The Gaze of Caprice (The Caprice Trilogy Book 1) (63 page)

“How do you know?” asked Xiaoyu.

“We’ve done our inventory homework,” said Mason, “Well the Service boys did half of it for us.  The police records show how much fake money was seized.  We and the Service boys both agree there had to be much more printed than was actually seized.  Even Yamila making the drop on that video, you think that’s the only drop point?  We need to track where all the money goes.  She can help.  Not Diana.”

“But the Secret Service will track it as well,” said Xiaoyu.

“They won’t,” said Mason, “They’ll simply cut their deal with the Malaysian government. 
Malpen
is too economically important to the Malaysian economy to get caught up in a scandal like this.  Like I said, the
KT
will take the fall.  The Service and Malaysian cops will take photos with the seized cash.  The media will call them heroes.  They’ll say the whole thing has been shut down.  The Secret Service doesn’t have the resources or ability to track every fake bill.  They don’t try.  The US Treasury redesigns the bills often enough to wash out fake bills.  That’s how they fight it.  The system tolerates a certain amount of fake money.  It always has.  The Service guys are here to make sure the Service looks good.”

              “Why should we continue if the Secret Service stops?” asked Xiaoyu.

              “Counterfeit money isn’t a stopgap,” said Mason, “It’s an open gate.  It facilitates other illegal activity.  The Service is just here about the money but we pick up where they leave off.  The
Kejadian Tempatan
has ties to radical groups in South Asia.  We need to know what they did with the rest of the cash.”

              “Yamila knows more about that,” said Xiaoyu.

              “More than Diana,” said Mason, “She’s not an
KT
member but she’s an associate.”

              “Let’s go back to the room,” said Xiaoyu.

              “Why?” asked Mason.

              “I need some help from the Service men,” said Xiaoyu.

              “What do you need from them?” asked Mason.

              “Some fake bills,” said Xiaoyu.

• • •

Xiaoyu’s next contact with Diana was at the coffee shop.  The coffee shop was the Petri dish that started the interaction between them.  They didn’t abandon it.  The dish was cleaned every evening and ripe for new interaction every morning.  Their interaction came in the morning.  It was around the usual time 7:49am, just nineteen minutes after the doors opened. 

              “
Hey fancy dresser
,” said Diana.

              “
Hey cosmopolitan
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
How’s the coffee today
?” asked Diana.

              “
I liked it better yesterday
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
There’s something about Wednesdays
,” said Diana.

              “
Different from the rest of the week
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
Right in the middle
,” said Diana.

              “
Like us
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
We’re in the middle
?” asked Diana.

              “
Thereabouts
,” said Xiaoyu

              “
Really
?” asked Diana.  Xiaoyu smiled and took a sip of coffee. 

              “
No
,” said Xiaoyu, “
Now that I think about it.  Not quite
.”

              “
Why
?” asked Diana.

              “
I’ll tell you later
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
You’re shy now
?” said Diana.

              “
Very
,” said Xiaoyu, “
But I’ll be less shy later
.”

              “
When’s later
?” asked Diana.

              “
After work
,” said Xiaoyu, “
I’ll pick you up.  I’m only reading over and making some suggestions to some contracts.  Shouldn’t take too long
.”

              “
Ok, just wait outside the building at six
,” said Diana, “
I’ll be out shortly after
.”

• • •

Xiaoyu was on time.  In front of the building was an angular metallic sculpture surrounded by a spraying fountain.  It was a strange combination.  Management couldn’t make up their mind about the fountain.  One manager came through the front entrance.  She wore her hair simple as always and the same red top and white skirt that Xiaoyu remembered from the morning.  Her lips remembered his.  They walked on the sidewalk down the entryway.

              “
So what did you mean earlier
?” said Diana, “
You said you’d tell me
.”

              “
About what
?” asked Xiaoyu.

              “
About us not being in the middle
,” said Diana, “
Or whatever it is that you said
.”

              “
I said that because you haven’t spent the night at my place yet
,” said Xiaoyu, “
I’ve spent the night at yours many times
.”

              “
I’ve been to your place
,” said Diana.

              “
Not the same
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
And that hurts your feelings
?” said Diana.

              “
Little bit
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
That can be easily rectified
,” said Diana.

              “
Let’s rectify it this weekend
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
OK
,” said Diana, “
This weekend we stay at your rented, poorly decorated apartment
.”

              “
Now you’re trying to hurt me all over again
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
You noticed
,” said Diana.

              “
More like noticing a pattern
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
You’re the one who’s leaving
,” said Diana, “
I have to get them in when I can
.”

              “
While you can
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
Now your starting to hurt me
,” said Diana.

              “
I used to box
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
But you don’t have gloves on
,” said Diana.

              “
I didn’t say I boxed with gloves
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “I
f not gloves then what
?” asked Diana.

