Zachary’s funeral procession was dull and Xuan was forced to go in order to conceal his motive. During the sea of continuous tears and hymns, Xuan felt lightheaded. He tried to avoid meeting with Zach's family members.
Xuan dumped Zach‘s body in the river instead of the hill because of dogs barking. Two days following, the body was found and there are still no suspects. As Xuan stood alongside Joshua Warren and Matthew Jones, Matthew kept chatting and didn‘t seem saddened by the news.
“Zachary was a great man. It’s a shame he had to go like this," said Matthew.
"God takes the best from us. Rest in peace, bud,” added Joshua bowing.
Xuan breathed as Zachary‘s wife approached.
“Will you be joining us for dinner?” she asked, teary-eyed.
“I’ll be there.” Xuan smiled, weakly. Zachary’s two sons were alongside her, holding her tightly. Ben, Ronald, and Duong were having a chat with some of Zachary’s old friends from the Marines and Xuan walked over.
“Gentlemen.”
“Xuan Lang, it’s been a while,” said Duong, raising his drink.
“Drinking at a funeral? Talk about class,” reflected Xuan. “It‘s unfortunate seeing one another on such circumstances.”
Xuan perceived Ben, Ronald and Duong weren‘t close to Zachary, inferring from their unfriendly expressions.
“It’s such a tragedy; no one deserves such a horrific end. Nobody deserves to die, period,” said Duong.
“He was a kind-hearted man even when people cheating him,” said Ben.
“It’s a shame,” replied Xuan.
“The man was up the ass in debt. I heard he was partners with Tim in the fishing business,” said Ronald.
“Such gossip,” said Xuan, looking at Joshua. They knew the truth.
They left to the reception to get food and offer their condolences. Zachary’s sons came over to the table asking if they needed something. The men waved “no” and proceeded on chatting. Xuan saw they were talking business and wasn’t interested. The old man then excused himself.
Meanwhile, Joshua Warren walked towards the bar and Xuan sat next to him.
“What are we drinking today?”
“You wanted this to happen, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“How was Zach murdered after telling you everything?”
Xuan ignored, requesting a drink.
“I'll find out everything on you, Xuan Lang. There’s some fishy about you being here.”
That was the wrong thing to say. “Shall I also expose you and your army friends for the horrific murders and rapes in Vietnam?”
Joshua was bewildered. His face became blue knowing the old man kenned their darkest secret.
“I know everything, you fucking bastard. And after your drink, I'd advise you to get out of here before everyone here knows.” Xuan smiled as the waiter came.
“Hurry up; your clock is ticking,” chuckled Xuan, getting up after finishing his drink. Joshua got up quickly and walked.
“What are you going to do?” questioned Joshua when they reached the parking lot; feet away from Joshua’s vehicle.
“I think you and I know what’s next.” Xuan pulled out his Baretta and pointed signalling Joshua to get inside. Joshua started the engine, driving off.
“It’s such a shame we won't have a chance to say goodbye to Miranda." She was Joshua‘s wife, and because of her addiction, she was told to stay home.
“My friends will see I’m missing and will fucking kill you. You fucking Chink bastard.”
“Shut the fuck up and drive. Don't stop until we reach the Fred Hartman Bridge. It's a nice day for swimming, huh!”
Joshua tried slowing down. “Keep driving and don’t even think about doing anything stupid. I know where your family lives,” said Xuan pressing the barrel to the side of Joshua’s head.
“You didn’t think this through. Did you?”
Xuan chuckled. When they reached the bottom of the bridge, Xuan told Joshua to get out and turn off the engine. Xuan instructed Joshua to get on the pavement. “You'll fucking pay for this, you fucking chink bastard.”
“Never once will I feel regret.” Xuan spat in Joshua’s face. “Climb over and I will not repeat.”
Joshua looked around, trying to signal for anyone to help. It was dark and the cars kept going across.
