On Your Own
Part 2
******
Once again thanks to Gauriel for the great idea! And remember I don't own anything related to Third Watch!
I did some research on Chinese names before writing this chapter. I tried to select some that were easy to pronounce :)
Pronunciation Guide:
Li Ming = Lee Ming
Lei = lay
Fuk Ching = Fook Ching
Since this story is taking place in Manhattan's Chinatown I also did some research about the area. Not all of the information is correct, as I had to fill in some blanks. However I did my best to use the CORRECT street names, and also used the names of some REAL shops and restaurants.
Also the gang, Fuk Ching, is an actual Chinese gang in NY. Information came from:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/international/chinese.html
Most of my info came from:
www.geocities.com/synergy_two/chinatown/manhattan2.html
www.chinatown-online.com/nychinatwn/aboutchinatown.htm
********
********
Their shift was finally over, and Bosco and Faith were in the locker room changing into their civvies. Neither officer had said much to the other after leaving the restaurant.
Faith was still silently reprimanding herself for questioning Bosco as much as she had. She really wasn't sure of what Bosco was thinking ever since the day that he had found her and Fred, and driven them to the hospital after Fred had a heart attack. She had kind of gone off on him that day, and she wasn't real sure if Bosco was upset about it or not. He didn't seem to be. They knew each other well enough that he was sure to know she was just blowing off steam, but with him having worked anti-crime while she was away it made her nervous that maybe he'd be leaving patrol...and her.
Bosco picked up his duffel bag, and adjusted the strap so it rested comfortably on his shoulder. He headed for the door. He was just about to push the door open and leave without saying a word, but thought better of it, and turned to say goodnight to his partner. She was sitting in front of her locker, and looked to be deep in thought. She'd been quiet ever since dinner, but he wasn't sure why. "Hey Faith?"
Slowly she turned her head. "Yeah."
"You doin' anything tomorrow before work?"
"Well, I was going to spend the morning with Fred. Why?"
He pulled on the shoulder strap of his bag, and then pushed the bag around behind him. "I was just thinking that maybe we could get together and study some of the stuff for this assignment. No big deal."
"Oh...well, maybe after work tomorrow. If you want."
Bosco nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great. I'll see you tomorrow."
******
After their shift the next night Bosco drove Faith home, and they spread their notes about Chinatown out on the kitchen table. Faith made two bags of microwave popcorn and emptied them into a giant Tupperware bowl, which she placed amongst the papers in the middle of the table. Bosco had gotten each of them a can of soda out of the fridge, and set them on the table.
Bosco turned his chair around, and straddled it resting his arms on the back of the chair. He looked at Faith. "So you get a chance to look over any of this stuff yet?"
"I peeked at it early when Fred was taking a nap, but I didn't really get a chance to get into it. What about you? You familiar with your new identity?"
Bosco shook his head as he reached for the cover sheet that had "Jason Muniz" typed on it. "I glanced at it last night, but I don't know if any of it really sunk in."
"So where do you want to start? With your identity or with the area?"
"Let's look at Chinatown first. Learn the streets and stuff."
Both officers picked up their maps of Chinatown. They talked about the streets that bordered the area, noted the direction each street ran, and whether or not it was a one way. "You don't really need to know this stuff Bosco. Why don't we start working on some of your stuff?"
He picked up the stack of papers. "How should we do this?"
"Well, what's the easiest way for you to remember stuff?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I always remembered stuff better if I read it out loud."
Faith grabbed a handful of popcorn, and leaned back in her chair making herself more comfortable. "All right then, start reading."
Bosco cleared his throat, and began to read the information to his partner. There was a lot of information he had to know, and she was glad she didn't have to memorize it all, but she knew that by the time they started this assignment she'd know it just as well as Bosco.
He yawned as he flipped the page. "You tired?" she asked.
Bosco rubbed his eyes. "Yeah. I'm pretty beat." He looked at his watch. "Damn. It's three a.m. all ready?!"
"Time flies when you're having fun," she smiled.
"I feel like I'm back at the academy cramming for a big exam."
She nodded. "It's kinda like old times."
He grinned. "Yeah it is. Well I guess that's enough for tonight." Bosco neatly arranged his papers, and put them back into the proper envelopes. He shoved the envelopes into his bag, and stood up. "Thanks for helping me out Faith."
"You're welcome Bos. Same time tomorrow?"
