The Memoirs of Cordelia Chan

It was late Monday afternoon before I managed to get away to the studio. Mitch was busy on another shoot and I ended up waiting. The first part of the shoot was reasonably easy to do. I have no problems posing, even provocatively, whilst clothed. The second part proved more problematic, but Mitch managed to coax me along until he got the shots he thought I wanted. It wasn't the thought of being nude that bothered me, it was the fact that, there was a camera pointed at me, and I wasn't in control of the pictures being taken.
As I dressed, Mitch went to develop the film. After about half an hour he reappeared with the negatives and we selected 4 to print up. Time was pressing so I followed him into the dark room so we could discuss details of the video shoot. There were several dozen photos hanging on the drying lines. Amongst them were one set I couldn't believe somebody would have had taken. Mitch caught me looking at them and started laughing, "She wants them for her boyfriend. That's her fourth set. I suspect the next set will be with her boyfriend"
"You mean people actually pay to have their pictures taken doing that"
"Oh.Yes, and a lot more besides. I've got a three day hardcore shoot booked tail end of the week."
"Don't you get embarrassed."
"Not any longer. It's all pretty much the same."
"Do you ever fuck any of them"
"Sometimes. I try and avoid it if possible. It leads to complications.
"Did you fuck her?"
"Is a week Thursday okay then. I should be able to get a crew for next Tuesday to build the mock up, if I have it pre-fabbed before hand. Where are the bikes coming from.?"
"Changing the subject won't work." I took two of the pictures of the line. " Better hope her boyfriend is very understanding. "
"What'd you mean"
I showed him the two photos. It was obvious if you knew what to look for. "Shit" I leaned close to him and said
"Do you want to fuck me"
The red light in the darkroom accentuated his blush. " Don't bother to answer that. You already have. Just so there are no further complications I'll take the negatives as well." There were several shots I hadn't realized he'd taken and I wasn't about to leave them with him. " I'll see you next week then "

I called Hu the following morning. " Look I've been thinking. Can you meet me in the alley by the Dojo at about 11:00 tonight. "
"Why so late?"
"Because class doesn't finish till then. Just make sure you're not seen."
"What do I tell my wife."
"Make something up. I'll see you at 11."

Hu was waiting for me when I left the Dojo. "Why meet here and not your flat or the lot"
"Too much chance of being seen. I know somewhere where we should be able to talk without problems."
I led him to Wu's Bath house and paid entry for two. " Is the hot tub free. "
" No Chang Li Feng."
I led Hu towards the changing cubicles. "get undressed, and get into the tub. Then follow my lead."
I hoped Hu didn't fancy me too much.
There were two others in the tub, a man who appeared to be in his 40's, and an elderly woman. I hung my robe on a hook and walked around to the opposite side of the tub from Hu. His pupils dilated but he managed not to blush. I sat on the side of the tub, opened my legs and beckoned him across. As he swam over I leant forward "Shut your eyes. Don't breath, blow or do anything else." I pushed his head between my legs.
This had two effects one I'd hoped for and one I hadn't. The two other occupants of the hot tub, decided they were going to leave, although not before calling me a slut and harlot, and asking what my ancestors would think of me, and Hu started to lick me.
I waited until they'd left the room and pushed Hu away. I'd started to blush and he was turning me on. I slipped into the water. " I told you not to do anything."
"Sorry. Couldn't resist."
"Liar"
"Maybe. But you were starting to enjoy it."
"No. I wasn't." He reached to grab me but I moved away. He'd been right but I wasn't going to let him know that." Now can we get back to business."
"What did you want to talk about?"
"If we're going to get our lives back then we're going to need sufficient ammunition to convince them to leave us alone. Can you make up duplicate account books, of both the real and fake accounts, for both you and I. We'll also need copies of all the invoices and sales receipts. We'll also need to keep exact records of all transactions for the next year. I think I know how to alter things to cover us from now on. They're not going to like it but they're going to have to live with it or find another patsy."
" What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to introduce a service agreement, with every new bike. This way we can account for the additional money that comes in when they buy the bike. When I buy it back I just give them a refund against the service agreement. I'm also going to require a valid drivers or motorcycle license and record the number on the service agreement. "
"Interesting. Are you also going to record the serial numbers of the bills."
"I hadn't thought of that."
We heard footsteps in the corridor, and he swam over to me. They stopped outside the door, and I put my legs around him. He put his arms around me and pushed me against the side of the tub, kissing me as he did so. As the door opened he slid his hands down my sides."You move them any lower and I'll break your back". I squeezed with my legs, causing him to cry out. There was a quick apology and the door closed again. I released my grip and pushed him away.
"Don't try that again."
"Or you'll do what?"
"Try it and you'll find out. "
I moved to the steps and started to climb out. He hesitated, and then made a grab for me. Unfortunately he wasn't quick enough and slammed into the side of the bath. "Just make sure the accounts are done by the end of the month."
I grabbed my robe and put it on. It was beginning to look like I had another problem to deal with.

