Sure, thought Thourson. “Thank you. If you'll excuse me, I’ve some work to do.”
Thourson took the card that was handed to him and made a quick choice. He walked through the rooms and found Tang leaning against a wall, looking stunned. “Perhaps you can trace this for us. It's the card that was used. You can send it down to the office when you're through. We lifted a partial print but that's about it.” Thourson handed Tang the plastic bag.
“By the code I know it belonged to the chauffeur,” said a tired Tang.
“Good. We'll keep in touch then. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye Thourson.” Tang was relieved when the man and his people left.
As soon as the police left, Tang assembled the staff and began questioning each one personally, in the living room. He gave one of the maids a shot of Courvoisier brandy to calm her down as she was sobbing uncontrollably. He dismissed the staff giving them one day off, so his men could reexamine the rooms and search for any clues that may have been left behind or over looked.
Tang walked into George’s bedroom and pressed a hidden release switch that opened a secret shelf. He stared hard at the phone with its secure phone line. He saw the stack of papers and George’s notebook. He touched the book as if to pick it up but quickly moved to grab the phone. Sitting on the edge of George’s bed, he took a deep breath before dialing the first number. Delivering bad news was not something he enjoyed doing. He had finished notifying the inner council of the Society as well as the San Francisco Tong, when he got word that Lauren was in stable, but poor condition and that Choi was still in the operating room. He sat on George’s bed, lost in thought.
*
After treating his flesh wound and changing into clean clothing on board a Junk, Ming took his speedboat to the Ocean Terminal. Death and the act of killing were meaningless to him. He had come from the gutters of the Kowloon Wall City, simply known as the Wall City. He used his skill in violence as his ticket out of that dark, cavernous death trap. He wasn't religious and did not give in to the Christian belief of punishment in hell, nor a life of damnation as the Buddhists believed. He simply saw it as his job.
Hailing one of the many red cabs by Haiphong Road, Ming took it to Tsim Sha Tsui East, on the far side of the peninsula where he entered one of Hong Kong's sleazier hostess clubs called The Willow. The modest club was crowded, yet he got a seat by the windows, offering a magnificent view of Kowloon and ordered a drink. It had become a tradition ever since his first contract. He would come to the club, celebrate his success and forget the death. Only this time, while he knew he did the hit, he was less sure the man was dead.
*
Mrs. Choi had been shopping for most of the day with Richard substituting for the chauffer who never showed up. When they got out of the car and walked into the lobby, she was aghast to see police. Discovering that it was her own family, she was rushed to the hospital with police escort and taken to the waiting area where she found some of her husbands' men.
Anxiously, she sat in the waiting area, her mind racing through a myriad of thoughts. She didn’t know that Lauren was in the recovery room, just that George was undergoing surgery to save his life. She heard Richard down the hall requesting information.
“How could this have happened to George? What happened? I still don't know and these men won’t tell me.” Catherine’s voice trembled with anxiety.
“How is unimportant and can be discussed later if you wish. For now, relax. I've checked with the nurse. She said Lauren will be out of Recovery shortly, and you’ll be allowed to see her. Mr. Choi is still in surgery and- -”
“What do you mean my daughter will be out of Recovery?”
“Didn't the officer tell you?” Richard asked, knowing full well she didn't know.
“Tell me what? I've been sitting here waiting to hear about George! Now I hear my daughter is here. What happened to my baby? Where is my baby?” Catherine’s voice rose.
“She was in the apartment when the hit man shot your husband,” said Richard coldly.
“Oh no, my baby,” she clutched Richard's arm tightly, while pushing him backwards.
“The gunman got her twice, I believe. Once in the side of her stomach and the other, her upper arm. She’ll recover.” Richard’s insincerity couldn’t be detected in his voice.
“Where is she? Take me to her.” Tears began streaming down Catherine’s face, her usual composed mask shattered by the news of her daughter.
Richard attempted to calm Catherine; “Now, now, she’s out of danger and - -”
“Then take me to her!”
“In time you’ll see her. Right now, you must pull yourself together.” Turning he faced Chung, handpicked by Tang no doubt. “Chung, get Mrs. Choi some water.” All women are the same. Tell them their husband is hurt and they’re strong. Tell them it’s a child and they get hysterical, he thought. “Please Catherine, don’t be upset. You’ll have to make decisions an- -.”
“Are you worried about my family's business, Richard? Well, right now, I'm worried about my family! Things will continue and they’ll be cared for by the right people. I'm sure Tang will attend to business matters as he should, as is his responsibility. You’ll assist me here or return to the apartment. Which will it be?”
“I’ll remain.” Richard, fearing his own true intentions might be revealed, backed down.
“Good!” Catherine looked into his eyes. In that minute, she saw the truth of his character for perhaps the first time. “Take me to my daughter. Now!”
Mrs. Catherine Choi was her father's daughter. She was shrewd and intelligent enough to know when people were trying to position themselves to gain opportunities. She saw something in Richard’s eyes but wasn’t sure what. Once someone tasted power and seen the rewards, it is hard to be a servant and for his transgressions, he was made a Choi's servant. A fact that bore deep wounds for Richard, she was sure. Tonight she thought she saw a weasel. He had changed and that change in nature struck a cord.
