Ch. 56 – Warm Bed, Cold World

one of the kids with the shitty haircut half-screamed from behind the opposite couch, his voice barely penetrating through the bass-heavy club music.

Theo took his hand off of Mandy’s thigh, and squinted through the strobe lights at the boy’s face. Strobe lights gave him even stronger migraines now that he was older. Ah, right, the boy was Da Tong.

Theo beckoned for Da Tong to come closer; he wasn’t inclined to ruin his voice that night. The boy sidled past a server who walked by with a tray of drinks, and bent over in front of Theo’s couch. Theo asked.

Da Tong said.

Theo tugged at his loosened tie, and nodded.

Da Tong made to move away, but then hesitated, and leaned in closer to Theo.

Theo slipped from his glass and let his face relax. His frowning muscles were getting sore, and the subtle wrinkles on his face were no doubt becoming deeper. Plus, it wouldn’t do for his underlings to see him distressed. Theo said, in the calm, steady voice he’d learned to put on in any situation.

Da Tong nodded, and shuffled back out into the crowd on the dance floor with a few of his buddies, the whole group of them going back out into the cold, while Theo sat in the warmth of the club. Alan had left Theo a bunch of duds, but they weren’t all that bad. Da Tong could tell a good joke, and he was grateful for the gifts that Theo had given. There was nothing worse than when you spent the time picking out a gift to impress someone, and the moment their eyes twitched at it, you knew it was going to get thrown somewhere in their closet, regifted, or sold to some streetside vendor.

Mandy asked, putting his hand back on her thigh. She was pretty, but she also knew how to get Theo to open up. That in itself was dangerous, so tonight would have to be the last time they stayed in a hotel together. Or at least that was his plan. She was a good girl, and it’d break his heart to get her killed.

Theo said. But it wasn’t really nothing. It was actually something quite significant.

she teased.

Theo smiled. That was a lie, of course. These East Coast Chinatown White Leopards were a dysfunctional mess if he’d ever seen one.

Theo wrapped an arm around Mandy and pulled her onto his chest. he whispered into her ear. She was five feet and four inches of a bombshell Taiwanese beauty. The only thing more exciting than her face next to his, were the envious stares of all the jealous chumps looking over at them, from behind an empty glass, or aside a much plainer girl.

Mandy giggled, and they lost themselves in each other. His problems could wait until the next day.

#

Theo slid out of the smooth cotton sheets, resting a hand on Mandy’s waist as he unlocked his phone. He only checked it when Mandy was asleep, otherwise she would get curious and peek over his shoulder. She knew that he had someone else, but it was still better to keep that hidden truth out of sight. Girls always felt worse when they confirmed the truth with their own eyes. Theo sighed. It turned out his phone would be making him very sad as well.

The Chinatown boys had apparently found Raymond. Dead, in an alleyway, of blunt trauma and a stabbed neck. Theo would be expected to organize some sort of retaliation. Against who? Most likely an unrelated shmuck. The Chinatown Leopards here were too complacent to get their hooks into local forensics departments, so they would probably jump head first into a series of false leads before finding out who had actually shanked Raymond, if they ever did.

Rain tapped against the window of their fiftieth floor suite.

Did he really want to go traipsing around on the wet streets instead of pounding Mandy’s brains out while she moaned his name? No. But he had to play the part if he wanted the men and resources he needed to find that eye mod.

Theo downed the lukewarm glass of champagne he had left on the floor, and stuck one leg through his slacks, and then the other.

Before he could finish putting the rest of his clothes on, Mandy stirred.

she asked.

Theo said. He sat back down on the bed, his hips next to hers, and she rolled towards him, resting her head against his thigh. It sent chills up his spine; he couldn’t forget the magic that her mouth had been working on his crotch last night, while she knelt beneath him, eyes locked on his, wet hair stuck to her sweaty face.

she said, pouting.

Theo said, and he meant it.

she said. She sighed. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

Theo asked.

Mandy said, rolling her eyes.

It sounded like a shit job, dumped on a clueless young girl because no one else could be bothered to do it. This sort of thing happened a lot in Shanghai. It would be time consuming, thankless, and not something that Theo should ever get involved with.

But her worried look, her delicate pout, her fingers grasping his pants . . . . They made him unwise.

<. . . . Do you need any help?> Theo asked.

Mandy’s eyes widened, and she rolled over to gaze into his eyes.

Theo reached out and gave her tender cheek a gentle pinch, chuckling at her grimace.

Mandy giggled and hid her face behind a hand.

Back in Shanghai, he had to throw parties all the time, and White Leopard money didn’t go that far that he could afford to hire a decorator like everyone else in his circle of friends could. But he took to it anyways, doing all the decorating himself. He had no other choice; you were either extravagant or forgotten, and he was faking extravagant until he made it.

Mandy pulled herself onto his lap and hugged him. She was warm and soft, and he found himself sinking deeper into the comfort of her body again. Mmm. Wait. No, there wasn’t time for that right now.

