Strong Mystery: Murder, Mystery and Magic Books 1-3 (Steampunk Magica) (33 page)

Chapter 24

Owen inhaled his cigarette with satisfaction as he
stood outside in the cool of the courtyard
. The shadows were
just becoming long as the summer day spun to its ending. The Court of Lohan,
Lord of Hong Kong was slowly dispersing back to the richer parts of the city,
secure in the knowledge that the Dragon still dispensed justice to all
regardless of class or standing.

After the sentence of Lohan was carried out, and Jo was
beheaded in the very courtyard where they now stood, the Dragon had called Owen
to come closer. Staring at him without speaking, Lohan had then said something
that Owen was still puzzling over.

“She may be right,” the Dragon had grumbled. “We shall meet
again Owen Strong.” Leaving Owen with no explanation of who
she
was, or what she was
right
about naturally. One did
not cross-examine a Dragon, not if you wished to remain breathing. Now Owen
stood in the courtyard with Jinhao, Mike and Mary.

“What will happen to us now?” Mike asked. It was Jinhao who
answered him, before Owen had a chance to speak.

“I suspect that you will find that the Dragon has taken a
special interest in you,” Jinhao said. Deputy Inspector Gregg strode up to them
while she was speaking. Mary flinched away at the sight of his uniform while
Mike placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort. He gazed at the policeman with
cold eyes.

“Are you the one they call Mike, leader of what’s called Mike’s
Gang?” the Inspector demanded. Gregg’s face radiated extreme displeasure as if
he hated what he was saying.

“Yes,” Mike replied evenly. “I am he.”

Gregg reached into a pouch on his uniform belt, pulling out a
small scroll bound in red ribbon. He extended it towards the gang leader as if
Mike were a large rat that Gregg was afraid would bite him.

“This is a city wide safe-conduct.” Gregg explained. “The
Dragon said you were to have this. If any city police give you difficulty show
them this.” Mike took it with wonder in his face.

“Thank you,” he said shakily.

“Don’t thank me,” Gregg said shortly. “If I had my way you
would all go to the lock-up.” He dipped his hat towards Mary. “Begging your
pardon, of course, milady.” He turned towards Owen. “Good bit of business that
with the Court, My Lord. What will happen to that Austrian dog do you suppose?”
Owen exhaled a cloud of smoke, his eyes distant.

“Oh, I imagine that he will be traded for someone or something
from the Austrians,” Owen replied in a lazy voice. “Such arrangements are done
all the time. It would not do for Deter to come to a public trial for espionage
you know.” Gregg shook his head.

“I suppose so, My Lord,” the policeman said. “Still, it seems
that he gets away with it.”

“Do not imagine that the Austrians accept failure gladly,
Gregg.” Owen said with a wintry smile. “I do not doubt that his masters will
vent the full force of their displeasure on him.”

“As you say, My Lord,” Gregg allowed. “I must go now to direct
the bloody convoy that will wind its way back up the Hill.” The Inspector gave
a heavy sigh and moved off. Mike looked down at the residing back of the
Inspector and then down at the scroll in his hands. He held it up before Mary.

“Do you realize what this means?” he said to her excitedly.

“It means that the Dragon wishes you to assume a new role.”
Jinhao interjected quietly. “At another time and place I shall tell you of the
Eyes.”

Owen looked sideways at Jinhao. Was it Jinhao that Lohan had
referred to when he had said ‘she may be right’, Owen wondered? He knew very
little about his companion when it came right down to it. Certainly she had
some kind of connection to the Dragon that he was unaware of, another mystery
to be solved.

“You have kept your word to Jimmy regarding the Dragon’s
justice,” Mike said. “But you did not tell him that it would result in the
Pinchers taking him away. Is this more of the same?” He said looking at her
defiantly. Jinhao gave a twist of her shoulders.

“Jimmy never asked,” she retorted. “As for you, I remind you of
the old saying: ‘Dragons are subtle and powerful. Beware of any dealings with
them’.” She met Mike’s gaze.

“In this I remind you that I speak as the Dragon’s Voice, not
as my own.” She looked at him ruefully. “In this, we will both have little
freedom.”

“Alright,” Mike allowed. “I shall listen to what you have to
say about these Eyes you speak of.”

“At least it shall mean that we don’t have to worry about being
pinched ourselves,” Mary said to him. “Be grateful.”

“You need not worry about that,” Owen said. “Due to western
influences, there are no provisions anymore for holding females in the city
gaol, a grievous oversight in my opinion.”

“Well, yeah,” Mary said, “But that only applies to us girls.”
She squeezed Mike’s arm. “That’s no comfort to Mike here.” Owen finished his
cigarette, grinding it out with his foot.

