Chereads / The Cat's Hive / Chapter 13 - 13. Chinatown

Chapter 13 - 13. Chinatown

Ethan, Rufus and Len Green, along with Rudy, were dropped into an alley directly behind Lucy's parents market on Stockton Street. Bright red signs, clothes, lanterns and buildings were the first thing the trio noticed. Light posts, roofs and signs were covered in bursts of green. Splashes of yellow added to Chinatown's festival of colours.

The Fang family had been in Chinatown for 5 generations. The first immigrant Xiang Fang had practiced traditional Chinese medicine and sold herbal remedies. He lived above the shop. Originally the family had lived only on the 2nd floor, but with the prosperity in their business over several generations they eventually acquired the top floor.

Nearing midnight, the closing time for the Fang family market, Ethan, Rufus and Len Green stepped into the store. Rudy slipped in behind them. Mr Fang greeted them politely. His smile did not hide his crippling grief.

Ethan handed him the letter from Lucy. Mr. Fang stared at it, confused.

"Neih hou." Ethan addressed the older man in Cantonese. "Lucy is safe."

Mr Fang's face collapsed. His self control broke, tears steamed down his heavily lined face.

"I must tell my wife." It came out in a choked voice. "Please, come with me." He quickly locked the front door, turned out the lights, and led them through a rear door to a steep staircase.

The extra noise of many footsteps brought Mrs. Fang to the door. The sight of her normally stoic husband of 40 years crying openly frightened her.

Mr. Fang did not keep her in suspense. "These men tell me Lucy is safe. Here, this is her handwriting." He handed the unread letter to her.

She kissed the envelope, then clutched it to her chest without reading it.

"Father? Mother?" They were suddenly mobbed by the concerned Fang siblings.

It was Len Green with his serene demeanor who calmed everyone down. He raised both hands, palms up, and the chatter suddenly stopped. Ethan quickly took control, speaking in perfect Cantonese.

"Lucy is healthy. She has a new kitten. " Her mother smiled. "She loves and misses you all. But," here he paused to make sure they understood completely, "she can never come home." Mrs Fang sagged. One of her daughters quickly reached out to support her.

"Lucy has a very special skill that would put her, and you, in danger if she were to return home."

"Yes, we agree." One of the older Fang boys responded in English before speaking to his parents in Cantonese. "Mother, father, if what they said on television is true, she would always be at risk. You must understand this." He waited until his parents nodded sadly before turning to speak to Ethan. "Someone has taken our brother Jack. They are demanding we trade Lucy for Jack's safe return."

"We are here to help." Ethan said first in English, then repeated in Cantonese. " First, I would like the family to sit and talk with Mr. Len Green. He has recently spoken to Lucy and would like to help you."

The family agreed. Mr. Fang led the way into the living room. He offered his guests a seat. Ethan and Len Green sat on the hard sofa. Rufus stood, looking out the window. No one thought it strange that a cat was travelling with them. Cups of hot tea and almond biscuits appeared on the low table.

Len Green asked each member of the family to tell him their favorite Lucy story. There were many. They told of her love of animals. Her kindness. The siblings talked over each other. As the baby of the family, Lucy had been loved and protected. It was apparent that the older brothers felt especially guilty over her disappearance.

Then, Mrs.Fang spoke. "Lucy is the youngest. Her birth was a great surprise and a great joy." Mr. Fang nodded his agreement. "Her smile lights up the room. She is sweet, kind and the most even tempered of all my children." Many heads nodded.

"Mr. Fang, do you wish to add anything?" Len Green asked.

"It is not necessary. Words do not matter. My love will flow through the universe no matter where my child is." Ethan translated for him.

One by one the family calmed. A peace came over the room. Mr. Fang stood and bowed his thanks to Len Green. One by one, each family member copied his actions.

Len Green was happy with the way he had left the Fang family. He had a collection of letters to deliver to Lucy.

The oldest son had given them the ransom note the kidnappers had tucked in the front door of the market when Jack Fang went missing. The paper was covered in scratchy writing. It read:

GIVE US THE GURL OR

JACK DIES.

BRINK HER TO THE

CORNER OF EDDY AND TAYLOR. DONT CALL THE COPS OR

HE IS DED

Ethan and Rufus were nervous.

Anne had told them her vision. She described Jack being held in a windowless room at the back of an abandoned restaurant in the area known as the Tenderloin. The Tenderloin was a notoriously bad neighborhood. Crime was rampant and the streets were not safe after dark. Maybe even before dark.

Anne had the impression that the kidnappers were young, very young. She thought maybe four boys were involved.

Kate and Rudy agreed that all the evidence pointed to the fact that the kidnappers knew the family. They had recognized Lucy from the few pictures on the news. They knew Jack was Lucy's brother and they knew where the family lived.

The trio jumped on the line 27 bus heading into the heart of the Tenderloin district. Rudy was unhappily tucked inside Rufus' backpack. Lucy had told them it was about a 5 minute ride from her parents house to their destination.