The Jade Monkey Returns - Part IV: The Night Beckons the Morning to Show Up On Time
Friday, January 18th…Part Two…
There was a stillness in the air. Almost as if an atom bomb had exploded. Tex Savory had never felt more afraid.
He had never felt more alive.
It would appear to even the most casual of observers that Ringu DaShin finagled his way out of jail even earlier than expected. Deception had not tangoed with Appearance on this occassion.
“So, you had a twin eh? Or do all you Nips just look alike?”
DaShin smiled that cocksure smile. Sinatra would ‘ave socked him.
“Yes, yes I have a twin. He was doing a nickel in Attica and through my vast network of nefarious connections I was able to get him to take my cell. Once he was there I was able to arrange for some business clothes to arrive and I simply walked out the front door. Simple as.”
‘Simple as’ rang out in the abandoned warehouse Ringu had taken Tex. After trapping him in his dummy cab all the sublimely evil DaShin had to do was take him down to the Warf where his goons would be waiting anxiously. Tex was summarily beaten and then tied up for his troubles. Apparently this is what awaits ex detectives seeking a cab ride. What has this world come to?
“Huh, so he’s getting out in 18 months. Not bad DaShin, you managed to get out of jail and find a way to get your scum brother out almost four years early. Not bad at all. I’d respect your effort if I didn’t want to piss on your guts.”
DaShin laughed this time. The nuclear air had been insulted.
“Oh Mr. Savory, your wit is in mid season form. I almost dread having to kill you in this manner. A man of your stature doesn’t deserve to be burned alive but then again a man of my stature doesn’t deserve some over ambitious ex detective meddling in my affairs.”
Tex didn’t have much time. Soon damn near the entire warehouse would be covered in gasoline by DaShin and his ragamuffin gangster wannabes. There was no time to spare. There was no time.
“You know you’ll never find it Ringu.”
Tex was taking a calculated risk.
“To what are you referring to Mr. Savory?”
It was working.
“We both know what you’re after DaShin, you testicle cuddling fairy.”
The esteemed Asian confeiter and criminal was beginning to lose his nerve at that most unusual barb. Tex knew how to work against a broken clock.
“Mr. Savory, I must protest your insolence as you fail to realize that I am the man holding the match. So I will ask you again, nicely, what are you referring to?”
“The Jade Monkey. That’s what this is all about. That’s why you’re back. You need to finish your unfinished business. You think it’s here don’t you?”
“Hahaha, don’t you Mr. Savory? Isn’t that why you came to Providence of all places? Leaving your happy Tennessee home? Don’t you expect to it here?”
“I don’t expect to find the Jade Monkey Ringu, I expect to find peace. Maybe that’s what it was all along, peace, solace and comfort. I doubt your perverted mind could comprehend a concept so heartwarming.”
Ringu and his men stopped their slick task almost in unison. They all stared an Tex. Ringu seemed particularly anxious to share his piece. He would get to.
“Mr. Savory your honesty and…unsetling sweetness is…refreshing? I think. I guess you can color me off guard. However this hasn’t done anything to change your fate. I still have to kill you and you can die knowing that the Jade Monkey is here.”
“Ringu…it’s…real?”
“Oh it is very real Mr. Savory and its power is greater than even I could ever have hoped to imagine. The world will be falling under my thumb Mr. Savory and you can do nothing to stop it. Haha, I’m almost sad you won’t get to see your pathetic government crumble before me. Oh well, I hope you like your meat well done because things are going to get a little…hot? Ah-hahahaha”
With that Ringu’s men joined him in a chorus of uproarious laughter. Even Tex chuckled at the pretty lame one liner. One liners were always the part of being a bad guy that Ringu had the most trouble with. He knew he was going to die.
As soon as the last of his men left the warehouse Ringu turned around and spoke.
“You were the greatest enemy I’ve ever had. I never feared the wrath of a man quite like yours Mr. Savory. I will cherish the time we’ve shared but unfortunately that must be brought to an explosive climax. Good bye dear rival and dare I say it…friend.”
Ringu took out a zippo emblazoned with the Red Skull from Captain America and set the warehouse on the Warf ablaze.
Surely there was no escape for Tex this time. He began to think about all the regrets he had in his life and tried to make peace with them all at once. He thought about all the one night stands, all the wrongful arrests and all the broken hearts. He thought about his poor mother, probably drinking herself into another dream. He thought about his life and how he may never be remembered in this brave new apocalyptic world Ringu was bringing to planet Earth.
But all these thoughts mattered not.
Because Kristina and Earl burst through the burning doors to save him.
