The Dragon and the Lumberjack

by S. W. Ellenwood

  THE DRAGON AND THE LUMBERJACK

  The Thornhill Series

  Book II

  S W Ellenwood

  Copyright © 2018 by S. W. Ellenwood

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Design by Jerome Kremers

  ISBN: 9781720011385

  Independently published

  www.swellenwood.com

  Dedicated to the Men who helped me grow

  Through the year I wrote this book:

  Clay K.

  Clinton J.

  Daniel L.

  Daniel M.

  Daniel S.

  (Yes, I know a Lot of Daniels)

  James O.

  Jon-Luke H.

  Hunter T.

  Chapter 1

  Prison Food

  L i Shang Lóng was held against the cafeteria wall by two Spaniards while the Italian approached him with a large broken piece of glass in his hand. The cafeteria was in an uproar. Twenty prisoners yelled in four different languages as the Italian prepared to cut Li open like a fish. Li struggled violently, his thin arms getting him nowhere as the large, dark-haired Spaniards held him back with shaved arms. Li didn’t regret calling them cute boys. However, he did think he might have gone a little too far in calling the blond Italian a Nazi, though he thought he deserved it. None of that mattered at the moment as the Italian walked closer, looking for blood.

  “You know what we do with rabid dogs like you back home?” he asked Li in Spanish.

  “Sleep with them? That would explain a lot.”

  The Italian stopped in his tracks, while the whole prison cafeteria let out a gasp.

  “Damn!” said a man in the back that made a few prisoners laugh under their breaths, while the other Italians clenched their fists. Even the Spaniards loosened up their grips and widened their eyes at the insult, which was enough for Li.

  “SHUT UP!” the Italian shouted as his face burned red. He lunged at Li, swinging his hand back to drive the glass as deep as he physically could into the Asian’s gut, this move left him defenseless, giving Li what he wanted. Li held on to the Spaniards and lifted himself up, throwing his foot into the air and kicking the Italian straight in the face, sending him flat on his back. The Spaniards got caught by surprise and were brought to their knees. Li wiggled out of their grips as the Italian got back on his feet. All the prisoners in the area formed a bigger circle around them. Li stood near the edge of the circle with the Italian still holding on to his weapon of glass charging him, his broken nose bleeding profusely. Li sidestepped to dodge the first swipe and jumped back to avoid the second while landing another kick on him. The Italian staggered back; behind him prisoners were parting for something. The Italian cursed Li as he wiped away the blood from his nose and prepared for another attack, which was stopped short as four prison guards tackled him. An officer walked into the circle and observed everyone, like an annoyed parent.

  “Someone tell me what happened here,” he commanded. Younger officers walked around the ring trying to imitate his authority. Everyone stood in silence as the officer in charge looked around. Li slowly tried to melt back into the crowd - his pride had hit its limit - but the two Spaniards pushed him back into the center of the circle, gaining the attention of the officer.

  “You know something about this?” The officer pointed at the bloody-nosed Italian accusingly.

  Li scanned the Italian as the guards pulled him up to his feet. “Well, it all started with this hysterical joke.”

  The Italian shouted in rage and tried to charge Li again. He didn’t get far as the officers halted his lunge. Li flinched and chuckled at the Italian’s failed attack.

  “What’s your name?” the officer demanded.

  “Li Shang Lóng.” Li held a joke inside him as he lowered his head. He had learned the hard way to pick his fights, though he still wasn’t the best at it.

  The officer chuckled. “Congrats, some American just bailed you out. You can go.”

  Li’s head snapped up and he said, “Really?” The crowd had a similar reaction of disbelief.

  “Did I stutter?” snapped the officer. Li shook his head. Another officer near the door motioned Li to come, which he did. The Italian and two Spaniards watched Li quickly leave the cafeteria with wide eyes and tight jaws.

