That was, however, an incomplete picture. In fact, Frank’s company, in conjunction with Olivia’s father’s Hong Kong law firm, laundered hundreds of millions of Chin’s money. He was also no stranger to death, courtesy of a four-year mercenary stint with Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone.
“Possibly many of them, possibly only one or two. I’m dealing with a couple of ex-lawyers. One of them chucked law to play jazz piano and the other stole my father’s money and started a foundation. I want to get it back and I need your help.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Queenie admitted, “The plan’s evolving because I don’t have a clear picture yet. But everything’s likely to come down in two days. Can I count on you?”
“Of course.”
Chapter 14
JJ insisted that he and Noah make a side trip to Shaolin Paradise before they went to the airport. The centuries-old complex was part theme park, part spiritual center. Monks broke boards with their heads alongside monks chanting Buddhist scriptures. It was where Noah first met JJ who, as a sentry, guided Noah and his group to Heaven, the isolated Shaolin monastery in the Huang Shan Mountains.
JJ led Noah to one of the garment shops selling Shaolin robes. JJ chose a ceremonial orange robe. Standing regally, he was ready for action.
“Not bad, JJ,” nodded Noah approvingly, “but there was nothing wrong with your old one. Nor is it particularly authentic.”
“I am going to New York and I must make a good impression. Torn clothes with holes and patches are not respectful.”
“They show you were at war, JJ. But suit yourself. Me? I’m wearing jeans, sneakers and a hoodie.”
JJ sighed. “Sometimes, I feel torn. I love my new life. I enjoy the new freedom. On the other, I miss the discipline of the Shaolin.”
“Really? You miss three hours a day of meditation? And endless repetition of exercises that you’ve already got down pat?”
“You lack grounding, Noah. When you strengthen the mind and spirit, you strengthen your heart and your body.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “Master Wu used to say the same kind of things to me.”
“As did Sigong Zhang and Jingsha to me,” replied JJ solemnly. “We would never have defeated the snake master without them.”
Master Wu, Sigong Zhang, Jingsha. Three venerable Shaolin masters, all who sacrificed their lives so that Noah and JJ might live. “They would tell you that their outer strength came from the inner peace of meditation. That yin and yang must be in harmony.”
“Please, JJ. Spare me. I got enough religion from Dad and Mom.”
“I think you didn’t get enough,” argued JJ. “You would be a better man.”
“Maybe I’ll meditate for sixteen hours during our flight.”
JJ switched topics. “You love her still, don’t you?”
Seeing Noah turn up his eyes, JJ continued. Opening up emotionally was rare and maybe this was his time to share his own dream. But then again, there was never a good time. “I hope I can meet someone like that someday. Someone I can… love.”
Noah’s eyes twinkled. “I got just the person for you. Abby. She’s Olivia’s best friend.”
JJ reddened. “I didn’t really mean that. I mean, I did but… but… I don’t think I will like a businesswoman.”
“You mean, you don’t think you will like a white businesswoman.”
Squirming, JJ replied, “It’s not like that.”
“JJ, it’s exactly like that. But don’t worry. Abby’s Chinese and she’s not a businesswoman; she’s a singer.”
“Really? You mean makes albums and is on Youtube and youkou (a big Chinese internet provider) and on television? That would be… awesome.”
Noah sighed. For a guy in his late twenties, JJ was so innocent. “She’ll get there someday. And Olivia will be playing the piano for her.”
As JJ paid for his new clothes, another monk left the shop. Walking into the crowd, he took out his cell and made a call.
“Yes?” answered Queenie.
“Noah’s traveling with a monk. Or at least he talked and dressed like a monk. Or maybe he’s an ex-monk because Noah was talking about hitching him up with someone called Abby. No details. You want me to take him out?”
“No, that would just screw stuff up more. Noah would want to stay and clean up the mess,” said Queenie. “I can deal with it when they get to New York. Monks are softies. Pushovers.”
“Not this one. He talked about defeating the snake king.”
He killed King! “Oh. Anything else?”
“Just this. The monk’s eyes lit up when Noah told him Abby was a singer.”
“Okay. Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Queenie closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as she stood in front of the mirror in one of Skyscape’s restrooms. Now there was more than just Noah to contend with. If the person Noah traveled with killed King, he was another danger to deal with.
That was so not good. Every problem cost more money to solve, putting more pressure on her to make something happen fast.
Chapter 15
Abby and Olivia were lying on the floor of their new apartment, soaking in the lingering buzz from their audition with Queenie. “I’ve dreamed about this all my life. Recording in a big studio, having a real professional talent manager to guide my career, and a showcase at one of the best known jazz clubs in New York. Having a record deal…”
“The deal’s not done until the fat lady sings,” replied Olivia with cautious optimism.
“Well, she will… Today was a great day.” Abby turned to face Olivia. “What do you plan to do with Noah?”
“He’s coming to see you sing and me play. And he knows that I’m going to introduce him to someone.”
Abby pinched Olivia’s cheek and held it. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Olivia was silent for a full five seconds before uttering quietly, “There is no one else in the world that I would rather spend the rest of my life with.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“I just can’t shake the feeling that, as long as I’m with him, our lives are in danger.”
