The Dragon's Tale: A Jack Lauder Thriller (32 page)

     “The lack of concern. The Governor is obviously more worried about those papers you discovered than anything else we had to tell him. Why should that be I wonder?”

    “The political fallout of discovering the Red Chinese are planning a massive cull of everyone who doesn’t conform?”

     “No! That would have been grounds for great celebration. Think of the political edge it should have given him to have discovered their intentions were so dishonourable and to be able to expose them before the whole world. I expected him to react much more forcefully. He seems content to sweep it under the carpet. He is worried only that we might not react the same way.”

    “Perhaps he’s sceptical? Maybe he’s just dipped his toe in the water with us. He needs to check it out?”

    Again he shook his head, “I don’t think he was shocked, which assumes he must have known already.”

     Jack gazed at Philip, trying to take in the enormity of what he had said. It was true. Apart from some expressions of horror which, in retrospect, had not really done justice to the occasion, Britton had seemed totally unfazed by the idea of a conspiracy between the successors to the Heavenly Throne and the leader of the largest of the Societies of Heaven and Earth.

     “The other thing is,” Philip said, “he knew there was software.”

     Jack nodded. “People now tend to keep things in different ways,” he replied, repeating the Governor’s words. “Please feel free to hack into those disks, Philip.”

     “I’ll get my team on to it straight away.”

     Jack had little time to consider Philip’s speculation before he was dropped off at the hotel.  No sooner had he got back to his room than the telephone rang. He half-hoped to hear Diana’s voice but as soon as he picked up the receiver he knew something was wrong. There was a measured silence for a few moments and then a Chinese voice said in English, "Lauder Sin sin saang, we have woman. No harm will come her if you do as we say."

     His first reaction was to breathe a sigh of relief that he had news at last then he recovered his composure, "Who are you?"

     The voice ignored him, "Do not speak to Police, or your woman is dead."

     Jack closed his eyes in silent prayer. At least they didn't appear to know he'd spoken to Philip. What he'd done already could have been fatal.

    "This is what you do. You have something ours, we have something yours. Fair exchange no robbery, eh? Tomorrow you leave hotel in morning. You get taxi from rank outside hotel. You tell him head for underpass to Robinson Do. You go through underpass and start walk to mid-levels. You got that?"

     Jack was scribbling the instructions down as he talked. "I've got it," he said. "Where will you be?"

     "We watch you all way. If we suspect cops near, we blow woman away, not quickly, nasty. You do what we say. We do rest. You bring stuff with you, yes?"

    "What stuff?"

     "You not joke now. You bring Monro material. You not double-cross us now or woman dead. You do as we say."

      "Why wait till tomorrow? Let's do it now."

      The phone went dead. He clenched and unclenched his fists at the thought of Diana in the clutches of the Triads.

      The telephone rang again. He rushed to it and was disappointed to hear Philip. He must have noticed Jack’s change of demeanour because he said, "What's going on Jack?"

     He wanted to tell Philip but after that last message he didn't dare. Instead he said, "It's okay Philip, I just got a call from her, she's okay."

     Momentarily, Philip sounded relieved, but then he said he'd come around anyway and see Jack, who could introduce him to the lady who'd almost had the whole of Hong Kong's finest on red alert. Jack made an excuse, which sounded rude after all the trouble he’d put Philip to but he was beyond caring. All he wanted now was to get Diana back, whatever it cost. The whole world could go hang itself as long as he achieved that.

CHAPTER 6

     The next morning at ten o'clock, Jack left the Mandarin by the front entrance. The weather had turned around and the sky was in turmoil. The clouds writhed in angry, serpentine shapes. Despite the threat of torrential rain Jack wore light clothes in which he couldn't conceal a weapon. He greeted the Indian duty porter, who flagged a taxi. It was all exactly as he'd been told. He climbed into the cab and told the driver to go to the Mid-Levels underpass in Victoria. He figured the taxi had been prearranged. Walking through the underpass he followed the signs for Mid-Levels. A series of moving walkways and escalators ran up the hill half a mile or so from the western part of Queen's Road to Conduit Road, the link between the residential Mid-Levels and the workplace of Central. He walked up Cochrane Street, Hollywood Road and Robinson Road, awaiting the next instruction.

     Emerging on Conduit road he noticed a black Mercedes. Its darkened windscreen gave it a sinister appearance as it moved slowly towards him. Two men jumped out and they were similar in dress to the men from the Lantao motor launch. They advanced from each side of the vehicle and one of them pointed a gun and said, "Diu lei lo mo!" He was forced into a kneeling position, handcuffed in front, then manhandled towards the Merc. The back door opened and he was thrown inside. Picking himself up off the floor, he found himself looking at Johnny Kwok. "Well, Mr. Jack," he said, "we meet in the strangest circumstance."

     "What the hell is going on?" he blustered. "Have you got Diana? Where is she?"

     "Oh, Mr. Jack, cut the crap. You know what we want. You want know where something of yours is, you give us what's ours."

