Flower Girl: A Burton Family Mystery Part 6

Later in our run, I asked Reddy, "How are we doing with the six directions?"

"East and west are pretty good, North and south need more practice, and I do believe you are both sufficiently paranoid about things coming up from behind and out of the ground. However, I once had a habu snake drop from the limb of a tree on my head in Okinawa. On another occasion, a habu dropped on our dog and bit him, d.a.m.n near killed him. Very toxic poison." From that day forward I found myself wondering if Reddy might drop a snake on me at any time.

The first question Dalisay asked Reddy when the topic of clients next came up was, "Where do your Rules come from?" I was expecting him to say, from my life experiences.

"Where do you suppose I got my rule Number 1? I train with Hamish at the same martial arts dojang every June when I return to Cheju-do. The Silla monk Won Gw.a.n.g teaches the directives as spiritual guidance to all his students of the martial arts." Reddy grinned and we got back to our GP lessons.

"Reddy's Rule Number 1 and the 5th directive are very similar," Dalisay said.

I agreed. "Directive #5: Never take a life without a just cause. You're right; it does have a ring of familiarity." However, Reddy taught us that rules are guidelines, not laws. They needed to be flexible and at times it was necessary to bend them.

By summer's end, I almost always rejected cases as too close to home, following Rule #4. I was beginning to wonder if there were sufficient clientele to meet Reddy's General Practices criteria and sustain our new family business. Twofers were way too risky. I thought back on the eleven kills I had estimated, based on Reddy's bank deposits total. At 300k a contract plus expenses, we neither wanted nor needed to do a volume business. But we still needed a mission statement.

Reddy and I were in synch. Our mission was a.s.sa.s.sinations, namely, targets that met the criteria established in Reddy's Rules. Okay, call it contract killing. However, Dalisay had a different mission, a.s.sisting young women who were the victims of abuse.

Later that night, after Dalisay headed into the cabin, Reddy and I sat on the dock dangling our feet in the cool lake water. "You're ready, Shannon, and we'll talk a.s.signment when the opportunity arises." I d.a.m.n near hugged him. Call it pride, but I was both scared and overjoyed and happy to be headed home all at the same time.

Back home in Berkeley I researched starting-up a family business. This led me to a lot of websites that provided only general information on capitalization and finances, taxes, health insurance for employees, location-location-location, and of course some were focused on the security industry, others on sporting goods retailers and gun stores, nothing really close to Burton's Family Business.

Then, I stumbled across an advertis.e.m.e.nt on the Internet for a seminar that caught my attention: Professor Marshall Hunt, author of 'Start-up: A Family Business' will be presenting a two day seminar Friday and Sat.u.r.day (from 8am-4pm) [3-4 April 2013] at the Seattle Resort & Conference Center. The seminar is limited to 50 partic.i.p.ants so be sure to register early. Call 1-800-222-2345 or click on the registration b.u.t.ton on this page and complete the application. All major credit cards accepted. Fee $300.00. A bank of rooms has been reserved at The Skydome Hotel- contact them directly or make your own accommodation arrangements. Click here for details of the program.

Reddy paid the fees and registered us all for the seminar.

The professor, a grey-haired, bearded, bespectacled six footer, wearing jeans, a black t-s.h.i.+rt and a forest green corduroy jacket, asked the attendees an opening question: "What is the first ingredient one needs to start-up a family business?"

A preppy looking twenty-eight year old wearing a carefully tailored dark blue blazer with a family crest and gold b.u.t.tons, grey slacks and ta.s.seled loafers, raised his hand and responded, "First you need a product or service that someone wants or needs."

The Prof smiled and said, "That is a factor, but what else might be first?"

Three or four more answers came from an eager audience. Then, Dalisay raised a hand and said, "A familia."

Prof Hunt grinned and said, "I do believe we have something to work with. First, you need a familia of loyal employees, willing to live on a low income basis while you get started. Next, you need to a.s.sess what skills your family team has. Third, you need to determine what business, service or product, you intend to focus on and what are your market and your mission. Notice that this is not the first thing you do. Then, return to what skills need to be developed. Finally, you need financing. Most start-ups fail and fail quickly because they do not have sufficient funds to meet payroll, start-up expenses, inventory, etcetera, for at least eighteen months. Six months is not sufficient nor is a month to month approach.

"Those are some of the basic tenants we'll discuss during the seminar. I have invited several entrepreneurs to share their successes and failures with us as we progress. Let's begin."