“That’s paranoia,” said Abby, trying to qualm her own growing unease. “Chin is dead.”
“You see, Abby? I didn’t even mention his name, but you brought it up, too.”
With conviction in her voice, trying to convince herself as well as Olivia, Abby said, “Stop worrying. Chin is dead. And, if you feel that way about Noah, go for it.”
“No.”
The day was done but Queenie’s duties weren’t. As she entered her apartment, the loud, rattling bugling calls of her peeved cranes greeted her. They hadn’t seen her for more than twenty-four hours and they were hungry.
“Yes, yes, of course. I’m so sorry,” cooed Queenie. She scooped live goldfish from a huge tank and mixed them with hard, uncooked kernels of rice, then offered them to her prize birds.
As the cranes devoured their meal, she cuddled and rubbed their bodies and necks. Queenie loved these half dozen special pets.
Kissing them goodnight, Queenie entered another room crowded with more cranes. Unlike the content, healthy birds that she had just left, these birds were diseased, had bloodshot eyes, and festering wounds. Not from neglect but because Queenie had a different use for them. She purposely raised them this way.
Unlike the live goldfish that her special birds received, these birds were given canned pet food with their rice. As she watched these creatures feast, her eyes started to tear as she anticipated her next act.
Killing Hassan had broken one of her precious peckers. She had to replace it, which meant one of the flock had to be sacrificed.
After the cranes had completed their meal, Queenie took the healthiest of the sick birds out onto the balcony. She massaged the bird’s body, ignoring its wounds and sores.
When the crane was fully relaxed, she put both hands around its neck and snapped it. She clamped one hand on the par
alyzed bird’s beak, preventing it from squalling. With the other hand, she constricted the crane’s neck to stop its breathing.
Death came quickly.
Queenie reached into her pocket and took the remains of the pecker that killed Hassan and used it to sever the head of the newly killed bird.
For the next two hours, she honed the crane’s beak, making it into a lethal weapon.
With the adrenaline rush of the day worn out, Queenie popped a few uppers to recharge her batteries. A few other pills sharpened her awareness because today was going to be a big day.
Noah was coming and she needed to make sure she was on top of her game.
Now on the last leg of the trip, Noah was dead to the world, but JJ was wide awake with his eyes glued to the window. He could just feel New York’s presence and the Shaolin kung fu grandmaster was stoked. He had no idea how long it would be before they arrived, but he wanted to be awake to see the New York skyline from the jet when he got there.
Noah opened a sleepy eye to see JJ’s eyes fixed outside the cabin window and listening intently to something on his earbuds. He tapped his friend on the arm. JJ removed his earbuds and turned to Noah.
“What are you so serious about?” mumbled Noah.
“I’m waiting to see the Statue of Liberty.”
“We got at least another hour or two. We’ll take a tour and you can see it then. Get some rest.”
“I have lots of time to rest. But I want my first impression of New York to be Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom holding the torch high in the air.”
Noah was impressed. “What did they teach you at the monastery? Not many know that’s who the Statue of Liberty is named for.”
“That’s because they don’t appreciate freedom like we Chinese do. It inspired the Goddess of Democracy statue at Tiananmen Square in Beijing… My uncle was there. He was one of the students that put Styrofoam and papier-mâché on its metal frame.”
Noah tapped the tips of his fingers together. “That changed everything, didn’t it? Tiananmen was the reason my family left Shanghai for Hong Kong. Where’s your uncle now?”
“He lost his life when soldiers fired upon the group…”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be. He was a martyr for the cause. It helped spark the change in China.”
“Not everyone would say the change has been good. I wish there was still more of the old flavor left.”
“I’ve been listening to all the songs on the airplane’s playlists. There was one sung by Bob Dylan, a man with a scratchy voice. The Times, They are a Changin’.”
“Never heard of it. What’s it about?”
“We have to leave the past behind and see how we fit into the new world.”
“You’re talking about China, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m talking about you and Olivia.”
Noah threw a punch at JJ, stopping half an inch from his nose. “JJ, only you could find a connection between her and Tiananmen Square. Give it a break. Please.”
Chapter 16
It took an hour of patient explanation for Noah and JJ to get through customs at John F. Kennedy International. Officials were particularly skeptical of JJ’s Shaolin dress, especially when he insisted, “I am not a terrorist.”
Before JJ continued, Noah moved his finger across his mouth, telling him to zip it, but he was too late.
“The last person who dressed like you was the Dalai Lama, and you definitely aren’t him,” was the TSA officer’s reply.
JJ underwent a full body scan and an intense half hour search of his body, his garb and his carry-ons in a private screening room.
Noah had no problem getting through. While he waited, he made a call. “Hey, Olivia. We’re here.”
“That’s nice, Noah. I appreciate your coming,” was her polite reply. “I think you’ll really enjoy tonight.”
“I’m sure I will. Oh, I brought a friend along. He’s always wanted to see New York. You got some time to show some strangers around?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Abby and I want to keep practicing until it’s time. This is our big chance and we want to be completely prepared. We’ll meet you directly at Café du Music.”
