CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Putting back the pieces
Mori's eyes grew wide as he saw his grandsons fighting. He was about to go back when a burly-looking thug blocked him. The two square off. The thug had a smirk on his face since he was confident that he can easily handle an old man or so he thought. In a few minutes, the burly thug was on the floor nursing a sore rib and black eye.
When the lights went out Katsumi and Julie immediately sprang to action and took advantage of the split second distraction. Despite under the cover of darkness, they quickly delivered an elbow jab to the thugs' mid-section holding them respectively. Katsumi who was closest to Davenport delivered a stunning blow to his arm and snatched the bag back and when the lights came on, both of them where nowhere in sight. Katsumi got separated from Julie since she had her hands full in fighting off the two more thugs who got away from the FBI agents holding them. Before long she had incapacitated the bad guys and went after Davenport.
Back to the Douglas brothers', four thugs began approaching them. All had the one smirk written on their faces.
"Hey!" called out a female voice coming from behind the bad guys.
They all turned. The brothers easily recognized the voice.
"Julie!" Tumtum shouted.
The hoodlums swung all together to face the four kids.
"Hi Tumtum." Julie replied, giving the little boy a short wave and frowned at the four thugs who was once again all turned back at her and were now slowly advancing towards her position.
"Didn't your mother told you that four against three persons, isn't fair!" She told them in disgust and immediately leaped up into the air when the thug in front made a lunge for her. She twisted her body sideways in mid- air and took the thug's toupee when she went over his head in the process. The thug, now baldheaded completely misses her and goes off balance then falls on the floor flat. The three remaining thugs gaped and consciously close their mouths and stared at the puny girl who was clearly mocking them. She had just landed a few inches away and gave the next thug hard punch kick to the butt that sent him staggering for balance.
All the while the brothers were trying to keep straight faces but to no avail they guffawed upon seeing the angry looks on the bad guys' faces.
" You must really hate us." Tumtum teased as Julie somersaults away several times and joins the Douglas' and together assumed fighting stances. The thugs shook themselves as if they were trying to recover some baddie image left on them to be taken seriously by these kids. They slowly advanced in measured steps.
"I'm glad you're safe, Julie." Colt remarked.
"Yeah, but we're not exactly out the woods yet," Julie answered, eyeing the thug as she playfully taunted him. The bad fella caught under Julie's stare visibly gulped. He didn't like mischievous kids at all and these ones, spelt trouble.
" Grandpa's not going to like this at all." Tumtum commented.
"What do you think will happen if Dad finds out?" Rocky muttered them when he directed his brothers' gaze to their left. "Look, over there." Nodding to his right.
"Oh, no." The brothers' groaned in unison. "Dad." They had just caught his expressions on his face before he was gone from their sight.
"It's all my fault." Julie said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you all into this."
"No way and miss all this fun!" Colt protested as he gave her a smile.
"Leave Dad to us." He added.
Still, they couldn't describe the emotions that came flooding to their father's face when he spotted them.
" This is not a good night at all." Rocky muttered and simultaneously they delivered their defense. The kids sprang into action like an experienced fighting unit that already had years in experience.
Acting in one mind, one heart, one body and one spirit, the brothers and Julie threw punches and kicks in one fluidic motion against the thugs.
Observed from a far, it looked like a dance movement. A side step followed through by double kicks to the abdomen or spinning kicks quickly alternated with round kicks. The kids may have different teachers but their executions were near flawless as if they had been training together for so long, Mori observed.
Sam ran as fast as he could since his kids were in jeopardy but stopped short as he saw them how they dealt the task. What also halted him in his tracks was Mori!
"Mori?" The bewildered tone of Mr. Douglas came next. But the grandfather didn't stop to explain instead he left him standing gaping from the smoke bomb; Mori used to get out of the situation. "We will talked later, Sam." Mori's voice seems to float in the smoke.
