Chapter 2 Looking for clues

Since Xi lives on the grounds in a flat at the back of the building, it might as well be him doing this evil deed. It could be a love triangle between the two friends and the woman. Being mute did not make him less than a man. Love befalls anyone and being denied, could invoke anger. The scene did look as though an angry, jealous, villain did it. He hands over the tea, and to Pete his coffee while sitting down. For the moment, he concentrates on Li, asking him all the questions.

After the questioning, he asked them to keep in touch, bearing in mind that only Xi can give them the needed history. They left, promising to be there the next day. John and Pete spent the rest of the day making up theories and analyzing them. They ride out to the seaport to check for information on the entrance of illegal immigrants.

According to Li, his boss liked helping immigrants coming freshly into the United States of America. He provides them with work and places to stay till they settled. Some were employed by him; others depart looking for greener pastures, once they are financially stable. At the San Francisco port, the Port authorities pointed them to the biggest port dealing with pacific routes. It is the port of Oakland. There they met with bureaucratic bullshit, pointing them back to San Francisco port. With an explanation, saying San Francisco is the place with the largest and oldest Chinese population. Will it not be logical for those immigrants or ships to head for the San Francisco port? Logically the answer was yes. However, to flip the coin, would it not be logical for some who did not want attention, to dock at this harbor and go to the ground there? It remains open to debate on both sides. They drove back to get themselves organized, working on a plan of action for those ports. Right before their knock-off, John gets an inclination to phone the number Li provided. He did so and after the fourth ring, he got an answer. It was a woman talking in Cantonese. He stops her, asking her to talk to Li in English. She replies with explosive words in the Cantonese dialect. Then a male voice came online and he politely asked to talk to Li Yongcheng. The voice denies knowing someone with such a name. He tried explaining but the Cantonese-speaking lady answered. In rapid succession, she utters a lot of sentences in the Cantonese language leaving John baffled. Reaching his car, he decided to follow it up by driving to the address provided with the number. His partner, Pete, stops at his car on his way home and John tells him what he plans to do. Pete wanted to accompany him, but he reminded him as a family man he needs to go home. He only wants to go check out the address to see what kind of place it is. The address was in the living section of Chinatown, a few miles from the business districts.

Considered being the living sections of the Chinese, there are businesses all around, like brothels, restaurants, and the likes. The address seems like an eating-house or restaurant, not an actual residence as he envisioned. He parked opposite and wait, not knowing why or what he awaits. His intuition keeps telling him to be patient. Trying to blend in without drawing attention to himself, he stretches himself out for a long wait. Two hours passed waiting, street lights start to turn on, lighting up the place. He enters to check out the place, a beer would be nice while he waits. Entering through the doors he saw the reception desk on his left and moved towards it. At the desk, he announces himself and asks the way towards the bar area or where he may have a beer. He was shown to a table and politely informed: "The waiter will be with you shortly; we serve nice dishes if you may want to order!"

The waiter was none other than Li Yongcheng, but the nameplate on his chest pronounced him to be Chang Ho. He greets him with a head-shake and the waiter shows him to be silent, with a finger on his lips. While politely greeting him with," good evening sir, "here`s the menu!" He hands it over with a bowed head. Bowed and within this position, he moves one step back and straightens himself. As he feels the hunger bangs, John orders. From where he was sitting in the dining hall, he has a great view of the place. On his left-hand side, a meter from his table was a wall with stairs, leading upwards. On his right-hand side, vacant dining tables, with only two occupied. Behind him were a wall and a large piano without a pianist. Right in front of him was a large window, facing the street. He could see his car parked across the street. The waiter entered from his left-hand side, behind the wall with the stairs. It must be where the kitchen and restrooms are located. He orders himself a large Chinese meal; dumplings with chicken breast strips and a lot of greens. The waiter with the order disappears behind the wall arriving with the ice-cold beer and a glass. This time he decided to ask him what's going on. "Why did you give a fake name to the police while your name is Chang Ho?"

"The name I gave to the police is my real name, this name is the name I use when coming over to the USA. I will explain all of it in the morning once we get to the precinct."

"Now why should I be silent," John asked and Li replied:

"This area is not conducive for conversations because of eavesdroppers. Patrons' visiting the place is not all loyal to the police force, some might take offense."

John nods, and while the waiter`s still at his table, the Cantonese, spewing lady arrives. By using her explosive, annoying voice, she let the waiter scurry back to the kitchen. She changed her tone, politely when greeting John, asking him if he has been served. John answered with a: "yes, thanks everything is fine!" and pick up his glass in salute. From the sound and manner of speech, he could hear it`s the woman he talked with earlier on the phone. She did her rounds, standing at every table, chatting with guests. He took it; she asked them the same questions. After half an hour the waiter enters with a tray on which his food was presented. Steam emanating from it and it smells good it let his stomach grovels and rumbles in anticipation of it. After the waiter put down the plates in the right order, he asked for a fork and knife. While eating he did not give much attention to the surroundings. He only looked up when he noticed someone standing at his side. It was a mean-faced character looking down on him, a sneer on his face. John looked up into the men's cold black eyes. The eyes remind him of snakes, the ones he saw in the snake park, through the glass cage they were in. One particular snake was watching him while he looked at them. The snake`s eyes and the way they looked at him were all edged in his mind. These eyes' looking down at him now, reminds him of it and send a chill down his spine. He never encountered this character before, it's the first time he saw him.

He wonders why snake eye stands on top of him, sneering down on him. John looked at this character to edge his features into his mind. Making a mental note to ask Li about this character and how he fits into the scheme of things. He could be the one they are looking for or be part of the gang that had done the gruesome deed. Ignoring him after making the assessment, he finishes his meal. The meal was delicious and filling, the taste and aroma it exudes, out of this world. Leaning back, satisfied, he ordered another beer intending to leave thereafter. While waiting, he notices the place had come to life. A lot of clients have entered and the tables are nearly all filled with guests. Some were going up and down the stairs. It makes him wonder if there is another dining area. The first time he saw it, he was of the impression that it is the office area. His curiosity let him decide to go check it out once he finishes his beer. At the waiter's arrival, he asked him where the stairs led to. He just shakes his head with eyes big, showing him it's not a good question. He stops questioning the man, his mind all made up.