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In the evening, after a light dinner, Lee took a long and winding path through the streets of Shanghai, avoiding cop and criminal alike. His route took him through shopping districts and wet markets, ending in an apartment block not too dissimilar to his own.<\/p>\n
On the third floor, Lee followed the corridor to the fifth unit and pounded the door. Half a minute later, the door opened to reveal the slight frame of Detective Sergeant Wong.<\/p>\n
\u201cTang Shuisheng contacted me,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI thought you might want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wong let Lee in. Mrs Wong prepared tea for the men and scurried to the bedroom. As the men lit up their cigarettes, Wong fished out pen and notebook from his pocket and granted Lee a questioning look.<\/p>\n
In between sips of tea and hits of nicotine, Lee recounted Tang\u2019s visit. Wong crossed his legs and listened intently, leaving his stationery alone. Lee recounted every last detail, from the moment Lee returned to the moment Tang left, leaving nothing out. The moment Lee was done, Wong wrote his response.<\/p>\n
Do you plan to press charges against Tang for breaking and entering?<\/em><\/p>\n Lee laughed. Wong grinned in silence, doing his damnedest not to laugh too. When he finally recovered, Wong wrote again.<\/p>\n What are your intentions?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou paid for my services. I intend to hold up my end of the bargain.\u201d<\/p>\n Other men would be tempted by Tang\u2019s offer.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t trust the words of a serpent.\u201d<\/p>\n Wong nodded, and wrote again.<\/p>\n There\u2019s been a development in the Shen case. After the attempted arrest, he\u2019s been pressing his customer to meet up and hand over the goods. Last night, Wu Ye agreed to meet him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhen and where?\u201d<\/p>\n Noon tomorrow at Jin Xuan Restaurant.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the plan?\u201d<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to be there.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t speak, can you?\u201d<\/p>\n My men still have voices.<\/em>\u00a0Wong frowned, and scribbled some more.\u00a0Nonetheless, an extra pair of hands would be much appreciated.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDo I get a gun this time?\u201d<\/p>\n Wong glowered.<\/p>\n \u201cJust had to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n At daybreak, Lee dressed himself in his finest. A blue suit with matching tie and bowler hat. He adorned his face with a pair of display spectacles, shaved his mustache and sideburns, and drew a false mole on his right cheek. Now suitably attired, he dialed a number on his telephone.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m on my way,\u201d Lee said. \u201cJin Xuan restaurant, eleven o\u2019clock.\u201d<\/p>\n The listener grunted and hung up.<\/p>\n Lee spent the morning smoking and tending to his office, tossing out bills and trash, and cheerfully ignoring the business cards other visitors had slipped under his door. When it was time, he fortified himself with yet another cigarette and made his way to Jin Xuan Restaurant.<\/p>\n It was Eastern charm and Western dynamism, a top-flight establishment serving classic Shanghai cuisine encased in an Art Deco shell. Warm wood and bright gold adorned the exterior, and through the window glass Lee saw more expensive wood, more gold leaf, and serving staff dressed in black suits and red cheongsams.<\/p>\n A pretty hostess led Lee to a private booth at a corner, and prepared a pot and a cup of tea. Just past the booth was the rear exit. Lee sipped at his tea, set his hat on the table, studied the menu, and waited.<\/p>\n In the fullness of time, three men entered the restaurant. Chinese men in smart Western suits and hats. One had a heavy cane, one carried a briefcase and the last scratched absently at his throat.<\/p>\n Zhou, Chan and Wong.<\/p>\n Lee waved them over. The detectives had donned heavy disguise, wearing makeup and hair dye to make themselves look five or ten years older than they really were.<\/p>\n \u201cGlad you could make it,\u201d Zhou said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m with you until the end,\u201d Lee replied.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Chan said quietly.<\/p>\n The men ordered copious amounts of tea and appetizers, and spoke to each other about the weather, business, politics, everything and nothing at all. In the fullness of time, a familiar-looking man slipped into the restaurant, accompanied by a hostess.<\/p>\n \u201cOur friend Shen has arrived,\u201d Lee said calmly.<\/p>\n Wong grunted.<\/p>\n Shen sat in the middle of the room, bag by his feet. It was the same bag Zhou had given him. Tapping his feet, he alternated between studying the menu and the door. The detectives continued to study Shen, sipping at their tea and pretending to eat.<\/p>\n Ten minutes later, three smartly-dressed men entered the restaurant. Two of them led the way, scanning the room with their hands in their pockets. The last simply strode in like he owned the place, making a beeline for Shen.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Wu Ye,\u201d Chan whispered. \u201cHe\u2019s got two bodyguards with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to call it in,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n Wong nodded. Lee got up and made his way to the rear of the restaurant, where a payphone awaited near the restrooms. Lee fed it a coin and dialled another number from memory.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d a British-accented voice asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThe players are all here,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n \u201cGot it. Fifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee returned to his seat. Fifteen minutes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all over but the waiting,\u201d Zhou said.<\/p>\n The detectives, police and private, drank their tea and made more small talk, dragging out the faux-meal as long as they could. Shen and Wu, now seated at their tables, exchanged bags under the bodyguards\u2019 watchful gaze. The men peeked at the contents of their bags, smiled, and exchanged handshakes.