on the phone in Hong Kong after the Triads had abducted Jackie.

  Completely surprised for a moment, I couldn't think of a reply right away.

  "You didn't think it was over did you? We have unfinished business. Thanks to you, I've lost face with my boss, and he has lost confidence in me. That simply won't do."

  "What are you on about?" I said.

  "We need to meet," the caller said. "I am here in Honolulu."

  "To what purpose?" I said. "If it's an apology you're after, you won't be bloody getting one."

  "Make it easy on yourself, by agreeing to meet with me," the caller said. "Let's resolve our differences in a civilized manner. T.J., I won't deceive you. Naturally, my terms will be harsh. Honor is at stake. But, if you do the honorable thing, and meet with me, you will earn my respect. In return, I give you my word, I will allow you to live."

  "Yeah, nah, I think I'll make you come find me if you want to have a chat," I said. "This isn't Hong Kong. If you find me, I promise to make you regret it. I'm so over all this."

  "No doubt you can make things difficult for me. To be frank, you've proven a worthy adversary. But, while you may feel confident you can protect yourself, what of your friends? Your family? Can you protect them too? I know Jackie. We met in Hong Kong, of course. I know about your friend Kevin Laanui, and your lover Mike Young. I know where they live. Can you protect them too? What of your mother Rose, and father George in New Zealand? Don't be so foolish as to believe they are beyond my reach. They are not."

  "You can piss off, you bastard. Threats are easy enough. I think you will find carrying them out more difficult."

  "Difficult, perhaps. But, not impossible. I'll phone you in twenty-four hours. If you haven't had a change of heart by then, if you still refuse to accept the consequences of your past behavior, I will apply pressure at the expense of those you care about most. Believe me, T.J., I will have my satisfaction in the end. You won't be forgotten; I never forget."

  I started to unleash a new string of profanities, but the line went dead. The bastard had hung up. I collapsed on the sofa, dinner forgotten. Then I picked up my phone where I'd dropped it beside me. I rang Jackie first.

  "You all right?" I said.

  "Yeah sure, why?" Jackie said.

  "Are you at home?"

  "Yes, I'm eating pizza and watching Netflix," Jackie said.

  "Pack a bag and come to my flat as soon as you can get here."

  "What? Why? What's going on?"

  "That rat bastard from Hong Kong just rang me and threatened to harm everyone I know," I said. "He said he is here in Honolulu. I want you here with me."

  "Oh, shit! What does he want?"

  "He is demanding I meet with him to settle accounts," I said. "Until I decide what to do, I don't want you staying alone."

  "Okay, sure," Jackie said. "I'll throw some stuff in an overnight bag and drive over."

  "Sweet," I said. "I have to go now. I have more calls to make, more people to warn."

  "All right, see you soon," Jackie said. I hung up and rang Mike's mobile. He didn't answer. When the voicemail came on, I hung up and dialed his number again. After four attempts, with no answer, and voicemail again, I screamed into the phone, "For fuck's sake, Mike, stop being a dick and answer your bloody phone!" Then I disconnected.

  Next, I dialed Kevin's number. He picked up on the second ring. I told him about the phone call and the details.

  "You’d better bring your friend, and come back here to the house," Kevin said.

  "The bastard claimed he knows where you live, Kevin," I said. "Not sure it would be any safer there."

  "He was just trying to frighten you, T.J.," Kevin said. "As a former cop, I am always careful about who I tell where I live. Even my truck registration lists a post office box. I think you would both be safer here."

  "I’ll have to discuss it with Jackie first, when she arrives," I said.

  "Convince her to come here," Kevin said. "I have the other spare bedroom."

  "I can't get in touch with Mike," I said. "He isn't answering his phone."

  "I wouldn't worry about Mike," Kevin said. "I don't believe the Triads are stupid enough to attack a cop. That would bring them the kind of attention they don't want."

  "Ahkay, Kevin," I said. "Maybe you're right. But, I need to go. I have to call my parents. When Jackie arrives, I'll ask her if she wants to stay at your place. If so, I'll ring you back when we're on our way."

  "Okay, T.J., but don't take no for an answer. You both will be safer here."

  I said goodbye to Kevin and disconnected. I did the quick mental calculation about the time difference. It was almost seven o'clock Friday evening in Honolulu, so that was almost five Saturday afternoon in New Zealand. It seemed best to talk to my dad, so I rang his mobile instead of the house phone. He answered after several rings.

  "Dad, it's me," I said. "How you going?"

  "T.J., what a nice surprise," he said. "It's been ages since we've heard from you."

  "Yep, I've been all over the show," I said. "Listen, Dad, something has happened. I'm into it with a crim gang over a case I was working on. They just rang me, and threatened to harm everyone I know, including you and mum."

  "You alright?"

  "Yeah, Dad, I'm good, but you and mum need to be careful until I can get this sorted. These are very bad men, and they can carry out their threats."

  "Here, in New Zealand?"

  "Yes, it's a very large Asian gang, a criminal syndicate. I expect they have people there, just as they do here and other places. You must be on guard if any Asian men you don't know should come ’round. If anyone seems suspicious at all, you must not hesitate to ring the police."

