Jack heard Wong say something in Chinese and saw Zhang take aim with his pistol at Mia as the other bodyguards appeared from behind. He instinctively leapt from his chair, grabbing Mia by the wrist, and yanking her to one side while putting himself between her and Zhang. “Kill her and you will have to kill me, too,” he yelled.
Good, thought Mr. Frank. Kill them both …
Wong barked out an order in Chinese and all the bodyguards put their weapons away. He looked at Jack and said, “Did you really think you could trap me that easily? Willing to throw your life away for this young woman? Tsk, tsk,” he sneered. “Obviously you are not the corrupt police officer you pretend to be.”
“There is a reason she needs to be kept alive,” replied Jack, calmly. “Tell your goons to leave and I will explain it to you.”
Wong ran his tongue around the insides of his chubby cheeks, puffing them out like a chipmunk playing with a walnut as he stared briefly at Jack. Then he gave another order and the bodyguards left, closing the door behind them. “Have a seat, Officer,” said Wong, “and tell me why she is so precious to you.” He then gave an impish smile and said, “Are you lovers?”
“Yes,” blurted Mia.
“No, we’re not,” said Jack, taking his seat again while nodding for Mia to do likewise. “She is only saying that because you scared her.” He turned to Mia and said, “Isn’t that right, Mia? Tell the truth. There is no need to lie.”
Mia stared at Jack. Is he insane? Jumping up and putting himself in front of Zhang’s gun to protect me … does he have a death wish? Her eyes drifted over to Mr. Frank. You sat there and did nothing … strange, somehow I knew you wouldn’t. It was Jack’s name I cried out for help.
Wong looked at Mia and asked, “Were you lying about being his lover? If you were his lover, it would help convince me that he is who he says he is.”
Mia glanced at Jack. Hope to hell you know what you are doing … She then glared at Wong and said, “Yes, I lied. I thought you were going to kill me. I would have said anything.”
“I see,” replied Wong. He looked at Jack. “So why is she so important to you?”
“Because if something happens to her, I would be blamed for it,” replied Jack. “I told my people that I was meeting with you on the pretext of being a dirty cop and that Mia would help me. As a result of her introducing me to you, it has been left up to my discretion as to whether or not her charges will be dropped.”
“Your people know you are meeting with me tonight,” repeated Wong. “I suspected as much.”
“Yes, they think I am pretending to be a dirty cop,” he replied, before smiling. “I told them that to protect myself. This way if AOCTF or the task force in my office gets wind of my meeting with you from whoever their source is, it will not arouse suspicion.”
Wong looked momentarily taken back as he studied Jack. His smile and easygoing conversation … it does not sound like a man who is lying or has something to fear… “So you’re saying you’re a double agent.”
Wong glanced at Mr. Frank and spoke in Chinese, asking him if that was the correct term. Mr. Frank gave a barely perceptible nod. Jack didn’t speak Chinese, but he guessed correctly the question Wong had asked. Jack glanced at Mr. Frank. There is something very interesting about this guy …
“As Mr. Wong noted earlier,” said Mr. Frank. “You have not offered anything of value. Tantalizing pieces perhaps … like bait on a hook … but nothing of actual benefit.”
Jack leaned forward in his chair to see past Mia and said in a friendly tone, “Sorry, we haven’t been introduced yet.” He stuck out his hand and said, “You are?”
“Who I am isn’t important,” replied Mr. Frank, ignoring the handshake. “Is there nothing else you have to say?”
“Well, besides knowing that the task force in my office plans to arrest Wong in the near future for a couple of murders, there is something —”
“They plan to arrest me for a couple of murders?” blurted Wong. He looked at Mr. Frank who shrugged in response, indicating he knew nothing about it.
Again, Wong turns to Mr. Frank to see if he knew anything about it. These guys don’t act like they work together. “Yes, although I do not know which ones,” replied Jack. “I suspect it will involve putting someone on the Witness Protection Program and having them testify against you. Perhaps even wiretap.”
Mia was also astute at studying body language, only she was watching Jack. He is clueing in that Mr. Frank is not some underling … there is no way the benefactor should have sent him … or does the benefactor know? Her brain started to put the pieces together.
“Again,” said Mr. Frank. “All you are saying are words. Nothing concrete.” He stood up, looked at Wong, and said, “There is something I would like to caution you about that I need to tell you in private.” He glanced at Jack and Mia and said, “There is no need to go, I will simply whisper what I have to say in his ear.”
Jack was concerned that his credibility would be further challenged before he was finished, so he stood up and said, “There is something concrete that I can give you.” He took a photo out of his inside jacket pocket and tossed it on the desk in front of Wong.
“He looks Chinese, but I do not know him,” said Wong, looking up at Jack.
“Remember when your men stopped me in the alley? I told you then that someone was contemplating having you killed. This picture is of the hit man who will be taking out that contract. I got a copy of it from the task force. Are you sure you wish to dismiss me like a wayward beggar?” he added, sarcastically.
Mr. Frank moved in front of Jack and bent over the table to study the picture with Wong. Jack saw Mr. Frank’s elbow jerk forward and briefly thought he had slammed Wong in the head with the heal of his hand. What the hell?
“What have you done!” shrieked Mr. Frank, stepping back.
Jack saw Wong, slumped forward in his chair. The curled metal bottom of the receipt spike protruded from his eye socket. The spike itself had penetrated his brain, killing him instantly and the blood was turning the receipts jammed to the bottom into a sodden mass.
Jack looked at Mr. Frank in shock, who was now shouting in Chinese.
“He said we did it!” screamed Mia. “They’re going to kill us!” she cried, leaping to her feet in a desperate bid to flee the office.