He tilted his head to the side. "You don't mind?"
"Of course not. I'm your partner. I'll do anything I can to help you out."
Bosco smiled.
*****
Faith and Bosco were once again sitting at the kitchen table, but tonight Faith was quizzing him. "Name?"
"Jason Lei Muniz."
"What does Lei mean?"
"Thunder."
"Tell me about your family."
"My mother's name is Chang Bo. She was adopted from an orphanage in China, and brought to the United States. She met my father, Henry Muniz, in college. I have one older sister named Li Ming."
"OK, so why is only your middle name Chinese?"
"I'm only half Chinese, and I obviously don't look it so my parents gave me an American name."
"What about your sister?"
"She looks Asian therefore our parents gave her a Chinese name."
"You're doing great Bosco," she smiled at him before taking a drink of her water. "When's your birthday?"
"April 25, 1975. Do you really think I look twenty-seven?"
She chuckled. "When you shave you could pass for twelve."
"Cute Yokas, but I'm serious."
"So am I. You can pass for twenty-seven. It's only five years younger."
"I know, it just doesn't seem right."
"Well I'm sure Reyes will have you dressing like one of these thugs, and I'm sure that will help. Besides if they didn't think you could pass for twenty-seven they would have made you older."
"True."
"You ready to continue?" He nodded. "Education?"
"Went to Central High School in Buffalo, and then two years of tech school."
"Occupation?"
"Auto mechanic at Fee Auto Repair Shop on Division."
Faith put down the papers she was holding. "You ever wonder how this stuff works?"
He looked at her a little confused. "What stuff?"
"Like this," she pointed at the papers. "You'll be working as a mechanic at this place. You've been hired at a place that doesn't even know you. They've never met you."
"Yeah it is kind of strange, but I don't intend to ask a lot of questions about how it all works. All I know is that I'm supposed to work there."
"I just wonder how it all gets set up."
"It's probably just another one of these places run by foreigners who are desperate for workers cause all their other employees keep getting shipped back to wherever they illegally immigrated from."
"Good Bosco. Real good. Keep in mind you're supposed to be half Chinese. Don't go running off at the mouth."
"I know Yokas. I'm just getting it all out of my system," he smiled his cocky smile, and she wasn't sure if she should laugh or slap him. She figured laughter would be best.
"So you ready for this Bos? Tomorrow's the day Reyes fills us in on all the details."
He nodded. "Yeah I think I'm ready. I got my identity down pretty good." Bosco paused. He was nervous as hell, but there was no way he was going to let Faith know that. Being part of the anti-crime unit, and going undercover sounded exciting, and important. But on the other hand he knew it would be lonely, and dangerous.
*****
Reyes pointed to a spot on the large map of Chinatown that was taped to the blackboard at the front of the room. "This is Mott Street, home of the Fuk Ching. They're the most powerful gang in Chinatown. They aren't afraid to use force. They are in the business of extortion, smuggling 'aliens' into the country and the rest of your typical gang activity; protecting their turf, running drugs. Same bullshit different sector."
"Drugs? The Fuk Ching?" questioned Sully. "I thought they were against drugs?"
"Against using them, yes. Against making money off them, no." Reyes looked directly at Bosco. "Watch your back with the Fuk Ching. You're going to be the new guy on their turf, and your job is to bring down their drug cartel, Kwai Chong. Chinese gangs like the Fuk Ching have tongs. Tongs are organization that assist the gang by giving them a place to gather as well as getting them money and guns. You have to be careful where you step. You got me?"
Bosco pressed his lips together, and nodded his head a few times. "Yeah I got ya."
"OK, since we need someone from our detail patrolling the area at all times, Yokas you'll be working solo on the day shift. Sullivan and Davis you work three to eleven, and Eddie and myself will rotate from eleven to seven. On your days off there will be officers from anti-crime who will patrol the area. OK?" Everyone nodded. "Tomorrow you'll report to the precinct in Chinatown for your shifts. You'll be treated as transfers. Only their captain knows you're working with us. They'll have everything you need to make your uniforms look appropriate. Boscorelli?"
Bosco straightened up in his chair. "Yeah."
Reyes tossed him a key. "This is the key to your apartment. Thirteen and a half Doyers Street above the Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Sometime tomorrow afternoon you show up there with a couple duffel bags of clothes and some personal items. *Nothing* that ties you to being Officer Maurice Boscorelli. Everything else has been taken care of."
