Scott Summers walked down the streets of Hong Kong, occasionally stopping to look into store windows. If you had asked him however what it was he was looking at, he probably couldn’t tell you. He was busy trying to spot his tail.
He knew he was being followed, but he couldn’t spot the person. He turned and took a step. He stopped before he ran into the small body in front of him. He looked down and saw an Asian girl around seven years old standing in his way. She was looking up at him with big blue eyes.
“Is there something I can do for you?” Scott asked in Cantonese.
“Take me with you,” she replied in English.
“I don’t think your parents would be happy with that idea. Run along now.” Scott stepped around her and continued down the street. He didn’t want to be late for his meeting with the client. Summers Consulting was known for on time work. Besides, Logan would kill him if he was late. This client had a habit of doing damage to people if things didn’t go just right.
He stopped when he felt a tug on his shirt. He looked down at the little girl. “What?”
“I don’t have a mom and dad. Take me with you.”
“That would be called kidnapping. Besides, why me? You don’t know me.”
“You ran those boys off.”
Scott thought back. Three days ago he had run off some boys who had been picking on a little kid. He hadn’t paid much attention at the time. “That was three days ago.”
“I know. I tried to find you but I couldn’t. Then I saw you. So take me with you.”
Scott sighed. The kid wasn’t giving up. “Okay, look. I have a job to do. Do you know where Empire Hotel is?” The kid nodded. “Okay, go there. Ask for Logan Summers. Tell him that I sent you, my name is Scott. He’ll get you fed and what not, okay? I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Is he a nice man? He won’t hurt me will he?”
“No. He won’t hurt you. He took me in off of the streets when I was a kid. I’ll get you a taxi okay? That way I can be sure you get there safely.” Scott waved down a cab. He opened the door and put the girl in. “Remember, his names Logan Summers.” He handed the taxi drive a couple of bills. “Take her to the Empire Hotel. I know you cab number and your name,” he said glancing at the license. “If she doesn’t make it. I’ll know who to look for.” The driver nodded quickly. “Okay, Kiddo. I’ll be there in a few hours.” Scott closed the taxi door and watched as the cab pulled away from the curb. He shook his head and started down the road.
*******
Logan was putting on his shirt when the phone on the desk buzzed. He picked up the receiver.
“Yes?”
“Logan Summers?”
“Yeah.”
“Sir, this is the front desk. We have a young lady who is asking for you. She said to tell you that Scott sent her to you. Would you mind coming down to the lobby, Sir?”
Logan was silent for a moment. Who would Scott have sent to him. “I’ll be right there.”
“Very good, Sir.”
Logan hung up the phone and slid on his boots. He grabbed his key and left the room. The elevator ride was short and he soon found himself in the lobby. He headed towards the front desk. He walked up to the waiting receptionist. “I’m Logan Summers. I was told that there was someone waiting for me.”
“Ah, yes Sir. The young lady is waiting on the couch over there.”
Logan turned around and saw a young girl around seven sitting on the couch staring at one of the paintings. “The kid?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Logan sighed. “Thanks.” He walked over to the girl. He sat down beside her. “Hello. I’m Logan. You said that Scott sent you?”
The girl looked at him and he was startled to see blue eyes in an otherwise Asian face. “Hi, Logan. Scott said that you would take care of me until he got back.”
“How did you meet Scott?”
“He ran off some boys that were beating me up a few days ago. I saw him today and I asked him to take me with him. He sent me here.”
Logan ran his hand over his face. The things that Scott managed to get into amazed him. “Okay, kid… What’s your name?”
“Jubilation Lee.”
“Jubilation huh? I think I’ll call you Jubilee for now. It’s easier. That okay?” She nodded. “Okay. Well, how about you come with me and we can get you some food and a bath and maybe some clean clothes. That sound good?”
“Yeah.” Jubilee grinned at him.
“Okay, then.” Logan stood up and held his hand out to the little girl. She took his hand and jumped off the couch. He led her to the elevator. “So what do you like to eat, Little One?”
“Hamburgers. Hot Dogs. Duck. Rice.”