“Oh I would not be too sure of that,” Owen said off-handedly.
“Mostly you should be afraid of some disgruntled father or brother claiming
Mike as one of theirs, I imagine.” Mike stiffened visibly.

“How long have you known?” Mike asked him softly.

“Almost since the beginning actually, when I read your aura,”
Owen explained. “Auras have three components you see. One part that reflects
your mind, which is decidedly male in aspect. One part that reflects your body
which is decidedly female in aspect. Unfortunately the city’s law still only
recognizes the latter.” Mary looked at Mike wide-eyed.

“You mean, you are like me?” Mary hesitated, unsure how to
continue.

“Yes,” Mike said to her, refusing to meet her eyes. “I was born
female, does that matter to you?”

“Well, yeah,” Mary said exasperatedly. “I’ve been wondering why
I feel the way I do about you,” she abruptly stopped talking, pulled Mikes face
towards her, and then kissed Mike firmly on the mouth. After a startled moment,
Mike returned the kiss heartily. When they stopped, they turned to find Owen
and Jinhao still facing them.

“However can we ever thank you?” Mary asked huskily. Mike
nodded agreement his fingers entwining with Mary’s.

“Whatever we can do, just ask,” The gang leader vowed. Owen
smiled at them both.

“I was hoping that you would say something like that. How would
you like to help confound a Sorcerer-Assassin?” He asked. “I will not lie to
you, it will be dangerous.” Mike and Mary looked at each other and shrugged
their shoulders.

“Tell us more,” Mary demanded.

“We will need Mei I think,” Jinhao mused.

“Mei?” Owen turned towards Jinhao. “Isn’t she a bit young for
this?”

“She dealt with you handily enough it seems,” Jinhao pointed
out. “Wait until you hear my plan.”

“Very well,” he conceded. “Mei it is.” He gripped his cane in
both hands. “What plan is this?”

They all listened carefully as Jinhao began speaking.

Chapter 25

Mei looked up at the Westerner called Mr. Victor with
a blank face
. He was just another pasty-faced man who wore
funny clothes and smelled bad. She knew that he was supposed to be some sort of
scary Sorcerer/Assassin type, but so far she was unimpressed, even if he did
carry one of those fancy canes that Sorcerers used. Even that was unimpressive,
looking like an old wooden stick with the red magic metal set in bands around
it. Owens had been much more impressive, being made entirely out of the glowing
red metal, which she knew was very expensive and powerful.

Mr. Victor had believed her easily enough when she had said
that she was
peaching
on Mike to get rid of Owen Strong, just as Owen had said he would. Westerners
apparently had no sense of honor, near as she could tell. Of course, there were
some like Owen who clearly had spent long enough around civilized people like
Jinhao that the concept must have rubbed off. The smelly Sorcerer had even
followed her eagerly down to the factory district with his pet ape, the giant
man he’d called Mr. Percy. Mei didn’t like him, he reminded her too much of the
big trolls that she’d heard tell of in the stories, all mean and tricksy-like.
She forced herself to pay attention as Mr. Victor jabbered at her again in
trade-Mandarin, which he didn’t speak nearly as well as she spoke English.

“So, they’ve made an old factory their home have they?” the man
asked, hovering over her. “And there is a back entrance you say?” Mei nodded
and pointed again, then spoke in slow English. Once she sent them down this
alley, which she had been told was full of traps, she was to circle around to
the front door, her part done.

“Yes. Go down that alley, turn right, and follow it until you
come to back-door. No one watch now. All sleeping or out stealing.” She stuck
out her palm. “Give me money.”

In response, Victor grabbed her arm roughly, holding up the
cane towards her face. A blue flame spouted from its tip. Mei felt the heat of
it and whimpered.

“Oh, I don’t think so my little pretty,” the man breathed. “I
think that you will lead us to this back-door first, and make sure that there
are no traps. Else I will burn off your beautiful little face. Do you
understand that?” He shook her arm Mei nodded silently.

“Very good,” The man said as the flame went out like a candle,
“You first.” Mr. Victor turned to his hulking partner. “Come along, Mr. Percy,”
He ordered. The giant grunted in response, pulling a huge air pistol from
inside his suit. Still gripping her arm tightly, he thrust Mei out before him
as the three of them started down the alley. They carefully walked its length, Mei
scarcely breathing as she waited for them to trigger some horrible deadly
explosion. They came to the door without incident, which left her both puzzled
and dismayed. Mr. Victor shoved her up towards the back door, keeping himself
well back from it. He pointed the end of his cane at her like a gun.

