Author's Note: Peter Wei's wife and son, who we only see briefly in the
funeral sequence of 'Replacement Killers', are uncredited performances.
Neither the character names nor the actor names are listed at IMDB.COM or
the end credits of the movie itself. So I made names up for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Thirteen
As John turned the corner from the elevator alcove, the sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. A dark blue Lexus RX 300 SUV had been parked perpendicular to the Explorer, blocking it in. The car he had heard pass by while he was in the maintenance room.
Meg and Mia were huddled together by the back-seat door of the RX, two men with guns keeping watch over them. A third man leaned casually against the front wheel well, elbows on the hood, ankles crossed. He was Chinese, around thirty, handsome and well dressed. And obviously the one in charge.
"Mr. Lee," he called out, waving him over. "Please join us." John resumed his walk towards them, stopping a few feet away and turning to Meg and Mia.
"Are you all right?"
"We're fine, John," Meg answered, her arm protectively around Mia, who nodded in agreement. John turned back to the boss, who held out his hand.
"Mr. Lee, I'm Jeremy Zhao, it's an honor to meet you. You have quite a reputation." John eyed the hand, but made no move to shake it. "Guess I don't blame you," Zhao said, dropping his hand. "I'm here to take you to Mrs. Peter Wei, she would like to speak with you. My men will escort the ladies, you and I can take your car."
"No. Release them first, then I will come with you."
"John, no," Meg immediately protested. She started to walk towards him, but was stopped by one of Zhao's men, whom she glared at.
"Meg," John warned. Their eyes met and held. She nodded reluctantly and stepped back to Mia, taking her hand.
"I assure you, Mr. Lee, they won't be harmed," Zhao told him.
"Then why take them?" Zhao shrugged.
"Insurance. I know you won't give us any trouble as long as they're in our custody." He gave John a moment to absorb this. "Your gun?" John handed it over. "Now, the keys?"
"I have them," Meg said, digging them out of her pocket and holding them in her hand. Zhao pointed to John.
"He's driving." John threw Zhao a look, then turned to Meg. She handed him the keys, her fingers lingering over his.
"Be careful," she whispered. He nodded and looked at Mia, giving her a reassuring smile. He then walked around the RX to the Explorer and opened the drivers' side door, sliding into the seat. Zhao gave some last minute instructions to his men, then joined John in the car. The RX pulled out and John followed.
The drive to Wei's mansion was relatively short and they soon pulled up to the gates and then into the driveway. Everyone exited the vehicles and entered the house together. From the entryway, Meg and Mia were taken down a hall which John knew led to the library.
Zhao walked towards the rear of the house. John took a last look at the departing forms of Meg and Mia, then followed Zhao. All along the halls, moving boxes were piled, bearing labels in Chinese and English. John read some as he passed by -- kitchen: silverware, office: computer programs, etc.
They came to a stop at the doors to the conservatory, a figure visible through the frosted glass. Zhao opened the door and turned to John.
"Wait here." He entered the room, leaving the door cracked. John could hear snippets of a hushed conversation, which began to increase in volume.
"Jeremy," he heard a female voice say quite clearly, "please do as I ask." A few seconds later, Zhao emerged.
"She wishes to see you alone," he said, obviously not happy with the idea. As John passed through the doorway, Zhao placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him square in the face. "If you hurt her . . . ." He let the sentence hang, his implication clear. John nodded his understanding and Zhao removed his hand, allowing John into the room.
In all of his years in Mr. Wei's service, John had never been in the conservatory. Paned glass enclosed a space easily two stories high and the length of a small house. It was dark outside, but special lighting kept the room as bright as day. Row after row of tables were lined with plants and flowers, some he recognized, most he didn't. The air was redolent with intoxicating scents.
Ziyi Wei stood at a table tending to a jasmine plant, dressed in a simple light dress with a dirt smudged apron tied around it and a pair of bulky gardening gloves. She looked up as he came closer. She wasn't much older than Mia in years, but her eyes seemed decades older.
"John, it's been some time since our paths last crossed." He had, of course, had occasion to see and speak to her in the past, but rarely. As far as he could tell, she had always been more ornamental than functional.
"Yes, it has." She continued with her ministrations, regarding him curiously.
"Do you know anything about gardening?"
"No."
"Neither did I before I came to America. I was raised on a farm in China, did you know that?" John shook his head. "Yes, in a village outside of Wuhan. My father and Mr. Wei had business dealings, I never did know the details. There was a conflict, my father owed Mr. Wei money and did not have any to give. So I was given as payment. I was fourteen.