The following morning I went out and brought a photocopier, computer, printer, and word processing package for the office. It took me most of the afternoon to get it set up. As I worked I mulled over the events of last night. I was going to need a contingency incase Hu turned out to a problem. I was also going to need to find out a lot more about him, and make sure I got copies of the real and falsified accounts.
As I started work generating the service agreement and idea occurred to me. It took me most of the night to finish it, but I was pleased with the end result. The agreement was underwritten by Hu Luang Financing, who took a 0.1% fee but this was well hidden in the text and I doubted that anybody would read it thoroughly before signing it. Setting up the company, the bank accounts, and the rest of the details would have to wait until term began. I needed the help of a particular group of nerds to do that.

It was Friday afternoon before the first of the customers for whom the ordered bikes had been delivered showed up. The hidden camera I'd set up worked a treat and I got the whole scene of him threatening me, phoning his bosses, Miss Liang's arrival (I now had a name to go with the face), and the conversation with her where she agreed that they'd use the service agreement and the refund from now on to avoid any future problems with the IRS. I also had a clear shot of him handing me the cash.
I filled out the service agreement and bike registration. I then took them to the copier, palming his license in the process. I copied all the documents, including putting a copy of his license on to a second copy of the service agreement. I gave him his copies and replaced his license. The showed him to where his bike was waiting.

I was just about to lock up when Hou-Jin arrived. I said hello and kissed him but he was cold, "Not now Li Feng. Can we go inside?"
"I'd rather go to the apartment, its more comfortable."
"Lets just go inside."
As we went in I noticed he had an envelope in his hands. "Sit down I've got something to show you."
As I sat, he opened the envelope and took out a number of photographs. There were several of me, including a couple inside the Purple Dragon Club, and a number of others several of which I recognized. "I thought you said you weren't involved in anything."
"I'm not."
"Don't lie to me." He pointed at the woman. " This is Mao Cheng Ying, although she normally goes by the name Liang Ying. She's believed to be number two in one of the local triads. These two were taken inside the Purple Dragon Club. Its an over 21 only club and you were sitting in the members only area and we know Mitchell Chen is not a member."
"What do you want me to say?"
"You can start with the truth."
"I can't tell you that, not without getting me, you, and several other people ,including my mother, killed."
"We can protect you."
"No you can't. I grew up around them. I know their power. The only person who can protect me is me. If you want to stay alive stay away from here. "
"What do you mean?"
"You're the detective work it out." He looked at me quizzically, then his face brightened and he smiled. "Be careful Li Feng."
He turned to leave. "Can I see you tonight?"
"I don't think that would be wise."
"Do you know of a good PI. I need one."
He wrote a name and number on the pad on the desk. "Goodbye Li Feng."
"Goodbye Hou-Jin"

