The Profit Motive, page 24
part #2 of Sterling and Mason Series
An hour later he stretched and lit a cigarette. They’d examined every piece of paper in the place. His eyes smarted and his stomach told him it needed attention. At least it would make Duan happy they’d finished. Weariness hit him as he thought again of the young man on the boat. Maybe he could get Adam and the others to do it, but he needed to be there. They must talk to the boy and explain the consequences if he went to the authorities.
“Sir.” The sergeant thrust a book at him.
Alerted by Duan’s tone, Jie took the thick volume. The title didn’t inspire interest: The Principles of Corporate Finance. “What am I looking at?”
Duan pointed at a piece of paper a few millimetres proud of the pages. Jie opened the book. Between two pages near the back lay a folded piece of paper. Someone had scribbled an address next to the name Zhang. Tiredness fell away from Jie.
Jie stood on the balcony outside Zhang’s apartment and savoured the smoke from his cigarette. The excitement of discovering a passport in the name of Zhang Ning had faded as Jie realised he’d made the wrong decision. Faced with the choice of a stealthy approach followed by an ambush, or a full-frontal assault, he’d opted for the latter. The massacre resulting from his last encounter with Zhang had influenced his decision, but it was still a mistake. The evidence suggested Zhang intended to return before fleeing. He wouldn’t come back here now. Jie hoped the raid had at least inconvenienced the murderer. He took a last drag before extinguishing the cigarette and dropping over the side.
Inside, the search teams went about their work dismantling the apartment, ostensibly looking for evidence but, in reality, taking their anger at the deaths of their colleagues out on the inanimate possessions of the killer. Jie wondered how long before Hòu or even his boss heard about the raid and got in touch.
Duan appeared from a bedroom. “Sir, look at this?”
Jie followed him into the room. The bed lay on its side, the mattress eviscerated with wads of cotton and springs protruding through the fabric. In the far corner of the room an officer smashed a drawer against the wall, stopping when he realised Jie was there. Someone had pulled up the carpet under the bed and exposed a hole the size of a large shoebox. Its contents lay on the floor beside it.
Duan picked up two photographs. “That’s him, sir.”
Jie studied the black-and-white image. Creases where someone had folded it divided it in quarters. A boy of about thirteen glared into the lens. He didn’t have the scar but you couldn’t mistake the eyes. What had happened to the boy to give him such a fierce expression? A sense of despair at humanity washed over Jie and he handed the picture back.
“We also found this, sir,” one of the constables said, earning a glower from Duan.
The Resident Identity Card identified the carrier as sixteen although he looked older and he’d now acquired the scar. The card, issued in the city of Dongguan, identified him as Shao Peng. Jie couldn’t help smiling. The man’s original name fitted far better than the one he’d chosen. This explained why they couldn’t trace him. A memory flashed. A young man brought into the station, accused of stealing food. He’d arrived on the bus from Dongguan. Jie had felt sorry for the lad and released him after giving him a lecture. Maybe if he’d taken more severe action at the time…
“Good work,” he said, “Sergeant, instigate a search for a criminal record.” He thrust the identity card at Duan.
His phone rang, but he didn’t recognise the number. “Jie speaking.”
“Senior Inspector,” Hòu said, sounding angry. “What are you doing investigating the shooting of our officers?”
“I’m not, sir, this is the man who killed Quan Liang—”
“I don’t fucking care. You knew this was the man who shot your team and I’d specifically forbidden you from working on that case.”
Jie didn’t have an answer.
Hòu took a deep breath and spoke in a more moderate manner. “So, the man’s gone.”
Jie glanced at Duan whose cheeks reddened. “I’m afraid so, what do you want me to do, sir?”
Hòu paused for long moments. “Get what you can and see me with it in the morning. I’ll decide who’s taking the case.”
“Yes, sir.” Jie slid the phone into his pocket and lit another Hongta Shan. Duan had disappeared.
