Flower Girl: A Burton Family Mystery Part 15

Hamish then spoke, "Speaking of children, believe it or not, the flower girls are from Parks' Home for Girls and so are the escorts. I managed to arrange with the local police for the girls to get this one last paid a.s.signment before they are placed with respectable local families. It looks like the Parks are out of the child bride business, at least here on Cheju-do."

I replied, "Perhaps Dalisay could take one or two of the girls in as residents at The Paladin Protectory."

I pulled Rhyly aside and whispered urgently, "The blonde flower girl is missing."

Rhyly replied, "She isn't all that is missing. Someone has stolen the jang bong with the hieroglyphs from the Gyeongju dig site. One of Sister Cerice's contacts called me during all this distraction."

I scanned the wedding reception crowd to see if anyone was walking away from the party instead of mingling. I had seen the two escorts and the dog b.u.mp into the chauffeur before he drove off in the lead Benz limousine. I glimpsed the white and red dress of the missing flower girl as she slid across the rear seat. I had been blocked by the many onlookers and well wishers at the time; however, details now came back to me.

A small shadow figure dressed in black started up a black motorcycle and followed the first Benz out of the circular driveway in front of the hotel onto the street and headed towards the coastal highway which leads to the airport. The Belgian Mallinois was running alongside the motorcycle. The older escort hitched a ride with Hamish and tried to follow.

The traffic was dense. Hamish told me later that when they reached the hotel, they asked the desk clerk if a Dr. Sincere Park or a Courtney Grey were registered guests. A 1,000 won note got us a room number, #615 for Dr. Park. Hamish asked the maid on the sixth floor of the Chosun Cheju-do Hotel if she had seen two men and a young girl enter or leave room #615.

She replied, "A small dark skinned man wearing one of those colorful Philippine barong tagalog shirts was leaving room #615 when I arrived to clean." The maid had seen the shadow man shortly after Angie's wedding and about ten minutes before Dr. Park himself returned and then checked out of the hotel. He had asked the desk clerk to store his luggage until he could make arrangements to have it sent to him. The motorcycle afforded him an advantage in navigating the dense traffic.

The desk clerk then volunteered some additional information in hopes of another 1,000 won gratuity. Hamish obliged him. He said, "I saw a large dog sitting next to a black motorcycle when Dr. Park picked up his room key. The dog and the motorcycle were gone when the doctor checked out."

On 2 June 2015: Reddy magically reappeared. I said as we stood at the bottom of the trail, "I knew you'd be here at this very spot today. Where the heck have you been? Wow! Is Angie mad at you."

"I'll fill you in later," he said and we trekked up the mountain to visit Anne's and my graves on Udo crater for our second time. We trekked the trail up the mountain together, and I knew that from now on, should the dream of the man in black return, in this new dream he would not be alone.

That night, Reddy disappeared again and, when we parted, I felt closer to him than ever before.

As the sun rose the next morning, Hamish drove Rhyly, Chip, and me to Cheju-do airport to catch our Jetair charter flight back to Oakland. He shared a message he had just received from Ms. Betty-Sue Curfew.

"She's in Belize negotiating to purchase Dr. Dooley's Clinics, and she said to tell you that she previously met Dalisay in Belize and was planning to visit her clinic in Oakland soon. She plans to return stateside in a few days. I told her I was sending two of the flower girls to Dalisay for enrollment at the Refectory.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sincere Park and a tall man described as a Westerner were seen at the Belize Hotel two days ago, reputedly on their way to the Caribbean. This morning," Hamish continued, "I received another message, from a cohort in Seoul. The South Korean police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Sincere Park on the grounds of running a child slavery business on Cheju-do Island. No mention of Courtney Blaine Grey."

Back in Berkeley, the kitchen phone caller ID read "Sister Cerice". I punched the speaker phone so Rhyly could hear. She had stayed over with me, deciding to risk Professor Craft's wrath one more day.

"Greetings, Sister Cerice, we are all back home safe and sound. How is the decrypting coming along?"

"Thank you for all your a.s.sistance and your presence in South Korea. Would you and your colleague Dr. Raincrow have some time to verify our decoding of the two diaries when your friend Chip completes his decryption in a few weeks? We want to present our strongest case in Incheon at the Three Kingdoms Conference in August. We are sure that these are the writings of Princess Deokman and Queen Seondeok and not forgeries. The two diaries are most a.s.suredly from the Silla era."

