The Gaze of Caprice (The Caprice Trilogy Book 1)

by Cole Reid

  Xiaoyu met them in the barracks not the battlefield. The Thorns had a two-hour block of time reserved in the 220-square meter gym every Sunday evening from 7:30 to 9:30. It was the largest gathering of Thorns outside an induction or a funeral. The sounds of solid weights impacting other metals and men critiquing each other could be heard through the door. Xiaoyu gave everyone a turn to do their part and an equal part to play in his conspiracy. He let Li Tao do the honors. Li Tao knocked on the door. The knock was ignored. He knocked harder and longer. The second time solicited a response. The door opened wide enough and long enough for a shirtless man to tell Li Tao the gym had been reserved for two hours. What wasn’t heard was Li Tao’s reply. A discharged Glock 19 with sound suppressor sounded like serving a tennis ball. From one feat of athleticism to another, the tennis ball blended in with the iron pumping and stair-climbing in the room. No one noticed that the man was backing up nor did anyone react when he knelt down on one knee. Li Tao shot the man again in the head and aimed across the room at the cardio machines. As Li Tao fired shots across the room, Bai Feihong stepped in behind him to cover him from close range. Like dominoes the Thorns caught on to the assault, one-by-one. It was clear the Thorns had self-taught tactics. As the bullets chased them, they avoided each other, spreading out in the room to make themselves random targets. Their tactics didn’t matter before long. Xiu Ying and Yu Hong came into the room and stood along the wall. Along with Li Tao and Bai Feihong the four of them formed a firing squad shooting at all occupants of the gym. Light barbell plates came flying in their direction but were dodged outright. The throwers of the barbell plates turned themselves into targets as shots answered in their direction. Xiu Ying ran to the adjacent wall to get a better firing angle. Liu Ping, Huang Sitian, Wang Xi and Liu Jingyu joined in. They formed a half wall and advanced forward in the gym shooting at anything that wasn’t a Moon Dragon. The bullets were indifferent to their targets. The shooters were very specific. They put one shot in the head of any body whether moving or not and they marched from one end of the gym to the other. Every member of the Thorns was shot at least three times; some had even more holes in them. The gym took on a slightly grey smell, the smell of the warmest thing in the room—hot blood. The group did a quick sweep of the room and swept themselves out. They had returned to their cars exactly eighteen minutes after exiting, leaving sixteen people dead in between.

  • • •

  The Astra, GT and Civic returned to Jervois Street from different directions. All cars were squeezed into the garage, leaving little room for much else. Everyone had to stay in the garage under Xiaoyu’s orders; some slept in the cars. The garage had a refrigerator that they had to raid. Xiaoyu forbade them from going out to get food or drink. There were enough beers in the fridge for twelve of them. Xiaoyu didn’t drink, so the beers matched the people who wanted one. Xiaoyu returned to his blanket on the garage’s second level. This time no one came up to talk to him nor did he say a word. He stayed alone with his thoughts until sleep overcame him. Out of thirteen people in the garage, Xiaoyu was the only one completely overcome by sleep. The rest weren’t half as lucky.

  Whether awake or asleep, the call time the next day was 6:45am. A loud knock on the garage door was enough to wake everyone up eventually. The last to stir was Xiaoyu himself. Liu Ping organized the others downstairs as Xiaoyu opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Other than his eyes, he didn’t move. Downstairs, Liu Ping got out of the GT and started beating on the hoods of the Astra and the Civic to wake the others. Liu Ping armed himself with his pistol and told the others to do the same. The Sheltered Ones quickly collected themselves while arming themselves. Liu Ping arranged five of them in kneeling position directly in front of the garage door. The other six stood on either flank all with guns aimed at the garage door. Liu Ping went to the wall and hit the switch. The automatic door slithered upward with mechanical motion. The early morning light was less than it could have been. The day would start out overcast, not only the weather. When the door was halfway up the Sheltered Ones immediately withdrew their weapons. In front of them were some recognizable faces, recognizable except for the stern grimace that was painted on each one. Mr. Cheung and his chubby driver were flanked by the Stocky Man and the Slim Man. To the left was Deni Tam and two large bodyguards. Deni was first to walk in. He looked the group up and down before opening his mouth.

  “Where is Gui?” asked Deni.

  Liu Ping was used to speaking up for the group and was respected by the Moons’ leadership for his temperament and seriousness.

  “He’s upstairs,” said Liu Ping.

  “Sleeping,” said Deni.

  “I don’t know,” said Liu Ping.

  “Go get him,” said Deni. Deni got distracted. He turned his head to look passed Liu Ping. Liu Ping followed Deni’s gaze to see Xiaoyu standing on the steel stairs leading to the second level.

