The end of the work week, when Li had killed Mark Gabby just the week before, this was the turn in week. The radio DJ, known as Veteran Child, was expected to meet with, to turn in his end of the income of sales to his boss, the Sons of Samedi leader, The General.
Veteran Child was up early, much too early for his taste, well before the sun showed itself to warm the winter skies over Stilwater. Just as he was going to complain about having to stand out in the cold, as he does every two weeks, an elaborately detailed green Hounfor pulled up just in front of him, the door opening by itself, sent a chill colder than outside up the DJ's spine.
"Morning. General… Mr. Sunshine." He murmured and nodded once he sat, grateful for the warmth inside of the modified hearse.
"Good Morning." The smooth Caribbean accented leader of the Sons of Samedi greeted in return. "I know it is early for you, but money never sleeps." He chuckled, taking a puff of his cigar. Mr. Sunshine snorted, as he turned away from Veteran Child, he disliked the young man, but due to his usefulness to his Commander, left the young man be.
With a nod of his head, Veteran Child nodded as well. He wanted to go back to bed, well smoke a bowl, and then go back to sleep. The General offered a drink to his lieutenant across from him.
"No thank you, sir."
The General smiled and nodded, ready to get down to business. "Well, shall I ask, how have the week's profits been?"
Veteran fished in his pocket, leaned over in the tailored limo, handing a few wads of wrapped bills to General's second, watched as Mr. Sunshine passed the bills over to their Boss.
Feeling the heft, or lack thereof, The General frowned, "I feel there are many singles where there should be fifties. Was there a problem?" Holding the thick wad, gauging the weight. He showed genuine concern as he looked at the DJ.
Veteran Child agreed, he wiped his hands on his pants, "Yes, about that.. I… Well, I couldn't get a hold of some of my guys."
Handing the money back to Mr. Sunshine for safekeeping, looked puzzled, the question on his even swarthy face, "Do these men, they steal from the General?"
Panicked, the man instantly covered for his boys. "No. NO! I'm not saying they are stealing from you at all, it seems to be…." To see was holding a conversation with The General as Veteran was speaking to clear up this matter, and his rudeness has now pushed the young DJs patience, "Yo, Papa Shongo, I'm talkin' to The General!"
The look that crossed the one called Mr. Sunshine was anything but, his face twisted so that it would have curdled fresh milk on the spot, he turned his head, setting his eerie light brown eyes to V.C. "Out d'ere you may be popular DJ, Veteran Chile, but in ere ya do well ta rememba yer place."
That was a warning if there was one ever heard, and it's something about this man that sent V.C into a silent rage, "My place… Who the fu-? Man, fuck off!" V.C bit back, ready to fight the man. He is too terrified to cross in broad daylight, let alone a darkened alley. Testing the net he knows only extends as the General sat to mediate.
The General placed a hand on his long-time friend's shoulder, stilling him. "My friends, please, let's be civil. Veteran Child, please look into the matter about the missing money… If one of your bag boys is indeed alive, I have heard of recent incidents. Take one of his hands… I doubt he would dare to be late again." The General chuckled, as this was a trifle easy to remedy.
The look of horror on V.C's face said it all, he sputtered, before he found his voice. "Y-y-, What! You want me to cut off some dudes' hand?"
The General smiled as he raised his hands. "If he stole from me, he needs to learn, yes?"
"Yeah, I guess… Yeah, that… um… makes sense." The man was not wrong. They could count it as a warning for someone like his boss.
"Is dis a problem?" Mr. Sunshine glared at the boy nearest him. Another hand on his arm stilled him. Silence again with a soft pat on his shoulder.
The General with a nod. "If your bag boy is not alive, we have a greater problem." The cool accent of The General has made the hairs stand up on the back of V.C's neck.
If V.C thought that Mr. Sunshine was creepy, the look that the jade green-eyed General just gave him sent his soul from his body. Veteran Child swallowed hard. "I got this. Yeah, I got this." He was shaking. 'Please let Gabby be alive.'
They drove in silence until they dropped V.C off at the studio.
The top floors of the Ultor/Phillips building, which sat in the New Saints Row district of Stilwater, had the best view of Stilwater. The "face" of Ultor, the Head of Special Projects, Dane Vogel. A young man who was driven to bring to the rest of Stilwater the glory he brought to Saints Row after Richard Hughes' death.
From sun up to sun down, Dane works tirelessly to build "A brighter future and a better life." As is the Ultor Motto entailed.
Presently Dane was preparing for the meeting with one of the handpicked employees who was a major credit to the Ultor team, the Head of Security one Dexter Jackson, former Strategist of the Third Street Saints.
The intercom buzzed, breaking the silent musings of the department head. "Mr. Vogel, Mr. Jackson to see you."
"Thank you. Send him in Jamie." Dane rose from his leather-backed swivel chair and adjusted his tie. The door opened, welcoming Dex into the modest plush office that overlooked the city.
"Good Morning Mr. Vogel, how are you?" Dex greeted with an extended hand.
Clasping hands, Dane smiled. "Please, no formalities. Dane is fine."
"Thank you, Dane." Dexter chuckled.
Dane gestured to a seat at the coffee table as he sat opposite. "Good, very good actually. It's been a while. How's the family?"
"I have no complaints at all. The coffee samplers you sent last month, Ava has not stopped gushing about it, had to order two boxes because she loves mixing them."
