Legendary Detective at the World's End (Volume 1) (13 page)

   “You sure about this?” Lee whispered.

   “This is the only place she can be.” Jake assured him before carefully beginning to shadow Kartier up the stairs after he reached the second floor. Lee and Kirin followed him, heeding his every step as they quickly made their way up the staircase until they reached the second floor. There, they could see Kartier entering the furthest room down the hall. As he walked in alone, Davos henchman stood by the front of the door.

     Lee whispered to Jake. “We need to get inside.”

   “I know.” Jake said looking back at Lee, only then noticing Kirin nowhere in sight. “Where’s Kirin?” Jake asked Lee who looked forward with his jaw hanging. Taking this as a hint, Jake looked forward to See Kirin standing in front of an aggravated Henchman who pointed a gun at Kirin while he stood there with a grin on his face and a bag in his hands.

   “Who are you?! What are you doing here!?” the henchman said panicked and scared, fumbling as he pulled out his handgun and pointed it at Kirin. Steel face, Kirin raised the bag in the air and shook it. The bag jingled as if it were a shaker, making the rough sound that coinage would make if it were put in a twirl. “Tell Davos I have his money.”

   “What?” the henchman said with widened eyes. “For real? We’re saved.” He said under his breath. “Show me it?” the henchman asked.

   “No, only to your boss.” Kirin said. “And keep in mind; if I don’t report to my friends at the auction, they plan to inform some of the people from the Gambling Union of your presence. So take it easy with that weapon.”

     The henchman cringed in horror at his words before lowering his weapon and turning around to open the door. As he did, Kirin looked towards Jake and Lee, waving them over as he entered.

     Jake and Lee looked confused and terrified at Kirin’s actions but broke through their stunned states with their will to save Jade and the curiosity of how. Rushing over as Kirin stepped forward to enter—they quickly made it to his side as he walked into the door to see the grimacing face of Davos holding onto a shotgun he pointed directly at them while they entered. Looking at him as he stood tall, Kirin could see the wide-open windows behind him with a clear view of the stars and a lighthouse under their dazzling glow. You could hear the ocean from here, Kirin thought.

   “Hey!” the henchman said in shock as he saw Lee and Jake behind Kirin. “Where did these guys come from?”

   “They’re my back up.” Kirin replied. “After all, can’t trust a gambler on his home turf, or should I say house.”

   “Haha…” Davos laughed at Kirin’s words. “Still a funny boy. But you’re right, from the Downtown Sector to a warehouse, oh how far I’ve fallen. All thanks to you brats.”

     Lee, walking in noticed a chair in the middle of the room. There sat a young girl with jet black hair with her arms tied behind the seat along with her legs while a piece of duct tape stuck over her mouth where the beads of her tears ran out of her brown eyes onto its rubbery folds.

   “Jade!” Lee shouted, rushing over to her, but as he did, Davos henchman kneed him in the stomach and then smashed the back end of his pistol on the side of his head, knocking Lee out cold as his body fell to the floor at the hushed screams of Jade as she looked on in horror at the state of her brother.

   “Lee!” Jake said rushing over to him, but as he did, Kirin grabbed hold of his arm, grabbing his attention with his weak grip, but holding him back with his powerful stare telling him not to move. Jake calmed himself down and let his anger boil.

   “Hmm…” Davos looked on. “No takers for a second beating?”

   “No.” Kirin said as his eyes turned to the far corner of the room where a Blonde man stood in apprehension of their arrival. “You’re Kartier I suppose.” Kirin said.

   “That’s none of your business.” Davos growled.

     Kartier emerged from the corner. “Really, Davos? What sort of business is this where you invite children to it? Although,” he said suddenly noticing the soft features of Kirin’s face. “I don’t mind.” he smiled awkwardly.

   “I didn’t invite them, they barged in.” Davos said turning his gaze at the bag in Kirin’s hand. “But it seems like you have another bidder Mr. Kartier. I take it this boy here wants to buy the beautiful Jade as well.”

