Chapter 17

HOUSE OF LAVENDER FLAME,

CHINATOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

8:50 P.M. (PST)

The first thing Lee Pow IV did, upon leaving the offensive Kohanek's presence, was to head to the top floor of the hotel. He had a private suite there, along with a number of throw-away cell phones that were officially listed under the names of deceased ancestors! Such a practice might initially seem laughable to most Caucasians. But, thus far, it was one that had successfully kept him from being monitored by the FBI.

Emphasis on "thus far."

Lee picked up just such a throw-away, consulted the "speed-dial" directory, and then hit the button.

"Yes?" inquired the voice that picked up after only two rings.

"It's me," Lee replied: "The kunoichi failed. And, what's worse? The police think she was sent after me. By the yakuza! Do you what that means? FBI involvement! That's what it means. Because, all those fools have to do is hear those two little words; 'organized crime.' And, they become more tenacious than a pair of pit-bulls fighting over a T-bone steak!"

"Would you calm down for a moment!" barked the other voice: "No way are the local cops notifying the Feds. With or without Julian's influence! It's what you might call ' territorial pride.' "

"I don't care if you call it a bureaucratic pissing contest! Angel is still walking around with my family's legacy still in his possession. And, I will not let him leave the country with it. Even if it means my having to hire the Order of Teraka out of my own pocket!"

"Now, let's not get hasty, mate," the other voice urged: "I have other business acquaintances I can contact to get the job done. And, for gratis!"

"Very well! This is your last chance."

SAN FRANCISCO LEGACY HOUSE

ANGEL ISLAND (9:00 P.M./PST)

Alexandra Moreau- -"Alex" to her friends- -had just been about to shut off the library computer for the day, when she got an emergency instant message from the Legacy's Italian branch. Frowning, she buzzed Derek Rayne's pocket pager. Within two minutes, the Precept of the House was in the library along with Dr. Rachel Corrigan and Nick Boyle. Thirty seconds after that, a two way digital videoconference had been activated.

Derek half-smiled when he saw who it was, webcasting from Florence House.

"Philip! Long time/no see."

Father Philip Callahan, the Vatican's personal liaison with San Francisco House, frowned.

"I'm afraid this isn't a social call, Derek. We just received word from our Greek Orthodox brethren. The monastery of St. Ioannes has been destroyed."

There was a full minute of stunned silence.

"Was it terrorists?" Nick Boyle (the ex-Navy SEAL) finally managed to ask.

Father Callahan shook his head: "Not unless you can think of a terrorist group whose trademark is manual decapitation!"

"Have the Knights been activated?"

"The Patriarch sent out the word the moment he was informed."

Alex looked at her teammates.

"Do you think this could be related to that hacker?"

Father Callahan arched an eyebrow: "Hacker? What hacker?"

Derek replied that, earlier in the afternoon, Alex had detected someone trying to gain unauthorized on-line information concerning the Luna Foundation and the Winston Rayne Museum's security system.

"I was able to shut them out," added Alex: "But, whoever it was, they were good enough to keep me from back-tracing them!"

"Well, it could just be coincidence," declared the priest: "But, if so, it's a poorly timed one!"

"What about the rest of the Legacy?" asked Derek.

"All Houses have been notified, along with every chapter of the Holy Order of Nimrod."

"And, the Greek monks?" Rachel now inquired: "Were there any. . .survivors among them?

Father Callahan could only shrug: "The Greek police are still tallying bodies. But, as of right now, it doesn't look like it."

"Temple of the Searing Wind," recited the female voice at the other end of the line.

"I wish to speak to Yu Nohu."

"I am afraid that is impossible, sir. The sifu is in private meditation and cannot be disturbed."

"He'll want to be disturbed for this, sweetheart. Tell him it's a chance to have the Prince of Los Angeles owe him one."

Five minutes later, a much older, decidedly male voice came on the phone.

"You were saying. . .?"

So, the Englishman told him all about the blood hunt that had been declared against Angel.

"If your boys slay him," the former concluded: "...Cyrus will be extremely grateful. Maybe even to the point of letting you build that branch temple you want. Plus, you feed on the chi of sinners; right? Well, with all the sins he's committed, as Angelus, his chi will probably seem like a regular smorgasbord!"

There was a brief pause as the kuei-jin master considered this offer. He then asked for Angel's present whereabouts.

"Well, that's the one wrinkle, I'm afraid. According to my little crystal ball, he's at the Haven! Lily Langtry's place. Which means, he's probably under Julian Luna's protection, even as we speak. Your boys might have to invade it, in force."

"When it comes to providing overdue retribution to sinners like Angelus," replied Yu Nohu: ". . .no price is too high."

tbc