Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The next morning as planned, Erin gave the city jail a little visit. The guards nodded politely when she showed the badge. The head guard walked her to a special room where she would have more peace and quiet to talk to Ah Gam “How is he doing?” she asked.
The guy was tall and built “Hmph, I think he wants to stay in jail longer. He was caught beating up a guy the other day. Although he got a nice shiner in the eye.” Erin nodded without comment. When they reached the room, the guard turned to her “We’ll be watching from the next room. If he tries anything, don’t hold back.”
“Thank you.” She smiled gratefully as he unlocked the door and let her in. She was faced with the long seen foe. His eyes still cold as ice but he appeared to be calm. His arms chained as he placed them on the table across from her “How have you been?” she began the small talk.
Ah Gam snickered “Cut to the chase.”
“Can’t I ask how you are doing?” Erin smiled shortly.
“You want to see if I’m dead right? Well, guess what, I’m not going anywhere honey. When I get out, you guys will have a little more to worry about.” He threatened with a pointed finger.
Erin’s eyes hardened “Forty years later, I’d be retired and living on an exclusive island.” She laughed, “Who are you fooling? You know better than to get tangled with that lifestyle again. I know if you had another chance, you wouldn’t walk the same road.”
“What makes you so sure?” Ah Gam chuckled.
“Instincts.” She smiled again “I have a question for you.”
“Go ahead.” He leaned back on the chair with an easy aura.
“You met Hung Gor’s sister?” her question brought him into an instant state of crazed as he lunged at the table suddenly.
She made no movement as he pointed at her angrily “Don’t you guys dare hurt her! She’s innocent! She knows nothing of Hung Gor’s business!”
Erin turned to the corner camera and shook her head so the guards would not come to her rescue “I suggest you calm yourself before they shoot your body with a 200 volt shocker.” Slowly he began to back down into his seat “I didn’t say we were going to hurt her. I just want to know what her life was like before.”
“What’s it to you?” he huffed with a pointed chin in the air.
Sighing, she softened her voice and face “Look, I’m here as Brad’s girlfriend not a P.R.A. agent. I only want to know so we can protect her from the underground triads raising terror. Since Hung Gor died, we realized a few gangs are trying to take over his work.”
“Stupid greedy idiots!” Ah Gam snarled “They can’t touch any of Hung Gor’s assets, its all left for his sister.” Suddenly he turned to Erin strangely “You’ve met her?”
“No.” she answered honestly “But we are looking for her. If anything happens to her, the underground world will erupt. Which means more work for us.”
He shrugged carelessly “And your point?”
“I want to know about her so we can find her whereabouts.” Erin said sincerely “We have no intention of hurting her. You have my word.”
Ah Gam was debating but it didn’t take long for him to give in “To be honest, I’m not sure where she is right now. It’s been years since I’ve first heard about her through Hung Gor. I’ve only remember Hung Gor talking about her twice. About six years ago. Hung Gor told me of his little sister that he called Siu Kiu.” He sighed, “They had a horrible life in Beijing. Their parents were in denial when Hung Gor joined a triad. They kicked him out and told Siu Kiu that she could not see him ever again. It was heart wrenching for both because they were so close. But she obeyed her parents and ignored him when she saw him. But it took them ten years later to reunite. He flew back to Beijing just to find her. She had become a teacher and had a good job. He was proud but she tried to persuade him to leave the triad. He didn’t want to and told her she didn’t need to worry about him.”
“She didn’t take it too well?” Erin guessed.
Ah Gam nodded “No. But she respected his decision. She said to him she would not see him again as long as he was a Dai Lou.”
“Ouch.” Erin winced “How did they see each other again?”
“How did you know?” Ah Gam was amazed how they knew even the tiniest details.
“Hung Gor used his sister’s name to cover the legal use of the sewing manufacturing. That was three years ago, obviously they had to have met again.” Erin said wisely.
He smiled crookedly “Yeah…but it was in bad terms. She refused to help him, something about her needing money at that time. She couldn’t afford to take a chance on her credit. Knowing her brother, she guessed it was something illegal. Hung Gor was angry and he slowly used his power to force her. Going to her school and making trouble, he had a few guys beat up the other teachers. Everyone was in fear for their lives.” Ah Gam laughed at the thought “It was great how he could make anyone do anything for him. Eventhough he would never do anything to hurt Siu Kiu. She eventually agreed and signed for him…but she wasn’t happy about it.”
“What happened then?” Erin was intrigued.
Ah Gam shrugged “I don’t know. He tried to look for her a year later but they said she no longer worked at the school. Truthfully, I think they fired her. Afraid that Hung Gor would bring back his guys to cause trouble.”
