Requiem III: The Search for The Truth

by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 18: Peter Follows His Nose

Peter Caine and Li Pei left the Caine apartment to see if they could make any more progress in finding Marlene. Peter's father had given him the necessary information for them to retrace their steps to the exact spot where Caine had found out about the mysterious recluse that might be Peter's Aunt. As they approached an outdoor cafe, a woman brushed up against Peter and something spilled on his shirt.

"Excuse me, I didn't see you." Peter looked up, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. She had quickly vanished into the crowd. Peter brushed his hands along the wet spot to dry it. A tantalizing aroma raised to meet his nostrils. It smelled familiar and yet there was something much more to it. Peter looked over his shoulder and gazed through the crowd, now oblivious to what Li Pei was saying.

"Peter," Li Pei called to his companion. "Peter."

"Huh?"

"I was asking you how you and Kwai Chang found each other after you thought the other was dead."

"It's a long story. Li Pei, did you see the woman who bumped into me? Did you see where she went?"

"The blonde woman with the light grey suit? No, Peter, I did not see where she went. Why."

"I've got to find her," Peter sounded insistent.

"Do you think she might know where to find your aunt?"

"I . . . do not know," Peter said distractedly and sounding like his father. The pull toward the unknown woman was very strong. He felt he needed to know who she was and why he felt this way toward her. He was being drawn to her in a way he did not understand. The aroma of her was so strong. Then a thought occurred to him. He lifted his hand to his nose and once again sniffed at the fragrance he found there. Yes, there was the barest hint. Then a name and a face floated to his consciousness. 'Nah, it couldn't be. She couldn't be using the same trick that . . . But if she is, then why?' Peter had only one way of finding out.

"Peter, we must find out about your aunt. A Shaolin does not let himself get distracted over the demands of his body."

"Is that what you think? It's not like that."

"Oh, really," Li Pei stated. "I saw the look on your face while you were searching. It was one filled with a need that all of us face. But now is not the time."

"Li Pei, it wasn't like that, but you may be right about one thing. That woman may or may not have something to do with my aunt, but I have to find out. It's just too coincidental. I heard rumors she was trying to restart her father's operation, but I thought after the trial she would have laid low for a lot longer than it's been."

"Peter, you are confusing me. What are you referring to?"

"That woman. I know who she is. I'm going to follow her and see where she'll lead me."

"Peter, you cannot leave me here to look for a recluse who may or may not be my wife."

"Look, Pop and Grandfather thinks she is. All you need to do is go down to the shop that Pop described and see who comes by. Tell the shop keeper my father sent you and have him point out who comes in, who might be connected to the woman. All you must do is follow them. When you find out where they are, just go back to my father's place and wait for me or wait for them to come back from Shambhala and tell them what you've found."

"But how will you follow that blonde woman? She has disappeared. You may never find her."

"Believe me, I'll find her. I can't help but find her. I have her scent."

"I do not understand," Li Pei questioned.

'Every Shaolin must take lessons in using phrases without contractions,' Peter thought to himself. "I'll tell you about it someday. It involves a lesson that my father taught me at the temple a long time ago. I better get going. The scent will fade soon."

"Peter, be careful. I do not know why, but something tells me that finding this woman could be very dangerous."

Peter gave Li Pei's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Careful is my middle name. If something goes wrong and you don't hear from me in a few of hours or see my father, go to the 101st Precinct. Ask for Kermit. He will help you." Then Peter was running back in the opposite direction, leaving Li Pei to search on his own.

Xia Tan had not gone very far, just far enough so Peter and his companion could not see her. Soon she saw her quarry turn and then run in the direction she had taken. 'Well Peter Caine. Looks like the chase is on.'

Xia Tan moved from her hiding place and ducked into a doorway that led into the mall. She still had some of the contents in the vial left. Taking the vial, she entered a large clothing store and placed a drop or two of the liquid on the floor. Being careful not to tread in it, she then left the clothing store the way she had come, trying to leave a false trail in her wake. Eventually, she would have to find a place where the trail would lead where they would meet. For now, she was just having fun stringing the young Shaolin along.

'Getting back some of my own, if you will,' She thought. 'That really wasn't very fair of you using what you did. That's another reason to pay you and your father back for what you've done. You nearly ruined my life. And I will see that your life is left in ruins as well.'

Xia continued to leave her trail, confident that once she got Peter Caine alone, nothing was going to stop her from getting part of her revenge. Not even the Master.

Continues With Part 19