MY SEARCH was fruitless. I’m not by nature a pessimist, but I was rapidly becoming one. Coco Nimburu was a highly intelligent, professional assassin. I wasn’t stupid either. I had graduated magna cum laude, but I felt like an intellectual wimp right then. I was used to being in charge, but now I was at someone else’s mercy. Now I was relegated to the corner with a dunce cap. Maybe I wasn’t so smart after all. What I had to do was minimize the mistakes. If I could do that, I could come out of this thing in one piece—my family, too.
We pulled into Grand Central Station at 12:59 p.m. on the nose. The cell rang. I knew it was my nemesis, but I wasn’t anxious anymore. Before I answered, I realized that I needed to call my master. It had been a very long time since we had spoken. Ying Ming Lo used to say, “Everything has its own time, Phoenix. You must learn to really relax.” The interesting thing was that I had learned to relax in battle, but in my personal life, I wasn’t quite where I knew I should be. Ying Ming Lo probably would tell me that this thing with Coco Nimburu was designed to teach me something about myself. When this thing is over, I’m sure I will have learned something worthwhile.
“It’s your dime,” I said impatiently.
“I trust you enjoyed the trip?” Coco said in Mandarin and waited for an answer.
“To a point,” I said, relaxing a little.
“Good, good. Did you enjoy your meal? You have to keep up your strength, you know.”
“Am I supposed to think that you care about me now?” I bellowed.
“Actually, I do care. And when this thing is over, you’ll know just how much. That, I promise.”
“What do you want from me, Coco?”
“Tell me, Phoenix, do you understand the yin and yang?”
“What does that have to do with this? I really don’t give a damn. I just want my family back.”
Ignoring me, she went on to explain what she meant. “We are one and the same, Phoenix. You don’t know it yet, but we are.”
“You’re a homicidal maniac. I’m an FBI agent, sworn to bring your ass to justice, which is what I’m going to do. One way or another.”
“That’s what I mean, Phoenix. Both of us have sworn an oath. Both of us have pledged our allegiance and offered our skills for principles we believe in. It is fitting that you end my life. It is fitting that my death propels you to a spiritual height you may not otherwise achieve. Do you really know yourself, my sister? Do you know that the fire that burns in you burns in me? Do you know that your desire to save life and my desire to take life comes from the same source?”
“If I want a philosophy lesson, I’ll call Master Lo,” I told her.
“Please do. He’ll tell you the same thing.” She laughed. “Enough chitchat. When you leave Grand Central Station, there will be a white stretch limousine waiting for you. The driver will take you to your next destination.”
“I want to speak with my family,” I demanded.
“I’ll arrange it. Tell me this. Who said, ‘You have offended my family. And you have offended a Shaolin Temple?’ Ciao!”
The line disconnected. The quote was a line from Enter the Dragon. Actor and martial artist Bruce Lee had said it to his nemesis. What was Coco trying to tell me? I would figure it out later.