Chapter Twenty-Two
John returned to his brother's apartment only to discover a meeting in progress with James seated respectfully, next to the eldest gentleman present. “Excuse, me,” he said.
“It’s okay John, come in. John, I want you to meet our uncles.”
John immediately did not like the anxiousness of James’ voice. The modestly dressed gentlemen stood and said hello. By simple deduction, John realized that they were probably the officers of the local tong to which James’ gang reported. At once, he thought of Richard and tried to recall the tong hierarchy, sensing he was going to need such information. It was obvious in their rigid, tense posture that these men weren’t here for a social visit. They were too sullen.
He was guessing, but figured the older one to be the 432, the numerical code used to identify the Cho Hai, Straw Sandal, or in other words, the Tong Messenger. Now if he was the 432, then he reported to Cha Soi, the Treasurer, who reported to the Fu Chu Chi. The Fu Chu Chi was the equivalent of a Vice President, of the Tong. As the gang leader, or the Wo Chu, James reported to the Cho Hai and was required to deliver sixty-percent of his take, from all gang business, to the Tong through him. While he wasn't sure who was at what level, he was sure one of them was at least, the Cho Hai. John closed the door carefully. He saw Aunt Rose was carrying a heavy tray of tea and coffee to the living room and took the tray from her, to help.
“Thank you, John,” said Rose as she took one of the side chairs. John placed the tray on the coffee table.
“John, these are our Uncles Larry, Cheung, and Ng,” James said, as he made introductions. “You're just in time. Our uncles have some important news to tell us.”
“James, Rose . . . John, we've received a phone call from Tang in Hong Kong, a short time ago and we were requested to deliver a message. Tang informed us of a recent event. Apparently, someone has made an assassination attempt on your father, James.” Cheung, the eldest man present, was as John expected, the 432. In other words, he
was the Cho Hai, of San Francisco’s Golden Lotus Tong, one of the larger branches of the Hong Kong Golden Dragon Society.
The news was followed by dead silence. Rose was the first to react. “What do you mean an attempt? Is George all right? Is my husband all right?”
“All we know is that he was taken to Victoria Hospital some time ago. We haven’t received any additional news since the first phone call.”
“What happened?” James wanted to know with an almost desperate tone.
“Tang said a single gunman burst in to the apartment, shot your father and your half sister.” Cheung looked directly at John and tried to measure his reaction. While he noticed John looked down momentarily, that was it. No other sentiment could be read from his face.
“Your half sister Lauren was hit twice and will most likely, recover. Your father - - It is more uncertain with your father. From what we've been told, he was shot at very close range.”
“What about my husband?” Rose asked with a mixture of concern and fear in her voice.
“He was shot five times,” said Ng. “When our nephew called, all he could tell us was that George was still in surgery.”
“Is there something we can do?” John asked.
All eyes fell upon John. Unknown to John, James had explained his duty to his 'uncles', as his father requested. They too, knew that he was a Choi son.
“Not as yet, no.” Cheung took his pipe from his pocket and filled it with tobacco.
“My cousin, Lauren,” said John.
“Yes.” Ng was impressed by John’s ability to curtail his emotion.
“She'll be okay?”
“As far as what has been reported? Yes, it seems Lauren will recover.”
“Aunt Rose, is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, John.” Rose’s voice was a breathless whisper.
“James?”
“No. Not right now, but I'll want to talk to you later.” James’ voice trembled, betraying the fear he felt.
“Sure. Since there’s nothing I think uh - - I’m going for a walk. I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, sure.” James looked up and watched, as did the others, as John left the apartment. If John were someone else, he would have been expected to remain and offer support. But given they knew who he was and his dilemma; they allowed him the ability to save face by leaving.
“What does all this mean?” Rose asked in trying to re-focus the room's attention.
“It's too early to tell. From all accounts, someone is trying to force your husband from his organization. Reason dictates this person is someone within,” said Cheung, not so much for Choi's second lady, but for James, who was at risk as the only currently recognized male heir.
“But who,” Rose questioned. “Who would want to do this to my husband?”
“We felt you must be informed.” Ng as a supporter of George, felt he should tell Rose in person, rather then coldly, over the phone, as some others wanted. “Should we hear anything further, we will inform you at once.”
“Thank you, for coming,” Rose felt the dismissal from Ng and took the affront by standing firm as a lady should. Quickly, she saw the guests to the door.
After they left, she lowered her defenses and cried in James’ arms. Rose had sat absorbing every syllable. She had listened to all that was said. Each word felt like a dagger stabbing at her heart. As she listened, she realized she would not be allowed the luxury of going to George’s bedside. She knew that other woman, Catherine, would be there and in the way. Rose sat pulling and tearing her tissue to shreds, revealing her deep felt anxiety. She kept moving her hands as if to wring the anguish out from her soul. James compassionately, embraced his mother while trying to make sense of the action and reactions of those he loved.
