J.M.J.

Author's note: Thank you for reading! In particular, thank you to everyone who left reviews on the previous chapter!

Angelicalkiss: Good catch about the flower. No, Wanda does not exemplify Christian morals and values.

ErinJordan: You're welcome! Thank you!

Max2013: It can be hard to tell. Sometimes things that seem bad give great clues.

Caseykam: Or is it obvious so that everyone will think it's too obvious for her to be involved, but then it turns out she really is involved? Hmm…

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I do want to warn you: there is some discussion of things that may be disturbing. Nothing graphic, and there is a fuller explanation at the end of the chapter. Also, I will be out of town this weekend, and so the next chapter may be a bit late. God bless!

Chapter VIII

"Mr. Wight," Fenton greeted the agent. It wasn't a cordial greeting, though; merely an acknowledgement of his existence. The younger men didn't greet him at all.

"I'd heard a rumor I could find you here," Wight said. He glanced at the little mission church. "Not exactly the place I'd expect, but then you seem to be making the rounds of the missions this trip. Are you going to be visiting any in the small villages? They're a little nicer, in my opinion. They can be less concerned with bureaucratic red tape and more concerned with spreading the Gospel, or whatever it is these people do."

"Just tell me what you want," Fenton replied. "I thought everything checked out back at the airport."

"It did," Wight assured him, "but then you got one of your companions kidnapped. It's causing quite a row already. I understand you already were interviewed by the local police. They won't be the only ones."

"What do you have to do with anything?" Joe interjected. "I thought you were a British official. None of this has anything to do with the U.K."

"Quite right, but I will explain, if we can find a private place." Wight nodded toward Fr. Janusz. "I've already done thorough background checks on you and your two associates, Father, so I don't mind you being present, if you've decided you have an interest in this, too."

Fr. Janusz's eyebrows furrowed. Frank thought that he was probably wondering what possible interest he would have in a kidnapping of an American citizen other than having made the humanitarian gesture of giving shelter and breakfast to some travelers in need. He expected the priest to say as much, and he was a bit surprised when Fr. Janusz said instead, "We could talk about it over breakfast."

There was a little rectory right next to the church where the three priests lived. Fr. Janusz explained that the other two weren't there, as they traveled to other missions in the surrounding countryside over the weekends, and this was Saturday morning, as the Bayporters were reminded. Fr. Janusz set to work making breakfast. Biff, who was recovered from the night before and was now starving, offered to help in order to hurry things up. The others wanted to hear what Edmund Wight had to say, and Wight made himself comfortable in one of the chairs at the table rather than offering to help.

"Detective Tang tells me that you found a black rose at the scene of the young lady's kidnapping," Wight said. "I understand there was also one left at the scene of your uncle's murder, Mr. Foy."

Jim looked to Fenton, thinking it would probably be best to let the detective do all the talking.

"That's right," Fenton said.

"From the checks I've run on all of you, I believe you're all familiar with what these black roses signify, even you, Father," Wight said.

Everyone looked at Fr. Janusz, who had paused in his breakfast preparations. They hadn't been expecting this.

"I think everyone in Fenghuang is familiar with Black Rose," the priest said. "They've been terrorizing this city for years."

"And you and your associates have managed to make especial enemies of them," Wight went on.

"Someone has to stand up to them," Fr. Janusz replied.

"Wait, I'm not following here," Joe spoke up. "I thought Black Rose was based in Massachusetts."

"Or at least somewhere on the East Coast of the United States," Frank added.

"You're wrong there," Wight said. "They're an international organization, though they manage to keep themselves quiet except for those places where they have enough of a foothold that they don't need to be especially careful, like here. Although I can understand your thinking they were just in Massachusetts. Your local branch seems to be especially inept."

"Most of them are dead now, so you're probably right there," Biff conceded.

"And that brings me to what my interest in this case is," Wight went on. "The British government wants Black Rose stopped, as I imagine most governments do. I assume the American government does, and that's why you're here."

