enough to honor a good parent." This was a futile attempt to win the favor of the terrible old Dowager Empress, Ci Xi, who had quashed the coup and made the Emperor her prisoner.
The President of China stood, and as he stood, a strange thing happened. He seemed to grow larger in power and stature, as if he represented a new beginning. Wo Lap Ling instantly knew he had been foolish not to see it before. The realization of Willy's new status swept over him as he found himself standing before the President of what would soon become the most powerful country on earth. Despite his wealth and stature, until now Wo Lap Ling had just been an outlaw, nipping at the heels of the world, tearing off pieces of flesh, eating well but hiding from his true destiny. As China accepted her role as world leader, who knew how far Willy could eventually go? Politicians had always been his enemy. ... In Hong Kong, the British leaders had launched attacks against his Triad. But the British were gone and now there were new rules. Now he could be the attacker. He felt his tiger suddenly lurch under him, restless to stalk new prey. Willy looked at the powerful man before him, knowing this man could transform him instantly from a pirate to a prince. Not since he was a boy in the streets of Kowloon, being asked by the powerful White Fan to join the Triad, had Willy felt such awe in the presence of another human being. He stood, head bowed, and waited.
"No progress is possible without stability and unity," the President said to him, implying that the current political systems of China and Hong Kong must remain unchanged.
"The Yellow River flows for thousands of miles, but eventually it reaches the sea," Willy said, his voice lost in the vastness of the moment. The Yellow River had always been the symbol of a powerful China.
The politician nodded his agreement. "But remember," he said, "a river that is too clear will never grow fish."
This was the very sentiment that had always defined Willy. Corruption was the soil of his garden.
The President of China extended his hand to Wo Lap Ling, then took one step backward, indicating that the meeting was complete.
Willy Wo Lap Ling had been born in the stinking ghetto of Kowloon. Now he turned and walked off an island that had once been the home of an Emperor. He and Chen Boda stood for a moment on the other side of the bridge. Willy did not want the moment to end. He had new ambitions, new goals. Chen Boda finally took his elbow and walked Wo Lap Ling out of the magnificent garden.
It took until evening to hammer out the terms of their agreement. Chinese New Year had just started as Willy boarded his private jet to head back to Hong Kong. He had altered his goal but not his quest. . . . Power, as the politician had implied, was the earth's fertilizer. Power made things grow.
There were no weeds left in Willy's garden. His river would grow many fish.
Chapter 9.
Aftermath
Asian Crimes was a hung-over division the day after Chinese New Year. The detectives moved at their same pace for the benefit of their Occidental Captain, but the din of conversation was several decibels lower than usual. Tanisha had gone to the Homicide Board to make sure that the Wong murder was still up in her column. Ray Fong could have swiped the case if he got the Lieutenant to okay it. She'd been right about it hitting the news. There was a story on the Metro page of the Times and all the local TV newscasts had led with it this morning.
As she stood in front of the case chalkboard, she noticed a homeowner shooting that had taken place last night in Bel Air--a botched residential burglary where three Chinese John Does got killed. Ray Fong had rolled after the responding patrol unit called. It was the practice in ACTF to assign cases to detectives of the same ethnic origin, if possible. It facilitated the investigation, especially if the detective was fluent in that dialect. Tanisha went back to her desk and fished in her purse
The President of China stood, and as he stood, a strange thing happened. He seemed to grow larger in power and stature, as if he represented a new beginning. Wo Lap Ling instantly knew he had been foolish not to see it before. The realization of Willy's new status swept over him as he found himself standing before the President of what would soon become the most powerful country on earth. Despite his wealth and stature, until now Wo Lap Ling had just been an outlaw, nipping at the heels of the world, tearing off pieces of flesh, eating well but hiding from his true destiny. As China accepted her role as world leader, who knew how far Willy could eventually go? Politicians had always been his enemy. ... In Hong Kong, the British leaders had launched attacks against his Triad. But the British were gone and now there were new rules. Now he could be the attacker. He felt his tiger suddenly lurch under him, restless to stalk new prey. Willy looked at the powerful man before him, knowing this man could transform him instantly from a pirate to a prince. Not since he was a boy in the streets of Kowloon, being asked by the powerful White Fan to join the Triad, had Willy felt such awe in the presence of another human being. He stood, head bowed, and waited.
"No progress is possible without stability and unity," the President said to him, implying that the current political systems of China and Hong Kong must remain unchanged.
"The Yellow River flows for thousands of miles, but eventually it reaches the sea," Willy said, his voice lost in the vastness of the moment. The Yellow River had always been the symbol of a powerful China.
The politician nodded his agreement. "But remember," he said, "a river that is too clear will never grow fish."
This was the very sentiment that had always defined Willy. Corruption was the soil of his garden.
The President of China extended his hand to Wo Lap Ling, then took one step backward, indicating that the meeting was complete.
Willy Wo Lap Ling had been born in the stinking ghetto of Kowloon. Now he turned and walked off an island that had once been the home of an Emperor. He and Chen Boda stood for a moment on the other side of the bridge. Willy did not want the moment to end. He had new ambitions, new goals. Chen Boda finally took his elbow and walked Wo Lap Ling out of the magnificent garden.
It took until evening to hammer out the terms of their agreement. Chinese New Year had just started as Willy boarded his private jet to head back to Hong Kong. He had altered his goal but not his quest. . . . Power, as the politician had implied, was the earth's fertilizer. Power made things grow.
There were no weeds left in Willy's garden. His river would grow many fish.
Chapter 9.
Aftermath
Asian Crimes was a hung-over division the day after Chinese New Year. The detectives moved at their same pace for the benefit of their Occidental Captain, but the din of conversation was several decibels lower than usual. Tanisha had gone to the Homicide Board to make sure that the Wong murder was still up in her column. Ray Fong could have swiped the case if he got the Lieutenant to okay it. She'd been right about it hitting the news. There was a story on the Metro page of the Times and all the local TV newscasts had led with it this morning.
As she stood in front of the case chalkboard, she noticed a homeowner shooting that had taken place last night in Bel Air--a botched residential burglary where three Chinese John Does got killed. Ray Fong had rolled after the responding patrol unit called. It was the practice in ACTF to assign cases to detectives of the same ethnic origin, if possible. It facilitated the investigation, especially if the detective was fluent in that dialect. Tanisha went back to her desk and fished in her purse
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