"Mr. Wei's intentions were honorable though. I was sent to school, taught languages and manners, among other subjects. Botany was my favorite. My marriage to Peter was arranged and I came to live here. After Yuen was born, a male heir, I was left to myself.
"The conservatory was empty then. I asked my father-in-law if I could use it and he consented. So it became my domain, the one area of the household where I held the power. I decide who lives, who dies, who will grow old, and who will be sacrificed for the greater good." With this last sentence, she pruned a deformed bud from the main stalk of an orchid.
"I am sorry," John said sincerely, outraged at what Mr. Wei had done. Granted, he had never been a paragon of virtue, but taking a young girl from her family and forcing her into a marriage with his son was beyond reprehensible. Ziyi gave him a small, sad smile.
"I should not complain. If I had remained with my family, I would now be an ignorant farmer's wife, no education and no prospects. And Peter was a good provider. But he was not a good person. Neither was my father-in- law." She set down the pruning shears and turned to face him. "And neither was my brother.
"Rahn left when I was still a child, he had no interest in farming. He went to Shanghai to find a job, probably joined a gang. We did not hear from him often and I did not see him again before leaving China. When he came here after Mr. Wei died, I barely remembered him. He wanted to look after my business affairs, he said, and to take care of me. I had no objections, men had taken care of me my entire life. But he became the worst of all. He frightened me. I was afraid for myself and my son, afraid that he would kill us. I believe he would have eventually.
"It is time for me to stand on my own. I am taking my son to China, where he will be raised. I would like him to be the first good man in his family. There are too few good men in the world, John. I will not deprive it of another. I have canceled the contract on you and your family. You should be safe now, at least from anyone associated with me." She walked towards the door. "Jeremy!" Zhao entered promptly and came to stand beside her.
"Yes, Mrs. Wei?"
"Return their weapons and vehicle, they are free to go." Zhao nodded and Ziyi turned to John. "Good-bye, John. I wish you a long and happy life." She made a small bow, which John returned.
"Thank you." He was about to leave when a thought occurred to him. "What will happen to the plants?" Ziyi smiled and removed her gloves.
"Whatever nature intends."
Zhao led John back to the entryway, then down the hallway Meg and Mia had disappeared down earlier. The men from the garage were standing outside the double doors of the library. Zhao opened the doors, revealing a room completely bare of books. The numerous shelves were all empty, their former occupants packed in boxes. Meg and Mia were sitting on the floor against the far wall, eyeing the entrance apprehensively. When they saw John, they rose quickly and hurried over.
"Are you okay?" Meg asked, touching his shoulder.
"Yes. And you?"
"Peachy." John turned to his sister.
"Miasu?"
"I am frightened," she said in a low voice.
"So what's the story, John?" Meg asked. "Are we staying for dinner or what?" John looked to Zhao, who stepped forward.
"You're being released," he said, handing John back his Beretta. Meg was visibly relieved and stepped up to one of the guards, holding out her hand.
"My gun?" He merely smirked at her. Zhao was about to intervene, but John stopped him and shook his head. With her other hand, Meg yanked the guards' ear down until it was even with her mouth. "I'm going to say this once. That gun was a gift, it has sentimental value. Now a dickweed like you might not understand that, so let me explain it in a different way: I have PMS, I have yet to get more than three hours of sleep in a row, and I am really pissed off that 'Pretender' was canceled. Can I make it any clearer to you?"
The guard winced and produced her Vektor, which she promptly snatched from his hand.
"Jesus, everyone has to play king of the fucking sandbox," she muttered, stalking toward the front door. Mia followed after her in open mouthed awe and John brought up the rear. Zhao chuckled in amusement while the guard rubbed his ear and scowled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another Author's Note: Bare with me, we're really close to the end. I said that before, didn't I? Well, I'm pretty sure I mean it this time;) If you're enjoying the story, please let me know! I never knew feedback could be so much fun.
Disclaimer: 'Pretender' is not mine, it belongs to 20th Century Fox Television [us] (1997-), MTM Entertainment (1996-1997), Mitchell/Van Sickle Productions, and NBC Studios [us]. I just needed something marginally nonsensical for Meg to say (sleep deprivation, you know);) Technically, this story takes place in '99, and I THINK 'Pretender' was canceled that year, but I wouldn't stake my life on it. Oh, and I would like to thank TNT for revisiting the 'Pretender' universe with their kick ass movies!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Thirteen
As John turned the corner from the elevator alcove, the sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. A dark blue Lexus RX 300 SUV had been parked perpendicular to the Explorer, blocking it in. The car he had heard pass by while he was in the maintenance room.