Fenton shook his head. "We're here on our own. The American government knows nothing about it."

Wight didn't look convinced, but he didn't argue the point. "Now, I'm here in Fenghuang because, as I said, Black Rose holds a lot of sway here and they tend to be a bit bolder. So far, I haven't had much luck. Most people are too afraid to talk about them. I think it would be beneficial to all of us to compare what we do know. I'm willing to go first, as a show of good faith."

"All right," Fenton agreed.

"As far as I've been able to learn, Black Rose is an organization of hired assassins," Wight explained. "They don't typically do political assassinations, which makes Foy Jie's murder all the more interesting. All the obvious motives for his murder are political, so there are only three options. First, someone had some other reason for wanting him dead and they hired Black Rose to do it. Second, Black Rose is breaking its pattern, which would mean that they must have a very compelling reason of their own to want Foy out of their way. Third, someone else killed him and is trying to frame Black Rose, which would be a rather clever scheme, all things considered."

Fenton shook his head. "That doesn't tell us anything new."

"All right, well, you seemed surprised about their foothold here in Fenghuang. I'm surprised young Foy here didn't tell you about that."

Jim licked his lips nervously. "I was going to, but we really have not had a chance to talk among ourselves yet."

"Did Jones know about this?" Frank asked.

"If she did, she never said anything about it to me," Jim replied.

"You said something about standing up to them, Father," Fenton said. "What did you mean?"

"Foy Jie isn't the first person they've murdered," Fr. Janusz explained, "and I don't think murder is their only crime, even though it's undoubtedly their worst. I don't know how it came to this, but when we came here three years ago, we found that practically everyone in this city is terrified of them. A lot of people in the surrounding country are, too. You have to remember that this city is only a hundred thousand people. It wouldn't be like trying to control New York or even one of your smaller American cities. A fairly small group of people using terror tactics could easily get most of them under their thumbs. Anything Black Rose does goes unreported and unpunished. Yes, they might be bolder here, but they still leave little enough trace of themselves. Unless some eyewitnesses can start pointing out specific people, there's no end to this in sight. We've encouraged people to speak up about anything they know, and we've received some threats in return, but that's all the more there has been to it."

"That would explain Wanda kicking us out of there and not wanting us to call the police," Biff commented.

"Indeed it would," Wight said. "We're fortunate that Ms. Roche didn't have the same reservations, although I suppose Mr. Foy here could have called the police."

Jim looked at the floor.

The conversation had yielded a few tidbits that the Hardys and Biff hadn't been aware of, so in return, Fenton gave a few generic pieces of information that he felt sure Wight probably already knew. Wight must have realized that Fenton was being cagey, but he excused himself shortly after that and went on his way.

Even without him there, breakfast was an uncomfortable meal, and the Bayporters and Jim were glad to head off to check into a hotel. Once they had, they gathered in one room to talk for the first time in private.

"All right, Jim," Fenton started the conversation. "What else have you been waiting until we were alone to tell us?"

Jim fidgeted with his hands. "Mr. Hardy, I did not mean to keep things from you. I knew that Black Rose killed my uncle, and I did not hide that from you. The only thing left that I did not say is that I am afraid I know who hired Black Rose to kill him."

"If you already know, you didn't have to have us come out here," Joe told him, a slight edge of annoyance in his tone. They had gone through a lot to be told that it had all not really been necessary.

"I do not know for sure," Jim insisted. "I could be wrong. I pray that I am. If I am, it is a terrible thing, and I will need proof."

"Well, come on! Don't keep us in suspense!" Biff said. "Who do you think did it?"

Jim bit his lip. "I am afraid my father did."

"Your father?" Frank repeated. "You mean, your uncle's own brother?"

