I had a score to settle for Daisy so it was back to Smith's house. He wasn't alone and when I broke in the two Chinese thugs went for their weapons. I had mine out already so that ended that confrontation.

Smith was protesting and I hit his broken nose.

He sat in the chair refusing to talk but a few raps on the head with my gun at least got him grunting. I fed him my theory and I could tell some of it was on the money and he started making up stuff that just made me mad.

He wouldn't break so I broke him - his nose . . . again. I left him with warning he seemed to take to heart after I hit him a final time.

I needed more info and that meant Billy couldn't do anything without risking his neck. AJ and Lulu might have more. She would be surprised to hear I was softening on Brody.

Lorne was also a move I could make . . . maybe the smartest.

*****

After suggesting to Billy that Annie might be able to help. She might have something in all her notes. Called Caroline and got her an interview. Billy dropped her off and warned her to keep out of trouble; just get any information.

Annie got a trial run from Caroline and she immediately hit the hospital, flirting her way past the Federal agents guarding the room. AJ and Loren let her ask her questions, learning about Neil, her brother, and the connection to AJ and the mob.

She left with a ton of notes and went to meet Billy but thought he might be at the station so she went there. She wandered around looking then decided to grab a coffee and wait.

A conversation caught her interest and she realized that she had better not get caught listening.

Unfortunately she was caught.

*****

Billy got back to the station and discovered Annie had been there but before he left for her place, Lorne Order barged into Donovan's office demanding men to go back and make arrests in Chinatown.

Billy found out what happened from the other agents and he felt a sudden urge to check on Annie. As he was about to leave, Smith staggered in and there was a lot of confusion as they listened to his story.

Lorne didn't believe a word of it and Billy figured it was all lies too. He tried to leave again but Lorne commandeered him because he was short handed and Donovan would help.

Billy and Lorne had a long talk exchanging theories and Lorne finally told Billy he should find Gunn and stay with him for now.

Before going to find Gunn, Billy hurried to Annie's place and found her tied and gagged in a chair. Too late to warn him, one of her captors shot Billy.

*****

Lulu and Brody meanwhile were airing all their emotion baggage for one another and bemoaning the fact that it was still unknown territory. Lulu told him everything she knew and guessed about the gang wars and her husband's killing.

Brody filled in all the gaps.

*****

I couldn't find anybody so I called the hospital and got hold of Myna. She gave me the entire scoop on the Chinatown rumble. She told me Lorne was at the station and I hoped he was prepared enough to take care of himself.

I raced to the hospital and before going to see Daisy I called Unger. His bill had been paid but I took on a new debt with his information about the cops.

I barked at him about what happened to Lorne and the others, which wouldn't have happened if I'd known earlier.

I hurried up Daisy's room and Hunk was intimidating a couple of agents outside her room. They wanted to arrest me for murder and I gave them a Hunk smile and slipped into the room.

Daisy was all upset because they wanted to take her to the station as an accessory. I calmed her down and told her everything I thought I had and told her to tell Lorne all of it if she didn't hear back from me.

Billy wasn't at the cop shop so I phoned the courthouse hoping to get Lorne. He was still waiting for his warrants so I told him all I had just told Daisy. He was beside himself and told me to stay with Billy.

Billy wasn't with me so I figured Annie might know. I called her house and got a strange man who hung up on me. Not good. I raced to Annie's house, smashing down her door and finding nothing but some blood stains, rope and an empty chair.

Things were definitely not good; I called Lulu and told her we needed to talk.

*****

Caroline Grace, in the meantime, was considering all the information she was getting from all her sources - even her hapless P.I. and decided some loose ends needed trimming.

At a private estate party put on by mob and cop gang members, Caroline arrived with a team of hired bodyguards, bringing barrels of flour that were supposed to be muffin mix.

After the party a lone cop followed the party host home and confronted him in his garage. A gunshot was the last sound heard. Caroline's loose end was tied.

*****

Annie and Billy were spirited away to some place in Oh Aces and held captive. It turned out one of her old beaus from the mob was threatening her if she didn't send a retraction to the Times about the story she gave to Caroline. She hadn't but said that hoping to bluff their way out - a fail.

Billy was awake and a little dizzy but aware enough to have Annie get a penknife from his pocket and they freed themselves, skipped down a fire escape and made their way to Billy's apartment.

*****

Back at the hospital Myna was worrying about Lorne and when Gyn arrived she heard all about what happened and that Lorne was at the courthouse getting warrants. Myna dreamt they were married and when Gyn woke her she was all confused but things began to take shape and she tore a strip off the two agents guarding the room for letting people in . . . even if they were okay.

There was a lot of discussion about AJ leaving to help Lorne and Loren got very upset, forbidding him to get out of bed.

*****

Lorne had his warrants but was running out of men. One agent refused to go on a suicide mission and so Lorne and Norris went to the hospital. Lorne wanted to see Myna again . . . just in case. When the two men outside AJ's room saw them out came guns and there was a moment or two of tension until Ray appeared behind them.

They surrendered and were immediately locked in another room.

Lorne and Myna had their visit. She swung between fear and anger and then warned him he'd better stay safe. He lied about having back up and AJ saw through the story, insisting he help. Loren gave in and then it was Gyn joining the team.

Another round of arguing before they all departed, Gyn running off to find their Auntie.

*****

I got to Billy's and was surprised to find he was there, wounded, and with Annie beside him. Lulu passed drinks around and I asked for an explanation. Annie obliged - big time. Lulu cut in and asked what I wanted.

I went over everything I had discovered about what had happened, editing my theories to fit the new info.

I told her she had to go public and I could arrange that through Caroline. She was finally convinced and supplied a list of mob activities - what she called insurance.

I made an appointment and then left to run some errands before taking her to the paper.

*****

First stop was Unger to try and buy some more proof about the cops Dry well. I just managed to create another debt. I stopped at Flapjacks to see Evelyn. She agreed to lay on a nice meal for Daisy and I after I paid her what I owed plus a bonus.

A call to Raven at the Mad Maze Gallery to make sure CrookedSmile hadn't had any gang or cop visits. He assured me no body visited. I wished him luck with gallery and then went to pick up Lulu.

*****

Caroline was all honey and sunshiny smiles for Lulu. I was dismissed and told to call later. That seemed about all I would be doing on the Shamus case. I'd made a few bucks but taken some setbacks too.

Time to get off the clock and take Daisy to that dinner; she deserved a treat after that beating. We just sat and ate a fantastic meal and talked about cleaning up the office.