A Shaolin Easter to Remember
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James Nelson watched as the object he shot from the small army surplus bazooka broke through the window. This was a little over kill he thought but how else was he going to really get their attention. The distance to the apartment was too great for him to simply just throw the thing. Still, it wasn't over yet. He knew if he continued setting up the game too soon, he could be caught. So after shooting the large, fist-sized rock, he sat back and waited. Sure enough, Peter must have called the police. Not only did Kermit's Corvair arrive on the scene but an ambulance as well. Nelson watched with glee as they carried someone out on a stretcher, then realized it was Peter.
"This is going to be good," he said out loud to no one in particular. With both of them injured, he would have more of the advantage. Nelson waited for what seemed like hours, but soon Kermit and a team of officers arrived back at the Shaolin's apartment. They were searching and cleaning the place. 'Hoping to find some clue, Detective?' Nelson thought. Nelson thanked his own personal gods for having the fore thought to put on gloves. It would not do to have his fingerprints on any of the items. Plus, he needed to be sure they did not find the next game piece too soon. He needed to wait for the time to be right. The rock that he used to break the window was not one of the pieces, though it could be mistaken as one. He would have to wait for a day or two before delivering the next piece. After which he would also take a piece from the board. Which one he was not sure. Either way, it would make the game far more interesting.
'For now, I had better move my viewing site,' he thought. This Kermit was a persistent one and if he was not too careful, he could give away his position. Still, Nelson was glad that he waited until it was dark enough to pull off this latest action. It would not have done him any good to have someone spot him in the middle of making his latest move.
Nelson gathered up his supplies and headed for the stairwell of the building. Luckily the apartment he rented faced the street and not the Shaolin's. This would give him some measure of protection from discovery. Later tonight he would get rid of the bazooka after cleaning it. He'll take it to a completely different army surplus from the one he purchased it. It would make it more difficult for the police to make a connection. It was how he operated. He identified which suppliers could get their hands on not-so legal weapons then after their use passed it on to the next supplier. Nelson checked his rooftop perch. Even though there were a few scattered containers from Chinese food, there was nothing else there to link him to the site. With luck, he will never be discovered until it was too late.
*****
"POP!" Peter shot up in bed and proceeded to try to bury his face in his bent knees. Breathing hard, he tried to calm his raising heart. The dream he had ended abruptly.
"I am here, my son." Kwai Chang reached for his son.
Peter grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug, then nearly passed out from the pain in his left shoulder. His left arm had been placed in a sling to keep it immobile while he healed. "Oh. I feel like I've been hit by a truck. My shoulder . . ."
"Will heal." was Kwai Chang's reply. "The Doctor removed the glass."
Kermit and Blaisdell entered Peter's room.
"Kermit told me what happened. Are you all right, son?" The concern in Paul's eyes outweighed the need for words. "You have to watch this kid. He seems to have a death wish, always getting into scrapes." Paul shook his head but the look on his face was warm and there was a twinkle in his eye.
Caine was taken somewhat by surprised and cocked his head at his son as if he could see his expression. "We need to talk, my son."
Peter was somewhat amused and feeling good that both his fathers were concerned for his welfare.
"Do you know who could be responsible?" Paul asked becoming serious once again.
Peter fell silent at first. He did not know what to tell his foster father. All he had was speculation and circumstantial evidence at best. Kermit stepped in.
"We think it was someone from Peter and Caine's past but the evidence is sketchy. I'll need to run a background check with my sources to find out if he's been in any other trouble."
"You do that Kermit. We need to get a handle on this before anything else happens. As for you, Peter, you are on extended leave until further notice. You need to let that shoulder heal."
"What about the case?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll assign Kermit with you. At least I know he can keep you out of trouble."
Just at that moment the Doctor came in to check Peter's vital signs, give him another painkiller, and change the IV bag.
"Hey, Doc. When can I get out of here?"
"Not for at least another 48 hours. You lost a lot of blood and we want to be sure your shoulder is healing properly. Gentleman, I am going to have to ask you all to leave. My patient needs his rest."
Everyone started to leave, including Peter's father.
