John thought the green lampposts with the red lanterns and dragons coiled about were peculiar, given he had never seen anything like it in Hong Kong. The car pulled onto Wentworth Street. After they parked near the far corner, they checked the street before letting James get out. Instantly, John was reminded of his father, but instead of being protected, he was expected to protect. They walked half way down the block until they came to a building with faded green moldings and a red door. John read the sign, Herbal Apothecary, which was also written in Chinese and thought nothing of the deserted street. James, however, stood wondering where were his men who were supposed to be on guard.
They climbed the stairs to the third floor, opened the door that was reinforced with steel plate and walked into a modest sized apartment with its dingy, tarnished white walls. There were shadows where pictures once hung and in one corner, a red temple box containing a statue of Buddha had been placed very high on a special shelf. A dish of small oranges and an incense burner with matches and some extra incense were on a small table just below. As each entered, they took two sticks of incense, lit the ends, and bowed humbly before the statue of Buddha, thanking him for bringing them safely through the doors once again. When John's turn came, he followed suit, but prayed for a quick return to Hong Kong.
John saw James talking to two guys and hoped that since they left the luggage in the trunk, it meant they weren't going to be living in this dump. There was hardly any furniture, just a few pieces. There were a couple of sofas set along one wall, along with two tables and some chairs in the next room beyond that looked worn out. There was a television set on a box in another corner and a radio somewhere that was playing, what he guessed was American pop music.
John looked at the guys present and while tempted to call them men, knew in terms of age, they were still boys, yet calling them boys would be far fetch and to think them innocent would be absurd. Many had been with the gang for years and within that brief time, lived a lifetime of experiences that showed in their attitudes and defensive stance. He tried looking around by carefully glancing. He knew instinctively, that if he looked at any of them in a manner they thought disrespectful, they might get physical, and he wanted to avoid fights. He watched each sai low greet James as if he were just another dai low. John thought it strange they didn't know James was the lao ban, the leader, but had learned it was done for protection.
James introduced John, who was accepted immediately, since the sai low trusted the dai low completely, with unquestioning loyalty. James didn't have to explain himself or where John came from, to the younger brothers and none was expected. John talked to them, and one of the surprising things he learned was while many of the guys were still allowed to live at home, some were kicked out after joining the gang. Hence, they had no other place other than the apartment they were now in, to live. John thought for the first time, just how good his old life had been.
Chapter Sixteen
Exiting the harbor ferry, Richard quickly walked through the crowded streets of Kowloon and headed for the food market. He passed through the market, barely noticing the abundant selection of fruit and vegetables. He walked by the fish store where the guy in front chopped, and disemboweled frogs for an ancient lady, and straight through the throngs of people. Purposefully, he walked into a teahouse at the far end of the market. He climbed the stairs with the ease that anxiousness brings. Scanning the room, he noticed there were only a few people. She isn’t here, he thought, and his nervousness increased. He looked at his watch to make sure he hadn’t missed the appointment when he felt a delicate hand touch his shoulder. Turning he saw his youngest and prettiest cousin, Lucy Cheng-Wilkinson and instantly relaxed in her gentle smile.
The waiter came over and they placed an order for tea and a small platter of sticky buns before settling into a gentle conversation. They hadn't seen each other in nearly a year. Lucy was beautiful, yet serene at the age of forty-eight and didn't look a year over thirty, if that. She was married to a Brit, who didn't like traveling to Asia and almost never left London. Therefore, her trips to Hong Kong were rare occasions. They talked over tea, as the teahouse filled, and emptied with people. Lucy brought Richard up to date regarding his various sons. She left after three hours, while he remained seated and enjoyed staring at the two precious photographs she had given him. They were very small and he took his time absorbing every detail of the two images of his sons. He touched the images lovingly before flicking open a cigarette lighter and burning them, least anyone find the images and ask questions. Lem walked over just as Richard dropped the last bit of burning embers into his empty teacup.
“Waiter, fresh tea,” said Lem.
“Good afternoon. This is an unexpected surprise.” Richard was startled that Lem had found him in Kowloon.
“But a good one, I hope. Have you thought over the plans I provided?”
“Yes, I have. You can't be serious, only one man?”
“Only one is needed.”
“I see.” Richard paused as a waiter cleared away the dirty dishes before serving fresh tea.
“Richard, there are times to think big and times to think conservatively. This is a time for conservative thinking. Here is a list of the things needed.” Lem handed Richard a small piece of paper.
Richard read it carefully. “This is it? Everything? And with these few things you can take out the Choi Empire?”
“Richard, have you learned nothing from our conversations? Do you remember nothing from your training? Think of it this way, a small stone dropped into a calm pond radiates concentrically a set of waves outwards, till even the farthest point is touched by a ripple. And if you drop two or three stones at once, when their circle of waves meet there is noise, and in the confusion, profit and position to be gained from the disorder that results. It would be too big and a waste to drop a boulder when the one stone will suffice and is much easier to manipulate.”
