Forged in Honor (1995) (38 page)

"They will come because you will see to it. I am not a fool. You are here because your country feels threatened by the new government, and I have the only army left to do your dirty work. Help me, then. Bring Stephen here. Tell him his son is with me and that I will help him avenge his wife's death. That is all the assistance I need from you."

The Americans exchanged looks. The Thai station chief glanced at Banta, then shifted his eyes to Xu Kang. "Your colonel said something about having people in Rangoon. Do you have a network in place? Knowing would help us consider your proposal."

Xu Kang's lips curled back in a humorless smile. "We knew about my son's wife dying in Dinto prison because we have blackmailed the sergeant of the guard for years. We know about all the people they have killed. We have loyal people everywhere within the city, and more join us every day. We also have something that might interest you very much. One of our teams in Rangoon captured a DDSI lieutenant. He and his men shot a marine guard and some men in a car before a truck hit the car and blew up within your embassy. The lieutenant foolishly spoke of his bravery to his girlfriend, who is part Shan. The officer is now without his toes and three of his fingers, but he eventually told our people everything. They are bringing him here to the camp tomorrow. He will be my gift to your government."

The Thai chief of station looked at the other chief, then said, "We will need to contact our headquarters about your proposal, but I must tell you there is no guarantee the FBI will find your son."

Xu Kang walked to the but window and looked at a small boy playing with two other children. The old warrior said in an emotional whisper, "He will come."

Washington, D. C.

Josh glanced at his watch. "It's slow tonight, Pete."

The off-duty police officer took another peek at the woman beside his boss and said, "Why don't you knock off early, Hawk? This storm has kept most of the customers at home.

You look tired anyway. I can handle the rounds, and if something comes up, I'll call you on the Motorola."

Josh patted the officer's shoulder. "Yeah, thanks, I'll be less than five minutes away." He approached Grant and said, "Sorry you didn't see much action tonight."

She smiled. "I saw enough." She changed her voice and repeated what he had said to a drunk customer an hour before. " 'Sir, don't cause a scene, since it will be very embarrassing to you.' Did I get it right?"

Josh rolled his eyes. "Come on, I was good. Don't make light of my performance."

"Let's go to my place and have a beer. I wasn't finished talking to you last night when you interrupted me by snoring."

Josh looked down at his shoes so as not to have to face her. "I'd really like to, Glenn, but ..." He raised his head and looked into her eyes. "I'm feeling things that I haven't felt in a long time. I don't trust myself alone with you."

She smiled and leaned closer to him. "Don't make a scene-just take my arm and walk me home. We'll discuss this as we watch the storm from the balcony."

Josh didn't know how it happened. He didn't use any lines or make any moves. It just happened. They were standing on the balcony sopping wet, taking in the power of the storm, when she was suddenly in his arms. Lightning flashed and he saw the look in her eyes. They kissed just as the thunder cracked and rumbled across the turbulent black sky. The storm grew more intense, but the couple was no longer there to feel it. Inside the apartment the bedroom door closed, shutting the storm, and the rest of world, out.

Chapter 18.

University Hospital, Washington, D. C.

Josh set the Styrofoam container on the bed. "Here, Jean says she misses ya, especially your big tips."

Kelly tapped the lid, which had writing on it. "Hawk Special? Tell her I'm gonna wring her neck, then give her a big kiss. Thanks, Hawk. I need some real food."

Josh handed his friend napkins from the bag. "You're lookin' better."

Kelly stuck a big portion of the gravy-covered eggs in his mouth. He closed his eyes, murmuring and nodding as he chewed, then said, "Some storm last night, huh?"

"Have you looked outside, Shamrock? It's not over. The forecast is for another couple days of this. The streets are already flooded."

Kelly took a quick bite of the omelet and stabbed the air with his finger for emphasis.