The final topic was presented by one of the entrepreneurs, Jill Cotton, who started an on-line consulting firm based on the slogan "Plans are for suckers." Professor Hunt had made the point that plans aren't worth spit if you can't implement them. Her story was about a disastrous case where unfinished business lingered for months, eating up revenues and time that should have been spent on growth and development. Everyone in her firm literally stopped whatever they were doing to close one unprofitable case. Cotton concluded, "Take care of unfinished business quickly and stop thinking like a start-up."

When I checked the cla.s.s roster in my program materials, the preppy young man turned out to be Courtney Blaine Grey, of Highland Park, Illinois, VP of the Grey Oil Corporation. I guessed he was Edvard Grey's cousin.

After the seminar, people gathered in the foyer for snacks and beverages as they chatted in small noisy groups about family business. Courtney glided over to Dalisay, her twelve year old companion Penelope, and me with a big smile on his face.

"What business are you considering, ladies?" he said, as he made direct eye contact with Penelope. It was not Dalisay nor I but Penelope that Courtney was. .h.i.tting on. He perceived her to be a virgin. My knowledge of his cousin Edvard's propensity for droit du seigneur obviously biased my thoughts.

Penelope was Critter's child slave, groomed to be his child bride. She attended the Hunt Seminar with us mostly because we wanted to keep an eye on her while Critter was still at large. She was one of the first of three girls to become a resident at Dalisay's Oakland Clinic for abused girls. Penelope had several talks with me when I was helping out at the clinic, counseling battered wives and children. We had known each other for some weeks now since she relocated from New Orleans. Reddy was the one who suggested she move into the dorm at the clinic.

She still thought Critter was an okay guy, but she didn't really understand the Stockholm syndrome. After all, she had been raised by Critter since she was kidnapped at six and had only dim memories of a drunken, abusive stepfather and a heroin - addicted mother who mostly left her to watch TV and fend for herself before abandoning her in a flea infested motel south of San Jose.

Reddy sent me stream video taken by Chip Moriga and attached to his investigative research notes on Courtney Blaine Grey. He was a slick greasy looking dude with crazy eyes. His left eye was green and the right one brown. The eyes were a genetic thing with many of the Grey family males since the time of their English ancestors according to Chip. Ruthless and ambitious, he was well down the Grey family tree but climbing.

At the end of the seminar, Reddy drove us back to the airport to catch our return flight to Oakland. I was not surprised when Penelope leaned over the front seat, smiled and asked us, "What did you think of Courtney Grey?"

I knew better than to tell a twelve year old girl to steer clear of the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Matte once told me the story of Edvard Grey after a rape case became a matter of public record and got splashed all across the River Views news. Edvard had openly stated that it was his birthright to practice droit du seigneur. Using her best psychiatric terminology, she called him "one sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d." Recalling that incident was what made me suspect that Courtney Grey, second cousin to Edvard, was. .h.i.tting on Penelope because she was a virgin. I simply replied, "Not my type, too smarmy."

Penelope asked, "Smarmy?"

"Creepy, slick, greased back hair, fast talker, ladies man or should I say cradle robber."

"Okay, I get the idea," Penelope said. "But, I am not a child; I'll be thirteen next month."

We dropped Penelope off at the Oakland Clinic and Dalisay checked to ensure everything went okay during our absence. A fourth girl, age fourteen going on thirty judging by her make-up, her physique and clothes, had been admitted this morning. Dalisay talked with her for fifteen minutes; then, we drove home.

When we got back to my place in Berkeley, the four things that stayed with us from the seminar were: first, was Courtney Grey going to be a problem?; second, redefining our mission; third, we needed to do an inventory of "familia" members' willingness and skills; fourth, I needed to determine if we had adequate capital and working funds for at least eighteen months. We had previously figured on a strategy based on ninety days of funds, and then our plan was to use the revenues to keep going. Professor Hunt's seminar firmly put the kibosh on that feeble plan.

"Too bad we couldn't tell the Prof what our real business is."

"You know girl, I think he knew we were hiding something," I replied.

"He liked our charity angle, diversifying with the clinic and all," Dalisay said, adding, "I reckon that will be my main duty."

Reddy pitched in, "I liked the old dude. He's had some interesting experiences and that makes him more legitimate than most t-s.h.i.+rt professors."

"What's a t-s.h.i.+rt professor?" Penelope asked.

Reddy replied, "A t-s.h.i.+rt professor has degrees and no real world experience."

"I get it," Penelope responded. "They have been there and have the t-s.h.i.+rts to show for it, but they have never done that."

"Exactly!" Reddy said.