As Dex was filling Dane in on the gift he gave, Jamie walked in with cups of freshly brewed coffee, placing one down in front of Dex then the other to Dane, leaving the tray with milk, creamers, and sugars as quietly as she entered.
"That's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. You tell her I hope she makes it to the Holiday party. But I must admit, I called you here for something not work-related. Can you believe it?" Chuckling as he adjusted himself in his chair pouring some cream and sugar, "I have a question for you, though."
Curious, Dex watched while pouring sugar into his mug. Dane went around to his desk, reaching into his desk drawer pulling from it a folder. When Dane sat back with a sigh, placing it on the table, Dex raised an eyebrow with a sort of smirk frown on his face.
"You can ask me anything. I'll do my best to answer."
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that. Here." Sliding the folder to the man across from him, Dex placed his cup down and handled the folder, flipping it open, his brows drawn together.
"She's beautiful if I were a few years younger and not married… wait… Kyouki?" A color photograph of her entering the nightclub the other day, and at the mall with the girls, was there for Dexter to see.
Dane's eyes lit up, raising them expectantly in anticipation. "Oh, you know her?"
"Yeah I did, once, she… she's dead. I mean, the woman here looks just like a friend of mine who died." Dex shook his head. He had to admit, she is undoubtedly a knockout, but he remembered the night she died, or thought she died?
"No, those are from the other night. Her name is Kyouki."
It was Dexter's turn to look at Dane in question. "She was a... Is... a good friend of mine, from my street gang days. I did not know she was alive." 'How is she alive?' He flipped through the photos of Kyouki as he sat, seeing the brown-skinned woman next to her. There was no doubt it was Kyouki when a photo of Gat and her with Ramon was at their garage. It was then he knew it was indeed Kyouki amongst the living. "You wanted to know about her, right, if I may be frank?"
Dane licked his lips and smiled. "Would you be willing to tell me everything you know about her?"
Dex's eyes narrowed, he felt slighted, no matter what he does, Kyouki is the ghost subject, with Julius she took over as leader, commanding respect from even the stray gang members of rival gangs, and now his new boss she is back to ruin shit again for him.
"Kyouki 'Li' James, Japanese born with martial arts training. Honestly, if she were around during the time you looked me up, she would run the Masako, or training them." He was being honest. Part of him wishes she would have stayed dead.
"Hm, James." Dane rubbed his chin in thought.
Dex cleared his throat. "I can't tell you much else about her. She has always been mysterious, really. She is a good kid, big heart. Lived with her grandmother down by the marina, and she was dating Troy Bradshaw."
"Chief of Police Bradshaw?" Vogel was surprised.
Dex nodded. "Yeah, he might be better off asking. They were closer." Handing the folder over. Still shocked to see her, he had been so busy involved with his life, the city, and projects that Dane had set up, he knew nothing of the outside, just what's in the papers.
Dane reached for the folder, taking it back from Dex. "I will, thank you. You helped more than you know. I may have something special for you soon. Please, finish your coffee. Tell me anything else, if it comes to mind." Dane raised his mug, as Dex raised his in agreement.
Dane was now thinking about how he was going to get to meet this mystery woman, Kyouki. He had been fantasizing about her since bumping into her those months ago, and he was keen to bump into her more, so now he has a last name that "Li" didn't provide.
With coffee and conversation concluded, Dexter excused himself and headed back to his office. Walking the corridors, he looked around. For the past several years, he has lived a better life than that of when he was running with the dead-end street hustle.
He did, however, pull a Kyouki and moved his family out a year after he started working for the Ultor Corporation. He was Head of Security for the whole of the Ultor executives; Dexter also oversaw the recruitment of men and women who were to be a part of the elite team known as the "Masako".
Dexter did not want to lose this position and if Dane Vogel was looking for Kyouki, possibly to replace him. He heard nothing of her revival. That is that he focuses solely on work more than the outside world. It got him wondering if Troy knew she was alive.
~*S.R.1*~
Spring of 96'
Troy came in and saw Li was sitting with Dex as they went over how to lure out Angelo Lopez. "Aye, I got a lead on where the Los Carnales cut all their shit."
Dex didn't bother to look up. "The Carnales."
"Wha?" Troy's brows knitted, "Huh?"
"Rio Grande River. Jesus." Rolled his eyes as he looked at Troy with his hands out waiting for the man to catch what he said. Li looked between them both like it was a tennis match, and Troy was on the losing side.
Troy's face scrunched even more confused as he shrugged. "What the fuck?"
Dex threw his hands up in frustration. "It's LOS Carnales or THE Carnales… you know what? Never mind, this idiot wouldn't know Spanish if Alejandro himself woke from the dead to give a Spanish lesson."
Dex stormed out of the office with Li watching on, absolutely floored. Dex just blew up.
Shocked that they never even considered it a possibility because, if you know Dex, he remains the most level-headed out of the four of them.
"You should have known better, Dex has been on this for a while… even before me, but, quick Spanish lesson… Los and The are interchangeable, but you cannot put them in the same..." Li stopped mid-sentence, seeing Troy looking even more confused with what Li was saying along with Dex's outburst, she patted his shoulder without another word and left after Dex.
Once outside, Li caught Dex about to leave. It wasn't like him to blow his top like that, even at Johnny, with who he stays frustrated.
"Dex, you good?" Li asked as soon as she settled in the passenger's side.
Dex just sighed as he looked out the window of the car, waiting for her to buckle up. "Yeah, just tired. Let me ask you a question. Why are you here?"
