With weapons ready on her person Shaw waited in a side corner out of sight by the alley. Fusco parked the car not farther down the street with a good view of where the delivery truck would exit. Minutes ticked by slowly until the truck appeared at the restaurant's back door honking. Three men came out with five large rice sacks to load. When they disappeared back into the restaurant, the driver exited the truck. Just as he was about to pull down the door to the truck's back, Shaw was on him. Like a constrictor, her arm wrapped around his throat with her other hand holding a gun to his temple.
"We can do this easily," she said softly. "Do you understand English?" He nodded yes. "You are not much use to me being dead. You're going to drive where you're headed." His face turned blue. After getting him up into the back of the truck she pulled down the door. Once she released her grip he fell backwards gasping for air.
"Get moving," Shaw ordered. He scrambled into the driver's seat with her gun at the back of his head; communicator in her other hand. Soon Fusco saw the truck exit the alley, and began following it along with traffic flow. Within a half mile Fusco looked into his rear view mirror to see a black car following him.
"Hey Shaw," he said into his communicator. "Black sedan following me with its headlights gone. Told you we'd be followed. What do we do now?"
"Keep driving calmly," she replied. "We're taking this plan one step at a time."
"Great," Fusco said under his breath before becoming silent. After what seemed miles, the truck turned onto a one-way street along the water. At the street's end Shaw saw an abandoned seafood restaurant with a pier from years past.
"Stop the truck," she ordered tersely. After the driver did so, Shaw contacted Fusco. "How far are you from us?"
"I just made the turn to see you not far away. That sedan isn't behind me."
"Oh, they're behind you waiting to move. Stay put, keep the engine running with gun close, and get your department's back-up close and ready. After ending the conversation abruptly, she said to the driver, "You're only to drive as close as I say. Understand?" He nodded before proceeding slowly towards the back of the restaurant where a car was parked.
"Stop the truck; put it into park and turn off the engine," she said. After doing so she pulled him from the seat, pinning him to the floor.
"Why are you delivering rice to a closed restaurant?" she demanded with her gun resting on his forehead.
"Not rice, not rice," he blubbered.
"I want to hear what it is. If you cooperate, it'll be easier to deal with cops."
"Heroin," he gasped. "Enough to make any dealer rich."
"Do you know how many Triads are here to take these bags?"
"No, Old Man said to drop and go." The images of Old Man's scar and his lecherous eyes upon the young woman flashed into Shaw's memory.
"Yeah, Old Man," she said bitterly before punching the driver into unconsciousness.
"Don't say a word. I'm setting you free along with the two Americans." Yeung quickly unlocked Renee's handcuff while she watched in shock. He guided her to the walk-in freezer where he unlocked and opened the door revealing Reese and Finch.
"Are you all right?" Reese asked when he saw Renee's sling.
"Yes, I'm just very scared, "she replied.
"Keep as silent as possible," Yeung advised as he unlocked Reese and Finch's handcuffs. Then he gave Reese back his gun along with car keys. "You two along with Renee are to leave in the car outside the building where the kitchen exits. Take her to the hospital two blocks east of here for more care. I'm killing Pang and then myself."
"What will this accomplish?" Renee cried hoarsely.
"I'm tired of living this life and lie," Yeung answered. "I've paid off my men; they'll never bother you and David's family. With me and Pang dead, along with having one of my men execute my New York counterpart, the hold on your life will be severed."
To Reese he said, "I've been double-crossed from the moment I arrived in New York. Pang has always wanted my position; I believe he's responsible for the attack on Renee. My counterpart, I'm sure, has been working with him, too."
"It's just one bad move after another," Finch remarked drily.
Yeung's eyes locked into Renee's wistfully, knowing she'd never understand his sacrifice. "Just go, Renee. You're free. That's all that matters." Then he left for the restaurant's front. Renee watched him while not being convinced he'd kill himself. Reese lightly touched her arm, saying, "We've got to go. He's right about you seeing another doctor." She found herself ushered outside with Finch to the car Yeung arranged for them. After settling her in the front, Reese looked up to see a delivery truck and another car in the near distance. He pressed the car keys into Finch's hand.
Once Fusco had seen movement behind the restaurant he grabbed binoculars to view. He immediately notified Shaw, "Reese and Finch behind the restaurant by a car with a woman in front that has to be Montrose." Leaning over him Bear barked excitedly. Moving quickly to the front of the truck Shaw ripped off the rear view mirror. Holding it against the sun she flashed two quick signals towards Reese.
Upon seeing them Reese said to Finch, "Harold, I think we've gotten help just in time." Finch turned to see what he spoke about. "Drive the car slowly to park it by those dumpsters opposite us," Reese continued. "Then make sure you and Renee duck down for cover. I'm staying to bring Yeung to justice." Finch opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it.
As Finch began driving to where he was ordered, Reese held his hand up for Shaw to see a signal to stay put. She said to Fusco, "Let Reese do what he needs to do. Get ready for a rumble."
When Reese came around the restaurant's side he saw Pang at the far end of the pier with his back turned. He moved to stay out of sight. He heard Yeung calling Pang's name. Pang began walking down the pier until the restaurant obscured Reese's sight. Then Reese moved back up the restaurant's side to see Yeung with a gun against the back of Pang's head. His ears strained to hear their conversation.
After exiting the restaurant through the front door, Yeung called Pang's name when he saw him further down the pier. Once Pang approached him he avoided Yeung's gaze to look out upon the water. With swift movement Yeung drew his gun to push it against the back of Pang's head. Caught off guard, Pang asked, "What the hell are you doing?"