"Pop, don't go. I could use the company. Besides, I need to talk with you about something."
"I'm sorry but no one is allowed in the room while an examination is being done."
"I will return, my son."
"Pop," Peter tried to whisper in his father's ear. "Could you see about getting me something for the pain and that's not going to put me to sleep. I know you have something that's better than Morphine to kill the pain. The doctors had me on that stuff for a long time about five years ago. They had me on some pretty high doses, and well, Paul got real concerned that I was becoming addicted to it. I don't like taking a whole lot of medication. Besides your stuff is healthier, even though it tastes awful."
Caine was surprised that Peter was asking him for an herbal remedy. Peter usually didn't like what was good for him, especially herbal medicines and teas. He must have been really hurting.
"I will see what I can do. You will have to tell me what happened five years ago?"
"Sure, Pop. If you will tell me some of where you were 15 years ago." Peter said with a grin and a look of conspiracy on his face. Even though his father could not see it, Kwai Chang could hear it in his voice.
"Blackmailer." Kwai Chang smiled and turned toward the door. Kermit grabbed him by the arm and led him out.
"I'll take you home," Kermit said. "Then I need to check something out. I'll pick you up later."
"A hunch?" was all Kwai Chang asked.
"You might say that."
*****
Nelson was back but at a different perch the next day watching to see if anyone would be arriving. He was not disappointed. Kwai Chang Caine and that other detective Kermit Griffin had arrived. Kermit was going to be a problem. He heard from other sources that Griffin was an ex-mercenary. He was sure to have resources that the regular Police did not. Nelson kept watch as he made a quick phone call.
"We've got a problem. Ever hear of someone by the name of Kermit Griffin? I thought as much. Well, guess where he is. Yup. Do me a favor. You know my file, bury it, deep. I don't want him finding out just who is doing this little operation. Besides, you certainly don't want to be connected to me if you're trying to appear respectable. I see we have an agreement. Better do it now, I have a bad feeling this guy isn't going to quit. I know how mercenary's think. This one in particular, however, seems to have a conscience. He'll stop at nothing to get revenge if something happens to a friend. Better yet, if we can keep him out of the picture for a while, there's less chance this job will fail. If he gets involved, then we better call everything off now. Good. See that it happens. Nelson out."
Nelson continued to watch. Kermit was leading Caine back to his apartment. He noticed Peter was not with them. The injury must have been severe enough that he was still in the hospital. Then a stroke of luck, Kermit was leaving. Nelson dialed another number.
"Get four men down here pronto. Now is the time we act. And to make sure, send two men to County General. You know what to do."
Nelson waited for about 20 minutes. As soon as the men were in site, he tossed down some pebbles to get their attention. They waited for him below. Then they quietly approached their intended prey.
"Who is there?"
Kwai Chang Caine could feel the displacement of air around him. He knew there were several people in the room but he did not know exactly where they were placed. Suddenly, two men grabbed him from behind. Caine reacted with precision. He had done this kind of fighting before. At the temple in China when he had been very young and going through his own training, as a teacher at his own temple, and as a teacher of a kung fu class just two years ago. Being blind and in close quarters with someone did not stop the Shaolin master from defending himself. But as soon as he would sweep the two men aside, two more came close. Then suddenly, a knife was being placed across his throat.
"One more move and your son will be the one to die."
"Peter. What have you done with him?"
"Nothing yet. It is you we want. You're going to be the bait. Take him and leave that calling card I set up for Peter to find."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Let's just say I don't like loose ends, especially ones that Dao left behind."
Nelson gave his men the signal and Kwai Chang Caine was led away by two of Nelson's men. The other two began to systematically trash the place. The workbench containing some materials for mixing herbs was turned over. The small meditation altar was stripped of items that appeared valuable and the statue was smashed. Bottles and containers were also destroyed. Then a medium sized box was left in the middle of the floor. Nelson smiled at the handiwork. He then called his other two men and gave then the signal that everything had gone according to plan. There was no need to harm Peter. He would be needed for the next stage in the game. What he left would pull him into the game soon enough.
End of Part 7
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2001.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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