“Would it be easier to ask what you don’t like?”
“Tofu. I don’t like tofu.”
Logan stifled a grin. “Okay, so no tofu. When we get to the room, why don’t you go get a bath and I’ll call for a hamburger for ya. Do you like fries?” Jubilee nodded furiously. “Okay, hamburger and fries. How do you like you meat cooked?”
“Bloody.”
“Rare then. My kinda kid.”
“How long until Scott gets back?”
“I don’t know, Little One.” He unlocked the door to the suite. “Okay, you go take your bath now. Can you get everything or do you need help?”
“I got it.”
“Hey, how old are you, Kid?”
“Seven.”
“Okay. Get going.” He watched her leave the room. He shook his head and sighed. “What the hell were you thinking, Scott?” he mumbled. He picked up the phone and placed the girl’s order with room service along with a steak for himself. Then he placed a call to the concierge and asked for a sweat suit for the girl. He hung up the phone and sat down on the couch and looked over at the closed bathroom door.
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He picked up the phone and dialed a number from memory. He waiting for the phone to ring three times before hanging up and dialing again. The other end was picked up after the first ring.
“It’s me.”
“Logan. What can I do for you my friend?” A computerized voice came from the line.
“I need false papers. Adoption papers, passport, all that sort of thing for a seven year old girl.”
“Name of the girl and who do you want for the names on the adoption papers?”
“The girl’s name is Jubilation Lee… hold on a sec.” He got up and walked over to the bathroom door. “Hey, Kid.”
The sound of water splashing was heard. “Yeah?”
“You got a middle name?”
“Nope.”
“Thanks.” He walked back to the phone. “Jubilation Lee. No middle name. Scott Summers is the adoptive father. Make the adoptive mother Jean Summers. Also make up birth and death certificates for Jean Summers. We’ll need a marriage license as well. You can fill in the necessary info for the wife.”
“You want her name to be Jubilation Lee Summers?”
“That works for now. If we need to change it later we can.”
“The papers will be there tomorrow morning. You still at the same hotel?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll have to provide the picture, but Scott will know how to put everything together. I’ll also put together some home schooling records and I’ll send along some materials for you as well. The girl will need an education.”
“I hate you.”
“The feeling is mutual, but I adore Scott. Money to the usual place please.”
“It will be there.” The other end went silent. “Yeah, bye,” Logan growled. He really hated Rosie, but Scott adored her and she never let them down so he dealt with her rudeness.
A knock on the door startled Logan out of his musings. He stood up and looked through the peep hole in the door. He opened the door.
“Here you are, Mr. Summers. One child’s sweat suit. Is there anything else we can help you with?” the female concierge asked.
“Not at the moment. Thank you,” he said as he took the clothes from the woman.
“Very good, Sir. Have a good afternoon.”
Logan shut the door and headed towards the bathroom. He set the clothes on the floor in front of the door. “I’ve got some clean clothes for you. I’ve set them down in front of the door. I’ll be in the living room. Food should be here in about ten minutes.”
“‘kay.”
Logan walked into the living room of the suite and sat down on the couch. He could hear the door to the bathroom open and shut. A few minutes later the door opened again and the girl came out and sat down on the love set in front of him.
“You’re angry with Scott aren’t you?” she asked.
He looked at her and frowned. “What do ya mean?”
“You aren’t happy that I’m here and you’re mad at Scott for sending me.” She scooted back into the corner of the loveseat and hugged her knees.
“No, I’m not mad at Scott. Just a little frustrated. I’m not used to surprises and you are a big surprise.”
“Nah, I’m not big. I’m little,” she said with a little smile. Logan just shook his head. “Why are you worried about him?”
“What makes you think I’m worried about him?”
Jubilee shrugged. “I don’t know. You just look worried.”
Logan was saved from answering by a knock on the door. He checked to make sure it was a hotel employee and opened the door. The server wheeled in the cart and quickly set the table. Logan handed the man a tip and the server left the room.
“Well, take a seat and dig in.”
Jubilee sat down and ate a fry. “You never answered my question. Why are you worried about Scott? Is he in trouble?”
TBC
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