Redemption

Part Three:

Danny was nervous as Janet led the way from the parking garage through a little used door into the courthouse. A security guard awaited them inside and escorted them to a private elevator used only by the judges.

Janet had seemed pleased when she arrived at the house that morning. Danny had showered and donned his dress clothes to impress the judge. The Armani suit was the most expensive piece of clothing Danny owned and he knew how good it made him look. A ridiculous expense his father had asserted. But Danny knew what was expected of a person in his position.

Danny glanced at Janet and then back at Michael. They were going to give the judge a deposition this morning in front of the city's top prosecutor, the District Attorney. This would set in motion a complicated chain of events that would lead to his father's arrest, or so Danny had been told.

They exited the elevator into a quiet hallway where the guard led them to a dark paneled door that opened into a small conference room.

"I'll tell the judge you're here," The guard said.

"Thank you, Max," Janet said. "You boys sit down. Just be sure to stand up when the judge enters the room and only sit back down after she does."

Judge Michelle Gwynn was in her first term on the District Court, Janet had told them. Gwynn's reputation as a prosecutor had skyrocketed during the criminal purge of the crooked cops and judges in the city that Neil had mentioned. In turn she had run for one of the vacated seats on the bench and won hands down.

Even before she earned that black robe her relationship with Janet had been forged and won in courtroom battles. Back then they had been on opposing sides, and yet they held a great respect for one another. It was only natural that Janet would bring Danny's case to her.

They sat for a few minutes, long enough for Danny to take in the splendor of the room. Then a tall gray-haired man entered and walked across the room. He was followed by a woman bearing a little typewriter, the court stenographer. She smiled at Janet and then set her machine down on a side table. The man opened a cabinet and brought out a recording device which he set on the conference table.

"All set, Doris," The man said.

"Thanks, Tom," The stenographer said and then the man left the room.

"The judge will be here in a few," Doris said.

But almost immediately a door at the far end of the room opened and a woman entered. Michael stood up and Danny took his cue, this was the judge. Michelle Gwynn was dressed in a very business-like gray suit and carried an armload of file folders which she plopped down on the conference table.

Janet walked over, shook her hand and they exchanged a few pleasantries before the judge took a seat. She looked up as Michael and Danny sat down.

"Michael ... how are you?" Gwynn asked.

Michael smiled. "Just fine, Your Honor."

Danny knew these two had a history which had started in the gang days of Michael's youth. Janet nodded in Danny's direction.

"This is Danny Rhodes, Your Honor. Danny, this is Judge Gwynn."

"I would say nice to meet you, but then these are difficult circumstances," Gwynn said. "Doris, will you find out what happened to Mr. Beale?"

Doris nodded and went for the phone. Gwynn pushed her pile of folders aside and set out a yellow legal pad and a pen.

"We'll wait for the District Attorney before we begin. I will say, Mr. Rhodes, I'm aware of your career and all the news that surrounds your disappearance. No matter what we decide to do today the media is going to be all over this when they find out. The lives of the famous are hardly their own, but I'm sure you already know that."

"Yes, Your Honor," Danny said.

Doris hung up the phone and smiled. "He's on his way," She said. Thirty seconds later the door opened and a large burly man hurried into the room.

"Sorry, Judge ... the Mayor is already asking about this," Beale said.

"I understand," Gwynn said. "But since Mr. Rhodes is still a juvenile the first piece of business is to put a gag order on anything that occurs today."

"Agreed," Beale said.

"Okay, Doris ... on the record." Gwynn said.

Doris leaned over and started the tape recorder before settling in behind her machine to type out a record of the proceeding.

"We have before us today a seventeen year old juvenile named Daniel Rhodes who has reportedly been kidnapped by persons unknown according to a statement given to the police by his father. In the police report the father states he was attacked and beaten unconscious by several men during the kidnapping, but we will withhold judgment on that until the medical records can be obtained.

"I was personally contacted by Janet Chong, the attorney of record for Daniel Rhodes in this matter, with news that young Mr. Rhodes was not at all kidnapped, but that he fled from the dressing room of the theater where he was performing after having been beaten by his father.

"Let the record show that Ms. Chong has submitted several photographs of Daniel's face showing abrasions and contusions. These will be marked as Exhibit A for the court's use. As of this morning, Daniel apparently still has a black eye and the marks of a beating on his face. Once this matter is decided in chambers, Ms. Chong will have Daniel examined by a doctor and submit that report for the record."

"I will, Your Honor," Janet said, nodding her agreement, and Gwynn continued.