Sister Cerice then added: "Professor June Chung of Ewha Women's University said to tell you that your help in our discovery of the fighting stick in the tomb adjacent to Queen Seondeok's is a most exciting find. Even though the stick was stolen, we had the images from the stick photographed. We thank you all for your a.s.sistance in determining how the long-stick serves as a key to decoding the intricacies of the coded language in the diaries. We have found a pattern thanks to Chip and have deciphered the first diary which contains many details about the Wonhwa. We are also beginning to determine what is in the second diary now that Chip has broken the code of the more difficult segments with that latest second grave clue from Chungsik."

"You are most welcome, Sister Cerice. The real credit for restoring and verifying such an important contribution of Silla era women belongs to you and Professor Chung and your colleagues at Ewha University and of course Chungsik. We are happy to a.s.sist in such a worthy cause and wish you continued success," Rhyly replied.

I added, "Please send us your decrypted translations and the three of us will validate them as promptly as possible to meet your August conference deadline."

What started out as a tour of Cheju-do Island had morphed into my first a.s.signment for our family business and Reddy and I successfully rescued Princess Zubaida's great granddaughter. Then came the wedding invitation from Angie. Followed by the pursuit of a hypothesis that someone was systematically destroying the historical evidence of Korean women's roles in the history and development of Korea, specifically the Wonhwa.

I wrote the following encoded note in the Burton Family Business records: "The end result of the Wonhwa Case offered validation for the Wonhwa and renewed interest in their role in the history of Korean women. It also struck a blow to the Pak Dojang and their doctrine of destructive male dominance." I then marked the case closed and not-for-profit and headed for the back deck to sit and view a glorious sunset with Rhyly and the pups.

"Courtney Grey isn't dead and in some ways I'm relieved," Rhyly said with a laugh, "Now I must return to RVU and the Track and face the music, having overstayed my promise to Professor Craft to return within a month. It's a frightening prospect, he's a stickler for professors teaching their scheduled cla.s.ses and not turning them over to graduate a.s.sistants."

h.e.l.l, it came to me, I've been taught the same five basic values taught to the Wonhwa. Could it be that I'm not a natural born a.s.sa.s.sin after all. I too was glad Courtney had not been killed. At least I think I was.

The next day, after Rhyly's departure, I scheduled a session on Matte's virtual couch for the following week. Revenge is not what one expects. That was going to be my opening comment to her. However, I had a nagging feeling that Reddy and I had not heard the last of the evil Parks' clan and Courtney Blaine Grey. Dr. Sincere Park was still out there with his own vengeful thoughts. I decided to ask Matte how to combat someone else's revenge when it is pointed at yourself.

As we wrapped up first Zubaida's case, and then the Wonhwa case, Reddy's Rules were becoming permanent in Dalisay and my memory banks. And, I noted that for the Wonhwa case the legends of Korean women had inspired my proposal to Rhyly to do the contract work for Burton's Family Business. As I closed the BFB books on the Zubaida case, my smart phone buzzed and danced in a semi-circle on the marble topped kitchen counter. The caller ID read "Princess Z."

"Salaam Alaik.u.m! Shannon," Zubaida said. "Zinni is here with me and she wants to tell you about a secret we have kept from you and Reddy for the past three years."

"Wa Alaik.u.m salaam to both of you. Reddy is not here, but I will pa.s.s on your message. What is your secret, Zinni?" I asked.

"We were afraid to give my daughter a name for fear we would be jinxing her recovery. I know it's superst.i.tion; however, now that she is rescued and back home with us, we have chosen to name her Shannon Lee Sabreena. Sabreena was my great grandmother's name."

"You honor me!" I said, adding, "I'm delighted she's safe and I will keep in touch as would any good G.o.dmother of my faith."

Zubaida came back on the line saying, "Payment transfers have been made to the Swiss Bank account numbers as per our agreement when you took our case, along with a donation for your sister to continue her good work at The Protectory, formerly Dalisay's Clinic in Oakland."

I marked the Zubaida case for-profit CLOSED. Then I recalled that Sincere was recently seen in Belize. Reddy had convinced me that we got duped into killing his brother Junior. I scratched an X over CLOSED and wrote in PENDING. This case was going to continue a bit longer.

At the Beastro a few days after thinking the Wonhwa case was closed, after our morning run and cannoli treats, Rhyly called me from River View and brought me back to reality.

