4. The Mystery Man in Blue
Chapter four
The Mystery Man in Blue
Monique
I spent fifteen dollars taking a taxi across town.
Glory’s Chinatown was only four blocks long and located on the edge of the city. The arch had two massive lion statues, welcoming visitors to the section. There were two Chinese restaurants and a few businesses, but not much else.
At the end was Buddha Park and across the street was supposedly where Dad lived.
I’d already gone to the address on the birthday card and knocked several times.
No one answered.
After that, I rushed inside each restaurant and even checked out the businesses. He wasn’t anywhere. The few people who spoke English, knew who he was from my description, but hadn’t seen him today.
I can’t believe this.
I paced at the edge of Buddha Park, trying to figure out what to do.
Just when I thought you’d done your worst to us.
Dad had a woman he lived with in Chinatown. I never knew her name because he could never say her name around me. Anytime he tried, I put my hand up and stopped him.
Mom had been going through chemotherapy when he started messing with this Asian chick. I’d seen her once. She had this long black hair that fell past her ass. It was beautiful and shiny. It was all Mom talked about as she cried in bed and had her bald head covered with a scarf.
Sometimes I wondered if Mom would have survived cancer if she didn’t have all the devastation and heartbreak from him.
When Mom passed, I told him he was dead to me too. I said it right at the funeral—right as they lowered her casket into the ground. And then I took TT’s and Chloe’s hands and walked away.
Then, Jo punched him in the face. When he crashed to the ground, she walked off and followed us to the car.
We never saw him again.
After that, I started hating Asian people as a whole. I couldn’t look at a movie or show with an Asian person in it. It wasn’t right, but it brought me back to Mom’s tears and her constant depression over my father’s new woman with the long, beautiful hair.
Where the hell are you?
I pulled out the phone and dialed Dad again. It went to voice mail.
My voice cracked with desperation. “Pick up your phone! Goddamn it!”
An oncoming jogger crossed the street as if scared to run by me.
I looked around, hoping I didn’t freak anyone else out.
I bet everyone thinks I’m a crazy ass Black woman.
Several more people crossed the street and gestured my way.
An old man sat under a tree with his legs crossed under him. His palms faced up and rested on his knees. His chest slowly rose and fell. He was dressed in dark blue pants and a pale blue shirt. A gold cross dangled from his neck. It was four inches wide and long.
Although his tanned complexion was smooth with no wrinkles, gray strands highlighted his long mane and told me that he wasn’t as young as he looked. He had a slim frame, but it was all severely cut with muscle.
An opened Bible lay in his lap. He must’ve been meditating because he had his eyes closed the whole time.
What a privilege to just be able to sit by a tree and rest with no worries on your mind.
I looked up at the tree he sat under. Earlier I thought it was one of the few trees that still had leaves this fall. Closer inspection revealed that it was tons and tons of crows crowding the branches.
That’s so odd.
And for a second, I thought many of the crows were staring at the old man.
You’re going crazy now. Get back to saving everyone’s ass.
I returned my attention to my phone, dialed my father again and walked to the other side of the park. This time when the voice mail came on, I lowered my voice. “Dad, please do the right thing. You keep breaking my heart over and over. There’s still time to be my hero.”
No. That sounds stupid. It won’t get him.
“Dad, please.” I gripped the phone hard. “Dutch is going to put us out on the street to work for him. He wants us to sell our bodies for money that you stole. Do you not care?”
Two Asian women pointed at me, then whispered to each other, and shook their heads.
Fuck off. You don’t know my life.
The phone beeped, ending my recording.
No. I’m not done.
I dialed again.
Dad still didn’t pick up.
Then an automated voice sounded in my ear. “Sorry, but this voicemail box is full.”
“Fuck!”
A dog barked next to me.
The owner shushed the creature and hurried away.
“Sorry.” I walked to the end of the park, turned around, and headed to the other end. “Think. Think.”
I could go back to that address and break into the apartment. Maybe, he’s in there and hiding the money. I could give Dutch the address too. It would show him I have progress or—
I slammed into some other old man dressed in blue robes. He must have been some sort of weird monk. He gave me a warm nod, but didn’t move.
Due to me bumping into him, my phone had fallen to the ground.
“Sorry.” I bent down to get it.
Another man picked it up and handed it to me. This guy was wearing the same dark blue robes. However, he was a mountain—heavy shoulders and a face that was the size of three heads. He must’ve been close to 7ft. I didn’t know who he was, but he could give Snow and Dutch a run for their money.
I stepped back and took him in.
Long ago, someone had slashed and sliced at the big man’s face. Old scars decorated his cheeks, forehead, and chin. He’d lost his right eye. A blue and gold ball rested in its place.
The only reason I didn’t scream was the huge wooden cross around his neck. It made me think he was a holy man, even though his face suggested a criminal’s life.
“Thank you.” I took the phone and backed up into someone else. “What the—?”
I spun around and froze.
How did he get over here?