  “We need to talk,” said Deni. Xiaoyu nodded his head.

  “Not here,” said Deni. Xiaoyu walked the rest of the way down and walked passed Deni toward Mr. Cheung. Deni looked at the Sheltered Ones.

  “Don’t go anywhere,” said Deni, “I don’t care if you have to eat your own shit. Stay here until you hear word from me.” Deni turned around as Xiaoyu got in the car with Mr. Cheung and his chubby driver. The Stocky Man sat in the front passenger seat. Xiaoyu sat in the back with Mr. Cheung.

  The early overcast sky fit the mood in the car. Mr. Cheung did what he always did to Xiaoyu, educated him about history and tradition. He assured Xiaoyu it was all just formality. The cars headed south toward the less urban part of Hong Kong Island. A thirty-five minute drive found them at the gate of a gated community away from the city. The Sturgis Community was a private community stuffed with luxurious townhouses. There was a guard tower where residents and their guests stopped to be identified before passing through the gate. Deni Tam’s car gave the OK to Mr. Cheung’s car. They were allowed to follow without stopping. The community was built in a circle. Mr. Cheung’s car followed Deni Tam’s car around until they came to a redbrick house at the back of the community. Mr. Cheung identified the building as Uncle Woo’s former residence. Deni Tam had inherited it by right of succession. The house itself spoke of the rapid change of hands. A coffee table still featured a nautilus shell at the center. A ship’s wheel was attached to the far wall. Pictures of ships, ancient and recent, gave the wall its character. Uncle Woo’s seafaring past haunted the room. Mr. Cheung stayed outside to smoke a cigarette. The chubby driver kept him company. Only the Stocky Man and Xiaoyu entered. Deni came from the kitchen holding a canter of brandy while his two bodyguards handled the snifters. Deni set the brandy on the table along with a warmer. He lit the candle beneath the warmer and poured brandy into it. The two bodyguards handed a brandy snifter to everyone including Mr. Cheung and his chubby driver when they came in. Xiaoyu took a snifter as well.

  “You know me,” said Deni, “You know I like making my point. So I’m going to make my point. You are fucking up our organization.”

  “We don’t know anything yet,” said Mr. Cheung, “Ask him questions and let him explain.” Deni looked at Mr. Cheung with a look that said OK.

  “The Earth Dragons lost their Dragon Head and three of their senior members last week. They were ambushed at a sauna. Yesterday, a bomb took out all the remaining members except for the lowest of the low. I heard about an attack on one of the Fire Dragons’ drop points. I heard Big Blue, the Head of the Blue Dragons was murdered in a restaurant with a number of associates and there was an assault against the Thorns. Apparently, sixteen of them were shot dead while they were at a fitness hall. I’ve had to assure the other Dragon Heads, the ones that are still alive, that we are not involved. So I ask you, Gui, are we involved?” Deni stared at Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu sat silent and stared at the brandy snifter on the table in front of him.

  “You think you’re wise,” said Deni, “You disable cameras and you kill everybody so no one really knows what happened. Yo
u hit everyone on the same day so no one has any warning. But you know where you messed up? You know why they’re asking me for assurances? You made one mistake and you think it was a triumph. You’re too stupid to realize it was a mistake. When they found Big Blue and his associates, they were all dead. All had been shot to death, all but one. The Blues had a Jade Soldier. And he was dead, but he wasn’t shot. Who would know anything about that but a Triad? Who would be stupid enough to kill everyone with a gunshot then fight the strongest of them hand-to-hand? But maybe it wasn’t stupidity. The code exists only among Jade Soldiers. They don’t use weapons to kill each other. See, anyone else would have shot him. But a Jade Soldier wouldn’t have. And now there’s only one Jade Soldier in Hong Kong.”

  “You talk tough in Uncle Woo’s house,” said Xiaoyu.

  “It’s my house,” said Deni.

  “If the other Triads want assurance, they have assurance. They are assured they’re next,” said Xiaoyu.

  “You’re fucking crazy,” said Deni, “You want to start a mob war, now? Tell me why I shouldn’t have you killed right here?”

  “Because you’re Dragon Head, you should have the balls to do it yourself,” said Xiaoyu, “Besides I’m a Jade Soldier. I serve the Dragon Head. You don’t have to kill me. You can order me to kill myself. Be wise. Save yourself time and trouble.”

  “Then that’s what I’m ordering you to do,” said Deni. Mr. Cheung told Deni a Dragon Head does not make decisions in angst but in earnest. The room went silent. There were two things Xiaoyu didn’t fear, darkness and silence.

