AN- Reader's beware, Another cliffhanger.

10

TAILING SUSPECT COP

Minutes later I was screaming down the highway in my Cadillac. I had flipped on the police sirens and lights and gave the car a NOS kick. I just hoped I had enough NOS.

Come-on! I thought. Someone get me out of this goddamn traffic!

It was minutes later I finally saw the street. I pulled a sharp turn that only I could pull off, parked the car. Quickly I locked it and burst into Cary's 24/7 dojo.

"Cary!" I cried franticly looking around.

The place was ransacked. The weapons that where on the walls where now on the floor, the Chinese warrior armor was a mess on the floor. The bamboo screens where ripped apart. And the front wall was pretty much a mess. It looked pretty depressing along with the spray painted graffiti on the walls.

"Where are ya?" I called, hoping even praying (something I don't do very often) that Cary was here and alright.

It was then I could see three guys, street punks by the looks of them, also in the dojo. Two where looking at my little brother's stuff and one was spray painting crap on the walls.

"Who the hell are you punks and where's my brother?" I demanded.

"Oh you missed it, Man!" exclaimed one of the punks.

His head was shaven, he was wearing a Puma muscle shirt, jeans,and a pair of Converse.

"Some Oriental guys took him," the punk raved. "There was this great fight, man! It was total Jackie Chan, man! It was awesome!"

The punk started to pull some moves like off of Karate Kid. At this point my patience was wearing thin, and my anger was raising. Cary's life may be in danger and with this stupid shit pulling this I was losing valuable time.

I grabbed him by the throat.

"LISTEN SCUMBAG!" I yelled at him as he choked. "YOU TELL ME WHO TOOK MY BROTHER NOW!"

"Who cares dude?" said a deep voice to my right.

I let go of the punk as I looked tosee agangster who was decked out in a sports jersey, dark pants, an ancient Chinese helmet (one that he stole from here I noticed) and a gold necklace.

"They left the place wide open," he said. "The shit in here's free now."

That son of a bitch! I thought as my temper rose. I was past angry. I was extremely pissed off now.

"YOU PICKED THE WRONG PARTY TO CRASH, JACKASS!" I yelled angrily.

Then before he could do a damn thing, I side-kicked him in the chest as hard as I could.

I know I, probably, shouldn't of. But could you really blame me? I was pissed.

The gangster flew back for a few seconds. He hit against one of the chairs, it splintered against the force of his weight.

"CHUCK 'EM DUDE!" He yelled leaping up.

The first punk (the one that I choked) went at me with a round-house punch. I blocked it and lashed out with a snap-kick that hit him in the stomach. He stumbled forward I jumped forward with 'leaping tiger' kick that sent him to the floor.

"Now tell me whose kung-fu's better, huh?" I yelled.

The third vandal (the one who was spray painting graffiti on the walls) ran at me.

"I've got game!" he said.

He ran at me with a round house kick. I caught his kick and flipped him to the floor. He fell with an painful, "Ooff!" I flipped and landed on my rear end. My legs hit him painfully in the chest and head.

'Got game' my ass, I thought sarcastically as I got up.

I got up just in time to dodge something slivery streak past me. I leapt back and saw that the gangster had a katana in his hand.

Oh great!

I ran to the wall and grabbed one of the only katanas on the wall. I swung around brandishing my weapon.

"Ya know my Phys. Ed. Teacher would be proud," I said to him as I ran at him.

I swung at his side. He blocked with his sword, Metal met metal with a loud, CLANG!

I swung around with my katana.

"I'm gonna break you off, fool!" yelled the gangster.

He swung at me. I dodged it, although narrowly. I swung at him he blocked with the sword. Quickly I aimed a roundhouse kick at his side. He stumbled giving me enough time to kick the katana out of his hands. I threw the katana I had to the floor and gave him a 'flying dragon' kick right at his head. He fell to the floor.

"I told you my kung fu was better," I said like off of those old karate movies. "Didn't I?"

-

I stepped out of the dojo walking to my Cadillac.

Those vandals knew nothing, besides seeing Cary get taken away by a few Orientals . After pounding them for information that was clear. I suspected that Ancient Wu's men must be holding my little brother somewhere. Only problem was where? I had to find some one who knew.

Come on Nick! I thought as I got in to my Cadillac, think!

If only I knew someone who could help, anyone…

I suddenly glanced at my at my police siren dashboard. Suddenly, I had an idea. I shifted gears. Hoping I wasn't too late.

-

Not long after, I sat in my car outside the Hollywood Police Department. I could see a man walk out of the department. I grabbed my binoculers. It was that cop from the Gulag alright. Just the man I was looking for.

I couldn't help but wonder, why did he look so familiar?

I'll bet he knows something. He's got to.

I watched him go to his black Crown Victoria and pull out of the parking lot.

Okay, I thought turning on my car and shifting gears, here we go.

-

I followed he for several blocks careful to get close to still be able to see him but not too close to be noticed, ya know what I mean.

Later, although he was a few cars in front of me I could still see him turn down Holt Avenue. As soon as I could I did the same. I turned down to see his black Crown Victoria (I knew it had to be his 'cause it's license plate read 209 DPR) parked in front of an old, abandoned, run down home with weeds growing wildly in the front and back yards. I got out of my car and peered in side his car to make sure he wasn't inside. He wasn't.

I looked to the old abandoned home. I walked up the stairs to it's front door.