"Mr. Rhodes, the father, also stated to the police that his briefcase containing thousands of dollars was taken from the dressing room during the kidnapping. I take exception to that reported robbery as Daniel has brought the briefcase here today and will surrender it to the District Attorney's office. Ms. Chong has stated that her client has not removed any of the cash inside. Did you open the case, Daniel?"

"Yes, Your Honor, I know the combination," Danny said.

"What was your intent in opening the case?" Gwynn asked.

Danny looked at Janet. She had told him the judge would ask this question and that he should answer truthfully ... to a point. Counting the cash would not be considered wrong since he had earned the money. Janet did not want Danny to tell the judge about the accounting records he had discovered ... not yet.

"I wanted to see how much money was in there," Danny said. "I didn't know it would be so much. But I thought if I needed a bus ticket home to see my mother I'd have to take some of the money."

"But you removed nothing?" Gwynn asked.

"I did not ... my lawyer advised me against it."

"Good. The court will seize the briefcase and present it as Exhibit B in this case. I assure you, Daniel, the money will be quite safe. Now on to the other things I need to know before we decide what to do about you. Will you describe the events that occurred that evening at The Palace Theater?"

Danny's response to this question was also something he had discussed with Janet. There would be no way to avoid introducing Michael's participation at this point, but the way it was presented was important.

"I had finished the performance for the evening and sat down on the front of the stage to sign autographs for some of the kids and parents in the audience who remained behind. I was there a while when my father came out to get me."

Danny sighed. "He has always objected to any direct contact I might have with the young ladies who come to see me perform. He calls them ... I'm sorry, Your Honor ... he calls them little bitches. It always starts an argument. He says he's protecting me ... that's always his excuse. I feel these people buy my music and pay a lot of money to see me perform.

"So he pulled me into the dressing room and slammed the door. He made the usual comments and I replied like I usually do ... except this time I asked him if I was making enough money to keep him happy. I didn't even see it coming, but he slugged me with his fist on my cheek. He hit me several times, including my left eye and I fell down. He was going to hit me again when Michael stopped him."

Gwynn nodded. "For the record, Daniel is speaking about Michael Keene who is employed by The Palace Theater as a custodian. Go on, Daniel."

"I didn't see Michael come into the room, but all of a sudden he was there and he grabbed my father's arm to keep him from hitting me. My father turned on Michael and tried to hit him. Michael did something I'd never seen before ... he just tossed my father across the room and onto the couch so easily. But my father got up and attacked again, and that's when Michael tapped him on the side of the head and knocked him unconscious."

And here Janet had urged Danny to take the events out of sequence to protect Michael from any charges of undue influence over a minor.

"I told Michael that I had to leave and that he'd better go too. I started grabbing my clothes and picked up the briefcase because I knew there was money in it. It was then that Michael said this was going to cause problems and that I would probably need a lawyer. I asked and he said he knew a good one, but she wouldn't be available until morning.

"I told Michael I had to go back to the condo and get my things and he offered to give me a ride home. He came inside with me and took those photos. So he drove me to Monterey Park and I got a room at the Jade Garden." Danny reached in his coat pocket and took out the registration receipt. "This is the hotel. I had to borrow a hundred dollars to get the room."

"You didn't take money from the briefcase?" Gwynn asked.

"By then I didn't think that was a good idea anymore. I mean, I looked inside and there was thousands of dollars along with all these financial papers ... it just seemed too complicated. Janet told me I did the right thing."

Gwynn smiled. "You did exactly right so let's not worry about that now. Okay, what do we have here? For the record, William Beale, the District Attorney for Los Angeles County is in chambers and has heard this evidence and testimony presented.

"In my opinion we have an obvious case of assault and battery by Mr. Rhodes, Senior, on his son Daniel and also on Michael Keene. We have evidence of this assault by personal testimony and photos of the damage taken immediately after the fact. Mr. Beale?"

"I'll draft a warrant, Your Honor, he won't be hard to find."

"If this goes to court we may have other charges to bring. Ms. Chong, I understand there were some other issues?" Gwynn said.

"Yes, Your Honor. Two items and they both deal with Daniel. I would request you grant Daniel a guardianship of the court until such time as this matter is resolved. Perhaps by the time this issue is settled he will have reached his majority and that can be dissolved."

"Have you made any attempt to reach Daniel's mother?" Gwynn asked.

"Not at this time, Your Honor. The former Mrs. Rhodes has an unlisted phone number and Daniel informs me that the only way to reach her will be through the minister at her church. We will attempt to do that shortly."

"Do you have an appropriate court official to take responsibility for him?" Gwynn asked.

"I do ... I will sign the papers myself," Janet said. "Michael and his father have offered room and board to Daniel for the duration of this event. I can't think of two more responsible people in the community."

