John Kennedy International Airport (JFK) 5:03 am

"Connections sure are convenient aren't they?" Louis said as his guard grabbed his luggage.

The drive to the Tokyo Narita airport took a little more than an hour but by the time we got to the airport all our formalities were taken care of and the jet was ready to take off in no time. The flight took about 6 and a half hours and the time zone difference between New York and Tokyo is 14 hours (-14 hour if you are at Tokyo or +14 hours if you are New York). Though considering about it, usually customs are the part that takes the longest, it usually takes up to weeks, maybe even months. And the flight time for an average jet is about 13 hours, but the hydro jet cut that duration by half. So in conclusion connections really do help.

"Yeah." I said casually.

"I already ordered a hotel, though don't expect that we are going to be staying here for too long."

"I don't intend to stay here too long either."

"Very well. So does that mean you have an idea where the relic might be?" Louis asked.

"I have some suspicions I still need to confirm." I replied.

"Where are you heading to specifically and how long do you need?" Louis asked again.

"Give me a day to roam around downtown Manhattan."

"Sure."

"So you trust that I won't attempt to run away during that time?" I asked.

"Of course! I know there is a saying in China: Brothers are like arms and wives like clothing." Louis said in Mandarin.

"I am glad to hear that." I lied, slightly surprised that he knew Mandarin.

"Now let's get to work immediately, shall we?"

After we had all the luggage loaded onto the car, a Maserati, Louis got into the backseat. He barked a command in Italian at the driver and we were rocketing out of the airport. During the trip I didn't utter a single word to Louis. The early sun radiated a lively atmosphere. The roads were bursting with energy and streetlights flashed like a light show.

"We are here." Louis snapped.

I stepped off the car I looked up and I was shock with awe. In the distant horizon stood the Statue of Liberty. I just started at it for a solid minute only realizing time was passing when my mini earpiece hummed.

"How long are you still going to stare at that thing?" Louis snapped from the behind.

"I was waiting for you to do something."

"Here, take this." He grabbed a wad of Dollars out of his right coat pocket.

"Thanks." I said hesitantly.

"Take all the time you want and spend the all the money you want. But remember we are not here for vacation, this is business. You wait for business, but business will not wait for you." he said as my earpiece continued to hum.

"Alright I will take my time." I walked to the coffee shop across the street. After I settled down in the coffee shop with a cup of chocolate ice mocha, I looked outside the window to check if Louis and his men were still outside, I scanned the outer surroundings three times just to be sure. My phone started to ring. I took it out of my coat pocket and pressed the answer icon.

"LING ARE YOU DEAD!!!" a familiar ear piercing scream exploded from my earpiece. I closed my eyes from the pain and a moment later I turned to look at the screen of my phone.

"Not even close." I replied to Charlotte. I could see her face was all red and puffing her cheeks through the phone's video link.

"Then where are you right now? And why didn't you answer my call and why didn't you tell where you were going? And why..." She piled questions on top of questions.

"Ok, stop. I will answer your questions one at a time." I spoke out.

"Fine, I will forgive your ignorance this time because of my gracious grace and...." She said this with such a haughty and sweet voice that I felt like she would go on ranting forever.

"Thank you of your gracious grace and blah blah blah. So why did you call me?"

"Just checking on how you are doing without me." she said proudly.

"I am suffering..." I stopped in the middle of my sentence. I could feel sense her smiling arrogantly without looking at the screen.

"In relief. I have never felt such ease and freedom in my life." I could feel her exploding with fury.

"Ling! Next time I see you I will let papa teach you a lesson you will never forget!"

"I am scared, but you will have to get to me first."

"So tell me where you are right now!" it sounded more like a command than a request, so I thought of having some fun with her right here.

"What do you say when you ask for something?"

"I, Lady Charlotte Marina Aquitaine Alcott demand you to tell me where you are right now!"

"Sorry bad connection here I can't hear you very well. So I guess you have to say it again."

"Very well, out of my merciful generosity I shall say it again. I..." she repeated.

"I am pretty sure those aren't the right words you use to ask something from someone."

"Quiet! I am done with your games! I demand you to answer my question at once."

"Uh-un. Not until you use the right word. I can tell you the word if you don't know it."

"I had enough of your riddles! Answer my question...in the name of Alcott!" she yelled.

"No, that's not the word I am looking for."

"Just answer my question! Or else I will..." her sentence trailed off.

"The papa thing again?"

"No! Something much worse! Something that will defiantly make you regret crossing me..." the last few words she said was too mumbled to hear.

"Still not the right word."

"You ignorant fool In the name of Alcott I will see you hanged for your insolence!"