“Not quite what you were thinking, eh?” he said to her. “Now
open the door. I’m willing to bet that they’ve set it up as some sort of mouse trap
and you are going to spring it.” Mei looked at him and then at the door
hesitantly.

“Open it!” Victor snarled, his cane tip never wavering.

Taking a deep breath, she touched the doorknob. Nothing. She
turned it. Nothing. As the door opened just wide enough for her to slip through
she paused. Nothing.

Quickly tuning back towards Mr. Victor she made a rude gesture,
sticking out her tongue at him, then dived through the opening, closing the door
behind her. His cry of rage cut off by the door shutting. She squinted in the
gloom of the factory.

“Mei, quickly over here!” Mary’s voice cried out from the
crates stacked along one wall. She ran towards Mary just as a blow shuddered
against the back door. On the second blow the door came crashing back on its
hinges. The hulking shape of the giant named Percy strode in, his gun searching
in the gloom. Like a giant spider Jinhao dropped on him from above, her short
swords gleaming in the light of the open doorway.

With a speed that was amazing for someone of such size, Percy
brought his arms up to catch her slashing blades, throwing her into the side
wall with great force. As Jinhao scrabbled to regain her footing, the giant
silently raised his pistol. There was a crack of displaced air. The giant
staggered, his pistol dropping from his lifeless fingers as he looked down
incredulously at a hole that had appeared in the white of his shirt. He looked
at the blood pouring from it then fell face down on the floor with a crash.

Mary came out of the shadows holding Mei’s pistol towards the
roof. As she swaggered forward she smiled at Jinhao who shouted a warning at
her.

“Get back,” the Adept shouted, just as a wind like a typhoon
burst from the open doorway. Mary was flung backwards by the blast into the
shadows, her weapon flying from her fingers. Jinhao struggling to remain
upright, turned to see the sorcerer, Victor, enter the room, his cane raised
before him like an avenging spirit. Then, Jinhao watched as an amazing thing
happened.

As his foot touched down inside the factory, a circle of light
filled with strange lines sprang up on the floor. Victor’s body was thrown into
the air as if a strong wind came from the circle. He hung there suspended and
howling, his cane rolling across the floor away from the circle. Owen sauntered
out from the shadows, twirling his cane easily, to stand in front of the Assassin.

“You really are very predictable you know,” he drawled towards
the suspended man. “It is a failing for someone in your line of work that can
be fatal, as you’ll soon find out.”

“What. Did. You. Do?” Victor bit out each word as if in great
pain. He hung in mid-air above the glowing circle, his hair moving as if in an
invisible breeze.

“After our last encounter, I surmised that you would be
reluctant to attack using an Earth spell again,” Owen glanced around the
factory. “Untidy things that they are, they might have brought down the whole
building around our ears, and you would still have no head to fulfill your
contract with. When Jinhao told me how you attacked her almost instinctively
with what sounded like an Air spell. I cast a rune that would only work on
someone who had opened themselves up to element of Air. The rune would be
undetectable, as all it does is reflect back that element which you called
forth. I presume that Air is the Element you were born channeling?” Victor
screamed again. Owen clicked his tongue.

“Dear me,” he remarked with poisoned honey tones, “it does
sound as if you are in some pain. Are you?”

“I. Think. Hip. Is. Broken.” The Assassin ground out. “Down.”

“You want me to place you down?” Owen asked innocently. Victor
moaned. “Yes I can see where that would be an uncomfortable position to be in
with a broken hip.” Owen moved so that his legs were wide apart, his hands
firmly on his cane, which he put in front of him as if waiting. When he finally
spoke, it was in a voice like steel. “First though, you will tell me who hired
you to kill me.” Victor’s body shuddered in what might have been a laugh.

“You. Don’t. Know.” Victor gasped out with a grin. “Enemy. Powerful.
Not stop with me. Kill. You. Dirty.”

“I am sure.” Owen returned dryly. He hefted his cane, aiming
the tip at the Assassin. “Give me a name and I will put you out of your
misery.” Owen felt Jinhao ghost up beside him.

“Owen,” she said calmly. “You do not want to do this. You are
no killer of the helpless.”

“Jinhao,” He returned coldly, still looking at the floating
man, “while I value you we have not known each other that long. I must point
out that you have no idea what I am or what I have done. A death for him would
scarcely begin to pay for the death of a man like James.”

“Yes,” she conceded, “that is true. Still who you have been is
not who you need to be now. Do you truly wish the others to see killing as the
answer?” Owen saw Mary, Mike, and Mei out of the corner of his eye. He
hesitated to cast the Fire spear he held ready. His attention was caught again
by Victor’s outburst.

“The Black Rose!” Victor shouted out.

