Kong Loot - private eye

Low Chin China - 1942

I spotted the stranger holding the new sail for Sir John's ship, 'The Alcoura'. The secret map was woven into it. It was about 6:30 in the morning. I watched him for a while and then went for coffee. He'd be there when I got back. You could bet your finger on it. Easy for me to say. I have all my fingers. I have bet one toe.. . I know that because I now have two toes on my left foot. One toe too many. Not many people know that about me. Not many people want to.

It was 19:00, time to tell Porter what was going on. Porter is my house boy. Porter Rossi. I had to drive 20 miles to get to his house. Then another 88 to get to mine. I always wanted him to move closer. Although I never said it to his face.

At 22:00 I arrived at Porters house, he was gone. His house was ransacked. Piles of clothes littered the floor, his new lamp was missing. The one with the little rose that screwed in the top. I had one good clue, his head was in the dog bowl by the hamper. I figured he couldn't have gotten far.

At 23:00, I flew to Miami. First Class, strange name for a guy sitting right next to me in coach. I had a dog bowl in my suitcase and Porters head on my mind. We landed at 05:00. At 09:09 am the next day I rented a car. I drove down the boulevards. Got a lay of the land. Met some folks. I met Lambcouta. 'Lambcouta of the Jungle' is what they called him. At least that's how all the other Ofthejungle's referred to him. Their close nit. We talked of many things. Indians, poker. Then it dawned on me. I should have flown to Tucson.

I flew back to Tucson. The land of my youth? Nordfair Iceland. It was in Tucson when I caught up with Porter. He was on his death bed. I wanted to know where the map was so I knelt down next to his body and asked, "Where's the map Porter". A vein in his throat squirted out the name "DON' in puss on the wall. His feet never stopped dancing. He was dead.

There's so many Don's in the phone book! And their hard to find too because they alphabetize using the last name first in most cases. Makes it really hard.

Finally I have a lead... Chum Hin Love! I should have known.

Next week.

More to come...