"You ain't gonna believe this. The commissioner got a letter saying he'd better lay off busting dealers. It was a real piece of work; it says the trouble we had with the players was nothing but business, and we better not get involved. It was a threat letter. No signature, but it had a green circle where the signature should be. He sent copies to all the precincts and departments and told 'em to push harder and find the assholes."

Josh shook his head when he saw his friend had gotten himself worked up. "Why don't you take this time in the hospital to relax? Forget work, read, talk to Mary and the boys, watch television, do puzzles-hell, anything but stay on the phone connected to the job. I saw Mary outside and she said she's worried about you."

Kelly's eyes narrowed. "They made it personal when they killed Nolan."

"They shot you too, Kelly. You're out of action for a while. Take a break; enjoy it while you can."

Kelly eyed his friend as he took another bite. He chewed for a while, then waved his fork at Josh. "You look different this morning. You get that big turtle ... or you get laid?"

Josh felt his face flushing and quickly averted his eyes.

Kelly grinned with his mouth full. "Who, the looker you brought with you yesterday? Mary said she was stacked."

Josh waved the question away and focused on the hospital regulations posted behind Kelly's bed. "Shut up and eat, will ya?"

Kelly broke into an even wider grin. "Well, ain't this some shit? I'm not tellin' anybody, so relax. Hey, I got good news and some bad news. The good is I gave the profile you gave me yesterday to my guys and you were right as fuckin' rain.

We've got a list of probables for this head Sancho Chink."

"San," Josh corrected.

"Whatever. The guys have narrowed the list down to six, but I think Mr. Big is number two on our list. The guys came over last night after doin' some checkin'." Kelly picked up a computer printout from the nightstand. "Listen ta this: Mr.

Dorba. No last name, just Dorba. An exporter, no less, Far Eastern goods from bikes to rice beer. He's connected, I can smell it."

"How come you're so sure?"

"Just listen to the facts, okay? The guy arrived five months ago from Hong Kong and bought himself, in cash, a mansion over in Bethesda, overlooking the Potomac. It's one of those walled-in estates with security cameras, guards, the works.

He's renting an entire seven-story office building in Chinatown, all black glass and stocked with classy Chink lookers.

My team tried the fire inspection routine but couldn't get past the Chink security guards on the first floor. We checked with the phone company, and Dorba's company has rented the most sophisticated communications equipment on the market.

The business is called the Asian Import and Export Company. And yeah, that Hong Kong paper you wrote down, South China Morning Post, is delivered to their front door every morning. Also, the Chink cook from the mansion picked up a basket of turtle meat from Ky's last night. The boys are stakin' out the office to ID all the well-to-do businessmen who go into the office building. This morning, when this Dorba Chink goes to work, the third precinct is gonna sic a roller on him to do a little roust and get a look-see. My bet is the man is dirty. Nobody spends that kinds bucks anymore except connected people. He's syndicate."

"You got him tapped?" Josh asked.

"The judges say no probable cause. Payin' cash for a mansion ain't a crime in this town."

Josh eyed his friend. "I didn't ask if it was legal. I worked with you, remember?"

Kelly shrugged. "Okay, Nolan had friends. Yeah, we got a tap. Nothin'. You know how hard it is to find a badge who speaks Chink? And not just any Chink, 'cause we do have one guy, but he says the house staff is talkin' some kind of different Chink that he doesn't know."

"Cantonese, if he's connected to the Triad," said Josh matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, Cantonese." Kelly took another bite and spoke with his mouth full. "He's just another dirty slicky boy. He'll fuck up and we'll be there."

"Not you, remember?" Josh said pointedly.

Kelly waved it off. "You know what I mean."

Josh's brow furrowed. "Be very careful, Shamrock. The Triad plays hardball. You're not dealing with average scuzzballs here. You should have seen the Hong Kong police officers who spoke to us-they were some really depressed cops. The Triad broke them by putting hits on their families.

If you're gonna take them on, make sure Mary and the twins are protected. I mean it. If they sent that letter, it was exactly what it said it was, a warning. The Hong Kong boys got the same thing. The Triad means it."

