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FIC: Spirits, Part 2 of 3
Title: Spirits, Part 2
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Leon/D
Word count: ~4,970
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Matsuri Akino; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Summary: Sequel to Spirits, Part 1; Leon and D investigate a murder which may have been committed by a vengeful spirit.
Author's note 1: [Brackets] indicate the animals' speech, which Leon cannot understand.
Author's note 2: This story presumes that Chris used to live at the petshop, but now lives with his adoptive parents (Leon's aunt and uncle). I made up the stuff about D growing up in Japan; I invented that part of his background to explain why he sometimes speaks Japanese in my stories.
Translation note: "Ni hao" means "hello" in Chinese. "Urusai" means "noisy" or annoying in Japanese; D uses the latter meaning when speaking to Leon. "Oyasumi-nasai" means "goodnight" in Japanese.
The Count crossed his arms and glared at Leon. "Contrary to what you might think, Keiji-san, I run a pet shop, not a nursery!"
"Oh, come on, Count!" protested Leon. "There's no one else to look after him! Look at him, poor kid--father missing, mother dead--are you going to abandon him?"
"Isn't it your responsibility--"
Jill sighed. "Well, if we can't find someone to take care of him, we'll have to turn him over to Social Services. That means a foster home, where he won't know anyone, and there probably aren't many foster parents available who speak Chinese..."
D looked down at Jia, who was looking back up at him anxiously. His expression softened slightly. "Oh, very well. But you will both owe me a very large favor..."
Jill grinned. "We'll make it up to you, Count!"
"Then you can be the one to stand in line all morning at Hotel de Marseilles," muttered Leon.
The Count leaned over and whispered in Leon's ear, "I am sure I can think of some other way you can make it up to me, Keiji-san."
Jill snickered as Leon's face turned red. "Say Leon, I just noticed--weren't you wearing those same clothes last night...?"
"Uh...WHOA, look at the time!! We've really gotta get moving on this investigation! I'll have a patrol car take D and the kid back to the shop! And I'd better go call the Chief and arrange to have a couple of cops protect the kid!"
D led Jia down the stairs into the pet shop. "I'm glad you're here," he said to the boy in Cantonese. "I could really use some help today. Would you like to help me take care of the pets?"
Jia nodded. A fluttering sound made him look up and gasp.
"Ah, this is my friend, Q-chan." The Count held out his hand, and the little bat-like creature landed on it.
"Is he a vampire bat?" asked Jia nervously.
"Oh no, his favorite food is strawberries."
"Kyu!"
Some of the other inhabitants of the pet shop emerged to check out the new visitor. Jia watched wide-eyed as a raccoon walked up and tugged on the Count's robe with one paw. [Hey Count, who is this? Is he going to live with us like Chris did?] asked Pon-chan.
A strange little animal with horns and shaggy fur gave a derisive snort. [Just what we need, another hairless ape!]
[Oh, shut up, Tet-chan! I know you miss Chris too!]
"Enough," scolded the Count gently. "This is Jia. He will be staying with us for a day or two. Jia, this is Pon-chan and Tet-chan."
"Uh, hello," Jia said, patting Pon-chan, who seemed to smile at him. He started to pat Tet-chan, but changed his mind. The animal looked grumpy, and he didn't want to get bitten. "What can I do to help?" he asked the Count.
"Well, I have a pet that needs some very special care. Just a moment." D left the room and came back a moment later with a small ball of fluff. He handed it to Jia. The ball of fluff squirmed and mewed. It was a tiny kitten, with smoky gray fur and pale blue eyes. "It is a stray that I found in the alley the other day. He is afraid of humans right now, since his first owner abandoned him. He'll need a lot of care and affection before he's ready to be a pet. Do you think you can help me with him? It will require a great deal of work and patience."
"I can do it!" said Jia, gently stroking the kitten. He could feel its heart beating rapidly against his arm. "Don't be scared...what's his name, Count D?"
"Kage."
"Kah-gay?"
"Yes, it means 'shadow' in Japanese. I named him that because I almost didn't see him, he blended into the shadows so well."
"Hello, Kage." Jia continued to stroke the kitten. Gradually its heartbeat slowed to a normal rate, and it began to purr.
"Well, it seems that he likes you! You're doing a good job already! Shall we go feed Kage and the other animals their breakfast?"
Jill interviewed Ling's assistant, Steven Kam. "Enemies? Sure, he pissed off a lot of people."
"Anyone in particular?"
"Hmm...well, Johnny Chow was furious when Mr. Ling foreclosed on his family's business. He was in here screaming and swearing--we had to threaten to call the police to make him leave. And there was Raymond Hong--he worked with Mr. Ling when he was first starting out."
"What happened?"
"When the business became successful, Mr. Ling fired him. Hong claimed that he had been promised full partnership and a half-share in the business. But there was no written agreement, so there was nothing he could do."
Leon stood outside the Eastern Garden restaurant talking to Johnny Chow. "Yeah, I hated Ling's guts; it's no secret. He came to us, saying how he wanted to help us out as a fellow Chinese-American. Then we were a few weeks late with our payments, and he took away the business that my grandfather started fifty years ago! So much for all his talk about fellowship! We should've known better than to trust that bastard! Now I work here--" Chow gestured towards the restaurant behind them. "--for someone else. And my grandfather had a stroke, and he's never fully recovered. Losing the business broke his heart."
"Did you hate him enough to kill his wife and little girl? Was that a fair trade--he hurt your family, so you decided to hurt his?"
"Jesus, no!" exclaimed Chow, looking genuinely surprised. "I thought Ling was the one who got killed! I'd never hurt a woman or a kid!"
"Where were you last night?"
"Here, working the night shift till 11 pm."
"And after that?"
"Went straight home. You can ask my wife."
"I hear you had a falling out with Ling Yunhan several years ago, Mr. Hong," said Jill.
"You heard right," said Hong. "I worked for peanuts because he promised me a share of the business when it became profitable. Then when it did, he stabbed me in the back."
"You didn't have a written contract?"
"A handshake was all that was needed between friends," said Hong bitterly. "Or so I thought. He did me one favor--he taught me to always get it in writing! So, you're from the Homicide Department? Did someone finally kill that son of a bitch?"
"Would that make you happy?"
"I'd shake the guy's hand and buy him a drink!"
"Mr. Ling is missing. His wife and daughter were the ones who were murdered."
