Reign of Pawns Book1-The Parieur's Play, page 3
"Sorry, but we can't accompany you inside; we already visited in the morning," Liang said. “Enjoy the garden.”
He and Sun waved, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction. In seconds, they disappeared into the crowd, leaving Doug behind them, staring in confusion.
Rushing through the same street they had taken before from the tea shop and passing by the same shops they glanced at on their way, Liang and Sun returned to the tea shop.
"And that's how it's done." Liang counted their share of cash from the owner as they stood in the back alley next to the rear door of the tea shop.
"But I played my part well, too. Remember, he was into me. That's why he paid the money."
"Ya, ya, whatever, but it was my plan." He smiled. "Now tell me, how do you want to spend it?"
"I always wanted to go on that cruise by the river. I have seen people go there but have never been on one myself.” Sun put on the denim jacket she’d carried in her arm, pulled out a scrunchy, and tied her hair. She held Liang by his arm. There was excitement in her voice. She stared at the clear, blue sky as she spoke. “I want to enjoy tonight."
"My lady, tonight, all your desires will be fulfilled."
They both kissed.
❦
Dusk lights on the futuristic Shanghai skyline appeared like jewelry on a bride.
The metal, glass, and concrete jungle dazzled with reflections of copper and gold. As the Sun dipped, city lights popped to life. Sun and Liang stood in line to board the cruise, which sailed across the Huangpu River, offering prodigious views of the riverfront. With its aluminum railings and blue-white lights, the cruise terminal looked marvelous.
It was packed. Some came here to wine and dine in the backdrop of the magnificent ambiance, while others wanted to sail for the fresh breeze.
Sun and Liang dressed fashionably. Liang wore a black tuxedo that he had stolen by conning a man from a dry cleaner. Sun wore a beautiful shiny, black, one-piece satin dress which was stolen in a similar manner.
"Top deck, fast; let's take the best spot before it's gone,” Liang whispered into Sun’s right ear.
In one minute, they reached the top deck. Sun stared at the artificial turf on the deck’s floor and multicolored lights that ran all across the taffrail in amazement. “Wow," she whispered, “it’s wonderful.”
"Wait here." Liang went inside. Minutes later, he returned with two beers. "Ganbei!" He raised his glass. They emptied their drinks.
"Today's count at the tea shop was ten, the most in months." Liang grinned. “I think the tea shop is way better than the traditional medicine shop. It is harder to con tourists by getting them to buy fake herbs. Glad we’re not doing that anymore.” He rested his back on the taffrail. "Tonight, we have a lot of money to spend."
The boat sailed onto the calm waters of the Huangpu River. The night sky was clear with twinkling stars.
Sun closed her eyes and untied her hair. Liang turned around, rested his elbows on the taffrails, and sipped from his glass. The gentle breeze caressed his face, taking the day's tiredness with it. The beer and the vibes set the mood. The buildings along Huangpu's banks lit up one by one, the water majestic with reflections.
Liang kept buying more beers one after the other.
After half an hour, the cruise made a U-turn for the terminal. Halfway down the route, the captain announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, in about one minute, the Oriental Pearl Tower lights will be illuminated. So be ready with your cameras."
Liang and Sun pulled out their phones, ready for the pictures.
The tower dazzled from bottom to top. Flashing colors with fancy patterns filled the night sky, and it appeared as if the entire Shanghai skyline had been transformed into one gigantic discothèque, with music on the cruise ship complementing the display.
"It's amazing, I have never seen anything like this," Sun said. "Oh, Liang, I love you so much."
"Anything for my love." They kissed.
The light show played for several minutes.
"I hope it never ends," Sun said as the cruise retreated toward the terminal.
"Don't worry, the night is still young."
Liang and Sun disembarked the ship with many pictures and a lot many beers in their bellies.
"Where are we going next?" Sun asked as she held Liang’s arm on their way toward the taxi stand.
Liang kissed Sun again. "Okay, beautiful, let me show you the time of your life."
