Nothing is mine. That is enough, geez... If I owned JCA the demons would reign and several characters would be their slaves.
Valmont sat his hands on his desk and kept his eyes on his fingers. He didn't like what he had to do, but he was going to do it anyway. It was one of the darker sides of being a crime lord - both financially and emotionally. More financially though, at least in his opinion.
He lifted his gaze as three of his men - that's right, only three - stepped in his office. It wasn't the fine and luxurious office he had had in the good times and that was a pity. He had promised himself he would make Dark Hand into something again and get himself a proper HQ.
"We didn't find Chow anywhere, Big V. He is somewhere, but didn't know about this extra meeting," Finn said once he got in. "Actually none of us knew about it so it's a small miracle any of us is here," he added quieter.
Valmont frowned lightly.
"You don't have to tell me that, I already know it," he said.
"You do? So is Chow somewhere here?" Ratso asked glancing around himself.
"No," Valmont said.
None of his Enforces said anything, they all sensed there was a dark truth behind that one word. They stood and waited for Valmont to say something.
"Chow is gone," the Brit stated simply. For a while no one said anything, but then Finn - what a surprise, Valmont thought dryly - decided to open his mouth.
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" he asked in surprise and shock. He had talked with Chow only few hours ago, what could have happened to him during that time?
"It was his own fault. I told you to be careful now when Flick's men are on the loose," Valmont said sharply leaving the question unanswered. If you didn't know him better you might have thought he was trying to reassure himself of his own innocence.
Finn and Ratso felt as cold shivers went down their spines. Hak Foo didn't really care, he respected the three on some level, but had never made friends with them.
"So he is..." Ratso started leaving the sentence maliciously open.
"No he's not!" Finn snapped sharply. "Right?" he asked then pointing his words at Valmont. At that moment he didn't even remember his own problems and had he stopped to think he would have felt guilty because of that loosing a friend actually made things look a bit brighter.
"According to my sources Flick's forces surprised him and attacked him," Valmont said.
"Oh geez... " Finn said. That was all Valmont had to say, the Irish was intelligent enough to realise what was going on. Chow was... gone, just as Valmont had said.
And to think that he had been so nasty towards him. He had shielded himself from his friend's help. He had been so stupid!
"However," Valmont's voice broke the ice of silence, "Our old friend happened to be there and saved him," he said.
"Chan?" Ratso asked. His voice held relief mixed with confusion.
Valmont nodded. "Yes, him. If I am right Chow is somewhere in Section 13 at the very moment," he said.
"We have to get him out of there! What are we going to do, Big V?" Finn asked. He was sure that Valmont already had a brilliant plan ready and Chow would soon be free and with them.
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing? We have to do something!" Ratso said. He very rarely opposed Valmont, but when he did it he always had a good reason. Such as this.
Valmont shrugged.
"Because of Shendu's adventures the Dark Hand has no fortune. I might have enough to buy Chow out, but then we'd have nothing for out battle against Flick. Besides, it is very unlikely that anyone in Section 13 would want to do anything for us, even if we paid them," he said.
"Which means?" Finn asked with a bad hunch.
"Which means Chow can be replaced. He is not one of us anymore," Valmont said. He thought he knew his men well so he was very surprised when Finn slammed his fist on the desk.
"No. We can't leave Chow alone!" the Irish said in determination and his voice shook with anger. Valmont had never heard Finn talk like that and he frowned.
"Unfortunately I am the one who makes that decision," he said sharply.
"We shall see," Finn said his being full of rebellion and he marched out Ratso following him. Hak Foo glanced at Valmont, shrugged and followed the duo.
When he was alone Valmont had to sigh. Yup, sometimes he thought why had had ever become a crime lord. It would have been so much easier as a doctor.
Jay Flick stroked Darling's feathers and eyed his employees frowning.
"So, you didn't kill him?" he asked with a lifeless voice.
"We didn't have time, someone came and stopped us," Jacey replied. The three - or two actually, it was impossible to have an intelligent conversation with Benjamin - of them had decided that it was no use of trying to lie to Flick. That would just cause them trouble.
"Well, why didn't you kill him then?"
Jacey, Barbara and Benjamin glanced at each other.
"He was a better fighter and would have crushed us. Then there would be no one to take care of Valmont's other men," Barbara said. She rarely spoke, but now she thought she had to say something.
Flick slit his eyes. "What fools have I employed, Darling?" he asked his bird. Now his eyes were filled with love and tenderness that he would never feel towards any human.
