First-time author Stephen Pharo brings a fresh perspective to geopolitical fiction with his debut novel Hong Kong Redux… China’s Ultra Secret Plan for Taiwan. The work emerged from his skepticism about widely accepted narratives regarding China’s intentions toward Taiwan. Pharo’s inspiration came from observing how many took China’s threats of military action against Taiwan at face value. “When I looked at the implications of PRC invading Taiwan, I had to ask myself the big question…what does the PRC get for all the risk they would be taking?” This questioning led him to explore alternative scenarios, drawing parallels with Hong Kong’s historical transfer to Chinese control.
Writing between 9 PM and 3 AM, Pharo crafted a narrative centered around Major North, a character driven by unwavering commitment to his oath as a Marine and deep respect for previous generations’ sacrifices. The author notes that Major North’s sense of duty might appear “out of step with certain elements in today’s society,” but this tension helps drive the story forward.
The novel’s cover design deliberately features the flags of the United States, Taiwan, and China, suggesting the international stakes of the conflict while minimizing text to maintain visual impact. For Pharo, success means entertaining readers while occasionally surprising them with unexpected turns in the narrative.
Beyond entertainment, Pharo hopes readers will gain a broader understanding of threats facing the United States, particularly those that might seem unconnected at first glance. His writing process combined personal experience with imagination to construct a compelling alternative to commonly accepted geopolitical scenarios.
Hong Kong Redux represents what Pharo sees as a more nuanced take on China’s approach to Taiwan, suggesting that, like with Hong Kong, there might be more subtle strategies at play than direct military confrontation. As a debut author, Stephen Pharo focused first on plot development, though he notes that having now established his characters, future works could explore stories built around their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Read Hong Kong Redux: China’s Ultra Secret Plan for Tawian
CHAPTER 1
Two Plans
Vice President Han Zheng paced the floor in the Operations Center (National Defense Complex), a complex structure located several hundred feet below the side of a mountain, which was itself approximately sixty miles southwest of Beijing. President Xi Jinping was late due to the heavy wind and rain accompanying the latest typhoon.
May 1, was early for the storm season to begin, but the tension in the Operations Center was so intense that no one noticed the weather. “The President has arrived,” someone announced and all present snapped to attention. As the illustrious man entered the room, he paused and looked around before moving slowly toward the seat proffered to him. As he sat down, he moved his hand to motion that the rest be seated as well.
The Red folder resting on the table in front of him had a large white star in the center. Sighting the star, he paused briefly, reflecting on the significance of this meeting. Then he looked up, rose to his feet, and walked slowly to the one map board that would soon play a major part in the upcoming event that he had longed planned. He stared at the board for several seconds before turning to the group and asking only one question, directed at the PRC Chief Advisor, Leong, “Has anything changed from our last meeting with regard to proceeding with the plan?” The flustered CA Leong looked the President in the eye and slowly shook his head to indicate that it had not. Then after a long pause, President Xi looked at the senior staff group and said, “The souls of our ancestors cry out for their rightful place in the world. The wait was far too long, having to tolerate the Westerners as they forced their will upon us. Those days will be no more!” The President paused and shot a piercing glance at all assembled in the room. With this operation, we will take a big step forward to ensure China will once again take her rightful place in the heavens—as the ‘Bright Star’ that will outshine all others. As we rise, our memory is clear and focused on the long-term payback, our great vengeance, on all those who have sought to keep her down.” He flipped open the thick red folder and with one slashing gesture of his pen, he set in motion something he had only dreamed of till then.
The final phase of a long-awaited effort was about to begin. The senior General of the People’s Liberation Army scooped up the folder and moved to the door, signaling his aide to alert his staff so they could prepare for the important meetings he would need to attend once he arrived back on base. Meanwhile, President Xi made his way down the hall to his office, followed closely by Vice President Han and CA Leong. Upon entering his expansive office, the President immediately noticed a large array of flowers in a huge, royal-purple vase with the words “Victorious Together” etched on the side. The aide-de-camp looked at the note attached to the vase before turning and informing the President that it was a gift from the North Korean Premier, Kim Jong Un. The President sat down, turned to CA Leong, and said, “You know what to do, Leong. Commence operations immediately. And keep me updated.” Xi knew he would have to lead his political opposites in competing nations down a path of deceit. To this end, he had already set things in motion years ago, to prepare the international political battlefield. Or as Sun Tzu’s teachings had guided him—“to win the battle before it begins.”