<\/p>\n They leaned in, making hushed conversation. A hostess laid out a full meal for Wu, but served only tea to Shen.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish we could hear what they were saying,\u201d Chan groused.<\/p>\n \u201cMore business deals?\u201d Lee offered. \u201cGuns are always in demand in Shanghai.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlways,\u201d Zhou confirmed.<\/p>\n One last round of handshakes, and Shen stood to go.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to get him?\u201d Chan said.<\/p>\n \u201cRelax,\u201d Lee said. \u201cIt\u2019s all under control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Reserve Unit isn\u2019t here yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Shen left the restaurant. Through the window pane, Lee saw Shen ambling to a car.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s going to get away,\u201d Chan said.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n Across the street, police officers swarmed out of unmarked cars, clad in heavy steel plates and carrying Tommy guns and Colt M1911s. A quartet swarmed Shen, grappling him to the pavement. The others made a beeline for the door.<\/p>\n Chan smiled. \u201cTrust the Reserve Unit to come at the last second.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe cops are here!\u201d a man shouted.<\/p>\n The Reserve Unit burst in. Wu Ye and his bodyguards shot to their feet, Wu grabbing the bag of guns.<\/p>\n \u201cPOLICE! NOBODY MOVE!\u201d<\/p>\n The gangsters ran.<\/p>\n Shoving past patrons and squeezing through chairs, they hustled for the rear exit. Wu unzipped the bag and reached in. Wu startled. Lee exploded from his seat, charged at Wu\u2014<\/p>\n And a bodyguard stepped in with a massive haymaker.<\/p>\n Lee ducked, covering himself with his forearms. The bodyguard dropped low, firing a body shot. Lee twisted around, catching the fist on the point of his elbow.<\/p>\n The gangster swore, dropping his wounded hand. Lee whirled around, slapping him in the temple. The blow rocked him, sending him staggering into a table. Patrons screamed. Lee grabbed his skull and rammed it into the hardened wood.<\/p>\n The gangster went limp.<\/p>\n Lee scanned. Wong and Zhou had fallen on the other bodyguard, wrestling him to the floor. Wu was still on his feet, his bag of guns clutched protectively to his chest. Chang feinted with a high jab, then snapped into a low kick.<\/p>\n Wu shielded with his bag, then smashed it into Chang\u2019s face. The blow bowled the detective over.<\/p>\n Wu ran for the door.<\/p>\n Lee stepped over Chang. Cops yelled all around him, but their voices faded out. The world had shrunk down to Wu\u2019s back and the pounding of feet.<\/p>\n Wu kicked the door open.<\/p>\n Lee sprinted.<\/p>\n Pounced.<\/p>\n Lee wrapped his arms around Wu\u2019s waist. They went down together, tumbling out the door and into a back alley. The bag went flying, spilling guns over the concrete.<\/p>\n \u201cLET ME GO!\u201d Wu roared.<\/p>\n Lee grabbed an arm with both hands and wrenched it behind Wu\u2019s back. Wu cursed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to pay for this! Do you know who I work for?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPOLICE!\u201d a voice boomed behind Lee. \u201cLET HIM GO!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I let go, he\u2019s going to run!\u201d Lee replied.<\/p>\n Cops appeared by Lee\u2019s side, grabbing Wu\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got him. Now let him go.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee released Wu. Strong hands roughly stood him up, pressed him against a nearby wall and patted him down.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d the officer demanded.<\/p>\n Out the corner of his eye, Lee saw Chan emerged from the door.<\/p>\n \u201cTa shi ziji ren,\u201d Chan gasped, holding up his badge in one hand and gesturing at Lee with the other.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of us, eh?\u201d the cop said, and let Lee go.<\/p>\n As the cops dragged Wu back into the restaurant, Lee turned around and studied the man who had searched him. His thick glasses and avuncular expression were better suited for a scholar than a battle-hardened cop, but behind his spectacles were eyes as hard as iron, and his hands gripped his Colt with the sureness of long experience.<\/p>\n The cop stared at Lee\u2019s face. \u201cYou look familiar,\u201d he said in English.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to serve under you for a while,\u201d Lee said in the same tongue, \u201cthen I moved on to the detectives.\u201d<\/p>\n The cop smiled. \u201cAh. Tomas Lee, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see you\u2019re still fighting the good fight.\u201d The cop patted his shoulder. \u201cWell done.\u201d<\/p>\n They returned to the restaurant. As the senior officer rejoined his men, the detectives congregated near their booth. Zhou gestured at the white cop.<\/p>\n \u201cWas that\u2026?\u201d Zhou began.<\/p>\n \u201cThe head of the Reserve Unit, yes,\u201d Lee replied.<\/p>\n \u201cNo way! You know him?!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn another life.\u201d<\/p>\n Zhou shook his head. \u201cYou\u2019re a lucky man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn more ways than one,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter hope your luck holds out,\u201d Chang said. \u201cCrossing Wu Ye, and with him Tang Shuisheng, will have consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI made my choice,\u201d Lee said. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to live with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Previous parts:\u00a01<\/a>,\u00a02<\/a>,\u00a03<\/a>,\u00a04<\/a><\/p>\n
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\nLee tossed his hat into Wu\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Cheah](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmNPjQAkaGvtrys87bjqAghP62AqHAB7edWEt44bH8yfwD\/Cheah%20Git%20San%20Red.jpg\")
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