Three the Hard Way: A Play in Two Acts (9 page)

"Huang Chang and Wei Jiang are rumored to have strong ties to Chinese organized crime. More Wei Jiang than Huang Chang, who appears to be more of a legitimate businessman. But Jiang is linked to secret societies, Triads, Tongs, and some Taiwanese and Yakuza organized crime groups. And he’s connected with white collar crimes."

"Such as?"

"Money laundering, credit card fraud, software piracy, illegal imports and exports of legal goods, not to leave out alien smuggling, and drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle into Europe and North America."

"Is that so," Kevon said and Wanda continued.

"Huang Chang owns or operates restaurants, retail stores, vegetable stands, car services, ice cream parlors, fish markets, and video stores."

"Small stuff."

"True, but that’s not all he’s into. On a higher, more professional level, he also owns, operates or is in partnership in wholesale supply firms, factories, banks, and employment agencies. There are even some rumored connections to West Coast Chinese gangs that are believed to have penetrated the entertainment industry."

"Very good that you were able to get this information so quickly," Kevon said.

"I have my sources," Wanda said proudly. "The question is what is Mike doing involved with these people?"

"Here again are those cumbersome details I spoke of."

"I see. Well, you tell Mike that I’m looking forward to hearing all about those cumbersome details when he gets back."

"I am quite sure that you will be the first person he speaks with upon his return. He also wishes to know if you have had a chance to take care of his business with Mr. Lightbourn?"

"That is all taken care of. April will do a wire transfer of the money to Mr. Lightbourn’s account as soon as he gets the paperwork to me."

"Very good, ma’am. Once again you have earned your pay for the day. Go ahead and take the rest of the day off," Kevon said playfully.

"I still have a few things to do, but after that, I’m outta here," Wanda said and ended the call.

Chapter Nine

After a night of making love all over their suite, Black and CeCe passed out on the bed. Their sleep was interrupted by the annoying intrusion of the telephone ringing.

"Black," CeCe said, still half asleep.

"What?"

"The phone."

"You get it. You’re closer."

CeCe picked up the phone and shoved it at Black. "It ain’t for me."

"Hello."

"Let me talk to CeCe," Jamaica said.

"Right." Black handed the phone back to CeCe. "It’s for you."

"Who is it?"

"It’s Jamaica."

"For me?"

"Yes. He wants to talk to you," he said and rolled over.

CeCe sat up in the bed. "Hello."

"Good morning, sunshine," Jamaica started. "Do you have any plans for the day?"

"Nothing special. Why?"

"I have taken it ’pon me self to arrange an introduction with the ladies I speak with you ’bout."

"The designers, right?"

"Exactly."

CeCe glanced at the clock by the bed. "What time are we talking about?"

"Anytime you say. They are at your disposal."

"Let’s say two then."

"I will come ’round ’bout two and carry you to they shop. Tell Mike that I have something for him to see while you chat with the ladies," Jamaica said.

As promised, Jamaica picked them up at two and took Black, CeCe and Kevon to Port Lucaya to the shop. After introducing CeCe to the ladies, Jamaica tapped Black on the shoulder. "Come. I want you to see something. I will leave Alan with her to be sure no harm befall her, and take her back to the hotel when they are done," he said as Black and Kevon followed him outta the dress shop.

"So, what you got to show me, Jay?"

"Come, you see."

"This better not be some Jacara shit," Black cautioned as they walked.

"No, no, not’ing at all like that. But her know you are on the rock and you are here with another woman."

"How does she know that?"

"Jacara have many friends ’round."

"How’d you find out she knows?" Black asked, thinking that this was exactly why he needed to keep CeCe off the island.

"She call me late night some time after you leave the restaurant at the hotel."

"What you tell her?"

"I tell her I don’t know what she talkin’ ’bout."

Black laughed. "What she say to that?"

"Her call me a liar and hung up the phone," Jamaica said as they arrived at the dock to one of the boat tour spots he had taken over. Along with a few of Jamaica’s men, there was an older man with a cane seated there, talking shit with the rest of them. Black recognized him as soon as he saw him. His name was Harold Elgin. Black had known Mr. Elgin for years. During the days when he was a number runner back in New York before circumstances forced him to return home to Freeport. He had recently had a stroke and the last time Black was on the island, there was talk that he wasn’t doing that good.

The moment Mr. Elgin saw Black come through the door, he rose to his feet. "Mr. Black," he said as Black shook his hand.

"Mr. Elgin!" Black said. Obviously glad to see him. "You are the last person I expected to see. I heard you had a stroke."

"Yes, sir, yes sir, that is true. But you don’t think a little thing like that gon’ keep me down for long. So I make up me mind to beat it. Every day, I walk up here, sit and talk with the brethren and I walk home."