The old man that was meditating with a Bible under the tree, now stood in front of me. And these monk guys were with him. They gazed his way as if waiting for an order. Two more blue robed men joined them and surrounded me.
God, what did I do to deserve this day? Are you trying to send me some sort of sign?
Raising my hands in the air, I stood in the center of their circle. “I apologize if I’ve offended anyone or—”
“What’s wrong?” The old man gave the Bible to the Mountain Man. “Since you’ve arrived at the park, there’s been only sadness and desperation radiating off you.”
I kept my hands up. “I’m actually about to leave so you can go back to meditating.”
“Do you meditate?”
“I’ve tried. I don’t think I can do it.”
“Try again until it works.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks so much and have a nice day.” Keeping my hands up, I tried to walk between the men.
They blocked me.
I turned around and looked at the old man. “Why won’t they let me leave?”
“Because you still haven’t answered my question.” He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I stepped to the side.
“Lower your hands.”
I did as he said.
Wind whipped and blew by, swaying the branches and making the trees dance for a few seconds. Cawing, the crows scattered and soared into the air.
The old man smiled and gazed up at the blue sky. “Did you know that crows are highly intelligent creatures?”
“No.” I shrugged. “I didn’t know that.”
He watched the crows fly away.
I looked at the empty tree. The wind whipped again. A few brown leaves fell, sprinkling down to the ground.
The man continued, “Crows can recognize individual humans.”
“That’s good, but—”
“It’s too beautiful of a day for you to be so scared and desperate. Can you find one cloud in the sky?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for this.”
The old man placed his gaze on me. “No time to look at the sky. Why not?”
“Because I have things to do and problems and. . .what do you want?”
He folded his hands in front of him. “Let’s play a game.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for games either.”
“It’ll be a role play situation.”
“Role play?”
He pointed to me. “You’re the damsel in distress and I’m you’re knight in shining armor.”
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
“You’re not, so I’m going to help you.”
I blinked.
“I’m your hero today.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Sometimes, the beggar ends up being an angel, and you’ve placed a dollar in his hand and earned your wings. Sometimes, the lost child that you take to their crying mother was chosen by God to test you.” He gave me a warm smile. “Who has you so desperate, so in need to be saved?”
I let out a long breath. “Thank you. . .for caring, but my problems were definitely not assigned by an angel. It’s the devil today.”
“No. The angels are busy. I asked God to give me someone to help today so that my sins can be forgiven. And then, you walked up to me.” He pointed to my pajama top. “Surely, that’s a sign.”
I looked down at the pattern of dark blue Cookie Monsters floating in a baby blue sky and munching on chocolate chip cookies. “What’s the sign?”
The Mountain Man next to him spoke, “All of the blue you’re wearing. That’s the sign.”
I snapped my view to him. “You all like blue?”
“Blue chose us,” the old man said. “And now I’ve chosen you. Let’s eat breakfast. There, you can tell me about your problems.”
I widened my eyes. “I have an appointment.”
“You’re lying.” He pointed to the restaurant next to my dad’s apartment building. “Let’s eat. You’re waiting around this area for someone. I am too. Let’s wait together.”
“Excuse me, sir. But my. . .problems deal with very dangerous people and they’re time-sensitive .”
“Tell me why.”
“I have until tonight to get these two guys money that my father stole from them and if I don’t—”
“How much?”
I studied the old man. His expression didn’t hold worry or concern. He looked tickled by the whole situation.
My phone buzzed.
“Excuse me.” I checked the screen and read the text.
Jo: Maggie picked us up. She’s driving us to Aunt Betty.
I sighed and typed back.
Me: Great. Text me as soon as you get there.
At least they’ll be safe. Dutch can’t get them if they’re with Banks.
The old man grabbed my attention. “How much does your father owe?”
I placed my phone in my pocket. “It’s $75,000.”
“Does it have to be in cash?”
“These aren’t the type of people that take checks.”
The old man gestured to the monk on my right. “Get the money for her, and hurry.”
“Yes, sir.” He rushed off.
Say what now?
I parted my lips.
“Anything else or will you still be in danger, after I give you the money?”
I blinked. “That’s it.”
“Then, let’s have breakfast. Jericho will return with the money by the time we’re done.”
I gazed at that restaurant, still unsure if I could trust him. “You’re going to just give me $75,000 without knowing me?”
“And I’m going to pay for breakfast too.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “What do you want for the money and breakfast?”
“Three promises. Consider them blood oaths. I’ll need you to honor all three.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“We’ll discuss it over breakfast.” The old man walked off.
I followed. “I would like to know what you want before—”
“Come.” He crossed the street. “Surely, this option is better than pacing in front of a park and yelling into a phone.”
Cars slowed down.
I hurried after him and got to his side. “Yeah, but I still don’t know you.”
“Then, let’s get to know each other.” He smiled at me. “What’s your name?”
“Monique.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shook my hand. “I’m Leo.”