The block is hot. The police tried to keep the onlookers away from the restaurant, but this was their only opportunity to be nosy. The onlookers whisper. With the protection of the police, they could get a glimpse of the place they avoided for so long.

There is a tighter barricade near the entrance of the restaurant where a number of uniformed officers hold onlookers back. A grey late-model sedan, they type that all DT undercover front in makes an abrupt stop at the restaurant. Judi Long exits the ride and looks at the entrance.

She scans the crowd. Her partner, Gavin Brown, exits the ride, orange-red hair, followed by a trail of smoke.

Judi places her cup of coffee on the top of the car while putting on her leather jacket. Gavin looks back at her.

“This place always gave me a bad vibe,” says Gavin.

“Yeah, you give me a bad vibe,” says Judi.

“Makes sense. I shine, the haters hate.”

Judi gives him an incredulous, what-you-talking-about-Willis look, tosses her cup in the ride, and closes the door. Gavin gets a last pull on his smoke and flicks it towards some trash.

Judi walks ahead of Gavin, the plainclothes officers nod towards Gavin, while one or two of them smirk at Judi and steal a glance at her rear end. Judi was used to but never tolerated the disrespect. She became a detective at the age of 27, after completing a special program sponsored by the mayor’s office. She was chosen after singlehandedly stopping a sex trafficking operation, running from the mainland.

Gavin was a transfer from a precinct in Flushing. Straight out of college, he lived in China for 5 years and returned with a wife, some kung fu and joined the force. He was pushing 35 and his hairline is receding. The two weren’t readily accepted into the Manhattan precinct, and as outcasts, when they were paired 6 months ago, they instantly became friends.

Judi nods at an officer with shades, and as they reach the doorway, a plainclothes officer starts running down his report. Gavin is speaking to him and for Judi, their conversation gets fuzzy like when Charlie Brown’s teacher goes on a rant. She’s tuned them out, she’s looking at the broken glass and the stained carpet, broken furniture, splattered blood and bullet holes. In a far corner of the restaurant, she can see a well dressed older male and she immediately locks eyes with Tony Jai. He grins. She curses him.

Gavin walks near.

“Same old shit, our mystery man strikes again.”

The mystery man had been the talk of the precinct. A Chinatown Batman. Every time someone spoke about him, the story grew with complexity. Like everyone else, Judi had been interested. A vigilante in Chinatown. Had there ever been one? Well, whatever.

As they neared Tony, she could see a bruised cheek.

As Tony turns his attention toward Gavin, his grin turns into a scowl. Gavin goes over the report and Judi is looking at the well-groomed older man who doesn’t say much. He stands in front slightly in front of Tony. ‘This guy is important” She thinks to herself.

“That’s right, I didn’t need to go to no fucking hospital,” says Tony “You’re wasting your fucking time. Here when you can be out there trying to catch this fucker.”

“We’re going to. That’s what we do. We get things done and we’ll catch this guy, even if you and your crew couldn’t” says Gavin playfully.

Judi looks at the report briefly.

“How about you sir?” asks Judi.

In Cantonese, Mr. Lo says “Why is she bothering me? Get her out of here.”

“Because it’s my job sir. I need to know what is going on so I can help” responds Judi.

Gavin chuckles and joins in with the Cantonese he learned from his wife “Now we can stop the bullshit. Want to explain what happened here? We want to help. We can’t help if you don’t let us know what happened.”

“Yes that’s right, we were robbed. Some fucking black bastard with a weapon, came in and attacked my men!” says Tony “Instead of fucking around here, you should be out — “

Mr. Lo raises a hand and Tony is quiet. He switches to English. “Officers, I did not see the intruder. As soon as I heard the shots I hid under a table.”

“I saw that nigger!” says Tony.

Gavin and Tony get into a shouting match. Mr. Lo says nothing. Judi looks at the black frames and then glances over his weathered face and his scarred hands. His clothes try and provide a faux dignity. He’s definitely connected.

“Fine, okay fine asshole,” says Tony who storms out of the restaurant. Judi looks at Gavin’s flush face, continually shaking his head. Gavin waves Mr. Lo away and reaches for a cigarette.

“Have you finished asking me what you need to ask? Can I go now?” asks Mr. Lo.

Judi shakes her head. Ms. Lo walks by and as he exits, Mr. Wen approaches him, but Mr. Lo does not stop and continues out, followed by his men who did not need medical attention. Mr. Wen sits back down on a chair.

A number of plainclothes officers are looking at the two detectives. A short black officer, steps forward “Detective Long, should I call— “

“Don’t call anyone. Get the fuck out. We're done here” says Judi.

“What? But we…”

“GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!”

The officers start clearing out, slowly walking over the debris and past Mr. Wen who has a steady stream of tears running down his face.

Gavin pulls hard on the cigarette. “I’m fine leaving this be. They don’t want to be bothered.”

“That’s not the point Gavin. They’re hiding something and this is going to keep happening.”

“Yeah, and maybe our black friend will rid us of Tony, the Jai family and keep this fucking place clean.”

“That’s not how things work here and you know it. They’ve been humiliated and they’re going to find a way to make the community pay” says Judi.

Mr. Wen approaches them. Gavin stand and Judi reaches for her firearm. She disengages, remembering him on the way in.

“Can I help you, sir?” Asks Judi.

Mr. Wen wipes his face using his sleeve.

“I—I, I heard his name,” said Mr. Wen somberly.

Gavin becomes wide-eyed and looks at Judi.

“He spoke to the men. He—He, was angry. He said his name was Masternever.”

Mr. Wen silently looks at them and then grabs a broom from the corner.

Judi turns toward Gavin and asks “Who the fuck is Masternever?