"Courtney orchestrated the theft of the fighting stick key, or at least he gained possession of it before he fled Korea after the wedding."

"Wow!" I replied. "That's what I call unfinished business." All this meant that the Wonhwa case wasn't closed, not until we got the stick back and returned it to Sister Cerice. I made an adjustment to the Wonhwa file later that day.

Rhyly had turned on the speaker on her smart-phone as she entered Craft's office at the Track; I think she somehow thought that if someone else was present she would be protected from the wrath of Professor Craft for her tardy return to RVU.

"Welcome home, Professor Rhyly!" I heard Ms. Clemmie say as I heard Rhyly climbing the wrought iron circular staircase to Craft's office at the Track, smart-phone on speaker. I think I was serving as a virtual body guard along with Wolf and Rogue whom I heard in the background as they too welcomed Rhyly home.

"Greetings, Ms. Clemmie. It's good to be home. However, I'm not looking forward to stepping into that office. I think I'll go for a run with Rogue and Wolf first," Rhyly replied.

Ms. Clemmie said, "Maybe this will cheer you up. Professor Craft is over at Dr. Matte's, he just returned from being out of town on G-7 business. And, Meanwhile, a strange little man, dressed in a lovely colorful shirt, dropped this long package off this morning with a note marked, for Dr. Rhyly Raincrow's eyes only."

Rhyly eagerly opened the package. "d.a.m.n! Did he have a large dog with him?"

Ms. Clemmie replied, "As a matter of fact he did. Rogue and Wolfe got quite excited. I believe it was a Belgian Mallinois."

When Rhyly opened the note she gasped. I could stand it no longer. "What's in the note? " I asked.

Rhyly read: "My dog's name is Shed. I rescued him from a freezing cold two winters ago and raised him in the old crematory shed on the Parks' Home for Girls Cheju-do Compound. Shed and I are pleased to have been of service. Hamish sends his regards."

"It's the lost jang bong fighting stick," Rhyly blurted out as she unwrapped the package, surprised and relieved all at once.

Just then, Matte walked into the Track with Professor Craft who had heard what Rhyly blurted out. He asked her in a mock tone of admonition, "A bit late getting back from the wedding. Who's on the phone?"

Rhyly replied, "Shannon."

"Hi, Shannon, Craft here. How's it going in Berkeley? How's Reddy? How are the newlyweds? How are the pups?"

I laughed, Rhyly laughed, and we all felt relieved. Then it dawned on me; the older escort at Angie's wedding looked a bit like Craft. The stooping posture had thrown me off. And the speed with which things happened after the wedding ceremony. I was focused on the shadow and his dog, then Courtney. In short, I was distracted.

I asked, "Professor Craft, have you ever been to Cheju-do?"

Craft replied, "I was there with Reddy a couple of years ago when we investigated one of the Greys' secret operations on a Texas tower in the sea a few miles off the coast of the island."

"More recently?" I asked.

"Well, did you recognize any of the flower girl escorts at Angie's wedding?" Craft answered. I could hear the grin in his voice.

"Okay!" Matte joined in. "The Pak Dojang and the Grey's won't stop trying to diminish women's contributions just because of this single set back in their plans. However, we have run Sincere into hiding. Hopefully, the Greys won't take another shot at Rhyly."

Rhyly cringed.

"Now I really can mark the Wonhwa case CLOSED!" I said. "See you all at Skeleton Lake this summer for the annual Bear family reunion."

I finished my BFB bookkeeping by noting that The Paladin Protectory was running in the black. Reddy's Rules seemed to be running smoothly. Okay, not so smoothly considering the unfinished business. At our next BFB meeting I needed to suggest to Reddy and Dalisay that we need a Rule 6 for coping with unfinished business.

Reddy, Dalisay, and I and our friends met the critical first criteria for starting a family business, we are a familia. Burtons is off to an excellent start, provided we didn't decide to buy a business jet, something Reddy has been looking into ever since our puddle hopping across the Bering Straits in the Pilatus PC12.

'Like father, like daughter,' was simultaneously haunting me and filling me with pride. My first a.s.signment was behind me, or was it, revenge tends to linger, continues unfinished? I wasn't at all sure that I even wanted to partic.i.p.ate in future a.s.signments.

I called Matte that evening and said, "OK, so maybe I'm not quite like Reddy, at least not yet, but I have a terrific sister."

EPILOGUE.

