LARAMIE, WYOMING
The day was calm, the sun warm. Bodie felt at peace with the world for the moment, thought there was a restlessness growing in him to move on. Not from Ruby Kehoe, who was proving to be the best female company he had ever known. Yet he needed action something other than what Ruby offered. Something to feed his brain and allow him to exercise his skills. The soft living in Laramie was getting to him. He was wearing new clothing and Ruby had persuaded him to have his shaggy hair cut and groomed. It pleased her and that pleased him. Yet he still needed something to occupy him.
He was on his way back to the hotel, wondering where she was, when he saw her hurrying down the street to meet him, an expectant look on her face.
Long gone were the dirty range clothes she had worn before. Now she had on a dress and all the feminine accessories to go with it. Her face was still beautiful and her hair flowed behind her, shiny and neat.
‘Bodie,’ she called, unmindful that young ladies were not expected to call out in the street. She was waving her hand at him, clutching a buff telegram paper. The last time she had brought one of those it had been to confirm that her father’s lawyer had negotiated with the authorities and Bodie’s claim for the reward for the Gallman gang had been approved. Lawyer Bainbridge lived up to Ruby’s promise and he was able to pick up his money from a bank in town.
‘I’d ease off there,’ Bodie said. ‘You’ll bust right out of that damned dress if you’re not careful.’
Her smile was almost dazzling. ‘What – right here on the street? Mr. Bodie, what are you suggesting?’
He didn’t pursue that line of thought.
‘I take it you have something to tell me?’
She nodded, her face shining with excitement.
‘It’s a message from Lawyer Bainbridge. He has an offer for you. Not exactly a bounty hunt. He asks if you would look for someone who has gone missing. The young daughter of a trusted friend in New York. An extremely important and wealthy man named Chin Yi Soong .’
‘Hold on there. Try speaking slowly, Ruby. Remember I’m just a simple feller from the west.’
Her laughter seemed to fill the street, attracting curious glances.
‘That is the last thing you are, Bodie. Now are you going to listen to me?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘There will be money on offer, Bodie. I made certain that would be part of the offer. But it is important. Jasmine Yi Soong is a friend of mine as well. A beautiful young woman. She had gone to visit relatives on the west coast. She had been there for almost two weeks when she simply vanished. No one can find her. It appears she was taken off the street. I believe she has been kidnapped. Jasmine is not a foolish young woman. She would not do anything risky, or fail to keep in touch – unless she could not.’
‘Has there been a letter demanding money? Anything like that?’
‘Nothing. Not as yet. Her father is distraught, Bodie. His daughter has disappeared on the other side of the country and he doesn’t know what to do…’
Bodie took her arm and led her back up the street to the telegraph office.
‘Send a message to the lawyer. Ask for everything known about your friend. Description. Any identifying marks. Whatever her father has. Send it now. Then we go and sit down at the hotel and you tell me all about this Jasmine. And I mean everything.’
When they stepped out of the telegraph office Ruby clung to his arm.
‘Thank you,’ she said.
‘Once we have the information I need you to head back to New York. You stay close to the father. I’ll contact you through Bainbridge. No games this time, Ruby. I don’t expect to turn around and find you behind me in…hell, you said the west coast. But where?’
‘Oh, I thought I’d said…it’s San Francisco…’
~*~
JASMINE SOONG
It had happened so fast Jasmine had no chance to defend herself even if she had been able. In truth there was little she could have done. She was a twenty-three year old female with no idea what was happening. One moment she was walking alongside her female escort, enjoying the pleasant day until two men rushed at her, attacked and struck down her escort, and the male guide who followed behind, then bundled her into a covered buggy. She struggled but they were too strong for her. In her immediate panic she had tried to call out. A rough hand covered her mouth, pressing hard and almost smothered her. Other hands yanked her arms behind her and a coarse rope was bound around her wrists. When the hand was removed from her mouth a thick gag replaced it. She was pressed back in the seat as the buggy rattled its way along the street, making frequent turns, swaying back and forth.
There was a man on either side of her, their bodies pressing against her. A third man was seated ahead, driving the buggy. No one spoke. With the side canopies pulled down she was unable to see where they were going.