"What?!"
"Where were you last night, Mr. Hong? Say, between eight and midnight?"
"I...I went out with some coworkers last night. It was someone's birthday. We went out for dinner, and then for drinks. We were out past midnight."
"I'll need their names, and the names of the restaurant and bar."
"Yes...yes, of course. Listen, I wouldn't have hurt Meilin or the the little girl! I admit, I wouldn't mourn Ling, but Meilin was a really nice lady...way too good for Ling!"
Leon entered the Jade Empress Lounge and asked for the manager. The place wasn't the sleazy strip joint he'd imagined. It looked like an upscale bar, dimly lit, with Chinese-style screens (like the ones D had in the pet shop) set up in the corners, presumably to provide a measure of privacy. A few men in suits, presumably businessmen, sat at one table with a pretty Asian woman, who poured the men drinks and hung on their every word as if it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever heard.
"Yes, how may I help you?" the manager, a Chinese-American man in his thirties asked.
Leon flashed his badge. "Ling Yunhan was a regular customer of yours?"
"Our customers like their privacy. May I ask what this is about?"
"This is about murder. Mr. Ling's wife and daughter have been killed."
"And Mr. Ling--is he all right?"
"He's missing. And don't play games with me--I know he was a regular here!"
"Yes, he was. I'm very sorry about what happened, but I don't see what that has to do with us."
"Let me do the detecting," said Leon dryly. "Did Ling have any arguments with anyone recently?"
"Not that I know of."
"Any enemies?"
"Not that I know of."
"Well, thanks for all your help," said Leon sarcastically. "Was there a certain girl here who was Ling's favorite--and please don't tell me you don't know!"
The manager led him back to some sort of dressing room. A beautiful Chinese woman sat at a table, applying makeup. "Jade, this detective would like to talk to you about Mr. Ling."
The woman rose gracefully to her feet. She had shoulder-length black hair, and wore a dark green cheongsam not unlike the ones the Count wore, but much tighter. Or perhaps it was just that D didn't have curves like that!
"I'm Detective Orcot. And you're Jade...or should I call you 'Empress'?"
Jade laughed, then spoke in a low and sultry voice. "No, the bar wasn't named after me! I chose the name because it was convenient. You don't always want clients to know your real name."
"Which is?"
"Zhang Miaoyu."
"'Miaoyu'?" Leon asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar syllables. "What does that mean?"
"It means 'pretty as fine jade'," replied Jade.
"Yes, you certainly are!" exclaimed Leon, giving her his most charming smile.
Jade gave him a flirtatious smile in return. "What did you want, Detective? Is Mr. Ling in some sort of trouble?"
She didn't seem overly concerned, Leon noticed. "How long have you known him?" asked Leon, ignoring her question for the moment.
"He's been a regular patron here for quite some time. I've been...spending time...with him personally for a few months."
"And what exactly does 'spending time' mean?"
"A hostess entertains the guests--" As Leon raised an eyebrow, Jade said, "Not that sort of entertainment, Detective! We serve them drinks, make conversation, laugh at their jokes..."
"I've seen how much Ling spends at this place--surely he doesn't pay all that money just for conversation!"
"This is a place for men to come and relax--we talk with them, flatter them, and yes, flirt with them. Just for a few hours, we make an ordinary man feel like a king. It's also a good place if you want to conduct business in an informal setting."
"I guess," said Leon dubiously. "Is that some sort of Asian thing?"
"You might say that," said Jade with an amused smile. "Perhaps you should stop by sometime when you're off-duty."
Leon found the thought rather appealing--until a mental image of an angry D popped into his head! Oh well, this place looked too expensive for a cop's salary, anyway. "And did you do anything besides talk with Ling?"
"This is a hostess bar, not a brothel, Detective. However, if one of the girls decides to date a client outside of work...well, her free time is her own, isn't it?"
"And did you 'date' Ling?" asked Leon impatiently."
"Yes."
"Even though he was married?"
She shrugged. "I'm no threat to his wife. If it wasn't me, it would be someone else, and he's not going to leave her for a bar girl. I would think she'd be glad to get him out of her hair for awhile, anyway."
"You don't love him?"
Jade burst out laughing. "Of course not! He's arrogant, self-centered, and boring!"
"Then why--?"
"He's also rich. He buys me presents--" she fingered the gold and jade necklace around her neck, and the heavy jade bangles on her wrists "--and gives me gifts of cash. Oh, don't look so disapproving, Detective. This is not a profession one can remain in for long. Sooner or later, my looks will fade. I'm trying to save enough money so that someday I can buy a shop or bar of my own."
"Mr. Ling's wife and daughter are dead. Was she threatening to make him leave you? Perhaps you were afraid of losing your meal ticket?"
Jade gasped and turned pale. "No! I had no idea!"
"Where were you last night?"
"I was here, working! One of our important clients brought some guests from Hong Kong. A few of the other girls and I entertained them till about two in the morning. Listen, Detective, I didn't kill Ling's wife! I didn't expect him to marry me or anything! The way Ling works is, he chooses a girl, goes out with her for a few months, maybe six months tops! Then he moves on to someone else. Nothing personal on either side!"
"He bought you all that jewelry and gave you money--are you saying there was nothing personal about that?"
"Yes! It's just his way of showing what a big shot he is! That he can afford to buy necklaces and bracelets that cost hundreds of dollars like they were dime store trinkets! And he likes having a beautiful woman on his arm to show off!"
"Did you sleep with him?"
"Yes, damn you! But it was strictly business! Anyway, he loved having his ego stroked more than anything we did in bed! You can think of me as a whore if you like, but I'm not a killer! I wouldn't kill for him--and that bastard is not worth going to jail over!"
"OK, take it easy--I believe you. Was he seeing any other women who might be jealous? Was he worried about anything, or acting strangely recently?"
Jade took a deep breath, trying to calm down. She thought for a moment. "He did seem a little distant lately. I thought maybe he was getting ready to move on to someone else, which quite frankly, would be a relief. But he wasn't seeing anyone else that I know of. He seemed...distracted, as if something was on his mind. I figured he was worried about some business deal or something. And he hasn't been coming around as much lately as he usually does. Come to think of it, he hasn't been in for over a week."
"Did he mention any business deal that was troubling him?"
"No, that was just my guess. But usually he would only tell me his success stories, anyway. He does have a big ego, you know."