"Cause you look like you need to talk."
"No, why are you running with the Saints?"
Li nodded, understanding. "Oh, because Julius and Troy saved my life."
"Is that all?" Dex smirked. He knew they saved her life, but didn't think that was the sole purpose for running with a gang.
Li nodded, "Yeah. My turn. Why are you here?"
That question echoed, but to hear Li say it, Dex was not sure if he should even tell Li that they offered him a position with Ultor Corp. It would get him out of the headache that he was already in and make an honest living instead of dealing with the shit he knew he was too smart for.
"Because I want to clean the streets." He answered finally, as they pulled up to get something to eat.
"A very honorable pursuit, and once that's done, then what? I don't think this is something you plan to do for the rest of your life, right?"
Dex looked over to Li. "How old are you?"
"Just turned 16."
"You should be in school." Pulling up to a Freckle Bitches.
"Spring break, and this is my club after school."
"What?"
"You know, a… umm… ok, in Japan teens join after school groups, cooking, archery, tennis. The Saints are now my after school group. I am honorably helping clean the streets, too." Li smiled up at him.
Dex snorted, returning her smile and laughed, "Alright, thanks. So what will you do once the streets are clean?"
Without hesitating, she knew what she was going to do. It's part of the reason she tries to not make friends with her new best friends, or even like the guy who helped save her life.
"Nihon no furusato." The girl said with a sigh.
Dex looked at her, puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"It means, go home to Japan." She reached into the bag and pulled out some fries.
"You make it sound like a bad thing." The light was green, and they drove on. Dex nodded. He knows things, knows she'll be off for some months once summer break hits. She would be gone maybe for good when she leaves one day. "I won't say anything to the guys, especially Johnny. Let's get these streets clean."
"Now you want me gone? Why Johnny?"
"Yeah, you're too young to be running with a gang." Reaching in the bag, he pulled out his burger.
Autumn of 98'
Ky said good night to him as Dex nodded, returning hers with his goodbye. The sun was setting over Stilwater; he pulled his phone out, dialing Li's boyfriend.
"What's up, Dex?"
"Drop it, I know you're a cop..."
It took a moment for Troy to process what Dex had just said. "The fuck are you talking about?"
"Come on, man, who you think you're talkin' to? The tactics, your constant questions, the police station thing, your shitty ass haircut...you got cop written all over you."
This pause took longer. Troy swallowed and sighed heavily. "So what are you gonna do?.."
"Nothin." Dex could go after Li in that second, telling her Troy just admitting what he had been thinking for the longest time now. "I highly doubt you want your girlfriend to find out. You know how temperamental she can be."
Troy's heart stopped at the mention of Li. "What?"
"I'm out Troy. Ultor offered me a job. I'm droppin' my flags and I'm goin' straight. I just want to make sure that we're not gonna have a problem. I won't mention it to Li. She just left here while I'm speaking to you."
Hearing nothing but silence on the other end, Dex confirmed Troy was a cop, and he watched Li drive to who knows where. This was no longer his problem. He packed the rest of his things and slipped off with no one questioning him.
'Dex, I'm heading out. I'll see you tomorrow night.'
That was what he heard Kyouki say two weeks before he left for his new job. He stood overlooking the city from the temporary corner office as the news reported the explosion of Richard Hughes' yacht.
He knows it was Kyouki who would be crazy…. not vindictive enough to blow him up. He backed her into a corner when she had been forced to murder the previous Mayor Marshall Winslow. Hughes didn't know that Li fumed about it for months, coming to Dex because of how she had to kill Winslow.
'How can I kill Hughes? He deserves to rot!'
Pulling his old cell from his pocket, he doesn't know why he still carries it around, maybe for sentimental reasons, he figured. He turned it on. The second it booted up messages he saw from Kyouki, six missed messages, not too bad. He went to open the last message from her.
Dexter! Dinner at Mimi's you coming?
Then, like a flood, message after message hit his phone to the point of glitching from today alone, people from his crew looked and were looking for him, messages from all the Soldiers in the crew, save for Johnny, and Troy.
Yo Dex where U , Li is dead from that explosion!
That's when he learned Kyouki was in the explosion as well.
'Go home. To Japan.'
He felt his eyes sting, wiped a rogue tear. She went home in the worst way. She cleaned the streets and was going to go home. Julius gave up and let her lead when that mantle was supposed to come to him.
'What are you doing here? You aren't going to still do this for the rest of your life, right?'
He took her words and took the offer presented to him. He got out and went to keep the streets clean.
Gathering himself, he went to Dane Vogel's office, knocking on his door.
"Oh Dexter, what can I do for you?"
"Yes, the security you want setting up doesn't have a name. I think I have one."
Dane gestured for Dex to continue.
Dex cleared his throat. "How about Masako? It means Justice in Japanese."
"Wow, that's an illustrious name. Any reason?"
"No, no reason. Night Mr. Vogel."
~*S.R.1*~
Along Mission Beach sits the remodeled Police Station that was once abandoned because of the war zone the Row became. Troy Bradshaw sits looking over the files he wanted on his desk. He had flipped through notes on Lin and pushed them aside. He said a small prayer, turning to the next folder.
Joseph Price, Leader of the Westside Rollerz, nephew to William Sharpe. He was reading over the notes and jotted anything important down. Finding that anytime they were arrested, they were let go, not even spending a night in holding. Going through Sharpe's file, he was a lawyer who worked with Hughes. Troy made a face, jotting that down, but that was not what Troy was looking for. He sat for hours, reading over papers, and remembering what happened the night Li was shot and Lin's death.