"All these years I stood aside as you debauched young women into prostitution while hooking them onto black market drugs," Yeung growled. "You gave Renee and me heroin that jeopardized not only her life but that of our unborn son. I'm going to kill you, and then I'm going to kill myself. We're both going to hell together."
Pang laughed, answering, "Your attorney's education gave you such a vocabulary to describe my deeds. I really like that word, 'debauched'. "
"You arranged the hit upon Renee's life with Old Man while planning to end my life as well to gain my position. I'm finally doing what should have been done years ago; arranging the deaths of you two." In response Pang suddenly turned to grab Yeung's hand with the gun. They struggled briefly before Yeung gained the upper hand to shoot Pang into his face. Staggering backwards he fell dead into the water. Yeung looked briefly at his lifeless body floating with blood streaming for a moment before calmly holding the gun to his temple to end his life. Suddenly a vicious pain ripped his upper torso. As he fell his gun flew away from him. Reese came out into open view to confiscate it. His shot had blown through Yeung's shoulder.
"I gave you your freedom!" he managed to grunt at Reese.
"I decided to spare your life," Reese said. "If you're extradited to China, then I've been more merciful than your countrymen will be. " At the sound of gunfire Yeung's men came out with guns drawn upon Reese.
Fusco heard a motor gunning behind his car. Looking into his rear view mirror he saw the black sedan about to hit him from behind. Fusco swore as he sped the car forward. Reese saw him driving towards him with Bear in the back while a black sedan with headlights blown out followed. A brief smile appeared on Reese as he recognized the car from the alley. Slamming to a stop beside Yeung, Fusco exited the car while trying to restrain Bear by his leash. He knelt down with gun by his open car's door. Bear's strength was about to overcome him.
Finch parked by the cluster of dumpsters and helped Renee duck for cover. She began hyperventilating. "Oh dear," Finch said as he laid his hand upon Renee's to calm her. "I'm just as scared," he tried saying soothingly, "but my friends are capable of escaping dire situations. I've lived through many. Just begin breathing along with me." Gaining control she breathed as instructed. "Would you mind if you kept your hand upon mine?" she asked weakly between breaths. "It helps me."
"Not at all," Finch answered readily, warming to her request.
Shaw exited the delivery truck after the black sedan rushed past. During the commotion she ran to the back of the restaurant to come around the side where she had view of Reese.
The black sedan stopped across from Reese. Old Man exited with four men; each holding long heavy guns. They pointed them towards Yeung's men who realized their fire power rendered inadequate. Old Man stood near Yeung to enjoy his pain as he struggled to sit up. Reese saw the magnum Old Man held towards him. He looked coolly upon the wrinkled face with the ugly knife scar.
"So you're the American who messed up my ride," Old Man observed. "It's been difficult to find new lights to fit what you've destroyed."
"I'm sorry, I thought it was his car," Reese quipped as he nodded towards Yeung. Old Man was not amused. This American's hard confidence showed in his stern face. Old Man felt his men would have no problem taking him and that nosy cop with the dog down. Yeung definitely would float in the water with Pang. Yeung's men were just scared boys. The delivery van parked in sight instead of where it should be concerned him much. This American was "a piece of work" as he heard this description from Yeung's driver after the alley shootout occurred. And that damn dog barking was really getting on his nerves. It was time to call action to hand.
"Let's get to business," he said calmly. He had always gambled with lives, including his own in bloody battles. He didn't expect two bullets from Shaw less than one second after his statement to down him beside Yeung. Those shots paralyzed his hips into pain he'd never experienced. By now Bear had broken free from Fusco with his mission in mind. Dodging gunfire he found the man responsible for tranquilizing him earlier. After tackling the man his fangs shredded clothing and skin. Coming out into view Shaw mowed Yeung's remaining men down with gunshots to shoulders and legs. She pulled Bear off his screaming victim. Standing above him Shaw asked pleased, "How does it feel to be a human bone?" The man rolled upon his side crying openly.
Sirens sounded in the distance. As Fusco fired from his position he killed one Triad unaware another one was behind him. Reese eliminated him efficiently. The ground had become a battlefield with men groaning in pain from gunshots. Three police cars appeared with officers piling out to assess damage. Shaw told one officer while holding Bear's leash, "There are five huge sacks of heroin in the delivery truck. The driver is temporarily unconscious." Then she brought Bear to stand happily alongside Reese who scratched him between the ears. "Good boy," he said in praise. He saw an officer handcuff the dog's victim. Shaw said to him, "I'm glad we got here in time. I honestly had doubt cross my mind. "
"What doubt? We fly by the seats of our pants most of the time, "Fusco remarked as he came to stand beside her and Reese. To Reese he said, "You need to buy Bear a drooling bib. My shirt collar is soaked from him leaning over me." Bear looked at him wondering about his fussing.
"That's a good one, Lionel," Reese answered, smiling at the comment. "I'm relieved this job is over."
"Are Montrose and Finch all right?"
"Renee needs more medical care for a nasty slash to her arm. Finch is shook up."
"I can call an ambulance for her. Tell her Andrea is fine."
"No thanks, I'll drive her. Yeung did tell us where the hospital is from here." He saw Yeung and Old Man surrounded by officers. Reese saw Yeung looking at him with disdain, and Reese did not care.
"Shaw, would you take Bear with you? I need to go to Renee and the boss." Shaw nodded, noting how Reese's countenance softened as he spoke her name. She and Fusco watched him stride quickly towards the car by the dumpsters.
"She's on a first name basis with him," Fusco said. "He's got a matter of the heart to tend to."
Shaw said quietly, "For his sake I'm glad."
