Requiem III: The Search for The Truth

by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 19: Cornered

Peter Caine followed the scent of the woman in gray, knowing just who he was dealing with. Still questions arose that needed explanation. What was she doing in Chinatown? Was she involved somehow? Was she planning on continuing with her father's business? Or was this a diversion to keep him off balance? The only way he was going to get answers was to find her and ask.

Peter followed the scent through the streets of Chinatown, then into the mall. Where was she leading him? He ended up at a clothing store where the trail abruptly ended. This couldn't be the place. Peter looked around to be certain he wasn't missing anything. He was about to give up when a breeze brushed his cheek, as if an air conditioning duct was blowing right on him from the ceiling. He suddenly turned and was heading back the way he had come, retracing his steps. He had caught the scent one more time and it led back out into the streets of Chinatown, but this time, he headed deeper into another area.

The scent trail was strong now and Peter was certain that he would catch up to the woman. Suddenly, the scent veered off and led down a narrow alley that opened into a large space, very similar to where the Caine apartment was located, but this space had only one entrance and therefore one exist. Thoughts of his past police training told him that he should have brought back-up with him, but his Shaolin training told him that he was equipped to handle what lay ahead. Without further thought, Peter Caine entered the alley.

As he entered the open area, Xia stood there waiting for him. She was no longer dressed in her gray suit but in the black garments she had worn when she fought his father.

"Welcome, Caine. We meet again."

Peter noticed her voice had taken on that same menacing hollowed cadence meant to be intimidating. It didn't impress him. "Xia, what are you doing here?"

"Haven't you heard? I've been given a second chance."

"A second chance at what?"

"You tell me."

"Let me guess, you're going to try to kill me then kill my father."

"Ah, I see you figured that one out, very good detective. You're smarter than you look."

"I'm not into that anymore. I'm following the family business," Peter shot back. Let her think about that one for a moment.

The smirk on Xia's face disappeared. "You are a Shaolin Priest? That is a laugh. I seem to recall you were a poor excuse for a cop. You had to have your daddy help you solve all those murders."

"Well murder is an ugly business. I never could quite understand just why you were doing it, other than the obvious fact, to draw out my father. You could have simply done it another way."

"A Shaolin's motto, 'another way.' Perhaps, but it would not have been half as fun."

"There's nothing fun about taking a life Xia."

"No? You should talk. You've taken lives yourself."

"As a cop, I was sworn to protect the innocent. I don't enjoy killing. I would take a life only when there was no other way."

"And will you take my life, Peter Caine?"

The question silenced the young Shaolin. "Only if there is no other choice. But we do have a choice here, Xia. You can tell me the truth. Why are you here?"

"If you must know, I'm here to repay a debt."

"You don't strike me as the debt paying kind."

"No? Then I'm here to finish what I started."

Xia waved her arms, and the area was shrouded in darkness.

"I see you're still up to your old parlor tricks again.

The two combatants started circling each other. Xia made the first move, drawing two red handled knives and throwing them at the young priest. Peter caught them, just barely in time before they would have entered his body. He took a moment and examined both blades. They were thin and had very little edge to them.

"My father was right, child's toys. You can do better than that."

Ignoring the young man's comments, Xia pulled out her second weapon. Two weighted balls on the end of a long thin rope. She spun the weapon around then threw that as well. Peter stepped aside and caught it. Then sent it flying behind him.

"You call this fighting? My sisters could do better than that."

"Your skills are good, but you cannot escape me that easily, Priest," Xia continued to boast.

"You haven't made combat with me, yet. You've done nothing but throw toys at me," Peter said, using his father's words to goad the woman.

The comment had its desired affect and Xia launched herself at the young Shaolin, kicking toward his head. Peter was able to dodge the attempts with ease, and coming around, struck her from behind. Xia tumbled forward but was soon on her feet. She had one more chance. If she could just get in close enough. They danced around each other, gaging each other's weaknesses and strengths. Xia did not want to admit to herself that Peter Caine's abilities had grown far more than her own. Still, Xia had one trick up her sleeve she had not tried. Xia spun, bringing her fist around to deliver a savage blow to Peter's body. The young Shaolin grabbed her by the wrist and as Xia struck out with the other, that too was grabbed. This time, however, it would be different. Just as she expected, young Caine pulled her forward attempting to toss her over his body as he dropped to the ground. Just as he was completing the maneuver, Xia reached with her fingers and dug her nails into his flesh. As he let her go, they raked through his skin causing blood to well up to the surface.

"AH," Peter cried out in sudden pain and looked at the scratches now present on his arms and hands. It wasn't long before his vision began to blur.

"Do you like my new addition to my arsenal?" Xia purred. "No?"

"What did you do to me?"

"Oh, nothing fancy. Just something a Chi Ru Master taught me. Don't worry, it's not poison, but it might as well be. Where you're going there will be no escape. I'll leave you to your 'destiny' Priest."

"What . . . ." Peter swayed, trying to keep his balance as his vision became more blurred. Within five minutes, he could no longer stand, and he collapsed to the ground. The alleyway seemed to swim around him and darken even more as he succumbed to whatever Tan's daughter have given him.

Xia crouched down beside the unconscious priest. "You are good, but not as good as your father. Even though I would love to see you die right here and now, I made a promise. You, young priest, have a date with the Master and I have a date with the Ancient."

Xia rose and waved her arms. The shadows that concealed them disappeared. She once again appeared to be dressed in her gray suit. Walking to the alley's entrance, she gave a signal and two men emerged from a waiting car. They entered the alley, picked up the slumbering young priest, and deposited him in the back seat. Once secure, the two men climbed back into the car and drove away. Xia watched the car as it disappeared into the Chinatown traffic. Then she brushed herself off and headed back to where her car was parked and back to her boat. She climbed in and spied the small package that the Master had given her still sitting on her car seat. The package would have to wait. There still was the Ancient to deal with. She knew she was going to have to find another way to deal with him. It wasn't going to be as simple as him allowing her to scratch him, even if it appeared to be accidental. The old Shaolin was too clever for that. She would have to consult her father's book one more time. To use her enemy's words, 'There was always another way."

Continues with Part 20