Vice President Han and CA Leong departed the President’s office and left for their respective headquarters. Leong felt a sense of pride at the thought of exacting revenge on some of his previous associates. With tonight’s approval of operation “Bright Star” and the previous approval of operation “Northern Star,” Leong was intent on showing that he has what it took not just to survive, but become in his own words, indispensable. He had backed Xi early on during the latter’s rise through the ranks, often at great personal risk. Short in stature, he was the best at seeing to it that Xi’s competition often ended up dead or at least disgraced to the point where they ceased to be an obstacle. In turn, Xi did his best to guarantee that Leong survived the numerous purges that had plagued the party for many years. Leong was sworn to ensure that his protector would eventually rise to the top. Though he had a distaste for the West, he had become one of its best scholars. He had attended college in both Europe and the United States and had mastered the English language. He had a gift for building relationships and was as comfortable in the U.S. as in China. That attribute had proven essential while he had set up his network in America.
***********
June 1, saw the temperatures in South Philadelphia starting to creep in to the unseasonable 80’s. That did not slow down the drug business; it only meant that more of the transactions were conducted in the very early hours of the day. That was the preferred time of day for Big Taylor or “BT,” as he was usually known in his circles. His right-hand man was referred to as “Mountain Man”: At a statuesque 6 foot 6 inches and 320 pounds, he made for quite an imposing figure. No Chevy or Cadillac for BT and Mountain Man—Range Rovers were their preferred vehicle. BT had grown up in South Philly and knew the area like the back of his hand. So if there was to be trouble with the Feds, local cops, or other drug dealers trying to cut into his sales, he could use his territory to his advantage. He was infamous for ambushing trespassers with a ruthless hail of bullets from the M-60 machine gun he had somehow acquired from one of his numerous contacts. Though Mountain Man had barely made it through high school, BT was a very different animal, having completed graduate courses in Chemical Engineering after his B.S. in Chemistry. But he ultimately found drug dealing more to his temperament and had made a hell of a lot more money without having to put up with the “corporate crap.” He remained in the area where he had grown up, in part to ensure that his grandparents were taken care of. He was one of the more fortunate children that had relatives to take him in after a very rough home life due to the crippling effects of drug addiction affecting both his parents. That kind of exposure fit with his questionable moral code, “no drugs to adults with young children.” There was trouble brewing in his hood with the arrival of “King Leon” from Baltimore.
King Leon (whose given name was Leon Rodrigo Ortiz) did not have BT’s educational background. What he did have was a nose for detecting when there were extra dollars to be made selling drugs and chopping cars. He also had a sense of who he needed by his side—from a business stand point—to confirm his hunch that there was more money to be extracted from a given area. His band of CPAs had looked at what was coming out of South Philly and concluded that this was a fertile area for further growth. King Leon was as a direct communicator as anyone could be. He was moving into South Philly and promised he would leave BT’s operation alone for a small percentage of BT’s earnings.
BT started to put heavy pressure on his “ladies” and “drug reps” (as he liked to call them), making them aware of the need to ramp up the money stream or risk starting a war with King Leon and his band of professional thugs. BT was sure that a couple of collectors had been skimming the profits. BT spread the word that those who might be holding out would soon discover what the bottom of the nearby Delaware River looked like.
Ultimately, it all came down to a collector who went by the name “Cue,” short for “Cue Ball,” due to his early-onset baldness. Cue had made it a point to stay out of BT’s sight until he could figure out how to cough up the money he had spent gambling. On June 3, while having a burger and beer at Max’s 24-hour Eatery, he noticed a Range Rover heading down the street and made a quick move to the back exit, which to his disbelief was already blocked by Mountain Man —who promptly proceeded to lay out Cue with one punch.
By the time Cue came to, it was three in the morning, fog rose off the river and he could hear the tugboats in the distance. Chains were wound around his ankles and he heard Mountain Man chuckling as he added more weight to the chains. BT didn’t say a word, just casually waved as Mountain Man started to drag Cue down the pier. Cue started to struggle, but all of his efforts only succeeded in kicking up some dust. As Cue was dragged closer to the water’s edge he grabbed on to a piling and desperately tried to hold on. He held on with all his strength, but with one quick jerk, he was back on his way to a watery grave. Just as Mountain Man was ready to drop Cue into the river, he cried out!
“I know of a major score that I intended to cut you in on to make things right.”
