AN-I am so sorry that this chapter is so late. It seemed, for some reason, that fate just didn't want me to post this chapter. First I had a big project I had to get done (Yuck), and when I was just about to post this chapter yeasterday there was a tornado warning and, well, we had a scare since last year a tornado was only three blocks away from us

15

PRESSING RAFFERTY

Awhile later I found myself some where in Hollywood, outside, leaning against my Cadillac. I was talking to Rosie on my cell phone, telling her what I had found out on Rocky from Ancient Wu as she checked some files.

After I heard her gasp I knew I had been right.

"So do you believe me now, Rosie?" I asked her, letting a smile creep on my face.

"Yes, Nick," She replied in a alright-you-win tone. "So far everything checks out. According to the CIAa KGB Agent by the name of Rasputian Casnitsof went AWOL out here in the late seventies. That's gotta be our Rocky."

"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking," I replied.

"But…" Rosie said, trailing off suddenly.

" 'But' What?" I asked.

"How did you find this?" Rosie asked. "Masterson's going loco."

I was wondering how I was going to explain my story to her (since if I told her what really happened she might suggest therapy and a nice padded room in the happy home, if you get my drift), when she spoke again.

"Hold on. OOPS-!"

Suddenly Masterson's angry voice started yelling so loud in to the phone that I had to hold the receiver a foot away from my ear.

"HELLO! KANG?" Masterson said. "You better get in here fast and tell how you got Rocky figured out! And don't feed me and 'Ancient Wu' stories, got it!"

I just rolled my eyes at that.

"I read the cliff notes to War and Peace, Masterson," I replied, sarcastically. Going to the driver's side of my car.

"Well, you going to have a lot more time to read if you don't get your ass back in here and start talking!" Masterson said, threateningly.

His threat didn't scare me a bit. If it did anything, it just pissed me off.

"Excuse me," I said calmly in a warning tone. "I ain't some rookie field agent, pal. Bust me if your gonna, otherwise I gonna solve this case, my way."

As I got into my car I could hear Masterson go ballistic on me.

"WHAT! THAT'S IT! CONSIDER YOURSELF FIRED, KANG!" He yelled in to the phone.

I just smiled at that.

Fine by me, I thought.

"Later man," I said hanging up on him.

Then tossing the cell phone idly into the passenger seat, I turned on my car.

"I've got work to do."

---

I drove around Hollywood looking for something, anything that could help point me in the direction of Rocky.

It was when I was driving past the RADIO BAR, a funky small bar in Hollywood that I saw it. That familiar black Crown Victoria with a license of 240 DPR.

Rafferty.

I slammed on the brakes pulled over next to the bar and got out of my Cadillac and went to the door to have a little "talk" with my dad's former "partner".

As soon as I opened that door, complete darkness awaited me, or that's how it seemed anyway. It took awhile for my eyes to adjust to the extremely dim light. When they finally did I could see several tables and booths with low dim lights hanging above them, a jukebox, and a bar with a metallic chrome finish. Around the top edges of the bar was a neon blue light, as well as lights over the bar.

And at the bar, sitting on one of the stools, was Rafferty.

He hadn't seen me walk in. But that wouldn't be a problem soon.

I let my fury build for a few seconds. My hands clenching into fists.

"Hey Barkeep!" Rafferty called to the barkeep, putting a Stogie Cigar in his mouth. "Another Jack!"

The Barkeep (a big fellow with tattoo's on his arms, a sleeves cut off black shirt and a 'do rag on his bald head) nodded and went to get him the drink.

I just couldn't take it anymore. My rage exploded.

I ran behind Rafferty, grabbed him by his by the scalp of his hair and SLAMMED his head against the bar as hard as I could. I pulled him up to look at him in the eye.

"YOU'VE JACKED ME AROUND ENOUGH, RAFFERTY!" I bellowed at him angrily.

Rafferty looked at me surprised (and wincing).

"Nick what-?"

"YOU'RE IN WITH THAT SCUMBAG ROCKY, AREN'T YOU!" I yelled.

I SLAMMED his head harder against the bar. The Stogie falling from his mouth as I pulled him up.

"WHAT, THE HELL, DID HE HAVE TO DO WITH MY FATHER!"

SLAM!

"ANSWER ME!"

"You have no idea what you're talking about Nick," Rafferty said (still wincing). "Get a hold of yourself."

I went to give a really pissed off reply when a voice called, "Hey!"

Suddenly, I was in the air hitting a table that collapsed, instantly, under my weight.

Shit!

I had forgotten about the barkeep!

As I pulled myself off the floor I looked to see that burly barkeep standing between me and Rafferty.

"You hassling my customers, buddy!" He said threateningly to me.

I looked at him in the eye, hard fury hammering inside me.

"Stay-out-of-it, pal," I told him gashing my teeth together.

Over his shoulder I could see Rafferty pull out his wallet and a wad of bills and leave them on the bar and walk (really quickly) to the door.

I took one step to the door after him, when the barkeep appeared out of no where standing in my way, cracking his knuckles.

"Not a chance," He said.

"FINE!" I yelled. "I hope you insurance is paid up!"

I got in to a fighting stance. So did the barkeep. But he seemed to be waiting for me to make the first move.

"Can we get this over with?" I finally asked him, pissed. " In case you haven't noticed, you dumb-ass, I've got shit to do."

He went at me with on of those Walker Texas Ranger punches, the one you can always see coming 'cause they pull their fist back (do the world a favor and don't do that in a fight). I quickly middle palm blocked it and punched him in the nose.

He took a few steps back and went at me with a few quick punches that I was lucky to block. He was coming at me like a freaking heart attack.

I quickly gave him a snap kick right between the legs (painful, I know, but I was desperate). He groaned. I took this moment to take two steps until was behind him, grabbed him by the ears and pulled him down until the back of his skull met my knee.

He fell to the floor. And I turned to the door. I was several feet from the door when the jackass barkeep grabbed me by the back of my jacket and flung me into another table.

I leapt up. And went at him with a killer roundhouse-kick that got him in the ribs, he leaned over and I gave him several quick kicks until he stumbled. I then gave him a 'Monkey Kick' into a nearby table and the juke box.

I could hear the glass break, but I could care less.

I was running out the door I looked both ways and decided to check the alleyway that was next to the bar. I ran to it took a quick glance around the corner and saw Rafferty, his driver's side door open, on his cell phone. Quickly I jumped behind the corner, but close enough to it's edge to hear Rafferty speak on his cell phone.

"Listen Rock," Rafferty said. "It ain't working. Kang is becoming a serious problem."

At once that hammering fury came back at full force.

So he was in with Rocky.

That bastard!

"Yeah," Rafferty said to Rocky's reply (I wasn't close enough to hear what Rocky had said). "All right, I'll be there."

Rafferty hung up his cell phone. And got in to his car.

I pushed my self up against the wall as he pulled out of the alleyway and drove past me.

I walked quickly to my car.

Hmm. Let's see where that snake is slithering off to.