The Profit Motive, page 22
part #2 of Sterling and Mason Series
Imagining Siobhan’s reaction to hearing of his arrest made Adam smile, but his predicament wasn’t a laughing matter. The interview room had a faint acidic odour he tried to identify. A click and the door opened. Tang appeared, grim-faced, and following behind came her new boss. Adam, relieved to see a familiar face, greeted the sergeant in English.
Tang introduced Rong and began without preamble. “Can you say why you at apartment?”
Adam had been mulling over his answer since the police separated him and Jie. “I wanted to speak to the occupants about the disappearance of my employer, Ms Hetherington.”
Rong sat staring at Adam as he spoke to Tang in Mandarin.
Tang translated. “You believe they took her?”
“It’s a possibility.”
Rong’s next question made Tang hesitate before she relayed it. “They don’t answer your questions? Is that why you kill them?”
“They were dead long before we got there.” Not even an idiot like Rong could believe they’d just died.
“We found your fingerprints on the victim.”
Rong played his ‘bad cop’ part but Adam didn’t react. “No you didn’t. I saw they were dead and I didn’t go near them.”
Rong seized on this. “You are an expert on death?”
“I’ve seen enough dead bodies.” Adam didn’t want to discuss his background and knew, from listening to Siobhan and her colleagues, to keep his answers short.
Rong continued with this line of questioning but changed direction after a while and Adam guessed Tang was asking her own questions. “What make you think they had anything to do with it?”
Adam welcomed the change of tack and relaxed. “We suspected the person responsible for her abduction was also behind the attack on her father. We wanted to speak to everyone who knew both of them.”
“You have evidence?”
“No, but there’s a link through their business. Inspector Jie is aware of this.” Adam explained the reason for Oliver’s visit. “There will be evidence but we don’t have the resources. I’m sure you could find it if you looked.”
“Stop!” Rong slapped the desk and spoke to Tang, his tone admonishing.
Tang stared at the desk, her fists clenched. “You and Inspector Jie Gang returned to remove evidence—”
“What evidence?”
“You have removed, so we do not know.”
“But why would we call the police?” Adam said. Rong was a complete idiot.
“The porter saw you.”
“If we knew they were dead, why did we let him in the room?”
Rong thought about this for a moment and then said something to Tang.
“The inspector says, why did you say you were a policeman?”
Adam hesitated, knowing, even in the UK, this was a serious crime. He had no doubt the matter would be treated more severely in China. He stuck to the tactic they’d discussed with Jie. “I didn’t.”
“Liar!” Rong said. He stood and marched to the door.
When he’d left, Tang said, “Sorry, Mr Adam, the inspector wants to lock you away.”
“But we need to find Kate.”
“To say you are police, very serious. Sorry.” Tang bit the inside of her cheek and glanced at the door. “A man phone Fang Jiao, the dead woman, when I search the room. I answer and say police but he end the call. He sound foreign, maybe English, but accent different.”
“Do you have any idea where—”
The door crashed open and Rong barged in, followed by four uniformed officers.
CHAPTER 34
Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
Jie wished he could have a cigarette, but he’d run out. Sergeant Duan smoked, but he claimed not to have any, obviously keen not to upset Rong. Why did he have Duan here instead of Tang? Did Rong have hidden depths of compassion and had excused Tang in consideration to their relationship? Jie doubted it.
“I’ve arrested the half-Chinese,” Rong said.
“What for? He’s a witness like me.”
“Impersonating a police officer.”
Jie laughed. “How did he do that? Was he wearing a uniform?”
Rong’s ears grew red. “Don’t be clever, Jie. You are that close to joining him.” He held his thumb and forefinger a few millimetres apart. “It is only because you still have one or two friends in the force…”
And the superintendent doesn’t want to arrest one of his own: a bad career move. “He speaks no Mandarin, so how did he impersonate a police officer?”
“The concierge said you told him he was a senior officer.”
