Soulmates Beyond Time
Jordan waited. The news that one of her agents brought her was not good. Peter and his father were reunited. Plus, the new one would soon be a threat to her plans. For now, she was busy with family matters. It could be weeks before she would join Peter. By that time, Jordan should have completed her plans and finished with what she could not complete, the death of Kwai Chang Caine. In the mean time, she was going to need to set things in motion in order so her plans could be brought to fruition. It would be easy to simply play upon their fears. They believe her to be trapped within this world. So be it. Jordan signaled to one of her agents. The plan must be simple and direct. Peter must be led in one direction while his father is led in another. It would not be easy. Both were Shaolin. The link between father and son was stronger than ever before. Somehow that link would need to severed. Of course, a false trail must be laid. This trail must be for the father but prepared more carefully. The last trail that had been laid, had been discovered by Kermit. He will have to be dealt with as well. Of course, the thing to do was to keep their allies occupied. Kermit would be the perfect bait for Peter, but who would be the bait for Caine? Then Jordan smiled. The answer was obvious. Quickly she went into the center of her web and made her plans
Skalany paced the room for what seemed like twenty minutes. Kermit had returned from Paris three days ago and Caine had not been with him. Neither was Caine’s supposedly dead wife, now living. The thought of Caine finding his wife filled Mary Margaret with apprehension and even a little bit of envy. To think that now she would be on the outside made her feel somewhat like Peter had felt from time to time, alone and abandoned. It would be very hard to find another man like Kwai Chang Caine. He was a hard act to follow. Still, her curiosity got the better of her. Before Mary Margaret could go on with her life, she had to know what went on in Paris. Did Caine find his wife and what was she like? Mary Margaret tried to press him for details but Kermit just said, "Ask Caine," and would not say anything more. The look on Kermit’s face, however, told her that things had not gone well.
"Come on, Kermit. Spill it. What happened"
"I told you. Ask Caine."
"Well, where is he?"
"Right behind you," was all Kermit said as he headed to his office and shut the door.
Mary Margaret spun around to see Peter and his father smiling at her.
"I'm going to kill you Kermit." Skalany shouted back toward him. "So what happened?"
Caine gave an audible sigh, tilted his head, shrugged his shoulders, and before he could get any word out . . .
"Don’t say it," Mary Margaret chimed.
Caine and Peter looked at one another speaking to each other without words.
*Your mother would say the same thing whenever she would get annoyed at me for keeping secrets from her.*
*Really, I didn’t know that. Would she do the same thing?"
*Constantly.* The word was said with deep affection.
"I don’t want to hear, "I do not know" because it isn’t the truth. I want to know what happened. Where’s your wife?"
Again, Caine sighed. "Laura is dead. It was a trick."
The look on Caine’s face silenced Skalany.
"Oh, Caine, I’m sorry," tears came to Mary Margaret’s eyes as she realized just how much that may have cost him.
"It is all right."
"Hey partner, how are you doing through this?"
"I'm coping better than he is, I guess. My reaction was different. Having been a cop, I couldn’t quite by the notion that she was alive with just a photograph. I guess I needed more proof. I feel sad that I’ll never meet her. The only memories I have of her are a picture and the fact that she liked Jasmine."
"I will be able to help with those memories now, my son."
"Will you? You’ve never really shared them before."
"I know. I also must apologize to you. You were right. The memories were still painful to me. I needed time to grieve."
"I know, Pop." Peter pulled his father into a bear hug not caring who witnessed. They had been through so much over the past several days and weeks. "Hey, you want to tell them why we’re here?"
Caine looked at his son and motioned him to take the lead. He was not much for speaking except for that one time when he had to make a speech.
"So, what’s this all about Peter?"
"Pop, uh Dad and I talked it over while we traveled back from the temple and we decided that we would like to be considered for a special forces team. Since I’m a former cop, that could mean being a private detective and my Dad here, well he can continue to do what he does best. We could assist with those cases that are, you might say, on the unusual side. You don’t have to answer that right away. You know you can reach us in Chinatown."
"I'm going to have to clear it with Captain Simms, but if it were up to me, I’d say sure. Go for it. We could use the help."
Just then Kermit came out of his office carrying a box marked computer items. Do not touch on pain of death.
"Just came back for a few things."
"What’s this all about Kermit?"
"Remember that conversation you and I had when you left the precinct? Well, it’s official" Kermit put the box down and handed Peter a business card.
Peter looked at the card and smiled. An image of a griffin wearing green sunglasses was on the card. We specialize in unique problems the card said. There was a phone number and an email address but no street address, just Chinatown. Typical of Kermit not to publish where the office was located, Peter thought. Still, the idea had possibilities.
"I can’t very well protect my little brother if my hands are tied from procedures now can I? I've gotten use to being around you two and I find that robberies and simple murders just get boring. I need some excitement."
Captain Simms came out of her office and watched as another of her best detectives was leaving. She came over and held out her hand. Kermit grabbed it before resuming his exit.
"I really wish you would reconsider."
"Can’t. Someone has to watch their backs out there. Have to go. You know where to find me."
"Chinatown?"
"Oh, yeah."
End of Part 17
Alisa Joaquin 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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