by Ian Hamilton
Uncle replayed the meeting in his head, trying to recapture the reaction of each Mountain Master as he presented his proposal. He thought Tian correct in his assessment that he could already count on five leaders, but he wanted them all. The fact that he might not achieve that ambition nagged at him. A united front of all nine gangs would be truly formidable. Any less than that would just make them weaker, and also create the possibility that those who didn’t join would align themselves elsewhere. Having one gang in your territory you didn’t trust was bad enough, but two or three more would create the potential for enemies on all sides.
Uncle was pleased that Tian had offered to contact some of his old colleagues. His mentor had credibility and a reputation for being wise that the younger men, despite their competence, hadn’t yet earned. Ng and Tan likewise had great reputations and their own webs of trusted allies. Uncle knew they would make calls on behalf of the proposal if he asked them, and that was exactly what he intended to do when he got to his apartment.
It was late afternoon when Uncle reached his building. He had been too tense to eat much at the lunch, and now his appetite kicked in. He went into the Blind Emperor and ordered steamed bok choy with oyster sauce, a double order of beef short ribs, and six beers. He drank one beer while he waited for his food.
When he entered the apartment, he saw that the message light on his phone was blinking. He thought briefly about checking his calls but didn’t want the food to cool. Fifteen minutes later he put the empty food containers in the garbage can, took a beer from the fridge, and settled into his chair. He picked up the phone and accessed the messaging system.
“This is Poon. My men and I have just finished talking over your idea. We’re in,” the Mountain Master from Mong Kok said.
Uncle hadn’t been sure which way Poon would go, but he wasn’t entirely surprised that he was onside. Mong Kok was close enough to Kowloon to make things uncomfortable — uncomfortable enough, in fact, that Poon had decided not to wait a week. That was prudent on his part, Uncle thought as he phoned Wang.
“Good news,” he said when Wang answered. “Poon left me a message saying that he’s joining the coalition.”
“I’m not surprised about Poon. He’s shrewd, and his Red Pole is forward-thinking. They’re a good combination,” Wang said. “I have news as well. I’ve heard from my counterparts in Wanchai and Central. They tell me Man is trying to convince their Mountain Masters that the meeting today was your attempt to organize the gangs in the Territories to attack them. But they also told me no one is buying what he’s selling.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Still, I’m worried that if he keeps spinning those lies, someone will eventually believe him,” Wang said. “Have you thought about approaching Man directly? He might back off.”
“Or he might think I’m calling because I’m either worried or afraid. I’d rather have him guessing about our real feelings,” Uncle said. “So let’s forget Man for now. Tell me how things are on the street.”
“It’s quiet. The cops did what they usually do and then left. Our men stayed out of their way, and the fact that the businesses weren’t up and running made it quick and relatively painless.”
“Things should start to get back to normal now that Cho and Yin have made peace, but we’ll keep the casinos closed until we can replace the roulette wheels and baccarat tables. If it’s still quiet tomorrow afternoon we should open the massage parlours. Saturday night is their busiest time of the week.”
“How about the betting shops on Sunday?”
“If Saturday goes well, then let’s open them too,” said Uncle. “And Wang, I know I might be sounding overly cautious, but I want you to increase the number of men we normally have on the street, starting with tonight’s market.”
“We usually have six men at the market. I’ll double that,” Wang said.
“Good. And I’m staying in tonight, so if you need me I’ll be here.”
“Hopefully you won’t hear from me,” said Wang.
Uncle put down the phone and rested his head against the back of the chair. He thought about calling Poon and Tse, but the day had taken its toll and he wasn’t sure how much more conversation he could handle. He reached for his pen and the racing form.
He handicapped for several hours, drank two more beers, dozed off, then woke up and worked for a few hours more. Again, atypically, his attention wandered. He had started the day full of assurance that the meeting was logical and necessary. He had felt the same when it was over, but Wang’s news about Man struck a different chord. Now Uncle wondered if he had gone too far, been too ambitious. Had he unwittingly forced Man’s hand? Had the meeting turned a possibility into a certainty?
Uncle thought about having another beer but decided he’d sleep well enough without it. He rose from his chair and started towards the bedroom. The ringing of the phone stopped him before he got there. Another late-night call, he thought. What is it this time?
“This is Uncle,” he answered.
“Sorry to call so late, but there’s been trouble at the night market,” Wang said.
“The police?”
“No, I wish it was. Some of Wu’s men arrived early in the evening. They just hung around at first, pretending to be customers, but then they began hassling our vendors and driving away business. Threats were made and the vendors came to us for help. Our men moved in. There was a bit of a scuffle at first — nothing serious — and then our lead man, Yan, thought it was over. But one of Wu’s men flashed a knife in Ren’s face and Sonny Kwok went after him.”
“Is Kwok the forty-niner who almost killed one of Wu’s men the last time they tried to drag us into a confrontation?”
“Yes. That was a long time ago; I’m surprised you remember.”
“I hope Kwok showed more control this time.”