When I arrived at the lot Saturday lunchtime, Choi and boy, by the name of Lee Young-Jae, were waiting for me. " Found yourself a boyfriend then?". She blushed.
"No. He's my cousin. He needs a job. I thought you might be able to help."
"How much do you know about motorcycles?"
"Nothing. Ms Chan."
"Then why should I give you a job?"
"Because then you'd be able to open in the evening, and on Saturday morning."
"Okay. But I can only pay you $70 a week. "
"Thank you Ms Chan."
"I suppose I should show you about. Can you make tea?"
He looked at me blankly. Choi started giggling. " Well you'd better learn and quickly."
Choi and Young-Jae's arrival reminded me of another problem I had. I could ride a bike and do very limited maintenance, but I was definitely not a mechanic. I'd already had to turn work away because of it. I printed off a notice and stuck it on the back of the door. I also stuck one on the events board. Word would get around locally in a week or two but I needed a mechanic/driver/retail assistant quickly. I checked the clock. It would be approaching 5 o'clock EST in New York. I had hoped to avoid making this call. Choy and I had not parted under the best of circumstances.
I dialed the number and waited. After a couple of minutes a woman answered the phone. It was his mother. Choy was out. His mother agreed to take and pass on my message.
He chose to phone me back at 6 o'clock PST the following morning. He didn't disguise the fact that he had a couple of girls with him, or what he was doing. I asked him for Michael's and Brent's numbers. After a five minute delay, whilst he dissed them and fucked one of the two girls, during which he made sure I heard everything, he gave me their numbers. I thanked him and hung up. I had thought about commenting on his performance, which seemed to have got a lot worse than I remembered, but couldn't be bothered in the end. I actually felt sorry for the two girls.
I made myself a coffee and dialed Michael's number. After a minute or so, he answered it. He didn't sound happy. I let him catch his breath, and apologized for the interruption. I then asked if he fancied a spell in San Francisco working for me. He muffled the mouth piece and spoke to the other party in the room. When he came back it was to decline the offer. He asked me if I'd spoken to Brent. I said no, I was going to do that next. He then told me Brent hadn't worked since he'd got out of jail a couple of months back. I asked him what he'd been in for. He suggested I ask him. I thanked him for his time and apologized again for interrupting him.
I dialed Brent's number and let it ring. After a couple of minutes I hung up. I went to the john and then tried again. After a couple of minutes a woman answered. I recognized the breathless quality of her voice and the sounds in the background. I said I'd ring back if it was inconvenient. She handed the phone to Brent, and I heard her tell him to rollover. Again I asked if it was inconvenient, but he said Jena was unlikely to come for a few of minutes yet and that he was therefore free to talk. There was a playful exchange on the other end of the phone which caused me to blush, before he asked what I wanted. I told him I might have a job for him, but it partly depended on why he was in jail. There was a commotion on the other end of the phone, and I heard Jena tell him to get his dick back to bed as she wasn't finished with him yet. He asked for my address and I gave it to him. There was another commotion, then he said trying to hide the strain in his voice "Gota go Cordie. See you Tuesday." I didn't even get a chance to reply as the phone went down in a hurry.

The outcome of the phone conversations was that I now had an itch that needed scratching. Choi's afternoon visit got out of hand, and she learnt a few things I hadn't intended her to, and my itch got worse. I spent the evening in and tried to cure it, but it didn't help much.
When Mitch dropped by Tuesday afternoon, to discuss what we were doing about bikes, I nearly asked him to scratch it. I got back to the apartment to find a Harley Tourer parked out front, and Brent and Jena lounging by my door. I invited them in and sent out for Chinese. He asked about the job and I asked about his jail term. The pair of them collapsed in a heap laughing. " We'd been surfing, and things had got a little heated as we'd changed. Then this cop shows up and tries to stop us just as we were really starting to enjoy ourselves, if you know what I mean. I told him to piss off and he drew his nightstick and went to smack me with it. Anyways, about 10 minutes later as we were finishing his buddy shows up, only he draws his gun. Can't argue with a gun, so I got six months for assaulting a cop. "
I described the job and filled in the blanks about the Triad money laundering op. When he said he'd take it I asked him if he was sure. He told me that I'd always been good to him and he was glad to help out.
When I'd initially thought about the job I'd only been after a mechanic, but with the pair of them showing up I changed my mind. In the end I took both of them on for $450 a week. I let them sleep on the floor that night which proved to be a mistake, as I thought only rabbits fucked that much. They were at it again when I got up the following morning, Jena even suggesting that I joined them as I attempted to cross the living room unnoticed.
The rest of the morning went smoothly enough. I showed them around the lot and explained all the paper work. Jena left around lunch time saying she need to do some shopping and see if she could locate an apartment. I told Brent I had to go see a man about a horse and left him to it. By the time I returned he'd booked in two bikes for services, and fixed a third on a drop in. I told him I knew of a vacant apartment if they were interested. It wasn't as big as mine but was serviceable. Jena returned late afternoon with her shopping. I didn't quite know how to ask how she paid for it. " Archetypal spoilt rich kid " she said when she saw me looking, " Daddy wanted me to marry some boring old lawyer or accountant, but I've got other ideas. He's hoping this is just a passing phase and I'll get bored and come home. He cut my allowance off last year but he doesn't know about this," and she flashed a platinum charge card, " comes straight out his account. If I don't use it too often he won't notice. Now I've got dinner and something for you Cordie. Why don't we leave Brent here to lock up and go back to the apartment."