As we settled in, back home in Berkeley, Dalisay and I started a family skills inventory as per seminar guidelines.

"As for our skills, I'm destined to be the bookkeeper and to keep an eye on finances and taxes," I said, thinking all the while of Reddy telling me I'm ready.

"And, when Reddy thinks you are ready, or the case fits, you will be a sniper. I will put my skills to work at the clinic," Dalisay said.

Eidetic memory does not mean psychic I thought.

"That makes Reddy the CEO, Trainer, Tracker, Target Designator, and Primary Sniper."

"So that makes my job t.i.tle, Family Business Partner and Clinic Director," Dalisay said.

I said, "How about for me, Partner, Director, and Knight in training. Wow! What a business card!" I played Paladin's theme song on my smart phone for all to hear.

"I like it. Can we all share your theme song?" Dalisay said when she stopped laughing.

Reddy came up from the bas.e.m.e.nt, brewed an espresso, and sat silently during all this jocularity. Angie, Dalisay, and I nonchalantly continued our conversation as though we knew he was there all along. Actually he has been absent for nearly two weeks. Then he said, "So, we're in the business of a.s.sa.s.sinations!"

"And we run a clinic and home for girls who need our help."

Reddy paused, then added, "What say we call ours a business of child rescue and protection?"

"That does have a more socially acceptable sound to it," I said. "Child rescue, aid to young women, and a.s.sa.s.sinations when justified?"

"Okay, if we all agree that the a.s.sa.s.sinations part will remain secret or at least not publicized," Reddy said. Dalisay and I nodded in the affirmative. We are nothing if not respectful of our leader. The notion of filial piety ran through my memory.

"Speaking of our business mission remaining a secret, what are we going to do about Courtney Blaine Grey?" I asked.

"Why was a member of the Grey family at the seminar?" Reddy asked. "Maybe Courtney was checking up on us. The Greys are partners with the Parks in their Clinics in South Korea. However, I am certain they don't know I'm investigating the Home for Girls in Cheju-do on behalf of Princess Zubaida."

"Princess Zubaida?" Dalisay asked.

"Oh yeah! As soon as I can, I'll tell you about another case I am working on," Reddy replied.

Back in Berkeley, after Professor Hunt's seminar, Dalisay became a regular running partner with Angie, the dogs, and me. Chip Moriga joined us a couple of mornings, and we all really liked him. He is one terrific runner and when it comes to encryption and decryption he's the best. Well maybe the second best. He's also a gifted hacker.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are shooting practice days at the Oakland PD handgun firing range. Reddy insists that even our Clinic Director remain proficient with the Kahr 9mm pistols he prefers for self and home defense. On Sat.u.r.days we fly up to a cabin Reddy has near Lake Tahoe. That was where Reddy and I practiced sniper shooting. Dalisay and I were both becoming proficient at setting up a hide, tracking, and getting the hang of Reddy's six direction training. We also screened the emails on michaela.com when Reddy was unavailable. He showed us how the system worked to keep both client and now BFB secure. I wondered how Reddy planned on replacing Chip at the CIA, or whether Chip could continue his screening and background checks on potential clients from another location.

After I completed a check of the BFB finances, Reddy made signature arrangements with all of his banks so Dalisay and I could access funds. Then we gave some thought to non-family members - Angie, Penelope, Chip Moriga, and a lawyer we might need.

Reddy didn't like the t.i.tle 'employee,' and called it demeaning, so 'partner,' and 'contractor,' were considered. Not everyone would be full time; however, I insisted that medical and retirement benefits as well as life insurance be provided from day one for anyone who works for us full time, along with a share in the profits to be calculated at year's end. Professor Marshall Hunt's seminar gave me that last idea.

The clinic for abused girls was a legitimate front for Burton's Family Business. Reddy suggested this, claiming, "I learned the value of having a legitimate business as a front from the Parks. Their clinics fronted successfully for over a decade for their child bride business."

Reddy also insisted that we charter our business off-sh.o.r.e, for tax reasons and to keep government interference in our operations at a minimum. I was still researching this and had a call in to Professor Marshall Hunt Jr. for a consultation.

As I've mentioned, Dalisay has located a warehouse near the Oakland Naval yard and made a six month lease agreement with option to buy from the retired Chief Petty Officer who owned the place. His name was Rusty O'Malley and everyone called him Chief. He agreed to provide some labor to help her with electrical and plumbing renovations. She put her medical studies on hold and went to work getting beds, building a showers area, a kitchen, and the necessary medical equipment and personnel who, with the residents, helped us design the examination and operating rooms, the rest of the works.p.a.ce, and a visitor's area. Reddy pitched in and added a security system that rivaled Fort Knox. Every member and resident was to be issued a photo and fingerprint ident.i.ty card that synched with the metal detectors that arched over each entrance and window. Reddy personally ran detailed background checks on every job candidate. I noticed that he also asked Chip Moriga to run a check on Courtney Blaine Grey.

