Requiem III: The Search for The Truth

By Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 16: \]=ed4xc

Xia gazed at the clear liquid that was in her grasp. The ingredients just had to be right. If it wasn't she would soon find out. Xia placed two dabs of the liquid on her neck and in between her breasts. She thought of the night she had been lured by a similar ploy.

"Two can play at that game," she said to no one. "And once I have your son, nothing will stop me from killing you."

Xia glanced down at the photograph of her father. She then picked up more of her special weapons and placed them in the secret pockets of her cloak. Just as she was about to leave, the phone rang one more time.

"Hello?"

"You will not kill Peter Caine." It was the voice again. "I have changed my mind. I want him left alive."

"You promised that I could have my revenge."

"And you will have it. I want you to bring Peter Caine to me."

"And what do you plan on doing with him?" Xia questioned.

"That is my business," the voice said, the tone becoming very menacing. "Do as you are told. Or I may change my mind, again."

Xia shivered at the man's sinister words. Everything that she had been promised was suddenly coming unraveled. She really should not care one way or the other about the Shaolin Cop and what the Master's plans were for him, but something in the tone told her that she was also going to be denied the chance to even kill Caine. For now, she would do as the man asked and bide her time. "Where do you wish me to take him once I have him?"

"I will send a car to pick him up. But first, a package should be arriving any minute. I want you to give it to the Shaolin after you have captured Peter Caine."

"What's in the package?"

"It contains another momentum from Caine's past. That is all you need to know." Then the voice on the other line gave Xia an address and hung up.

Xia stared at the address in disbelief. She knew the place quite well, having grown up within those vacant halls all her life. Her father's apartment had been on the top floor and a replica of the temple had been below. It was where she had received her training. It should have been a fitting place for Caine's life to end, but it was where her father's life ended instead. It ended because of a well-placed kick by the Shaolin which caused the knife to be driven into her father's back. Caine tried to plead that it was her own father's hatred that caused his downfall, but she had refused to believe him. She preferred to believe that the Shaolin deliberately kicked her father until he fell backwards on the knife, driving it into his back from the force of the blow. Thoughts of that day nearly caused Xia to forget her directive and simply take revenge on whomever she wanted, and that included Peter Caine. But the Master wanted the Shaolin's son alive for his own purpose. So be it. If he wanted Peter alive, he would get him alive. He just didn't say that Peter Caine would need to be in one piece. Xia grabbed another vial from the shelf. As she was leaving, the promised package was waiting on the deck just outside her door. The person who delivered it was nowhere in sight. She picked it up and secured it in her cloak. It was time for the daughter of the dragon to seek out the son of the crane.

Xia concentrated and her clothing took on the appearance of a businesswoman who was out on her lunch break. She walked down the gangplank to the dock and reached her car. She would draw less attention this way and still be able to achieve her objective. Once again, she headed to Chinatown; this time, parking her car in an alley way. She headed to a small Chinese restaurant that had tables sitting out on the sidewalk. She learned that this was a favorite place where Peter, Caine, and the Ancient would often have tea. It would be the place where she would set her trap. As Xia looked over the menu, the Chinese proprietor came over and asked if she needed anything. She ordered a pot of tea and a bowl of rice. No use going hungry while she waited for her quarry to come into view. She hoped it would not be long. Xia was rewarded for her efforts and Peter Caine did come down the street, but she had to curse her timing because Peter was not alone. It was the very same man who stopped her from killing the Ancient and wounding Caine's father. It would seem her plan would have to be modified if she was going to get Peter Caine alone. Xia found the small vial that contained the lure that she had created for just the occasion. She added a few more drops, and after making her preparations, she dropped some money on the table and headed straight for the two men who were deep in conversation. As they got closer, she deliberately turned aside and brushed up against Peter Caine, spilling some of the contents from the small vial. As Caine turned in her direction, Xia melted into the crowd. Xia smiled as she knew that once Peter became aware of that scent, she knew he would not stop at nothing until he sought her out. The trap was baited with the cheese. Now all she had to do was wait and see if the mouse would take it.

Continues with Part 17