Day 264 - Thursday, September 11th

[papalobo]

[Max sleeps; has as he'd thought, he achieves nothing, and he's not even a small-talk source of comfort or somebody to soothe Ash's nerves before his two AM meeting with yet another Chinese teenager. Something about Chinese teenagers seems to always spell trouble for Ash, and now he's in a mess involving no less than four of them.

But Max doesn't move. If Ash comes to see him, setting that pill counter and the note about the smoothie, he may notice he hasn't so much as shifted a finger. Ash has had to turn to painting, but there's no need to lock that room before, or even for a long while after. The only one in this house besides him is a breathing corpse.

But Shawn's ready and waiting for him at one, prepared to be decked out a wires that Ling's likely to hang him with if he finds out about them.]

Comments

[papalobo]

[Ling is unphased as Ash makes a call to Shawn after ten minutes; but there's no sound of his phone ringing within the house, nor does he pick up.]

[jadedlynx]

So the trap is upstairs, huh?

[ He tries again. If he's wrong, it's dangerous to make a move against somebody from a powerful family. ]

[papalobo]

Now I'll be able to talk to him under my terms. Whether I have to deal with you any more is up to you.

[Ling denies nothing, remaining seated.]

As a parting gift: I really don't know where Sing is.

[jadedlynx]

That's cute. What part of this made you think I'm going to let you walk out with two guys under my protection?

[papalobo]

You're going to go up looking for him. I'll be gone by the time you're back.

[jadedlynx]

[ He has to predict that Ash is going to pull out his gun. ]

We can go up looking for him, or I'll put a bullet through your spine, and your men will have to carry you out for the getaway. Kidnapping a gang boss is a declaration of a war. You have to know that.

[papalobo]

[That finally earns a faint smile.]

You may as well be pointing a finger at me.

[jadedlynx]

[ The shot moves through the air close enough to nearly graze his cheek. ]

How many of your men are going to come running from that?

[papalobo]

[Despite himself, despite fully expecting the shot, and for it to miss, he flinches. But he doesn't look away, and indeed, there are no footsteps. There's no sound from upstairs.]

[jadedlynx]

[ A step closer. And another. Instead of approaching him, however, Ash is moving behind him. ]

You're too used to being protected by your family name.

[papalobo]

[The boy remains seated, calm. He doesn't even turn to face Ash as the blonde moves behind him.]

I'm not the Lee's 7th.

[jadedlynx]

No, he's at least smart enough not to let somebody behind him.

[ There's more than one use for a gun. It comes crashing down on Ling's head, hard enough to hopefully knock him unconscious but not with enough force to kill him. ]

[papalobo]

[The boy in front of his shifts to the side, sensing Ash's movement.

But Ash is faster than he could have anticipated when he sensed it, Ash's ability to hide his movements unprecedented. Ling is unconscious, dropping forward.]

[jadedlynx]

You're lucky I used that end of the gun.

[ He catches Ling as he falls forward before moving around to lift him unto his shoulder.

Max would be proud.

Blanca used it too.

And Cain.

Ash needs to be more careful.

Pulling out his phone, he activates Shawn's bug. ]

[papalobo]

[He can hear rustling, like the sound of movement; it's in his pocket, they likely haven't taken it off of him. If they had thought to take it off of him, they'd likely have powered it off, too. But there's no speaking.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Then it's time to check Ling's phone. Most phones are protected by fingerprints these days. With any luck, he can gain access. ]

[papalobo]

[He has two phones on him, both expensive. Both unfortunately locked by a password.

Through the bug, he can hear muffled talking, but can't make out any words. It's a man's voice.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Now Ash has three expensive phones.

Placing the gun to Ling's head, it's time to head upstairs. ]

[papalobo]

[It may help that Ling is, while not as slight as Yut Lung, more of a traditional Chinese boy, of smaller stature, than Shorter or Shawn or Lao are.

The lights are all off upstairs.

Shawn had definitely turned them on when he went up.]

[jadedlynx]

[ It does help. Ash could have packed Shorter if he had to, but there'd have been more effort. A smaller body allows for a greater ability to move.

If he can't find the light switch, he'll use the hand not on the gun to use his flashlight. ]

I have a message from your boss. He thinks you should listen to what I'm saying and come out.

[papalobo]

[Fortunately, Ash knows the house well enough from his short time here before going to the Unit to quickly find the switches. Also fortunately, it works.

More unfortunately, all of the doorways are closed. Ash does know where each, or at least most, lead: there's a library, two bedrooms (one of which has a private bathroom), an office with a veranda, and a hobby room with a pool table, along with a bathroom.]

[jadedlynx]

[ They were sure he wouldn't find Shawn. That means they intended to transfer him out of the house. The veranda would be the easiest way to do that so he starts with the office first; it's common sense to open the door from the side to avoid bullets. ]

[papalobo]

[It's not as dark as other rooms, with the curtains to the veranda window open. The sliding door itself is closed, but not locked.]

[jadedlynx]

[ After checking the room, he'll listen on the bug again. He's probably already outside, but they won't leave without Ling. ]

[papalobo]

[The talking has stopped. But there is the sound of a car starting.]