"Chirp, chirp!"
"How fasc - " Benjamin started, but a glare from Flick made him shut up. Barbara slapped Benjamin, but the man didn't let out a sound.
"I know quite well that you are not fighters, but I still expect you to make it against a common human," Flick said.
"But that's it, he wasby no means common. He didn't even look like an American, but some freaking Chinese!" Jacey defended them. How could someone think they'd win against such a fighter?
"Chinese?" Flick repeated and now he seemed more interested than angry.
"That's right, Chinese. Or Japanese, or Korean or - " Jacey replied, but Barbara slapped him too.
"Chinese... It could be anyone, but..." Flick talked to himself. He fed Darling some seeds and the bird looked pleased.
Jay Flick thought. He had done research as much as possible before coming here and Section 13 had been one of his interests. That was natural, of course he'd find out everything that had something to do with that cursed Black.
So of course he knew about Black's best friend, Jackie Chan, who always interfered with the Dark Hand's business at the worst possible moment. He knew quite much of the man, but had hoped they'd never meet.
Oh well...
"If you see him again, don't even try to fight with him. Just shoot him," he decided. "And now, start to come up with what you will do to Valmont's other men."
Tap, tap, tap...
Harris tapped the table of his hotel room in thought and stared at the wall. He was a patient man, but this waiting really got to his nerves. Especially because his only company was his own thoughts.
His own deceiving thoughts.
He sighed. Had he done wrong after all? This didn't actually hurt anyone, so didn't he have the right to do it? He was in a high position after all.
That was what he had told himself this whole time, but a small part of his mind disagreed with him.
No, it whispered to him, someone is already hurt because of you. Only because you are so bitter anddesire a victory that is not yours.
Harris frowned. Stupid. Criminals didn't matter. Especially just one. Or two or thee. Only he and the law mattered.
But he knew that if Black or anyone else ever found out what he had done his career would be doomed. It made him feel uneasy, but he was going to be careful and not let himself slip.
No, not now when he was so close to his dream...
Damned Jay Flick!
"What do you think this means?" Jackie askedBlack. They stood in the hospital wing of Section 13 and watched the still unconscious Chow through a glass.
"I don't think. I know," Black replied.
"What do you mean?"
Black didn't say anything at first. He wasn't happy because of what had happened, but when he watched the hurt criminal he felt no compassion. What had happened was a fact, it didn't mean anything to him.
"I know who sent those three and what he is up to," he replied then. Jackie nodded, something was going on and he didn't know if he wanted to be a part of it. Maybe it was better if he didn't know anything about it.
But Black didn't let him to stay out of this. That was impossible, he had already saved Chow and attacked the three criminals.
"Jay Flick, a crime lord from Las Vegas has come to San Francisco and his intention is to destroy the Dark Hand. He wants to take the city as his own," Black said.
Jackie nodded towards the window. "And this is his way of doing it? Beating up Valmont's men?" he asked. He didn't understand this, wouldn't it be more effective to start an open war?
"Both the Dark Hand and Flick's gang are weak. My old superior Harris arrived from Las Vegas to tell me that Flick has escaped from prison and is here," Black frowned. "But I don't understand how a lunatic like Flick has been able to escape that prison... He can't do very much now and he just can't afford to do anything big."
"I see. So his strategy is to kill Valmont's men one by one until Valmont himself is the only one who remains," Jackie said. "Doesn't sound very nice."
"It isn't. I did some research and with your description I have managed to found out something about Flick's employees," Black said.
"Really? Who are they?" Jackie asked.
"The tall man is called Jacey Horrington and he is from Iowa. He started his career with simple robberies, but thanks to his cold-blooded nature he rose in the ranks and became a killer. He got a sentence for brutally murdering a little girl, but he has killed much more."
Jackie shook his head. "I hope the other two are not like that," he said.
"Barbara Klemmt is the woman you met. I have less information on her, but apparently she has always been involved with crimes too. She has never been in prison, so much is not known about her."
"And the small man?"
"Hmh, he's a strange one. I sent the description to my friend in Washington, but all he could say was that his name is Benjamin. I can't say anything else, not even if that is his real name."
"How fascinating."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Black was about to say something more, but then they both noticed as Chow moved in the other room.
"He must be awake," Jackie stated. Black nodded.
"I better have a few words with him," he said darkly.
"Do you want me to come?"
"No, I will handle this myself. You go home."