Sam pursued the source voice despite he knew from little experience, Mori won't be actually be there at all and he was right. So, Sam ran to where the kids were now. He does not approve it but the ease the kids go through the motions astounded him. He was more worried for their safety than wondering how his sons got in here. He did his best to keep a watchful eye and hopefully neither his sons nor Julie get hurt in the process. He saw the synchronicity of practiced techniques displayed before his eyes. He directed his gaze at Julie and recalled what Gus had told him during their previous phone conversation. Before he knew it, a hand was on his shoulder that shook him from his stunned silence. He blinked and he saw the four thugs were already disposed lying on the floor, unconscious. An agent followed by several others came to handcuff the downed men.
In another part of the building, Katsumi waited by the corner just as Davenport came barreling down the path. He doesn't know that Katsumi had taken position there and on the last minute, her leg lifted and hit Davenport in his mid-section. It was a hard kick that forced out a breath from the man but it only staggered Davenport. He was still on his feet even if he was surprised by the attack.
"Going somewhere, Davenport?" Katsumi called, leaving her hiding place.
Looking like a cage animal at the end of its wits, Davenport threw a wild punch that Katsumi easily sidesteps. He threw another punch but he was no match for an agile woman. He was surprised that Katsumi showed martial arts prowess that night. Davenport panted and stood staring at Katsumi, his mind calculating.
He started the offensive stance and swung the broken off broomstick that he had snatched from the wall towards Katsumi. The woman evaded the staff by sidestepping and spun many times that was it dizzying to follow. Then at one point, Katsumi's hand came down breaking the staff into two when Davenport used it as a block from Katsumi's hand chops. He staggered and fell to the floor from the force. With a maniacal strength, Davenport lashed out at Katsumi for a final blow.
The woman crouched and at the exact moment, she leaped in the air, twisted her body as her left leg lashed out for the turning back kick. Her heel connected to Davenport's jaw that halted him in his tracks and fell to the ground, groggy. His breath completely knocked out of him. Katsumi landed on the floor and looked at the fallen man with scorn.
"I don't know what you did to Julie but I'll make sure you'll never hurt her again." She vowed. "It's over, Davenport." Katsumi told him with finality.
"Well, take it from here." A FBI agent told her from behind. She nodded and stalked off.
Agent Greene was overseeing the rounding up of the thugs and Davenport leaving Sam to attend to his family for a while when Katsumi came up to him.
"I think these are the files you need to put him away." She said as she directed her gaze when the agents half dragged Davenport out of the warehouse.
Greene's brow went up in surprise when the woman handed the files to him. The agent felt that some piece of Sam's family was in his hands right now.
"Thank you." Greene managed to say and the woman left him to care of the other matters. She continued on to where Julie and the rest of her friends seemed to have congregated.
"Boys, what were you doing here?" Sam looked lost at his sons, Mori and Julie.
"I would like to know that too." Piped a stern female voice from behind Sam.
"Katsumi!" Julie said out loud and hugged her friend.
"It's quite a long story," Julie told them.
"I would like to hear it." Mr. Douglas started "but let's talk on our way back to the cottage." He offered. "By the way, I'm Sam Douglas and these are my sons, Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael and my father-in-law, Mori Shintaro. " He introduced everyone to Katsumi who likewise offered an introduction.
"And I guess, they're." nodding towards the boys' and a sprightly looking elderly man. "The WE, in your plan." Katsumi surmised as she directly looked at Julie.
"That's right." Julie smiled wanly. The events that transpired this evening was still a blur in her mind but one thing she knew for sure that her foster father was behind these awful things.
"Let's go gang." Sam said and led everyone out of the warehouse.
"Wait! The files?" Julie asked.
"We got them." Greene answered as he came up to the group and patted the bag slung on his shoulder.
Sam nearly gasped when he saw the bag. There were lots of questions and he knew this is going to be the longest night ever.
"Round everyone up, guys. We're heading back." ordered Sam through his earpiece. Looking once again at the assembled motley crew, "We'll take care of this." He paused. " Mori, can I ask a favor if you can take everyone out from the crime scene?"
"Of course, Sam." Mori answered.