"Yeah, I get the picture." Leon hesitated. It was just some crazy idea of the Count's, but what the heck. It wouldn't hurt to ask. "Did he mention anything about a statue he'd bought recently?"
"He's always buying artwork. But he did seem very pleased about a piece he'd bought about a month ago. I think it was a statue or figurine. He got it at a real bargain, because it was supposed to be cursed or something. He really gloated over that."
Oh great, thought Leon, the damn thing's cursed! He sighed. Now the Count would keep harping on his ghost theory. "One last thing--may I see your hands?"
Jade looked puzzled, but held out her hands for the detective to examine. Her fingernails were long--although not as long as D's--and perfectly polished and manicured. It certainly didn't look as though she'd been clawing anyone last night.
Jill and Leon met at the "Asian Antiquities" art gallery in Chinatown. The owner was a well-dressed Chinese man in his forties, Anthony Wong. Like Wenjing Holt, he spoke with a slight British accent.
"I'm sorry," Wong said, "but unless you have a warrant, our customer records are confidential."
"Listen, pal," said Leon, "this is a murder inves--"
Jill motioned for Leon to be quiet, and gave the gallery owner a charming smile. "I understand. Your clients rely on your discretion."
"Exactly!"
"Pardon me for asking, but are you from Hong Kong? I noticed your accent..."
"Yes, I emigrated here about ten years ago."
"How could you tell?" whispered Leon.
"Hong Kong used to be a British territory, Einstein," Jill muttered back. She flashed another smile at Wong. "Mr. Ling's wife was from Hong Kong also," she said. "Our friend, Count D, knew her well."
Wong's manner became considerably friendlier. "Ah, you know the Count?"
"Yes, in fact, my colleague, Detective Orcot, is a very close friend of the Count."
"Ah, yes," said Wong, giving Leon a knowing look. "You're that detective!"
"And what is that supposed to mean--?" protested Leon, trying not to blush. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, as Jill stomped on his foot.
"Not now!" she hissed.
"Well, in that case, I suppose it's all right...you will be discreet, won't you?"
"Of course," smiled Jill.
"I don't see what this has to do with the murder...but Mr. Ling did buy a small porcelain statue like the one you described about a month ago."
"Ling's lady friend mentioned something about it being cursed," said Leon.
Wong rolled his eyes. "Yes, there was supposed to be a curse attached to it! That's why I sold it to Mr. Ling so cheap! It was worth a lot more, but no one else would buy it."
"What kind of curse?" asked Jill.
"Well, the story goes that the statue was a figure an ancient Chinese nobleman commissioned of his wife. She was supposed to be very beautiful, and she was, if she looked anything like the statue--but she was also very vain and jealous. When she found out her husband was seeing another woman, she killed them both--stabbed them to death, then killed herself. Supposedly her ghost resides in the statue, and haunts anyone who buys it. It's all nonsense, of course, but people are so superstitious..."
"What kinds of things happen to the people who are supposedly haunted?" asked Jill.
Wong sighed. "Supposedly she appears at night, and threatens the women of the household. In life, it was said that she could not tolerate any competition. The last owner...well, he murdered his wife. Claimed that the ghost had possessed him and made him do it! Probably just trying for an insanity plea--but the story stuck, and I couldn't get rid of it until Ling bought it."
"He wasn't worried about the curse?" asked Leon.
"He said he didn't believe in such things. Drove a really hard bargain, too. But by then, I was glad to get rid of the damned thing...Hey, wait a minute! You're not saying that the curse--"
"Of course not," said Leon. "After all, there's no such thing as ghosts--right?"
"Uh...right."
Leon and Jill returned to the Pet Shop by early evening. Two policemen were sitting outside a restaurant across the street, watching the shop. "See anything?" asked Leon.
"No, Detective. No one's entered the shop since we got here. He hasn't even had a customer all day. He did bring us some tea and pastries a few hours ago, though. Said something about it being tea time."
"Can we go home yet?" asked the other policeman. "We've been out here all day."
"Yeah, go on," said Leon. "We'll take over from here."
"I'm sure you'll take good care of the Count," said the second cop with a smirk.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" growled Leon. He was getting really sick of the smirks and knowing looks he'd gotten all day. First Jill, then the art gallery owner, and now some smart-ass patrolman! Did the whole damn city know about his love life?!
"Don't mind him, Detective," said the first cop, glaring at his partner. "The Count is a decent guy."
"Yeah, if you don't mind transvestites," muttered the other cop under his breath. "Ow!"
"Oops, sorry, was that your foot?" asked Jill sweetly. Stiletto heels were murder on the feet, but they did come in handy sometimes, she thought to herself smugly.
"I bought a puppy from Count D," continued the first cop. "It's great with the kids! Well, tell the Count thanks again for the tea." He left, his partner limping along behind him.
"Dammit, does the whole department know--or think they know--about me and D?" complained Leon as they crossed the street over to the shop.
"Who cares what some jerk thinks?" asked Jill.
"I have to work with some of those jerks, you know! You're not the one who has to listen to faggot jokes in the locker room!"
"I know, Leon," said Jill. "But you can't run your life by what other people think. Besides, it's not always easy being a woman on the force, you know!"
"Yeah, I know, but--"
"Welcome, Detectives," said the Count as they entered the shop. "Why don't we have some tea, while you tell me how the investigation is going?"
"Oh yeah, uh, here, this is for you." Leon held out a small box embossed with the logo "Madame C's."
D clapped his hands together in delight. "How wonderful! What is it? A fruit tart? Cream puffs?" He took the box and opened it as eagerly as a child opening a Christmas present. "Ah! Chocolate truffle cake! Splendid!"
As the Count bustled about, cutting cake and pouring tea, Jill whispered to Leon, "Guess you're forgiven."
Without looking up, D replied, "No, not completely. But I'll consider it a down payment."
Leon sighed and flopped down on the couch. Jia sat on the floor nearby, playing with a gray kitten. He looked up and smiled shyly at the detective.
"Tea is served," announced D.
They all sat down to eat. D ate almost daintily, slowly savoring every bite, while Jia gobbled up the cake like any normal 5-year old, smearing chocolate all over his face. Leon wanted to discuss the investigation, but hesitated to do so in front of the boy, even if he didn't speak much English. Jill caught his eye and nodded.
"Jia, would you like to show me around the shop?" she asked.