"Speaking of unwanted guests," I said, "remember what I told you about how Penelope was approached by this Courtney Grey creep at the Seattle Seminar a few months ago?"

"Yes."

"Well, he came to Oakland to visit Penelope at Dalisay's Clinic," I said. "I have to give Penelope credit. For a girl her age, she has incredible instincts for identifying creeps. He suggested that she join him for a rock concert at the Oakland Center for the Performing Arts."

She darted him with, "Aren't you a bit old for rock concerts?"

"That little arrow stopped him in his ego."

Penelope was the one who told me about this encounter with Courtney. "He kept asking questions about my health and was I raped, was that why I was at the clinic. I told him it was attacked but not raped. I think it finally dawned on him that a rescue clinic for abused girls was not a source of virgins. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d is what I call a volume skirt chaser. He doesn't really care how many times he gets shot down; he just wants his virgin piece of a.s.s as often as he can get it."

I knew about the Greys' penchant for droit du seigneur and their insatiable appet.i.tes for virgin girls. When I was at the Parks' Home for Girls, I learned several Korean legends that place a high value on their women being virgins when they marry. However, so far we have not determined if Courtney was sent by the Greys to spy on us or if he is virgin shopping.

Matte remained suspicious of Courtney's motives. She and Sara-Clare O'Callahan soon became frequent volunteers at Dalisay's Clinic. They had raised funds on their many speaking engagements, almost enough funds for Dalisay to meet her first year's payroll and rent. Reddy tossed in funds for her medical supplies, beds, and the construction of showers. He set up the security system pro-bono. h.e.l.l, I thought, it all came out of what were now family funds. However, as the keeper of the books, I felt responsible for spending money wisely.

Then Betty-Sue Curfew, matriarch of R.V. Curfew Incorporated, surprised Dalisay with the gift of a mobile Curfew van, fully equipped with first aid and communication gear as well as GPS and off road capability in case it was necessary to rescue or treat someone in a remote area. The van could also convert to being a twelve pa.s.senger personnel transport for such activities as visits to the redwoods on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge and frequent concerts and other activities for the shelter residents that the Clinic staff was already planning. As of the first of May, twelve girls became official residents. Penelope was one of them, as noted earlier, and Dalisay put her on the clinic payroll as a counselor on her thirteenth birthday.

We never debated or even discussed the issue of who was the boss at BFB. Reddy operated on instinct and experience and made decisions accordingly. Dalisay was like Reddy in that she trusted her instincts; however, I was certain that with time and a proper education she would learn to value the scientific method. I was a trained scientist so it came as no surprise that I made decisions based on observation and scientific enquiry.

Back at Skeleton Lake during summer three, I asked where our next client(s) might be coming from. While Reddy connected his computer and scanned through his email, I perused another set of doc.u.ments he had just given to me to encrypt. As I finished encrypting the doc.u.ments, I thought I had an answer to another mystery that had puzzled me for some time. The CIA agents had said during their visit two years ago that Reddy had listed me as his sole beneficiary for his government benefits. I felt uncomfortable with that bit of information then and now I knew why. He was already considering going 'off the reservation' and freelancing at the time of their visit.

So what if he freelanced! And if he has violated his own Rule #2 about revenge, well, I wasn't about to open that can of worms until he was ready to share. Suffice it to say for now, I still shudder whenever an a.s.sa.s.sination appears on the news on the big screen at the Beastro.

Berkeley Hills, Shy and Comet were curled up next to Dalisay and me on the cus.h.i.+ons in front of the fire place, and we all glanced up when Reddy came in from the kitchen sipping a cup of hojicha and carrying two more cups on a tray. He was silent for several minutes, deep in thought. Then he broke the ice, saying "I think it is time to fully retire from government service. I thank you both for making this a legitimate family business, emphasis on family."

I can't really put into words what I am feeling at this moment. It is a mixture, make that a confusion of revenge, pride, fear, and once again, I am puzzling over whether I am becoming like my father. My emotions are a mess of thoughts about family and revenge.

I was getting used to the fact that Reddy'd tell me eventually, if he thought I needed to know something like who shot Dr. Evel Park, Sr.. Was this an expression of filial piety, respect, trust, or mere curiosity on my part? For now I was engrossed in thoughts about starting up Burton's Family Business.

