Mercifully, the beating finally stopped less than a minute later, though Black would’ve sworn it went on for fifteen.
“Maybe next time you’ll listen when someone tells you to leave,” the giant said as he yanked Black to his feet. “Now if I ever see you around here again, I won’t make the boys stop until you’re dead. Do you understand me?”
Black nodded and moaned before getting shoved backward. He couldn’t maintain his balance and tumbled to the ground. As Black tried to sit up, he heard uproarious laughter followed by the door slamming. He remained still for a few minutes before contemplating standing.
I should’ve listened to McCutcheon.
Black finally staggered to his feet and left the docks. He kept his head down, certain that he would scare any small children—or anyone else—who happened to be out at this hour of night. Struggling to walk in a straight line, Black stopped, fearful that he might draw the attention of any Hong Kong police officers patrolling the streets as being publicly intoxicated. After resting on a bench for a spell, he decided he was strong enough to make the short walk back to his hotel. But before he could get going, a woman rushed over to him.
“Sir, are you okay?” she asked, kneeling next to Black.
Black held up his hand. “I’m fine, I’m fine. No need to worry.”
“You’re not fine,” she said, her eyes scanning his beaten body. “Who did this to you? Was it someone in Long Zi?”
“Look, I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need your help,” Black said. “I was just taking a short break, and I’ll be able to address these wounds when I get back to my place.”
“I doubt that,” she said as she stood and remained there, hovering over him. “You need professional medical help.”
“Your concern is certainly kind, but I’m not going to a hospital,” Black said.
“Who said anything about going to a hospital?” she asked. “I’m a nurse, and a damn good one. Come with me, and I’ll get you fixed up.”
Black groaned as he eased upright. He grabbed his back and shuffled with the woman down the sidewalk.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Black said.
“Nonsense,” she said. “You need some medical care, and if you’re being foolish enough not to visit an emergency room, I’ll help you. My apartment is just up ahead.”
When they reached her apartment, she assisted Black inside and helped him over to the couch. “Just lie down there. I’ll be right back.”
She returned with a first aid kit along with a couple ice packs and a cup.
“Drink this,” she said, handing Black a glass of water. “And then put your head back so I can start dressing these wounds.”
Black complied and then unbuttoned his shirt with the woman’s help. “I have a hard fast rule that I don’t let women take my shirt off without knowing their name first.”
“Some rules are made to be broken,” she said with a wry smile.
“My name is Titus,” he said.
“I’m Liling. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Titus, though I would’ve preferred different circumstances.”
“Me and you both,” he said as he removed his shirt. “Do you always go around helping random strangers on the street and inviting them into your apartment to give them medical attention?”
“Only when the situation calls for it. Most of the time, people call me instead.”
“You make in-home visits?”
She nodded. “Many of the ex-pats here are afraid of visiting our hospitals unless they absolutely have to. So, I go and determine if what they’re feeling demands further care or if they just need to suck it up and pop a couple aspirin.”
“And you only deal with ex-pats?”
She nodded. “They pay far more than my fellow countrymen, and I get to practice my English.”
Black’s eyes widened. “You don’t sound like you need to practice English. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought you attended school in the U.S. Your pronunciations are flawless.”
“I’ve had a little help from one client in particular,” she said. “I think he was a general in your army.”
She laughed softly as she poured some anti-septic onto a cut on his side. “Well, that’s what he told me, at least. I’m not sure if some of these old men are lying just to try to impress me.”
Black reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He quickly swiped to a picture of Fortner. “He didn’t happen to look like this, did he?”
Liling leaned over and peered at the image for a second. “That’s him all right. You must know him.”
“I’m looking for him, and apparently he has some less than hospitable friends down at the docks.”
“I would’ve never helped him if I knew that,” she said.
“Well, apparently he’s not at his home or at the docks, at least from what I could see tonight before I got beaten. Got any ideas as to where he might be?”
Liling took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. “He was always so drunk that I never knew if he was telling the truth or not, but he did talk about how he loved to go to his place in New Orleans. He said he loved Mardi Gras and partying on Bourbon Street.”
Black glanced at the date on his phone. “Mardi Gras starts next week.”
“Maybe that’s why you haven’t been able to find him.”
“I have to start looking somewhere.”
CHAPTER 3
Dubai, UAE
HAWK INSERTED ANOTHER earbud and turned it on as he exited the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel. Amidst the chaotic scene of everyone fleeing, Hawk hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions to a restaurant three miles away. Once they reached the destination, Hawk paid the man and got out.
“Are you in your office?” Hawk asked over the