The Count translated her question. The boy turned to Jill, who smiled at him kindly. He looked back at D, who murmured something reassuring in Chinese. The boy whispered something in the Count's ear.
D smiled at Jill. "He thinks you're very pretty, and he would be glad to show you some of the pets. As you can see, he was helping me take care of the cats today." As Leon started to open his mouth, the Count quickly added, "Normal, ordinary housecats. Q-chan will show you the way."
The little pear-shaped bat looked annoyed at having his snack interrupted, but obediently fluttered into the air, heading towards the back rooms. Jia scooped up Kage with one hand, and, after a moment of hesitation, took Jill's hand with the other.
"So, how is the investigation going?" asked D.
"Not so good," replied Leon. "All the main suspects have alibis. We're trying to look into the black market art angle, but of course no one will admit to selling Ling anything illegal."
"And the statue?"
"The statue was a legitimate sale. The art dealer, Wong, showed us the receipt."
"I sense there is something you are not telling me, Keiji-san," said D, smiling coyly as he sipped his tea.
"So what are you, a mind reader?!" snapped Leon. "And why're you always calling me 'Keiji-san' anyway?!"
"Well, it means 'Mr. Detective' in Japanese," D started to reply.
"I know that!!" interrupted Leon. "But I have a name, you know! And besides, you're Chinese! How come you're always saying stuff in Japanese?!"
The Count was silent for a long moment. His eyes took on a faraway, melancholy look. "I...spent part of my childhood in Japan," he said at last. "I learned quite a bit about the language and culture while I was there."
"But...well, it's just that...you never told me that before. You never talk about your childhood or your family."
"Neither do you," D pointed out. "I didn't know you had a brother until you dropped Chris off at my shop that day."
"Yes, well..." Leon wanted to ask D more about his past, but he sensed that the Count wasn't ready to discuss it, any more than Leon wanted to talk about his own family. Did D also have a secret, something too painful to discuss, or even think about?
"And...I'm sorry if I offended you, Leon-san," said D.
The detective's mouth dropped open. D had never apologized to him before about anything!
"We Asians are more formal than you Americans," the Count continued. "We often refer to even close family and friends by titles instead of names. For example, in Japan, your little brother would call you 'older brother,' not 'Leon,' but it wouldn't mean that he didn't care for you." D smiled at Leon, who was still speechless. "Besides, you've referred to me as far worse," he said lightly. "Such as, 'murderer,' 'drug dealer,' 'drag queen'..."
"Well, but not lately..." spluttered Leon.
"...'stupid bastard'..."
"When did I--? Oh yeah! Well, you were being stupid, worrying about your silly dress when you got shot--"
"In any case, I believe you are avoiding my original question. You found out something about the statue...?"
Leon sighed. It seemed D was only capable of being serious for a short amount of time, then it was back to his favorite game of let's-get-under-the-detective's-skin. "Ling's girlfriend said he told her the statue was cursed, and--"
"Girlfriend?"
"Yeah, a hostess at the Jade Empress Lounge--" Leon began, realizing his mistake too late, as the Count glared at him.
"You went to the Jade Empress Lounge?" asked D coldly.
"Christ, D, I was investigating a murder, not picking up women!"
"And am I supposed to believe it was just coincidence that you chose to investigate the lounge, not Jill?"
"Oh, come on! We just divided the suspect list down the middle!" Actually, Leon had made sure he got to investigate the lounge, but he didn't see any reason to tell D that! "It was strictly business!" Suddenly he grinned. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"Hmmph!" D crossed his arms and tilted his nose up in the air. "Certainly not! Why any woman would want such an ill-mannered, uncouth--"
"Well then," interrupted Leon, "I guess it's a good thing that you want me." Impulsively, he leaned over and kissed D. Now it was the Count's turn to be dumbfounded. Leon felt very pleased with himself. It wasn't often that he got the best of the Count!
Finally the Count got his voice back. "Don't push your luck, Keiji-san," he said, still sounding a bit miffed. "Tell me what this hostess said."
"That Ling got the statue at a bargain price because it was supposed to be cursed. The art dealer confirmed her story. Said there was some legend that the statue was the likeness of a woman who murdered her husband and his lover, and that her ghost haunts whoever owns the statue."
"I see," said D. "And are there any murders connected with this statue?"
"Wong said the last owner killed his wife. But that's gotta be a coincidence!"
"Oh? I thought the police didn't believe in coincidence. And where is the statue?"
"Well, it's missing...but so what! Maybe Ling took it with him when he ran off!"
"I'm sure he did, if he was under the influence of the spirit."
"There are no such things as spirits!"
"Then how do you explain the woman Jia saw?"
"Well--probably some jealous girlfriend..."
"But didn't the woman at the lounge have an alibi?"
"Well, yeah, but...that doesn't mean he didn't have another girlfriend somewhere!"
"The answer is right in front of you, yet you refuse to see it."
"How the hell am I supposed to arrest a ghost?! And why didn't this ghost lady kill the little boy, too?"
"Perhaps she didn't see the boy as a threat. This ghost was a jealous woman, correct? If she claimed the husband for her own, then her rage would be focused on the wife. Perhaps she would not even have killed Wenli if the girl had not tried to protect her mother."
"So you don't think she'll come after Jia--wait a minute! I can't believe I'm buying into this!"
"I don't know if the spirit will return for the boy. Probably not. But I still think you should stay here to protect us, just in case." The Count smiled seductively, gently running a long red nail down Leon's cheek.
"Am I interrupting something?" asked Jill. She and Jia were standing in the doorway.
"GAAH! No, of course not!" Leon exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
"We were just discussing the security arrangements for Jia's stay," said the Count calmly. "I take it he will be spending the night here?"
"Mrs. Holt called me back earlier. Her flight will arrive tomorrow morning. Are you staying overnight, Leon?"
"Yeah," he said grumpily. "Just to protect the kid, so don't go jumping to any conclusions!"
"Do you want me to stay? Or can you handle it alone?"
"I can handle it. And don't smirk at me like that! Nothing's gonna happen with the kid here."
"Meaning something would if he weren't here?"
"AAUGHH!"
D explained to a wide-eyed Jia that he shouldn't worry; Mr. Detective always acted like this.
Jill laughed. "OK, I'm going. Can I bring you anything? Maybe a toothbrush and a change of clothes?" she asked, casting a sly look at his twice-worn outfit.
