The noisy street below was crowded with tourists who had come to shop and gamble. Garrett walked north several blocks until he came to a large fish market. Once there, he started perusing the displays. He wandered up and down the aisles intrigued by the variety of items laid out on the tables before him, taking in the odors unique to such open-air markets. He felt a tug at his jacket and turned to see a woman standing next to him, the handle of her roller luggage piece in her hand.
“How was your flight?” he asked.
“Good,” Kit responded. “What room are you in?”
Garrett told her and asked in return, “And yours?”
Kit told him and Garrett was relieved. They had asked for and gotten rooms on the same floors, and almost directly across from each other.
“Have you ‘mic’d’ the room and checked your own wire?”
“Yes,” she replied, indicating a button on her jacket.
“Good. Just give me about a half hour and I’ll be in position.”
Kit nodded and walked away, leaving the luggage for Garrett. He waited for a moment and then followed, retracing his steps back to the hotel as dusk started to set in. Once back in his room, Garrett opened the luggage and pulled out a high-powered rifle with folding stock and laser site. He went to the window and cracked it open, then went to the door and turned off the light. A chair and box of ammunition were brought over to the window. Garrett made all of his preparations, put an earpiece in one ear, and waited.
Twenty minutes later, Garrett heard some noise escape from his earpiece as both mics were activated.
“Hello you wild hunk of man. Flash me if you’re listening.”
Laughing to himself, Garrett watched as Kit walked towards the window and looked out towards him. He snatched a small penlight from his pocket and pointed it towards her, turning it on and off.
“Wow! You sure know how to show a girl a good time,” she laughed. “Well, here it goes.”
Garrett listened as she walked down the hall and got into the elevator. He could hear the dinging of the floor bell as she descended to the casino. Suddenly, there was a roar of noise as the doors to the elevator opened and noise emanating from the casino floor were picked up by the microphone. Garrett reached down and adjusted the volume to compensate. He listened as she made her way through the slot machines and their incessant dinging, to a quieter area of the casino floor.
“I’m nearing the Baccarat tables now,” she announced.
More background noise.
Suddenly Kit spoke, “I see him!”
Garrett’s stomach started to knot. Either she would be able to convince this Wong Hung to take her to his employer, or he would kill her. That’s where Garrett came in, sitting in the darkened hotel room across the street.
He listened as she sat at the table and obtained some chips for the game. After about fifteen minutes, Garrett became impressed. Kit had won all but two hands and by his calculations, had probably just about quadrupled her money. He heard her get up from the table and sit at another.
“Mr. Hung?” she inquired.
“Who wants to know?” came the reply.
“One of Simon’s girls.”
The man with two pinky rings looked at her and smiled.
“Come here to give me a good time?” his smile revealing a gold tooth.
“Hardly,” she retorted, “Something has happened. We need to talk, but not here.”
The smile left the gambler’s face. “OK. If its business you’re here for, let’s go.”
They both grabbed their chips and stood.
“I’ve got a room upstairs. We can talk there,” Kit suggested. “Follow me.”
Across the street, Garrett listened as they cashed out their chips and went to the elevators. He checked the magazine and chambered a round in the rifle. Sitting up on the edge of the chair, he brought the butt of the rifle to his shoulder and looked through the site. He could see most all of the hotel room, the only exceptions being along the hallway wall, and inside the bathroom.
A few nervous moments later, the door to the hotel room opened and both entered. Kit walked towards the window and sat in one of two chairs, right in a perfect line of site for Garrett. The Chinaman strode across the room and sat opposite her. He was the first to speak.
“So, tell me, what has happened? Why am I not meeting the normal contacts?” he demanded.
Kit looked him square in the eye, “Because they are all dead,” she replied.
His hand started towards the inside of his jacket, but Kit was too quick for him. She had her gun out and had it aimed at his face before his hand had traveled six inches. The Chinaman’s face turned red.
“You don’t know what you are doing,” he said.
“Maybe I don’t,” she admitted, “but Simon and three teams, including my team leader, are all dead. I wasn’t sure if you had anything to do with it until you came across with that crude come on of yours.”
Garrett spoke to himself.
“Easy Kit. Take control of the situation, but don’t antagonize him too much.”
Back in the hotel room, the Chinaman was starting to seethe. “How do I know you are who you say you are? he asked. “Simon would never talk to me in this tone. For all I know you could be a cop or something.”
Hung was slowly making a play for his gun again. Garrett watched, his finger inside the trigger guard now, hoping that Kit was aware of what he was doing. Suddenly, Hung used his knee and upset the table in Kit’s direction. In the confusion, he stood, slapping the pistol from her hand and reaching for his. Garrett’s finger started pressing on the trigger as he got the man’s head in his sights.
“OK, now you talk lady,” he said, looking down the barrel of his gun at Kit.
Garrett relaxed just in time. He wasn’t going to kill her, at least not yet. Beads of sweat were forming on his brow as he waited, not knowing if he was going to have to shoot, and if he did, hoping it wouldn’t be too late.
