'Thank you, Mei Ling.'
'You're welcome, sir.'
In the distance I could hear the sirens. Then a Port City patrol car wheeled into sight and pulled in beside us. The two uniforms in it got out, service pistols drawn, shielded by the car, and said, 'Police, drop your weapons.'
'We're the good guys,' I said.
'The bad guys are on the ground. Where's DeSpain?'
'He'll be along,' one of the uniforms said. Both cops held position, guns leveled, as two more patrol cars pulled up, and an unmarked gray Ford behind them. The cops got out of the cars and surrounded the scene, guns drawn. DeSpain got out of the Ford, wearing a tan trenchcoat and a gray felt hat, and walked toward me, stepping squarely on Yan's back as he came. DeSpain seemed not to notice. Hawk and Vinnie lowered the shotguns. I holstered the Browning.
'Cuff the ones on the ground,' DeSpain said.
'Be sure and pat them down.'
'What about the guys with the shotguns,' one of the cops said.
'I'll take care of that end,' DeSpain said.
'Just clean up the gooks.'
He looked at Mei Ling.
'Who's this?'
'My translator, Mei Ling Chu,' I said.
DeSpain nodded.
He said, 'How're you?' to Mei Ling, and looked at me.
'I gotta say, you are getting to be a royal fucking pain in the ass,' DeSpain said.
'And I thought you didn't care,' I said.
Behind us the wagon pulled up and the cops began to file the five Death Dragons into it. DeSpain looked at them without emotion.
'See you can get them to headquarters before their lawyer,' DeSpain said. He looked back at me.
'We need to talk,' he said.
'I'll come down.'
'You deliver the two shooters if I need them.'
'Yes.'
A patrolman was loading the Death Dragons' guns into a duffel bag. The one in the Australian coat had been carrying an Uzi.
'Okay,' DeSpain said. He looked at Mei Ling and tipped his cap, and turned back to his car. Everyone left.
Hawk walked over and stood beside Mei Ling. He held the shotgun loosely at his side, barrel down to keep the rain out. He looked down at her and grinned.
'What you think of that, Missy?' he said.
'I was very scared,' Mei Ling said.
'I was glad when you came.'
'Me too,' I said.
'Saw them coming down the street,' Hawk said, 'and pulled around the corner. Thought we'd do better coming up behind them.'
'Do you think the Ongs called someone when they went out back to study the picture?'
'Yeah,' I said.
'They called Lonnie Wu.'
'And he sent those boys to kill you?'
'Yep.'
'This is terrible business,' Mei Ling said.
'If I may say so, sir.'
'You may and it is,' I said.
'I wouldn't blame you for quitting.'
'No, sir, I need the money.'
'And?' Hawk said.
Mei Ling looked at him for a moment. She was hugging herself again, and shivering a little. Her face was serious.