  “I can’t follow that order now,” said Xiaoyu, “I have to avenge Uncle Woo. He was Dragon Head when I received the Mark and I failed to protect him. I was sleeping when he was murdered. I’m still in his service until I kill his killer.”

  “What makes you think you’ll even find his killer?” said Deni, “We haven’t. We’ve tried.”

  “It should be obvious to you that I’m willing to go to lengths that you’re not,” said Xiaoyu.

  “Why are you willing to go so far?” asked Mr. Cheung, “Do you understand that everyone in this room could be a target now because of what you’ve done? You especially.”

  “I understand,” said Xiaoyu, “But if I find his killer it will be worth the sacrifices.”

  “Really?” asked Deni, “Why?” Xiaoyu looked up and stared at the picture of a clipper on the wall.

  “Uncle Woo did something even my grandfather couldn’t do,” said Xiaoyu, “He accepted me.” The room returned to silence once more. Once again Xiaoyu broke it.

  “We’re wasting time here,” said Xiaoyu. “You have no real choice other than let me finish what I started. The more Triads I kill the safer you are. Either way you’ll come out looking like a failed Dragon Head. You can kill me and tell them it was all my doing, but you won’t be forgiven for letting me loose in the first place. I’ve killed two Dragon Heads, that won’t be forgiven by the other branches. It doesn’t matter who did it. Once they decide to kill us, they’ll kill us. Let me take off their Heads because it’s the Head that decides.”

  “How is all this mess gonna help you find Martin’s killer?” asked Mr. Cheung.

  “Only Triads knew who Uncle Woo was. If you don’t realize he was targeted by a Triad or a combination of Triads you’re fools. The other Triads know why I’m moving against them. They’ll either hand over the killer to avoid a war or the killer will be killed in the process. What else is there? You haven’t found the killer either,” said Xiaoyu.

  “We thought the killer might be internal,” said Deni, “If we’re at war, which we are, then I need to know if I can trust the people around me. There’s one person who had a suspicious result on the polygraph test.”

  “Who?” asked Xiaoyu.

  “You,” said Deni.

  “Why?” asked Mr. Cheung.

  “We should ask Gui,” said Deni.

  “Let me finish what I’ve started,” said Xiaoyu, “If I’m still alive I will take another polygraph. Trust doesn’t matter now, we’re all in the same boat. We’ve got targets on our back. If I’m a liar, the other Triads might do your work for you. If I survive I’ll tell all the truth I remember.”

  “Could it have been the coma?” asked Mr. Cheung, “Maybe his brain function wasn’t normal.”

  “The time for questions is not now,” said Xiaoyu, “Take me back to the others so I can continue. We shouldn’t be meeting this many all at one time anymore.” The others agreed.

  • • •

  Deni Tam told Liu Ping and the Sheltered Ones to stay in the garage. Xiaoyu had given them different orders. PE4 explosive had been the most difficult thing for Liu Ping to find and purchase with the money from the stolen cocaine. But it wasn’t the only thing. Xiaoyu also instructed Liu Ping to buy six cameras. The PE4 was for the Earth Dragons. The cameras were for the other Triads. Liu Ping organized the Sheltered Ones in Xiaoyu’s absence. Wang Xi, Lin Jun and Yue Tian joined Liu Ping in the Astra. Li Tao, Yu Hong, Huang Sitian and Yi Le filed into the GT. Xu Dong, Bai Feihong, Liu Jingyu and Xiu Ying took the White Lancer, a car that hadn’t been used and couldn’t be recognized. The Lancer headed east through Earth Dragon’s territory. The Earth Dragons, the Dirty Ones, were the wildest of Triads and the first Xiaoyu wanted for elimination. The Lancer drove peaceably along Gloucester Road through the emptied Earth Dragon Territory. With the loss of their leadership, the few remaining Earth Dragons were scuttled. Their territory was all but open. Through Earth Dragon Territory was into Fire Dragon Territory. Xu Dong had been involved in Xiaoyu’s attack on the kiosk drop point. Returning to Fire Dragon territory made him nervous even though the Lancer was new to the territory. Only Xu Dong knew enough about the Fire Dragon’s distribution system to lead them to the drop points. A storm drain with an installed shelf near a bus stop on Yiu Hing Rd. A meeting spot beneath the Island Eastern Corridor and a greenery section in Chai Wan Park near the Yee Shun Street Entrance. Xiaoyu had thought ahead.