"Thank you," said D. "That would very kind."
"Listen, you two--oh what the hell, I give up!" Leon grudgingly tossed Jill his keys.
Part 3
Author's note 2: This story presumes that Chris used to live at the petshop, but now lives with his adoptive parents (Leon's aunt and uncle). I made up the stuff about D growing up in Japan; I invented that part of his background to explain why he sometimes speaks Japanese in my stories.
Translation note: "Ni hao" means "hello" in Chinese. "Urusai" means "noisy" or annoying in Japanese; D uses the latter meaning when speaking to Leon. "Oyasumi-nasai" means "goodnight" in Japanese.
***
The Count crossed his arms and glared at Leon. "Contrary to what you might think, Keiji-san, I run a pet shop, not a nursery!"
"Oh, come on, Count!" protested Leon. "There's no one else to look after him! Look at him, poor kid--father missing, mother dead--are you going to abandon him?"
"Isn't it your responsibility--"
Jill sighed. "Well, if we can't find someone to take care of him, we'll have to turn him over to Social Services. That means a foster home, where he won't know anyone, and there probably aren't many foster parents available who speak Chinese..."
D looked down at Jia, who was looking back up at him anxiously. His expression softened slightly. "Oh, very well. But you will both owe me a very large favor..."
Jill grinned. "We'll make it up to you, Count!"
"Then you can be the one to stand in line all morning at Hotel de Marseilles," muttered Leon.
The Count leaned over and whispered in Leon's ear, "I am sure I can think of some other way you can make it up to me, Keiji-san."
Jill snickered as Leon's face turned red. "Say Leon, I just noticed--weren't you wearing those same clothes last night...?"
"Uh...WHOA, look at the time!! We've really gotta get moving on this investigation! I'll have a patrol car take D and the kid back to the shop! And I'd better go call the Chief and arrange to have a couple of cops protect the kid!"
***
D led Jia down the stairs into the pet shop. "I'm glad you're here," he said to the boy in Cantonese. "I could really use some help today. Would you like to help me take care of the pets?"
Jia nodded. A fluttering sound made him look up and gasp.
"Ah, this is my friend, Q-chan." The Count held out his hand, and the little bat-like creature landed on it.
"Is he a vampire bat?" asked Jia nervously.
"Oh no, his favorite food is strawberries."
"Kyu!"
Some of the other inhabitants of the pet shop emerged to check out the new visitor. Jia watched wide-eyed as a raccoon walked up and tugged on the Count's robe with one paw. [Hey Count, who is this? Is he going to live with us like Chris did?] asked Pon-chan.
A strange little animal with horns and shaggy fur gave a derisive snort. [Just what we need, another hairless ape!]
[Oh, shut up, Tet-chan! I know you miss Chris too!]
"Enough," scolded the Count gently. "This is Jia. He will be staying with us for a day or two. Jia, this is Pon-chan and Tet-chan."
"Uh, hello," Jia said, patting Pon-chan, who seemed to smile at him. He started to pat Tet-chan, but changed his mind. The animal looked grumpy, and he didn't want to get bitten. "What can I do to help?" he asked the Count.
"Well, I have a pet that needs some very special care. Just a moment." D left the room and came back a moment later with a small ball of fluff. He handed it to Jia. The ball of fluff squirmed and mewed. It was a tiny kitten, with smoky gray fur and pale blue eyes. "It is a stray that I found in the alley the other day. He is afraid of humans right now, since his first owner abandoned him. He'll need a lot of care and affection before he's ready to be a pet. Do you think you can help me with him? It will require a great deal of work and patience."
"I can do it!" said Jia, gently stroking the kitten. He could feel its heart beating rapidly against his arm. "Don't be scared...what's his name, Count D?"
"Kage."
"Kah-gay?"
"Yes, it means 'shadow' in Japanese. I named him that because I almost didn't see him, he blended into the shadows so well."
"Hello, Kage." Jia continued to stroke the kitten. Gradually its heartbeat slowed to a normal rate, and it began to purr.
"Well, it seems that he likes you! You're doing a good job already! Shall we go feed Kage and the other animals their breakfast?"
***
Jill interviewed Ling's assistant, Steven Kam. "Enemies? Sure, he pissed off a lot of people."
"Anyone in particular?"
"Hmm...well, Johnny Chow was furious when Mr. Ling foreclosed on his family's business. He was in here screaming and swearing--we had to threaten to call the police to make him leave. And there was Raymond Hong--he worked with Mr. Ling when he was first starting out."
"What happened?"
"When the business became successful, Mr. Ling fired him. Hong claimed that he had been promised full partnership and a half-share in the business. But there was no written agreement, so there was nothing he could do."
***
Leon stood outside the Eastern Garden restaurant talking to Johnny Chow. "Yeah, I hated Ling's guts; it's no secret. He came to us, saying how he wanted to help us out as a fellow Chinese-American. Then we were a few weeks late with our payments, and he took away the business that my grandfather started fifty years ago! So much for all his talk about fellowship! We should've known better than to trust that bastard! Now I work here--" Chow gestured towards the restaurant behind them. "--for someone else. And my grandfather had a stroke, and he's never fully recovered. Losing the business broke his heart."
"Did you hate him enough to kill his wife and little girl? Was that a fair trade--he hurt your family, so you decided to hurt his?"
"Jesus, no!" exclaimed Chow, looking genuinely surprised. "I thought Ling was the one who got killed! I'd never hurt a woman or a kid!"
"Where were you last night?"
"Here, working the night shift till 11 pm."
"And after that?"
"Went straight home. You can ask my wife."
***
"I hear you had a falling out with Ling Yunhan several years ago, Mr. Hong," said Jill.
"You heard right," said Hong. "I worked for peanuts because he promised me a share of the business when it became profitable. Then when it did, he stabbed me in the back."
"You didn't have a written contract?"
"A handshake was all that was needed between friends," said Hong bitterly. "Or so I thought. He did me one favor--he taught me to always get it in writing! So, you're from the Homicide Department? Did someone finally kill that son of a bitch?"
"Would that make you happy?"
"I'd shake the guy's hand and buy him a drink!"
"Mr. Ling is missing. His wife and daughter were the ones who were murdered."
"What?!"
"Where were you last night, Mr. Hong? Say, between eight and midnight?"
"I...I went out with some coworkers last night. It was someone's birthday. We went out for dinner, and then for drinks. We were out past midnight."