“Nobody will help you, Josh. This is it.”
Joshua climbed over the rail onto the bridge's platform. The view below was horrifying; large rocks and a flowing river.
“Your buddies are waiting for you in hell. Have fun.” Xuan poked Joshua in the back with the gun and told him “Jump.”
With one look, Joshua jumped to his death. Xuan gazed at his body while it crashed on the rocks into the water.
Xuan didn't return home. He decided it was time to head to Ben’s house in Joshua’s car minutes away. Ben came home right after the funeral and his wife and children were out front barbecuing. Xuan loosened his tie and walked through the family‘s front garden.
“Xuan?” said Ben squinting. Ben's wife escorted their children inside with their aunt.
“Hello, Ben. I’m sorry to interrupt, but our friend, Joshua is missing. I don‘t know where. He mentioned a lake."
“Oh, my! What happened?” His wife cut in.
“Joshua felt drained after the funeral and was driving me home. He stopped and when I went to pee, I came back and he wasn’t there.”
“We need to call the police right away,” said Ben lowering the spatula after turning over burgers.
“I think he may be out there roaming around.”
Ben‘s wife ran to call the police but had no idea how to describe. She told her sister to watch the kids while she, Ben and Xuan go out to find Joshua. Ben and his wife jumped in Joshua’s car with Xuan in the passenger seat. They kept driving to the wrong areas, and after hours of searching, they stopped on the roadside.
“Why would Joshua leave you? This is kind of strange.” Ben and his wife kept asking.
“Before I left the car, he was saying he was tired of life. I thought he was joking."
They drove off again and minutes later, reached a lake that Xuan said resembled the place they stopped at. They searched with their flashlights, calling his name and he was nowhere to be found.
On the way back, the couple told Xuan their life story; how and where they first met and when they bought their first home and had children. Xuan wasn‘t interested, just making small talk here and there. Ben told Xuan to come inside for coffee in the couple‘s living room.
“Bethany and Lucas are lovely kids, but I think we’ll let their tutors go because we can't afford them any longer. Tutors are getting more expensive.” Xuan listened to Andrea’s non-stop chattering and wanted to fall asleep. They waited hoping to receive good news about Joshua while Xuan only wanted to kill Ben but couldn't.
“They won’t need a tutor. You’ll see they’ll be top of their classes. Just keep them focused,” said Xuan. Any minute, the police would be on their way. Sadly, the old man had to stick around.
“Let’s hope so.” She took a long sip, and then Ben joined them. “These sheriffs are taking long. It's almost midnight,” said Joshua after talking with the police for the third time in hours. Ben lived in a rural town outside of Houston and the police said they were on their way.
“What are you over there talking about?” Joshua sat down next to Andrea, holding her hand.
“Bethany and Lucas, of course, honey.”
“Those little rascals.” Ben and Andrea laughed while Xuan smiled. He gave them privacy; turning away when they kissed.
Forty-five minutes passed and Xuan said, “I think I’ll be heading home soon. I live rather far from here. The police are taking us serious, so I’ll leave you my number just in case.” As Xuan was getting up, the sheriff‘s car lights flashed outside.
Xuan, Ben, and Andrea walked out on the porch, greeting them.
“Good evening,” said a fat sheriff. He tipped his hat and proceeded to say, “I‘m sorry, but your friend, Joshua Warren appears to have taken his life.”
The couple and Xuan gasped.
“What!?” replied Ben.
“Where?” asked Xuan.
“Down the Old Lakewood Pond next to the Fred Hartman Bridge. It's not deep, but the cliffs below it are deadly. It appears he jumped. We have some questions for you since you were the last one to see him.”
“No problem, officer. I’m willing to help.”
“Why would he do this? He was such a happy man.” Andrea clung onto Ben and didn't want to let go.
The sheriffs interviewed Xuan and then told him it was all they needed.
As they were leaving, they offered their deepest sympathies.