“Who’s the cop?” Ink asked with a soft, grizzly voice.
Jack told Ink everything, leaving nothing out as well as explaining how he kidnapped the mole, leaving no connection to the Red Dragon or Fu. Ink didn’t interrupt Jack once but continued his work on Jack’s back. When Jack had finished his story, he waited silently for Ink to comment on it. Ink took a towel from his bag and wiped away some of the blood from Jack’s back.
“You will be the only person in the Red Dragon to talk to the cop,” said Ink. “The only Red Dragon member he should know about is you. Yu will supply you with cash for the cop when you need it.”
“Understood. What does Lóng want me to do next?” Jack felt some blood dripping down his side. The pain not nearly as bad as he thought it would be; it was slowly becoming unnoticeable.
“Just lay there and look pretty,” said a female voice from the railing. Jack, a little startled, looked toward the sound. Ink slapped Jack on the back of the head for moving. The woman of the voice slowly walked into Jack’s view. She was young with an hourglass figure, wearing jean shorts and a tank top covered by a thin cardigan.
“Lei Lei, we’re busy. Why are you here?” Ink growled.
“I was about to go shopping, but I heard there was something here I may like.” She walked to the side of the pool table, the opposite of Ink, and eyed Jack’s body. “You look better up close.”
“So do you,” replied Jack.
Lei Lei gave a small smile. “So, you noticed me the last time you were here?”
“How could I not,” Jack said turning his head to the side to look at her. Ink slapped his head again.
Lei Lei bit her lower lip and laughed under her breath.
“Lei Lei, I want to do my work in peace,” said Ink.
Lei Lei rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll come back after lunch to get to know you a little better Jack.” Lei Lei walked past Jack, ran her fingers through his hair.
Once her footsteps faded away, Ink continued to answer Jack’s question. “Lóng was impressed by your ability to get a cop on our side so quickly and safely. He wants to use your gift to get back some of our rogue Red Poles.”
“I assume I won’t be going alone.”
“That is correct. Yu and Li will accompany you. Yu will fill you in on the names and numbers.”
“What if they want a bribe?”
“Try to avoid that,” said Ink. “We don’t have the money they will be asking for.”
“Well, I hope you have enough money for me.”
Ink didn’t laugh at Jack’s joke. “You will get paid in more ways than one.”
Chapter 15
Sleeping Beauty
“D amn! You Americans can sleep through anything,” Lei Lei commented loudly, waking Jack up from his nap on the pool table.
Jack laughed, but it turned into a wheeze of pain as he sat up from laying on his chest for hours.
“Need me to rub some lotion on it?” Lei Lei said as she placed a plastic bag with a yellow smiley face on the table.
Jack laughed the question away. “Thanks for the food. How long have I been asleep?” Jack opened the plastic bag and took out the white Styrofoam box.
“I don’t know,” Lei Lei said, “probably a couple of minutes because I ran into Ink on the way up here, which is why I came.” She leaned on the pool table as Jack ate. “I was hoping to catch you alone to ask you some of my own questions.” She leaned closer to Jack, and he noticed her sharp green eyes. “How does a sexy man like you end up in such a dirty business like this and so far away from home?”
“I pissed the wrong people off.”
She raised an eyebrow, her face still coming closer. Jack wanted to back away, but the thoughts of upsetting the sister of the Dragon Head didn’t go well in his mind. “My, they must have been pretty mad to make a big man like you run.” Her voice slowed, and his heart raced.
“Well, they weren’t that mad.” Jack’s stomach growled.
Lei Lei smiled. “We will continue that conversation later. You go ahead and eat.” She stood back up.
Relief washed over Jack. “Thanks, I am a bit hungry.” Lei Lei sat at a table and watched Jack eat. “So, how does it look?”
“Pretty good,” commented Li as he entered the lounge. “Ink still has it.”
“It never left him, like you,” commented Lei Lei.
Li flipped her off. “Can we get going on with our business?” said Li, obviously wanting to move the conversation forward.
