Life of Bāo - Chapter 11
May 15, 2023
Bāo is now living in the Archive Room in the basement of the Jinshu Site Museum. He has shelter, food, and the amusement of a trove of artifacts. Li and Yao have both made progress in their hunt. Li knows where Bāo is, and Yao knows the young miscreant's name. In Chapter 11, time is running out for Li. And Yao, well, he is just pure evil. Enjoy.
Chapter 11
May 15, 2023
Ong Jin’s office was on the top floor of a high-rise in downtown Chengdu. The Red Dragons owned the top two floors. A keypad code and a retinal scan were needed to access the top floor. The need for the keypad code resulted from an unfortunate break-in incident of a rather unpleasant nature. As the elected 489, the Dragon Head of Sun Yee On, Jin, occupied the top floor. Marble floors, ornately furnished board rooms, and a four-room suite with all the modern accouterments were lavished on the Dragon Head. Sheng Yao, the Incense Master, reclined in an oversized leather chair; however, it was not oversized for him. Yao was confident and comfortable.
A beautiful woman dressed in a long black pencil skirt and pink floral-print blouse placed a black lacquered tray between Yao and Jin on the dark mahogany desk. The tray held an antique Ming dynasty teapot and two gold-rimmed ornate black ceramic cups with matching saucers. The teapot's handle was an elaborately carved jade dragon. She poured tea into each cup, bowed, and exited the room.
Yao waited for Jin to pick up his cup first. Jin raised his cup, saying, “The Red Dragons."
Yao replied, "The Red Dragons."
Jin spoke first. “In 24 hours, you have found the boy's name, Bāo. Well done."
"Thank you. He lived at the Chengdu Children's Welfare Institute."
“Lived, Mr. Sheng?"
“Unfortunately, after Li chased him, the boy became frantic and ran. He must have suspected that what he stole had a high monetary value, much different from the watches, phones, and jewelry he usually acquires. I believe he is not a boy but a smart, street-wise young man."
Jin sipped the tea, set the cup back on the saucer, and said, “Bāo, this young man, as you call him, could cause a war between the Red Dragons and Amur Leopards, or at the very least a great deal of money to prevent one. We now have 48 hours to find him and, more importantly, the gold bracelet before one of those options is realized, Mr. Sheng.”
Yao placed his empty cup on the saucer, returned it to the tray, and said, “I understand. I have every foot soldier looking for him. Also, Mr. Dang has a personal interest in finding him."
***
Dang Li searched for the boy whose actions could cost him his life. He repeatedly replayed the events in his mind. I was on the bus. I intentionally did not follow the usual pattern for delivery. I was hours away from freedom and a big payday. Now this. How could I have been so careless? He went to the mobile phone store where he had last seen the boy. He introduced himself to the owner as an investigator for the people’s police. He explained that he was investigating thefts in this part of town. She was cooperative and eager to assist."I have a security camera inside and outside of the store."
Li said, “I am interested in what happened outside of the store after the people’s police arrived."
“I have that on the security tape, but I have something better you might be interested in."
“What's that?"
“I have reviewed the tape and clipped a picture of the two teenagers standing with the people’s police.” They walked to the office in the back of the store. She rummaged around the items on her desk. Then, declaring, “Here it is!” as she handed the photo to Li.
Li studied the photo. Standing beside the boy was a young woman with long black hair streaked red. Next to the people’s police was a young man dressed in black straight-cut jeans, sneakers, a vintage soccer jersey, and a hoodie. His long black hair was knotted on the top of his head. “May I keep this photo?"
“Yes, I'll print another one. We place them behind the register to alert our clerks to possible thieves or those who pay with stolen credit cards. I’m not sure about those two. You can never be too careful, you know.”
Li thanked the woman and walked out of the store. He looked at the picture and said aloud, “I'm going to find you, and I'm going to kill you.” He needed to find him today, or he would be the one who would beg for his life.
He searched all day and was hungry as he sat on a bench across the street from the Jinsha Site Museum’s north gate. His watch read “5:30 PM.” No wonder I'm starving. As he watched the people entering and leaving the museum, he saw a young man with short black hair, wearing a hoodie and carrying a backpack, open the door for a woman. He quickly took the photo from his pocket, looked at the young man in the photo, and then looked back at the young man holding the door. He ran quickly from the bench, crossed the street, up the stairs, and entered the museum lobby. The young man with the backpack was not there. He searched the entire first and second floors and then walked up the stairs to the third. A guard stopped him, “Sir, you must exit the building. It’s closing time.”
Li was angry. “But I –"
The guard cut him off. “I'm afraid you must go back downstairs and exit the building with the other visitors.”
Li turned around, walked down the stairs, and exited the building with the other visitors. He looked at every face on the way out, but the young man had vanished. He was out of time. All he could think about was how the Red Dragons settled debts. His mind reviewed his limited options. I cannot go back to my apartment. They will find me. Maybe the young man is still inside. I will be here in the morning before it opens.