“Sounds good. See you soon.” Noah’s fists balled after hanging up the phone. Was it really too much for Olivia to come out and say hello?
JJ’s ordeal over, Noah saw his eyes bulging like baseballs as he left the security area. “Check that out, Noah!”
Noah’s head shot around and saw JFK looking like JFK. Big city crowded American airport. “What do you want me to see, JJ?”
“There are no Chinese signs. Hardly anyone is speaking Chinese; almost everyone is speaking English.”
“JJ, this is the United States. Not Singapore, not Beijing, not Hong Kong. What did you expect?”
JJ sniffed. “I have never seen so many white, black and brown people before… and I have never been in the minority. It’s unbelievable.”
Noah paused for a moment. This was something he never gave a thought to. The Caucasian young man had been born and raised in China and having Chinese surround him was entirely normal. Noah never thought of himself as white or yellow.
He shrugged. “Welcome to America, JJ. It’s a melting pot. Even weirdos like us can fit in somewhere.”
It was less than twenty miles from JFK to Manhattan, but Noah got the cab to take a leisurely route through Little Italy, Chinatown, Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial and Madison Square Garden. Continuing, they had a brief stop at Battery Park so he and JJ could get a better view of the Statue of Liberty.
JJ’s eyes misted as he saw the glorious goddess of freedom holding the torch high in the air.
Two hours later, they arrived at their 7th Avenue hotel, simply named, “The Seventh.” It was centrally located close to Times Square, and they quickly checked in so Noah could take JJ on a walking tour.
Like all tourists, JJ was fascinated by the lights, sights and sounds of the area, live and in person. The Times Tower, the Waterford Crystal triangles, Times Square’s billboards and giant screens… Nothing but being there could do it justice, especially riding to the observation deck of the Empire State Building to see where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks filmed what had oddly become JJ’s favorite movie, ‘Sleepless in Seattle.’
As they got off the elevator and walked back onto the street, Noah asked, “So what do you think, JJ? Have you fallen in love with the Big Apple yet?”
The Shaolin master wistfully remarked, “The old mingles with the new in New York. I hope we can save enough in China before it all becomes one giant mall. But New York needs something. Too many homeless people, drugs out on the street, girls selling themselves.”
“They have that in China, too, JJ. It’s hardly perfect but you’re right. They need…” Noah’s words halted in mid-air, his words choked by a thundering punch to the back of his head.
He turned around and saw a three-hundred-pound gorilla of a man. Dressed in a cheap black suit with his belly popping out over his belt, the lunkhead sneered, “Hey, what you doing hanging with faggot Kung Fu man?”
Noah turned to JJ in his regal garb with mocking eyes. “I told you to stop dressing like that.” Noah turned to the hulk and poked him in the stomach with fingers from both hands. The fingers went into two inches of soft fat before hitting anything solid. Repeating the gesture, Noah guffawed, “I think you should switch to diet cola.”
“You’re dead.” With that, the obese hunk grabbed Noah’s wrists and hurled him a dozen feet into the air.
At the apex, Noah shifted direction with an aerial somersault, landing upright on the roof of a passing cab. As the vehicle passed the gorilla, Noah sprang out, hands outstretched like Superman, clapping his palms against the big man’s ears with enough force to split his eardrums.
But the ape man was not only strong, he was deceptively fast. As Noah’s hands touched his ears, the big man’s arms whipped up quickly and snatched Noah’s arms from the sid
es of his head. Holding tightly onto Noah’s right arm firmly so he couldn’t escape, the big man threw a savage roundhouse to Noah’s left temple.
He released Noah, who crumpled to the sidewalk. Like a soccer player, the bully’s ham legs kicked at the groaning foundation president. While gawkers gathered around to encourage the gorilla in his brutality, the truth was that Noah was faking the agony. Decades of training with Master Wu and these last weeks with JJ had hardened his body to granite.
JJ’s expression begged Noah for advice. What should I do? Noah, staying stationary, motioned his eyes in his opponent’s direction. JJ winked.
“Please, don’t hurt my friend,” cried JJ.
Distracted, the gorilla glanced at JJ. This gave Noah the opportunity to spring to his feet. With speedy infuriated fists and workman-like efficiency, Noah landed twisting hammer punches to the thug’s head, chest, and solar plexus.
Enraged and hardly distressed, the big man grabbed Noah’s forearms.
Noah dropped to a crouch, minutely loosening his captor’s grip. Noah freed himself by springing upwards and kicked his legs at his enemy’s chest. As the massive man reeled backward, Noah did a handspring with both feet, wrapping both of his legs around the corpulent man’s head. Noah released his opponent’s head, and there was a sickening thunk as it hit pavement.
Noah yanked him up. Two palms slapped the gorilla’s ears, followed by two rapid fists to the face.
But even after that pounding, the built-like-a-brick-shithouse thug smirked, “Is that all you got, pussycat?”
With Noah’s blows bouncing off him like tennis balls against a practice wall, the gorilla wrapped his arms around Noah in a bear hug.
The Noah Reid Action Thriller Series: Books 1-3 (plus special bonuses) Page 45