"I'll need their names, and the names of the restaurant and bar."
"Yes...yes, of course. Listen, I wouldn't have hurt Meilin or the the little girl! I admit, I wouldn't mourn Ling, but Meilin was a really nice lady...way too good for Ling!"
***
Leon entered the Jade Empress Lounge and asked for the manager. The place wasn't the sleazy strip joint he'd imagined. It looked like an upscale bar, dimly lit, with Chinese-style screens (like the ones D had in the pet shop) set up in the corners, presumably to provide a measure of privacy. A few men in suits, presumably businessmen, sat at one table with a pretty Asian woman, who poured the men drinks and hung on their every word as if it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever heard.
"Yes, how may I help you?" the manager, a Chinese-American man in his thirties asked.
Leon flashed his badge. "Ling Yunhan was a regular customer of yours?"
"Our customers like their privacy. May I ask what this is about?"
"This is about murder. Mr. Ling's wife and daughter have been killed."
"And Mr. Ling--is he all right?"
"He's missing. And don't play games with me--I know he was a regular here!"
"Yes, he was. I'm very sorry about what happened, but I don't see what that has to do with us."
"Let me do the detecting," said Leon dryly. "Did Ling have any arguments with anyone recently?"
"Not that I know of."
"Any enemies?"
"Not that I know of."
"Well, thanks for all your help," said Leon sarcastically. "Was there a certain girl here who was Ling's favorite--and please don't tell me you don't know!"
The manager led him back to some sort of dressing room. A beautiful Chinese woman sat at a table, applying makeup. "Jade, this detective would like to talk to you about Mr. Ling."
The woman rose gracefully to her feet. She had shoulder-length black hair, and wore a dark green cheongsam not unlike the ones the Count wore, but much tighter. Or perhaps it was just that D didn't have curves like that!
"I'm Detective Orcot. And you're Jade...or should I call you 'Empress'?"
Jade laughed, then spoke in a low and sultry voice. "No, the bar wasn't named after me! I chose the name because it was convenient. You don't always want clients to know your real name."
"Which is?"
"Zhang Miaoyu."
"'Miaoyu'?" Leon asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar syllables. "What does that mean?"
"It means 'pretty as fine jade'," replied Jade.
"Yes, you certainly are!" exclaimed Leon, giving her his most charming smile.
Jade gave him a flirtatious smile in return. "What did you want, Detective? Is Mr. Ling in some sort of trouble?"
She didn't seem overly concerned, Leon noticed. "How long have you known him?" asked Leon, ignoring her question for the moment.
"He's been a regular patron here for quite some time. I've been...spending time...with him personally for a few months."
"And what exactly does 'spending time' mean?"
"A hostess entertains the guests--" As Leon raised an eyebrow, Jade said, "Not that sort of entertainment, Detective! We serve them drinks, make conversation, laugh at their jokes..."
"I've seen how much Ling spends at this place--surely he doesn't pay all that money just for conversation!"
"This is a place for men to come and relax--we talk with them, flatter them, and yes, flirt with them. Just for a few hours, we make an ordinary man feel like a king. It's also a good place if you want to conduct business in an informal setting."
"I guess," said Leon dubiously. "Is that some sort of Asian thing?"
"You might say that," said Jade with an amused smile. "Perhaps you should stop by sometime when you're off-duty."
Leon found the thought rather appealing--until a mental image of an angry D popped into his head! Oh well, this place looked too expensive for a cop's salary, anyway. "And did you do anything besides talk with Ling?"
"This is a hostess bar, not a brothel, Detective. However, if one of the girls decides to date a client outside of work...well, her free time is her own, isn't it?"
"And did you 'date' Ling?" asked Leon impatiently."
"Yes."
"Even though he was married?"
She shrugged. "I'm no threat to his wife. If it wasn't me, it would be someone else, and he's not going to leave her for a bar girl. I would think she'd be glad to get him out of her hair for awhile, anyway."
"You don't love him?"
Jade burst out laughing. "Of course not! He's arrogant, self-centered, and boring!"
"Then why--?"
"He's also rich. He buys me presents--" she fingered the gold and jade necklace around her neck, and the heavy jade bangles on her wrists "--and gives me gifts of cash. Oh, don't look so disapproving, Detective. This is not a profession one can remain in for long. Sooner or later, my looks will fade. I'm trying to save enough money so that someday I can buy a shop or bar of my own."
"Mr. Ling's wife and daughter are dead. Was she threatening to make him leave you? Perhaps you were afraid of losing your meal ticket?"
Jade gasped and turned pale. "No! I had no idea!"
"Where were you last night?"
"I was here, working! One of our important clients brought some guests from Hong Kong. A few of the other girls and I entertained them till about two in the morning. Listen, Detective, I didn't kill Ling's wife! I didn't expect him to marry me or anything! The way Ling works is, he chooses a girl, goes out with her for a few months, maybe six months tops! Then he moves on to someone else. Nothing personal on either side!"
"He bought you all that jewelry and gave you money--are you saying there was nothing personal about that?"
"Yes! It's just his way of showing what a big shot he is! That he can afford to buy necklaces and bracelets that cost hundreds of dollars like they were dime store trinkets! And he likes having a beautiful woman on his arm to show off!"
"Did you sleep with him?"
"Yes, damn you! But it was strictly business! Anyway, he loved having his ego stroked more than anything we did in bed! You can think of me as a whore if you like, but I'm not a killer! I wouldn't kill for him--and that bastard is not worth going to jail over!"
"OK, take it easy--I believe you. Was he seeing any other women who might be jealous? Was he worried about anything, or acting strangely recently?"
Jade took a deep breath, trying to calm down. She thought for a moment. "He did seem a little distant lately. I thought maybe he was getting ready to move on to someone else, which quite frankly, would be a relief. But he wasn't seeing anyone else that I know of. He seemed...distracted, as if something was on his mind. I figured he was worried about some business deal or something. And he hasn't been coming around as much lately as he usually does. Come to think of it, he hasn't been in for over a week."
"Did he mention any business deal that was troubling him?"
"No, that was just my guess. But usually he would only tell me his success stories, anyway. He does have a big ego, you know."
"Yeah, I get the picture." Leon hesitated. It was just some crazy idea of the Count's, but what the heck. It wouldn't hurt to ask. "Did he mention anything about a statue he'd bought recently?"