Cue pleaded with BT to hear him out!“ Come on man! You gotta trust me on this, I’m being straight, there is big money waiting to be picked up and I can put you into it! Cue’s voice ‘cracked,’ man, do you think I would lie to you at a time like this? Please give me one more chance to make things right, you can trust me!”
Mountain Man held Cue out over the water. There wasn’t much light, but Cue could hear the waves lapping up against the pier as he starred down at the cold river water below. Then what must have seemed like an eternity to Cue, BT motioned to Mountain Man to hold off while he gave Cue just sixty seconds to save himself.
“It’s an electronics heist, top of the line stuff, I’ll show you, then you’ll see for yourself!” Though the night air was chilly, Cue was sweating profusely as he waited to hear BT’s response. BT was not one to change his mind once he had a decision, but the extra dollars would help offset what King Leon would be taking. Cue sensed an opening, “look man, no bullshit, you’ll see that I’m being straight with you on this, big money!” BT motioned to Mountain Man to bring Cue back to the car. BT grabbed Cue by the collar and looked directly in his eyes and through clinched teeth, “what and where is this ‘big’ money!” Cue explained that they would need to go to an abandoned house further down in South Philly, next to some government warehouses. It was an area that had been earmarked for demolition of old houses to make way for a larger riverfront commercial project.
As they drove down the mostly unlit streets, they could see that some of houses were still occupied, mostly by seniors in their 80’s and 90’s who had little or no money, even if they had someplace to go. The houses were poorly lit, signifying that the total death of the once-proud neighborhood was not far off.
But one house at the end of the street was well lit and seemed to brim over with an unusual amount of activity. As they neared that house, Cue cautioned that they should turn into a dark street two blocks before the targeted house. He motioned to turn into the backyard of one of the abandoned houses just up the street. His chains were removed and grabbing a flashlight from the trunk, he started to lead them into the house, all the way up to the bedroom facing the street where they could clearly observe the other house bustling with activity. “If you try anything funny, Mountain Man’s gonna torture you well and good before your swim in the river. Got it?” BT hissed at Cue. “Please man!” Cue gasped. “This could be a potential jackpot if we handle it right.”
BT looked at Cue and with some doubt before wryly muttering, “Since when did you know what a jackpot looks like?” As they approached the second-floor bedroom, they could see the outline of another person. Sensing an ambush, BT grabbed Cue by his throat and put his 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol to the trembling man’s temple and cocked the hammer back into the firing position. Sweat pouring off his face, Cue motioned to his nephew, Martin to make himself more visible. A young boy, no more than ten years old, came out of the shadows. Seeing the boy more clearly and noting that he had nothing more than a flashlight, binoculars, a can of coke and a sandwich, the pistol to Cue’s head went back into BT’s belt.
BT pushed Cue headfirst into the dark room. “BT, over here!” Cue whispered urgently, beckoning the men toward him. “I think this is the best location, especially to see inside the back of the truck.” As they took turns peering through the binoculars it was clear that the contents of the house were of little note, but the electronic equipment that filled the back of the truck could be a major score that would resolve both BT’s and Cue’s money issues. At BT’s order, Mountain Man retrieved a notebook from their Range Rover and gave it to Cue’s little nephew, so the boy could record any comings and goings as well as when the truck was opened up for shift change.
“Look kid, keep a sharp eye out, and for God’s sake, don’t fuck up and let them see you!” BT snapped at him. He had reasoned that if they planned it right, they could steal the truck and have it stripped in less than three hours. They had plenty of pawn shops and “fences” that could move the electronics for a nice payday and not have to sweat the Feds or local police because who is going to pay any heed to the foreigners. Both BT and Cue started think that this scheme was a godsend: easy, profitable, and with little to no danger to them.
*********
CA Leong was elated that the time was fast approaching when all those in the CCP who had doubted his capability would soon realize that he was someone who had to be taken seriously and given the respect that was long overdue. He directed his driver to not take him back to his quarters but to another government building where several individuals were waiting to meet with him. Leong had long cultivated a knack for getting individuals into situations where they were beholden to him in one way or another…and he used this skill to perfection!
It was now almost two in the morning as Leong’s ride ended at a shabby, old government building. Outside, the rain and the wind intensified. As the guards waved him through the gate, he could see that several cars were already in the parking lot and the lights were on in a second-floor office space. This was to be the first and only meeting of his handpicked experts, as a group.
