Black Karma (25 page)

Bai looked at her, perplexed. “What day is today?”

Elizabeth stared at her in obvious dismay. “Today is Tuesday.”

“Will you remind me on Thursday, so I don't forget?”

Elizabeth smiled tightly. “Don't worry. I'll see that you remember.”

“Thanks,” she replied. “It sounds like fun, doesn't it, girls?”

Two heads bobbed, though the girls' expressions suggested they were as clueless as Bai about the scheduled primping.

“Is there anything else scheduled this week?” Bai asked.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with,” Elizabeth replied cryptically.

Bai turned her attention to Lee. “Would you like to join me on the terrace for happy hour?”

He replied with a wan smile. “I thought you'd never ask.”

“Will you need assistance?”

“I can make it to the terrace on my own if you can carry the drinks.”

“Your usual?” she asked, meaning a dry vodka martini.

“Yes, and make it a double.”

She went into the great room, an expansive room off the terrace where a small bar with a mini fridge resided. She made a double martini for him and a scotch rocks for herself before taking the cold drinks to the terrace. Lee stretched out on the chaise longue where he looked every bit the country gentleman.

As she handed him his drink, she asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Like somebody beat me with a two-by-four. I've weaned myself off the drugs.”

“Don't push yourself. It will take time to heal.”

“This isn't a good time for me to be disabled. The man who shot me is still out there. You need me to watch your back.”

“Jason has agreed to help me. Before long, we'll have a better idea of who the tan man is and why he shot you.”

“Then you don't believe my being shot was a case of mistaken identity?”

“No,” she said emphatically. “I just want to set Elizabeth and the girls at ease.” She hesitated a moment before continuing. “The tan man is a pro. There's little chance he mistook you for someone else.”

He looked interested. “What have you found out?”

“You remember the café with the bad coffee?”

“Yes. What about it?”

“That's where you got fingered. The place is wired. Anyone interested in the building across the street gets their picture taken. While you were watching them, they were watching you. You were right about the coffee, by the way—terrible.”

“So you went there?”

“Yes. That's where I was this afternoon.”

“Did you find out what the tan man was doing at the Montgomery address?”

“Not exactly. A man followed me after I left the café. It turns out he works for the Hader Corporation. I suspect that's the reason the tan man was on Montgomery Street.”

“So . . . this man who followed you just offered you this information?”

“I'm sure he would have, had he been able. Sadly, he was incapacitated at the time.”

Lee nodded his head knowingly. “I hope they haven't figured out who you are. What you did was risky. You need to be more careful.”

“That's just what Jason said. You may be right; however, I feel if I don't keep chipping away at the lies, we'll never find the truth.”

“The people you're looking for aren't gentle souls. Hader runs revolutionary governments all over Africa, Central America, and the Far East. They think nothing of killing thousands of people. The death of one nosy Chinese woman wouldn't even make a blip on their ethical radar.”

“That's what has me puzzled. Why would they go to all the effort of shooting you? Coming after me makes even less sense. They have nothing to gain.”

“Maybe the tan man thought I'd made him.”

“The only person the tan man appeared to be interested in was Daniel Chen. Chen seemed to recognize the tan man from the hotel surveillance footage, which suggests they know each other.”

“What do we really know about Chen?” he asked.

“He's Chinese, and he seems to have worked with Wen. He's elusive. Even the tan man can't find him. I'd bet he's a player.”

“Exactly! A clandestine agent, but who is he playing for?”

“That's what we don't know. But one thing we do know about Hader is they're a for-profit company. If they're looking for Chen, someone paid them to look, or he has something of value they want. They're not a charity.”

“Maybe when Kelly couldn't produce Chen, the tan man went to Hader for assistance,” Lee speculated as he chewed his lower lip in thought. “I've been going through the files on Wen's phone. I found a spreadsheet with names and encrypted data. Most of the information is in a code I haven't been able to decipher, but there are some generalities that I've been able to infer. Since we know Jason purchased information, I was able to sort out some of the entries by columns . . .” He saw her eyes start to glaze over. “Anyway,” he continued with a look of consternation on his face. “To make a long story short, there were a couple of entries for Howard Kwan.”

Bai shrugged. “What did you find out?”

“It seems Howard Kwan didn't buy information. He sold it.”

“So what does that mean?”

Lee shrugged in return. “I have no idea. I just thought you should know what I know.”

She sighed. “I'm starting to feel like the blind man feeling the elephant. What we know could mean any number of things. The scenarios are endless.”

“Closer to home, you have a bigger problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dan overheard Elizabeth gushing on the phone about your marriage prospects with Howard. She's at that awkward age where she wants to be an adult but still has the insecurities of a child. I think the thought of her world changing so radically scared her. And like you, when she gets scared, she gets angry. I've watched her simmer like a little teapot all day. It won't take much to set her off.”

“Thanks for the warning. Elizabeth is on a quest to get me married. Howard is the first candidate with potential to pop up in years. I think she's decided to pull out all the stops. The strange part is Howard seems just as adamant. I hang up on him; he calls right back.”

“He sounds like a glutton for punishment.”

“I wonder,” she said thoughtfully.

“Where are you at in your relationship with him?”

“I'm not sure. I'm going shopping with him tomorrow to buy a new wardrobe. He wants to make me socially acceptable.”

Lee chuckled. “No small task.”

“The problem I'm having with this makeover is I like the way I am. I don't feel any need to change. Who's to say what a successful woman is supposed to look like?”

“Obviously, that would be Howard and Elizabeth. Why don't you just go along with the program? If you absolutely hate the new you, nothing's stopping you from returning to your old wardrobe.”

“That's true. The real issue from my perspective is that people seem determined to change me. What's the matter with ‘me' just the way I am? You like me. Jason likes me sometimes. Elizabeth used to like me.”