“So that was the last she ever saw of him?” Erin asked.
He smiled “I’m not with Hung Gor 24/7.”
She understood his meaning “I never thanked you.”
“No need.” He brushed it off.
“No, for saving my life…twice.” Erin smiled “I know you had your chance but you didn’t. You may not want to admit it, but somewhere in that cold heart is a warm blood flowing through. I know if Brad were alive today, he would be sad to see you like this.”
“Or relieved.” Ah Gam snickered.
“He’s not that kind of guy.” Erin insisted.
His face fell and he nodded “I know. He’s always been righteous. Damn bastard wouldn’t even cut class.” He laughed, “He’s lucky you know…”
“How so?” Erin found it ironic to say someone that died a horrible death to be lucky.
“He’s got two great girls pining over him.” Ah Gam shook his head “And I can’t even find a decent person that will like me. Carmen only had eyes for Brad and I had a crush on a girl I’ve never met.”
“You have a crush on Siu Kiu?” Erin asked and he nodded “No wonder you freaked out at the mention of her name.”
He turned to her earnestly “Erin. I beg you, don’t let anyone harm her. She really is innocent.”
“I’m sure she can take care of herself.” Erin assured him “But I promise, if she is in danger, I will not stand there and watch. How will I know it's her?”
"She wears a necklace that Hung Gor gave to her. His Dai Lou bought it for him when he first joined the triad. It never left his side but he gave it to her years before and told her it would protect her if any gangs decided to pick on her. He guessed they would trace her down. It's a silver chain with an intricate dragon on the charm." He sighed with relief “Hung Gor told me when he was still alive that if he died, he only worried for Siu Kiu because the other Dai Lou would go after her.”
***************
When she left the jail, she called Doug, who was on the plane back to Hong Kong “What do you want?” he cried angrily while getting up from his seat “I told you not to call me if it’s not important.” He rolled his eyes when Ah Kiu turned to him strangely “Women.”
Erin waited for him until she heard a door closed “Clear?”
“Yeah, what did you find out?” he sat on the edge of the toilet.
She repeated most of what she learned from Ah Gam “But one thing he insisted was that she is innocent and sounds like she’s a nice girl.”
“Well apparently she’s changed. Yesterday, she had the guys beat up this old man that treated her bad while she was living on the streets. She didn’t even flicker when his head bled.” Doug whispered.
“How long did she live on the streets?” Erin asked.
Doug wasn’t too sure “I think she said one year or something. Maybe living out there made her tougher? Hell I would be too if I was trying to survive day by day.”
She agreed “True. Anyways, be careful. And try not to get caught.” She warned in a motherly tone.
“I’m not THAT stupid.” Doug assured her.
Erin giggled “I can find one person that will disagree.”
“Mia doesn’t count!” Doug cried and quickly hung up before they noticed he was gone for too long.
When he returned to his seat, Ah Kiu raised her eyes at him “Girlfriend?”
“No, just some girl that wants to be.” Doug brushed it off lightly “I guess it’s my mom’s fault for having such a handsome son.”
She laughed, “I guess we should go beat her up then.”
“Nah, she’s dead. I mean, how hard would it be to send some guys to hell?” Doug laughed at his own pathetic joke.
Ah Kiu smiled “If she’s bothering you, I can—”
“No, she’s just a nuisance but I can take care of her myself.” He quickly added.
“I was going to offer to act as your girlfriend and scare her off.” Ah Kiu grinned strangely.
Doug laughed embarrassingly “Oh…yeah, that would work. But it’s okay. I can handle her.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugged and looked outside the window.
“Hey.” He patted her on the arm as she turned to him “How did you end up on the street? I don’t recall Hung Gor telling me what happened. To be honest, the last time I heard about you was three years ago.”
Ah Kiu turned away as if the pain was too much “He actually mentioned me?”
“He never stopped looking for you.” Doug assured her “What happened to you?”
“I…I lost my job and no one wanted to hire me.” She explained shortly.
“What job?” he pried.
“Teacher.” She answered “Because they knew who my brother was, no one wanted to hire me. I didn’t have enough to pay rent and my parents disowned me after they found out I talked to Ah Gor. I ended up on the streets and had nowhere to turn. The rest, you know.” She smiled weakly.
Doug nodded “I see.”
“What’s wrong? You don’t believe me?” She asked.
He shook his head vigorously “No, it’s not that. I guess I’m just nosy. Sorry.”
“I was just teasing.” Ah Kiu grinned “I couldn’t be mad at my life saver.” She covered a yawn with her hand and leaned onto his arm “Can I borrow?” he nodded hesitantly as she closed her eyes and took a short nap.