  Li thought later a wink would have been a great exit, but didn’t think of it then as he only focused on following the officer through hallways to the room he was booked in. The clerk at the desk gave him his personal belongings: a broken wristwatch, an empty wallet, and a red ring with a carved dragon matching the tattoo on his shoulder.

  “So, who paid for it?” Li asked the officer as a loud buzz sounded and the steel doors opened to Li’s freedom.

  “He did,” the police officer responded, pointing to a handsome American with a vintage slicked-back haircut and a thick, groomed beard. The American, leaning on a red Jaguar sports car, introduced himself as Jack Montferrand. An alias. His real name was Thomas Thornhill.

  Chapter 2

  Six Pack

  S ix months had passed since Jack left the United States and his name, Thomas Thornhill, behind. Six months since the liquidation of Glass from the NSA, after the massacre and fire that was labeled ‘accidental’, causing the doors to that place to be closed for the last time. Six months since Mallory, Jack’s fiancé, died. He still dreamed about her at least once a week. Six long months of searching for Li Shang Lóng across all of Europe, from the top of skyscrapers to the scum of sewers and all in between. Li, also known under the alias of John Wu, was the only lead Crumwell gave him before his death by Jack’s hands six months ago. As Li walked out, Jack felt like he was finally making progress to finding The Twelve.

  “Li Shang Lóng?” he asked as Li approached him in blue jeans and a white v-neck.

  “Yeah. You the American that bailed me?” Li’s eyes squinted as the late afternoon sun beat down on them. He stood a head shorter than Jack with short, black hair styled in the messy look.

  “Yeah, Jack Montferrand.” Jack held out his hand. Li looked at Jack’s hand, and then his eyes as they lay hidden behind dark Ray-Ban sunglasses.

  Li got right to the point. “What do you want?”

  Jack lowered his hand and opened the passenger door for Li. “You’re welcome,” Jack responded. Li watched him and then the car. Jack could tell Li didn’t trust him, but he could tell Li was curious.

  “How can I know that you aren’t some kidnapper or hit man?” asked Li as he looked back up at him.

  “Because if anyone wanted you dead, you would already be dead in there.” Jack nodded to the prison Li just left.

  “So, you’re a kidnapper? I should have known. Some American hears I’m in some puny jail cell in Spain, and you think to yourself ‘that shouldn’t be too hard for a smart and strong American like me.’” Li put on an American accent with a southern twang.

  Jack crossed his arms and smiled. “I wouldn’t know who to call if I did want to kidnap you, that’s sort of why I’m here.”

  Li crossed his arms. “You want my contacts?” His face grew serious.

  “Given my circumstance,” Jack said, “it would be helpful.”

  “How do I know you aren’t a cop?”

  “Listen, I’ve worked with crooked cops, and no cop is paid enough to travel halfway around the world to bail someone out just to get info,” said Jack.

  Li stared at Jack. “You worked with cops?”

  Jack leaned against the car. “Cops on my payroll… well, the family payroll. But yeah.”

  “Ooh, a family payroll, did your daddy write all your checks?”

  Jack chuckled at Li’s jab and took a chance. “No relation, unlike you.�
��

  Li smiled. “Unlike me?”

  “What can I say? Some are blessed to be royalty,”

  Li chuckled. “I wish.” He rubbed his eye to get the dust out of it, before cussing under his breath.

  “Look, man,” started Jack, seeing Li was on the fence. “I’m just a gangster on the run that heard a rumor from the bar on 5th Street that the son of a triad was locked up here, and thought if I could help him get a fresh start, he could help me.”

  Li looked to the sky and shook his head. “Man was I drunk.” They both chuckled. Li looked at the floor apparently thinking for a moment, till he shrugged and answered, “Sure, why not.”

  Jack leaned his head back in surprise. “Alright, thanks!”

  “No problem, on one condition, though.” Li walked to Jack’s stolen car.

  “Anything, man.”

  “You buy me a six-pack and take me to my place.”

  “Absolutely!”