“What business?” asked Jack taking another bit of his Orange Chicken.
“Red Pole business. Did Lóng tell you not to be an ass?” Lei Lei asked Li.
“Yes mother,” said Li. “He told me all the details too, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Can I at least finish my food?” Jack said, a tad bit bothered.
“We will have food at the meeting,” snapped Li.
“Can I at least see what my new tattoo looks like?” Jack got up from the pool table.
“Turn around,” Lei Lei ordered as she whipped out her phone and took a picture of Jack’s tattoo. Jack put his shirt back on, then looked at the picture. He was impressed by the speed and detail that Ink did it in, though it had taken the majority of the day. No one would have known that though by just looking at it. The dragon’s wingless body slithered up Jack’s spine towards his head. Its red scales resembled the color of blood eerily well.
“Ready now?” Li stood next to the back exit.
Jack gave Lei Lei her phone back. “Yeah.”
“Don’t be a stranger,” said Lei Lei as Li and Jack walked out.
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Jack replied with a wink. Li made a gagging sound, which Lei Lei shrugged off as she helped herself to Jack’s Orange Chicken.
As Jack and Li walked down the back stairs, Li commented, “I’ve never seen her come on that hard to someone before.”
“Well, foreigners are naturally hotter than natives.” Jack slyly replied.
Li stopped at the bottom of the stairs as he rolled that thought over. “You’re right.” Li continued walking again. “Oh, also here’s your pay for finding that rat.” Li reached into his pocket and pulled out a dirty envelope filled with cash. Jack placed it in his pocket without counting the contents. He was just happy he had some money.
They got into a small, rusty PT Cruiser. While Li drove them to their destination, he filled Jack in on the plan. Jack listened, looking out the window at Hong Kong’s countless bright signs.
“We are going to meet Boqin and get his sorry ass back home.”
“Who’s he?” asked Jack.
“An old wimp from back in the day that thinks he can be a Red Pole outside of the Red Dragon.” Li giggled to himself. “Oh Boqin! Don’t worry about the talking part, Jack. You just stand there looking intimidating, and he will fold up easily. Once the others see that, they will, too.”
“Why? Do they have respect for him striking out on his own?” Jack’s voice betrayed a bit of concern, but Li didn’t hear it.
“I guess. But he’s not strong enough to stay there. Trust me. I know him.”
Jack didn’t reply to that and hoped Boqin hadn’t changed over the years, for both their sakes.
Chapter 16
Boqin
B oqin’s platinum white hair stood out in the bright restaurant. Two men sat beside him. Their bodies were larger than Boqin’s thin one. Four similarly dressed men, each with a blazer over a white t-shirt, were positioned at the corners of the partially filled restaurant. Boqin stood up, revealing his short stature, as he saw Li and Jack enter the establishment.
“Li! I still can’t believe you’re back! When did you arrive in Hong Kong?”
“A little more than a week ago.”
Boqin shook Li’s hand with both his own before offering a seat across from him. Jack stood behind Li, observing the surroundings discreetly. Li continued, “but what about you little Bo? A big Red Pole, I hear?” Mockery dripped from ever
y word.
Boqin chuckled it off. The men sitting at his side showed no sign of amusement. Jack made a second glance at the other guards and noticed small bulges in their clothes. Jack knew they bulged because of handguns.
“Technically I’m not a Red Pole since I have two Red Poles under me,” replied Boqin, his face happy but stern.
Li leaned back in his chair and gave a long whistle. “That’s just…wow! Congrats man, anyone I know?”
“Probably not, just a couple of talented 49ers Lóng shafted.” Boqin’s tone sharpened.
Li didn’t notice. “Well, I’m glad someone saw their talent. Speaking of Lóng, have you talked to him lately?”
“I haven’t seen him since I left three…four years ago.”
Li leaned forward on the table. “Well, I recently talked to him, and he told me he’s in sort of a tight bind.”
