Dangerous Days
Stevenson, David; Almay, Andy
ISBN 13: 978-0-9781947-08-3
Paperback; perfect bound; 5.5 x 8.5
Sample Excerpt, © Rain Publishing Inc.
Chapter 1
The night air lifts the notes from the banjo and steel drum; a sweet mix of Caribbean and country that is as unique to this San Francisco nightclub as the entertainers delighting the audience.
The club’s sign in the Chinatown district rocks gently in the breeze. Inside your eyes are drawn to stage. Holding a guitar and wearing a cowboy hat is a tall, black singer, as comfortable in his fit body as the hat upon his head. He is confident. Alert.
You can’t help but stare at the woman on the stage with him, she is beautiful. Her oriental complexion is flawless, her dark eyes and hair capture your attention. She moves rhythmically beside the dark skinned man on stage to present an unusual duo.
The poster on the door reads Desmond and Maggie, the brother and sister Dragon Dancers. He is clearly of African descent and she is a mixture of Chinese and Japanese. How could such a pair be siblings?
Des’s baritone voice blends with the strains of the instruments as he begins a country song that segues to Calypso, echoed by the soft but edgy voice of Maggie. Des smiles as he watches the audience sway to the music. Taking his microphone he points it towards the audience inviting them to sing the chorus of the popular song.
Des now gives his sister a slight nod. She knows it is time to go. As was their habit they exit the stage for the night. Maggie hopps unto her brother’s back as if he were a horse, then they gallop off the stage as the audience continues to sing with the music still playing.
In a matter of seconds they stuff costumes into a duffel bag as Maggie and Des run down the club’s back alley. Maggie pulls out scraps of black cloth, stuffing one in her hip pocket. The other she tosses to her brother.
The bag lands in the trunk with a silent click as the engine turns over and the pair drive in silence to their targeted designation.
The elderly man parked in the shadows watches the taillights reflect against the road. He nods with a knowing smile.
The night seems to blanket the building in pools of darkness causing an already eerie feel to the drab exterior. Two men stand on alert beside the golden lions decorating the entrance. Des pulls the car into the back alley before soundlessly vanishing around the side of the building.
“My Uncle Chan sends money and a message for the board of directors” Maggie says in flawless Cantonese to the first guard .
The guard holds out his hand for the bag. “You can’t see anybody.”
Maggie holds unto the bag and refuses to let go. “It is very important. A rival Triad is moving in. My Uncle said I must deliver the message because they plan to blow up your homes.”
The man tugs at the bag but she still refuses to let go as he tries to free it from her hands.
“Stop” the second man approaches as he talks into the radio device. He barks at the other guard to let go of the bag and escort her inside.
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