"What was it? Sharpe found out Lin was a Saint but they didn't know who Li was." He scratched his chin, then took a swig of coffee. Getting up to refill his mug, he continued to search his memories.
~*S.R.1*~
"17, my birthday is in nine months. I never told you my age?"
Gat and Troy took bets on how old she is, Kyouki, not seeing how her age made a difference, watched them hand money over to Dex. It wasn't like she had time for anyone, even though her eye was leaning to Troy.
With her constant running around with the Saints and school, when they show up to pick her up, the three of them are always scaring off any potential suitors.
Troy bit the inside of his cheek, she was young, and he was slowly falling for her, but he had his secrets and just knew when he first met her–when Julius was recruiting her, he didn't want her to be a part of this.
Dex just raised an eyebrow as he shook his head, muttering about how insane Julius was for getting her involved in all of this. "You need to be in school." Dex knew. Pocketing his money, poked her in the forehead. As he left to head home, they had an early morning.
Pouting cause they already discussed this. "Dex, I am on Holiday break now!"
Johnny smirked, "You don't look like it, but then again, I don't look like I have an eight-inch dick, so I guess we are both full of surprises." He walked away, smirking without another word. Johnny was getting hard. He was genuinely shocked, not knowing exactly how old she was, thought she and Aisha were around the same age she was cute, even in her oversized sweatshirts.
Li stood there wide-eyed, watching his back as he left, seeing him turn to face her at the door, lower his glasses and give her a wink, then left. She shook her shock off, but in the past few years, she should have known it's Johnny so that would be expected.
Troy rolled his eyes with a shake of his head, he has to want to talk to her. He was still thinking of how to get her out, patted her on the shoulder when he saw Julius approach. "I'll wait for you outside." Li nodded.
Troy went to the other side of the church, leaning against the wall, listening to Julius and Li, fighting the urge to light a cig.
Julius walked up congratulating Li, "Lin said you are doing a hell of a job with the Rollerz. Keep it up. Have you heard from Lin?"
Just then, Li's cell rang. "Yeah, it's her." She answered the phone. "Hey, we were just talking about you."
There was a brief pause before Lin answered, "Yeah... meet me up at the pool hall, the Rollerz... are getting into something big."
"Why the pool hall..." The conversation cut off before Li could ask anything else.
Li looked up at Julius with a confused look. "She hung up. That didn't sound like her, I mean…"
Julius nodded, "Don't let me hold you up. You know how she hates waiting."
"Yeah, I'll catch you later." Li headed for the pool hall.
Watching Kyouki leave, Troy waited until she was gone to follow her.
~* S.R.1*~
Troy stepped on the gas. He couldn't go in to save them, it would blow their cover, he had to wait. He lit a cigarette. sighing he leaned his head back, closing his eyes. A few minutes later, he heard a car pull up. It was the mechanic, Donny. Troy rolled his eyes and leaned back again, taking another pull.
Shots rang out, startling the undercover agent. Troy's eyes flew open, his head snapped to where Sharpe and Donny stood, his blood boiled. When Donny ran, Sharpe closed the trunk, pushing the custom Voxel in the Waterway.
Troy growled and started his car going after Sharpe, but something stopped him. He made a U-Turn, tired digging into the pavement and floored it to where the car had sunk.
He was pacing the length of the walk, running his fingers through his hair, watching the car sink further down,"Oh shit, oh shit, SHIT! KY, LIN, KY!", bubbling in response.
A few minutes that seemed like an eternity, bubbles ripped the surface of the water with blood.
Troy looked horrified. It was dark, and he had the high beams of his car on that only helped some. When he heard a loud gasp jumped into the cold water.
Li coughed, her lungs burned, she continued to cough the offending water from her lungs; she gripped her side, her hands were free, her mind went to the last thing she remembered.
"LIN.. LIN…. LEMME GO, LIN!" Li screamed as she struggled against what or who was holding her down to get free, Troy grabbed the squirming girl by the waist, Lin's lifeless body floated face down, her hands tied behind her, with her lighter gripped in her hand.
"Lin… no..." Li cried into Troy's shirt. She passed out exhausted.
"Meet me at the Safehouse in Tidal Spring. Li's been shot!"
~*S.R.1*~
The Chief sipped the hot coffee, pen in hand. He looked over Joseph's file. "They lost parts, stole cars, for their buyers overseas, but were overseas? Who needed the parts?" He continued to flip over papers, checking new ones that showed nothing of anything about these buyers overseas, then picked up the phone, pressing a couple of numbers held the receiver to his ear.
"Johnson, you got cases... W.D.S c.n873029 and J.P.P c.n873028 down there?" Nodding on his end when the officer put him on hold to search for what was asked. Troy waited a second more before getting confirmation. "Send them up, thanks."
On the other side of town, the Red Light district, Li and Shaundi headed out of Purgatory, pulling off waved to a few people as they made their way to the mall. The winter night sky was chilly, the lights of Downtown bright, the way the Snowflake lights twinkle on the lampposts that lined the streets to the shopping area that was the Rounds Square Shopping Mall made the Christmas holiday seem that much closer, sort of romantic.
"You ready for the Holiday?"
"Yeah, I love Christmas. It's the only time the fam was together in one spot." Shaundi sighed.
"What do you mean, you aren't spending Christmas together this year?"