  "Ahkay, T.J., just stay calm. We'll be on guard. I'll even ring up a constable friend of mine here and let him know what's going on."

  "That's good, Dad," I said. "Once I have the situation in hand, I'll ring you back with an all-clear."

  "It sounds as if you're the one in the thick of it. You better be careful young lady."

  "Sure, I will, Dad, and I have friends here to watch my back. But, I need confidence you and mum are safe."

  "I've got this end, T.J.," he said. "Take care, and ring me when you have news."

  "Ahkay, Dad, I will."

  "Goodbye then, sweetheart, see you soon."

  "See you, Dad." I disconnected the call.

  I decided Kevin was right. It
would be better if we were all together, him, Jackie, and me. I packed a suitcase while waiting for Jackie to turn up. My phone rang again. The screen said "City of Honolulu." I reckoned it was Mike ringing me back. I answered.

  "T.J., it's Greg Yu."

  "Ah, right, hello Greg. I thought it was Mike calling."

  "That's what I'm calling about," Greg said. "Mike has been hurt."

  "Hurt? What happened?"

  "Someone stabbed him, T.J.," Greg said. "Mike is here at the hospital."

  "Oh my God, is he okay?"

  "Mike is alive. He is in surgery. The doctor said Mike looked pretty bad when he came in. He'd lost a lot of blood. That's about all I can tell you right now until the surgeon comes out and tells me more."

  "Did it happen at work?"

  "No, someone ambushed Mike when he arrived home from work," Greg said. "A neighbor found him and called an ambulance."

  It all seemed so surreal — Mike lying unconscious in a pool of blood because of me. I quickly banished the momentary feelings of guilt and channeled them into something far more practical — fury. I would get those bastards."I know who did it, Greg," I said. "At least, who was behind it."

  "What? Who? And, how do you know?"

  "I received a phone call from one of the Triad bosses earlier this evening," I said. "He made threats, and not just directed at me. He threatened everyone I know, including Mike, my friend Jackie Fitzgerald, and even my parents in New Zealand."

  “What threats?” Greg said. “Do you know who the guy is? What did he say?”

  “I’d love to tell you all about it, later,” I said. “Right now I need to be with Mike. Which hospital is he in?”

  "Like I said, Mike is in surgery, T.J.," Greg said. "No need for you to rush over here. You won't be able to see Mike right now. After surgery, he’ll be in recovery, and then ICU after that."

  "I need to be there for him, Greg."

  "And you will, once Mike can have visitors. Now, tell me about the threats."

  I summarized the call I'd received as quick as I could. "Now, Greg, tell me which hospital."

  "Princess Kaiulani Medical Center," Greg said. "But I'm telling you, T.J., it would only be a waste of time for you to come here now. Mike hasn't been in surgery for long, so he won't even be in recovery for hours. I promise I'll call you as soon as he is out of surgery and once I learn more from his doctors."

  I reluctantly agreed, but said, "Promise you will call the minute Mike is out of surgery."

  "I swear," Greg said. "I’d better go now. I've got to call the station and relay the information about the Triads. At least now we have a place to start looking for the person who attacked Mike."

  "Right," I said. "See you soon, Greg." We hung up.

  I’d just finished packing when there was a knock at the door. I had a look through the peephole. It was Jackie. I let her in and told her about Mike. "Oh no, is Mike going to be okay?" Jackie put her arms around me.

  "I don’t know, he only went into surgery," I said. "His friend Greg Yu is there now and promised to ring me as soon as Mike is in recovery."

  "They got Mike to the hospital alive, that’s a good sign isn’t it?"

  "Yes, but Greg said Mike was in bad shape, that he’d lost a lot of blood."

  "You want me to drive you to the hospital?" Jackie said.

  "No, Greg convinced me to wait. He said it would be hours before the surgery is over and Mike is out of recovery. I couldn’t see him, anyway."

  Then I told her that Kevin thought we should stay at his house until we sorted things. She quickly agreed, maybe because what had already happened to Mike drove home the reality we needed to take the threats seriously.

  "But, I’m sure you won’t go to Kevin’s until you’ve seen Mike," Jackie said. "We’ll stay here together until Greg calls. Then I’ll drive you to the hospital to see Mike. We can go to Kevin’s once we know Mike is okay."

  "Kevin will be happy to come to get you now."

  "No, we’re a team," Jackie said. “Once we know that Mike is all right, we’ll both go together.”

  "All right," I said. "As soon as Mike is out of surgery, and I'm certain he is out of danger, then we'll go to Kevin's."

  That settled, I rang Kevin to let him know Jackie and I wouldn't be coming over right away. Then I explained what had happened to Mike.

  "T.J., when the Triads risk attacking a cop to get to you, it‘s serious business. Either you and Jackie come here now, or I’m coming to stay at your apartment until you do," Kevin said.

  "No, Kevin. I appreciate it, but I've just room for Jackie and me here."

  "You have a couch, don't you?" Kevin said. "I can make do with that for a few days."

  "No, I won't have you sleeping on a sofa, when you have a perfectly nice bed at home."