Adam fidgeted in the back of the car as Harry drove to the boat with his usual caution. Adam recognised landmarks as they wove through lanes which were becoming familiar. He’d replayed every possible scenario of what might have happened to Kate, none of which ended well for her.
Byron sat in the front passenger seat attracting stares from passers-by. “You okay, mate?”
“Not really.”
“We’ll find her.”
“Yeah.” But would they be in time? Adam wondered what had happened to Jie and if he was in any position to help them.
The roadway became rougher and the greenery surrounding them closed in until Harry pulled to a stop at the deserted quayside. “Shall I wait…?”
“Sure, we won’t be long,” Byron said, taking a torch.
Adam got out, scanning the path behind them in the twilight before following his friend. The hull rocked as they mounted the gangplank. Byron switched the torch on before ducking into the wheelhouse and opening the hatch. The stench made him exclaim, and he recoiled, holding his nose.
“I’ll get him.” Adam brushed past, shining his torch into the black rectangular hole. “Danny, come on, you’re going home.” Adam moved closer to the hatch. A stink of sewage mingled with the stale grease they’d encountered on their first visit. Movement came from the shadows and Adam directed his torch at the ladder. “We haven’t got all day.”
Danny appeared, blinking in the torchlight and shuffled toward the ladder. “I can go?”
“Yeah, come on.” He gestured with the torch beam.
“You find woman?”
“No.” A surge of anger made Adam want to smash his fist into Danny’s face. “But your friend doesn’t have her anymore.”
Danny looked confused, but gripped the ladder and ascended. Adam gave him room, making sure he stayed out of reach. Danny stepped onto the deck, stumbling as his foot caught on the lip of the hatch. Adam and Byron moved back from the door of the wheelhouse and let him walk between them.
“Come on, let’s go.” Byron prodded him in the back.
At the top of the gangplank, a shout reached them. “Release him!”
A figure stood by the car.
“Zhang!” Danny cried out. “You came.”
Adam made out two figures. Harry and behind him a bigger man, holding a gun at his head.
“There’s no need to get excited, we’re here to take him home,” Byron said in a soothing voice.
“Of course.” Zhang’s forearm encircled Harry’s neck and a large automatic in his other hand pressed into his temple.
“It’s true,” Danny said. “They said you haven’t got the girl.”
“But you’ve seen their faces.” Zhang tightened his forearm, pulling Harry’s head back and making him stand on tiptoe.
Zhang swung the pistol at Adam. Danny shouted, “No, Zhang!”
Adam jumped behind Danny and pushed him as a flash burst from the muzzle. The sound of the explosion arrived at the moment Danny’s head jerked and hot liquid sprayed Adam’s face. He gripped the young man’s shoulders, holding him upright, and charged down the gangplank.
Zhang stopped, a look of horror frozen on his features. His left arm dropped and Harry, once his feet hit the ground, stamped on his instep. Zhang hit him with the stock of the automatic and Harry fell.
The combined weight of Adam and Danny made the gangplank bounce and as Adam stepped off the bottom, it snapped, falling into the water with a splash. Shit! He hoped Byron wasn’t on it. Adam ran, closing the distance between him and Zhang, his shoulder muscles burning with the effort of holding Danny upright. Danny’s head flopped forward, exposing Adam’s. Zhang took aim. A flashing light flew at him and he ducked. With a breathless thanks to Byron, Adam shoved Danny with all his strength.
His lifeless body hurtled at Zhang, but it landed on Harry and Zhang kept his feet. Blood coated his face and before he could clear it Adam leaped on him. Zhang twisted away and swung the pistol at Adam. It struck him high on the forehead, sending a shockwave down his spine and making his legs wobble. But he stayed upright and swung a punch. It caught Zhang in the ribcage, but Adam was off balance, his foot on one of the prone bodies, and the punch lacked power.
Before he could adjust his footing, Zhang belted him again, catching him on the ear. Hot pain exploded at the side of his head. His left foot slid, and he threw his arm out, slamming into a limb, but it wasn’t enough to arrest his fall and he crashed to the ground.