              “
Just these, with hand wraps
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
I don’t believe you’re joking
,” said Diana.

              “
Why
?” asked Xiaoyu.

              “
It would explain the scars on your face
,” said Diana, “
Like that one and that one
.”

              “
You’re good with detail
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
I’m a systems administrator
,” said Diana, “
It’s all in the details
.”

              “
That’s good
,” said Xiaoyu, “
That’s how you know I wasn’t joking
.”

              “
About the boxing
,” said Diana.  Xiaoyu threw his hands up and balled them into fists. 

              “
Is that a challenge
?” asked Diana.

              “
A demonstration
,” said Xiaoyu.

              “
I may be skinny but that doesn’t mean I won’t kick you in the balls
,” said Diana.

              “
You could
,” said Xiaoyu, “
But there’s a better use for them
.”

              “
Not until this weekend
,” said Diana.

              “
This weekend then
,” said Xiaoyu.

• • •

              Thursday came and went as did Friday.  Diana packed an overnight bag and prepared to spend the next two nights away.  Xiaoyu’s rented apartment was like a rented apartment.  The furniture didn’t impress.  The dinnerware wasn’t enough.  But it was near the embassies, which was great for getting in touch with the Chamber of Commerce.  The US Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception on Saturday and Xiaoyu showed Diana the invitations.  She was happily surprised and hotly appalled that Xiaoyu hadn’t told her in advance.  She didn’t bring anything to wear to a reception.  Xiaoyu had planned ahead.  He took her shopping.  He didn’t just go with her.  He also set two conditions.  He wouldn’t pay for anything more that $1,000 American and she had to buy from a store east of downtown near the embassies.  He explained that she could buy something over $1,000 but she would have to make up the difference.  She called him cheap.  He said the key to successful transactions was regarding limitations. 

In the end, she picked out a black silk dress that matched her silk black hair.  The fit was flattering and the dress was within range, $729.  At the register, Diana was almost giddy.  Her giddiness left and returned with alarm when she noticed Xiaoyu paying with cash.  She had never seen him do it before.  And the amount was large.  He gently laid ten hundred dollar bills on the counter, counted them out and returned two to his wallet.  The boutiques near the embassies accepted Dollars, Yen or Pounds.  Diana remembered Xiaoyu saying he would pay as long as she shopped in the area near the embassies.  It was odd for him to want to pay cash.  The real oddity was throwing away cash.  Boutiques near the embassy offered transactions in foreign currency as a courtesy to the diplomatic circles.  But the transactions were one-sided.  The stores were a cartel.  They all agreed to offer the service and all agreed not to accept a bill lower than twenty.  Any excess amounts would not be returned in foreign currency or Ringgit.  It would be absorbed by the boutique as cost of doing business.  Xiaoyu put $800 down on a $729 dress.  The extra $71 went missing.  He would never see it again.  Diana looked at Xiaoyu and he thanked the clerk as the clerk thanked him.  He didn’t seem to care about the money.  If he did care, it wasn’t $71 worth.  The clerk handed the boxed dress to Xiaoyu who handed it to Diana.

• • •

              They ate lunch in the city center.  It was a salad bar.  The topic of the dress purchase didn’t come up, other than Xiaoyu congratulating Diana on her good taste.  After lunch, they went back to Xiaoyu’s rented apartment.  Xiaoyu said he wanted to take a nap before the reception.  He retired to the bedroom.  Diana stayed up to watch TV; something wouldn’t let her sleep.  Xiaoyu took his shower first.  When Diana entered the bathroom, she smelled a strange chemical vapor. 
Hairspray
. 
Deoderant
. 
Eau de Toilette
.  She couldn’t decide.  She took a shower almost somber.  She was excited about going to the reception, but the week had brought out subtle differences in Xiaoyu, subtle but noticeable.  He had never complained about her not spending the night at his apartment before.  Her apartment had always seemed more comfortable because she actually lived in it.  Making love in a rented apartment gave way to wandering thoughts. 
How many couples came before us?
 
Were they’re only couples?
 
If you like to party, why do it at home?  Why not rent an apartment?
 
At least no one had to know where you lived
. 

• • •

              Xiaoyu and Diana arrived at the reception fifteen minutes after the time listed on the invitation.  It was no one’s fault.  Diana was fashionably late when she could be.  Xiaoyu learned the technique from her.  The reception had a flair all its own.  No expense was spared. 
Champagne Krug
. 
Hors d’oeuvres of smoked ham and strawberry cream cheese
. 
Stuffed olives and African peppers
.  The high cost was as obvious as owing the tab.  The catering was a gross mess in terms of organization.  Organized messes were always expensive.  And security had to be served along with the finger foods.  But the Chamber of Commerce had to put its best foot forward for local business interests.  The event couldn’t just be good enough for government work.  The money was well spent.