   “Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. Children,” Kartier said stepping forward with his pretentious behavior in full bloom. “You might as well resign yourself from this competition—I have already placed five hundred pieces on the girl. No way children like you can top that.”

   “Sheesh.” Kirin shrugged his shoulders. “That’s a whole lot of money Davos, I thought we had a deal before, I bring the money, and you remove all debt.”

   “Yeah well, I thought I was a part of the Union a few hours ago, now I’m being hunted by them, things change kid, better get used to it in this world.”

   “Is that so? If that’s the case,” Kirin said casually looking around the room. “Then I don’t have enough coin. So sad… Well,” he said quickly turning around. “Let’s go Jake. The night awaits.” He said heading out the door.

   “Hold on!” Davos said cocking back his shotgun. “You think you can walk out of here with over three hundred gold pieces in hand unharmed?”

     Kirin stopped dead in his tracks. “I do.” He replied.

   “Tch.” Davos sucked in his teeth. “Just hand over the bag, brat.”

     Jake noticed a smirk come over Kirin’s face as he turned around holding his hands up along with the bag.

   “You got me.” Kirin said.

   “I do.” Davos scowled. “Now throw the bag over here. And if you try anything funny, that bag will be falling with you and a few empty shotgun shells.”

    “Alright, alright. Just hold your horses.” Kirin said throwing the bag at the foot of Davos. Letting its clinging sounds grab his attention.

   “You really got it back.” Davos said smiling with relief. “Jagos, cover me.” He said to his henchman.

     Davos henchman Jagos aimed his pistol at Kirin as his boss lowered his shotgun and prepared to unzip the bag.

     Davos smiled. “And here I thought you were working with the robbers.” he said as he unzipped the bag to see gold coins. “You really are an impressive detective, to have gotten all this back.” He said looking at Jagos. “Too bad I’m going to have to kill you. Take them out Jagos.”

     Jagos gripped the handle of his gun and tightened its aim at Kirin to the dismay of Jake that looked at the growing animosity towards them with fear and confusion.

   “Kirin!” Jake shouted. “What are you doing?!”

     As Jagos was about to pull the trigger, Kirin finally raised his voice. “Are you sure it’s all there?” Kirin said.

   “Huh?” Davos said turning away from Kartier. “What are you on about?”

   “If you were interested in finding out how the Union tracks you, its inside the bag.”

   “What?”

   “How they find you.” Kirin continued with his ominous words.

   “How they find me?”

   “I’ve led them here to you, and the longer you wait here, the quicker they’ll be coming.”

   “What are you talking about?” Davos said with a look of panic in his eyes as he ripped open the bag revealing a burst of light that shot out of its insides and spread all over the floor, lighting up the darkness of the room with a warm white light.

   “W-What is this?” Davos said stunned and confused by the light.

   “Road flares. And that…” Kirin said looking behind Davos as a great big white light beamed through the window, turning the warm glow of the flares into an after image while this blinding light filled every corner of the room, causing everyone to cover their eyes.

   “What is this?!” Jagos shouted.

     Davos, confused and terrified by what was happening, turned around and aimed his weapon at Kirin. “You Bastard!” he shouted as he aimed directly at Jade. As he reached for the trigger a loud bang rung out, echoing all across the warehouse yard and bounced off the wall of the room. Davos stopped in his tracks and covered his eyes as he turned and looked out the window. “What was that sound?”

   “Your death.” Kirin said before turning towards Jake. “Grab Lee and get out, I’ll get Jade.” He told him.

     Jake, confused at first, gathered himself as he covered his eyes while he rushed over to Lee’s unconscious body and pulled him out the door, however, just before he exited, he noticed Jade shivering in her chair. Seeing the fright in her small fragile body, Jake headed back in, only to see Kirin’s raised hand to stop him. “Get out of here!” he shouted. As those words leapt from his mouth, the banging sound continued, this time blowing a hole into the floor beside Kirin. Stunned by what he saw, he looked back towards Davos to see him turning around holding his chest.

