Pawns
"It's locked," Peter said in dismay as he tried the door.
"That is no obstacle for us Shaolin," Matthew said as he ran his hands over the lock and it clicked open.
"I didn't know you could do that too, Grandfather?"
Matthew shrugged his shoulder just the way his father did. It was one of the many Caine traits they shared.
The warehouse was a cavernous room filled with boxes each identical to the other. Many of them were stacked high on palettes and in several piles forming a maze of corridores.
"Where did he put Annie?" Peter started looking around the crates.
"Peter, I think this will tell us," Matthew held an envelope he'd found taped to one of the boxes.
"Looks like you made your choice," the letter began," Your mother is enjoying the comforts of one of these crates. You'll have to decide which one. Don't take too long, I have a surprise that is just ticking down the minutes to the big boom. Oh and don't worry about your father, you
already paid your respects.
M"
Peter didn't have the time to decipher the whole letter.
"There's a bomb in here. How the hell am I going to find my mother in this maze before the place goes up?"
"You must calm yourself, my grandson. You can do this." Matthew put his hand on Peter's shoulders. He was sending his chi into him, giving him his strength to carry on.
"Yeah, okay, I-I can do this," he studdered.
"Open your senses, my grandson," Matthew said softly. "Locate her chi."
Peter took a deep breath, centering himself. He focused on Annie, the woman who had become a mother to him from the first time he had met her. He was a scared, bratty, teenage kid that she willingly welcomed into her home. She never let him forget he was wanted, loved, and a member of the family. He used that image to help him sense her presense here.
Using his Shaolin senses, and Matthew's chi strength, he let himself be guided down the maze of boxes. He soon discovered where his mother could be found, but could they get to her in time.
****
Annie sat in the confined space. It was getting harder to breath.
"Oh, please, someone help me," She pleaded, her eyes drooping shut. It was getting harder to stay awake. She was beginning to wonder if anyone would be able to find her. A madman was tormenting Peter, making him choose between her and his father. If Peter were to choose to save his father first, she would understand. She knew how much his father meant to Peter; how happy he was that they found each other.
**** FLASHBACK ****
Annie had heard the car in the driveway and recognized the sound of the engine. She wondered why Peter was dropping by this evening. He wasn't due for dinner till tomorrow night.
"Hi, Mom," he kissed her cheek and gave her a hug.
"Hi honey, aren't you a day early? I wasn't expecting you for dinner till tomorrow." She had just turned on the dishwasher after having an early dinner. Kelly was spending time with her friends while Carolyn was out with her latest boyfriend.
"Where's Paul? I wanted to talk to both of you." Peter had walked with Annie to the livingroom and they sat together on the couch.
"He went with Frank to a poker game. Is something wrong, Peter?" she was becoming concerned.
"No, Mom, for the first time in a long time everything is right again," he
was beaming from ear to ear.
"Okay, spill it, are you seeing someone?" Annie coaxed, her curiosity piqued.
"No, that's not it."
"Well what else can it be to make you have that grin on your face."
"How could you....." he stopped his wondering, he knew he couldn't hide anything from her.
"I can hear it in your voice," she supplied him with an answer to his
unfinished question.
"My wish came true, Mom," Peter said, his voice going to a whisper. Tears of joy threatened to overwhem him.. "The one thing I never thought could ever happen has happened. Remember how I used to wish that my father was alive again, that he'd come back?"
"Yes, honey, I remember how you used to cry yourself to sleep when you realized that he was gone." She was wondering where this was going.
"He's back, Mom. My father, he's alive!" he hugged her against him.
"What? What are you talking about, Peter? I thought your father died at the temple."
"I know it sounds crazy, I thought I was dreaming. I saw him coming out of the burning brownstone, carrying an old man. I saw the marks of the Shaolin on his arms, but still I didn't believe it. It wasn't until I went to the hospital and saw him laying in that bed. Looked at his
face, it was the same. I was speechless."
"Peter, slow down. When did this happen?" Annie asked.