“So I am the guilty one.”
“You admit it!”
That would be stupid and that’s one thing I’m not. “Of course not.”
“The concierge confirmed you did. Here.” Duan brandished a statement. “He’s a veteran of the People’s Liberation Army so wouldn’t lie.”
“Unless he made a mistake.”
“He also told us your companion agreed with you.” Duan threw the statement onto the table.
Jie grinned at Rong. “Does your witness speak English?”
Rong glared at Duan. “No.”
“Maybe he made a mistake, because of the shock…”
Rong studied his papers and regrouped, his ears almost glowing. “Explain what you were doing there.”
“The dead couple are linked to another death connected to the company Miss Kate and her father own—”
“Why wasn’t that in the file?”
“It is.” Jie gave Rong the case number. “I’m sure Sergeant Tang will have mentioned it to you. I’m surprised she didn’t suggest investigating—”
“Yes, I’m aware you had harassed Quan Liang. We found no evidence against them.”
“Evidence is something we have to look for. Their violent deaths suggest involvement in criminal activity.”
“Robbers.” Duan seemed to have regained his confidence. “The place is a thief’s paradise.”
“Anything missing?”
Duan’s eyes darted.
“I suggest you investigate the couple’s business life. Two British citizens are missing and I’m sure the Ministry of Public Security will want to know what you’re doing about it.”
Rong’s ears returned to their normal colour as the blood drained from his face.
Adam walked out of the police headquarters. The humidity of the afternoon enveloped him. He stood on the step, squinting into the sunlight, experiencing a mixture of relief and trepidation. Rong had sent an officer who spoke no English to release him, so Adam had no idea why they’d let him go. The thought it might be a mistake they’d soon reverse propelled him down the steps. He looked for a taxi.
“Mr Adam,” Jie called.
Adam grinned and faced the policeman. “They’ve released you as well, Inspector?”
Jie returned the smile. “We are not criminal.” He gestured toward a taxi. “We go to hotel.”
Byron and Harry should be there; Adam had warned them to leave while Jie rang the police. En route, Adam tried to find out why they’d released him. Jie struggled to explain in English, so it was a relief to find Byron and Harry indeed waiting for them at the hotel.
“Trust you to get arrested,” Byron said, “leaving us to do all the work.”
“How did it go?” Adam said.
“We fed and watered our guest, and Harry’s been ringing round, trying to find properties Quan Liang and his wife own.”
“Would they risk using their own place?”
“Why not? They’d control the premises, and it didn’t sound like the local police were looking at them so there wasn’t much chance of being rumbled.”
Adam hoped he was right, otherwise their task became impossible. “How’s the prisoner?”
“He’ll live. What happened to them, Quan Liang and his wife? We heard you found them dead. Gun or knife?”
“He broke their necks, knocked them about first.”
“Nasty bastard!”
The thought Kate had been in Zhang’s hands filled Adam with fury and helplessness. But who had her now?
“Mr Adam.” Harry had been speaking to Jie. “The inspector says you have to leave China.”
“What do you mean?”
“The police have a condition on your release. You must leave the country within forty-eight hours.”
“Can’t we appeal?” Adam asked Jie and Harry translated.
“Appeal will take up to one month but you have to comply, otherwise they will arrest you and appeal not allowed.”
“Great. What happens to Kate in the meantime?”
“I’ll stay - that’s okay, isn’t it?” Byron asked Jie, who nodded. “We can get more help if we need it,” he said to Adam.
He couldn’t think of a better man to be looking for Kate, but Adam hated the thought of abandoning her. “I’ve still got two days before I have to go.” He’d better book the flight; at least he had enough on his card to pay for it. So much for earning extra money by taking this job. In the meantime, they could follow up Tang’s lead. “Tang said someone speaking English phoned Fang Jiao’s mobile.”
“Did she say where from?” Byron said.
“I asked, but Rong dragged me off to the cell before she answered.”
