"Mayhem In Chinatown"

Mayhem In Chinatown | Story by Butch Leake

Boston was a city of many cultures, each with their own distinct neighborhoods. But none were as atmospheric as Chinatown. The narrow streets were lined with bright red lanterns, the air was thick with the scent of incense and the buzz of activity was constant. Detective Sachel Drummond had always found the energy of the place invigorating, but today her nerves were heightened. She had been on this case for weeks, and every lead had led her in circles.

The case began when a businessman named Hu-Fong disappeared from his office in the heart of Chinatown. At first, it seemed like a simple missing persons case, but as Sachel dug deeper, she discovered that Hu-Fong was far from ordinary. He was a mysterious figure, a man with connections to the underworld and a fortune that nobody could account for. Sachel knew there was more to this case than met the eye, and she was determined to uncover the truth.

Her first lead came from an unexpected source: a Chinese fortune teller named Mei Zhāng. Mei Zhāng was known throughout Chinatown for her visions of the future, but she was also rumored to have connections to the criminal underworld. Sachel didn't put much stock in fortune tellers, but she knew that sometimes even the most unreliable sources could hold valuable information.

When she arrived at Mei Zhāng's shop, she found the old woman sitting at a small table, examining the lines on a customer's palm. She looked up as Sachel approached and gave her a toothless smile.

"Detective Drummond," she said, her voice raspy. "I've been expecting you."

"How did you know I was coming?" Sachel asked, a little taken aback.

Mei Zhāng shrugged. "I see things. It's my gift. And I know why you're here. You're looking for Hu-Fong."

Sachel raised an eyebrow. "So you knew him?"

"In a manner of speaking," Mei Zhāng said. "He came to me for advice, sometimes. But I haven't seen him in weeks. I think something bad has happened to him."

Sachel leaned forward. "Do you know where he is?"

Mei Zhāng shook her head. "I'm sorry, detective. I wish I could help you. But I can tell you this: there is danger in Chinatown. A darkness that is growing. And if you're not careful, you'll get caught up in it."

Sachel couldn't get much out of Mei Zhāng, but her words stuck with her. She had a feeling that the fortune teller knew more than she was letting on. But how she was going to get her to talk was anyone's guess.

Sachel was walking back to the precinct when she felt a hand on her elbow. She spun around, her hand on her gun, and found herself face to face with her boss, Police Commissioner Marshall Allen.

"Sachel," he said. "What are you doing down here?"

Sachel sighed. "Just following up on a lead. One that didn't go anywhere, unfortunately."

Allen raised an eyebrow. "A lead on what?"

Sachel hesitated. She didn't like to share what she was working on with anyone, but Allen was her boss, and he had a right to know.

"Have you heard of Hu-Fong?" she asked.

Allen nodded. "The Chinese businessman who disappeared? Yeah, I heard about that. What's your angle?"

Sachel weighed her words carefully. "I think there's more to this case than just a missing person. Hu-Fong had connections to some shady characters in Chinatown. I think his disappearance might be connected to something bigger."

Allen nodded thoughtfully. "You might be onto something, Sachel. I've been hearing rumors about some kind of power struggle in Chinatown. Something about a new gang moving in and trying to take over."

Sachel's ears perked up. "Do you know anything else about it?"

Allen shook his head. "Not yet, but I've got some officers working on it. Maybe you could take a look at that angle and see if it leads anywhere."

Sachel nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. This was exactly the kind of case she loved – complex, mysterious and dangerous. She was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Over the next few days, Sachel interviewed everyone she could think of in Chinatown. Shopkeepers, restaurant owners, street vendors, and more. It seemed like everyone had heard something about the power struggle – whispers of a new gang trying to take over the territory, rumors of violence and intimidation. But nobody had any concrete information.

Sachel was getting frustrated. She had spent weeks on this case and had nothing to show for it. But then, she got a break.

She was walking through an alley when she saw a man she recognized. He was one of Hu-Fong's former associates, a shady character with ties to the underworld. Sachel knew she had to talk to him, but he was notoriously difficult to get ahold of. She decided to take a chance and follow him.

The man led her on a wild goose chase through the streets of Chinatown, ducking into alleys and backstreets, constantly looking over his shoulder. Sachel had to keep her wits about her to stay on his tail. Eventually, he led her to a nondescript building that looked abandoned.

Sachel watched from a distance as the man knocked on the door in a pattern that Sachel knew was a signal. A small hatch opened up in the door and a pair of eyes peered out. He gave the password, and the door swung open. Sachel slipped into the building behind him.

Inside, Sachel found a room full of men, all dressed in black, with tattoos covering their arms and necks. They looked up as she walked in, and she knew she was in trouble.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them growled.

Sachel flashed her badge. "I'm Detective Sachel Drummond. I'm investigating the disappearance of Hu-Fong. And I think you might have some information that could help me."

The men didn't look impressed. They stood up, circling her like a pack of wolves.

"What makes you think we have anything to do with that?" one of them asked.

Sachel shifted her weight, keeping her hand close to her gun. "Because I know you're the ones who've been trying to take over Chinatown. And I know you had connections to Hu-Fong. So if anyone knows what happened to him, it's you."

The men laughed. "You think you're tough, don't you?" one of them sneered. "You're just a little girl playing detective."