They took a cab to a five-star hotel on the Bund, one of the city's most popular areas. As it halted, a neatly dressed doorman opened the cab door. "Welcome," he greeted.
Sun scanned the glass building along its length. Liang read the expressions on her face. "Don't worry, we won't spend our hard-earned cash on this. I have a way,” he said.
Receiving his tip, the doorman rushed to open the lobby door. "Thank you," he said.
Liang nodded a privileged nod. They entered the lobby. It was tall, like an atrium, with huge, circular pillars and a shiny, beige granite floor. Beautiful, golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling with warm yellow lights.
Liang turned toward Sun and sat her on a plush upholstered chair near a corner. "Wait here, I'll be back in a second."
"But—" Sun moved uncomfortably on the edge of the chair.
"Trust me, I've been here before." Liang turned to face the lobby. “Where was the housekeeping staffroom?” He scanned the area. “There.”
Slow and stealthy, he walked toward the housekeeping staffroom. Making sure nobody was watching, he slid inside and waited. A lady walked in, hung her coat, and went to the toilet. He quickly went to the coat, searched the pockets, and found the master key. Score! He looked at the housekeeping schedule for rooms that requested evening service. A few minutes later, he returned to the lobby and dialed the first number on the list from the courtesy phone. No one answered. He dialed the same room a second time, but again, there was no reply. Liang didn't believe his luck. He returned to Sun; they both took the elevator to the twenty-second floor.
"What are we doing?" Sun asked, jumping on her toes in excitement.
"Wait and watch." Liang smiled
The elevator door opened. Plaques on the opposite wall, printed with room numbers and directions, greeted them. Wine-red carpet with designs of flowers covered the hallway floor, while a line of warm yellow lights fixed every few feet on the sidewalls followed them along the way. Liang found the room, swiped the master key, and slowly opened the door.
"Score!" Liang screamed in excitement.
He held the door open for Sun and winked as she looked into his eyes. The door closed behind them. As they entered the room from the entryway, floor-to-ceiling windows greeted them, presenting magnificent views of the Huangpu and the skyline along its banks. A gentle fragrance with notes of orange, jasmine, and white tea hit their senses. The room twinkled with the rhythmic beating of lights from the Oriental Pearl Tower through the spotless glass.
Sun jumped on the bed. The linen was clean and crisp.
"Oh my God, it- it's—" The lights, the décor, and the alcohol overwhelmed Sun. Liang jumped on her. "Mmm," she moaned. Their hands clasped each other’s; their bodies intertwined. Their lovemaking roared like there was no tomorrow.
Just when they were about to climax, click! The doorknob turned, and a man walked inside, standing at the edge of the entryway. The light show from the tower outside paused, leaving the room in darkness.
Liang and Sun covered themselves with the bedsheet. They could not see his face.
The man pulled out a gun, screwed something on its tip. Swoop, swoop, swoop came the sound of projectiles. The needles at the tips of them pierced Liang and Sun on the shoulder and chest.
"You think you're so smart?" he said. "You thought you conned me, huh?"
The man stepped forward, and the shadows of the room shifted to reveal Doug's face with a grin spread across it. "Well, as it turns out, the reality is just the opposite, Mr. Li."
"I’ve tailed you since morning. I had to ensure it was you, so I played along in your con." Doug leaned forward. "Do you think you got the housekeeping key downstairs by luck?" He approached Liang's left ear. "I am the predator, Mr. Li, not the prey," he whispered. And I came to China just to hunt you."
In the next second, the tranquilizer kicked in, and Liang passed out onto the bed.
A few weeks later, he woke up in a basement, tied to a bed next to four foreigners, unable to move.
Chapter 4
Lucas Sánchez
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Two years before the abduction of the five hostages
Dr. Lucas Sánchez placed the keys of his Toyota Prius into a bowl atop a side table by the door. At five feet five inches, he was middle-aged with an average build, a peculiarly elongated nose, brown hair, and gray eyes. Sánchez held a Ph.D. and worked in the Computational and Systems Biology department at M.I.T. in Boston. He’d taught there for many years and conducted considerable research for the university.