“He didn’t,” Wang said, and paused. “Ren thinks he killed the guy. Then Kwok took out two more of Wu’s men when they tried to help the knifeman. They’re not dead — at least, they weren’t when Wu’s men left the market.”
“We didn’t need this,” Uncle said angrily.
“I know, but the good thing is they went at each other in an alleyway. Not many people saw it and there was no gunplay. So far there’s been no sign of the police.”
“That’s all well and good, but didn’t I make it clear that I thought Tai Wai would try something like this, and that we should have a measured response?”
“You did, and I passed the message along. Ren apologized five times to me in a five-minute conversation. He said Kwok lost his head and there was nothing he could do to stop him,” Wang said. “Uncle, that guy might be the best streetfighter I’ve ever seen.”
“What use is that to us if he creates problems that are greater than his value?”
“What do you want me to do with him?”
Uncle sighed. “We might have to cut him loose. If I call Wu and tell him that we’ve dealt with Kwok, it might buy us a little time,” he said. “And Wang, this next week is all about buying time. We need to give the other Mountain Masters a chance to make the right decision. Come next Friday, I hope I won’t have to care anymore about how Wu reacts. But right now, I do.”
“Do you want me to deal with Kwok?”
“No. Tell him to come to the office tomorrow morning at nine. I’ll talk to him. Putting someone out of the gang is a serious step. I should deal with it myself.”
“Shall I warn him what you’re thinking of doing?”
“No. I want to sleep on it.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Uncle didn’t sleep well; in fact he hardly slept at all. Several times he contemplated phoning Wu, but he eventually decided the negatives strongly outweighed the positives. Among other things, he wanted to know the status of the men Kwok had attacked, because that might have a bearing on what he would have to say to h
im. He also wanted to consult with Ng, Tan, and maybe Tse. Using one of them as an intermediary seemed to be the best way to keep things civil with Wu. But one of them would have to agree to take on that role, and he wasn’t sure any of them would.
It was eight-thirty when he reached the office after his breakfast at Jia’s. She had mentioned that he looked tired, but thankfully there was nothing in the newspapers about the altercation in the night market for her to comment on. Uncle nodded to the four forty-niners at the office entrance and made his way upstairs. All the executive were already there, huddled in Fong’s office. Uncle started to join them but stopped when he saw a man who had to be six foot four leaning against the wall outside his office. He had seen the man before but had never attached a name to him.
“Are you Sonny Kwok?”
The man averted his eyes and lowered his head. “Yes, boss,” he mumbled.
“I’ll be right back,” said Uncle.
He walked over to Fong’s office and stuck his head inside. “Has there been any retaliation from Wu?”
“No,” Wang said. “But I have all of our men on the street, and we’ll keep them there until you decide otherwise.”
“There was nothing in the papers about last night and I didn’t hear from the police, so we have that to be thankful for. Have the other gangs heard about the fracas?” Uncle asked.
“Wu’s people have been spreading the word. Predictably, they’re blaming us for starting it,” Fong said. “Wang, Yu, and I all got phone calls from our colleagues. They may not believe the tale Wu is spinning, but it’s fair to say they wish it hadn’t happened. They’re nervous.”
“I can’t fault them,” said Uncle. “How are the men that Kwok fought?”
“One is dead, another is in really rough shape, and the third should be okay,” Wang said.
“What did he attack them with?” Uncle asked.
“His fists.”
“That’s all?” Uncle turned to look back at Kwok. “I know he’s large, but he looks a bit soft. Taking out three men with just his fists . . .”
“Sonny may look soft, but he’s the furthest thing from it. He’s strong as hell and incredibly quick, and he’s able to strike without giving the slightest warning. The problem is that he doesn’t take time to think; he just acts,” Wang said. “In this case he hammered the guy with the knife before he could get close to Ren, and then he turned on the other two guys before they could react. He would have taken on more if Ren hadn’t intervened —”
“Uncle, I have to say this,” Tian interrupted. “Sonny is a good guy. He comes to Dong’s at least twice a week and there’s never been the slightest bit of trouble. He’s also loyal as hell. I’d hate for us to lose him.”
“He was defending a brother. Maybe he went overboard, but you can’t doubt his intentions,” Yu added.
“There’s a lot more at stake here than the future of one forty-niner, but I appreciate your opinions,” Uncle said. “I will talk to him before I make a decision.”
Kwok was still leaning against the wall with his head lowered when Uncle returned. “Come inside,” Uncle said, opening his office door.
Uncle sat down behind his desk. Kwok looked at the chair in front of it but remained standing.
“What do people call you, Sonny or Kwok?” Uncle asked.
“Sonny.”
“Okay, Sonny, tell me. Did Ren make it clear to you before you went to the market last night that we needed to keep things low-key?”
“Yes.”
“What was low-key about what you did to the three guys from Tai Wai?”
Sonny closed his eyes and hung his head. “Nothing.”
“Do you realize that you’ve created a huge problem for our gang?”
“Ren told me that last night.”
“It’s such a huge problem that I have to decide what to do with you,” Uncle said.
“What do you mean?” Sonny asked, his voice trembling slightly.