CHAPTER 37
Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
The headache radiating from Adam’s temple flared as he bent to replace the hatch on the engine compartment of the boat. The elbow he’d overextended catching Zhang’s arm complained when he lifted the heavy metal plate. He didn’t mind: knocking the pistol out of the killer’s hand had saved his life. The lid clanged as he dropped it into place. Underneath it lay Danny and the automatic used to kill him and, Adam guessed, the four policemen.
“You okay, mate?” Byron said.
“Nothing a clean-up and a few drinks won’t cure.”
“Let’s go and get them.” Byron thumped him on the shoulder and led the way off the deck. The makeshift gangplank they’d made bowed as he crossed it.
Harry sat in the driver’s seat, staring at nothing. Danny’s blood stained his shirt, despite attempts to clean it.
“You going to be all right to drive?” Adam said.
“Yeah, sure.” He stirred himself and started the engine.
Adam and Byron had a last check round, making sure they left nothing to link them to the site. At least there were few CCTV cameras and they’d not seen anyone apart from Zhang. Harry had offered profuse apologies for not spotting their tail, but that was on their heads. They’d have to let Jie know what had happened. Adam felt too weary to deal with this, and they still had no idea where to find Kate. The contrast with the beach holiday he’d planned provoked a grimace. He’d need one to recover from this.
The buzzing of his mobile made him jump. “Hello?”
“Mr Adam, Jie here—”
“Are you okay?”
“You have to release… the young man, but you—”
“That’s taken care of.” Adam didn’t want to discuss the death on a mobile.
Jie sighed, sounding fed up. “You let him go?”
“Sort of. Where are you?” A siren sounded in the background.
“At home of Zhang, but he escape.”
“They’ve reinstated you?”
Jie didn’t reply.
“Are you back at work?”
“Yes, I look for Zhang.”
“What about Kate?”
“Sorry.”
A voice shouted Jie’s name.
“I have to go, we find something.” Jie ended the call.
Adam relayed his information to the other two.
“I’d have thought Zhang would go straight home once he left here,” Byron said. “He’d have blood all over him.”
Adam shrugged. He didn’t care if he never heard of the man again.
Tang cleared up after their evening meal. Feng helped in sullen silence. She’d arrived home late, forgetting her in-laws were due round, and he was still sulking. Her mobile rang and she checked the caller ID with a sinking feeling.
“Do you have to answer it?” Feng said with a frown.
“It’s my boss.” Tang took the call.
“Sergeant, there’s a report of a sighting of the vehicle we’re looking for.” Rong dictated an address in Long Fangqiao. “Let me know what you find.”
“Are you not coming?” Tang hadn’t intended it to sound like a rebuke.
“No, I am not, Sergeant. It’s probably chicken feathers and garlic peels, but if you don’t feel you can handle it…”
Since being taken off the double murder, Rong had become even more thin-skinned. “No problem, sir, I’ll go straight away.” Tang ended the call, ignoring Feng’s expression of incredulity. “Sorry, please give your parents my apologies.”
Even at this time of night the traffic teemed and Tang took ages to get across town. She parked the car in front of an insurance office and walked the last few hundred metres. A patrol car sat in the middle of a narrow alley, blocking other traffic. Residents made loud complaints as they manoeuvred round the car. Didn’t the idiot driving it have a brain? Why hadn’t Rong mentioned a patrol car was already there?
“Constable,” Tang said shoving her ID card at the driver, “Why are you parked here?”
The officer swallowed his mouthful of lampcake, brushing crumbs off his shirt front. The smell of fish mingled with tobacco smoke from his companion’s cigarette. “We’re having a break, Sergeant. Anyway, this isn’t your area, why are you here?”
“What’s your name, constable?”
“Sorry, Sergeant,” the passenger said. “It’s been a long day, we should have finished three hours ago.”
Tang didn’t want to waste any more time disciplining the constable, she wanted the car out of sight. She dismissed them, waiting for them to leave before continuing to the address. A high wall and solid wooden gates surrounded the premises. Making sure she wasn’t observed, she pressed her eye to the crack where the two leaves met but could see nothing.