As Leong entered the room, he was greeted with a barrage of questions about why all the other personnel in the room had to be present, as each of them had been previously assured by Leong that their identity and role in this undertaking would remain confidential. Leong merely had to put his finger to his mouth to silence them. Then he took a moment to remind each of them about the consequences should he chose to expose their sins. Each of the participants had been assigned a task that required their specific talents and expertise. While previously, he had kept each of them in the dark about the others involved in the plan, it was now time to bring them together for the confluence of their different parts of “the project” as Leong often described it. In other words, it was now time to formally set up the “chess board.” Leong had informed every participant present in the room about what the penalty would be if any of them were to divulge what or for whom they were working. Leong collected papers and digital copies after each presentation. He had recently sent them instructions on what he wanted to accomplish during this meeting. All the attendees were prepared to give a final briefing on their particular assignment related to the “project.”
First up was Le Wo, who had been sprung from a long prison term by Leong for misuse of government computer facilities for attempting to fatten his own bank account. He was a brilliant computer specialist who was really skilled at uncovering gaps in the computer systems of other countries’ commercial and governmental facilities. He had been singled out by the state to head their “cyber spook” division, but promises of national glory proved inferior to the idea of a luxurious lifestyle somewhere other than China. He had contacts and knew system specialists that would prove necessary for Leong’s plan to succeed. The other participants in the room were trying to understand how they fit into the picture, given what they had heard so far.
Next up was Dr. Won Liu, noted surgeon and head of pathology at the Center for Research on Lung Disease and Respiratory Infections. He had developed a taste for certain drugs while on loan to France’s National Center for Disease Control. Once back in China, his reoccurring drug habit had exposed him to various criminal groups that had bargained off information about Dr. Won’s drug addiction to Leong in exchange for the freedom of one of their own. Dr. Won’s influence and contacts, along with his research, would prove to be the linchpin of Leong’s plan and the key to a successful outcome of the “project.”
One by one, the rest of the participants made their presentations and handed over papers and relevant information. This gathering included the likes of Dr. Kin Lee, noted political scientist on the West, and Dr. Chin Hse, psychiatrist and author of many research papers on group dynamics during a crisis. Dr. Chin was followed by a small frail-looking woman who stood at less than five feet, Dr. Lily Lee. She had just spent the last ten years at Stanford University, working in the field of gene splicing. Similarly, Col. Le Shu, who had been the liaison to the Chinese ambassador in Washington D.C., was a noted expert on foreign weapons systems. The last to present was Li Chang, Leong’s longtime friend and a government banker who had been funneling funds toward this plan without CCP’s knowledge or approval.
At the end of the presentations, one could see in the participant’s faces the realization that they were part of something big and that seemed to add some pride to their assigned tasks. A few saw themselves as unwilling participants in something very risky, something that could prove their undoing in the long run. Leong reassured each of them that they were safe and he would not, under any circumstances, reveal their participation.
As each of them left the room, Leong thanked them and wished them well. But he was no fool and could not risk basing this large of an operation on individuals who, either willingly or under pressure, could reveal what they had witnessed tonight. Leong gazed out the window as the cars left the parking lot with the full knowledge that none of the passengers would make it home tonight, nor would they be heard from again…even his longtime friend.
When Leong got into his own car, he instructed the driver to step on it. He would need to finish packing and get at least some rest before his flight in the morning. Leong had made it a point to stay in China whenever possible since the “problem” in Singapore and the ensuing nasty business in Australia. But the complexity of this operation and the need for a strong hand required this visit out of the country. His North American “manager” was reliable, through and, when necessary, lethal. It was a long flight to Vancouver, Canada, and he looked forward to catching up on sleep as the aircraft reached cruising altitude.
********
At the same time, 7000 miles further east, US Marine Corps Major Stephen V. North (Res) was boarding Delta flight 524 from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, setting off for Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps Base in California. He was looking forward to a welcome change of scenery and conversation that was direct and logical, unlike the steady stream of political double-speak that he encountered in his day-to-day position at the NSA. Starting out at the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) after the end of his active duty had been a real disappointment since they had only wanted him to focus on the Middle East—to the exclusion of China. So when he heard that the NSA (National Security Agency) wanted to expand its “China Watch” section, he decided to take the position, Deputy Director China Intel Unit. His time on active duty had provided an opportunity to work with the Australian Royal Marines and develop some lasting friendships. He had met Australian Royal Marine Captain William “Will” Knowles, the Regimental Intel Officer. At that time, “Captain” North was his battalion’s Intel Officer, both men had Top Secret security clearances and could speak freely about what they were each involved. North was astonished to find that the Aussies were not looking so much at the Middle East or Afghanistan as they were focusing in China. Will Knowles had come out of the University of Sydney with a degree in Civil Engineering and a fascination with China. The two interests had merged when Knowles had visited China when some of the country’s largest engineering projects were being implemented.