Gwynn smiled. "I'd say that's three responsible people, Ms. Chong."

Janet smiled back. "Thank you, Your Honor."

"And the second request ... you said there were two."

"Yes. In opening the briefcase Daniel said he discovered accounting documents inside that he had never seen before. I would argue that the violence perpetrated on my client was after a discussion, no matter how brief, about the money he makes as a performer. The documents contained in the briefcase may be germane to this issue."

Gwynn raised her eyebrows. "You think there is evidence of misappropriation of funds here?"

Janet shrugged. "I wish I had the answer to that, Your Honor. I would certainly like to know what motivated the attack on Daniel. In any case, I would file for discovery on any and all contents of the briefcase. I suppose if they are actual accounting records that we would have to engage a bonded financial institution to review the materials."

"Point taken. I will instruct the DA's office to release copies of these documents to you, and if there is any doubt about the veracity of the accounting I imagine the DA will seek out a knowledgeable person in the city tax division to assist him. Mr. Beale?"

"I would have no objection to any of the court's decisions."

"Mr. Rhodes ... Mr. Keene, thank you for coming in today and clearing up a very important matter. Unfortunately a lot of time and effort has gone into investigating this alleged disappearance, fueled by the misdirection given us by your father. I'm sure the DA's office will expedite the paperwork requested."

Beale rose from his chair. "I'll get right on it." He nodded at Janet and the boys and then headed for the door.

"Billy ... did you forget something?" Gwynn asked, pointing at the briefcase.

"Oh ... yeah, sorry. Did anyone say what the combination was?"

"2-4-6," Danny said. "Pretty simple."

"Thank you," And then Beale was gone.

Gwynn nodded at Doris. "Now we're off the record. Those were some good moves, Janet, and Danny you said things perfectly."

"Thank you, Your Honor," Danny replied.

"Let's drop the formality, shall we? You may call me Judge or Ms. Gwynn."

"Yes, ma'am." And they all laughed.

"So you've never seen Chinese martial arts before?"

"Is that what Michael did?" Danny asked. "I had no idea. Michael just laid his hands on my father and whoosh, he was airborne. My father should have quit while he was ahead."

"I don't pretend to understand your father's motivation, perhaps we'll know in time. But people who think too much of themselves don't know when to quit," Gwynn said. "I've known Michael for some time, his father even longer. I'd say you're very lucky to have encountered Michael when you did."

"My thoughts exactly, Judge," Danny replied. "So ... can I ask, what will happen to me now?"

Gwynn gave Janet a nod and she leaned over to touch Danny's arm. "Your father will be arrested, he'll get a lawyer and they'll face the prosecutor together. If there's no reasonable option decided then the court will step in. That will mean a Grand Jury indictment, charges filed and a trial before a jury if that's what they decide. All that will take months."

"Oh," Danny said. "I was ... I meant what will I do?"

"Can you contact your mother?" Gwynn asked.

"My father has custody, but I'll call and tell her about all this. What about my career?"

Gwynn nodded. "That's a decision you'll have to make. I'm sure Janet can help you. Do you have an agent?"

"I did until my father and the recording company took over," Danny said. "I suppose the recording people will have something to say about all this, but I don't trust them."

Janet nodded. "Don't worry about that, we'll handle it together."

Doris cleared her throat and Gwynn looked up at her. "Yes, I'm afraid we'll have to end this meeting, I have court responsibilities," Gwynn said. "You did the right thing, Danny. Let me know the next time you plan to perform, I'd like to come see you."

"Yes, ma'am ... that would be very nice."

Everyone rose to their feet and Gwynn shook hands with Michael and Danny before giving Janet a hug, then she swept out of the room. Janet led them back into the hallway where Max took them down the elevator to the parking garage.

"I'd say that went rather well," Janet said.

"You told the judge everything before we even got here," Michael said.

"Now, Michael, you know that wouldn't be proper," Janet said, but she was smiling.

It was only ten o'clock by the time they returned to Michael's house where Neil was waiting to see what the judge had decided.

"Everything went our way," Janet said.

"With you there I have no doubt," Neil said, and for the first time he gave Danny a hug. "You stay with us ... you're more than welcome here."

"I just ... well, I don't want this to become a problem for you," Danny said. "Once the media finds out there will be reporters camped out on your front lawn."

"I still have some friends on the force, that won't be a problem," Neil replied.

"I imagine once the warrant is served on your father that the press will find out," Janet said. "I'm going back to the courthouse to make sure Beale gets the paperwork signed. Once that's done other things will crop up. We'll just have to deal with them one at a time.

"I'd like you to get in touch with your mother this evening, and before we forget, the judge would like to have you examined by a doctor," Janet said.