Harry relayed this to Jie, who took out his mobile and made a call.
“There can’t be many foreigners in Wenzhou,” Byron said.
“If the call came from Wenzhou.” Adam didn’t want to build his hopes up.
“Let’s assume it did.”
“Eggen?”
“Great minds. Let’s pay him a visit. Where’s he staying?”
The ability to do something useful gave Adam a jolt of energy, temporarily dispelling his growing dread.
Kate jerked awake, disorientated, and peered into the darkness. Her back and shoulder pressed against the wall. Remarkably, she’d remained upright, wedged into the corner. She listened. Men spoke outside the door but not loud enough for her to make out the words. One came closer.
She tightened her right hand, but it was empty. Where was the weapon she’d spent so long recovering? A moment of panic and she bent over, sweeping her hands until her fingers touched metal. Relief surged through her and she picked up the hefty piece of steel. With a scrape, the bolts drew and she tensed, heart pounding, ready to pounce. The door opened a crack.
“...yeah, okay, I’ll check on Sleeping Beauty.”
In the distance, an outer door shut and Kate made a decision. She retreated into the main room. The door opened wider, and a hand reached in for the light switch. A click, but no light.
“Fuck!”
Glad she’d thought to smash the bulb, she waited inside the main room. Her jailer shuffled forward, eyes still unaccustomed to the gloom. She could see his outline against the light from the open door. His hand brushed the wall beside her, searching for the main switch.
With a scream, Kate struck at his head, her war-cry mingling with his yell of surprise. Shockwaves travelled up her arm as the bar hit something solid. Had she missed him? The sounds he made told her not. She struck again, this time hitting a softer target. The third blow hit air and Kate fell, landing on the floor in an ungainly heap. Pain flashed through her head. She wanted to lie still until it subsided but she struggled upright, grimacing as her injured knee took her weight. She peered into the darkness, her hands empty, feeling exposed. A mound lay on the floor, unmoving. She shuffled closer.
She edged round the figure on the floor and, without taking her gaze off it, flicked the light switch to the main room. She squinted into the brightness. Stu, Max Eggen’s sidekick, lay on his back, unconscious. A dark scarlet patch spread from a wound on his forehead, like a garish silk scarf on the pale floor. Had she killed him? Bile rose in her throat and a tremor passed through her, draining strength from her limbs. She leaned against the wall, wanting nothing more than to curl up on the mattress.
A door slammed, jerking her upright. “Stu, what’s happening?” The man with the accent called from the outer room.
The hire car pulled up outside the International Trade Hotel. Eggen’s car wasn’t in the car park. Byron exchanged a look of disappointment with Adam and stared up at the gleaming facade.
“I ask where he go,” Jie said, opening the door.
“No, you two are in enough trouble,” Byron said. “Harry and I will go, tell them we have a business meeting with Eggen.”
He unfolded himself out of the car and the damp heat swamped him. Jie followed, closing the door and striking a match at the same time. Byron strode into the hotel with Harry alongside him. Frigid air cooled the perspiration on his brow. Two people behind the polished reception desk hid their alarm and pasted on professional smiles.
“Good evening, my name’s Mason. I have a meeting with Mr Eggen.”
The woman answered in perfect English. “Sorry, Mr Eggen left this morning.”
Byron’s heart shrank: had he finished what he came to do? “Has he checked out?”
“Oh no, sir. He booked his room for three more days. Do you want to leave a message?”
“I’ll ring him.” Byron thanked her and returned to the car. At least he hadn’t gone, but they needed to find him soon.
Jie paced the car park, puffing away and holding an animated conversation on his mobile. He ended his call and finished his cigarette as they arrived at the car. Byron got into the passenger seat but Jie stopped Harry and spoke to him.
“Any joy?” Adam said.
Byron told him and exhaled in frustration.
“We can’t wait around for him to come back.”
Harry snatched the driver’s door open. “Mr Adam, the inspector has information. People have taken food into a disused building.”