Theo kissed Mandy’s head, and gently shifted her off his lap and back onto the bed. He threw the rest of his clothes on, and tucked away the erection that had been growing since Mandy had rested her head on his lap.

Mandy whispered.

Theo said, smiling one last time at Mandy before turning around. He steeled himself for the sharp, cold air outside their torrid lovenest, and then opened the door. He tried not to look back, but couldn’t resist catching a glimpse of her coy smile as he closed the door behind him.

A big score, and his following retirement, couldn’t come any sooner.

#

Theo stepped down the damp, red-carpeted steps towards Da Tong, who was waiting near the car outside the entrance to the hotel lobby, with an umbrella already opened and ready.

Da Tong did a little bow at Theo in greeting, letting the rain wet his back.

Theo said, massaging his brow. The two of them settled into the back seat, Da Tong folding the umbrella slowly to avoid getting their legs wet. Theo said.

Da Tong had a dumb-looking face, but he had a good memory at least. The boy made to speak, but his voice broke, and he continued after clearing his throat. The boy went on about the congealed blood, Raymond’s deformed head, and the savage gash in his neck.

Theo opened his lips, but didn’t speak. Silence fell over the car. Jacky butt in from the driver’s seat. he said. Da Tong looked up, and into the rear view mirror.

Da Tong leaned forward, letting the umbrella drop some water onto Theo’s pants. Tch.

Jacky said, keeping perfect pace with the conversation even as he made a smooth turn into traffic.

Da Tong was sitting rapt at the edge of the car seat. He was just a seventeen year old boy: impressionable, excitable, and rash, despite the sense and obedience he showed for his age.

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Theo said.

Jacky harrumphed.

Da Tong offered.

Theo said.

Da Tong responded.

Da Tong nodded, and then it was silent again. The rain beat against the car windshield, as they made turn after turn, ending up in front of a small tea shop on the outskirts of New Shore City. The parking lot, which was disproportionately large for the size of the tea house, was already filled with cars.

A man, not dressed in the rank-and-file’s typical White, but obviously a Leopard from the heat he was packing in his jacket pocket, was leaned against the tea house entrance, under the eaves. He squinted at Theo’s car as it approached, before jumping to attention and knocking on the teahouse’s door. Jacky pulled the car up to an empty spot with a thick, white boundary, which had been reserved for the Leopards’ upper ranks, and Da Tong hopped out to hold the umbrella for Theo.

Several old men and women in posh coats, accompanied by some hired muscle, were also walking towards the entrance. One of the old men glanced up at Theo and smiled through his mustache. Theo returned the smile, bowing his head slightly.

It was a quiet town, full of very wealthy old folks who could afford property on the high ground: inland, and far away from the seawall. Most of them seemed content to while away the rest of their lives playing Mahjong and sipping tea, and never pried into what the Leopards were discussing in the backrooms of the tea house.

Warm spilled out of the door as they entered, passing by rows of finely dressed old men and women, chatting with each other and they sat packed on small wooden chairs near the entrance, waiting for a table to open up. The hostess brought them back to a room where Ah Jun was already waiting, with tea and a tray of sunflower seeds. There was a young woman by his side: supposedly someone to look after his health during his recovery. She was cracking the sunflower seeds for Ah Jun, and placing the de-shelled ones in a little plate in front of him. The seeds sat in a neat little pile, seemingly undisturbed by Ah Jun, who had remained seated, only glancing up to look at Theo.

Theo waved a hand at Da Tong, who stepped out of the door, and made to close it, but Ah Jun motioned for him to stop. The young woman cracking sunflower seeds for Ah Jun bowed to him and Theo, and then left the room, shutting it behind her.

Theo nodded at Ah Jun, and stood near the chair closest to the door, matching the old man’s gaze, waiting for permission to sit.

Ah Jun held a hand out, motioning at the chair.

Theo pulled the rosewood chair out and obliged. Without a word, he grasped the stone tea cup next to Ah Jun and began pouring tea out for him. Ah Jun accepted it, tapping two fingers on the table in thanks, and took a sip while Theo poured his own.

Ah Jun said. He was the type to jump straight into business.

Ah Jun frowned, and made a grimace before putting his tea cup down.

Ah Jun snapped, cutting Theo off. He was about to go into one of his old stories.

Theo asked.

Ah Jun said, using his favorite euphemism to refer to the Big Boss.

Theo warmed his hands on the teacup, and brought it up to his lips.

Theo and Ah Jun both took a sip of tea, and let their thoughts thought settle onto the table. Theo said.

Ah Jun shook his head.

Theo said.

Ah Jun said, spitting out each word.

Yes. Ah Jun had given Raymond a very strong warning to take a partner with him while sniffing out feds. Raymond had ignored it, and Theo had been too busy with his own project to try and force Raymond to obey. But in hindsight, it would have been less of a headache to convince Raymond than it currently was cleaning up his mess. Theo said.