Jasmine was an intelligent young woman and it quickly occurred to her, and she hoped she was correct, that she was in no immediate physical danger. Whoever these men were they had kidnapped her with the intention of demanding something. Most likely from her father, who was an extremely wealthy man. She could not imagine there being any other reason. She admitted to a degree of naivety where the world was concerned. Her mind was unable to conceive of any other reason for her being taken. Unless it was for some kind of depravity…which she refused to consider because she understood little of the coarser side of life.
She forced herself to remain calm. She was frightened and would have admitted it without hesitation. Her father had instilled in her not to allow fear to dictate her actions. He would have told her to wait until she knew what was happening before she abandoned hope. While she was still breathing then there was always hope. So she remained still and attempted to clear her mind of negative thoughts. Not easy but concentrating on it distracted her for the time being.
After what seemed a long time the buggy came to a jerking stop. She had noticed the sound coming from the wheels had changed from hard ground to something like timber. And the air bore the familiar odor of the ocean.
The side covers were pulled open and she blinked against the sudden intrusion of bright sunlight. Her captors pulled her from the buggy and she stared around her.
Across a wooden wharf was indeed the ocean. It stretched out into the distance. When she turned her head she saw large wooden warehouses running the length of the wharf. Seagulls swooped and wheeled in the sky over the area, their raucous cries filling the air.
One of the men removed her gag.
‘Yell all you want, missy,’ he said. ‘Ain’t nobody close enough to hear you.’
Jasmine gazed at him, a faint, forced, smile on her face. ‘I do not yell, or raise my voice,’ she said. ‘I imagine that would be more in your line.’
The man laughed. ‘They said you were a snobby baggage. Just ’cause your dear papa has money don’t lift you higher above the rest of us.’
‘If you wish to believe that I will not attempt to correct you.’
The second man reached out to finger the material of her dress. She jerked away from him.
‘I’d wager this dress cost more than anything we’re wearing, Dugan.’
‘Yeah? Well I don’t give a damn. Under it she’s just a bare-assed girl.’
‘Maybe we should take a look and find out.’
‘Brave men,’ Jasmine said. ‘Especially when the girl is all tied up and unable to fight back.’
Dugan grinned at her, showing his uneven teeth. ‘Well, hell, lady, that’s the way I like ’em.’
‘Please keep your thoughts to yourself, Dugan.’
The voice from behind them was soft, yet it commanded attention – and respect.
When Jasmine turned she found herself looking at a tall, lean Chinese. His black hair was brushed straight back from his face. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at her with quiet interest. His eyes moved from her to Dugan and his partner. He was standing just inside the half-open doors of the warehouse. He was dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. A black tunic and trousers. Soft-soled black shoes on his feet.
He was Kwai Fu Tung – a San Francisco Tong Master.
‘Escort the young lady inside, Mr. Dugan. I have things to discuss with her. Business matters of importance.’
Jasmine for some inexplicable reason felt she had nothing to fear from this man – for the moment at least.
‘I doubt there is anything to discuss between us,’ she said.
Dugan nudged her and she walked inside the warehouse, following the Chinese. Behind her the big doors closed with a solid thud. The interior was packed with crates and bales. Stacks of wooden casks. It held a hot, musty smell.
Tung paused, turned, smiling benignly. ‘On the contrary, Miss Soong, there is definitely much to discuss. In the main the negotiations that will determine when – or if – you are returned to your father.’
With that declaration Jasmine was forced to revise her earlier thought – that she was safe in this man’s hands. She realized he wanted something from her. At that moment she had no idea what he wanted. She also realized she would soon find out. Whatever is was there would be nothing pleasant about it. Jasmine did not have to think too hard to understand the reasons would involved her father. He was wealthy. Had many important connections. Knew extremely influential people both here in San Francisco and New York.
And there was something in the way Tung looked at her – as if she was little more than a piece of merchandise. The smile on his face was a shadow to cover the thoughts in his mind. Jasmine decided those thoughts would be directed towards her. At that moment she fervently wished she was back home in New York and in that same moment she wondered if she would ever see it again…