"And boys', we'll have a long talk when you finally get home." Their father quietly remarked. His tone hinted of an impending consequence for being here on their own even if their grandfather was with them. He didn't like it one bit.
"Please don't get mad at them, they. I.." Julie stammered. " It was me. It was my idea." She tried to amend. " I was worried for my friend Katsumi and Gus and with all the talk I overheard from the two creeps talking of my foster father's dealings about baby marketing, I knew I had to get those files so I can make some sense as to what was happening."
Sam sympathized with the girl. " I understand that you're worried." He said as he lay his hand on her shoulder. "But it wasn't a good idea to go right in. Especially since there was also an FBI sting operation going down." He lightly chided her.
Julie lowered her eyes to the floor. She was aware it was a dumb thing to do.
"I had no other choice." The girl stubbornly continued. "If we hadn't come, he may have left the country and I would never know my parents." She blurted out as she shook from hurt.
"Julie." Katsumi started and gave the girl a hug. "We'll find them, Julie." Answered Katsumi as she looked from Agents Greene and Douglas.
"Still it was wrong. You almost have everyone hurt. I hope you'll understand, Julie." Mr. Douglas told her. Looking back at Katsumi, "We have to go. I'll have one of the agents drive you back to the estate."
"Thank you." Katsumi gratefully replied as she tried to calm Julie.
"We might call you for statements." Mr. Douglas hinted of another possible visit of the FBI.
"Of course." The woman understood and she started to walk away. Julie didn't move. "Julie?" She turns back at the girl and was puzzled why she didn't follow her.
"I like to stay at the cottage with you?" She quietly asked the boys' grandfather. Mori look surprised and glanced at Sam. The father nodded a silent approval.
Looking back at Katsumi, Julie continued. " I like to spend some time with them, Katsumi." Her tone was almost pleading. There was a feeling that was leading Julie to stay with the Douglas'. As for the three boys, they were delighted with the prospect of their friend staying with them.
"Okay," Katsumi conceding to let Julie spend some time with them. "I'll pick you up later in the morning." Glancing down on her watch and noted the lateness or the early-ness of the hour.
"Thanks." Julie said and went with the Douglas'.
They piled back in their grandfather's car. This time a FBI agent sat behind the wheel.
The journey back to the cottage was a silent one as everyone was busy occupied with his or her own thoughts or just possibly that sleep has overcome them. The FBI agent thought. When he glanced from his rear view mirror, there was one who was indeed tired.
The light snore coming from the back seat was a signal that Tumtum had dropped off to sleep from the exhaustion. Julie who was seated next to him kept his head steady and made him comfortable as possible while he took a catnap during the travel home. She was too wired to doze off. The other Douglas' brothers were awake too and watched the passing scene in silence.
Mori was also silent as he ponders the night's events. Julie has reminded him of his daughter when she was younger in so many ways. But how could it be?
The station wagon soon parked in front of the wooden bridge and everyone alighted from the vehicle. Mori would have invited the FBI agent when another car pulled up from behind and the FBI agent got in. Soon, the car was gone leaving the five people heading towards the cottage. The four boys looked beat and all they want now is crawl into bed. When their grandfather opened the door, they hastily ran up the stairs. Only Rocky took his time in climbing up the stairs.
"See you.in a much later morning, Julie." Rocky said as a yawn escaped him. He looked at her sheepishly.
The girl lightly laughed. "In the morning." She replied.
Rocky left and got ready for bed. On the meantime, Mori arrived with some clean bedding and began helping with the couch. "I wish I have another guest room for you." Mori started.
"That's okay. I'm fine to be here." Julie remarked.
Mori stood up and was puzzled at what she said. "Why did you feel you want to stay tonight?"
The girl shrugged. "It felt the right thing to say. I don't like going back to the mansion. All empty and hollow now," She quietly said.
"Being here, it's always different, like I'm whole." Wagging her head as she couldn't understand too.
"I don't know why I feel this way." She continued and soon she drops off to sleep.
Mori lowered the lights and for some unknown force, he knells and gives Julie a kiss on the forehead.