"This ain't Hong Kong, Hawk, and they can't get away with that shit here. We know how to handle tough guys."

"If that was the good news, I'm sure not sure I wanna hear the bad," Josh said, frowning.

Kelly shrugged. "The heroin hit the streets yesterday, good stuff, 95 percent pure high. The really bad news is, it's cheap.

The dealers are almost givin' it away. You'd better warn your people tonight. This town is flyin'."

Josh couldn't take any more bad news. He took a bottle of hot sauce from his jacket pocket, put it on the nightstand, and sat on the edge of the bed. "I gotta go-my super trap is ready for pickup. Kelly, I'm serious. Get Mary and the twins covered. Your name was in the papers, so they know it was you who made the bust the other night. Do it today, and tell your guys the facts. They have to know what they're up against. Okay?"

Kelly rolled his eyes. "Jesus, you act like a mother hen sometimes! All right, already. Shit, go catch King Kong and leave me alone, will ya?"

Josh got up and walked toward the door. Kelly waited until he had grasped the doorknob before shifting his eyes to him and speaking in a soft whisper. "Hawk, thanks."

Josh winked and walked out.

Bob Stevenson rose up from behind the desk when his dripping boss walked in the office door. He held out a note to him. "You sure know some interesting people, boss."

Josh looked at the yellow piece of paper. "Director Jennings of the CIA called me?"

"Well, his secretary did. There's a big druggie conference over at the Roosevelt Hilton tomorrow. The secretary said the director was inviting you as his special guest to watch and listen. He wanted to see what you thought of the programs being proposed."

Josh tossed the note in the trash can. "That's what I think of it. Anything else?"

Bob's eyes widened and he rushed to the trash can.

"Damn, boss, the papers have been talking about this conference for weeks. Big decisions are going to be made. Plus, you don't get an invitation from the director of the CIA every day. How does he know you, by the way?"

Josh leaned against the wall and ignored the last question.

"Let me tell ya somethin'. I read the articles this morning. If it's in the papers, it means it's a show, ya got it? Sure, the paper says it's a closed conference, but what it means is the big boys are going over stuff the staff did months ago. It's a dog and pony show for the press so the administration can say they're gettin' tough on drugs."

Bob shrugged and said, "It's almost like turning down dinner at the White House. I think you're missing an opportunity, boss."

"Look, if you want to know what happens at the conference, ask Glenn tomorrow evening. She's going."

Bob raised his eyes to his boss with a smile. "Stefne said you were getting along pretty good with the lady colonel. Is this getting serious?"

"I'm too old for serious. Now shut up and quit grinnin' at me," Josh growled as he headed for the door. He looked back over his shoulder. "It's too wet and choppy for huntin', so I think I'll work on my Jeep. I'll be down in the Channel Inn's underground park. Be ready to play raquetball at one. Kelly tells me lots of heroin hit the streets yesterday, so we'd better bring in an extra rover for tonight."

"Got it, boss," Bob said as Josh opened the office door and walked out into the rain.

Meg was nursing a cup of coffee at the table when Josh walked into the cabin to find his tools. She came over all the time and made herself at home. He took off his rain jacket and poured himself a cup of coffee. As soon as he faced her she grinned like a wolf.

"Wind song do all right in the blow last night?" he asked, sitting across from her.

She pushed her red bangs out of her eyes and nodded. "I lost my electricity for a while and came over to see if you could help me, but you weren't here." Her eyes began twinkling. "It's about time you found a lady. I was getting worried about you. Now tell me everything."

"Meg, for cryin' out loud. I'm not gonna sit here and talk about my love life."

Meg pouted for two seconds before grinning again. "Too bad, I was hoping to get all excited. Hon, you stick with that lady. She's good for you." She locked her eyes on him and leaned closer. "Tell me, what's going on? I saw those men come in here yesterday before you went to work."