Meg and Mia were huddled together by the back-seat door of the RX, two men with guns keeping watch over them. A third man leaned casually against the front wheel well, elbows on the hood, ankles crossed. He was Chinese, around thirty, handsome and well dressed. And obviously the one in charge.
"Mr. Lee," he called out, waving him over. "Please join us." John resumed his walk towards them, stopping a few feet away and turning to Meg and Mia.
"Are you all right?"
"We're fine, John," Meg answered, her arm protectively around Mia, who nodded in agreement. John turned back to the boss, who held out his hand.
"Mr. Lee, I'm Jeremy Zhao, it's an honor to meet you. You have quite a reputation." John eyed the hand, but made no move to shake it. "Guess I don't blame you," Zhao said, dropping his hand. "I'm here to take you to Mrs. Peter Wei, she would like to speak with you. My men will escort the ladies, you and I can take your car."
"No. Release them first, then I will come with you."
"John, no," Meg immediately protested. She started to walk towards him, but was stopped by one of Zhao's men, whom she glared at.
"Meg," John warned. Their eyes met and held. She nodded reluctantly and stepped back to Mia, taking her hand.
"I assure you, Mr. Lee, they won't be harmed," Zhao told him.
"Then why take them?" Zhao shrugged.
"Insurance. I know you won't give us any trouble as long as they're in our custody." He gave John a moment to absorb this. "Your gun?" John handed it over. "Now, the keys?"
"I have them," Meg said, digging them out of her pocket and holding them in her hand. Zhao pointed to John.
"He's driving." John threw Zhao a look, then turned to Meg. She handed him the keys, her fingers lingering over his.
"Be careful," she whispered. He nodded and looked at Mia, giving her a reassuring smile. He then walked around the RX to the Explorer and opened the drivers' side door, sliding into the seat. Zhao gave some last minute instructions to his men, then joined John in the car. The RX pulled out and John followed.
The drive to Wei's mansion was relatively short and they soon pulled up to the gates and then into the driveway. Everyone exited the vehicles and entered the house together. From the entryway, Meg and Mia were taken down a hall which John knew led to the library.
Zhao walked towards the rear of the house. John took a last look at the departing forms of Meg and Mia, then followed Zhao. All along the halls, moving boxes were piled, bearing labels in Chinese and English. John read some as he passed by -- kitchen: silverware, office: computer programs, etc.
They came to a stop at the doors to the conservatory, a figure visible through the frosted glass. Zhao opened the door and turned to John.
"Wait here." He entered the room, leaving the door cracked. John could hear snippets of a hushed conversation, which began to increase in volume.
"Jeremy," he heard a female voice say quite clearly, "please do as I ask." A few seconds later, Zhao emerged.
"She wishes to see you alone," he said, obviously not happy with the idea. As John passed through the doorway, Zhao placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him square in the face. "If you hurt her . . . ." He let the sentence hang, his implication clear. John nodded his understanding and Zhao removed his hand, allowing John into the room.
In all of his years in Mr. Wei's service, John had never been in the conservatory. Paned glass enclosed a space easily two stories high and the length of a small house. It was dark outside, but special lighting kept the room as bright as day. Row after row of tables were lined with plants and flowers, some he recognized, most he didn't. The air was redolent with intoxicating scents.
Ziyi Wei stood at a table tending to a jasmine plant, dressed in a simple light dress with a dirt smudged apron tied around it and a pair of bulky gardening gloves. She looked up as he came closer. She wasn't much older than Mia in years, but her eyes seemed decades older.
"John, it's been some time since our paths last crossed." He had, of course, had occasion to see and speak to her in the past, but rarely. As far as he could tell, she had always been more ornamental than functional.
"Yes, it has." She continued with her ministrations, regarding him curiously.
"Do you know anything about gardening?"
"No."
"Neither did I before I came to America. I was raised on a farm in China, did you know that?" John shook his head. "Yes, in a village outside of Wuhan. My father and Mr. Wei had business dealings, I never did know the details. There was a conflict, my father owed Mr. Wei money and did not have any to give. So I was given as payment. I was fourteen.