Acting embarrassed, Kit sat back into the chair and looked up at the Chinaman.
“Now you have the advantage. I guess if I’m to be killed too, go ahead and have it done with.”
“I’m not going to kill you. At least not yet,” he added.
The gunman walked around the room, looking for something to tie Kit’s hands with, all the time keeping the pistol leveled at her head. As he continued his search, he asked,
“How did you find me?”
“My team leader. Right before she died. She told me that she had come here with Simon several times. She mentioned your name and your pinky rings.”
“She liked them, did she?”
“Yeah. Right!” Kit snorted.
“Describe her to me,” he demanded.
Kit did so. Not leaving out any details. The gunman nodded.
“I remember her. She wasn’t the type to break down if caught, if I remember correctly. Still…..Take off your jacket and your blouse. I want to make sure we’re alone.”
Garrett watched from across the street as Kit did as she was told. She turned all the way around as the gunman looked at her making sure that there was no wire. He nearly squeezed off a round when the Chinaman used his advantage in the situation to cop a feel. Kit just stood and looked at the gunman indifferently until he finally stopped.
Across the street, Kit was recoiling internally as the Chinaman groped her breasts. Finally, he quit and stepped away.
“OK. Put your clothes on. We’re getting out of here.”
He lowered his weapon as he bent over to retrieve hers. He handed her gun back to her. Kit took the gun and in one quick motion had the barrel stuck against Hong’s crotch.
“That one was for free,” she said referring to his uninvited advances. “The next time you touch me it will cost you one of these!”
Kit pressed the gu
n a little harder to add emphasis to her words. The Chinaman smiled and then started to laugh.
“OK. Next time I pay! Maybe you’re worth it!”
The tension of the past few moments gave way. Hung was back in business mode now. He made a phone call, speaking in Chinese. When he was finished, he hung up.
“Where are we going?” Kit inquired.
“To the mainland to see my boss. He wants to talk to you, hear everything that happened.”
Garrett had been breaking down the rifle and putting it away. When he heard what the Chinaman said, he got a little panicked. He grabbed the weapons he would need and walked back to the window, looking into her room.
“OK, Kit. Remember how we planned to handle this,” he thought to himself.
“Why can’t he come here?” she asked. “I’m not going into China. After everything that has happened, I want to be in familiar surroundings. Call him back and tell him that if he wants to see me, it’ll have to be here, in Macau.”
Hung looked at her, perplexed. He couldn’t believe she expected him to call back and relay the message. No one stood his boss up, especially a woman. He relented when Kit brandished her pistol, raising her eyebrows at him at the same time. He went to the phone and called again. After a few minutes of exchange, he hung the phone up.
“It is most fortunate. My boss had a trip planned here at the end of the week. He can push up his time table and be here tomorrow evening.”
Kit bowed a little. She doubted that the general had planned to be here, but she allowed the face-saving maneuver and responded with the grace that was called for in this situation.
“I thank you and the general for the accommodation.”
“The general? How did you know I was talking to the general?” he asked reaching for his gun.
Garrett became alarmed. He snatched the case and started to put the rifle back together at break neck speed. Kit spoke almost immediately.
“I’ve taken basic Chinese. I thought I heard you speak the word for general.”
Two people on opposite sides of the street hoped that Hung would not press the issue and ask her to repeat the word. He didn’t. Instead he just nodded and watched as Kit walked over and picked up the overturned table.
“Should I contact you downstairs tomorrow or call you?” she asked as she stood up straight.
“Neither” was the reply. “Be here in the room. I will contact you.”
“Well, then, good night,” Kit finished. She walked towards the door, opening it so her guest could leave. Taking the hint, he walked towards the door. Stopping just short, he turned and addressed Kit one more time.
“You know, I was given a different name at birth. I had my name changed for a valid reason.”
Kit thought about his name and rolled her eyes.
“I’m too expensive for you, remember?” she reminded him, pointing the gun between his legs.
Wong Hung acquiesced and left the room, Kit shutting the door and bolting it behind him. After a moment she spoke into the mic.
“Reminds me of someone I know.”
Across the street, Garrett became somewhat indignant at the comment. A moment later, his hotel room phone rang and he picked it up.
“Reminds you of someone?” he repeated as he heard laughter on the other end.
* * *
The next morning, Kit made some calls and went out to meet with some unofficial contacts. The odds were, that they would be taking her somewhere to meet the general, and Garrett needed reliable help if he was to follow. They couldn’t chance having any tracking or sound devices since they assumed that the general would be much more sophisticated than Mr. Hung ever thought of being. The streets of Macau, like the streets of Hong Kong, could be almost impassable if you didn’t have local help.
While she was making the arrangements, Garrett passed his time at the baccarat table, keeping an eye on Mr. Hung. He watched and committed to memory the faces of all the individuals Hung made contact with. It seemed like there was a constant stream of activity around him. Apparently, the gambler was into a lot of deals.