  "Listen, T.J., I'm coming there, regardless. If you don't want me sleeping on your couch, then I'll just sleep in my truck in the parking lot."

  "Oh, all right, Kevin, bloody hell," I said. "Come over then. But, bring a pillow and blanket. I don't have extras."

  "No problem," Kevin said. "I'll pack a bag and be there in an hour."

  With that, we hung up. There was nothing else to do but wait to hear from Greg.

  Two hours later, Greg rang me back. He said that Mike was out of surgery and in recovery.

  "So, I can come to the hospital and see him?"

  "No, not yet," Greg said. “Once Mike wakes up, they will move him to ICU. Since you're not a relative, they won't let you in to see him. You'll have to wait until they move him from ICU to a regular hospital room."

  "Couldn't you make the staff let me see Mike?" I said. "You're the police."

  "No, a badge doesn't get you anywhere with hospital staff," Greg said. "They are going to enforce their rules."

  "Then when will I be able to see him?"

  "Maybe tomorrow, or the next day," Greg said. "The doctors said the surgery went well. They are confident they stopped all the internal bleeding, and that Mike will make a full recovery. It will just take time. If everything goes as expected, Mike should be out of intensive care and in a room sometime tomorrow."

  "Oh, all right, then," I said. "But, Greg, you have to call me the moment I can see Mike."

  "I will, T.J., I promise," Greg said.

  We disconnected. I dropped the mobile on the couch beside me. I wasn't given to crying, but I was afraid I might just then. Jackie patted my arm and asked what Greg had said. I struggled to hold back the tears as I told her.

  "Well, it sounds good then, right?"

  "Yes, the doctors said he will make a full recovery. But, I need to see Mike."

  "And, you will, as soon as he’s out of intensive care."

  Jackie continued talking, trying to reassure me about Mike, but I hardly heard a word she said. My brain was in overdrive as I struggled to organize a plan to end the madness before someone else I cared about got hurt. I felt there wasn't any choice about meeting the bastard who had called me. I wouldn't allow him to hurt anyone else. Somehow, I had to turn that meeting into an opportunity to end things once and for all.

  Kevin arrived and brought sandwiches. He was awesome for thinking to do that. Food wasn't on my list of priorities at the moment. I hadn't even thought about eating until I took a bite of a sandwich and realized how hungry I was. After we had eaten, Kevin went outside every hour to walk the perimeter of the complex to make certain no Triad gangsters were lurking about.

  By ten o'clock, we were all knackered. Jackie and I went to bed, leaving Kevin stretched out on the sofa in the lounge.

  22

  It was late afternoon, the next day before Greg Yu called again. He told me that Mike had developed a mild infection and would have to spend at least another night in intensive care. That was almost the last straw. Filled with nervous energy, all I wanted was the chance to strike back at those responsible for Mike's injuries. At six that evening, I left Kevin and Jackie chatting in the lounge and went to the bedroom to lie dow
n. I had just gotten comfortable on the bed when my mobile rang.

  Looking at the screen, I saw "Blocked Call." I answered.

  "I trust the encouragement I provided convinced you of the wisdom of meeting with me," the caller said.

  "I'll make you regret the attack on my friend."

  "Your friend Mike was most fortunate as I intended it to turn out worse than it did," the caller said, unperturbed by my threat. "I had instructed my associate to kill your lover, but he failed. Trust that my associate has paid for his incompetence."

  "This is between us," I said. "Tell me where to meet you, and I'll be there. Let's knock the bastard off. The sooner, the better."

  "Excellent, you intend to do the honorable thing. A wise decision, Ms. O'Sullivan. And, a fortunate one for the sake of your remaining friends and family members."

  "You can piss right off with that," I said. "Tell me where to meet you."

  "Maui," the caller said. "Be at Honolulu International in time for the Aloha Air flight to Maui that departs at seven o'clock tomorrow morning. Buy a ticket and take the flight. My associate will meet you at the arrival gate and will drive you to the meeting location. Come alone. The requirement to take a commercial flight is to ensure you arrive without a weapon."

  "I'll be there," I said.

  "Good. I'm looking forward to meeting you at last, Ms. O'Sullivan."

  "Don't be so certain about that," I said, just before hanging up.

  I'd done things Kevin's way until now. But, I had long since tired of playing defense. Now I would do things my way.

  I stayed in the bedroom and tried to nap until Jackie came into the room to go to bed.

  "Is Kevin still awake?" I said.

  "Nope, he fell asleep on the couch while we were watching a movie on Netflix," Jackie said. "I turned it off, pulled off his shoes, and covered him with his blanket."

  "Good," I said. "I need you to fly me to Maui."

  "Maui?"

  "Yes, Maui, and right now."

  "Why?"

  I told her about the phone call and the meeting for the following morning.

  "I will have to risk they might have someone watching to make sure I board the flight in the morning," I said. "If they do, then the plan will be buggered. But, it's the only way I can get to Maui armed. If they don't have anyone watching, it will be a piece of piss. I'll pop in at the arrival gate at the Maui airport in the morning and pretend I came in on the flight."