"Last week, when I went undercover in Chinatown to take down Tan. Everything happened so fast, I didn't have a chance to tell you or Paul about it until now. He's been taking care of me. I got shot by Chan but the bullet went clean through and my father didn't want to leave me alone . . "
"You were shot and you didn't tell Paul or me?" Annie's voice rose in pitch.
"Mom, it wasn't that bad. Besides, the Ancient and my dad fixed me up."
"Who is this Ancient and where was your father all this time? Why did he leave you?" Anger flared towards this unknown man who was just a name to them all for having abandoned a fine boy like Peter, no matter whether he took care of her son or not. She wanted answers as to how this man could be so cruel as to leave his frightened child behind after the destruction of their home.
"The Ancient is an old priest in Chamatown that my father saved and it wasn't like that, Mom. We both were told the other was dead by, Ping Hai. He was trying to protect us from the renegade priest who destroyed the temple. My father thought I was dead. He spent his time wandering, trying to come to terms with my death."
Seeing the truth in Peter's words, her anger dissipated. "That poor man, there is nothing worse then having to bury a child." Sensing her son's happiness, she reached out and hugged him. "Oh, Peter, I am so happy for you. I'm sorry for the way I acted."
"That's okay, Mom. I still can't believe it. I keep thinking I'm dreaming all this. What do you think Paul will say?"
****End of Flashback****
Annie remembered that it had been hard for Paul at first, but after they had all met Caine, they immediately took a liking to the man. Paul had become friendly with him and they shared stories of Peter with each other.
Caine had become an additional member of their family. She did not want to think about Peter losing him a second time. She knew how hard it had been for him when Caine left for 6 months to find his path. Though Peter seemed to had accepted it outwardly, inwardly, it had torn him apart not knowing if his father was alive or dead during that time. Now she feared
Peter was going to have to face that kind of pain again, and with Paul also gone, Peter would have no father to turn to for comfort.
*Mom?*
"Peter?" she thought she was imagining hearing Peter's voice in her head.
*Yeah, Mom, it's me. I'm coming for you. Don't worry I'll get you out of
here.*
Annie could feel a tingling sensation. She knew Peter had finished his Shaolin training and even became a priest, but she didn't know how strong his senses were. He was so much like Caine now. Her heart was filled with hope as she knew she was close to being rescued, but she knew she had to warn him about his father just the same.
"Peter, that madman he took your father. He...."
*Shhh, don't waste your energy, just try to relax Mom. I'm coming for
you.*
Peter knew he didn't have much time. He didn't even know how long the bomb had been set or where it had been placed. It would take too long to search for it so Peter concentrated on trying to get to Annie instead. There were so many boxes, but Peter did not stop to look in any of them. He simply rushed through the maze and stopped in front of one that looked just like all the others. He didn't question why he just knew this was the one.
"I have found a crowbar," Matthew rushed back to his grandson. "We
must hurry."
Peter took the crowbar from his grandfather and began to pry open the lid of the box. They found Annie crouched inside.
"Mom?" he lifted her into his arms.
"Peter," she wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up. Without hesitation, all three rushed toward the front of the warehouse.
BOOM!!!!!!!! The windows blew out, showering the street with glass. The place quickly became an inferno. The threesome just made it out of the doorway before the explosion. All three were thrown to the pavement from the force of the blast. Peter covered his mother's body with his own. It took a few moments for him to recover enough to speak.
"Mom, are you okay?"
"Uh, yes, I'm okay."
"Grandfather? Are you hurt?"
"No I am all right." They stood up slowly and made their way to the
Stealth.
"Mom, this is my grandfather, Matthew."
She felt him take her hand in his. It felt strangely familiar, just like Caine's. "Hello, I'm sorry to have to meet you like this."
"I know, we will talk later, after we have found my son."
"Peter, that madman, he told me where your father is."
"I know where he is, Mom. I just figured it out. He left me a note with a clue on it. I was right there. It was the funeral. That bastard buried my father alive. I just wish I knew who is behind all this."
"I know who it is."
They all turned at the voice. Kermit was standing by the Stealth, the Corvair parked next to it. "It's Masterson, he's back to finish what he started."
In the distance, sirens could be heard coming closer.
End of Part 13
Alisa Joaquin & Linda Schwartz Copyright@2000.
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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