"Yes." Jim took in a deep breath and let it out. "You see, my Uncle Jie was never satisfied with the Chinese government. Although they have allowed our people more freedom in some ways than when Mao Zedong was in power, they do not in many others. Uncle Jie has always been outspoken about this. My father has not. For the most part, he supports the Chinese government. He would have never allowed me to study abroad in the United States, but my mother, Uncle Jie, and I all insisted and he finally gave in. It was while I was in America that I realized my father was right. Do you know that I had never even heard of the Tiananmen Square Massacre until I was in the United States? It became clear to me that the Chinese government is in need of reform. But unlike the U.S., where people say that about the U.S. government all the time in more crass ways and with less reason, saying that in China can get you jailed or killed. My parents were afraid when I came back 'radicalized', as they said. My father blamed my uncle for everything."

"Okay, but do you honestly think he would have his own brother killed?" Biff asked.

Jim turned to the window and looked out. "He turned me in. Uncle Jie, too. 'For our own good,' he said. Uncle Jie got us out of that. He had connections, even then, and he was a good talker, too. As soon as we were out, we headed straight for Ziyou. We were technically political refugees at that point, so it was easy to enter Ziyou. They make it very easy for Chinese citizens, especially political refugees, to enter the country and get citizenship."

"Turning someone in to the government because you're afraid, even turning in your own family, is a lot different than hiring an assassin to kill someone," Frank pointed out.

"Maybe." Jim was still looking out the window. "It wouldn't be the first family he's killed. Before I left for Ziyou, my mother told me that I had two older sisters. My father wanted a son, and back then, the one-child policy was still in effect. Before my first sister was born, they found out that she was a girl. My father forced my mother to have an abortion. It was illegal to do that on the basis of sex, but it didn't matter to my father. My mother almost died from the procedure, but that didn't matter, either. The only difference it made was that my mother was able to not have an abortion the next time. They knew it was a girl again, so he arranged for midwives to deliver her at home, and as soon as she was born, he took her out and drowned her in an old flowerpot." Jim swallowed hard and blinked quickly several times as he kept his face averted. "So, a man who would kill his own children for the sin of disappointing him by being girls: would he hesitate to kill his brother for disappointing him by opposing his political beliefs?"

There was silence in the room as the Bayporters processed what they had just heard.

Fenton was the first one to break the silence. "Would it be possible to talk to your father over the phone?"

"Probably. I have never tried. I have never had any reason to want to." Jim looked up. "You think he is a suspect?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I think he's guilty, of this crime." Fenton's jaw twitched angrily. He thought of when his sons had been born and the first time he had held each of them. From that first time he had ever held Frank, he had known that a parent's love for their child was different from any other type of love. How any parent could harm their own children—willingly, at least—was something he would simply never understand.

"I can try," Jim agreed, although his reluctance was clear.

"Then try," Fenton said. "I'll stay here with you. If you would rather talk for a little while in private, I can go to another room for a bit, but I will need to ask your father some questions."

Jim considered that for a moment or two. "No, I do not have anything personal to say to my father. But he does not speak English. I will have to translate your questions."

That wasn't great news to Fenton. He would have rather heard the exact words that Jim's father would use, but if it wasn't possible, then he would just have to settle for the next best option. He agreed to it.

"Dad," Frank said, "there's not a lot of point in all of us hanging around. Why don't Joe and Biff and I go and see what we can find out about our other suspects?"

Joe saw his dad's hesitation in his face immediately, and he had a good idea why now. "I know it's dangerous, Dad, but so's staying here. Besides, the sooner we can solve this case, the sooner we'll be out of danger."

"I know. All right," Fenton agreed. "Stay together and text me everywhere you go."

The three friends started to leave, but Biff paused at the door. "Say, Jim, I'm really sorry about all that."

Jim nodded. "Thank you."

Nobody else spoke until they were out on the street. Even then, they were all rather subdued.

It was Biff who broke the silence with, "Boy, and I always thought my family had some drama."