Shaundi shook her head no. "My older brothers and sister moved away when I was in High School, and then when I got into college, my parents divorced."
Kyouki looked over, seeing the girl looking out of the window. "What do you want for Christmas?"
Shaundi shrugged. "A new bong, maybe?"
Li laughed. "Not my idea of a Christmas present, but I'll see what I can do when I ask Santa -san."
"Santa-san?"
"Hai! Santa -san, that's what I call him. He is real, you know."
"I know. I still believe I could use him for sure." She chuckled, "Hey Boss, can I ask you a question?"
Parking in the underground park, they got out and removed their coats, heading into the building.
"Sure, what is it?" Seeing Aisha, Gat, with Ren, Carlos, Ramon and Pierce waiting.
"What's with all the Japanese?"
Li looked shocked, and Johnny went to say something. He himself said it too once upon a time ago.
~*S.R.1*~
"Will, you stop calling me that." Gat grumbled as Li trotted behind, as she tried to catch up to him.
"Then what should I call you, Gat- san, Gat- sama, Ani or Nii- san?"
Turning on his heel, she ran right into his chest, "What the fuck, what's with all the Japanese?"
Rubbing her nose, Li ducking her head, "I happen to be Japanese?" She looked up, biting her lower lip.
Johnny frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Was that a question or an answer?"
"Both?"
~*S.R.1*~
"And Boss, your hair color, is it dyed?" Shaundi also noticed her color change hair. Not really color change, she noticed it just changed as the weather got colder.
"Are you saying that because I'm Black or Japanese?" Li watched her younger lieutenant's faces hit the floor.
Li smiled while Gat and Ramon held their sides in laughter. Carlos and Shaundi both looked mortified.
Pulling out her . "I am, in fact, Japanese born, Father one hundred percent. Afro Native, Mother, for whom to thank for the hair color, and eye color I am blessed with, Daijoubu desu ka?" When she handed the one that stated she was of Japanese descent, she held it for Shaundi and Carlos to see. Finding a picture of her father in his younger days, and mother she showed that to them too.
Shaundi went to apologize, but Li pulled Shaundi along as she shrugged it off. It never offended her, she had no offence to take.
They went shopping for gifts. An hour in Li had brought nothing but put some things on hold as she didn't want to carry around the gifts for her friends. Stopping at On Thin Ice, a jewelry store, Kyouki pulled Shaundi aside before she walked in.
"Sup, Boss?" Catching her balance.
"Have you found out what's in the Loa Dust?"
"Science is hard…" She shrugged, shaking her head, seeing Li sigh heavily Li was looking at the case that had a nice display of rings and bracelets, "But….. Because I can't figure it out, I do know someone who does."
Li looked at the petite girl and nodded, then back to the case, admiring a ring on the display. "Who do you know, and where can we find them?"
Shaundi hung her head. "Um, a woman I met in prison, she knows more about this shit than anyone… There's only one -"
Li sighed again, crossing her arms turning to Shaundi with a look of disapproval. "Obviously, a problem, yes?"
Shaundi nodded, "She's still in prison…"
Turning to the young woman shocked. "Shaundi!" Li closed her eyes, not knowing what to do with this information. Seems like this was just going south.
"Wait, hold on, it's fixable."
"That's not a word." Li reprimanded.
"Anyway, Samson, he is a demolition expert."
"I know Samson!" Li pointed, surprised to hear he was still around.
"Oh, well, ok then, so what we can do is you can go meet up with him, he can hook you up and go get her out, her name is Laura."
"You know how many Lauras there are, possibly locked up?" Stood with her hands on her hips. This wasn't looking good, but there may be something that can be done.
Shaundi shrugged and nodded. She knew who she was talking about, but Li was right, could help the wrong one out.
"Ok, we'll go through the files when we get back to HQ. Hope Troy didn't change the password."
"Troy?"
"An ex of mine."
"Ah."
The others walked out, and they went to get something to eat. Li took another look at the ring, ran into the store, finding out it was just sold. She made a specialized order instead, thanked the seller and caught up with the others.
Late-night once again for the Police Chief as he was going through papers, in the twelve boxes that were brought into his office from that morning, he was sitting on the floor, papers of anything that had the mysterious buyers mentioned, if it was typed, handwritten or copied was in a pile on his left. He sighed, still not seeing what he needed. His deputy came to his office, seeing the man on the floor knocked as she walked in. "Come here a sec, help me with this."
"Chief, what are you doing?"
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing, playing golf? Hand me that box there." Pointing without looking up, furiously flipping through papers.
The Deputy Chief shrugged, tiptoeing around the neatly scattered piles, and grabbed the topmost box, passing it to Troy. "Chief, what are you doing?" She asked once more as she squatted down to get a better look.
"I'm looking for evidence from a case from about six years ago. A company or something." He went rifling through the newest box in front of him, reading and turning over papers.
"Should you be mixing them up?"
"Nah, the case is closed. They would have been burnt anyway, but I need to find out who... What do you want anyway?" Looking up, almost annoyed, before he went back to reading recent papers.
She shook her head. "Avery and the others wanted to know if you wanted to get a drink."
"No time."
"Plenty of time, come on Chief." She looked at one of the topmost papers. "Toiu Sukai, an LLC based in Japan, this what you looking for?"
Troy looked up, looked at the paper in Kai Jonson's hand, and snatched it. She pointed to where it was on the printed receipt. "No shit! I could kiss you, thank you!"
