(Ok I'm going to use this for a few clarifications, I hope you don't mind.
I hope to check the spelling better this time. I have a new keyboard and
they blasted keys are hard. It's like lifting weights with your finger
tips. Ouch! So I caught some missing S's etc. I'll probably go back later
and clean up the last 2 chapters. Someone mentioned voice spacing,. Thanks
to everyone for being a great audience. Oh yeah I own no one yada, yada.)
*-*-*-*-*
My mind felt fuzzy. I looked around and didn't recognize where I was. There was an IV in my arm, I could hear a heart monitors steady beep beep beep, I had tubes down my nose and throat. I tried to relax so I wouldn't choke. I spotted a woman with black hair. My first thought was that she was Dylan's friend Alex, but as she turned I recognized the woman. It was then that I started choking.
"Anthony, I see you're awake," she said coming towards me. "Cough and I'll remove the tubes." I did as I was told and she pulled out the tubing. She sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to touch my hair. I pulled away. She didn't look at all offended as I had hoped. I hadn't seen Mingmei in over five years and I was not excited to see her now. I had been to her father for help numerous times and it had always been my understanding that he had disowned his treacherous daughter. I didn't blame him. I could only wonder why she was here and why Dylan wasn't. I looked around the stark white colorless room.
"What are you looking for, my love?" When I didn't respond she asked, "Do you want some paper?" To that I nodded yes. She went over to a small white cabinet that hung about the sink in the far corner of the room and brought me what appeared to be a prescription pad and a pen.
"Dylan," I asked.
"Oh the little red head? Father said she went home sometime last night with her friends. She said she was your friend. Since when does my lone ranger have friends," she asked with a laugh. I turned away from her. She placed two fingers under my chin and turned my face back to hers, "She isn't your type Anthony. You never went for cute usually for sexy."
I picked up the pen again and wrote. "I suppose my tastes have changed."
"No, I don't think so. I think you just forgot what you like. Once you are better I'll remind you."
I simply wrote, "You never think." That had the desired effect and she started to leave the room but before she left she said to me, "Maybe you should think about who controls your pain medication." Then she left slamming the door behind her.
I had been working for a warlord near the Mongolian border just north of the Great Wall. It was to be a simple job I was to go in and assassinate a ministry official for the province who was trying to stop the warlords plans for unlimited opium trade through the region. The minister wasn't an honorable man himself. He was definitely a capitalist in the middle of communist China. Minister Tan had his hand in two large companies in his region; one made pharmaceuticals, the other arms. Both of the businesses were quite lucrative however Tan made most of his money through the black- market. He supplied weaponry to the Taliban in Afghanistan in the late 90's, supported the crazy Japanese man with the sarin that was used in the Japanese subway system, and made deals with various other terror organizations through out the world. To me it was better that the warlord get his opium than the Minister continue his illegal operations- the lesser of the two evils if you will.
I met Mingmei quite by accident. It was in the hotel bar where I had gotten a room to stay. I was mesmerized from the moment I saw her. She was exotic and reminded me of a kitten. Little did I realize at the time that she was an employee in Tan's pharmaceutical company. She didn't seem to mind my idiosyncrasies and most women find them to be-- disturbing. I was amazed and honored that such a woman could be attracted to a man like me. We had a wonderful three weeks together; little did I know that she knew my purpose of being in Xian-Zhou.
She set me up. She killed Minister Tan and let the authorities think I did it. She gave them the date and time that I was to kill the Minister, from my schedule, which she must have taken from me while I was either asleep or in the shower. When I went Tan was already dead and the police were after me. I barely got out of there with out being arrested, escaping over the Mongolian border and riding a Bactrian camel to Ulan-Bator.
It was a coincidence that Wong was her father. I had come to him through the advice of a business associate after an unfortunate incident. I had a bullet in my shoulder and it wasn't something I could just stroll into an ER for without their being a lot of questions and police involved. Wong never asked how it happened he just removed the bullet. After the removal we went to his office to discuss payment and on his desk was a picture of his daughter. I inquired who the young woman was. He readily told me of her selling biological and chemical weapon technology to North Korea and that he didn't approve so he disowned her. So the question of the hour was why was the lovely Mingmei here?
