Chapter 1

Shu Li's phone rang at 7:00 AM, and though she was tired and undressed, she answered it before the second ring. A quick glance at the number confirmed that it was one of her contacts.

"Yes, go." She replied in Chinese. She listened intently, and then closed the phone without so much as a 'thank you.' Her contacts only took their thanks in green bills, and asked for nothing else.

The news was strange, but not unusual. One of the high-level Hornets had gone missing last night. Shu Li knew that most gang members went off the radar once in a while. Usually it was only for a day or two, and then they'd be back on the streets, causing trouble like always. But the fact that the network was buzzing like this was a sign that this wasn't your typical disappearance.

The phone rang again, and Shu Li was quick to hit the button. The Hornet's leader, known throughout the district as "The Shield," had pointed his finger squarely at Chinatown.

Her first thought was that Nagano would want to know, but she quickly dismissed it. She trusted her sources, but this was still only a low-level threat. She would take care of it completely without Nagano's assistance. She could handle this one on her own.

She lifted the phone and pressed a button on the speed dial.

"What do you need, miss?"

"I need some freelancers. Two or three should be good enough. But make sure they're good ones. I don't need just any gangbangers. These guys should be good."

"When?"

"Today, four-o-clock."

"That limits me a little, but I'll take care of it."

Shu Li clicked off the phone. She walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Today will not be fun, she thought.