"I'll take care of that," Neil said. "Dr. Long still owes me a favor or two."

"Don't use up your markers, and tell Long to send me the bills," Janet said. "In fact, do you need anything, Danny? Clothing or toiletries perhaps?"

"No, ma'am, I brought lots of things from the condo."

"Is there anything there that you still might need?"

Danny shook his head. "No, I want nothing of my father's."

Janet nodded, and then gave Danny a hug. "We're in this together, all of us. Now you go see that doctor and get a clean bill of health. I imagine by this evening you'll be back up in the news. So keep a low profile for as long as you can and don't talk to any reporters if they do show up. Those vultures have a way of sniffing out things so it won't take them long to find you."

Janet left and Danny said he needed to lie down. It had been difficult to sleep the night before. Michael tiptoed around while Neil called Dr. Long for an appointment. They decided on three o'clock which would give Danny time to rest and have lunch. Around one-thirty that afternoon Michael knocked on Danny's door and opened it quietly.

The only sounds in the room were Danny's hands on the keyboard. The large black headphones were on his ears. Michael stood and watched. He had been standing in the back of the theater the other night as Danny performed. The quiet assertiveness of the boy's voice had everyone's attention, it was quite wonderful.

Michael had never really found pop music that attractive, but Danny's music was different. Now that he knew the singer, it was easier to see that undercurrent of emotion which drove the sound. Danny was expressing some inner turmoil, a longing for something else ... a need that wasn't being met.

The little bedtime song Danny had dedicated to the kids of the parents in the audience had nearly brought Michael to tears. It was for that reason he had decided to go backstage after the show and tell Danny how moving the music had been. He'd heard the sounds of conflict from beyond the door. It was something Michael could not allow to continue.

How many nightmares had forced him to revisit those final moments with Tommy? No amount of pleading could stop the boy from running off to his death. They had almost fought in the alley behind the restaurant before Tommy drove off and never came back.

Michael had never told a soul the truth about that moment. Tommy had saved his life by refusing to allow Michael to go that day. It wasn't the gangs that urged Michael into action; it was the brotherhood he felt with Tommy.

Something had entered his mind when he first saw Danny in the lobby. Here was a worthy young man, someone he would like to know better. How open and honest the boy had been when they talked, and Michael felt a need he had not desired in years. Despite their differences, Michael felt that Danny was a kindred spirit.

Stepping into that dressing room and seeing Danny's father hit the boy was just too much. He could not save Tommy, but he had to do something for Danny. In some way he had to give them a chance to grow closer, to become brothers.

Danny seemed lost in thought as he played, but Michael could only hear faint sounds emanating from the headphones. It was enough to know that Danny sought comfort in his music. At least he had something to ease the pains of life. But despite his attention to the keyboard, Danny seemed to sense a presence at the door and stopped playing.

He removed the headphones and gave Michael a smile. "How long have you been standing there?" Danny asked.

"Just a few seconds. Lunch is ready if you're hungry, and Pops got you a doctor's appointment at three.

"The famous Dr. Long ... how far is it to his office?" Danny asked.

"A five minute walk," Michael replied. "Everything we need is right here around us."

"Yes, it seems to be. Let's go eat."

Dr. Long turned out to be a nice young doctor whose wife was the receptionist in this small practice. Danny had expected an elderly man, which only proved his view of the Chinese community needed some adjustment. Like Janet, the Chinese professionals he'd met so far were a young and vital group of Americans, far removed from the ancient homeland.

The doctor probed his mouth with gloved fingers and examined his eyes with a tiny bright light before declaring him fit. The swelling would be reduced over time and the bruises around the eye would heal. Only the memory of the beating would remain. Long said he would send the bill and his report to Janet.

Once again Danny had donned the bandana and the ball cap to disguise his looks. There were a considerable number of people on the sidewalks today, but most of them didn't give Danny a second look. Several elderly people nodded at Michael and one old woman stopped to chat. Michael was polite to them all, these were his neighbors.

"You seem quite popular," Danny said.

"I do little favors for some of them. That was Mrs. Ling. I helped fix her roof last year when some of the tiles fell off."

"You do home repair too?"

"I can ... just simple things. Pops used to do things like that for the neighbors when I was little and it seems like a good idea. This city is a huge place, and for many of these people it's so impersonal. Sometimes these elderly folks get overwhelmed by the small things and I feel like I can make a difference."

Danny understood, or at least thought he did. Michael felt at home here, these people were not so different after all. The God's Way Church used to help out in the community, but they were always trying to win people over to their way of thought. Some folks might get their roof fixed in a few hours but then they were in for a whole day of prayer and preaching. There was no need for that here.