“What?” Owen repeated, “What did you say?” The headhunter
grunted out each word in pain.

“Black Rose! Is. Name. Of. Employer. Now. Kill. Me!” He gasped.

“Who hired you is called Black Rose?” Owen pressed. “Is that a
person or a group?”

“Yes!” Victor all but screamed. “Now kill me!” The Assassin
fainted away, hanging limply. Owen looked to his side to see Mei staring at him
with wide eyes. With a muttered curse Owen gestured violently with both arms.
The glowing circle vanished, the unconscious Assassin fell to the floor like a
sack of wet clothes. Owen turned to the little gang member.

“Mei,” he said calmly. “Would you be kind enough to go to the
local police station and bring back Inspector Gregg please?”

~ ~ ~

Inspector Gregg closed his notebook, then looked at
Owen and Jinhao carefully before he spoke
.

“Well Milord,” the tired policeman said, “it is a good thing
that you were able to subdue such a rascal. He is a famous assassin you know. I
just received a notice to look for him if he showed up in Hong Kong.”

“Really, Inspector?” Owen replied incredulously. “I can’t
imagine him being that dangerous. I was able to stop him rather easily.”

“And it was just luck that the big Northman that was his
companion was shot by someone as well,” Gregg returned. “Of course, it’s a pity
that you didn’t see who that was.”

“Yes it was,” Owen said. “We are thinking that it must have
been some sort of gang member. The villains must have run afoul of them
somehow.” Gregg nodded.

“Typical of their kind I suppose. The Sorcerer seems to have
survived, and perhaps he’ll talk before we hang him.” The all watched as a
group of uniformed officers picked up Victor on a palette, carrying him out the
door. Gregg looked around the factory floor.

“Speaking of gangs, where did that little girl run off to?”

“Oh, I’m sure she’s gone to spend the silver piece I gave her,”
Owen remarked. “Lucky for her that she came along.”

“Yes,” Gregg responded, “Lucky. I had best return to the
station.” He began to turn away then stopped and turned back to face the pair.
“I understand that the Dragon and the Court look upon you both pretty favorably
after the other day,” he said seriously. “Still, I would not have too much luck
if I were you.”

“Do not concern yourself, Inspector,” Owen said reassuringly.
“We intent to go back home and enjoy a bottle of wine. I happen to have a
lovely Vinland ‘23.” He turned to look at Jinhao. “Does that not sound suitable
to you?” Jinhao nodded.

“Owen is attempting to teach me his Western wines,” she said to
the Inspector. “I am a most dedicated student.” The police Inspector smiled at
this and tipped his hat towards them.

“Well, I wish you a happy experience Milady.” He nodded to
Owen, “Milord.”

Mike and Mary came out of the shadows after the police had
left. Mei trailed along behind them

“Thank you for not tell him about our part in things,” Mike
said to them. Owen raised an eyebrow in greeting.

“You are welcome,” the British Sorcerer replied. “I thought
that including you all would simply confuse matters. Besides,” he continued,
“While Gregg is a good sort, I am sure that he would arrest you simply for
coming to his attention so soon after that business at the Court.” Mike nodded
agreement.

“You are likely right,” he responded heavily to Owen. “What
will you do now?” Owen shrugged.

“I expect pretty much what we told the Inspector,” Owen said.
“We shall return home and consume an outrageously expensive wine.” He cocked
his head at them. “Would you like to accompany us?” Mike sneered at his offer.

“I doubt that we would fit very well in your fancy house,” the
ganger said. “I suppose that you should just go and enjoy it, forgetting all
about the likes of us. We know how to avoid our betters.”

“Nonsense,” Owen responded firmly. “I am inviting my
comrades-in-arms to enjoy a victory drink with me.”

“Besides,” Jinhao continued. “You still have to hear what I
have to offer you from the Dragon. He was impressed with you.” She smiled at
Mike and Mary, “Being the Dragon’s Eyes and Ears will not be easy I can promise
you. But his service will leave you all very well to do. No more will you have
to steal to live.” Finally, Mike nodded agreement.

“All right, I will hear what you have to say,” he said.

“Capital!” Owen exclaimed. He extended an arm to Jinhao, who
gracefully accepted it. “Now, let us be off.” He turned to Jinhao.

“While we are on the subject,” he said, as they moved towards
the door, “what is all this
Dragon’s
Claw
business?” Jinhao sniffed.

“While I value you,” she recited, “We have not known each other
that long.” Owen grunted at this.

“You are not going to tell me are you?” he asked forlornly. She
just tilted her head and with a secretive smile turned and sashayed out of the
building, without answering.

“I didn’t think so,” he muttered, following her into the night.