She backed up, "No thanks Chief, so drink?" Standing from her spot, she headed back to the door.
"Yeah, be there in a few." Troy carefully stepped over the papers scattered all over his floor knocking a pile down, went to put the one he needed in the drawer, making several notes, stuffing it in as well and locked it up tight.
Jonson went to gather her things, pulling out her cell,
"Moshi, moshi?"
The deputy chief answered just as quickly. "Hai, karera wa chikadzuite imasu."
Dane stepped from the building into the chilly night air. He adjusted the scarf around his neck as he entered the sedan that pulled up to take him home. His cell rang. "Yes. She was? You did? Thank you. Drop it off in the morning."
Middle of the night in Stilwater, Dex was scouring the database before he went home for the night.
"Where the fuck is he? Really need to update this system."
When he found what he needed, he printed it off, then making a copy, grabbing a manila envelope, putting the paper away, and jotting down something else. He dropped it in the express mail addressed to The Chief of Police.
Midweek Li was coming to meet Samson at the strip club, Tee-N-Ay, in Rebadeaux, formally Lasalle.
It was late afternoon, and it felt like the temperature dropped from just the short time she stood out under one of the glass gazebos.
Li looked around as she waited. A grungy-looking man was walking up, scratching the back of his neck. He may have been homeless and Li readied herself to turn him down gently. That was until he spoke up. "You know Shaundi?"
"Yeah?"
"Name's Samson. She said you needed some C4 satchels."
Li's brows drew together. "Samson? That really you?"
"Yeah, sup." He scratched his shoulder, shrugging a bit.
"It's me, Li, you remember me? You helped me with some Rollerz some years back."
Looking up, he looked her in the eyes. "Oh shit, wow, hey, you looking good. Yeah, it's me." He smiled, a few of his teeth missing.
Li frowned through her smile, he didn't look like himself, if he hadn't said who he was she would have never known, he looked scarcely familiar, she nodded and pulled him along with her to her car, "Yeah I do, just a bit nothing like what you did for them dickheads before. How have you been?"
He laughed and rocked a bit, "Yeah, I.. haha, I got into some shit hooked on Loa, but Imma get clean." He admitted, but Li knew that was a lie.
"You hungry?" He had lost so much weight.
Samson nodded, "I could, don't want to, impose."
"Never imposing, I got you. Stop fuckin' with that shit, you hear me?"
"Yeah."
They pulled up to Purgatory getting out. She explained what she needed. "Ok, so what is happening is I'm breaking into the jail. Johnny here yet or Shaundi?" Addressing a few guards that stood inside. The two of the crew shook their heads no. It was still early, Li remembered.
"Amber, Cory, come here a sec."
"Yes, Boss?"
The two Saints stood awaiting Li's instruction. "Full set unders too, coat, shoes 9 or 10, bring both, and order breakfast for everyone, and his, bring right away to the apartment, and hot tea or coffee, bring both." Thumbing to Samson. They took one look at the man, nodded, hurrying off after she handed them a couple hundred.
Li led him out to her old apartment and knocked. Brain opened up. Li explained the situation. Samson walked in and got a nice hot shower.
A half-hour later, Amber came to the apartment with a change of clothes and food in hand. "That was fast." Li seemed surprised.
"We had some extras. The food is fresh from the diner up the way."
"Thanks. Talk to you later."
"No problem Boss."
Handing the bag of clothing and Coat to Brain, handed the boxes of shoes for him to try on to Samson, "Samson, when you are finished, come meet me at Purgatory. Take your time. Thanks, Brian, bring him over, please. I have to see if I have a spare room."
"No problem, Ky." Brian nodded as Li hustled out of the cold and back into Purgatory. When Gat greeted her.
It wasn't long before the crew trickled in, Johnny had arrived just as Li came back from the apartment. Meeting her at her bedroom door. Li told him to come sit in the office so they could talk about her plan.
There was off the wall shit, and then off the wall shit. With Kyouki she learned from the master. Johnny was repeating what she just said, hearing it as if he had mistaken what he heard. "You want to break into the Pen?" Johnny's eyebrow was so arched it looked like it would stay stuck. Of all the things he never heard of anyone needing to break in a jail.
"Yeah, you want to come with me, cause last I remember, I was groggy. Didn't get the grand tour unless they paraded my unconscious body around the joint."
"They ain't do that, Laura Rojas, right?"
"No Baker, is what Shaundi says her name is. I didn't get a picture."
"Aight, when you want to go?"
"After getting some satchels, I'm not good at lock picking?" She scratched her head. She poured two cups of tea, sipping on the hot pot, thinking if she had everything that she needed for the jailbreak.
It wasn't a long wait when she looked past Gat, seeing Samson and Brian walking in. In Samson's hands a bag and in his other a detonator.
Li took the bag from him and the detonator, listening as to how to use it, nodding her repeat of the instructions, Brian questioned what she needed it for and Li looked at him with a tilt of her head. "You sound like a cop." Both Gat and Li said at the same time.
"Jinx!" They looked at each other.
"Jinx again!" Gat pointed at her nose. Li scrunched her face.
Gat smirked. "Gat shut up!" They said again at the same time.
Li gasped and shouted, "Cierra el pico!" Li smiled victoriously.
Gat rolled his eyes, then looked at Brian. "You a cop?"
Brian shook his head no. "Ex-Cop I was just asking in case you needed help."
Gat nodded. "Aight, let's roll." He was going to need to monitor him.