“So what? If it’s anything like the UK, homeless people—”
“Not homeless.”
“That’s not much use.” Adam sounded despondent.
Harry didn’t look put out. “Only one building in that area belongs to Quan Liang.”
“What are we waiting for?” Byron fastened his seatbelt and Jie joined them, accompanied by the stench of tobacco.
Harry nosed out of the car park and Byron checked his automatic, hearing Adam do the same. Between them they had three, but the 7.62 didn’t have great stopping power. Whoever had Kate would be armed. If it was Eggen, his men had more powerful weapons, and there were at least four of them, all well trained. Byron wasn’t too sure how well Jie could shoot but there wasn’t much choice. They could either report it to the police, hoping they did the job, or they do it themselves. From what they’d seen at the high rise, trusting the police seemed the bigger risk.
The car eased through busy traffic. Harry picked up on the urgency and drove faster until they hit a major junction and everything came to a halt.
Byron doubted even sirens and blue lights would have helped. “Is there another route?”
Harry spoke to Jie in Mandarin then said, “Sorry, Inspector says this is quickest route at this time of day.”
Memories he’d consigned to the back of his mind intruded as Byron stared through the windscreen. He’d seen Eggen in action and respect for women wasn’t high on his agenda. Once the thought took hold, he couldn’t dislodge it. If he’d touched Kate, Byron would make him regret it. He glanced at Adam in the back seat and, from his expression, guessed he shared the same thoughts.
The traffic eventually moved, easing until they made good time, keeping just below the speed limit. They left the main road and drove down a narrow potholed lane, missing a pair of pigs rooting about in a pile of rubbish.
“There,” Jie said, pointing to a dilapidated office block.
The four-storey building stood set back from the road, behind a high wall. The lower windows had metal bars across them and a couple higher up had wooden sheets nailed across the frames. Rusty watermarks stained the concrete walls, adding to the air of dilapidation. Harry slowed the car as they approached a half-open gateway.
“Keep going,” Adam said, pre-empting Byron. “Drive round the block.”
There were no other entrances, so they returned to the gateway and pulled up past it. “Stay here, Harry, we’ll have a look,” Byron said.
He got out, pushed the door shut and studied the deserted lane. Adam and Jie joined him, and the policeman produced a cigarette.
“No smoking,” Byron said.
Jie opened his mouth to argue.
“If you need to smoke, you stay here.”
The two men locked gazes then Jie nodded and dropped the cigarette on the floor. Byron strolled to the gateway, unease making him tense. The open gate led to a courtyard with room for a dozen cars. He stepped into the opening and scanned the space.
“Nobody’s here.” Disappointment made his breath catch.
“Men go quick.” Jie pointed to a chain with a padlock hanging from one gate.
“The door’s open.” Adam jogged to the main entrance.
Skid marks in the gravel showed signs of a vehicle having left in a hurry. Byron retrieved the automatic from his pocket and followed Adam. Muscle memory, imprinted during many hours of training, reasserted itself and the two men fell into familiar patterns. Adam charged into the building while Byron covered him. Dark smudges marked the pale floor tiles at the entrance.
“They’ve dragged an injured person out,” Adam whispered.
Pulse racing and mouth dry, Byron scanned the space they’d entered, a wide corridor with a row of doors off it, empty but for a desk with a leg missing and an overturned filing cabinet. The marks on the floor led to a door on their right. Byron took the lead. Light leaked in through a mucky window. A concrete staircase lead to upper floors. Dark marks on the steps told them they were going the right way. He tried to ignore what they could mean.
The stains stopped at the second floor. They doubled back, signalling to Jie to wait on the staircase and this time Adam led the way. He held the automatic in front of him and darted into a gloomy corridor. Light from an open door supplemented that coming from a window at the far end. The bloodstains formed darker patches against the floor and led to the illuminated room. After a quick check of the other doors, the two men entered.