“Psssttt…”
She jumped and spun round to face an old woman with pale wrinkled skin, two prominent teeth and a healthy growth of whiskers on her chin. The vision of a naked mole rat flashed into Tang’s mind.
“Go away, the police are coming,” the woman continued in an exaggerated whisper.
Tang moved away from the gate. “I am the police. Are you the informant?”
The woman looked doubtful until Tang showed her ID.
“They said there was a reward.” A greyish tongue flicked out between her lips.
“There’s nothing here.”
“You can see from up there.” She pointed into the sky and set off at a surprising lope, leading Tang toward an opening in a building across the road.
Memories of Zhang’s ambush made her hesitate. Rong knew she was the officer attending and he had links to the people who’d hired Zhang. Telling herself not to be paranoid, she followed. The old lady had reached the landing above by the time Tang found the staircase. At the top floor the old woman waited by a doorway, hardly out of breath.
“I thought you police were fit,” she said, operating a series of locks.
The smell of mouldy newsprint hit Tang as the door opened. Mounds of the stuff, up to shoulder height, lined the corridor with a narrow passage left between the tottering piles. Tang stepped to one side, taking care not to overbalance the stacks, to let her lock the door. The woman led her to a window overlooking the courtyard. A pale vehicle which could have been the one they sought, sat alongside the external wall.
“Do I get my reward?”
“I can’t see the number plate—”
“Don’t try to cheat me.”
Getting into an argument would be more trouble than it was worth so she produced a hundred Yuan note. “Did the people go into that building?”
The woman held out her hand and she passed her the note which promptly disappeared. “Another car took them.”
Tang’s shoulders slumped.
“They didn’t go far.”
“Where?” she demanded.
“How much if I show you?”
“Five hundred.”
Her eye’s glittered and the grey tongue reappeared.
“That’s the fine for withholding information from the police. Now, show me!”
The old woman led her out of her building and along the lane leading past the house Tang had seen from her window. She scuttled ahead, weaving through the pedestrians and Tang had to jog to keep pace. After they’d gone a kilometre, the old woman stopped.
“I should really get a second reward—”
“Don’t make me angry, old woman.”
She gave a sulky pout and pointed to a workshop with a graffiti-covered shutter across the front. “They went in there.”
The building looked derelict, but so did many of the others surrounding it and lights burned in their windows. “Are you sure? It looks empty.”
“Look.” She pointed at a thin sliver of light coming from the edge of a first floor window. “I thought they trained you police to see things.”
“Off you go, before I arrest you.”
The old woman slunk away leaving Tang staring at the window, wishing she could penetrate the opaque covering. If she alerted Rong and the old lady had deceived her, or more likely made a mistake, she’d look a fool, something Jie might have forgiven but not her new boss.
The tingling in her lower arms became painful and Kate rocked, trying to ease the pressure off her hands. It felt like she’d been here for days and her joints ached as the hard floor dug into her flesh. She’d ended the pretence of being unconscious when thirst became unbearable. Her captors had placed a hood over her head and made her drink lukewarm water through a straw. The rough fabric scratched her skin when she moved but the smell of rice had faded, overwhelmed by the sharp tang of her own vomit.
The hope that her rescuers would find her alternated with a darker possibility where she died in a shoot-out. Another scenario had her captors releasing her after a ransom payment. The fragment of a phone conversation she’d overheard made her think the latter the most likely. The snatches she caught sounded like instructions for paying a ransom. She didn’t care what happened as long as she got out of there.
A sound, familiar but unexpected, seized her attention. A sigh then a grunt followed by the rustle of fabric. Her captors were asleep. She should try to escape. She’d spent hours testing her bonds but, not wanting her captors to notice, she’d tried not to move much. With them asleep she could take more risks. She rolled onto her front and flexed her arms, pulling her wrists apart until the rope bit into her flesh. The loop round her left wrist felt looser and, putting her hands together, she worked the index finger of her right hand between the rope and her flesh.