They headed to the docks that were closest to the Penitentiary. And hired a boat, waiting for the driver to be ready himself. Li went to the trunk. "Here, I got some uniforms, we have to blend in. Sorry Brian, can you hang here until we get back? I didn't know you were coming."
"Yeah, it's cool." With a tip of his head, he sat back in the car and waited for them.
The isle prison she had been in was now cold and crawling with guards. Slipping in the boiler room that was in the alcove under the Pen, they cut the motor and glided to a stop. Taking the detonator wedged it where Samson told them where it would be most useful and then they made their way up to find Laura. Nodding to several guards along the way, Kyouki had to chuckle to herself. "Hey Johnny, please make a note of 'Weird shit I have done in my life.', for when I write my memoirs."
"You mean some more." Gat had to chuckle as well.
"Oh, haha."
"What, I think dressing as VK counts as infiltration?"
"I still can't believe you said you were yellow enough."
"Oh yeah. You said you didn't look good in it either." They walked by some more guards, nodding.
~*S.R.1*~
Johnny limped in, the metal brace on his leg still not keeping him immobile, He knew he would have to hear Li and Ish's mouths, but he had some payback for his knee, "Dex, don't worry, I have a plan."
"Johnny, your idea of a plan is taking the biggest hammer you can find and smashing whatever's in your way." Dex folded his arms across his chest, knowing he was right.
"That sounds like a plan to me."
"Yeah, a shitty one, as your whack ass robo-leg clearly proves."
"Oh, fuck you." Gat looked away, seeing Li walk in already, giving him a look that indicates he needs to be home resting.
Dex pointed at Li. "Next time you try that cowboy shit, you might not walk away at all."
"No, seriously, fuck you." Johnny growled. He let it slip one night, drunk. How he was digging Li to Dex, Dex, makes it a point to point out Johnny's soft side.
Dex raised his hands in defence. "Look, I worked out a plan that will hurt the Kings, and put minimum risk on you both."
Johnny rubbed his hands together with a smile. "How much murderin' do I get to do?"
"None."
Li smirked cause nothing that goes boom or bleeds, Gat isn't happy. "Your plan blows." Gat was ready to leave, heading to the door.
"Hear me out, alright? King's obviously got somethin' goin' on with the police. I'll figure that shit out. In the meantime, I want you two to go out and cause some havoc. If we can turn the public's eye to the Kings, then the police won't have a choice but to come down on them."
Li was shocked. She let Johnny use her as a crutch. He saved her life, which is why he is in a leg brace now. "Okay, so we do some damage. How do the VKs get blamed?" Johnny questioned, putting most of his weight on Li purposely.
Li pushed him and moved out of the way. "Dexter, we are allowed to play?" Pulling her earbud from her ear.
Dex nodded, and rolled his eyes, one Johnny was enough, but the two of them together, before Johnny was shot they ran the streets terrorizing the other gangs, Li was bad enough alone as well, but who better to cause mayhem, keeping Johnny on a leash. "Put these on."
"I'm yellow enough as it is, Dex."
"Just put the damn shirt on, you too."
"Ew." Li looked at the oversized yellow shirt in her hands. "It washes me out."
"No complaints or neither of you go."
"Fine." Gat and Li said together
Heading to the door, Johnny acted like he needed help, leaning on Li, "Come on, let's get dressed. Then we got a little peace to disturb."
~*S.R.1*~
They traveled up a few flights to the second floor of the Northern cells, and to the cell of one Laura Baker.
"You, Laura Baker?"
"Yes?" A middle-aged woman dressed in a standard prison jumper with a grey sweater over it answered as she politely stood at the cell doors.
Li reached into her pocket. "All work and no boom makes Johnny a dull boy."
Johnny looked over. He admitted he would have rather shot his way in, but Li insisted. When she then pressed the detonator and the ground shook, he smiled. Right on cue, the lights went out and the cell doors clicked open.
"A jailbreak? How exciting!" Laura seems positively giddy. Li and Gat hustled Laura back out of the way they came in. The whole prison was in an uproar, guards everywhere trying to get the inmates back into their cells. And they escaped relatively undetected. It took them longer to get back to the boat as they skulked in the shadows, getting past the guards that were scrambling around the dark island.
Dumping their uniforms in the ocean as they made it back to the mainland, they came up to the car with Laura in tow and ushered her into the car.
"Gotdamn it's cold out." Li shivered as they all climbed into the car.
"Who is this?" Brian asked. Gat drew his gun, aimed at the back of his head.
"Aye, Johnny, chill!" Li whipped around, hearing the gun click.
"He's a cop. Could work for Troy."
Brian held his hands up. "Listen, I don't know any Troys!"
Li thought about it and pulled off away from the docks. With a sigh, she has to make a decision that would cost a life tonight. "Brian, it would be wise to tell the truth. Do you know Troy, and are you a cop?"
Brain swallowed hard. "Ex-cop, I am on the run myself. I do not know Troy."
Li looked back at Gat, who wasn't all that convinced, giving her a small nod, and withdrew his gun.
Laura was still reeling from her prison break. It was still new to her. "You look familiar. You know a girl named Li? She helped me years ago when I first started slinging, as the kids say."
Li looked in the rearview mirror. "You are that Laura! Wasn't your last name Rojas?"
"Why yes it was. I had gotten remarried. Oh my, are you Li?" Laura leaned over to take a better look at the now young woman who helped her when she first started hustling.