He looked at the key. "What about my car?"
Reyes shook her head. "Use the subway."
"The subway?! No way. I'm not riding around with those people."
"Those people?!" Reyes's eyes grew cold as she looked at him. "Being a bigot could get you killed on this assignment. The plan is all ready in motion. Am I going to have to pull the plug and find someone else?!"
He shook his head. "No. No. I'll take the subway."
"Good." She handed him a list. "Read this and know it. I'll share some of the finer points with everyone. This assignment will take as long as we need. You mingle, get to know the people. Make them comfortable, earn their trust before you move in for the kill." Reyes handed Bosco a small jewelry box. "Inside is a listening device you wear in your ear. Wear it at *all* times. The *only* exception is when you are in the shower. It's on a frequency with radios we'll be using in our squads so we can hear what's going on around you at all times."
Bosco pulled the device out of the box. It looked like a small hearing aid. "Won't people see this?"
"Think about your background."
It was as if a light bulb went on in Bosco's head. He smiled and nodded. "I'm partially deaf in my left ear from getting struck with the leg of a stool in a bar fight."
Reyes nodded. "It works like a hearing aid as well just incase someone questions you."
Bosco shook his head in disbelief. "Man there sure is a lot of detail to this."
"There has to be unless we want to risk having a dead officer. Which reminds me," she paused, "no vest."
"What?!" Faith practically shrieked. "You expect him to go out there without a vest?!"
"He has to. *Guaranteed* he gets patted down a few times. He can't get caught with a vest on."
"Yeah. Ok. No vest," he said nonchalantly. Faith looked at Bosco with concern.
"Bosco you check in by phone once a day between ten p.m. and one a.m. Use a payphone, and call my cell." Bosco nodded as he absorbed the information. "All right then, I think we've covered it all. Yokas, Sullivan and Davis you go about patrolling the area like you would on your normal beats, but keep your eyes peeled incase Bosco needs you." Reyes looked at Bosco. "Boscorelli, I want this guy. Kwai Chong is the biggest drug cartel in the city. I want him. I don't care what the cost. You bring him down."
Bosco looked Reyes in the eye. "Yes ma'am."
Part 2
******
Once again thanks to Gauriel for the great idea! And remember I don't own anything related to Third Watch!
I did some research on Chinese names before writing this chapter. I tried to select some that were easy to pronounce :)
Pronunciation Guide:
Li Ming = Lee Ming
Lei = lay
Fuk Ching = Fook Ching
Since this story is taking place in Manhattan's Chinatown I also did some research about the area. Not all of the information is correct, as I had to fill in some blanks. However I did my best to use the CORRECT street names, and also used the names of some REAL shops and restaurants.
Also the gang, Fuk Ching, is an actual Chinese gang in NY. Information came from:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/international/chinese.html
Most of my info came from:
www.geocities.com/synergy_two/chinatown/manhattan2.html
www.chinatown-online.com/nychinatwn/aboutchinatown.htm
********
********
Their shift was finally over, and Bosco and Faith were in the locker room changing into their civvies. Neither officer had said much to the other after leaving the restaurant.
Faith was still silently reprimanding herself for questioning Bosco as much as she had. She really wasn't sure of what Bosco was thinking ever since the day that he had found her and Fred, and driven them to the hospital after Fred had a heart attack. She had kind of gone off on him that day, and she wasn't real sure if Bosco was upset about it or not. He didn't seem to be. They knew each other well enough that he was sure to know she was just blowing off steam, but with him having worked anti-crime while she was away it made her nervous that maybe he'd be leaving patrol...and her.
Bosco picked up his duffel bag, and adjusted the strap so it rested comfortably on his shoulder. He headed for the door. He was just about to push the door open and leave without saying a word, but thought better of it, and turned to say goodnight to his partner. She was sitting in front of her locker, and looked to be deep in thought. She'd been quiet ever since dinner, but he wasn't sure why. "Hey Faith?"
Slowly she turned her head. "Yeah."
"You doin' anything tomorrow before work?"
"Well, I was going to spend the morning with Fred. Why?"
He pulled on the shoulder strap of his bag, and then pushed the bag around behind him. "I was just thinking that maybe we could get together and study some of the stuff for this assignment. No big deal."
"Oh...well, maybe after work tomorrow. If you want."