Ah Jun barked.

Theo bit his lip. It was all fair criticism. And Theo had found a new recruit to join Raymond. But Theo had other things to worry about, and it turned out that the new recruit had stopped following Raymond once the other Leopards told him the oft-repeated cautionary tale of how Raymond betrayed the Wraith Shadows and joined the White Leopards. The kid didn’t want the stink of a traitor to rub off on him. Raymond, of course, was too bitter and proud to beg someone to come along with him.

Still, it was no excuse for letting Raymond die alone in an alley. Theo had so many excuses, but they would just enrage Ah Jun even more.

Ah Jun blew out air and leaned back into his chair.

Theo was one of those young people, he supposed. He didn’t feel young, but he was young enough that he was still willing to change, still wanting more. Unlike Ah Jun, who was happy playing the Big Boss’s lieutenant in this dinky little Chinatown: being chauffeured down the filthy streets, surrounded by the unwashed and unrefined, and always using a bunch of nobodies to put out some meaningless fire so that the Big Boss could keep Chinatown under his thumb.

Ah Jun said, his voice going low.

Theo sipped his tea, and kept his head bowed. That was the safest option when Ah Jun was ranting. The fact that he called the Big Boss ‘old friend,’ was the most info that Theo had gotten about Ah Jun’s relation with the Big Boss. They were supposedly very tight, which was why Alan had tried to take Ah Jun hostage.

The Big Boss was also rumored to be the one who struck the deal with Raymond, back when the White Leopards and Wraith Shadows were fighting for territory. He convinced one man to switch sides, and then the whole Wraith Shadows gang fell apart, as Raymond ran around doing the Big Boss’s bidding. The Big Boss was a scary man, for sure. But Theo didn’t mean to butt heads with him, thankfully. Once Theo got that eye mod, he would have a one way ticket back to Shanghai’s premier social scene, and out of the gang life.

Ah Jun and Theo sipped their tea in silence until Ah Jun spoke up.

Theo asked.

Ah Jun said, feeding a sunflower seed into his mouth. He broke it in half with an audible crunch, and chewed slowly as he stared at Theo, seemingly expecting some sort of answer.

Theo said.

Ah Jun nodded.

Theo said.

Theo frowned.

Ah Jun coughed.

There were more than enough punks and drifters around Chinatown to recruit from, but most of them were no smarter than toddlers, and would end up liabilities.

Theo said. As much as Theo dreaded working with them. Theo asked. If Ah Jun set two weeks as the hard line, and there was a collective punishment for failure to find the killer, some kids might be tempted to bring in the wrong man and say he was the killer.

Ah Jun said.

‘It’s easy for you to say, maybe,’ Theo thought. Ah Jun didn’t manage relations with the locals here in Chinatown . . . if you could call them relations at all. The East Coast Leopards were harsh with the territories they controlled, and their income streams weren’t very subtle or sophisticated. They didn’t even do the easy things to win favor with the Chinatown residents, like charity work, or dispute settlement. Theo said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Ah Jun said.

That sounded like a huge pain.

Ah Jun said.

Theo said.

Ah Jun said.

Theo asked. The past months, he’d been finding all the mechanics and engineers in the area specifically for that deal. Wait. There was one shop that might be almost qualified. What were they called again? Hack Street? Hack Road? No, Hack Alley, that was it.

Ah Jun said.

It made sense to use Hack Alley to mod the last combat suit as a backup option. But if Ah Jun was thankful enough for them, then it might be offensive to suggest coercing his saviors.

Ah Jun nodded thoughtfully and clucked his tongue. His face was calm, serene even, and he went on eating sunflower seeds as if he had just told his son to take the laundry out of the washer.

Theo smiled. There it was again: the bitter feeling that always crept around Theo’s heart. Hack Alley had saved Ah Jun’s life, and he didn’t think twice about screwing them over. That’s how gangsters were. After all the work that Theo had done for the Leopards, they would back him into a corner in a heartbeat, just like he himself was doing to Hack Alley now. Hell, even if he had saved Ah Jun’s life, it wouldn’t win him any special favors.

Ah Jun said, raising his eyebrows in mock surprise.

Theo said. And he would get it done, but maybe with a few creative changes. The gentler touch was more Theo’s style, especially when it wasn’t clear when exactly Hack Alley’s owner would break instead of bending, and do something drastic with that built-up anger towards the Leopards. Ah yes, it was all coming back now. That shop owner, Tony, had a history of getting into fist fights with Leopards. But regardless, Ah Jun called the shots on the deal with the Northwestern Front, which was the highest profile deal that the East Coast Leopards had action in at the moment. And Theo didn’t have any better ideas, or other mechanics to enlist.

There was a knock at the door.

Ah Jun called.

The door clicked open behind Theo, and one of Ah Jun’s men poked their heads in.

Ah Jun waved his hand.

the man said, closing the door again.

Ah Jun put his cup down.

Theo said.