"You're ready Shannon" echoed in my head. Ready for what echoed back.

Chapter 6: The Princess Zubaida Case.

More than any other, the Princess Zubaida case served as a start-up for Burton's Family Business. Soon we were expanding our primary activities to include rescuing child brides. Shortly after our return from our third summer at Skeleton Lake and the completion of Professor Marshall Hunt's seminar, Reddy was gone again, but for the first time in my memory we knew where he was, in Singapore following up on Hamish's clues about a three year old girl who may be Princess Zubaida's granddaughter.

The secure kitchen phone rang, "Call for you, Reddy!" I shouted down the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs out of habit. I wasn't sure he was home. He wouldn't let me put a PA or buzzer system in the bas.e.m.e.nt to alert him. When I asked him why, he said, "If I'm here, I'm here." For a hi-tech dude like Reddy this seemed incongruous; however, I let it drop.

"I'll be right up" came the reply.

"Hi, Matte, what's up?" Reddy said as he put the kitchen wall phone on speaker so I could hear.

"I have a colleague and close friend from Saudi Arabia with a problem that you might find interesting," Matte said. "Her name is Zubaida. She's a tiny but elegant woman with great charisma and she's a Saudi Princess. After a recent women's conference, Zubaida came to me in confidence with an appeal for a.s.sistance. Her granddaughter Zinni lost her child while she and her husband were living in Singapore. I'll leave the details to Zubaida. Can she reach you at this same number in Berkeley?" Reddy got the call from Princess Zubaida the next morning.

Neither Matte nor Zubaida knew how infrequently Reddy had been home for the past months. I guess they just got lucky to find him at home that morning.

"Salaam Alaik.u.m, Mr. Burton," Princess Zubaida began. "Your friend and mine, Dr. Matte Morgan, has kindly contacted you on my behalf regarding a most sensitive family matter."

"Wa Alaik.u.m esalaam, Princess Zubaida," Reddy replied. "I heard from Matte yesterday. How may I be of a.s.sistance?"

"Please call me Zubaida. The princess is for formal occasions."

"Everyone calls me Reddy."

"Thank you, Reddy. May I start with my daughter Zinni? She became pregnant while she and her husband were living in Singapore. She began having complications at five months. The Parks' Clinic was located only a few streets over from the compound they lived in, so Zinni went to the doctors there for diagnosis and treatment as they are ob/gyn specialists."

"I am familiar with the place; it's next to Clark Hatch's Fitness Center in the InterContinental Hotel on Middle Road. I work out there and enjoy a sauna whenever I am in Singapore," Reddy added.

Zubaida continued, "On Zinni's first visit to Dr. Sincere Kim Park, one of the owners of the clinic, she was told that she must check in immediately as a caesarean birth was critical if Zinni and the baby were to survive. Her husband was out of town on business, so Zinni called her housekeeper and asked her to bring a change of clothes and toiletries. Then she immediately checked in for the next few days as per doctor's orders.

"The next morning Zinni was rushed into emergency, sedated, and a c-section was performed by Dr. Sincere Park. When Zinni awoke, Dr. Park was at her side with a nurse, completing some writings on a clip board at the end of her bed. Dr. Park told her he was deeply saddened but they had not been able to save the baby. He said it was officially still-born. Zinni, to her credit, delayed her shock and grief long enough to ask to see the fetus. But Dr. Park told her the fetus had been cremated as was standard practice in such cases as hers."

Zubaida finished her story, adding, "After Dr. Matte told me of your tale of rescuing your daughter Shannon, I couldn't help but see the similarities with my granddaughter's case. Officially still-born was the clue that made me think something might be amiss. And the Parks' Clinics was more than a coincidence. The mother surviving was the main difference in the two cases. I am sorry to have to mention such a sensitive matter. Can we meet and discuss this?"

Reddy met with Zubaida a few days later, and she repeated that Zinni thought the baby was still alive. A mother's intuition, she said, but also, in Zinni's words, it was Dr. Park's tone, it was so matter-of-fact. Then there was the reaction of the attending nurse after the surgery. Zinni suspects that the nurse was unusually nervous when Dr. Park said "still-born." She couldn't look Zinni directly in the eye. At first I attributed this lack of direct eye contact as an Asian thing. However, on second thought it just didn't add up for Zinni that her baby was not viable at five months. Why had they cremated the fetus so soon, without her husband's permission? Everything had happened too fast, arousing her suspicions.