"Publishers Clearing House," I said aloud, joking as I reached for the doorknob. "Anyone home?"

I turned the door knob and opened the door and went in. The front room was a kitchen and living room a with a dirty counter and stove, along with a moldy couch and armchair. Wooden beams separated this room from the next. In this room where two wino's. Both men where obviously drunk, and they wore a strange array of clothing that they found off the street. I went to one of the bums but before I could ask about the cop the wino looked at me up and down.

"Wh-who you lookin' for, Pretty Boy?" He asked.

God, his breath reeked. He smelled like he had been marinated in Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. I could hear a faint shuffle behind me.

I looked over to see the other wino had pulled out a knife. He intention with it was obvious. I looked to the bum in front of me.

"I don't have time for this," I said in a warning tone. "Where's the cop?"

The bum burped loudly in my face and laughed. He pulled out a broken bottle. It's broken edges sharp as a knife.

"Alright, fine. Let's do this," I said, annoyed, getting into a fighting stance.

The wino made the first move,he lunged forward with the broken bottle. I dodged and grabbed a hold of his arm and sent him to the floor.

I swung around. The bum behind me gave a jump-snap kick. I jumped out of the way . The wino lunged with his knife. I dodged and knocked it from his hand. Quickly I went at him with a few of my killer punches and snap and roundhouse kicks. He stumbled back long enough for me to deliver a 'dragon fist' right in his chest. He fell hard against the walls.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp line of fire graze my back.

Damn it! The other wino!

I swung around with a reverse-crescent kick that knocked the broken bottle from his hands. It hit the wall and shattered. I gave him a shuffle sidekick in the stomach. He hit the wooden beams in a way that made them brake clean off the walls. He hit the floor with an "UMPH!"

I walked to him as he was trying to get up. I was really getting annoyed by this shit.

"Stay the fuck down!"

I went over and gave him a body-slamming elbow in the chest. I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see a third wino come thumping down the stairs.

I got up saying, "I don't suppose you'll tell me where the cop is either?"

He got into a fighting stance.

"I don't know what your talking about but I warn you: The blood of my ancestors is strong!" he yelled.

I sighed. Never ask a wino for anything in LA.

I ran at him with a few punches. He blocked each one. He tried to give a sidekick but I blocked it and gave him a sharp elbow in the nose. He stumble back as his eyes began to water. I went at him with a roundhouse kick in the chest. He stumbled back again. Now I was determined to end this. I quickly gave him a 'dragon drop kick' in the chest. He hit the wall with a loud SMACK! The abandoned home went quiet.

"Next time bring some more friends to help you out," I advised.

Suddenly a sound shattered the stillness. The sound of a car starting.

The cop!

I ran as fast asI couldout the front door out onto the sidewalk. But I was too late. The cop's car had vanished. Along with my only hope to find Cary, Alive.

Damn it!

I had a mind to go in there a beat the living shit out of those winos but I restrained myself. I trudged to my Cadillac. When I saw something tucked underneath my windshield-wiper.

A parking ticket and on it was a message scrawled in pen.

What the-?

I snatched up the parking ticket and read the message:

You'll find me

at Wally's Diner.

So he knew I had been tailing him. Well, I could expect nothing less from a fellow cop. I re-read the message as I got into my Cadillac.

It maybe risky, he may have some of his Russkie pals with him this time. But it maybe the only way to save my little brother.

Okay Flatfoot, I thought as I crumbled up the parking ticket in my fist, and turned the key in my ignition, I'll play your game.

-

As I pulled up to the diner I could see the cop. He was sitting at a booth near the front window. To my surprise, he was alone, with out a Russkie in sight. Maybe he would help me.

I got out of my car and went in the diner. The cop looked up from his cup of coffee when I went to his booth. I sat in the seat across from him.

"This better be good," I said with a tone as I sat down.

The cop nodded, his face was grave.

"The name's Don," he said softly. "Don Rafferty."

Suddenly, his grave face broke and he smiled at me.

"You may not remember me, but I used to work undercover jobs with your dad," He said.

"I thought you looked familiar," I said softly.

"Yeah," He said with a smile. He shook his head as he said, "I remember you and your brotherdriving your dad nuts with your 'Green Hornet Stick'."

I felt a smile flicker on my face. Remembering that time myself.

Rafferty sighed wearily, his smile now gone, as if those good memories had brought bad ones as well.

"Those where some good day's," He said.

I quickly saw this was going, he was try to get all sentimental with me to try to get away with whatever he was doing.

Nice try.

"Cut the sentimental crap," I insisted. "What's your part in all this?"

"Your father," Rafferty said. "When he got in trouble with International Affairs, I promised him I'd look after his boys."

He looked around then leaned forward. Only wanting me to hear what he said next.

"Nick I know about this case your on," Rafferty said, his voice as soft as a whisper. "It's way over your head."

I leaned forward.

"You're a little late for that, Don," I said in the same soft voice as Rafferty. "Cary might already be trouble."

"Not if you hurry," Rafferty insisted. "Wu's men are holding him at a butcher shop in Chinatown, at The Peking Duck."

He knew where Cary was?

Suddenly I got suspicious (hey, it is in my job description). I would of asked questions but I had more important matters to worry about.

"I wanna know how you know that, Don," I said getting up, looking at him square in the eye. "After I find Cary."

And with that said I left the diner.