  They both got in the car and drove off to the closest liquor store. Jack still flabbergasted that all it took him to get in one of the most dangerous triads in the world was a get-out-of-jail-free card and a six-pack of beer.

  Chapter 3

  Tour Guide

  J ack parked the car in front of a less-than-five-star apartment complex. The building was dull in both color and design. Small balconies bulged out of the building, with dirty window railings. The balconies resembled the shelves of a pawn shop, each holding a different assortment of hoarded junk that no one cared to fix or was too lazy to throw away. The sidewalk leading to the complex was infested with weeds and surrounded by an uncut lawn. Overall, a decent place for someone like Li.

  Jack turned off the car and asked Li, who had already opened up the six pack, why he left the Red Dragon.

  “Easy. Dad found out I was a bastard son and didn’t want me. Yeah, my half-siblings and I got along well, and my dad was great till he found the truth.” They got out of the car and headed toward the apartment complex. “I think it was because he was starting to look at moving into politics and didn’t want a bastard son messing up his image. It didn’t take long till I was done with it and just left. Five years later, here I am.” He stopped and stretched his arms, the six pack in one hand and a can of beer in the other. Jack chuckled at him, and they continued.

  As they spoke on their way to Li’s apartment, they passed a tenant with greased hair and a sleeveless shirt. Cigarette smoke followed the tenant like a priest with burning incense. Jack and Li only encountered a few other tenants on their way to the apartment. An ancient woman sat outside in the shade sucking on her dentures like a pacifier, glaring at the two of them as they walked inside.

  “That’s a little bit of the reason why I’m down for helping you,” said Li. “It got me out of jail and a free pack of beer. If you are helpful to the Red Dragon, then awesome. But if you are a mole or something, I really don’t give a damn.” They walked up the stairs, Li handed Jack the six pack to free up a hand to take his keys out of his pocket, a simple looking set.

  “Damn, he really burned you, didn’t he?” remarked Jack.

  Li chuckled. “A little, but they are still good people. I was really close to my half-siblings. To be honest, they treated me more like family than my father ever did in the end. Maybe I should go back someday.” Li picked a key out of the set as they turned the corner from the stairs and walked down the hallway to the last door on the right. Jack walked behind him, observing the grungy hallway. The carpet’s dark spotted pattern prevented people from seeing the dirt infesting it. The seventies style wallpaper was peeling like an invisible hand was slowly pulling it off the wall. Above Li’s apartment door the fluorescent light flickered. Li’s shadow cast over the doorknob as he tried to place his key in the lock. His aim was off, and he pressed the key against the knob, opening the door to his surprise. Jack set the beer down and pulled out his gun as Li stood in confusion. Jack motioned to Li to get behind him. Li slowly stepped back to let Jack lead the way, who carefully pushed the door open, letting voices out of the room.

  “Where would you hide it?” one voice asked.

  “In your ass,” responded a second voice in an irritated tone. The rattling of drawers and doors filled the apartment as Jack walked down the entrance hall. Coming into the living room, Jack saw one of the intruders through the kitchen window checking all the empty cabinets.

  Jack walked through the kitchen door and out of Li’s sight. The living room was turned upside down. Li stood frozen at the sight of his small apartment ripped to pieces. His couch was torn with a knife and flipped upside down. His TV was smashed and his game console taken apart. All his framed pictures - a grand total of two - were taken apart as well, frames broken and pictures left on the floor. Li heard footsteps from his bedroom in front of him as a gasp of air came from the kitchen. A short man walked out of Li’s room, wearing a sweatshirt a size too big. A handgun dangled from his hand as he looked down at a flash drive in his hand.

  “Hey, look what I found,” said the intruder as he looked up, meeting eyes with Li. Li ducked back into the entrance hall as the thief raised his gun towards him and fired off a quick shot that was far left. Another shot immediately followed, and Li left the apartment and would’ve gotten out of the building if it wasn’t for Jack yelling at him.