Sanchez closed the door behind him, sat on the bench in the entry foyer, and placed his laptop bag on the side.
"Lucas, honey, Mark called again today." Martha, his wife, inserted her hand inside a well-cushioned oven glove. "He was very convincing. Why don't you at least go and visit the place?"
Dr. Mark Blanchard was Sanchez's good friend and ex-colleague. Together, they authored many academic papers that were published in world-renowned scientific journals. Their collaboration on research in genetics, machine learning, and data warehousing worked perfectly. This, however, lasted only until Dr. Blanchard accepted a new job in Las Vegas at a new research lab called the National Medical Research Laboratory.
"Martha, we talked about this. I don't want to move from Boston; I love my job; all our extended family and friends are here."
"Well, regarding that," Martha paused to retrieve the apple pie from the oven. "David called this morning; his next assignment is at the Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas." She placed it on the kitchen counter and examined the crust. "He said his project could go on for several years."
"Hmm," came the reply. Finally, after so many years, my son has an assignment that’s inside the country.
"And—"
"And?" Sanchez raised his eyebrows.
“Michelle’s application got accepted.”
“That’s wonderful news.” Sanchez stopped midway from untying his dress shoes. I have seen my daughter’s scores. He shook his head.
“Which school?” he asked.
“University of Nevada in Las Vegas,” she said. “The admission comes with a handsome scholarship, too.”
“What? I didn't know she applied there,” he said.
Something doesn’t add up. Michelle got into UNLV with those scores? Sanchez wondered as he removed his shoes and socks. He walked past the staircase to the second floor and entered the kitchen.
The kitchen had a semi-open layout with an L-shaped counter with light-brown granite, which housed a gas stove, an oven, and a ceramic sink. There were windows above the kitchen sink and behind the breakfast table on the other side. They kept the room well illuminated with natural light and allowed fresh air to come in on cooler days. An island in the middle was where Sanchez often tasted Martha’s delicious cooking.
"This cannot be a coincidence; it has to be Mark. I'm sure this is his doing."
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing. Even if he did pull some strings, what's the harm? He just wants you by his side; he trusts you." Martha finished cutting the pie into pieces, lifted a piece from the pan, and placed it on a floral porcelain plate. "Why don't you reconsider it with an open mind? You have three good reasons to move now: David, Michelle, and Mark—your best friend." She nudged the plate toward him. "The kids will be there at least for four years. Who knows, maybe they'll stay longer. I'd love to be close to them."
As Sanchez pulled a stool from underneath the island, Martha slid open a drawer, fetched a fork, and handed it to Sánchez with a wide smile.
He sat down, cut a bite with the fork. As he relished the warm, sweet goodness of her baking, he realized that the situation was too perfect to ignore. They both wanted to be closer to the kids.
"I'll take it. Let's move to Vegas."
❦
After two months of back and forth between Boston and Las Vegas, Sanchez and Martha settled into their suburban house. It took them two more months to feel at home in the new city, but eventually, they did. The house was two-storied with a beige stucco finish and brown Spanish terracotta tiled roof. A mesquite tree, surrounded by small cacti, stood in the front yard, surrounded by red lava gravel. The entry porch had a small metal bench beside which were pots of pink roses.
"The institute is amazing, the work is extraordinary, I have no limits on funding for my research, and I have full autonomy." Sánchez beamed as he entered the living room from the entryway. It had an open layout with the kitchen, dining, and living area all seamlessly integrated.
He had returned from his first day at the NMRL.
The NMRL was funded by the U.S. Government from the revenue collected by implementing a new tax on the casinos. Someone in the higher echelons of the capital wanted this project to go through without hurdles, and so it did. The Nevada government and the American Gaming Association publicized it in the media as a step to convert some of the "sin" in Sin City to goodwill.
"Didn't I tell you this was a good decision?" Martha replied from across the kitchen island, wearing a lime green apron.