“I see.” Richard thought through the words before allowing a wicked smile of contempt, broaden to a grin. He liked Lem's plan and was only mildly disappointed he didn't think of it himself.
Lem saw Richard’s grin and thought the man an ass. Was he really so gullible and/or foolish he wondered. He was only mildly not surprised that Richard didn’t question how he had found him. Richard’s every move, however inconsequential, was known and needed to be known. After all, battles are won on intelligence and control.
Chapter Seventeen
James walked into the adjoining room along with the rest of his lieutenants and captains. He felt like there was an oppressive weight lurching at him by the men’s glances. The men’s mood was sour. Others twice his age didn’t have half the responsibilities he carried, yet partly due to his father and partly because of uprisings within the last two years; he had become one of the youngest leaders. He had tried to prove he had some of his father’s qualities within him, as he followed Tong’s orders. This earned him the elder’s respect, but not always the respect of his men, some of whom resented his connections.
This meeting was partially for James to get a gang status, but mostly to reassert his position. He had never been away for three months before, but his father had insisted and he obeyed. His mother was very adamant that he should attend and took it as the first step toward claiming his full inheritance. A matter she repeated more than he liked. James thought of her, his girlfriend and uncles along with the assortment of tasks that needed be done, while waiting for the others to settle down. Privately, he wished he was back on the boat and alone out at sea where the pressures were the ones he enjoyed. He knew his first few days would be hectic, but hadn’t expected trouble and wondered if he would be able to handle things.
The men settled into the few chairs scattered about the room’s solitary table that was set under an old -fashioned tarnished brass light fixture with its five bare light bulbs. Two of the captains had taken particular interest in James’ new ring and were discussing it amongst themselves, but it was Frank, and only Frank
, who knew its significance.
James studied his men whose positions within the gang were like that of his father's society, or Wo, as it was sometimes referred to in Cantonese. There was Kai, with his proper short haircut and narrow frame, who had been promoted to captain earlier this year, because he was cool under pressure and because he followed the rules to the letter. Given his major in university was accounting; he was placed in charge of the cai-wu, the gang’s financial affairs, and hence was the gang's Cha So, Treasurer. James always thought that Kai was closer to the literal translation of the title, where cha meant scrutinize and so meant the book or document, as Kai liked to analyze everything that came within his circumference of attention.
Tony was of average height, but because of training, had bulked up his muscles and was the strongest of the gang. As such, it was inevitable that he was the gang's Hung Kwan, Red Pole. True, it was another way of saying he was the gang's sergeant of arms, and tactical advisor just as it was true that he was the most inventive when it came to killing. Under him was a strong team of ten well-trained fighters proficient in the martial arts style called White Crane.
James felt confident about Tony, who never overreacted even as the gang's disciplinarian and liked that he always gave the kids a chance, but nothing could help them escape punishment if he had to explain a rule twice. With those outside the gang, he was equally fair, although if you struck against the gang in any way, Tony was quick and decisive in delivering punishment. His reputation was such that brother gangs from other cities would hire him, and his team, to collect for them which resulted in good money for the gang. In corporate terms, he was a profit center that generated income, hence James saw him as both valuable and dangerous.
Tony's title, Red Pole or Hung Kwan, reminded James about Tang and recalled the time Tang had explained that while Hung did mean Red, Kwan meant drive the enemy away. He always enjoyed Tang's stories and his version about the origin of the term Hung Kwan had been a favorite. Tang would tell him, while they waited for his father to finish a meeting, how it was an ancient weapon used by the Emperor’s executioner, a trained martial artist. Warriors used red poles to control people like what was often seen during Chinese New Year where they are used to keep people away from the firecrackers. The thought of Tang and his friendship made him smile. He wished Tang was here now to lend advice.
James liked Frank, the gang Investigator, because he was low key. Unless Frank wanted you to know he was in the room, you wouldn't notice him. Two years ago, James gave him the position of Pak Tsz Sin, White Paper Fan. The history of his title also dated back to China where the fan was used to indicate the rank a person held at court. As the gang investigator and chief liaison to the outside world, he had to check out new recruits and those with whom they did business. When broken down the various words, Pak meant white, the color of purity; Tsz meant paper, and Sin meant fan, but it was also the same character for the word good. Hence, the white fan, a symbol of goodness was seen in paintings of gods to symbolize the driving away of evil.
Right now James wished Frank could drive away his nightmares. There were the others, who also held titles, but he couldn't think about them just yet. It was getting late, they were anxious and he still had a thousand things to get done. Barry, Frank, and Kai were the most influential ones within the gang and if he knew where they stood, he knew the status of the entire gang.
“Okay, what's happen? Kai?” James sat at the head of the small table with Kai on his right, a position usually reserved for Charlie, and Barry on his left.
“It started about week after you left. I went to the temple room at the old place to put away that week's collection, but when I walked in, I saw Charlie going through some papers.”
“Do you know which papers?” Frank asked.