The door opened and Dr. Wong came in. He told someone to bring me some ice chips and the came over to the bed. "You look much better now than when your friend bring you here. You heal quick. Hard to believe you were knocking on deaths door last night. Looks like Death didn't open it. Ha ha I made a funny again." I said nothing just looked him over, there was very little of him in Mingmei. "Still the quiet one I respect that but you upset Ming. She is very very angry. I know you and my daughter very close friends." I understood what he was implying by the use of the words very close. Mingmei herself did that as well. I picked up my paper and wrote "No."
"Mingmei tells different story. Yes, I know what she did. She was a different person then. She loves you."
I narrowed my eyes skeptically. It could be possible that she did but it didn't matter to me anymore. It might have before I met Dylan. Dylan who took me in without any complaint although I tried to, at one time, kill her and her friends. Mingmei and she were as different as night and day. I guess it would be safe to say it was the difference between an angel and the devil.
Soon Mingmei entered with the ice. "I think he will behave," said her father and left us alone.
"I didn't want to hurt you but I wanted the satisfaction of killing the Minister. I called the police because back then I was out to save my own skin," as she said skin she purposely exposed more thigh than was necessary. "I missed you Anthony. I have wondered where my strong quiet man had gone."
I wrote nothing and gave her no indication that I even heard her. "I want you to know I am sorry. If I had the chance to change what happed I would."
I'll give her the fact she was charming but it wasn't working this time. "I need you. I can always use a good man in my operation that doesn't worry about law and order. Father doesn't understand my work, but you do. I am an assassin too. Only my tools are a lot smaller than most use and much harder to see, once I start an assassination attempt I can stop it as well with the cure. I can be the brains and you can be the brawn all you have to do is trade in your sword for a hypodermic needle or a hypo-spray, depending on the target of course."
I looked at the woman half seated on my bed and couldn't find what I had ever seen in her. Her beauty had faded due to the ugliness within her. I had the idea if I agreed to become part of her operation I would be selling me soul and I didn't want to lose it again not when I had just found it. She must have felt my hesitation because she said, "I'll give you time to think about it. Just know that you should think quick or I may give you an incentive"
*-*-*-*-*
Around 9am I awoke to the sound of a telephone ringing. "Damn," I said looking at the clock and answering the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey Dylan, where are you girl? No one showed up this morning and no on answers at Natalie's or Alex's," said Bosley on the other end of the line.
I looked around the night before coming back to me. Alex was asleep on the love seat and Nat was curled up on the other end of the couch. How she could make herself so small with her long legs was beyond me. "Nat and Alex are here. We sort of got involved in something last night. Can you tell Charlie that we are sorry and promise to be there tomorrow?"
"Will do," said Bos, but as I heard him hanging up I heard him mumble, "Why is it that I am the only one who ever shows up around here?"
I reached over and shook Nat gently. "Get off me Spike," she sleepily said and brushed my hand away.
"Nat, Its Dylan, wake up. We fell asleep." Nat went on snoring but Alex heard me and woke.
"What time is it," asked Alex.
"Nine am."
"We're late for work," she said jumping up looking for her shoes.
"Don't worry. I already talked to Bos. He said he'd let Charlie know something has come up"
"How are you doing this morning," she asked me concerned.
"I'm alright I guess. Worried too. I slept like a rock though."
"I did too and well, look at Nat." I looked at Nat. She was snoring rather loudly at this point. "Shall I wake her?"
"I tried. No luck."
"Watch this," she said and leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Suddenly Nat shot up and yelled, "I really won?"
Nat looked around and realized she wasn't wherever she was dreaming. "Alex? What time is it?"
"We already covered this Nat. You got to wake up to be on the ball," I said laughing. "But to answer you question it a little after 9."
"Charlie!"
"All taken care of," I told her.
"So how are you feeling this morning," she asked me. That was the question of the moment I guess. I felt fine, anxious, jealous, worried, and happy all at once; I was a big ball of emotion, but I smiled and told her the same thing I told Alex a few minutes earlier "Oh I almost forgot," said Nat straightening her hair with her finger tips, "Pete had to go to work early today and I was supposed to walk the puppy. I better get going," she slid her feet into her shoes, grabbed her purse, "I wish I could come with you Dylan. If you two have any problems give me a call and I'll be right there, and if Anthony is awake give him my love," she gave both Alex and me and big hug and ran down the stairs.
"So," said Alex turning to me, "do you want to go to Chinatown?"
I looked at her surprised. "Don't you want to run home first and get cleaned up," I asked. "You're a mess."