  “Li! He’s down, they’re all down.” Jack walked out of the kitchen, wiping his fingerprints off a bloody steak knife. Dropping the knife and towel to the floor, he walked toward the bedroom. “Grab what you need, and then we leave.”

  Li walked back into his apartment, though he did this reluctantly as Jack searched one of the intruders laying motionless on the floor.

  Jack looked at him and barked, “Get your passport and some spare clothes, now!”

  Li quickly moved into his room, walking around Jack and getting a good look at the body. Li’s face soured at the sight, though he had seen worse deaths, usually by knives and cleavers. Jack looked up at Li and barked again at him to get moving. Li quickly looked over his bedroom. His drawers were all pulled out with his clothes everywhere. He dropped to his knees, took his duffle bag out from under his bed, and started filling it with the clothes in his reach. He searched for his passport to no avail. His pulse sped up as he turned to give Jack the bad news. Jack was already behind him, holding his passport and searching through the invader’s phone. Li snatched the passport out of Jack’s hand and flipped through it, hoping it had no blood stains. It was clean.

  “Look.” Jack held up the phone showing a message with a picture of Li and a price under it.

  Li’s jaw dropped. “Just because I’m a bastard, I’m only worth a couple grand?”

  Jack stood up, rolling his eyes, and wiping the phone with his shirt. He placed it back in the thief's pocket. “You got everything?”

  Li checked his pockets, and double-checked his bag to make sure he had underwear. He then bent down and quickly picked up the flash drive the intruder had. Jack looked cautious at Li.

  “What?” said Li. “There’s some good porn on this.” Li shoved the flash drive into his bag.

  Jack eyed the flash drive but pushed his curiosity about it to the back of his mind and headed to the door. Li zipped up his bag with some trouble as he tried to keep up with Jack.

  “So, want a guide to Hong Kong?” Li asked as he stopped to grab a beer from the six-pack before following Jack again.

  “What? You don’t want to die here?” Jack answered without slowing his pace down the stairs.

  “Not really. But hey, seems like the best time to visit the family, see how they are all doing.” They exited the building. The old lady was gone, and her chair tipped over. The street was empty. Li didn’t bother with the trunk; he went directly to the passenger’s seat, and placed his duffel bag on his lap. Jack accelerated the car while Li looked back to see if the police or any other unwanted people were following them. He saw and heard nothing. Jack took back alleys, one-way streets, and a sidewalk for safety. A
fter a few minutes of that madness, Jack merged into busier roads, where they were stopped at the stop light, with a police car stopped at it as well on the other side of the street. Jack tightened his grip on the wheel and watched them out of the corner of his eye. The two cops in the car were relaxed and watching the light with few words being exchanged. As the light turned green, Jack waited for the car next to him to go first before going himself. The cops didn’t even look over as they crossed the street, even with Li almost staring them down.

  “So, out of curiosity, any idea who those guys were?” asked Jack, not breaking eye contact with the road.

  “No clue. I don’t know any people that would want me dead here. I haven’t slept with any wives yet.”

  “What about back in Hong Kong? Any other opposing triads?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t see why they would want me dead?”

  “The text didn’t say anything about dead. Those guys could have wanted you alive.” Li’s eyes went wide as he processed everything. Jack thought about the flash drive.

  “Maybe the Red Dragon is causing some ripples.”

  Jack shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know, maybe.” He drove toward Portugal to find the first flight that would take them to the heart of the dragon.

  Chapter 4

  Coach

  T homas’s face lit up when he saw Mathias, the little runaway he met on the Amsterdam train, across London’s international airport exiting a plane with his adoptive father. Mathias’s mouth didn’t cease to move as he held his father’s hand. Mathias’s hair was longer, and he looked stronger.

  “What’s up with you? See a cute girl?” Li asked, looking around the area Jack was facing.

  Jack chuckled. “No, just an old friend I met on a train,” Jack said as he kept gazing for a moment too long as Mathias saw him across the airport. “I’ll be right back,” Jack said as he stood up and left Li to his phone.