Kai turned sharply to look at Frank. “No.”
“What else Kai?” James stomach churned.
“Charlie got nervous that I'd seen him looking. He fumbled and put something in his pocket and then made as if I had no business entering the room. He stopped when I showed him that I had money to put away. We entered it in the books and while I didn't think much about it till later, the numbers looked wrong,” said Kai.
“How do you mean wrong?” James asked.
“Wrong, as it looked like some of the fucking money that should have been recorded wasn't. I asked Charlie about it later and he said that all the money was recorded. I shouldn’t worry. I haven't seen the books since.” Kai lit a cigarette.
“What do you mean you don’t know where the books are?” James thought Kai looked too calm.
“Charlie said he hid them.” One lieutenant, who worked under Kai interjected.
“The entries made, they followed the code?” Frank asked.
“Yeah, they read as if they were for a supply store,” said Kai.
“Is that it? Anything else?”
“Actually, there is something. He said he was working on a deal with the Colombians to increase our share of the drug trade. This got me worried 'cause of all the trouble our elders went through with their agreements to stay away. Here he was trying to fucking get tight. It made no sense.”
“Anyone else?”
“Yeah, he told me he had a great deal getting us some rifles and shit like that,” said Tony.
“Charlie never talked to me before about these guns. Has he talked to any of you?” James turned to look at Tony.
“Charlie was overly interested in knowing how I got the guns. Especially, lately,” Tony continued in Cantonese. “It started a month ago, when the shipment arrived from our Arizona brothers. He got nosy, started checking and looking at things real close.”
“There's something else,” said one of the other guys. “It seems any time Charlie’s guys were on point, things went wrong. Our stores were hit, and things went missing, like drugs. The strange thing is, nothing has turned up on the street.”
“Yeah, and the gambling place,” said Tom. “When it Charlie’s time to watch, more losers, but less money.”
Tension mounted as the gang released their collective pent up worries. James saw the challenge to him clearly, although not a word was said. Charlie, a close friend they had all trusted in the past, and his personal best friend, looked to be a traitor.
“Where's the rest of our stuff?” James asked Frank.
“It's in the 'supply store,' I didn't feel it was safe to bring things here. Charlie knew about this place,” said Frank.
“Everyone suspects Charlie?” James asked to a room of affirmative nodding heads.
“Frank, if you haven't already, check out Charlie.” James hated giving that order, but it had to be given, for he knew he would have to order Charlie’s death soon as well. Something he wasn't prepared to do, nor liked doing. Charlie was his best friend for most of his life. He wondered if he could really make a decision to kill him outright.
“Consider it done. I’ve already started the day after Charlie got arrested and went around seeing what I could find.” Frank spoke casually, but stared hard at James.
“What doesn't check?” Tony asked.
“From what I can tell, he's got a new girlfriend. About four or five months now. It seems ever since she arrived, he started changing. I'll let you know more when I've finished.”
“I want to know by the end of the week. Any problem with that?”
Frank indicated no problem. “What about that new guy you brought with you today?”
“I checked him out when I was in Hong Kong. He was working for one of our uncles when he lost his temper and got a little hot with a gun. Since he's much respected, they sent him here. He's cool,” said James. “For now we've got to get another place. If Charlie is the traitor, then he knows about this place and it won't be long before they come here looking. Kai, pay the guys as normal, give an extra fifty to the ones who moved the stuff and find that book. Tony, take some guys and find us a new place. Close down our gambling places and move them as quickly as you can. Make
sure the gambling places are covered first. Then check to make sure no one is watching our girls. Tom, where's the shipment?”
“The shit's at the new distribution center being cut. It will be out to the East Coast by Friday, next week.” Tom always spoke more confidently when he spoke in Cantonese.
“You're using a different route?” One of Frank's lieutenants asked.
“Yeah and no one knows it but me and Tony who's providing the support.” Tom and Tony had their own suspicions that didn't point to Charlie. They had discovered other mismatches of information.
“Fine. Is there anything else?” James exhausted, wanted to do nothing more than go home, take a shower with fresh clean water but there were a thousand little things to get done. He had to find his girlfriend, who'd be hounding him if she didn’t get her silk present, visit with his mother and survive whatever she had planned for the day before he got his brother squared away at home. John, his brother, he had almost forgotten about him.
“What about that new one?” Kai’s thoughts were never far from what was on James's mind and had often been teased that he was like Radar from the TV show MASH. He didn't appreciate the comparison too much and wouldn't let anyone give him that for a nickname.
“His name is John Chan and gets two-hundred-fifty, same as the others. Record that he'll be living with me till he can get himself squared away.”
James saw the mixture of expressions on the guy’s faces, but he just didn’t care what they thought or suspected. Even the lowest sai low, little brother, knew James wouldn't just open his home to anyone. The fact that he did to this guy John, meant that he trusted him, or really was family.
“Frank, you had little Joey under you, right?”
The Dragon Within His Shadow Page 9