   “T-This…” Davos mumbled. “This can’t be happening… I-I was… I was almost there…” he said as another banging sound echoed and crashed into his back, staining the floors with spattered blood. Instantly terrified by the sight, Jake frantically pulled Lee out of the room and into the hall, as he did, shots rang out again and again, bang, bang, bang, the sound rung in Jake’s ears, pushing him forward. The piercing sound of each shot made was blood curdling and stirred the inner terror inside Jake as he carried his friend. However, as he did, bullets began to pierce the wall—exploding into the hall with such a powerful impact and thunderous sound it frightened Jake further, causing him to drag Lee with great speed across the bumpy floors, knocking him around until he reached the stairs. Once there, he crouched down and covered his ears.

   “Kirin!” he shouted. “Jade!” he yelled again, regaining his courage immediately after remembering Jade. Quickly picking himself up, Jake ran towards the gunfire piercing the warehouse’s fragile wooden walls, however, as he neared, the gunfire died down to a complete stop, and its loud thunderous shots could not be heard anymore. Shocked by its sudden disappearance, Jake rushed to the open door to see all the once standing figures on the ground bloodied as one sole person stood tall under the blinding light. It was Kirin, Kirin with his hand over the eyes of Jade as she shivered with fright. The blinding lights that illuminated the room flickered off, giving way to darkness. With the light gone, Kirin leaned in and whispered to Jade.

   “You’re safe now. But Keep your eyes closed until I say so.”

     Jade nodded her head nervously. Kirin pulled out a knife and cut the ropes tying her wrists then knelt down to cut the ropes on her legs, freeing her from the chair. He then slowly peeled off the tape on her mouth.

   “Ow.” Jade yelped quietly.

   “You alright?”

   “Y-Yes.” She said in a hushed trembling voice.

   “Now take my hand and I’ll bring you to see your family, but keep your eyes closed.”

     She nodded her head as Kirin grabbed her by the hand, raising it as he guided her through the room. Nearing the bloodied body of Davos, Kirin crouched over and picked up the bag of gold pieces. “Told you.” He whispered.

   “Huh?” Jade muttered.

   “Nothing, nothing.” He said passing by the crumpled body of Kartier in the corner until they met the still writhing body of Jagos on the floor, murmuring words that caught Kirin’s attention.

   “F-Father…” He said reaching out his hand to the lifeless body of Davos before he fell into the same motionless position. Kirin stepped over his body as a look of awkward pity came over his face that wore off once he entered the hallway. Once there, he walked up to the still stunned Jake.

   “Now open your eyes.” Kirin said. Jade opened her eyes to see Jake standing there with a bewildered look on his face.

   “Uncle Jake!” she screamed with tears running down her face as she wrapped her arms around him.

   “It’s ok.” Jake said picking her up. “You’re ok now.”

     Kirin walked ahead, waving Jake over as he rushed over to the stairs. Once there, he approached Lee as he groggily picked himself off the ground while holding the side of his head.

   “Ahrgh…” he groaned. “What happened?”

   “We saved your sister.” Kirin said walking by the surprised Lee who jumped and ran to hug Jade who reached out from the arms of Jake to hug him. As the family reunion took place, Kirin made his way down the stairs and to the ground floor where the dawn’s early light began to seep through the cracks of the building. Making it to the old rickety front door to the front side of the large warehouse, Kirin exited to see a jeep waiting for him.

   “Haha…” Kirin laughed, recognizing Lace as he exited the jeep. “So you didn’t run off. Thanks for the help, looks like you contacted the Union in time and got them into place for me.”

     Lace shook his head in disbelief and aggravation. “They almost killed me for approaching them during the auction, but they appreciated the heads up. Anyways, I just wanted to see if you could do it.”

   “And I did.” Kirin said throwing the bag of gold onto the floor beside Lace.

   “Yeah. You did. What a use for flares and gold.”

     Kirin smiled before looking around to see the green lights at the center warehouse were out. “What happened there?”

   “As soon as the shots rang out, everything ended. You can still see the dust of their trails, that’s how fast they left. It was about closing time for the auction anyway.”