Around midafternoon, a young local man joined Garrett at his table. After playing a few hands, the young man stood, stuck his left hand in his pocket and turned to leave. Garrett finished his hand, grabbed his chips, and made his way to the cashier’s cage. After he had completed his transaction, he went to the nearest row of slots and sat at a machine next to the young man.
“You are Mr. Garrett?” he asked, not taking his eyes off of his machine.
“Close enough,” Garrett responded. He looked at the young man closely. He couldn’t have been much older than about twenty.
“I’m your driver. My brother will tail Ms. Kitten out of the hotel and tell us which way to go.”
“How old are you?” Garrett inquired.
The young man spoke in broken English and Garrett’s curiosity had gotten the better of him.
“The young man turned and smiled at Garrett.
“Old enough to kick your butt!”
Garrett was taken aback by the audacious young man and was about to respond when he noticed the callused knuckles of his young acquaintance’s hands. He was evidently very heavy into martial arts, and since Bruce Lee was originally from Hong Kong, he wandered if this young man was really being full of himself or just speaking the truth. Garrett smiled back at the youth.
“I meant no insult. What’s your name?” he asked.
The young man told him and got up motioning Garrett to follow. They left the casino and walked across the street entering the lobby of Garrett’s hotel. Catching up to the young man, he asked, “Why are we here?”
His driver turned and looked at him.
“You need to get your stuff. We go to the car now!”
“But why now?” Garrett asked. “We don’t have to be ready until tonight.”
The young man looked at Garrett ruefully.
“If you are dealing with Mr. Hung, we need to be prepared at any moment. He has a habit of pulling surprises.”
“Does Kit know this?”
“My brother is telling her now. He will stay with her until they come. He’s disguised as a room service waiter and will leave when Mr. Hung arrive. Then he will watch and call me on this.”
The young man pulled out a new cellular phone that was small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. He held it up to Garrett, obviously very proud of the gadget that he owned.
“We work with Ms. Kitten in the past. We like her a lot. Don’t worry, we take good care of her, but we need to hurry!”
Garrett succumbed to the young man’s pressure and started towards his room. Ten minutes later, he and the young man left, carrying a bag of items Garrett anticipated needing. They walked down the street to a small outdoor food stand and stocked up. There was no telling how long they would have to wait. Finally, they made their way to the young man’s car. Garrett’s jaw suddenly dropped open. Parked before him was a late model German sedan, which would cost close to ninety thousand U.S. dollars. The windows had been darkened so no one could see inside. He was about to ask whose car it was but remembered the young man’s reaction when he had inquired about his age. He was rewarded for his silence immediately upon climbing into the back seat. Judging from some of the personal items decorating the interior, it obviously belonged to the young man. Garrett had to strain to keep from bursting out in laughter.
“There’s no accounting for taste,” he thought to himself as he looked around. The car was decorated with all sorts of spy memorabilia, including photos of the women who had played in some of the more popular secret agent movies. Garrett relaxed. This kid was out there, as in, a little twisted, and he could relate to him.
“He may make a good field agent yet,” Garrett said to himself again, continuing his thought.
“You like the car Mr. Garrett?�
�� his driver asked.
Garrett nodded in affirmation.
“This is a one of a kind, I must tell you that.”
The young man beamed at the compliment. He obviously looked up to Garrett for some reason.
“You going to marry Ms. Kitten?” he asked.
Garrett almost choked on the food he had started eating. He grabbed his napkin and started to clean up the mess he had just made.
“What in the world made you ask that question, if I may ask?”
The young man responded, looking into the rear-view mirror.
“She gets this funny look in her eyes when she mentions your name.”
“She does, does she?” Garrett responded.
“Oh, yes, Mr. Garrett, she sure does.”
Garrett took another bite of his food and became silent. After a moment he became uneasy and looked up. The young man was still staring at him in the mirror, expecting an answer. He sat his food down on his lap, and used his napkin on his face and hands.
“Look. I don’t really think that we should be talking about this now. ‘Ms. Kitten’ and I have known each other for a long time. Our relationship is, well, complicated, hard to explain. I know that you obviously care for her yourself and that’s why you’re asking. But right now, we have a job to do, an important job, and if we get distracted on such matters, she could come to harm. And I don’t think either of us would care to see that happen.”
The explanation apparently satisfied the curiosity of the young man. He hadn’t started eating yet, and now he dug into his meal with a vengeance. The next hour and a half passed without comment or incident. Then the ringing of a phone interrupted the music on the car radio. The young driver sat up and turning the radio volume down as he answered. A few words were spoken. He turned the key and started the car.
“I knew Hung was rat. He is in room now with two other men.”
“Is that it?” Garrett asked, getting a little nervous.
“Yep. We wait for my brother to call back.”
A few minutes went by and the phone rang again. This time the young man put the car in drive and pulled a U-turn in the heavy rush hour traffic. He ended his call and spoke to Garrett.
Millenium Strike Page 19