Mori's eyes grew wide as he saw his grandsons fighting. He was about to go back when a burly-looking thug blocked him. The two square off. The thug had a smirk on his face since he was confident that he can easily handle an old man or so he thought. In a few minutes, the burly thug was on the floor nursing a sore rib and black eye.
When the lights went out Katsumi and Julie immediately sprang to action and took advantage of the split second distraction. Despite under the cover of darkness, they quickly delivered an elbow jab to the thugs' mid-section holding them respectively. Katsumi who was closest to Davenport delivered a stunning blow to his arm and snatched the bag back and when the lights came on, both of them where nowhere in sight. Katsumi got separated from Julie since she had her hands full in fighting off the two more thugs who got away from the FBI agents holding them. Before long she had incapacitated the bad guys and went after Davenport.
Back to the Douglas brothers', four thugs began approaching them. All had the one smirk written on their faces.
"Hey!" called out a female voice coming from behind the bad guys.
They all turned. The brothers easily recognized the voice.
"Julie!" Tumtum shouted.
The hoodlums swung all together to face the four kids.
"Hi Tumtum." Julie replied, giving the little boy a short wave and frowned at the four thugs who was once again all turned back at her and were now slowly advancing towards her position.
"Didn't your mother told you that four against three persons, isn't fair!" She told them in disgust and immediately leaped up into the air when the thug in front made a lunge for her. She twisted her body sideways in mid- air and took the thug's toupee when she went over his head in the process. The thug, now baldheaded completely misses her and goes off balance then falls on the floor flat. The three remaining thugs gaped and consciously close their mouths and stared at the puny girl who was clearly mocking them. She had just landed a few inches away and gave the next thug hard punch kick to the butt that sent him staggering for balance.
All the while the brothers were trying to keep straight faces but to no avail they guffawed upon seeing the angry looks on the bad guys' faces.
" You must really hate us." Tumtum teased as Julie somersaults away several times and joins the Douglas' and together assumed fighting stances. The thugs shook themselves as if they were trying to recover some baddie image left on them to be taken seriously by these kids. They slowly advanced in measured steps.
"I'm glad you're safe, Julie." Colt remarked.
"Yeah, but we're not exactly out the woods yet," Julie answered, eyeing the thug as she playfully taunted him. The bad fella caught under Julie's stare visibly gulped. He didn't like mischievous kids at all and these ones, spelt trouble.
" Grandpa's not going to like this at all." Tumtum commented.
"What do you think will happen if Dad finds out?" Rocky muttered them when he directed his brothers' gaze to their left. "Look, over there." Nodding to his right.
"Oh, no." The brothers' groaned in unison. "Dad." They had just caught his expressions on his face before he was gone from their sight.
"It's all my fault." Julie said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you all into this."
"No way and miss all this fun!" Colt protested as he gave her a smile.
"Leave Dad to us." He added.
Still, they couldn't describe the emotions that came flooding to their father's face when he spotted them.
" This is not a good night at all." Rocky muttered and simultaneously they delivered their defense. The kids sprang into action like an experienced fighting unit that already had years in experience.
Acting in one mind, one heart, one body and one spirit, the brothers and Julie threw punches and kicks in one fluidic motion against the thugs.
Observed from a far, it looked like a dance movement. A side step followed through by double kicks to the abdomen or spinning kicks quickly alternated with round kicks. The kids may have different teachers but their executions were near flawless as if they had been training together for so long, Mori observed.
Sam ran as fast as he could since his kids were in jeopardy but stopped short as he saw them how they dealt the task. What also halted him in his tracks was Mori!
"Mori?" The bewildered tone of Mr. Douglas came next. But the grandfather didn't stop to explain instead he left him standing gaping from the smoke bomb; Mori used to get out of the situation. "We will talked later, Sam." Mori's voice seems to float in the smoke.