They returned to the house and discovered Clarence sitting at the kitchen table with Neil, only this time there was no liquor on the table. Michael looked around the room expecting to find a bottle hidden somewhere.

"No drinking today?" Michael asked.

"Nope ... I quit," Clarence said.

"Quit ... you've told me that before," Michael said.

"Didn't have no cancer before, now I do. My son spoke to the hospital, says I got six months to live, might be a year if I quit drinking. One damn year, that's it. I quit so I can have that time with my grandkids."

"I'm sorry, Clarence," Michael said.

"I'm sorry too, but that won't get me no where. I come over to apologize to Neil, been sharing my bad habits with him. I'm going back to Bakersfield to live with my son and he's got a good job there with the city."

Michael went about fixing dinner after Clarence left. Neil sat at the table with a smile and then he laughed outright.

"And what's so funny?" Michael asked.

"Clarence ... the doctors finally got even with him. He's got skin cancer which has nothing to do with drinking. His son lied just to scare him off the bottle."

"Oh ... if I tried that with you would it work?" Michael said.

"What's for dinner," Neil asked.

They ate baked chicken and some kind of rice dish, nothing fancy, but everything good. Danny had watched the exchange between father and son. He could empathize with Michael and understand Neil's point of view. But in his estimation neither of them had it right.

Danny couldn't understand the irrational actions of his own father. But he was a guest here and his opinions were best left unsaid. With dinner done, Neil went off to the living room to watch the news on television. Danny remained behind to help clear the table.

"You think Clarence's son did the wrong thing?" Danny asked, placing the dishes in a sink filled with soapy water.

"Yes, it doesn't solve the problem," Michael said. "You can take away the bottle but you can't take away the desire to drink. Clarence had a good job working for the railroad so I don't know what caused his problem. Pops saw too much, lost his wife and then nearly lost his son. His issues I understand."

"He's proud of you," Danny said.

Michael washed a plate, rinsed it off and set it up in the rack beside the sink. "I know how he feels ... I've changed ... "

"Hey, Danny ... you ought to come see this," Neil yelled from the other room.

Michael shut off the water and they moved out into the living room. The image on KTTV, Fox 11 News, was of a reporter standing in front of St. Vincent's Hospital. The headline banner across the bottom of the screen said it all: 'Kidnapping a fake, father of Danny Rhodes arrested.'

"Oh hell ... it sure didn't take them long to find out," Danny said.

"The news has people sitting around LAPD Central just looking for things like this," Neil said. "I imagine anything with your name on it sent up a red flag."

"What are the reporters saying? Turn up the volume," Michael asked.

" ... just twenty minutes ago and entered the hospital through the Emergency Room. We understand that Robert Rhodes is in room three twenty-five, which would be on the third floor ... "

"Duh," Neil said. "Yak, yak ... killing time because she has nothing to say."

" ... you can see the uniformed police officers waiting here behind me, and we hope to see Mr. Rhodes when the detectives bring him out ... "

"Which you won't," Neil laughed. "They'll take him out through the doctor's entrance on Miramar, that's what we always did."

"Hush, Pops ... " Michael said.

The reporter on the screen looked distressed and then resumed her smile at the camera. "I've just learned that the detectives have taken Robert Rhodes out a rear door ... "

"Aha ... told you," Neil laughed.

" ... to review our top story tonight: Robert Rhodes, father of Danny Rhodes the popular young singer and entertainer, was arrested this evening here at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Two days ago Mr. Rhodes had reported that he was assaulted and his son kidnapped after a performance at The Palace Theater here in downtown Los Angeles.

"Subsequent to that alleged incident, it seems young Danny Rhodes appeared before a judge at the Los Angeles District Court this morning with quite another story. Fox News will stay on this breaking story throughout the evening ... "

"So they don't really know anything, do they?" Michael asked.

"Those guys at Fox think reporting something is better than nothing. But she's right; they'll stay on this until they find out more. Once somebody gets their hands on a copy of that warrant they'll have Janet's name." Neil smiled. "I feel sorry for the reporter who comes looking for her."

It took less than twenty-four hours for the media to discover that Janet Chong was Danny's lawyer. They camped out on the doorstep of her office until she made a terse statement.

"Judge Gwynn of the District Court has seen Daniel Rhodes and issued a ruling in chambers that places a gag order on all relevant information regarding this case."

That was it and Janet wasn't going to give the news anything else. By that time Robert Rhodes had spent the night in a cell and faced the court on a two-way video link from jail the following morning. Rhodes was represented in front of Judge Walker by Martin Freeman who said that Mr. Rhodes would plead not guilty and deserved bail to face these absurd charges.