"He's always buying artwork. But he did seem very pleased about a piece he'd bought about a month ago. I think it was a statue or figurine. He got it at a real bargain, because it was supposed to be cursed or something. He really gloated over that."
Oh great, thought Leon, the damn thing's cursed! He sighed. Now the Count would keep harping on his ghost theory. "One last thing--may I see your hands?"
Jade looked puzzled, but held out her hands for the detective to examine. Her fingernails were long--although not as long as D's--and perfectly polished and manicured. It certainly didn't look as though she'd been clawing anyone last night.
***
Jill and Leon met at the "Asian Antiquities" art gallery in Chinatown. The owner was a well-dressed Chinese man in his forties, Anthony Wong. Like Wenjing Holt, he spoke with a slight British accent.
"I'm sorry," Wong said, "but unless you have a warrant, our customer records are confidential."
"Listen, pal," said Leon, "this is a murder inves--"
Jill motioned for Leon to be quiet, and gave the gallery owner a charming smile. "I understand. Your clients rely on your discretion."
"Exactly!"
"Pardon me for asking, but are you from Hong Kong? I noticed your accent..."
"Yes, I emigrated here about ten years ago."
"How could you tell?" whispered Leon.
"Hong Kong used to be a British territory, Einstein," Jill muttered back. She flashed another smile at Wong. "Mr. Ling's wife was from Hong Kong also," she said. "Our friend, Count D, knew her well."
Wong's manner became considerably friendlier. "Ah, you know the Count?"
"Yes, in fact, my colleague, Detective Orcot, is a very close friend of the Count."
"Ah, yes," said Wong, giving Leon a knowing look. "You're that detective!"
"And what is that supposed to mean--?" protested Leon, trying not to blush. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, as Jill stomped on his foot.
"Not now!" she hissed.
"Well, in that case, I suppose it's all right...you will be discreet, won't you?"
"Of course," smiled Jill.
"I don't see what this has to do with the murder...but Mr. Ling did buy a small porcelain statue like the one you described about a month ago."
"Ling's lady friend mentioned something about it being cursed," said Leon.
Wong rolled his eyes. "Yes, there was supposed to be a curse attached to it! That's why I sold it to Mr. Ling so cheap! It was worth a lot more, but no one else would buy it."
"What kind of curse?" asked Jill.
"Well, the story goes that the statue was a figure an ancient Chinese nobleman commissioned of his wife. She was supposed to be very beautiful, and she was, if she looked anything like the statue--but she was also very vain and jealous. When she found out her husband was seeing another woman, she killed them both--stabbed them to death, then killed herself. Supposedly her ghost resides in the statue, and haunts anyone who buys it. It's all nonsense, of course, but people are so superstitious..."
"What kinds of things happen to the people who are supposedly haunted?" asked Jill.
Wong sighed. "Supposedly she appears at night, and threatens the women of the household. In life, it was said that she could not tolerate any competition. The last owner...well, he murdered his wife. Claimed that the ghost had possessed him and made him do it! Probably just trying for an insanity plea--but the story stuck, and I couldn't get rid of it until Ling bought it."
"He wasn't worried about the curse?" asked Leon.
"He said he didn't believe in such things. Drove a really hard bargain, too. But by then, I was glad to get rid of the damned thing...Hey, wait a minute! You're not saying that the curse--"
"Of course not," said Leon. "After all, there's no such thing as ghosts--right?"
"Uh...right."
***
Leon and Jill returned to the Pet Shop by early evening. Two policemen were sitting outside a restaurant across the street, watching the shop. "See anything?" asked Leon.
"No, Detective. No one's entered the shop since we got here. He hasn't even had a customer all day. He did bring us some tea and pastries a few hours ago, though. Said something about it being tea time."
"Can we go home yet?" asked the other policeman. "We've been out here all day."
"Yeah, go on," said Leon. "We'll take over from here."
"I'm sure you'll take good care of the Count," said the second cop with a smirk.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" growled Leon. He was getting really sick of the smirks and knowing looks he'd gotten all day. First Jill, then the art gallery owner, and now some smart-ass patrolman! Did the whole damn city know about his love life?!
"Don't mind him, Detective," said the first cop, glaring at his partner. "The Count is a decent guy."
"Yeah, if you don't mind transvestites," muttered the other cop under his breath. "Ow!"
"Oops, sorry, was that your foot?" asked Jill sweetly. Stiletto heels were murder on the feet, but they did come in handy sometimes, she thought to herself smugly.
"I bought a puppy from Count D," continued the first cop. "It's great with the kids! Well, tell the Count thanks again for the tea." He left, his partner limping along behind him.
"Dammit, does the whole department know--or think they know--about me and D?" complained Leon as they crossed the street over to the shop.
"Who cares what some jerk thinks?" asked Jill.
"I have to work with some of those jerks, you know! You're not the one who has to listen to faggot jokes in the locker room!"
"I know, Leon," said Jill. "But you can't run your life by what other people think. Besides, it's not always easy being a woman on the force, you know!"
"Yeah, I know, but--"
"Welcome, Detectives," said the Count as they entered the shop. "Why don't we have some tea, while you tell me how the investigation is going?"
"Oh yeah, uh, here, this is for you." Leon held out a small box embossed with the logo "Madame C's."
D clapped his hands together in delight. "How wonderful! What is it? A fruit tart? Cream puffs?" He took the box and opened it as eagerly as a child opening a Christmas present. "Ah! Chocolate truffle cake! Splendid!"
As the Count bustled about, cutting cake and pouring tea, Jill whispered to Leon, "Guess you're forgiven."
Without looking up, D replied, "No, not completely. But I'll consider it a down payment."
Leon sighed and flopped down on the couch. Jia sat on the floor nearby, playing with a gray kitten. He looked up and smiled shyly at the detective.
"Tea is served," announced D.
They all sat down to eat. D ate almost daintily, slowly savoring every bite, while Jia gobbled up the cake like any normal 5-year old, smearing chocolate all over his face. Leon wanted to discuss the investigation, but hesitated to do so in front of the boy, even if he didn't speak much English. Jill caught his eye and nodded.
"Jia, would you like to show me around the shop?" she asked.
The Count translated her question. The boy turned to Jill, who smiled at him kindly. He looked back at D, who murmured something reassuring in Chinese. The boy whispered something in the Count's ear.