Sam pursued the source voice despite he knew from little experience, Mori won't be actually be there at all and he was right. So, Sam ran to where the kids were now. He does not approve it but the ease the kids go through the motions astounded him. He was more worried for their safety than wondering how his sons got in here. He did his best to keep a watchful eye and hopefully neither his sons nor Julie get hurt in the process. He saw the synchronicity of practiced techniques displayed before his eyes. He directed his gaze at Julie and recalled what Gus had told him during their previous phone conversation. Before he knew it, a hand was on his shoulder that shook him from his stunned silence. He blinked and he saw the four thugs were already disposed lying on the floor, unconscious. An agent followed by several others came to handcuff the downed men.
In another part of the building, Katsumi waited by the corner just as Davenport came barreling down the path. He doesn't know that Katsumi had taken position there and on the last minute, her leg lifted and hit Davenport in his mid-section. It was a hard kick that forced out a breath from the man but it only staggered Davenport. He was still on his feet even if he was surprised by the attack.
"Going somewhere, Davenport?" Katsumi called, leaving her hiding place.
Looking like a cage animal at the end of its wits, Davenport threw a wild punch that Katsumi easily sidesteps. He threw another punch but he was no match for an agile woman. He was surprised that Katsumi showed martial arts prowess that night. Davenport panted and stood staring at Katsumi, his mind calculating.
He started the offensive stance and swung the broken off broomstick that he had snatched from the wall towards Katsumi. The woman evaded the staff by sidestepping and spun many times that was it dizzying to follow. Then at one point, Katsumi's hand came down breaking the staff into two when Davenport used it as a block from Katsumi's hand chops. He staggered and fell to the floor from the force. With a maniacal strength, Davenport lashed out at Katsumi for a final blow.
The woman crouched and at the exact moment, she leaped in the air, twisted her body as her left leg lashed out for the turning back kick. Her heel connected to Davenport's jaw that halted him in his tracks and fell to the ground, groggy. His breath completely knocked out of him. Katsumi landed on the floor and looked at the fallen man with scorn.
"I don't know what you did to Julie but I'll make sure you'll never hurt her again." She vowed. "It's over, Davenport." Katsumi told him with finality.
"Well, take it from here." A FBI agent told her from behind. She nodded and stalked off.
Agent Greene was overseeing the rounding up of the thugs and Davenport leaving Sam to attend to his family for a while when Katsumi came up to him.
"I think these are the files you need to put him away." She said as she directed her gaze when the agents half dragged Davenport out of the warehouse.
Greene's brow went up in surprise when the woman handed the files to him. The agent felt that some piece of Sam's family was in his hands right now.
"Thank you." Greene managed to say and the woman left him to care of the other matters. She continued on to where Julie and the rest of her friends seemed to have congregated.
"Boys, what were you doing here?" Sam looked lost at his sons, Mori and Julie.
"I would like to know that too." Piped a stern female voice from behind Sam.
"Katsumi!" Julie said out loud and hugged her friend.
"It's quite a long story," Julie told them.
"I would like to hear it." Mr. Douglas started "but let's talk on our way back to the cottage." He offered. "By the way, I'm Sam Douglas and these are my sons, Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael and my father-in-law, Mori Shintaro. " He introduced everyone to Katsumi who likewise offered an introduction.
"And I guess, they're." nodding towards the boys' and a sprightly looking elderly man. "The WE, in your plan." Katsumi surmised as she directly looked at Julie.
"That's right." Julie smiled wanly. The events that transpired this evening was still a blur in her mind but one thing she knew for sure that her foster father was behind these awful things.
"Let's go gang." Sam said and led everyone out of the warehouse.
"Wait! The files?" Julie asked.
"We got them." Greene answered as he came up to the group and patted the bag slung on his shoulder.
Sam nearly gasped when he saw the bag. There were lots of questions and he knew this is going to be the longest night ever.
"Round everyone up, guys. We're heading back." ordered Sam through his earpiece. Looking once again at the assembled motley crew, "We'll take care of this." He paused. " Mori, can I ask a favor if you can take everyone out from the crime scene?"
"Of course, Sam." Mori answered.