The more James thought about the attack, the more insecure he felt. At twenty years of age he didn't truly understand the ramifications, but with death nearing the doorway of his home, he realized only too plainly, what the loss of someone meant. He cared deeply for his father and was angry that someone would try to destroy him, but he had no time for remorse.
James' thoughts were to get on a plane and go to his father. He could be in Hong Kong within a day but then what? Face his stepmother whom he had never met and explain to her that he too was a Choi son, and the eldest. No. It wasn't the time. His instinct was telling him that if someone was brave enough to strike at his father in his home, then a strike at the rest of his family wouldn't be too long in coming and he would have to be on guard. A traitor would not leave a son alive to seek revenge and revenge he would have. Traitors, his world seemed surrounded by them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Doctor Leong stood next to Lauren’s bed reviewing her vitals and checking the various monitors. “Lily?”
The nurse Lily looked up and walked across the room toward Leong.
“Yes doctor?”
“I’ve just given her a mild sedative. I want you to monitor her very closely. Notify me and only me, if there are any changes. You are to stay by her side. Understood?”
“But my other duties?”
“Don’t worry about them. I will make sure the head nurse understands you are on special assignment. You’ll be doing a lot of overtime for the next few days and will be paid very well.” He knew he could count on Lily as she was very levelheaded and known for her dedication.
Lily looked at Lauren and knew who she was from reading all the society pages. “Her family is very well known. I understand what you are asking and will do it.”
“Good. Now make sure everyone else stays away. I’ll return with her guards when it is time to move her. And Lily, follow no one’s instructions except my own, understood?”
“Understood.”
Doctor Leong walked over to the nurse’s station and made it clear to the head nurse that Lily was being pulled from her regular duties. The head nurse was ticked off with the change to her schedule but she knew she couldn’t argue with the doctor. Before he left he turned to look at Lily. She was being diligent keeping all at bay, especially the male nurse. He now had the unpleasant task of talking to the Choi family matriarch. While he appreciated George Choi for his generosity in giving the funds for renovating this hospital anonymously, he detested Choi's wife, Catherine.
Chapter Twenty-Four
John’s earlier excitement in meeting Michiko had faded. Standing on Inspiration point, he stared outward thinking that just when he managed to forget about his family and problems, the reality of his family struck again. He pulled out the jade charm that Lauren had given him for luck just before he left Hong Kong and thought of her.
It took a few hours before his heart-stopped racing. To John, it seemed as if his father would once again, overshadow his life. He needed time to sort things. He wondered about Lauren and his mother. He knew Tang would take care of them but still he was concerned. He was furious actually that Tang didn’t protect them well enough in the first place. He noticed it was getting dark and began his long walk back to the apartment house slowly.
He remembered Lauren’s smile and the stupid things they used to do when they were kids. In particular, he recalled how on one New Year's Eve, when she was about fourteen and he was twelve, they got into trouble. They took some firecrackers, lit them, tossed them in the steel wash bucket and left it under the kitchen table to explode. He laughed to himself thinking how the entire staff went nuts with the exploding sound, red paper flying everywhere and men rushing in every direction. When their antics were discovered, he was beaten by his father, while all she got was a scolding. Women, he thought. Here it was all her idea, yet he was punished, because he was the man and responsible for her actions, his father had said.
The streetlights had lit when he stopped to look up at the apartment house. John realized then life’s limitations, his father’s vulnerabilities and weakened armor for the first time. Returning to James’ apartment, he found him standing by the living room window, in the dark room brooding and
wasn’t in a mood to deal with him.
“You have to return to Hong Kong until our father recovers,” said James as soon as John closed the door behind him. James stared at the lights of San Francisco and the harbor beyond where he kept his speedboat. All he wanted was to escape and go full throttle over the open seas.
“Our father? You mean your father.” John turned on the lights, but James didn’t move.
“No, I mean our father. Let’s stop pretending as if the other doesn't know. We both know George Choi, is our father. We also both know that you're not allowed to admit it, publicly. This is private and between us. Look, I'm the one who's to kill you, if you tell anyone you’re his son, so let’s drop the pretentious bullshit and talk about this.” James turned and stared straight at John.
“You're the one?” John shook his head. So much had happened; he should have figured his father would place his brother in that role. “So, I have your permission to talk about this?”
“Cut the fucking crap. We've got to deal with this and now. An attack has been made on our family, specifically, our father and sister. We must try figuring out who is behind all of this.”
“We must? You mean, you must make decisions and I must go along with whatever, since I work for you. Isn't that it? The Society will continue with, or without us, with or without Dad. What is there to worry about James?”
“How about your family?”
“My family?”
“Yeah, your sister for starters. Don't tell me you don't care about her, cause then I'll know for sure you’re lying.”
“So I care, all right? What business is it of yours, if I care about my sister?”
“She's my half-sister.”
“Really? You care about someone you never knew?” John said, half heatedly.
“How do you know if I did or didn't? After all, I always knew about you. You were the one kept in the dark that didn't know, or care to know for that matter.”
The Dragon Within His Shadow Page 14