"Why bother, we will probably just have to kick Fond-du's butt again," she said looking in the mirror and rubbing a dirt smudge from her cheek.
"His name was Sun-Yu," I said laughing and grabbing my things to leave.
*-*-*-*-*
My mind felt fuzzy. I looked around and didn't recognize where I was. There was an IV in my arm, I could hear a heart monitors steady beep beep beep, I had tubes down my nose and throat. I tried to relax so I wouldn't choke. I spotted a woman with black hair. My first thought was that she was Dylan's friend Alex, but as she turned I recognized the woman. It was then that I started choking.
"Anthony, I see you're awake," she said coming towards me. "Cough and I'll remove the tubes." I did as I was told and she pulled out the tubing. She sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to touch my hair. I pulled away. She didn't look at all offended as I had hoped. I hadn't seen Mingmei in over five years and I was not excited to see her now. I had been to her father for help numerous times and it had always been my understanding that he had disowned his treacherous daughter. I didn't blame him. I could only wonder why she was here and why Dylan wasn't. I looked around the stark white colorless room.
"What are you looking for, my love?" When I didn't respond she asked, "Do you want some paper?" To that I nodded yes. She went over to a small white cabinet that hung about the sink in the far corner of the room and brought me what appeared to be a prescription pad and a pen.
"Dylan," I asked.
"Oh the little red head? Father said she went home sometime last night with her friends. She said she was your friend. Since when does my lone ranger have friends," she asked with a laugh. I turned away from her. She placed two fingers under my chin and turned my face back to hers, "She isn't your type Anthony. You never went for cute usually for sexy."
I picked up the pen again and wrote. "I suppose my tastes have changed."
"No, I don't think so. I think you just forgot what you like. Once you are better I'll remind you."
I simply wrote, "You never think." That had the desired effect and she started to leave the room but before she left she said to me, "Maybe you should think about who controls your pain medication." Then she left slamming the door behind her.
I had been working for a warlord near the Mongolian border just north of the Great Wall. It was to be a simple job I was to go in and assassinate a ministry official for the province who was trying to stop the warlords plans for unlimited opium trade through the region. The minister wasn't an honorable man himself. He was definitely a capitalist in the middle of communist China. Minister Tan had his hand in two large companies in his region; one made pharmaceuticals, the other arms. Both of the businesses were quite lucrative however Tan made most of his money through the black- market. He supplied weaponry to the Taliban in Afghanistan in the late 90's, supported the crazy Japanese man with the sarin that was used in the Japanese subway system, and made deals with various other terror organizations through out the world. To me it was better that the warlord get his opium than the Minister continue his illegal operations- the lesser of the two evils if you will.
I met Mingmei quite by accident. It was in the hotel bar where I had gotten a room to stay. I was mesmerized from the moment I saw her. She was exotic and reminded me of a kitten. Little did I realize at the time that she was an employee in Tan's pharmaceutical company. She didn't seem to mind my idiosyncrasies and most women find them to be-- disturbing. I was amazed and honored that such a woman could be attracted to a man like me. We had a wonderful three weeks together; little did I know that she knew my purpose of being in Xian-Zhou.
She set me up. She killed Minister Tan and let the authorities think I did it. She gave them the date and time that I was to kill the Minister, from my schedule, which she must have taken from me while I was either asleep or in the shower. When I went Tan was already dead and the police were after me. I barely got out of there with out being arrested, escaping over the Mongolian border and riding a Bactrian camel to Ulan-Bator.
It was a coincidence that Wong was her father. I had come to him through the advice of a business associate after an unfortunate incident. I had a bullet in my shoulder and it wasn't something I could just stroll into an ER for without their being a lot of questions and police involved. Wong never asked how it happened he just removed the bullet. After the removal we went to his office to discuss payment and on his desk was a picture of his daughter. I inquired who the young woman was. He readily told me of her selling biological and chemical weapon technology to North Korea and that he didn't approve so he disowned her. So the question of the hour was why was the lovely Mingmei here?
The door opened and Dr. Wong came in. He told someone to bring me some ice chips and the came over to the bed. "You look much better now than when your friend bring you here. You heal quick. Hard to believe you were knocking on deaths door last night. Looks like Death didn't open it. Ha ha I made a funny again." I said nothing just looked him over, there was very little of him in Mingmei. "Still the quiet one I respect that but you upset Ming. She is very very angry. I know you and my daughter very close friends." I understood what he was implying by the use of the words very close. Mingmei herself did that as well. I picked up my paper and wrote "No."