Boqin’s smile faded; his eyebrows frowned. Li still didn’t seem to notice. Jack wondered when Li would start becoming intimidating. Li continued, “He recently got a new supplier who has a lot more items to move than he anticipated and needs some extra hands and muscle. When he talked to me about it, the first person that came to my mind was you…”
“Where are they coming in?” Boqin interjected.
“The regular port like old times.” A wide grin came across Li’s face.
Boqin gave a single, soft laugh. “Old times? The old times when you pushed me off the pier during that one winter?”
“That was during the summer.” Li’s grin shrunk.
“Or the time you hid a snake in my bed?”
“It was a harmless garden snake.”
“Or that time you left me in the bay a mile out from shore?”
“You still got back.”
“You slept with my girlfriend!” Boqin’s voice raised slightly, causing a few customers to look at his table.
“You weren’t even dating.” Li’s grin was almost gone.
“She was still mine!” Boqin noticed the customers and took a second to calm himself. “Li, my entire life you have pushed me around. Taken what was mine. Given me shit all for a good laugh and like the wimp I was I took it, all of it, because you were the Dragon Head’s ‘son’.” The two guards in the corner of the restaurant made their way towards them. “But times have changed. You left, he died, and an idiot inherited the Dragon Head. An idiot who couldn’t even keep a rat out of it and if it wasn’t for your dead mother, your brother would have been dead too, and you too if Spanish hitmen could do their jobs properly. Face it, your triad’s time is over. Hong Kong is mine.” The two guards beside him stood.
Li stood up. His face grew red, and for the first time he didn’t have a response.
“Is the chatty Li speechless?” Boqin asked sarcastically as he picked up his spoon. “I’ll keep that in mind when I want to shut you up next time.” Boqin took a sip of his soup as the guards took a firm hold of Jack and Li’s arms. “Mention one of your dead moms.”
Boqin shooed them away with his empty spoon. They were escorted through the kitchen, completely ignored by the cooks and waiters even though Li was cursing at the top of his lungs. Two other guards stood at the back door, looking at their phones until they came up. They opened the door and Jack and Li were tossed out into the back alley.
Jack barely kept his feet under him as he ran into the wall. Li fell to his knees still cursing. “And another thing you sons of bitches! All of you! Let that mother…”
Li cursing was cut off. Jack turned around to see why as three of the four guards starting to slash Li on the ground with meat cleavers. The fourth came after Jack. He dodged his head as the guard’s knife came down at it. He missed the head but found Jack’s arm, skinning off a small piece of Jack’s bicep. With his bleeding arm, Jack grabbed the hand that held the cleaver and pulled it close to his body for control. With his other hand, Jack tried to slam the back of the guard’s head against the concrete wall. But the guard used his free hand to brace himself for the impact, then shifted his feet and swung his body around. Jack held the guard’s right arm close to his chest, hitting his head against the wall. Jack caught a quick glimpse of Li on his back frantically kicking, punching, and cussing at the top of his lungs as the three guards slashed at any part they could. The guard fighting Jack took a step-in front of Jack to face him. Jack beat him to it by stepping in front of his foot, causing the guard to be off balance for a split second, which was enough for Jack. Using his hip and the arm, Jack threw the guard over his leg and toward the ground. Jack slipped his knee up against the guard’s arm and quickly broke it at the elbow. The scream of pain and the sight of their triad brother caused the other guards to stop their assault as Jack held the cleaver at the man’s neck, standing over him.
“We get the message!” Jack said sternly.
Jack shoved the guard toward them, pulled Li close to him and helped him up. Li continued to curse under his breath as they quickly walked away from the guards who stood motionless, watching them every step of the way, paying no attention to the other guard writhing in pain. Jack stared back, keeping the cleaver at the ready in case they thought the message had been lost on Jack and Li. Once the guards started helping their injured partner, Jack focused his attention back on Li. He was near the exit of the alleyway leaning on one of the buildings, the blood from his wounds creating a pool where he stood.