What was not said was that Freeman was a criminal lawyer in the practice of Talbot, Drummond and Lawson, the lawyers for CRA Recording who held the contract for Danny's music. The sole charge of record at that point was simple assault and battery for which Judge Walker could grant bail.

Robert Rhodes was given a preliminary hearing court date in response to posting bail. He was admonished to have no contact with his son and was forbidden to leave town for any reason. Freeman accepted the judge's decision, left a certified check in the amount of twenty-five thousand with the clerk and drove over to the jail to pick up Mr. Rhodes.

The constitutional right to bail had been met even though Judge Walker could see in the file that there were other issues pending. Rhodes was free on bail to pursue his legal defense, at least for the moment. The DA's office would take any further evidence before a Grand Jury and they could demand he be arrested again on new charges. The wheels of justice had turned and so far Robert Rhodes was lucky.

The moment they were in the car Robert turned to his lawyer. "Where is the little son of a bitch, have you found him yet?"

"Robert, there's no use getting yourself all upset. The boy is under court protection at the moment, you can't touch him," Freeman said.

"I want to wring his neck," Robert said. "Have you found that briefcase?"

"We haven't found the boy and he's probably still got it," Freeman said.

"You better get it back or we're all in a lot of hot water."

Robert sat there smiling, knowing he could tell this lawyer just about anything under the rules of attorney-client privilege. He had told Rankin over at CRA what the accounting records revealed. Keeping the details written down like that had been foolish, but that's what accountants did. In this case Robert thought of it as an insurance policy, at least until Danny had taken it. Robert knew his goose would be cooked if the authorities could decipher his ledger, but so would CRA.

The payoffs to radio networks and booking agents had pushed Danny's career right over the top. It was the way business was done at this level, at least that's what Rankin had set up. Robert had been asked to grease the wheels with the cash and Danny reaped the benefit. The little bastard ought to be grateful ... except he didn't know about it.

Of course the kid had talent, Rankin knew that. Danny's career would have taken off eventually, even without the bribes. But this way the exposure had been immediate, the music had been played every day on stations across the country. Robert skimmed a little bit off the box office, a little bit more off the concessions. He had to because there was one thing he knew for certain. Someday this would all end.

The boy was obstinate and kept his music to himself until it was recorded. Once Danny turned eighteen Robert knew he would be cut out of the picture. That fucking ex-wife had almost ruined everything, but Danny was still in the dark about their divorce. So he had screwed the preacher's daughter, so what? The little bitch had been asking for it and he was more than happy to oblige.

Damn God's Way people even pushed him out. Abstinence, my ass. Danny's mother was a breeder because every time Robert looked at her all she did was get pregnant. No birth control allowed, what kind of stupidity was that? But Denise Michaels was nineteen, just home from her spring break in college and one sexy little bitch.

She knew about sex, hell, she even had the birth control pills in her bag to prove it. One week in that God's Way community and the girl was off the wall. She gave Robert that look and said he reminded her of one of her college professors. He could tell she wanted to talk or at least tell him something in private.

The accounting office had been dark and only a block away from the church hall. She left first and he followed shortly thereafter. Robert fumbled with the key in the door, hoping no one saw them going in the building, and then she was all over him. He remembered her lips on his mouth and the hand that slid down his stomach to his crotch.

"Hmm," Denise had moaned. "You might look like my professor, but you sure got him beat in other ways."

Finally he could screw to his heart's content, and they did, three times on the office couch that night alone. He let her out the back door of the building just after midnight, and then sat down at his desk to think. What they had done was sinful ... probably even more so because she was the preacher's daughter. So what was he feeling ... guilt? No, she wasn't a little underage girl. Denise was a woman ... a very desirable woman. Would he screw her again? Hell yeah.

The phone on his desk had rung ... his wife on the line. "Figured I'd find you there, don't you get enough work done during the day?"

"Tax season coming up, I'm swamped," Robert lied.

She had told him not to stay out all night. So trusting, so ignorant. But then Denise was as well, just proving none of those little bitches could be trusted. Denise had returned to town after her college semester was over, only now she was pregnant and upset.

Robert tried to blame the college professor until Denise confessed that sex with him was only a fantasy, Robert had been the first and only lover. She had to tell her father, of course she did, abortion was a sinful abomination. But rather than tell Robert he knew what had occurred with his daughter, the Reverend Michaels told Mrs. Rhodes about her husband's infidelity.

"So how are we going to find the boy?" Robert asked.

"Rankin has some people working on it. We'll find him," Freeman said.

"And then what? You think he's going to hand it back?"

"I was planning to give him a reward for the return. You said there was eight thousand in the case. I'll give him ten thousand if he hands it back."