Joe scoffed. "What drama? You have one of the most normal families I've ever met."

"Well, there was that time, before my parents got an unlimited plan, that my sister racked up almost two hundred dollars in fees for using too much data on her phone and then she blamed me and my dad almost skinned me alive," Biff said.

"Case in point. You have a very normal family, Biff," Joe replied. "So which suspect should we tackle first? Edmund Wight or Wanda or see what other suspects we can dig up or what?"

Frank thought for a few seconds. "I think we should start with Detective Tang."

"He's a suspect?" Biff asked.

"I don't think so," Frank replied, trying hard not to sound annoyed. "But he might have learned something. Even if he didn't, maybe he would tell us something about our suspects."

"He was pretty tight-lipped," Joe objected. "I doubt he'll tell us anything, but I guess it can't hurt to ask."

They started toward the police precinct again, taking a little time as they went to look at the sights of the city of Fenghuang. It was a modern city, but it was clear that the people there valued their heritage. The buildings were a fascinating blend of modern and traditional architecture, and though they lacked something of the charm of really traditional architecture, they also lacked the coldness of being purely modern and efficient.

The people in the streets reflected that, too. The majority of them dressed much like any American might, but their traditions still made themselves known in hairstyles and jewelry. Joe particularly noticed that the people seemed friendly to each other, many of them stopping and talking as they walked or at least giving some small greeting, but they were definitely not friendly to the Americans. None of them acknowledged the strangers in any way, and many of them were clearly trying to give them a wide berth. Whether this was because the boys were so clearly outsiders or because they were frightened of something was hard to say.

In the midst of observing these things, the boys heard someone calling to them in English somewhere ahead of them. They looked and in a few seconds spotted Alyssa Roche making her way toward them.

"What luck!" she said when she reached them. "I've been wondering what happened to you guys with Wanda kicking you out and all. She kicked me out, too, which is kind of a problem, because I don't even know what to do at this point. Probably just going back to America would be the best plan."

"The way things are going, it might be," Frank agreed. "But you're not going to, are you?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Alyssa asked, falling into step with them.

"It seems like a strange coincidence that you had an aunt who was killed trying to stop Black Rose and then you show up in a city where that same organization apparently has a large presence," Frank replied.

"Wow, you guys are sharp," Alyssa said. "I guess it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out, though. Maybe I should have used an alias or pretend I wasn't related to Aunt Christina or something like that."

"So you are investigating Black Rose?" Joe asked as they waited at a crosswalk for the light to change and let them cross the street.

Alyssa looked around her quickly. "Yeah, but let's keep it down. There're kind of a lot of people on the streets if you haven't noticed."

The light changed and Joe stepped out onto the street first. He had barely taken two steps when he heard Alyssa scream, "Watch out!" Joe looked all around him to try to spot the danger, and then his feet seemed to affix themselves to the ground. A car was barreling towards him.

*The Tiananmen Square Massacre happened on June 4, 1989 when the Chinese government used military force to suppress protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The protesters were demanding basic rights that we enjoy and take for granted in the United States and other free countries, such as freedom of press and freedom of speech. The best estimates are that between two thousand and three thousand people were killed, not just protesters, soldiers, and police, but also innocent bystanders and people in nearby apartment buildings who were shot by the Chinese military firing at random. To this day, the Chinese government actively works to censor and suppress information about the massacre within China and when it must acknowledge the events, it defends its actions.

While sex-selective abortions are illegal in China, they still occur frequently as many people prefer boys over girls. Infanticide of baby girls is also practiced at times, as is abandoning baby girls. Fortunately, China has relaxed its one-child policy to a two-child policy (although any government mandates concerning the number of children in a family are a grave violation of human rights) and Chinese culture has become more accepting of women in the work force, both of which have led to such practices becoming less common, but they are not eliminated by any means.

Both these facts are disturbing, I know, but it is important to remember that these things have happened and continue to happen today.