  Compromising the kiosk drop on King’s Road was huge. It was the most efficient drop point for the Fire Dragons since the decline of the Moon Luck Hotel and it had taken them years to develop. They had to purchase the kiosk through a shell business with thoroughly disguised funds. Loss of the kiosk meant loss of elegance. The Fire Dragons resorted to more rudimentary methods. Liu Jingyu was dropped off a half mile away from the storm drain. He positioned himself on the opposite side of the street and found a hiding spot in the shadow of the building opposite. Xiu Ying found a place under the Island Eastern Corridor in a shaded spot near the ramp to a foot-bridge crossing over the IEC. It gave him a view of the drop spot. Bai Feihong played his part as a tourist in Chai Wan Park. All three had cameras and instructions. They had to wait. When the drop came they had to photograph it. The photographs would also have to wait until they could be handed over to the Hong Kong Police Force. Xiaoyu had been schooled on the playgrounds of Kuandian. Turning his enemies against themselves, almost always created a smooth surface on which to skate. Xiaoyu wanted to turned the Fire Dragons in to the police by supplying enough information to make arrests. The police could seize the loads and the photographs would tie the Fire Dragons to the loads. Xiaoyu wanted photos of everything. The people, the cars and their license plates. The cars would be impounded, the plates would be traced and more arrests would be made. It would work like a slingshot, a pullback followed by a let go. Xiu Ying’s objective came quickly. A car parked momentarily under the IEC, giving Xiu Ying a good view. The driver stayed put while the passenger dropped two packs wrapped in newspaper in a discreet location next to a short support column for the IEC. A twenty something man came along within five minutes knowing the exact spot where the two packages had been deposited. He grabbed the two packages and put them into a messenger bag he was carrying before trailing off in a different direction. Five minutes after the man disappeared, a bicycle came along the same path with a suspiciously similar messenger bag attached to the rider. The bi
ke rider went up the ramp over the bridge to the other side of the IEC. Xiu Ying got what he needed: the car; its plate number and the people familiar with the drop point. There were enough heads for the police hammer to come down on.

  Liu Jingyu had to wait until dusk before he saw action. Bai Feihong was in Chai Wan Park all day and saw no action at all. At 11:00pm all three, were responsible for meeting Xu Dong in a parking garage on Lee Chung Street before heading back to their own territory. Bai Feihong was first to arrive, frustrated and empty-handed. Liu Jingyu was next to arrive. Xiu Ying was last. Xu Dong turned the Lancer’s engine on along with his suspicion. He wouldn’t turn it off until they were back in Moon Dragon territory. The lack of a drop in Chai Wan Park bothered him. Before Xiaoyu came to Hong Kong, the Moons had been priming him for leadership of the Sheltered Ones. After Xiaoyu arrived and sent him to the hospital, he realized the king of the hill had a hill to tumble down. He felt wiser when not on top. He was wiser than the group. None of them knew what it was like to be leader but him, even Xiaoyu didn’t fully understand. Xiaoyu had never gone up and down the hill; he had only gone up.

  Xu Dong still had his instinct from when he thought he would be in charge of the group. And his instinct worried him. He had a feeling that turned into a rhythm, sounding in his heartbeat. He went down Lee Chung Street and made a left on Hong Man. He was forced to stop for a pedestrian at the crosswalk on the corner. Cheung Lee Street was a smaller side street on the corner at the crosswalk. A black Infiniti I30 stopped on Cheung Lee Street at the intersection with Hong Man. A man in a black ski masked jumped out of the car on the corner in Xu Dong’s blind spot. The Infiniti rushed behind the Lancer ramming the backend of the car forcing the Lancer’s manual transmission to stall. It was a fender-bender. It wasn’t that serious. The Lancer would start but not with Xu Dong at the wheel. The masked man on the corner matched the wheels of the Infiniti to his own steps. When the Infiniti rammed the Lancer it made a combined sound. The crash was hard and let out a yelp which was joined by the sound of the engine choking as it stalled. But there was another sound more worrisome than the other two. At the same time as the Infiniti impacted the Lancer, the masked man held a protruding shotgun, muzzle missing. The short weapon discharged into the driver’s side window at the same time as the crash. The discharge from the shotgun and the glass it broke caused a crescendo seen from the back seat. The glass and buckshot formed an instant splash as Xu Dong’s head was partially separated from its base. Bits of buckshot also hit Bai Feihong in the arm and glass ricocheted to hit him in the face. The bits that buried themselves in his right eye caused the most trouble. He could see but couldn’t blink without pain or damage. He grabbed the rest of Xu Dong’s body before a second blast. The second blast didn’t come to the front seat. Escaping on the passenger side, Bai Feihong ducked below the car and tried to move around the car toward the masked man. The second shot from the gun gave the back window a high-five but didn’t stop there. It peeled the back of Liu Jingyu’s head as he ducked down.