"Thank you, my love." He beamed at her from the other side, removing his navy-blue coat jacket, and unbuttoning his shirt cuffs.
"I'm happy too, honey; having the kids home on weekends is so good."
He went into the kitchen, took her in his arms. They kissed.
Sanchez’s next several months went repainting the bedrooms, redoing the backyard, hosting house parties for neighbors and collogues, and exploring the nearby national parks with his kids. Before he knew it, it had been almost a year for them in Las Vegas.
One morning, the alarm clock squawked as usual with all its vigor. Sanchez woke, and so did Martha. He went to the shower, and she to the kitchen.
"Honey, breakfast is ready," she shouted after several minutes.
Sanchez dried himself, covered himself in bath robes, and went into the kitchen. His usual three eggs, sunny side up, bacon, and potatoes were ready on the kitchen table, along with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "I'm blessed to have you." He kissed her on the cheek as he sat down in a chair. She blushed.
After breakfast, he got ready for work while Martha packed him a sandwich for lunch. They kissed on the front porch again before he left in his silver Toyota Prius. NMRL was on the outskirts of the city. Therefore, Sanchez did not encounter any traffic on the way, and in about twenty minutes, he parked his car in the garage and swiped his access card on the reader at the entrance of the building.
Good morning, Dr. Sánchez," Steve, the security guard, greeted with a wide smile as he entered.
The reception area behind Steve was wide and tall with chandeliers hanging from the top, sitting areas made of small sofas, pots of indoor plants here and there, pictures of Nobel laureates on each wall, and a big reception desk in the center. However, the hall and the entire building, for that matter, were windowless.
"Good morning, Steve.” Sanchez shook his hand with a smile. “How're you?"
"I'm good, sir. How about yourself?"
"It's been quite busy lately."
"You don't have to tell me. For the last two months, you've been the last one I see when I make my evening rounds."
"Well, today won't be any different either.” Sanchez patted Steve on the shoulder. “See you in the evening."
"Sure, sir, have a blessed day."
"You too, Steve."
Sanchez went past the reception desk and took the first of the five long hallways. After five minutes of walking past closed doors on either side and some more pictures of scientists in between, he reached his door. Sanchez scanned the badge and entered. The lab was sophisticated, with lots of computers, servers stacked inside racks, displays, and switches. It looked more like a computer data center than a medical research lab. Sanchez's work was developing AI algorithms to detect patterns in genes from vast quantities of data.
Sanchez went through his routines of checking the equipment, ensuring preventive maintenance procedures were complete, safety procedures were followed, and, most importantly, all the data was backed up properly the previous night. Later, he moved to check the models his team had worked on the previous week, testing and re-testing every scenario, and before he knew it, it was late. He was the only scientist still at the NMRL.
Sanchez had wrapped up his work and was about to leave when the monitors, desks, and chairs before him blurred. The screens on the walls and the server racks around him swirled as if he were stuck in a carousel.
Sanchez blinked his eyes and shook his head to get out of it. But it continued. He could feel his chest rise and fall fast as his breathing became heavy.
With his eyes closed most of the time, feeling his way by touching here and there, he hurried outside to get some air. He realized he could not run; he could only limp.
When he exited the building, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Giant bubble-like objects appeared and floated around him. Their boundaries shone red, orange, and black, like holes burned in a stretched cloth when touched by a lit incense stick.
I need to call 911.
His dizziness worsened. He searched his pockets for the phone. Shit, it must be in the lab. He rushed inside, opened the lab door, and collapsed.
Pain soared through his head as it rammed the hard floor.
All Sánchez could see was dazzling light; all he could feel was a sense of speed. In a few minutes, his eyes gave in, taking him into darkness.
Chapter 4
Continued-Part 1
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
The sun had set into the arid Nevada desert on a hot summer evening, but the sky was still trying to hold on to the remnants of the sun’s rays. Their dance spewed magical shades of red, yellow, orange, and purple onto the distant horizon.