"You must live at least two miles from here."

"That is me exercise for the day and that is how me fight back against the stroke," Mr. Elgin said.

"Well it’s damn good to see you, sir. I’m glad to see that you didn’t let it beat you," Black said and they sat down to talk.

Meanwhile, at the dress shop, the ladies modeled their creations for CeCe. She was for the most part impressed with the creativity and originality of their designs. She saw the potential in what they had and how, if they negotiated a good price and could keep up with demand, she could make some money.

As the mini fashion show continued, a woman came into the shop. Her name was Jacara Delbridge, the local entertainer who Black spent time with on his trips to the island. Not only was Jacara fine as hell, but she could sing and dance her ass off.

She used to be a showgirl in Vegas and concluded that she would never be the headliner, so she decided to move on. She had come to the Bahamas for Junkanoo, a national festival in the Bahamas and for a short vacation, and decided to stay when the opportunity to be part of the show presented itself.

"Hello, Jacara," one of the ladies said.

"Hey, ladies," Jacara said and looked at Alan as she passed.

Alan took out his cell phone and called Jamaica to let him know what was going on. He listened to what Alan had to say and looked at Black who was still talking to Mr. Elgin. He reminded Alan that his job was to protect CeCe and that included protecting her from Jacara, if it became necessary. He told Alan to let him know if things got out of hand.

"What’s going on here?" Jacara asked, even though she already knew. She’d gotten a phone call the minute CeCe came into the store.

"Oh, just a little show for a friend of Jamaica’s. She’s a big-time buyer from New York and we are trying to get her interested in buying some of our designs."

"I don’t know about big time," CeCe said. "But so far I like what I see."

"Miss Collins, this is Jacara Delbridge."

CeCe stood and shook Jacara’s hand. "CeCe. It’s nice to meet you."

"Jacara’s a singer who performs at a number of places ’round town. In fact, we design all of her outfits," the owner of the dress shop boasted.

"And they do excellent work, too. Well I’m not going to get in the way. I’ll just come back another time," Jacara said, but didn’t mean it.

"You are not in the way, Jacara. Why don’t you stay? Maybe you see something new for your show. That is if Miss Collins doesn’t mind, of course?"

"Not at all. Please have a seat."

"If you’re sure I won’t be in the way," Jacara said and sat next to CeCe.

As the show continued, CeCe and Jacara chatted about the pieces the ladies were modeling. About CeCe’s store is in New York, and Jacara invited CeCe to come and see her show. Her purpose in being there wasn’t to make a scene. She only wanted to send a message to Mike Black. She wanted him to know that this was her island and he could not be there with another woman, and she not know about it.

Once she had been there long enough to make her point, Jacara got up. "Well I got to be running on now, ladies," she said and turned to CeCe. "Miss Collins, it was very nice meeting you. I hope to see you at one of my shows."

"I will. And if you’re ever in New York, I hope to see you at my shop," CeCe said.

"Well," Jacara laughed. "I don’t make it to the States very much. But if I do, it will be one of the first places I visit," Jacara said and started out of the shop. As she passed Alan, she said, "Good-bye, Alan. Let Jamaica know that I said hello."

When Jacara left the shop, Alan called Jamaica to let him know what was going on. Once again, Jamaica listened to Alan’s report and after he hung up, he looked at Black, who was still enjoying his conversation with Mr. Elgin. He decided that since Jacara hadn’t really done anything but make her presence known, he would tell Black about it later.

Shortly after that one of the tour operators, Clifford Springer, who paid tribute to Jamaica, came in. Everybody, including Black and Mr. Elgin, got quiet as the man slowly approached Jamaica. Before he left the island, Kevon had been very good friends with Mr. Springer. When Kevon noticed him, he spoke up. "Springer, my old friend! How have you been?"

"Not too good, Kevon. Not too good I’m sad to say. Business has not been what I have become used to, nor that it needs to be," Springer said and looked at Jamaica.

Kevon glanced over his shoulder at Jamaica. "Maybe you should take care of your business and we will talk when you are done."

Springer held his head low and continued his march toward Jamaica. He handed Jamaica an envelope. "What excuse you come to offer me today, Springer?"

"Well you see it’s not that I wish to make excuses; however, what I come to say is a fact."

"And what fact is that?" Black asked.

Springer turned quickly when he heard that voice. "Mr. Black." He immediately went over and shook Black’s hand, as well as Mr. Elgin. "I did not see you sitting there."

"Please sit down," Black said.

After inquiring about Mr. Elgin’s health, he continued his story. By this time Jamaica came and joined the three men at the table. Kevon also moved closer so he could hear what Springer had to say.

"You see, the fact is that there is a new operator working the port."