Pacific Heights Place was steep. Chan leaned against his son as they hiked to the front door of David Han’s home. It was spectacular, perched out over space that didn’t exist, tempting gravity to take it down.
“Lotta glass,” said Dave.
“Lotta koa,” said Chan.
“Lotta kālā,” said Dave.
They stood before the huge koa wood front door. The bell device looked like an intercom. Chan pressed the buzzer. There was a click.
“Hello?” said Chan.
There was a click again. “Yes.”
“Hello, I’m looking for David Han.”
Another click. “What is your business with Mr. Han?”
Chan was sure this was the same man who’d answered the phone that morning.
“Sir, I’m the Lieutenant Chan who called earlier. Can you open the door please?”
Click. “Lieutenant, I’m sorry, but I’m not able to do that. I’m speaking to you remotely. This intercom is a radio. I’m speaking to you from our office.”
This puzzled Chan. “So that phone number in the book, that’s not the number here, for this house on Pacific Heights Place?”
“No, Lieutenant, it’s Mr. Han’s business phone number. It’s for the office here.”
“Okay, where is your office located?”
“We’re in the Kapuahi Business Plaza on Kāheka Street.”
“Thanks, I’ll be there shortly.”
“But Mr. Han’s not in, Mr. Chan. And I don’t know when he’ll be back.”
“That’s all right. I’m coming down to introduce myself to you. I’d like to meet you, Mr. . . . ?”
Chan waited. There was no further click.
“Let’s get down there, Dave. Right now.”
Dave helped Chan back to the car.
“What’s up, Pop? Why the need for speed?”
“That’s him, Dave, I’m sure of it. That’s David Han.”
“Should we call Chin?”
“No, no time. I want to get to this guy right now.”
“But you’ve got no gun, no badge. How you gonna play this?”
Chan thought about this. “Back to the house.”
Fire department personnel were still all over Chan’s house.
“All right, let’s stop by the station. It’s right near Han’s office anyway.”
When Chan got to the squad room, Kelso was at his desk.
“Chin, come on, I need your help. I’ve got to get to David Han right now. He’s dirty, Chin, and he’s in this arson business right up to his eyeballs.”
Leaving Dave behind, Chan and Kelso drove the short distance to the Kapuahi Business Plaza. As they drove into the parking lot, they heard what sounded like an explosion. Kelso jammed on the brakes and the two got out to see what was going on.
“There,” said Kelso, “pointing further into the lot.”
A parked car was smoking, but there was no visible fire. The two walked slowly toward the car, cautious about more explosions if the gas tank were still in play.
“Small kine explosion,” said Kelso.
Chan agreed. “Yeah, just enough to do the job.”
The two came to either side of the car, stepping through the shattered glass. A man, what was left of him, sat in the driver’s seat. Chan didn’t recognize what was left of his face, but he had a strong suspicion about who it might be.
“Chin, please call in the plates on this car. Let’s find out who this is. I’m going up to Han’s office.”
Chan headed through the front glass doors. Checking the directory to the side of the elevator doors, he found Pacific Casualty and Life.
The office was at the end of the hall on the third floor. Chan knocked and then entered. The place was nothing much. A desk and a couple of chairs. It was easy to see that no one was there. Not even the man who answered phones and intercoms.
Kelso came through the door. “It’s Han’s car, David.”
“Right,” said Chan. “I figured it was Han. Someone knew we were on to him. He’s not at the top of the food chain in this operation. Someone else is calling the shots.”
Kelso said, “What about the kid? Can’t be him, right?”
“I don’t know where Harvey Wong fits in all of this,” said Chan. “I see him as one of the soldiers. Han and whoever’s in charge, they send folks like Wong on jobs to do damage to property. Han, well, he’s the handler. Like a dispatcher. An office manager.”
The two stood there looking at next to nothing.
Chan opened a few of the desk drawers. They were empty.
“This office is just a shell,” said Chan. “A drop box.”
“So where’s that leave us?” asked Kelso.
Chan shook his head. “Right now, the only thing I know for sure is that we have to find Harvey Wong before someone kills him.”
Lanning Lee 