"Mr. Wei's intentions were honorable though. I was sent to school, taught languages and manners, among other subjects. Botany was my favorite. My marriage to Peter was arranged and I came to live here. After Yuen was born, a male heir, I was left to myself.
"The conservatory was empty then. I asked my father-in-law if I could use it and he consented. So it became my domain, the one area of the household where I held the power. I decide who lives, who dies, who will grow old, and who will be sacrificed for the greater good." With this last sentence, she pruned a deformed bud from the main stalk of an orchid.
"I am sorry," John said sincerely, outraged at what Mr. Wei had done. Granted, he had never been a paragon of virtue, but taking a young girl from her family and forcing her into a marriage with his son was beyond reprehensible. Ziyi gave him a small, sad smile.
"I should not complain. If I had remained with my family, I would now be an ignorant farmer's wife, no education and no prospects. And Peter was a good provider. But he was not a good person. Neither was my father-in- law." She set down the pruning shears and turned to face him. "And neither was my brother.
"Rahn left when I was still a child, he had no interest in farming. He went to Shanghai to find a job, probably joined a gang. We did not hear from him often and I did not see him again before leaving China. When he came here after Mr. Wei died, I barely remembered him. He wanted to look after my business affairs, he said, and to take care of me. I had no objections, men had taken care of me my entire life. But he became the worst of all. He frightened me. I was afraid for myself and my son, afraid that he would kill us. I believe he would have eventually.
"It is time for me to stand on my own. I am taking my son to China, where he will be raised. I would like him to be the first good man in his family. There are too few good men in the world, John. I will not deprive it of another. I have canceled the contract on you and your family. You should be safe now, at least from anyone associated with me." She walked towards the door. "Jeremy!" Zhao entered promptly and came to stand beside her.
"Yes, Mrs. Wei?"
"Return their weapons and vehicle, they are free to go." Zhao nodded and Ziyi turned to John. "Good-bye, John. I wish you a long and happy life." She made a small bow, which John returned.
"Thank you." He was about to leave when a thought occurred to him. "What will happen to the plants?" Ziyi smiled and removed her gloves.
"Whatever nature intends."
Zhao led John back to the entryway, then down the hallway Meg and Mia had disappeared down earlier. The men from the garage were standing outside the double doors of the library. Zhao opened the doors, revealing a room completely bare of books. The numerous shelves were all empty, their former occupants packed in boxes. Meg and Mia were sitting on the floor against the far wall, eyeing the entrance apprehensively. When they saw John, they rose quickly and hurried over.
"Are you okay?" Meg asked, touching his shoulder.
"Yes. And you?"
"Peachy." John turned to his sister.
"Miasu?"
"I am frightened," she said in a low voice.
"So what's the story, John?" Meg asked. "Are we staying for dinner or what?" John looked to Zhao, who stepped forward.
"You're being released," he said, handing John back his Beretta. Meg was visibly relieved and stepped up to one of the guards, holding out her hand.
"My gun?" He merely smirked at her. Zhao was about to intervene, but John stopped him and shook his head. With her other hand, Meg yanked the guards' ear down until it was even with her mouth. "I'm going to say this once. That gun was a gift, it has sentimental value. Now a dickweed like you might not understand that, so let me explain it in a different way: I have PMS, I have yet to get more than three hours of sleep in a row, and I am really pissed off that 'Pretender' was canceled. Can I make it any clearer to you?"
The guard winced and produced her Vektor, which she promptly snatched from his hand.
"Jesus, everyone has to play king of the fucking sandbox," she muttered, stalking toward the front door. Mia followed after her in open mouthed awe and John brought up the rear. Zhao chuckled in amusement while the guard rubbed his ear and scowled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another Author's Note: Bare with me, we're really close to the end. I said that before, didn't I? Well, I'm pretty sure I mean it this time;) If you're enjoying the story, please let me know! I never knew feedback could be so much fun.
Disclaimer: 'Pretender' is not mine, it belongs to 20th Century Fox Television [us] (1997-), MTM Entertainment (1996-1997), Mitchell/Van Sickle Productions, and NBC Studios [us]. I just needed something marginally nonsensical for Meg to say (sleep deprivation, you know);) Technically, this story takes place in '99, and I THINK 'Pretender' was canceled that year, but I wouldn't stake my life on it. Oh, and I would like to thank TNT for revisiting the 'Pretender' universe with their kick ass movies!