Bosco nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great. I'll see you tomorrow."
******
After their shift the next night Bosco drove Faith home, and they spread their notes about Chinatown out on the kitchen table. Faith made two bags of microwave popcorn and emptied them into a giant Tupperware bowl, which she placed amongst the papers in the middle of the table. Bosco had gotten each of them a can of soda out of the fridge, and set them on the table.
Bosco turned his chair around, and straddled it resting his arms on the back of the chair. He looked at Faith. "So you get a chance to look over any of this stuff yet?"
"I peeked at it early when Fred was taking a nap, but I didn't really get a chance to get into it. What about you? You familiar with your new identity?"
Bosco shook his head as he reached for the cover sheet that had "Jason Muniz" typed on it. "I glanced at it last night, but I don't know if any of it really sunk in."
"So where do you want to start? With your identity or with the area?"
"Let's look at Chinatown first. Learn the streets and stuff."
Both officers picked up their maps of Chinatown. They talked about the streets that bordered the area, noted the direction each street ran, and whether or not it was a one way. "You don't really need to know this stuff Bosco. Why don't we start working on some of your stuff?"
He picked up the stack of papers. "How should we do this?"
"Well, what's the easiest way for you to remember stuff?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I always remembered stuff better if I read it out loud."
Faith grabbed a handful of popcorn, and leaned back in her chair making herself more comfortable. "All right then, start reading."
Bosco cleared his throat, and began to read the information to his partner. There was a lot of information he had to know, and she was glad she didn't have to memorize it all, but she knew that by the time they started this assignment she'd know it just as well as Bosco.
He yawned as he flipped the page. "You tired?" she asked.
Bosco rubbed his eyes. "Yeah. I'm pretty beat." He looked at his watch. "Damn. It's three a.m. all ready?!"
"Time flies when you're having fun," she smiled.
"I feel like I'm back at the academy cramming for a big exam."
She nodded. "It's kinda like old times."
He grinned. "Yeah it is. Well I guess that's enough for tonight." Bosco neatly arranged his papers, and put them back into the proper envelopes. He shoved the envelopes into his bag, and stood up. "Thanks for helping me out Faith."
"You're welcome Bos. Same time tomorrow?"
He tilted his head to the side. "You don't mind?"
"Of course not. I'm your partner. I'll do anything I can to help you out."
Bosco smiled.
*****
Faith and Bosco were once again sitting at the kitchen table, but tonight Faith was quizzing him. "Name?"
"Jason Lei Muniz."
"What does Lei mean?"
"Thunder."
"Tell me about your family."
"My mother's name is Chang Bo. She was adopted from an orphanage in China, and brought to the United States. She met my father, Henry Muniz, in college. I have one older sister named Li Ming."
"OK, so why is only your middle name Chinese?"
"I'm only half Chinese, and I obviously don't look it so my parents gave me an American name."
"What about your sister?"
"She looks Asian therefore our parents gave her a Chinese name."
"You're doing great Bosco," she smiled at him before taking a drink of her water. "When's your birthday?"
"April 25, 1975. Do you really think I look twenty-seven?"
She chuckled. "When you shave you could pass for twelve."
"Cute Yokas, but I'm serious."
"So am I. You can pass for twenty-seven. It's only five years younger."
"I know, it just doesn't seem right."
"Well I'm sure Reyes will have you dressing like one of these thugs, and I'm sure that will help. Besides if they didn't think you could pass for twenty-seven they would have made you older."
"True."
"You ready to continue?" He nodded. "Education?"
"Went to Central High School in Buffalo, and then two years of tech school."
"Occupation?"
"Auto mechanic at Fee Auto Repair Shop on Division."
Faith put down the papers she was holding. "You ever wonder how this stuff works?"
He looked at her a little confused. "What stuff?"
"Like this," she pointed at the papers. "You'll be working as a mechanic at this place. You've been hired at a place that doesn't even know you. They've never met you."
"Yeah it is kind of strange, but I don't intend to ask a lot of questions about how it all works. All I know is that I'm supposed to work there."
"I just wonder how it all gets set up."
"It's probably just another one of these places run by foreigners who are desperate for workers cause all their other employees keep getting shipped back to wherever they illegally immigrated from."
"Good Bosco. Real good. Keep in mind you're supposed to be half Chinese. Don't go running off at the mouth."
