Part One, Three, Six
Wo Fat woke up or, rather, stopped trying to sleep, and carefully rolled out of bed. His wounded leg was not cooperating and was taking great pains to be more than mildly irritatingly painful. Honorable Mai had left a carafe of water, a glass and a few over-the-counter pain killers on the bedside table, but he had gone through those hours ago with little or no relief.
He found the temporary cane Mai had left beside his bed and used it, albeit reluctantly, to slowly make his way to the small wet-bar in the sitting area of his suite. Maybe a touch of vodka would help. He drew up short two steps outside his bedroom when he was confronted by a most terrifying form. Honorable Mai – in her dressing gown.
"Auntie! Please! There are some things a nephew should never see!"
"Then you should be a good nephew turned patient and get your skinny butt back into bed before you undo my stitchery!" She replied.
He better than to argue so he turned around and made his way back to bed. "I was looking for more water, Mai."
"Donkey dung." She walked in behind him, moved around him and placed another carafe of ice water on the bedside table and held out a brown plastic bottle with a safety lid on it. "However, if you did partake of the bar, I cannot permit you to take any of these." She rattled the bottle enticingly.
"I had not yet even made it to the bar, Mai. You may smell my breath if you doubt me." He sat back down on the bed and, very carefully, lifted his legs back up off the floor.
Mai sniffed but not Wo's breath. "No need, errant child. You could never lie to me." She opened the bottle and shook out one muddy pink pill into her hand, then handed it and a fresh glass of water to him. "Here, take this. It's Demerol. You may get a little sleepy due to the dosage level. I didn't have a lot of choice, since the American medical director has seen fit to remove it from the market place."
Wo took the pill, the water, swallowed both and placed the glass back on the bedside. "That is because too many Americans found themselves too weak to resist the narcotic allure."
"I thought about trying to get a hold of oxycontin…but the Demerol was cheaper and far more effective."
He nodded as he leaned back and willed the Demerol to take effect. Wo wasn't surprised when Mai sat down beside him and carefully tugged his pajama bottoms leg up to inspect her handiwork. Without opening his eyes, he inquired, "Did I ruin your fine needlepoint, Auntie?"
She actually clucked her tongue at him. "No, but you are leaking again. I will fetch the medical kit and redress the wound." He felt her get up. "Oh, before I forget, Jiang wanted to speak with you if you are awake enough to listen?"
Wo's eyes popped open of their own accord and he maneuvered himself a little straighter and a little more upright in the bed. "Of course, please, if she is still waiting, send her in on your way, Auntie Mai."
Mai did as he requested, but only after telling Jiang – within his hearing – the ground rules. "You have until I get back, no more, and do not overtax his emotions Young Jiang."
"Yes, Honorable Mai." Jiang bowed her head in respect as Mai permitted her to enter Wo Fat's suite on the yacht. Her boss was a good looking man, a fact not lost on Jiang, but she had never seen him shirtless and the man's form belied his public image of less than lazy fitness.
Of course, she was only one of his sparring partners so she knew the truth. As she approached the man's bedside, she bowed a little deeper, showing her ultimate respect for the man who was, for intents and purposes, Ronin. "I hope that I have not disturbed your sleep, Master?"
"No, I was awake. What news do you bring me, Jiang?"
"The network we have developed here in Honolulu has turned up a few leads, most of which point to a rather…stupid yet showing mouse-like cunning…group of four, maybe five, individuals who thought to make a name for themselves in the underground here."
"Oh? And have any of these four or five come to light yet?"
Jiang shook her head. "Not yet, Master. They hide from the hawk but I suspect the owl will get at least one, maybe more, later this night."
"Smart prey, but stupid. Hiding from one obvious predator only to be snagged by a more deadly one." Wo Fat smiled. Not many people knew Jiang's first name, let alone her inner family name, but he did and he knew his 'owl' was a mighty huntress. She had clearly deployed some of the more obvious enforces to flush out her targets.
"As you say, Master Wo." Jiang nodded to Mai the older woman came back into the bedroom. "With your permission, Master, I shall start my phase of the hunt. I should have more news for you by noon."
Wo looked at the clock on the wall, it was half past three in the morning, and nodded. "Go and good hunting. Contact Mai here if you have any questions or require more assistance."
"So shall it be done." Jiang bowed one last time and then left the room. Wo leaned his head back against the wall, closed his eyes and endured the pain that accompanied Mai's actions as she changed the dressing. "She has leads."
"Yes, she does." Mai replaced the worn bandage pad with a clean one – after sprinkling a little sulfa powder on the suture line. "You do realize that once the medication takes effect you might not be awake for her report at noon?"
"Yes, Auntie, which is why I instructed her to contact you." Wo opened his eyes to look directly into her ancient and wise ones. "You, more than anyone else in the organization here, know my thoughts on this matter and all connected to McGarrett. You, I trust, Jiang, I trust, all others are just…pieces in the game."
Mai nodded, then placed a cool, dry hand on his forehead. "I am honored, Wo Fat. Now sleep and heal."