"And boys', we'll have a long talk when you finally get home." Their father quietly remarked. His tone hinted of an impending consequence for being here on their own even if their grandfather was with them. He didn't like it one bit.
"Please don't get mad at them, they. I.." Julie stammered. " It was me. It was my idea." She tried to amend. " I was worried for my friend Katsumi and Gus and with all the talk I overheard from the two creeps talking of my foster father's dealings about baby marketing, I knew I had to get those files so I can make some sense as to what was happening."
Sam sympathized with the girl. " I understand that you're worried." He said as he lay his hand on her shoulder. "But it wasn't a good idea to go right in. Especially since there was also an FBI sting operation going down." He lightly chided her.
Julie lowered her eyes to the floor. She was aware it was a dumb thing to do.
"I had no other choice." The girl stubbornly continued. "If we hadn't come, he may have left the country and I would never know my parents." She blurted out as she shook from hurt.
"Julie." Katsumi started and gave the girl a hug. "We'll find them, Julie." Answered Katsumi as she looked from Agents Greene and Douglas.
"Still it was wrong. You almost have everyone hurt. I hope you'll understand, Julie." Mr. Douglas told her. Looking back at Katsumi, "We have to go. I'll have one of the agents drive you back to the estate."
"Thank you." Katsumi gratefully replied as she tried to calm Julie.
"We might call you for statements." Mr. Douglas hinted of another possible visit of the FBI.
"Of course." The woman understood and she started to walk away. Julie didn't move. "Julie?" She turns back at the girl and was puzzled why she didn't follow her.
"I like to stay at the cottage with you?" She quietly asked the boys' grandfather. Mori look surprised and glanced at Sam. The father nodded a silent approval.
Looking back at Katsumi, Julie continued. " I like to spend some time with them, Katsumi." Her tone was almost pleading. There was a feeling that was leading Julie to stay with the Douglas'. As for the three boys, they were delighted with the prospect of their friend staying with them.
"Okay," Katsumi conceding to let Julie spend some time with them. "I'll pick you up later in the morning." Glancing down on her watch and noted the lateness or the early-ness of the hour.
"Thanks." Julie said and went with the Douglas'.
They piled back in their grandfather's car. This time a FBI agent sat behind the wheel.
The journey back to the cottage was a silent one as everyone was busy occupied with his or her own thoughts or just possibly that sleep has overcome them. The FBI agent thought. When he glanced from his rear view mirror, there was one who was indeed tired.
The light snore coming from the back seat was a signal that Tumtum had dropped off to sleep from the exhaustion. Julie who was seated next to him kept his head steady and made him comfortable as possible while he took a catnap during the travel home. She was too wired to doze off. The other Douglas' brothers were awake too and watched the passing scene in silence.
Mori was also silent as he ponders the night's events. Julie has reminded him of his daughter when she was younger in so many ways. But how could it be?
The station wagon soon parked in front of the wooden bridge and everyone alighted from the vehicle. Mori would have invited the FBI agent when another car pulled up from behind and the FBI agent got in. Soon, the car was gone leaving the five people heading towards the cottage. The four boys looked beat and all they want now is crawl into bed. When their grandfather opened the door, they hastily ran up the stairs. Only Rocky took his time in climbing up the stairs.
"See you.in a much later morning, Julie." Rocky said as a yawn escaped him. He looked at her sheepishly.
The girl lightly laughed. "In the morning." She replied.
Rocky left and got ready for bed. On the meantime, Mori arrived with some clean bedding and began helping with the couch. "I wish I have another guest room for you." Mori started.
"That's okay. I'm fine to be here." Julie remarked.
Mori stood up and was puzzled at what she said. "Why did you feel you want to stay tonight?"
The girl shrugged. "It felt the right thing to say. I don't like going back to the mansion. All empty and hollow now," She quietly said.
"Being here, it's always different, like I'm whole." Wagging her head as she couldn't understand too.
"I don't know why I feel this way." She continued and soon she drops off to sleep.
Mori lowered the lights and for some unknown force, he knells and gives Julie a kiss on the forehead.