     "Do you think I'm stupid enough to fall for that one?" he sneered. "I’ve brought nothing, nor am I going to hand anything over until Diana's okay. What you want's in a safe place and there are clear instructions for it to go to a guy called Philip Chan if anything happens to us.”

     Johnny was momentarily angry. His eyes flashed like dark lightning, then he recovered his composure and shook his head in pity. "What your price? We be very generous, you know. A nice fat little dowry for that pretty thing?"

     "There isn't a price," Jack replied, "that's the bottom line. Release Diana immediately or some very heavy people get the goods." It was bluff but it must have struck a chord because Johnny didn't dismiss the notion.

    The Merc was back down in Central now, negotiating the heavy traffic. They soon reached the Cross Harbour tunnel, heading for Tsimsi. Johnny said, "Volvo," to the driver, a curt command which he acknowledged with a nod of his head. He turned back to the passenger. "You know, Mr. Jack, I think your young lady know score. She no shrinking violet, eh? She seen world.  We share little secret, she and me. I was one who take her."

     It was Jack‘s turn to be angry, "You? What have you done with her?"

     "Oh Mr. Jack, you know Hong Kong. You no keep secret. It a village, a 5000 year old global village. We think of feed her to snakeheads!"  He laughed at the look on Jack’s face. The snakeheads was the nickname given to the Hong Kong and Macao fishermen who smuggled in the opium from the Golden Triangle. They were primitive men, and could behave like animals. He shuddered at the thought of Diana in their clutches.  "It would be terrible shame," Johnny went on airily as if he was discussing lunch at the club, "she such beauty. I congratulate you on good taste. Let stop beating about bush, it so much easy if you hand me disks."

     Jack began to get the drift.  There was that mention of computer disks again. Johnny must have thought he knew what was on them. Did he detect also a shifting of the personnel? "You mean you rather than K.K. Chow? Tell me, is it remotely possible that some of this computer software could go missing before it reaches him?"

     He laughed, "We all have take care of ourself, Mr. Jack, particularly if not from wealthy background. You wrong about me before and if you think K.K. Chow call shots here, you wrong again." He snapped his fingers, "I get him dealt with like that. Come on, we understand each other. Let two of us have deal, I cut you in fifty-fifty. I even get your glamour puss out of captivity if you play cards right."

     "Oh, will you indeed?" There was a little more vigour in his voice now he perceived a divided enemy. "It helps, doesn't it, to have the merchandise?"

     He laughed, "I got you and your woman and why you think I order driver here go twice round block? Because when K.K. Chow have you, safety not guaranteed. It much easy to deal with me. You tell us where go collect and I turn car round."

     The proposition seemed attractive on the surface but Jack knew that without the Montrose box he had no chips.  "No deal," he said, "I'll take my chance."

     "Ha!" Johhny laughed. The brittleness of the tone betrayed his annoyance. "You think he just ask nice? Oh there wonderful torture my employer favour, special for those who fail deliver. Those ancient emperor real expert at pain. You lock up in wire suit, it pull tight so your flesh push through wire. Just little bobbles of it like fat goose pimples, and then everyone take turn with razor sharp knife, little slash here, sharp cut there. You can do thousand times and victim still alive. You heard of it, hai? Death of ten thousand cuts?" He was eyeing Jack maliciously, a thin smile playing across his lips, "Still time to deal."

    Even though a part of him wanted to take the line of least resistance he knew he had one shot, last chance saloon.

    "Mr. Jack," Johnny picked up the thread, "you are stubborn bastard. I hope you not think anyone pay slightest bit notice if Mr. Ma suddenly arrive on white horse.  He not help you now. His days numbered.  K.K. Chow do his bidding at moment, but Ma upset the people who count because of way he support cause of Philip Chan."

    The only place Ma's influence probably didn't extend was across the border. If it had he wouldn't have been seeking the right of abode in England. K.K. Chow's motivation was the oldest known to man, greed, the lust for wealth and power, and Johnny Kwok was quite prepared to double-cross his boss for the same reasons. But his kind of power was a mere trifle to that of his real employers. With yet another twist of its Machiavellian politics the Peoples’ Republic was playing its own diabolical game with Jack and Diana, just as it was with Hong Kong. A large curious cat with a very frightened mouse.

    With some trepidation he crossed the threshold of the Club Volvo. Instead of the cavernous interior, he was met with a rabbit warren of passages, the working part of the pleasure dome. Propelled down the corridors by two bodyguards he came eventually to a large chamber, opulently furnished. He was pushed roughly down on to a sofa. Johnny paced up and down moodily but the two heavies stood flexing their muscles. A few moments later, the door opened and in walked K.K. Chow followed by another Chinese man. The newcomer was younger, a sharp dresser. "Ah, Lauder sin saang," K.K. Chow said, smiling the shark smile which was now so familiar, "we meet again. You met General Sze's son?" He indicated the younger man. Jack knew the name from the newspapers. General Sze was the senior commander of the southern regiments of the Peoples' Liberation Army, the man in de facto control of Hong Kong. K.K. Chow went across to a table on which stood a row of decanters. "Your tipple?" he continued. "I have fine ancient Macallan, Glenfiddich, or perhaps you cognac man?"