In addition to his involvement in the engineering projects, Knowles had also met some Chinese citizens who were not pleased with the Chinese leadership. The ruling CCP had kept a tight grip on power and many of his Chinese acquaintances had conveyed a sense of foreboding. In fact, some were sure that at the national level, the Chinese political scene was looking more like that in the time of the dictatorial Imperial Emperors of the past. That extreme fascination with nationalism, coupled with the continued rule of one party, was cause for great concern. Knowles had made it a point to stay in touch with those individuals. When he departed China, he enlisted in the ARM (Australian Royal Marines) and was assigned to its Intel Branch—that is how he first met North. As part of his current active duty training, North was to fly to Australia in two weeks to brief their Intel section on the US Marine Corps plan: “Engaging Chinese Expansion of their Maritime Boundaries.” Major North was ready to re-engage with others who saw China as a major threat to America, quite unlike many of the politicos in Washington, the ones who were so sure that China was just going to be a lap dog that they could control, a great trading partner with no other ambitions.
In South Philly, based on what he had seen the other night, BT was ready to allocate the electronics to some of his more reliable “material movers,” to minimize the hang time of the stolen goods. While he was appreciative of Cue for informing him about the opportunity to acquire a truckload of expensive electronics, he had no intentions of including Cue in the operation. Why? Because Cue had a way of leaking information to all the wrong sources, including undercover federal agents. BT was a perfectionist when it came to “unloading” stolen goods. Over time, he had refined his crew of fences based on their performance and knew they could be counted on to move items quickly and with maximum return.
When Cue heard that BT was planning the heist, he feared he would be cut out of the whole deal, so he made a hasty move to BT’s location. As Cue burst through the door he let out a string of expletives that stunned even Mountain Man. “Listen you motherfucker, you’re not cutting me out of this action, don’t forget I am the guy who—”
He had stopped midsentence because BT had pulled out his pistol and laid it on the table. He motioned for Cue to take a seat. BT listened to Cue’s plan for acquiring the electronics. BT thought the plan was missing some parts, but he reasoned that if he let Cue do the dirty work, he would still profit while incurring minimal risks.
What BT didn’t know was that Cue was already in the process of selling him out to King Leon.
Cue thought if he could get King Leon to back him, he would be off the hook with BT and his standing with King Leon would finally get him the recognition—along with the money and the women—he deserved. Cue had already confirmed the heist’s date and timing. In reality, it was scheduled to take place two days before the date he had proposed to BT. Cue’s planning process was not as detailed and thorough as BT’s. And this would prove to be his undoing.
*******
As Leong’s flight approached the Vancouver Airport, he was gathering his thoughts on how he would clarify and expand on what his “North American Chief” already knew. Leong had been very careful never to reveal the “Bright Star” plan in its entirety to anyone except a select few in President Xi’s inner circle. Much like a chess match, all the pieces were finally moving to their assigned locations, but no piece would have any idea about how it fit into the overall plan—until the proper signal was given.
As Leong left the terminal, he saw a very large man wearing a bright, floral Hawaiian shirt waving him over. As Leong moved closer, he recognized the man as the “Chief’s” main bodyguard/muscle man, Mr. Ling. As Leong approached the man, they acknowledged each other with a slight nod. Ling opened the car’s door and Leong stepped inside, happy that the long flight was over and he could get down to business. Ever since the nasty business in Singapore and Australia, traveling out of China had become riskier then he cared to acknowledge. As the car sped along the highway Leong remembered how much he enjoyed Vancouver, for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, climate and transportation access, which was why he had selected it for the import/export business that served as a front for his chief North American operative, Mr. Wei. He also realized that Wei could blend in well with the large Chinese-Canadian population here, and as a businessman he could come and go as he wished, generally without arousing any suspicion.