“She still loves you. I think she feels your dead-end relationship with Jason is her fault. He's her son. She raised the two of you together. She couldn't get you into a dress when you were younger, so maybe she feels she's failed you. Maybe this is her way of making amends.”

“What's between me and Jason is between me and Jason.” She'd grown tired of repeating her argument. “No one else can take responsibility for the attraction between two people. The chemistry we have is volatile and dangerous. We both know that and still can't seem to stay away from each other. That's our problem!”

“What a terrible fate: to have an attraction so strong your love defies convention! I'll save my tears for all those who've never suffered the way you have.”

Bai looked at him sourly. “You're obviously feeling better.”

“The martini helps. Perhaps I should have another,” he said with a smile as he held out his glass.

Chapter 30

Howard's concept of shopping was to have Bai try on countless dresses while he sat drinking champagne and passing judgment on the apparel. After two hours of playing mannequin, she'd reached the end of her patience. She stood in a sapphire-blue cocktail dress. Billowing satin gathered around her waist over a tight black sheath underskirt that constrained her gait to tiny steps. She minced around like a trained poodle.

“What kind of masochist came up with this dress?” she asked plaintively.

Howard stared at her appreciatively and motioned with a twirling finger for her to turn around. She stared at him and twirled one of her fingers to show him what she thought of the idea.

“We'll take it,” he declared to the pandering saleswoman standing next to his chair.

“That's nearly a dozen dresses, Howard. Let's call it a day.”

“We're just getting started.”

“I generally avoid telling someone when they're wrong because it's rude. I'm going to make an exception in your case, Howard. You're wrong. We're done shopping.”

He frowned and pursed his lips. “You're not being very cooperative.”

“Two hours of strutting around in dresses that squeeze me as if I were an olive in a press is enough for one day. If you want, I'll sit in the chair and drink champagne while you prance around on three-inch heels. I suspect we'd both enjoy the experience more.”

He looked angry; she didn't care. His fascination with designer clothes and branded accessories annoyed her. She wanted to tell him what she thought, but in consideration of Elizabeth, she held back. She'd promised to give him a chance. The task wasn't proving easy.

His pique quickly disappeared to be replaced by a rigid smile. “You're right. I'm being selfish. Let's take a break and have lunch. What do you feel like eating?”

“I want comfort food. Let's go to the Tadich Grill for a lobster casserole.”

She selected the restaurant because she knew he'd hate it. The Tadich had been in business nearly a century and didn't acknowledge food trends, serving traditional fare and generous portions. Table service was first-come, first-served with an emphasis on efficiency, not obsequious behavior. Waiters in white shirts and white linen aprons hustled plates full of hot food. A long, busy lunch counter set the mood for the eatery.

Bai and Howard were lucky and arrived before the noon rush. Seated at a table where wood worn smooth by thousands of diners reflected a warm shine, they perused the menu. The place filled up fast, and the noise level ratcheted up to keep pace. They ordered a lobster casserole for her and a wild salmon steak for him. He selected a bottle of white wine, a Napa Valley chardonnay, to accompany the seafood.

“What do you think?” she asked, spreading her arms to encompass the surroundings.

He smiled weakly. “Marvelous. I love the rustic feel.”

She could tell he hated everything about the restaurant. His discomfort seemed small compensation for the morning she'd endured trying on dresses.

She waited until the wine had been served before satisfying her curiosity. “Do you know a woman by the name of Wen Liu?”

He stopped to consider the name before answering. “I don't believe so. I've met a lot of people in business, but that name doesn't sound familiar. What does she do? Perhaps if I can put her name in context, it will jog my memory.”

“She buys and sells information. I should say, she bought and sold information. She was murdered at the Grand Hotel the night of our first date.”

He looked shocked. “What a terrible coincidence. But, no, I'm sure I'd remember someone of that nature. She sounds like a shady character.”

She smiled to hide her disquiet; Howard had lied to her. The question was why.

“Shady? Perhaps,” she equivocated. “Wen was definitely a character. But that's not reason enough to kill her. Yet someone did. I'm trying to find out why.”

“Why?” he asked, seemingly perplexed.

She leaned back and took a sip of wine. “Wen's killer shot my partner. I need to find out why people around me are being hurt. It's become personal.”

“Do you make a habit of meddling in other people's affairs?”

The tone of his question indicated disapproval. She reined in her temper and answered in a barely civil tone. “I have an inquisitive nature.”

He looked unhappy with her answer. “When we're married, I hope you'll curb your inclinations.”

She smiled and chewed the inside of her cheek. “They say there's nothing like marriage to stifle one's interest.”

Taking a sip of wine, he seemed to work at deciphering her reply. Luckily, the food arrived before he had a chance to question her further.

He picked at his plate as he studied her quietly. She devoured the lobster casserole along with a green salad and a half loaf of sourdough bread with butter. She thought of ordering chocolate cake for desert. Howard's lips continued to smile, but his eyes continued to observe her coldly. She decided to forego desert in order to be rid of him sooner.

“Where to next?” he asked.

“I'd love to spend the day with you, Howard, but I have errands this afternoon. And this evening I have a prior commitment.”

His face showed a flash of resentment before quickly recovering. “Dinner tomorrow?”

She couldn't think of a graceful way out. She wanted to shut him down and be done with the dating charade, but the thought of Elizabeth's disappointment made her hesitate. “Sure. Dinner tomorrow sounds great.”

“I'll pick you up at your place at seven.”

She smiled and nodded.

“Can I drop you anywhere?”

“No. I prefer to walk,” she quickly replied.

He stared at her a moment before standing. Hesitant, he acted as if he wanted to say more but decided not to. “Tomorrow then,” he said, nodding to her. “I'll have the packages dropped at your place this evening.”