"Then I guess I can hang up the call."

"WAIT!" she screamed.

"You know the word...just say it." I toyed around.

"Do you think me as a fool?"

"Time is wasting."

"Do you know who you are insulting?" she dared even further.

"Still wasting."

The other end was silent; so I let the silence stretch.

"Fine...I will say it." she sounded a little shaken.

"Go on."

"Pl...ea...se tell me where you are." She sighed heavily afterwards.

"There we go! You could have spared all that trouble and time."

"So tell me now..." she sounded exhausted.

"Then out of my generous gracious grace..."

"Fine I get it!"

"Alright then. I am only going to say it once." I told her my current general location.

"Alright stand there and don't move, resistance is useless..." she kept going on.

"Don't worry I will be gone soon." I interrupted.

"What? And to where this time?"

"Don't know. But if you ask politely next time I will tell you."

"Don't get all high and all mighty, just because of what you made me do earlier. Next time if I see you again I will..." I ended the call and had the first sip of my iced mocha. A short while later I took out my phone and dialed Louis number.

"This is Ling. I think I know where the relic could be."

"Good. I am coming to pick you up at once."

The call ended on the other side. All the chess pieces were at the right position for the checkmate. In other words, I was going to put an end to this, I thought.

Empire state building 350 Ave 6:35am

The Empire State Building is 381 meters tall nearly 450 including the antenna. Constructed started in 1930 and it was finished in 1931. It was the highest building in the world for 40 years.

"It says the public access time of the building is 8:00am and closes at 2:00am." I read from the sign.

"Don't worry friend. I got special connections."

"Connections...huh." I muttered.

"After you told me about the location of the relic, I dialed a call with the building manager and he granted us special visitor access." Louis asked as we walked up the steps. The security guard opened the door for us.

"See? Connections." We followed him into the building and inside were a dozen men wearing suits walking around and talking to their cell phone. Half a dozen security guard and when we stepped into the lobby the reception walked up to us.

"Here's your cards sir." The receptionist held out five identical white cards.

"You each take one." He offered me one of the cards and I took it. Silk didn't say anything when she got hers, neither did Louis's two personal bodyguard.

"Thanks." I said.

"No time for manners. We will talk in the elevator." He said. He pressed the highest floor. A moment later the doors closed and elevator music started playing.

"The card they gave us is the master key. It can grant access to anywhere in this building." Louis said.

"I remember the rooftop doesn't require any key." I asked trying to buy time with this distraction.

"It's useless to us. But giving the key to one person would be too suspicious. And it's not us that needs the master key."

"I see." It was all a setup and the current moment nothing went wrong.

"Silk, is that new perfume you are wearing?" Louis asked.

"Yes, is it bothering you?" Silk replied unhesitant.

"No, no much since we are going to be parting soon."

A moment later the elevator music stopped followed by the door opening afterwards.

"Here we are." Louis said as we all exited the elevator except for Silk who remained inside even when the elevator closed and went down. We walked to the balcony and Louis turned to me and said:

"If what you said is true Ling, the relic would be there." he pointed at the top of the antenna.

"I am absolutely sure."

"Really? What happens if you lied?"

"In a situation like this? I wouldn't even dare."

"Then to prove to me that you are not lying, I want to see you go up and get it."

"Silk has much better agility and dexterity. She would do it much faster than me."

"I am sorry that won't be possible, because I just sent her to do other work."

There was a rift of silence. It was jump down on my own or have someone shove me, and I disliked being forced into anything.

"Fine I will get it. But you must promise me that you will ensure my safety."

"The deal is sealed." He offered his hand and we shook each other's left hand firmly.

I turned to the iron ladder and began climbing. The bars were firm but old. The wind blew harder and the air got colder the higher I went. I looked down several times not because I don't have a fear of height. But rather making sure that everything was still in its right place. And rather a fear of height is rather a fear of falling. If you are absolutely confident that you won't fall than a fear of heights wouldn't bother you at all. Above me I saw something shimmering in the air...the relic. The relic was tied to a string and attached to the ladder. I placed my last few steps firmly and carefully as possible. Once the relic was within arm's reach I grabbed it and put the relic into my coat pocket. Then I began descending when I reached the top floor Louis looked like he found his long lost brother.

"You...got it right?"

"Here you go." I held the relic in my hand and he was hesitant when he took it. He did he hunched over and then exploded into maniacal laughter. He continued to laugh for about half a minute then he turned around and walked away from me over a dozen steps. Then he turned around with a maniacal laugh.

"In order for our friendship too last forever and pure..." he said taking out a pistol from his breast pocket and pointed it at my head.

"I am afraid you have to die." he said calmly.