D smiled at Jill. "He thinks you're very pretty, and he would be glad to show you some of the pets. As you can see, he was helping me take care of the cats today." As Leon started to open his mouth, the Count quickly added, "Normal, ordinary housecats. Q-chan will show you the way."
The little pear-shaped bat looked annoyed at having his snack interrupted, but obediently fluttered into the air, heading towards the back rooms. Jia scooped up Kage with one hand, and, after a moment of hesitation, took Jill's hand with the other.
"So, how is the investigation going?" asked D.
"Not so good," replied Leon. "All the main suspects have alibis. We're trying to look into the black market art angle, but of course no one will admit to selling Ling anything illegal."
"And the statue?"
"The statue was a legitimate sale. The art dealer, Wong, showed us the receipt."
"I sense there is something you are not telling me, Keiji-san," said D, smiling coyly as he sipped his tea.
"So what are you, a mind reader?!" snapped Leon. "And why're you always calling me 'Keiji-san' anyway?!"
"Well, it means 'Mr. Detective' in Japanese," D started to reply.
"I know that!!" interrupted Leon. "But I have a name, you know! And besides, you're Chinese! How come you're always saying stuff in Japanese?!"
The Count was silent for a long moment. His eyes took on a faraway, melancholy look. "I...spent part of my childhood in Japan," he said at last. "I learned quite a bit about the language and culture while I was there."
"But...well, it's just that...you never told me that before. You never talk about your childhood or your family."
"Neither do you," D pointed out. "I didn't know you had a brother until you dropped Chris off at my shop that day."
"Yes, well..." Leon wanted to ask D more about his past, but he sensed that the Count wasn't ready to discuss it, any more than Leon wanted to talk about his own family. Did D also have a secret, something too painful to discuss, or even think about?
"And...I'm sorry if I offended you, Leon-san," said D.
The detective's mouth dropped open. D had never apologized to him before about anything!
"We Asians are more formal than you Americans," the Count continued. "We often refer to even close family and friends by titles instead of names. For example, in Japan, your little brother would call you 'older brother,' not 'Leon,' but it wouldn't mean that he didn't care for you." D smiled at Leon, who was still speechless. "Besides, you've referred to me as far worse," he said lightly. "Such as, 'murderer,' 'drug dealer,' 'drag queen'..."
"Well, but not lately..." spluttered Leon.
"...'stupid bastard'..."
"When did I--? Oh yeah! Well, you were being stupid, worrying about your silly dress when you got shot--"
"In any case, I believe you are avoiding my original question. You found out something about the statue...?"
Leon sighed. It seemed D was only capable of being serious for a short amount of time, then it was back to his favorite game of let's-get-under-the-detective's-skin. "Ling's girlfriend said he told her the statue was cursed, and--"
"Girlfriend?"
"Yeah, a hostess at the Jade Empress Lounge--" Leon began, realizing his mistake too late, as the Count glared at him.
"You went to the Jade Empress Lounge?" asked D coldly.
"Christ, D, I was investigating a murder, not picking up women!"
"And am I supposed to believe it was just coincidence that you chose to investigate the lounge, not Jill?"
"Oh, come on! We just divided the suspect list down the middle!" Actually, Leon had made sure he got to investigate the lounge, but he didn't see any reason to tell D that! "It was strictly business!" Suddenly he grinned. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"Hmmph!" D crossed his arms and tilted his nose up in the air. "Certainly not! Why any woman would want such an ill-mannered, uncouth--"
"Well then," interrupted Leon, "I guess it's a good thing that you want me." Impulsively, he leaned over and kissed D. Now it was the Count's turn to be dumbfounded. Leon felt very pleased with himself. It wasn't often that he got the best of the Count!
Finally the Count got his voice back. "Don't push your luck, Keiji-san," he said, still sounding a bit miffed. "Tell me what this hostess said."
"That Ling got the statue at a bargain price because it was supposed to be cursed. The art dealer confirmed her story. Said there was some legend that the statue was the likeness of a woman who murdered her husband and his lover, and that her ghost haunts whoever owns the statue."
"I see," said D. "And are there any murders connected with this statue?"
"Wong said the last owner killed his wife. But that's gotta be a coincidence!"
"Oh? I thought the police didn't believe in coincidence. And where is the statue?"
"Well, it's missing...but so what! Maybe Ling took it with him when he ran off!"
"I'm sure he did, if he was under the influence of the spirit."
"There are no such things as spirits!"
"Then how do you explain the woman Jia saw?"
"Well--probably some jealous girlfriend..."
"But didn't the woman at the lounge have an alibi?"
"Well, yeah, but...that doesn't mean he didn't have another girlfriend somewhere!"
"The answer is right in front of you, yet you refuse to see it."
"How the hell am I supposed to arrest a ghost?! And why didn't this ghost lady kill the little boy, too?"
"Perhaps she didn't see the boy as a threat. This ghost was a jealous woman, correct? If she claimed the husband for her own, then her rage would be focused on the wife. Perhaps she would not even have killed Wenli if the girl had not tried to protect her mother."
"So you don't think she'll come after Jia--wait a minute! I can't believe I'm buying into this!"
"I don't know if the spirit will return for the boy. Probably not. But I still think you should stay here to protect us, just in case." The Count smiled seductively, gently running a long red nail down Leon's cheek.
"Am I interrupting something?" asked Jill. She and Jia were standing in the doorway.
"GAAH! No, of course not!" Leon exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
"We were just discussing the security arrangements for Jia's stay," said the Count calmly. "I take it he will be spending the night here?"
"Mrs. Holt called me back earlier. Her flight will arrive tomorrow morning. Are you staying overnight, Leon?"
"Yeah," he said grumpily. "Just to protect the kid, so don't go jumping to any conclusions!"
"Do you want me to stay? Or can you handle it alone?"
"I can handle it. And don't smirk at me like that! Nothing's gonna happen with the kid here."
"Meaning something would if he weren't here?"
"AAUGHH!"
D explained to a wide-eyed Jia that he shouldn't worry; Mr. Detective always acted like this.
Jill laughed. "OK, I'm going. Can I bring you anything? Maybe a toothbrush and a change of clothes?" she asked, casting a sly look at his twice-worn outfit.
"Thank you," said D. "That would very kind."
"Listen, you two--oh what the hell, I give up!" Leon grudgingly tossed Jill his keys.
Part 3