"Otherwise? He might act like a little shit because it belongs to me," Robert said.

"It's not your concern, he'll give it back," Freeman said. "If he says no then we'll have to persuade him."

"If anything happens to him the cops will be all over me."

"We'll make sure you aren't around. Trust me, Robert ... you won't get blamed for anything that happens to him."

Danny was his son, and yet Robert had made the disconnect to the boy in his mind a long time ago. The kid was a goody-goody, just like his mother wanted. Maybe all teenagers were obstinate, but Robert felt he didn't have time to deal with that crap. The boy was a money maker and CRA would do what it took to protect their investment.

It was Janet who first noticed the scrutiny of two strange men. At first she thought it was the media trying to track down Danny and she had planned for that. Perhaps it was the police keeping an eye on her, but she very much doubted that. The men in the plumber's van were Caucasian in an area where the only working tradesmen were Asians. They stood out like a sore thumb.

The Chinese section of Monterey Park was a rabbit warren of alleys and passageways between the buildings and homes. Janet simply parked in front of the Jade Garden Hotel and disappeared into the building. Ten minutes later she was two blocks over and quickly moving up the alley to the back door of the Keene house.

"You look flustered," Neil said when he admitted her to the kitchen.

"The dogs are sniffing at my heels," Janet said. "I have some things to arrange with Danny."

"He's in the front room playing his piano," Neil said, and he led the way through the house.

Danny was showing Michael the workings of his keyboard when Janet stuck her head through the doorway. The scene made her smile. Michael sat in calm repose while Danny was quite animated when speaking of his music.

It had been a week since Judge Gwynn granted the boy's guardianship to her, and Janet had watched Danny's relationship with Michael and Neil grow into a real friendship. Two things had come from this and both of them positive. Michael had returned to work and Neil hadn't touched a drop of liquor since Danny moved into the house.

"I will eventually have to write some of this down," Danny was saying. "I'm not very good at writing music and I generally have some help from the guys in my band. But the keyboard has a built in modem so that I can record my songs on disk ... " And here he saw Janet at the door.

"Hello," Janet said. "Are you going to turn Michael into a musician?"

Michael thought that extremely funny and laughed while shaking his head. "I'll never be a musician, but I make a great audience."

Danny nodded. "He is that ... what brings you here?"

"Just checking up on you. Did that preacher ever call you back?" Janet asked.

"Reverend Michaels ... no word from him," Danny said. "I left another message last night."

"Hmm, perhaps Mr. Beale may have to get involved. But I wanted you to know that the media seems to be following me around so you need to be careful if you leave the house."

"Are they harassing you?" Michael asked.

"Not yet," Janet said. "Don't worry, my family will provide protection if necessary. So far it's only a game of cat and mouse. So what have you been doing?"

"Danny has been writing music while I'm at work," Michael said.

"Good, I was going to ask about that," Janet said. "Were there any plans made for future concerts?"

Danny sighed. "The Palace was just a chance to expose an audience to some of the new music. I suppose if that had gone well then I would have recorded an album and then gone on tour to promote it."

Janet nodded. "I was thinking of approaching your record company with the issue of performance. I know your father is out of the picture, but they certainly would want to continue supporting their investment in you. You have a whole fan base out there who must be concerned about all these incidents."

"I don't know about CRA," Danny said. "The representative my father dealt with was Carl Rankin. You'd have to talk to him."

"I mean, do you want to perform?" Janet asked.

"Yes ... at least the music they know about. I don't want them to have the new music yet, at least until I can re-negotiate my contract. My father had all that paperwork and I don't know where it is. I don't even know if the contract will be legal after I turn eighteen."

"We'll figure all that out," Janet said. "I know some very good contract lawyers."

Danny smiled. "I'm sure you do. I suppose you could contact Rankin and see what he says."

"It means going public once again and the media will be all over this," Janet said. "I think from now on you will need some kind of security. I don't think we need to expose Michael to any further aggravation."

"I think you should talk to Master Chen," Michael said.

"Exactly what I was thinking," Janet said.

"Who is Master Chen?" Danny asked.

"An elderly man who used to be part of the Tong in China," Janet said and then she smiled. "Our cultural system is firmly grounded in the business world. The Tong maintains an organizational web that is deeply embedded in our society. I know what you think, but we are not the Chinese mafia.

"For centuries the Triads ruled China, controlling everything they thought would bring them a profit. They were often very criminal in their activities which included the opium trade. But as the criminals were suppressed there came a need for a different kind of organization and this is where the Tong system developed.