     Jack played along. "The Macallan's fine."

     “Good choice!”

     In the meantime General Sze's son sat down on the long sofa. Something about his demeanour suggested he was in control. He didn't have a name other than his father's and yet he held even the Tung Chu of the 14K in thrall. The young Turks of Red China had usurped the beautiful people of Hong Kong. This young man had a cold presence, which struck a chill into Jack’s heart. Chow stood gazing at Jack while he warmed his glass. "What resourceful man you are," he said as if in admiration, "no wonder my colleague Mr. Ma choose you as English agent. Some would choose large company in London but Mr. Ma, he know what is right." He laughed cynically, showing his gold fillings. "Now it you who need way to walk! Mr. Ma, he not find out if we conclude business proper now.”

     Sze had obviously been educated abroad as well because he, too, spoke in English, probably for Jack’s benefit but it was equally possible that he didn‘t speak Cantonese in addition to his Mandarin mother tongue. "It is important for you too, K.K. Chow saang," he said quietly, examining his fingernails, "this embarrassing leak of information is your responsibility. It requires cleaning up." He smiled almost shyly but Jack perceived the hidden menace. Chow looked flustered. He tried not to show it as he turned back to Jack, affecting an urbaneness not quite matched by the timbre of his voice. "Your friend Mr. Montro, shame what happened him eh? How you think that happen?" He smiled. "Don't you think we know plenty friend in Russia? Mr. Montro's friend, she belong us. We own her, what you say, lock stock eh?"

     "You fingered Gerry Montrose to the Dolguruki?" Jack said, a savage edge to his voice.

     "Well, he very clever, he escape us, no one know where he go. We all looking for him, Lauder saang, even look in your backyard. We want what he steal but he hide well. Till one day we get call from friends in Russia about madman from Hong Kong who want to buy bar girl. She put two and two together eh?"

     “Who?”

     “Your lady. Miss Lundy. She woman of great intelligence, Lauder saang, she know which side bread buttered eh? Yes, those fools there take money and let whore go. If the Gwai lo want her, why not? It more than she earn for them in ten year."

     "But that wasn't good enough for you, eh? You had to finish him off?"

     "Oh no, no, Mr. Jack, you not understand, we want him delivered back. Oh, shoot whore, yes, what one more or less in world, eh? But not Mr. Montro. We want to know what he done with important paper, important computer information. Unfortunate this man not like other, he get upset they shoot whore and he attack like tiger. They shoot him too. We worry because all secrets go grave with him and we expect big problem if he make arrangement to give someone. We already try you even when he missing before he turn up in Russia. Pity really, we want give him Tall Man Hung. You not met Tall Man Hung eh? Or maybe you meet him in UK? Tall Man Hung now, he like your lady very much."  He must have seen the horrified look on Jack’s face because he wagged a finger and said, "Not yet Lauder Saang. She okay. We keep safe, eh? Me and Missy Lundy. You grateful, eh?"

    Jack returned his stare with utter contempt. "Grateful to you?" he said. "It's no use trying to do deals with me, Chow.  I've already told your foki here that anything happens to us and those papers go straight to Philip Chan."

    "What?" he exclaimed, and he looked at Johnny.

     He shrugged. "He said he hasn't brought them," he replied uncomfortably. General's Sze's son was craning forward now. "That's what he told me, they'd go to Philip Chan if we didn't let the girl go."

     “You been in contact with that traitor Chan?” Sze screamed, his voice an octave higher than previously and his peculiarly long, painted fingernail pointed at Jack.

     Jack nodded, “Yes. The Governor too. I saw him at his home last night.”

     Sze cursed. He turned on Chow.  “I told you to make contact immediately,” he said. “You bungle this by leaving it too late, waiting for him to get in touch with your man!”

     Chow stomped off round the room, the veins standing out on his forehead. He looked as if he was about to burst. Sze looked at him calculatingly. With a great effort of will he pulled himself together. He bowed his head respectfully. "Our honourable Governor, yes, he pay good price for some of those name.  But you misunderstand, Lauder saang, we not hurt you, we let you go.”

     "Really? So the little story he spun me before about the wire suit was intended merely to make me feel sick, was it?"

    Chow chuckled, "No, not quite. Little story let you know that even if you free it best you cooperate. You go from here, do what we want and everything okay. Just little demonstration of intent."

     "Okay, let me give you a demonstration of my intent. You let me and Diana go and I'll cooperate."

     He laughed, "Oh you cunning monkey, Lauder saang! You not cooperate at all if you get away. No, not that simple. Follow me.” He crossed to the desk, flicked a switch and stood in expectation facing the back wall which was lined with fish tanks. To Jack’s astonishment the wall began to open and a cavern appeared. K.K. Chow stepped through and Johnny stepped up behind Jack and made him follow. He passed the statues of two Chinese warriors with fearsome visages, which stood at the archway as if on guard. Sze, with a smirk on his face, followed at a short distance.