Sachel didn't respond. She was trained to remain calm in dangerous situations, and she knew that any sudden movements could get her killed. She kept her eyes on the men, waiting for an opening.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. The men turned to look, and Sachel seized the opportunity. She drew her gun and held it out in front of her. "Freeze!" she shouted.

The men hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do. But Sachel knew that moment of hesitation could be her only chance. She fired a warning shot, and the men scattered like roaches, fleeing out the back door.

Sachel breathed a sigh of relief. She had gotten lucky, but she knew she couldn't expect that to happen again. She searched the room, looking for any clues that might help her. And then, she saw it – a piece of paper, crumpled up on the floor.

She picked it up and unfolded it. It was a note, written in Chinese. Sachel didn't speak the language, but she recognized the name at the bottom – Mei Zhāng.

The note was short, but it was enough to confirm Sachel's suspicion that Mei Zhāng was connected to Hu-Fong's disappearance. Sachel knew that she had to talk to the fortune teller again and find out what she knew.

When Sachel arrived at Mei Zhāng's shop, she found the old woman waiting for her.

"Detective Drummond," she said. "I knew you would come back."

Sachel held up the note. "What's this, Mei Zhāng? Why were you talking to the gang that's trying to take over Chinatown?"

Mei Zhāng's expression grew dark. "They came to me for advice. They wanted to know how they could defeat their enemies. But I refused them. I don't believe in using my gifts for violence."

Sachel narrowed her eyes. "Then why did you have this note?"

Mei Zhāng hesitated. "The gang leader threatened me. He said that if I didn't give him what he wanted, he would hurt me."

"What did he want?"

"He wanted me to tell him where Hu-Fong was. He thought that Hu-Fong had something that could help him in his struggle for power. But I didn't know where Hu-Fong was. I swear it on my life."

Sachel studied Mei Zhāng carefully. She seemed sincere, but Sachel knew better than to trust anyone in this case.

"What can you tell me about Hu-Fong?" she asked. "Did he say anything to you that might help us find him?"

Mei Zhāng shook her head. "I'm sorry, detective. Hu-Fong was a mysterious figure. He kept his secrets close to his chest. But I can tell you this – there is something strange happening in Chinatown. Something that has been brewing for a long time. And if Hu-Fong has anything to do with it, you can be sure that it's dangerous."

Sachel left Mei Zhāng's shop feeling more confused than ever. She had no idea where to go from here. Hu-Fong was still missing, but she had no clue where to find him. She had a feeling that the gang that wanted him might know something, but she had no way of getting to them.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Police Commissioner Allen.

"Sachel," he said. "We've got a lead. One of our informants just gave us some information about the gang that's trying to take over Chinatown. They're meeting tonight in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. We don't know what they're planning, but we have reason to believe that it's going to get violent."

Sachel's heart raced. This was it. This was the break she had been waiting for.

"I'm on my way," she said.

Sachel arrived at the warehouse just as the sun was setting. She saw a group of men standing outside, smoking and talking quietly. They didn't notice her as she slipped past them and into the building.

Inside, she found a room full of men, all dressed in black, just like the ones she had encountered before. But this time, she was prepared. She approached the leader of the group, a burly man with a shaved head and a scar running down his left cheek.

"I'm looking for Hu-Fong," she said, holding up her badge.

The man laughed. "Who the hell are you to be asking for Hu-Fong? He is a powerful man, one who commands great respect in Chinatown."

"I know who he is," Sachel said. "And I know that you and your men have been trying to find him. So why don't you save us all some time and tell me what you know?"

The man looked her up and down, sizing her up. "What's in it for me?"

Sachel gritted her teeth. She knew how this worked. These men only respected power and money, not the law.

"I'll make you a deal," she said. "You give me the information I want, and I'll let you and your men walk out of here free and clear. But if not, I'll arrest every one of you and throw you in jail."

The man smiled. "You've got balls, girl. I'll give you that. But you're not fooling anyone. You're just a cop. You don't have the power to make deals with us."

Sachel was getting frustrated. She had been so close, and now it seemed like she was back to square one.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash from outside. The men in the room looked up, startled. Sachel drew her gun, ready for whatever was coming next.

And then, he walked in.

Hu-Fong.

He was tall, with a rugged, handsome face and a commanding presence. Sachel knew immediately that he was in charge.

The men in the room bowed their heads in respect. Even the gang leader with the scarred cheek took a step back.

"Hu-Fong," Sachel said, holding up her badge. "I'm Detective Sachel Drummond. I've been looking for you."

Hu-Fong regarded her coolly. "Why, Detective Drummond? What could you possibly want with me?"

Sachel took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I'm investigating your disappearance. I think it might be connected to the power struggle in Chinatown. And now, I have reason to believe that you might be in danger."

Hu-Fong raised an eyebrow. "In danger? And why do you think that?"

Sachel hesitated. How could she explain what she had learned about the gang? They were dangerous, ruthless, and they had no qualms about killing anyone who got in their way.

Before she could say anything, there was another crash from outside. This time, it was followed by the sound of gunfire.

Sachel swore under her breath. She had a feeling that the gang had followed her here, and they weren't going to go quietly.

"Get down," she shouted to Hu-Fong. "I'll take care of this."

She raised her gun and charged out of the room, ready to take on the gang.