"I know Yokas. I'm just getting it all out of my system," he smiled his cocky smile, and she wasn't sure if she should laugh or slap him. She figured laughter would be best.
"So you ready for this Bos? Tomorrow's the day Reyes fills us in on all the details."
He nodded. "Yeah I think I'm ready. I got my identity down pretty good." Bosco paused. He was nervous as hell, but there was no way he was going to let Faith know that. Being part of the anti-crime unit, and going undercover sounded exciting, and important. But on the other hand he knew it would be lonely, and dangerous.
*****
Reyes pointed to a spot on the large map of Chinatown that was taped to the blackboard at the front of the room. "This is Mott Street, home of the Fuk Ching. They're the most powerful gang in Chinatown. They aren't afraid to use force. They are in the business of extortion, smuggling 'aliens' into the country and the rest of your typical gang activity; protecting their turf, running drugs. Same bullshit different sector."
"Drugs? The Fuk Ching?" questioned Sully. "I thought they were against drugs?"
"Against using them, yes. Against making money off them, no." Reyes looked directly at Bosco. "Watch your back with the Fuk Ching. You're going to be the new guy on their turf, and your job is to bring down their drug cartel, Kwai Chong. Chinese gangs like the Fuk Ching have tongs. Tongs are organization that assist the gang by giving them a place to gather as well as getting them money and guns. You have to be careful where you step. You got me?"
Bosco pressed his lips together, and nodded his head a few times. "Yeah I got ya."
"OK, since we need someone from our detail patrolling the area at all times, Yokas you'll be working solo on the day shift. Sullivan and Davis you work three to eleven, and Eddie and myself will rotate from eleven to seven. On your days off there will be officers from anti-crime who will patrol the area. OK?" Everyone nodded. "Tomorrow you'll report to the precinct in Chinatown for your shifts. You'll be treated as transfers. Only their captain knows you're working with us. They'll have everything you need to make your uniforms look appropriate. Boscorelli?"
Bosco straightened up in his chair. "Yeah."
Reyes tossed him a key. "This is the key to your apartment. Thirteen and a half Doyers Street above the Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Sometime tomorrow afternoon you show up there with a couple duffel bags of clothes and some personal items. *Nothing* that ties you to being Officer Maurice Boscorelli. Everything else has been taken care of."
He looked at the key. "What about my car?"
Reyes shook her head. "Use the subway."
"The subway?! No way. I'm not riding around with those people."
"Those people?!" Reyes's eyes grew cold as she looked at him. "Being a bigot could get you killed on this assignment. The plan is all ready in motion. Am I going to have to pull the plug and find someone else?!"
He shook his head. "No. No. I'll take the subway."
"Good." She handed him a list. "Read this and know it. I'll share some of the finer points with everyone. This assignment will take as long as we need. You mingle, get to know the people. Make them comfortable, earn their trust before you move in for the kill." Reyes handed Bosco a small jewelry box. "Inside is a listening device you wear in your ear. Wear it at *all* times. The *only* exception is when you are in the shower. It's on a frequency with radios we'll be using in our squads so we can hear what's going on around you at all times."
Bosco pulled the device out of the box. It looked like a small hearing aid. "Won't people see this?"
"Think about your background."
It was as if a light bulb went on in Bosco's head. He smiled and nodded. "I'm partially deaf in my left ear from getting struck with the leg of a stool in a bar fight."
Reyes nodded. "It works like a hearing aid as well just incase someone questions you."
Bosco shook his head in disbelief. "Man there sure is a lot of detail to this."
"There has to be unless we want to risk having a dead officer. Which reminds me," she paused, "no vest."
"What?!" Faith practically shrieked. "You expect him to go out there without a vest?!"
"He has to. *Guaranteed* he gets patted down a few times. He can't get caught with a vest on."
"Yeah. Ok. No vest," he said nonchalantly. Faith looked at Bosco with concern.
"Bosco you check in by phone once a day between ten p.m. and one a.m. Use a payphone, and call my cell." Bosco nodded as he absorbed the information. "All right then, I think we've covered it all. Yokas, Sullivan and Davis you go about patrolling the area like you would on your normal beats, but keep your eyes peeled incase Bosco needs you." Reyes looked at Bosco. "Boscorelli, I want this guy. Kwai Chong is the biggest drug cartel in the city. I want him. I don't care what the cost. You bring him down."
Bosco looked Reyes in the eye. "Yes ma'am."