As they arrived at their destination, Leong noticed that Wei had upgraded the building and added a manicured lawn to the front. He thought that was a nice touch, something that would endear a respected business owner such as Wei to the business community. They greeted each other with a firm handshake, closed the door to the office and got down to business. Wei sat across from Leong in a chair that had been designed to make him appear taller than visitors in other chairs in his room. Wei was very conscious of his short height. Leong always noted the difference between Wei and his co-worker, Ling who towered at six feet five inches. Their personalities were polar opposites too: Wei was more talkative, more aggressive and “in your face” type of guy. In contrast, Ling was quiet, unassuming and laid back. But, the pair worked well together and that team was critical to accomplishing the North American portion of Bright Star.
Leong was carrying the North American contact list in his bag, and now for the first time Wei had a glimpse of what was to unfold in the near future. Over the next six hours, the two men went over the plans and the timetable for their execution in great detail. Wei was quite disturbed that he had been kept out of the operation for this long. “It’s inexcusable that you have withheld the contacts and list of operatives list for this long!” he fumed, pacing the room. “I could have been keeping an eye on their activities. You know what I think of operations that fail to ensure that the teams, if that is how we want to refer to them, stay in line, so to speak.” Wei did not like leaving what he referred to as “loose operators” unsupervised for long periods. He would insert himself into the varied operations around the US as soon as Leong departed for China.
Leong was well aware of Wei’s style of getting the “job” done but cautioned him not to over react because it might draw too much attention. Wei uncharacteristically snapped back at Leong that he had taken care of the “business” in Singapore and Australia for Leong when it seemed that no one else could or would handle it without the “Central Committee’s” knowledge and approval. After several more tense minutes, Leong suggested they break for dinner to cool down and talk later that evening.
After dinner the two met again. The meeting lasted until well after two in the morning. Leong went over what and how he expected Wei to carry out his duties to ensure that the operation was a success. Wei grew tired of Leong’s repeated instructions on how he should execute the tasks assigned to him. He got up from his chair and started to pace around the room, then leaned back over his chair and with a clinched jaw, “I’ve heard enough of your lecturing for the night, let us have a drink and toast to the success of our operation.” Leong was due to fly out to China that morning. At seven, the men shook hands for the last time and parted, each giving the other a weak smile and a nod. Clearly, neither man fully trusted the other. But Leong knew it was too late in the game to bring in a new player. And so did Wei.
As Wei watched Leong’s car disappear into the morning traffic, he wondered to himself how a man so morally weak and lacking in physical courage could have risen so high in the ranks. Wei had decided that the operation was his to make successful, which would finally get him the recognition he deserved. Then he could return to China with great honor. And he knew that if what he had done for Leong ever came out, Leong would just permanently disappear. So Wei reasoned that he would get credit for the success of the North American part of the plan and then Leong would have to support whatever Wei would want. Lost in such thoughts, Wei leaned back in his big chair and envisioned a fancy office with all the furnishings success would bring. The daydream did not last long; soon, they would start the journey of inspecting the other elements of the NA operation.
*******
Cue arrived at King Leon’s new outpost in and wondered why it was so far out of Philly. Cue had never been to Hulmeville, Pennsylvania before, even though it was a short 20 miles north. In fact about the only places he had been was Philadelphia and parts of the Jersey shore. But to him this was way too “country” and he wanted to leave the minute he arrived. King Leon had set himself up in a new warehouse complex a short distance out of town. The King’s instruction to all of his “employees” was keep a low profile and cause no problems for the locals. That philosophy had worked well for the past five years that the King had operated one of the biggest “chop” shops in the tri-state area.
To the locals he was just a visiting owner of a respectable auto repair and parts facility. It was one of his most profitable operations and he intended to keep it that way. Cue wondered why the King wanted to see him, because he was busy planning the “move,” as he was now referring to the electronics heist. When he entered the room, he saw the King sitting behind a rather large desk and quickly set himself down in front of it. As he sat down he threw down a stack of papers and started talking about his plan for the “Move.”
“Man, I got this motherfucker figured out so tight it will go down as smooth as 50-year-old Hennessy Cognac,” he bragged before jabbering on about the plan and the fences he would use to move the “products.” Just then, the King motioned for him to stop talking, which Cue did immediately. The King looked through the papers briefly before tossing them into the trash can and then slowly turned to look at the little man sitting before him. “Hey, you didn’t even give a good look at my plans,” Cue yelled out, leaning forward in his chair. “I mean, hell, this is my ‘move,’ I got this thing figured out!” Leaning back into his big leather chair, the King drew a deep breath and said, “This is how the whole operation is going down.”
*******