“Stay here, I’m getting the car.” Jack took the keys from Li and ran to the car as Li breathed painfully. He tried to slow the bleeding of the larger wounds with his hands, but it still leaked through his fingers. Jack ran out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. The few people out and about gave him a second glance as they saw a tall American with blood on his arm and hands running through the crowds. Turning the corner, he saw the car surrounded by a few of Boqin’s thugs. They leaned on it and laughed at something Jack didn’t hear. Reaching the car, he yanked the man against the driver door off and got in. The thug’s smiles turned to anger then mockery as Jack drove around the corner. Li was seated on the ground, his face paler than when Jack left him. Parking and getting out, Jack was able to get a good full look at Li’s condition as he approached him. Cuts littered his arms. Some had pieces of flesh dangling off, showing some muscle and a little bone. Li’s pants were stained with blood as it seeped through the fabric onto the alleyway. Jack threw one of Li’s arms over his shoulder and carried him to the car. A few passing civilians stopped and observed Jack placing Li in the car. As he circled the car to the driver’s seat Jack saw a young man on his cell phone, he assumed with the police. Jack sped off before anyone attempted to offer their help.
“How are you doing?” Jack asked Li as he dodged through the traffic.
“I’ve been better,” responded Li in a weak voice, trying to wipe his tears with a shaking hand.
Jack gave out a chuckle, though his face didn’t break a smile. “I bet. Don’t worry, we will get you patched up real quick.”
“I guess he was right,” Li commented as Jack made a quick turn onto a one-way street.
“Right about what?” asked Jack. He wanted to keep Li talking to know Li was still breathing as his crying quietened.
“I’ll bleed out like she did.”
“Who?” Jack looked over as he wasn’t following Li.
“My… My mom.”
“How?” Jack asked. “Tell me the story, I need you to keep talking Li, I need you to stay with me.”
“Before my dad kicked me out, he told me…He told me about the day of my birth…In a whore house…” Jack took another turn, missing a couple crossing the street by an inch. “She told him I was his son…Hoping he would help…” Li breathed out a single laugh as Jack dodged through the traffic, checking out his side mirrors as he heard faint sirens. “She forgot who he was…” Li’s voice quivered as Jack crossed four lanes of traffic to turn to the correct street. “He left the room and barricaded the door shut…” The car jumped as they hit the curb of the sidewalk. “If it wasn’t for m
y step-mom showing up with her personal doctor that followed her when she was pregnant…Both of us would have been dead. Sorry, Mom.” Li closed his eyes as Jack pulled into the gym parking lot.
Jack carried Li up the flight of broken metal stairs, yelling as he approached the door.
“Open up Yu! Li got slashed!” Jack kicked the door when he reached it.
As soon as Yu opened the door, his face went white. “Shit man! Get in!” Yu demanded. He yelled at the pair of guys he was playing dominos with to get bandages. Yu frantically pushed the dominos and ashtrays off the pool table. Jack laid Li on the table as Yu rushed to a cabinet above a small sink and brought out a bottle of whiskey.
“How are you doing?” Jack inquired again.
“Didn’t you already ask that?” asked Li.
Yu gave him a sip of the whiskey with Jack lifting his head. Li gave a loud cough, almost throwing it up. The two men returned from downstairs, carrying bandages and what also looked like a torn bedsheet. Jack didn’t complain as he took some of the bandages. All the men wrapped up a limb, and Li cussed and yelled through his teeth through it all.
After fifteen minutes and another run for more bandages, Li was patched up. Yu gave him some painkillers. Yu and Jack moved him to the tattered couch as the other two guys went to take care of the car and get a hold of Ink. Jack and Yu sat beside each other on the blood covered table observing Li. He partially resembled a mummy in a museum.
“Who did this?” Yu asked solemnly.
“Boqin.”
“What? Little Bo?” Disbelief was in Yu’s voice.
“Little Bo isn’t little anymore,” said Jack. “He has two Red Poles and half the ports. The situation is worse than Lóng thought. How many Red Poles do we have?”
“Three.” Yu gulped.
Jack kept his eyes on Li. “We need to keep our men off Boqin’s turf because we can’t deal with a triad war right now.”
The Dragon and the Lumberjack Page 6