"Mingmei tells different story. Yes, I know what she did. She was a different person then. She loves you."
I narrowed my eyes skeptically. It could be possible that she did but it didn't matter to me anymore. It might have before I met Dylan. Dylan who took me in without any complaint although I tried to, at one time, kill her and her friends. Mingmei and she were as different as night and day. I guess it would be safe to say it was the difference between an angel and the devil.
Soon Mingmei entered with the ice. "I think he will behave," said her father and left us alone.
"I didn't want to hurt you but I wanted the satisfaction of killing the Minister. I called the police because back then I was out to save my own skin," as she said skin she purposely exposed more thigh than was necessary. "I missed you Anthony. I have wondered where my strong quiet man had gone."
I wrote nothing and gave her no indication that I even heard her. "I want you to know I am sorry. If I had the chance to change what happed I would."
I'll give her the fact she was charming but it wasn't working this time. "I need you. I can always use a good man in my operation that doesn't worry about law and order. Father doesn't understand my work, but you do. I am an assassin too. Only my tools are a lot smaller than most use and much harder to see, once I start an assassination attempt I can stop it as well with the cure. I can be the brains and you can be the brawn all you have to do is trade in your sword for a hypodermic needle or a hypo-spray, depending on the target of course."
I looked at the woman half seated on my bed and couldn't find what I had ever seen in her. Her beauty had faded due to the ugliness within her. I had the idea if I agreed to become part of her operation I would be selling me soul and I didn't want to lose it again not when I had just found it. She must have felt my hesitation because she said, "I'll give you time to think about it. Just know that you should think quick or I may give you an incentive"
*-*-*-*-*
Around 9am I awoke to the sound of a telephone ringing. "Damn," I said looking at the clock and answering the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey Dylan, where are you girl? No one showed up this morning and no on answers at Natalie's or Alex's," said Bosley on the other end of the line.
I looked around the night before coming back to me. Alex was asleep on the love seat and Nat was curled up on the other end of the couch. How she could make herself so small with her long legs was beyond me. "Nat and Alex are here. We sort of got involved in something last night. Can you tell Charlie that we are sorry and promise to be there tomorrow?"
"Will do," said Bos, but as I heard him hanging up I heard him mumble, "Why is it that I am the only one who ever shows up around here?"
I reached over and shook Nat gently. "Get off me Spike," she sleepily said and brushed my hand away.
"Nat, Its Dylan, wake up. We fell asleep." Nat went on snoring but Alex heard me and woke.
"What time is it," asked Alex.
"Nine am."
"We're late for work," she said jumping up looking for her shoes.
"Don't worry. I already talked to Bos. He said he'd let Charlie know something has come up"
"How are you doing this morning," she asked me concerned.
"I'm alright I guess. Worried too. I slept like a rock though."
"I did too and well, look at Nat." I looked at Nat. She was snoring rather loudly at this point. "Shall I wake her?"
"I tried. No luck."
"Watch this," she said and leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Suddenly Nat shot up and yelled, "I really won?"
Nat looked around and realized she wasn't wherever she was dreaming. "Alex? What time is it?"
"We already covered this Nat. You got to wake up to be on the ball," I said laughing. "But to answer you question it a little after 9."
"Charlie!"
"All taken care of," I told her.
"So how are you feeling this morning," she asked me. That was the question of the moment I guess. I felt fine, anxious, jealous, worried, and happy all at once; I was a big ball of emotion, but I smiled and told her the same thing I told Alex a few minutes earlier "Oh I almost forgot," said Nat straightening her hair with her finger tips, "Pete had to go to work early today and I was supposed to walk the puppy. I better get going," she slid her feet into her shoes, grabbed her purse, "I wish I could come with you Dylan. If you two have any problems give me a call and I'll be right there, and if Anthony is awake give him my love," she gave both Alex and me and big hug and ran down the stairs.
"So," said Alex turning to me, "do you want to go to Chinatown?"
I looked at her surprised. "Don't you want to run home first and get cleaned up," I asked. "You're a mess."
"Why bother, we will probably just have to kick Fond-du's butt again," she said looking in the mirror and rubbing a dirt smudge from her cheek.
"His name was Sun-Yu," I said laughing and grabbing my things to leave.