"Hey Ms. Laura, long time no see." Li smiled, Gat turned away. That smile of hers gives him goosebumps, in a good way. He isn't over her, not in the slightest.
"Oh Dear, we heard you were in that terrible accident. Johnny here was getting people to look…."
Gat sat up and cleared his throat. "Aye Li, can you drop Brian and me off right here? Pick me up when you're finished."
Li looked again in the rearview to Johnny, who was looking out of the window, grinding his teeth. Pulling over, Gat went to open Laura's door and strolled her the car, talking to her before letting her in the passenger's seat.
Gat waved them off and went to get a drink with Brian. Laura cleared her throat once she was strapped in. "I can't wait to see my husband… It's been a few. Can you drop me off at my house?"
Li was curious to know what Laura was talking about. "Of course." Thinking she could get her to talk as they drove. When she went to probe, Laura would go on about her kids and her new life.
Just before they reached Laura's street, "My husband's been so supportive while I was in jail, it's really incredible… Some people said it was a bad idea to date your sponsor, but I say what the heck, it's love right?"
Li chuckled. Laura hadn't changed a bit, still the soccer mom. As they got out walking to the front door, Laura continued to gush, "Thank you so much for breaking me out of jail. You really should stay for dinner, it's the least I can do..." She rang the doorbell.
Li smiled. "I would love a home-cooked meal, but I have to go pick up my friends." Shivering slightly, pulling her hood over her head.
Laura nodded in agreement. It was getting colder out, Laura was thrilled to see Li again. "I still can't get over that it's you, this is sooo exciting… You know I fully support you one hundred percent, right?"
Li smiled brightly. It was good to see another face she knew, and helped, even if it was a weird time in her life making connections. Laura will help her, and this made the night even better.
"Oh, before I go, you're certain you can figure out what's in the Sons' stuff?"
"Don't worry sweetie, when it comes to drugs or snickerdoodles, I'm the best."
The front door opened and there stood a shirtless man in a pair of patchwork pants, "Ain't that the truth, baby..."
"Toby!" Laura squealed.
Li stood wide-eyed as Laura jumped into her husband's arms. She looked away and made the connection on who the man was, when she realized who this Toby was, pressing her lips together to keep herself from laughing.
"Thanks for bringing my pumpkin muffin back. You need anything you let me know..."
Trying to find her words. "Oh, I… I already talked to Laura about that." Li smiled and nodded, slowly backing away.
"In that case, you mind givin' me and the wife some quality time? I'd like to have a belated conjugal before the PTA meeting..."
Li nodded and backed away, further saluting, "Not at all, bye Laura and ... wow… Tobaias Baker." Snickering, she started the car and headed back to pick up Gat and Brian.
Gat was standing waiting for Li to pick him up with a bag in his hand. "Where to Gat- san?" Li pretending to be a driver of his.
"Ish's."
"Want to tell me what Laura was talking about?"
Gat looked at Li then looked away, out ahead of them, rubbing his nose, shook his head no.
"You good?" Li asked.
Christmas music was quietly playing on the radio, as they crushed through the bright lights of the city.
"For once I am." Gat nodded.
"When you feel like telling me, I'm ready."
"No, you're not." Gat took his glasses off to clean them.
"Where's' Brian?"
"I didn't kill him. He had to pick up something, said good night."
Li nodded. "What's in the bag?"
Gat smirked. "You a cop?"
"No, but I dated one." Li smirked.
Gat chuckled, sobering a bit. "You think Dex knew?"
Li had to think about that for a second. "You know, I'm not sure. I should see if I can get in touch with him."
Gat cleared his throat, shaking his head no again. "I wouldn't bother. He works for Ultor." They pulled up into Aisha's driveway.
"Oh." was all she could say. She seemed a bit sad, Dex would be a great help in re-cleaning the streets.
Kyouki stayed a few hours, she wanted to do something nice for Shaundi, and Aisha was on board. As Li left for the night, she shivered. Something felt off, like someone was watching her. She looked around, and saw nothing out of the ordinary. She shrugged and made her way to Purgatory for the night.
A black sedan pulled off in the opposite direction, heading to its final destination for the night.
"A convicted drug felon is back on the streets after escaping prison. An unknown assailant was seen docking at the prison island shortly before an explosion near the prison's generator cut all power to the holding cells. The assailant then made their way to the holding cells, where they met up with the drug felon, before being airlifted from the island. Despite the recent rash of breakouts, authorities insist nothing is wrong with the prison facility, and remind those seeking employment to please drop off a resume at the downtown police station." - Jane Valderrama
"Drug dealing mom escapes prison leaves a nice note." — Stilwater Gazette
Notes:
Ingredients for Snickerdoodles
3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
2 teaspoons cream of tartar*
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks or 230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 and 1/3 cup (267g) granulated sugar
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Topping
1/3 cup (70g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats (always recommended for cookies). Set aside.
Make the topping: Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
Make the cookies: Whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium bowl.
In a large bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 different parts. The dough will be thick.
Roll cookie dough into balls, about 1.5 Tablespoons of cookie dough each. I recommend this cookie scoop. Roll the dough balls in cinnamon-sugar topping. Sprinkle extra cinnamon-sugar on top if desired. Arrange 3 inches apart on the baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 10 minutes. The cookies will be very puffy and soft. When they are still very warm, lightly press down on them with the back of a spoon or fork to help flatten them out. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cookies remain soft & fresh for 7 days in an airtight container at room temperature.