Jackie watched as his friend unlocked the door and stepped in. He knew Black was a gentle and friendly man, but only towards those he cared about. This was his job, so he didn't even for a while think Chow would be happy to meet Black.
No, because this was business and Black always took his job very seriously.
Jackie turned on his heels and walked away.
Chow's whole body ached and he didn't want to open his eyes. Part of him wanted to know where he was, but the other part was afraid of learning the truth. He didn't come up with anything that was bad enough to hurt him more, but it was a matter of principles.
Then he heard as someone opened a door and stepped in. Maybe he dared to see what was going on and then decide what to do.
He opened his eyes carefully...
Captain Black.
Chow closed his eyes again. Mixed feelings reigned inside him. He was alive and safe from Flick's gang, but he was also a prisoner. There was only one path for him now and he didn't want to end up in jail.
"I know you are awake," Black's strict voice said. Chow didn't reply, he wasn't in the mood to talk with Black. Especially since he knew the man only wanted to know how to find Valmont and others.
Chow knew Valmont would do nothing to help him, but he still didn't even think about betraying him. Despite his cold and selfish behaviour Valmont was a better leader than some people thought and didn't deserve to be betrayed.
"We can do this many ways. You can either answer my questions, or someone else's. I recommended to choose the first option," Black said.
"Shut up," Chow said. His head ached and he didn't quite trust his voice, but he still had to say at least something. He opened his eyes again and met Black gaze. He realised his orange glasses were gone - probably still on the street - and he saw everything in their real colour.
Black had green eyes.
Chow didn't remember had he ever seen Black without his glasses and if he had he most definitely hadn't paid any attention to his eyes. Now he saw them clearly and could only state that they were green.
Just like Finn's eyes.
"What are you staring at?" Black asked.
"Nothing," Chow replied. He most certainly wouldn't talk about his eyes to a man like Black. Actually, he wouldn't talk about eyes to any man. They would just get funny ideas, men were supposed to talk only about women's eyes.
Black nodded.
"Whatever. Now tell me what happened," he said.
"Isn't that, like, quite clear?" Chow asked. Bah, Black had to be very simple if he actually bothered to ask those questions.
"I just want to hear your side of the story."
Chow didn't reply and Black frowned.
"You should at least try to co-operate with me. You are here and can't get out, the only way for you to make it better is to do as I say. And if you care about your partners you will tell me all I want to know," he said sharply. His voice was hard and strict, there was no humour in it.
Chow snorted. It hurt, his broken nose didn't like it. "I won't fall for that, so don't even try it."
"Fine. If you won't tell me where the rest of the Dark Hand is we will never find them in time. Jay Flick will win and do them the same he did to you, most likely more. And then you will be alone," Black said.
"So you are trying to say that better in prison than dead?"
"Exactly."
"Hah. In that case you don't understand us."
"And I am grateful for that. I have no desire to understand criminals."
Neither said anything in while. Chow had decided he wouldn't tell them anything, no matter what. He, Finn, and Ratso had promised each other that if one got caught he wouldn't turnin the others.
They had also promised that if possible, the two others would free the third one.
In this case Chow hoped his friends wouldn't do anything. They had no chance of making it.
The sound of breaking glass flashed through Finn's body and he flinched. It wasn't a flinch of disgust or fear, more like a flinch of pleasure. He had thrown the rock, because of him the window was broken and he was proud of it.
The first step on his way to success.
He and two boys, a little older than him, rushed on the move and one of them climbed in through the window. Splinters tore his jacket, but he didn't care. It was night, he couldn't have avoided them even if he had tried.
"Hurry now! We should already be going!" Finn hurried and glanced around. There was no one to be seen, but he didn't want to take risks.
Especially when the alarm was screaming and must have waken up the whole block.
The boy who had climbed in, Bob, gave his partners two handfuls of jewellery and clocks. They stuffed them in small bags and then the trio was moving again. Their booty was nothing compared to what had been in the shop, but they were young and not greedy enough to endanger their freedom.
They ran on the streets heading for the dirty part of the city where they would be safe. There they would be welcomed by a man who'd pay for them for this amateurish job. As long as they had nothing stolen they couldn't be blamed for anything.
If they had chosen one of the fine and known shops of New York they would not have made it, but this small shop was at the edge of the city and the alarm system hadn't been replaced in many years.
Finn glanced behind his back. He could still hear the wrenched scream of the alarm, but he wasn't afraid. He felt cold and calm and to his surprise he found himself enjoying the escape. Hadn't he known better he would have thought it was in his blood.
To be continued...