“I have to decide if we can risk keeping you on as a brother. You might have to leave the gang.”
Uncle saw Sonny’s body tense and felt a touch of trepidation. But then the big man’s shoulders collapsed, his head drooped so low that his chin was buried in his chest, and tears began to run down his cheeks. Uncle stared, not quite believing such an emotional reaction.
“This is my home. This is all I have,” Sonny said, his voice quivering. “The brothers are my family. They’re the only family I’ve known since I was sixteen years old. I have no one else. Please don’t take them away from me.”
Uncle felt his own emotions surge. The last thing he’d expected was tears, and he found himself fighting back his own as Sonny’s words struck a nerve. Regarding the gang as family was something Uncle shared with Sonny. Maybe it was the only thing they had in common, but it was the most important thing in Uncle’s life.
“I can’t allow you to keep behaving like this,” Uncle said.
“I have a temper, I know I do. I work really hard at controlling it, but then I snap. I don’t know why. It just happens. I promise I’ll work even harder at it.”
Uncle sat back in the chair. What should he do with this man? He knew now that he couldn’t throw him out of the gang, but neither could he let him return to the street. “Can you drive a car?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Sonny.
“Then go and find Wang and tell him I want to talk to him. You wait outside while I do,” Uncle said. I hope this isn’t a mistake, he thought as Sonny left.
Wang entered the office a moment later, closing the door behind him. “Sonny looks crushed,” he said.
“I can’t let him go back on the street,” Uncle said, and saw Wang’s face fall. “But what if I take you up on the suggestion that I should have a bodyguard and a driver? Do you think Sonny could fill both positions?”
“I can’t think of anyone who would be a better bodyguard, but I don’t know if he can drive,” Wang said.
“He told me he can.”
“Then I think it’s a great idea,” Wang said, smiling.
Uncle nodded. “I know I’m taking a gamble, but loyalty has to count for something,” he said. “Please ask Sonny to come back in. And I’d appreciate it if you stayed while I talk to him.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
When Wang returned with Sonny, they stood side by side in front of Uncle’s desk.
“Wang and I have discussed what should happen to you. We’ve decided that you shouldn’t be working on the street — but before you react, let me say that you will remain in the gang,” Uncle said.
Sonny glanced at Wang and then looked at Uncle with a combination of disbelief and relief. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do,” he said.
“Wang thinks I should have a bodyguard and a driver. Are you up for that?”
“Yes, boss,” Sonny said quickly.
“Before we finalize the arrangement there are some things we should make clear,” Uncle said. Then he looked at Wang. “How do you see this working?”
“Sonny should drive you back and forth from the office and, naturally, drive you anywhere else you want to go. It will be a seven-day-a-week job and he’ll be on call twenty-four hours a day,” Wang said. “Given what’s going on now with Tai Wai, we also need to start guarding your apartment. You’re in the office or elsewhere in Fanling most days, so I’m mainly concerned about the nights. I’ll assign a couple of guys on a rotating basis to take care of weekday nights, but I think Sonny should have full responsibility for weekends.”
“That means you won’t have much time for a life of your own. Are you okay with that?” Uncle asked Sonny.
“Yes, boss.”
“I’ll leave the scheduling to you and Wang, but there are some other things I want to make clear,” said Uncle. “First, this is the last time I want to see you wearing jean
s and a T-shirt. I suggest you buy some black slacks and white shirts. We’ll give you the money if you need it.”
“I don’t need money,” said Sonny. “I’ll buy the clothes as soon as I leave here.”
“Good. And next, I don’t want you to worry about making decisions. I’ll do the thinking for both of us. Will you be able to follow orders without questioning them?” Uncle asked. “I can’t have a repeat of what happened last night. If you go against my wishes even once, I will expel you from the gang.”
“I won’t fail you,” Sonny said.
“Then off you go and buy some clothes,” Uncle said.
“And Sonny, I’ll make arrangements for the car,” Wang said. “You should consider this building your home until this crisis passes.”
“I won’t let you down either,” said Sonny.
Uncle and Wang watched him leave. The reprieve had put a spring in his step, and Uncle noticed an agility he hadn’t seen before. “I hope that two weeks from now I’m not regretting this,” he said.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The day was filled with phone calls as Uncle reached out to his peers in the New Territories with his version of the previous night’s events. Most of them had already heard from Wu, who was claiming his men were simply shopping at the market when they were attacked. None of the Mountain Masters said they believed Wu, but despite that, Uncle sensed that the Tai Wai leader had succeeded in planting some seeds of doubt. The question he kept asking himself was, what was Wu’s intent? Was he creating a rationale for an immediate attack? Or was he trying to isolate Fanling by sabotaging the coalition before it had a chance to form?
The entire executive committee was in the office for the day, and that resulted in several impromptu meetings. There was tension, almost a sense of foreboding, as they related the gossip they were hearing from other territories. According to one of Yu’s sources, Wu was planning to attack them in force, while a Wang source had said Wu had no intention of retaliating. Uncle suspected that the truth lay somewhere in the middle.