Shy and Comet were acting anxious so we headed out for our morning run.

As we ran, Dalisay told me, "Professor Hunt left a message for you at the clinic. I had no idea you two were seeing each other. Isn't he a bit mature for you?"

"Was the message signed JR?" I asked.

"Yes, I thought that was a bit odd."

"Not that it's any of your business, but the message is from the professor's son who happens to be a professor at Washington State University in Pullman and the women's track and field coach. Chip and I met him at a 15 K race several months ago, and we all crossed the finish line together in Moscow, Idaho that is."

"I thought you were hooking up with Chip," Dalisay said.

"h.e.l.l, I've been trained by Reddy Burton, I'm just practicing being a shadow, you know, going unnoticed in a crowd. And you think you can dig into my private life. Not a chance." I replied.

Dalisay smiled and began laughing. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

I was reminded of Angie. She was always trying to find out who I was dating. I wondered if we would lose touch now that she was married and living across the Bay in San Mateo.

My kitchen phone rang just as Dalisay and the pups and I were getting ready for our morning run up in the hills. The phone display read unlisted number; nevertheless, I answered.

"Hi girl friend, sorry I haven't been in touch recently." Angie said.

"Back at ya!"

"Check your smart phone, I sent you a photo."

I turned my smart phone on and there she was in all her smiling, incredibly happy, slightly enlarged self, pointing at a slight bulge in her naked stomach.

"d.a.m.n girl, you're pregnant," I said, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

I knew Angie had already checked, it was the way she thinks.

"Clemson and I already named her but I'm not going to jinx her by telling you." She replied, adding, "Oh what the h.e.l.l, I reckon her G.o.dmother should know her name. It's Carrie, Carrie Lee Rapier."

All I could think of was "Familia" as a flow of tears clouded my smiling face. Then I said, "I was afraid I had lost you."

"No way girl friend, no way. Still a few months; nevertheless, I'll see you at the christening, bring Reddy if you can find him, I owe him a dressing down for missing my wedding. I'll bet he's far away with the CIA in hot pursuit."

"No, I'll bet he's in my bas.e.m.e.nt." I replied as I rang off and Shy took the lead up the trail, white tail curled and flapping.

While enjoying cappuccinos and peanut b.u.t.ter cannoli cookies at the Beastro following our five mile morning run, a messenger from Tiger Air brought us an envelope. "Sign here" he said and departed.

"What's this all about?"

"I have no idea."

"So shall I open it?"

"Please do."

"There's a note on Ms. Betty-Sue Curfew's private stationary. It says, 'Please accept this token of appreciation for services rendered in restoring a truly significant piece of Korean women's history. P.S. The Dr. Dooley clinics are now wholly owned by the Curfew Foundation. I will be in touch about the management team we hope to hire.'

"d.a.m.n!" Dalisay exclaimed. "There's also a cheque for 45,000 Euros made out to Dalisay's Oakland Clinic for Women, I guess she hasn't heard about the change in name to Protectory."

"I'll have to make an adjustment in the BFB books." I said, adding, "That officially puts Dalisay's Protectory in the black for our first year of operations."

Dalisay smiled and shot off a thank you text to Ms. Betty-Sue ending with, "You're the greatest. Please visit us soon. I hope you like the white roses."

Once more I felt a twinge of unfinished business. d.a.m.ned, if it wasn't getting more and more difficult to close these cases. It was Matte and Craft's comments about the Greys that gnawed at me. The Greys are droit du seigneur aficionados. My earlier attempt at humor turned out to be right on target. Courtney's presence at Angie's wedding was indeed about kidnapping the pretty young blond virgin flower girl.

I called Professor Craft at the Track. Ms. Clemmie said he was out, but that Dr. Matte was visiting her and would I care to talk with her.

I answered yes and when Matte came on the line, I asked, "Matte, did Craft have anything to do with rescuing the missing flower girl?"

Matte replied, "I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"

"I was just recalling that I made a wise crack to Rhyly that Courtney may have been after a virgin at Angie's wedding. He wasn't there only because Sincere sent him to steal the jang bong, he was scouting out the virgins," I replied.

Matte said, "Another case of not being able to control their insatiable appet.i.tes for virgins. Looks like the Greys will never change."

Just then, Reddy clambered up the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs three at a time into the kitchen and interjected into the conversation, "No need to worry. I placed the missing flower girl with the folks in Belize before I flew home."