1 Prologue

John Lee was putting on his coat. His badge hung from a chain around his neck. His wife, Karen, looked at him with a hint of trepidation. He pulled her to him and hugged her tight. She buried her head in his chest with tearful eyes.

"Please, don't go. It feels like something is wrong," Karen said.

"I have to go. You knew what the job was like when you met me," he replied.

Karen sighed. "You know that my intuition is usually right. Promise me that you will be careful."

"I promise. Besides, I won't be alone. Phillip is with me."

"That's not that inspiring. I've never trusted him."

"Your intuition has been wrong about him. He's always been a good partner and has always had my back."

"Easier to put a knife in it," she said. "At least kiss the boys before you go."

"I will. Don't worry so much. I'll wrap this up and then I'm done."

John walked down the hall. He entered Jerry's room. He looked at his oldest son sleeping peacefully. He kissed his forehead and smiled. Jerry showed so much potential in his training that John knew he would take over as head of the dojo one day.

John closed the door silently and entered Terry's room. Terry was feigning sleep. John smiled and sat on the side of the bed.

"You always were a night owl," John said softly.

"How did you know I was awake," Terry asked as he sat up?

"You don't like to sleep. Even as a baby you didn't like to sleep at night. You always wanted to know what was going on. It's like you were afraid that you would miss something."

"You're going on a case?"

"Yes. I should get the evidence that I need to catch a very bad man," John replied. "But now, you need to get some sleep."

Terry spoke as John kissed his forehead. "Be careful dad. I feel like something bad is going to happen."?

"You sound like your mother. I'll be alright. I'm a master of Blackdragon karate and a highly trained police detective. I can handle anything that happens."

Terry's expression changed. He laid back down and smiled. John left the room as he closed his eyes.

Karen was sitting in a chair near the front door. She was gazing into a cup of tea that she was holding. As John approached, she stood up. He wrapped his arms around her and held her.

Karen kissed him passionately. He could see that she was trying to suppress her sadness and fear. He kissed her forehead before he opened the door. She grabbed the door before he could close it.

"Promise me that you will come back to us."

"I promise," he said as he placed his hand over hers. "I love you."

Karen nodded and smiled. John smiled back at her. He closed the door and she locked it. She placed her forehead against the door as tears streaked down her face.

"I love you too," she said silently.

Phillip Johnson was waiting behind the wheel of the nondescript white van. John opened the door to get in. He paused and looked back at his home. Karen was standing in a window sipping her tea. He waved and she waved back.

"Do I need to come back," Phillip jested?

"No. One day you'll understand when there's a Mrs. Johnson."

"Ha! Not after the last Mrs. Johnson tried to clear me out."

The partners shared a laugh as the van pulled off. Philip asked about the family. John asked about Phillip's mom. She was still sick and he couldn't really afford her medicine. Then they went over the plan as they drove to their destination.

John was beginning to feel nervous as he thought about Karen's intuition. He knew that she had psychic level intuition. She was banned from Vegas after two nights of casino hopping. She was almost never wrong with her gut feelings.

Phillip drove the van into the parking garage. As they exited an armed guard stood waiting for them. He escorted them to an elevator and pressed his id card to a scanner. The elevator opened and the guard pressed a button for the subbasement level.

The guard led them to some double doors with 4 armed guards. He stopped and motioned for them to continue. John and Phillip both grabbed a door and pushed. After walking down a long corridor they emerged in a large underground fighting arena.

"Shit. I need to start my own martial arts style," Phillip said.

"Trust me. It's not that glamorous," John assured him. "Besides this is possible because of our host's secret business."

"Yeah. I know, but this is insane. They say crime pays, but they didn't say this much," Phillip laughed.

"Only if you're at the top and we're cutting off the head tonight."

=====

John had made it to the final rounds. Hirono had changed the location for these last fights. These fights were taking place on top of his skyscraper. Phillip had been eliminated from the tournament for the plan. He was supposed to be downloading files from Hirono's personal laptop.

John was one match away from Hirono. He was about to face his toughest challenge yet. Dan Hirono had found his old training partner, Hiro Date. John had heard rumors that Hiro had killed their master with a forbidden technique. John wasn't sure, but he was going to find out.

"We will finally settle who's the true master of Blackdragon Karate," Hiro sneered.

John didn't answer. He bowed respectfully to Hiro. Hiro took the opportunity to attack. John hopped to the side to avoid the flying kicks.

John quickly moved in with a flying kick of his own. Hiro blocked as he moved to the side. He grabbed John's gi and tried to flip him. John shifted with the momentum and rolled to his feet.

The pair exchanged flurries of punches and kicks. Neither man was able to find an opening in their opponent's defenses. After several minutes, John connected with a triple kick. His first kick hit Hiro's knee. His second kick hit him in the side. The final kick to the chest pushed him back.

Hiro grunted and launched a fireball towards John. John intercepted it with his own. Hirono sat up at the display of ki power. The spectators were amazed.

Hiro grunted with frustration. A dark aura began to surround him. His speed increased and after images appeared as he leapt towards John. John blocked a punch, but received three kicks to the body in rapid succession. Hiro weaved in and out of John's range with ease.

Hiro scored countless blows. John seemed unable to defend himself. Hirono smiled as he took a sip of his drink. Hiro's after images made predicting his moves tougher, but John had been biding his time. As Hiro glided in to attack, John launched a larger fireball catching hin in the chest.

The fireball stunned Hiro and knocked him backwards. Hiro clutched his smoking chest and snarled. He moved into a stance that John had only seen illustrated once. He knew that Hiro was about to use the forbidden technique to kill him. John prepared for the attack which he knew would be fast.

John blinked and Hiro was immediately upon him. John's instincts took over and he managed to dodge every strike including the killing blow. Hiro seemed to be gassed after the attack. John kicked him in the stomach and sent him flying with a rising uppercut. Hiro soared into the air and hit the ground hard.

"Winner! John Lee," the announcer shouted.

Dan Hirono rose from his chair. He walked onto the fighting area. He looked at John Lee with a mix of respect and contempt. John was breathing hard and sweating. He bowed to Hirono. Hirono finished his drink then threw the glass at John's face.

John swatted the glass away. Hirono nearly connected with a kick off of the brief distraction. Hirono fought at a faster pace to keep John off balance and to take advantage of his exhausted state.

Phillip was watching the fight from the roof of another building. He adjusted the scope on his rifle and settled into position to take a shot. John and Hirono moved around quickly. Phillip took a deep breath. He held it while squeezing the trigger.

John clutched his shoulder as he stumbled to the railing. Hirono's eyes flashed as he corkscrewed through the air. His foot connected with the back of John Lee's head. The detective soared from the roof disappearing into the river below.