"In America the Chinese were an oppressed minority for many, many years. We could not count on the government to assist us so we developed our own shadow rulers, the Tong. Each community had a ruling body of elders under the umbrella of a larger organization. Each Chinese man, woman and child benefited as the elders controlled every facet of life.

"They kept meticulous records of family life, business transactions and even the quarrels between their members. The judgment of the elders was law, at least in the Chinese community. And I will grant you that some members of the Tong participated in criminal activity until the Grand Master Jun Woo Lee came to power."

"This sounds very complicated to us," Michael said. "Joining the Tong is voluntary but here in Monterey Park they have a big membership. It gives each family a large support network of business and banking contacts. Janet's family is very important in the Tong."

"The Master Chen we speak of is a member of my family, a much venerated person," Janet said. "He now runs a martial arts school. Michael went there ... "

"She insisted," Michael said. "I had no choice."

"It was part of your contract?" Danny asked.

Janet nodded. "Even before then ... it was necessary to change his life."

"So I'm going to have some big dangerous guys following me around?" Danny asked.

"Hmm, size is not so important. They have certain skills ... but Michael will have to explain that to you," Janet said. "We will start with a phone call to this Mr. Rankin and then pay him a visit."

"If he insists on recording new music I won't do it," Danny said.

"We will get some advice on that account as well."

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Michael asked.

"If you're cooking then I would be delighted," Janet replied.

She didn't want to leave until after dark, but she didn't tell them that. Let the watchers wait and wonder where she had gone, and if they were a threat then they would have a surprise coming.

"But first, I would like to hear some of this new music if I may," Janet said.

Danny's music was well known ... at least she had heard some of it on the radio in her office. The pop music sound of his early recordings was not unpleasant, at least to adolescent girls. Janet had enjoyed the same jazz Michael had heard, but classical music was perhaps her favorite.

But this new music the boy was writing was different ... darker, brooding ... a reflection of his life. Perhaps all musicians were influenced in this way. She had no way of knowing. But the three songs he played for her were more to her liking because the lyrics spoke to his endless longing for peace and hope.

Michael left them to go begin his dinner preparations and Danny continued to play, mostly for himself. Janet used her cell phone to place a few calls and was satisfied with the results. Tomorrow she would call this Rankin person from her office. Land lines could be traced and cell calls intercepted. It was time to err on the side of caution.

By the time they were done with dinner it was still several hours before dark. Neil had spent the afternoon saying farewell to Clarence who was leaving in the morning with his son and was in a contemplative mood. Michael had cleared the kitchen table and set a wooden box in the middle.

"What's this?" Danny asked.

"An old form of Chinese torture," Neil said.

"Oh go on, Neil ... you're very good at this game," Janet said.

Neil grinned. "That only proves you Chinese don't have a corner on playing dirty."

Michael looked at Danny. "We're going to teach you to play Mah-Jong," He said, opening the box to reveal all the tiles needed for the game.

"I've heard of this, it's like Dominoes."

"It's an ancient Chinese game of war," Michael said. "But we'll take it easy on you this time around."

Neil laughed. "Don't believe him, these two play for keeps."

Danny had enjoyed the game even thought it took him a long time to catch on to the subtlety of the strategy a player needed to win. Janet won on points and Michael displayed the most astounding luck. Janet finally said her goodbyes and Michael walked her back to the hotel. She gave him a hug good-bye before entering through the back door.

Mrs. Lee Yung was behind her desk and across the lobby sat two young men Janet recognized.

"Leonard ... Albert, nice to see you again," Janet said.

"My father said you might need an escort home ... is there a problem?" Leonard asked.

"Two men in a plumbing van followed me here this afternoon. They may be gone by now but I was just being cautious. I would like to know who they are."

"As you should. We'll go out and take a look around," Albert said.

Janet stood talking with Mrs. Lee Yung for only a short time before Leonard returned. He bowed to Janet and then handed over two wallets. She opened one of them looking for identification and discovered a driver's license. She gazed at the photo of a man named Steve Barrett. There was no employment identity card, but there was a business card tucked in a side pocket of the wallet.

'Carl M. Rankin', the name read, 'Media Director, CRA Recording Group.' How interesting. Janet placed the business card in her pocket and returned the wallets to Leonard.

"They will be asleep for some time," Leonard assured her. "Perhaps it will be best if you left for home. We will set things back where they belong."

Janet bowed her head and gave Leonard a smile. "My thanks to you and Albert for this assurance of my safety, and my very best to your father."

Leonard bowed and walked back out into the darkness. Janet turned to Mrs. Lee Yung and smiled.

"I think I will now have time for that cup of tea."


On to Chapter Twenty


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Exit Hollywood is © 2010 by Chris James.
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