Gravedigger hurried to the fire escape and sprinted down it, taking the stairs three at a time. She landed in the alleyway just as the girl was passing by. “Psst!” she whispered, ducking back into the shadows.
The girl paused, staring into the gloom. Just as Gravedigger had known she would, the lovely young woman moved forward, heedless of the danger. “Is someone in there?” she asked, speaking flawless English.
Li Yuchun was very smart but she was possessed of two dangerous traits: insatiable curiosity and fearlessness. Charity had grown to appreciate that in the girl though it had also led them both into trouble on numerous occasions.
“Li… it’s me.”
Li stopped, her eyes widening. She recognized the voice instantly but it was too impossible to believe. “Charity?”
“Please don’t attract attention.” Gravedigger moved into view, letting Li stare in shock for a moment before continuing. “It really is me.”
“Why are you dressed like that?”
“I figured you’d ask ‘why aren’t you dead?’”
“That, too.”
“It’s a long story.”
Li nodded. “So start telling me!” she exclaimed, moving closer. Rather than showing any kind of anger or fear, she was not only embracing the sudden return of her friend but genuinely excited.
Charity gave a quick summary of recent events, starting with how she broke into Goldstein’s home. When she got to the part about waking up in her own grave, summoned back by a voice from beyond, Li looked a bit dubious but didn’t interrupt. She then sketched out the history of the Gravediggers as best she knew it and finished by telling her that Goldstein had been murdered.
Li laughed, covering her mouth to keep anyone from overhearing. “You’re going to be one of those crime fighters, aren’t you? Like Doc Daye or The Peregrine!”
“Sort of. I don’t think they’re fighting to save their soul, though.”
“You really believe that? How do you know Goldstein didn’t hypnotize you or something?”
“I woke up in a box.”
“So he buried you underground. Still doesn’t mean you died.”
“Trust me. If you’d been there, you’d believe it, too.”
Li crossed her arms over her chest. “So why are you here? Are you going to kill me so I don’t tell anyone?”
“No!” Gravedigger replied. “Don’t even play like that.”
“Have you killed anyone yet?”
“Well… yes.”
“I knew it! I’ve heard stories about a woman with a sword. You killed those two brothers, didn’t you? The ones that they think were involved in the little girl’s disappearance.”
“That was me,” Gravedigger admitted. “That’s in the past, though. I need your help.”
“With what?”
“Did you read about that Arthur Meeks character? The one who broke into the museum last night and attacked the curator’s daughter?”
“Yes. I’ve met him before — he would sometimes come to visit old Bingwen in his shop. The few times I was in there when he arrived, he flirted with me a bit and then Bingwen would push me out of the shop so they could talk in private.”
“Well, I think he’s the same man who killed Josef. And given that Bingwen is known for selling occult items, it doesn’t surprise me that Meeks knows him.”
“Is there some sort of black magic stuff involved here?” Li asked, skepticism lacing her words. “I know that Bingwen is into that stuff… though he’s got his fingers in opium, too. He used to funnel money for The Ten Fingers.” Li knew that her friend was aware of The Ten Fingers, an Oriental crime cartel that was run by the infamous Warlike Manchu.
“Yes. Meeks has gone into hiding and I need to find him. You know a lot of people… could you ask around? See if anybody has seen him or heard anything?”
“Of course I’ll help you! I’ll start with Bingwen. He’s just down the block.”
“Be careful. Meeks is dangerous.”
Li shrugged. Her fearlessness was evident. “What do I get for helping?”
“What do you mean? You want money?”
“Pshaw! I have money. There are plenty of men who give me presents.” Li grinned. “I mean will I get to help out more often?”
“You’d want to?”
“It sounds exciting!”
Gravedigger wondered if Josef had gained any informants this way — because of their innate nature as daredevils. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have a network of aides to help her over the next few years. She had Mitchell already and it looked like she’d be able to call on Max for information… so why not add a femme fatale like Li to the mix?
“C’mon,” Li prodded. “Say yes. You know you want to!”
“Do a good job on this… and we’ll go from there.”
“You’re such a tease!” Li exclaimed, laughing.
Gravedigger turned and hurried back up the fire escape. “Get to work.”
“Wait!” Li called after her. “How will I contact you?”
Gravedigger didn’t answer until she was back on the rooftop. She leaned over the edge and tossed down a business card. Li snatched it out of the air and studied it. An embossed scythe was at the top of the card and below it was an address. Li recognized the street — Gibson Avenue — as it was just a few blocks over from Robeson Avenue, the home of Assistance Unlimited’s headquarters.
Looking up, she wasn’t surprised at all that Charity was gone.
Tucking the card between her breasts, Li adjusted her bodice and hurried out of the alleyway. She walked straight to Bingwen’s shop, which featured no name on the placard out front — there was simply a Chinese dragon painted on its surface. That was enough, since everyone in Chinatown knew the old man with the long white beard and one blind eye.
Barely able to contain her glee, the pretty young Asian American entered the shop. She was eager to join the dangerous world that Gravedigger was offering her and she had no regrets as the door shut behind her.
Gravedigger hoped that she wasn’t making a mistake. She had spied on Li as the girl had approached Bingwen’s establishment. She loved the other woman like a sister but Li’s refusal to bow down before common sense was an open invitation to danger.
A shuffling sound made Gravedigger pause. Perched as she was atop a rooftop, there should be no one up here with her… but that noise distinctly sounded like someone in padded shoes stealthily moving behind her back.
Making sure that her crossbow was ready to be fired, Gravedigger spun about quickly. There was not one man there, but rather three — and all were dressed in identical black attire. She dimly recognized them as ninja — another memory passed on to her by Gravediggers past, she realized. These assassins had been feared throughout history for their murderous zeal.
“I don’t suppose you boys would be willing to talk this over, would you?” she asked. Excitement was coursing through her veins and she was ashamed to admit that she was looking forward to the violence.
With a thick Japanese accent, one of the ninja replied, “You have been targeted for death. That is enough.”
“That’s what I thought.” Gravedigger clenched her right hand and a crossbow bolt shot forth, burying itself deep in the ninja’s throat. He staggered back but much to Charity’s surprise, it wasn’t blood that oozed from the wound but something more akin to sawdust.
Realizing that she was once again faced with something beyond the ordinary, Gravedigger unsheathed her sword. It was a move that came at just the right moment for the other two ninja both attacked at once. Her own blade met theirs, the sound seeming very loud to Charity’s ears.