The Profit Motive, page 25
part #2 of Sterling and Mason Series
A familiar tune made her jump. One of their phones. It played for a long time, then a voice said, “Wei?”
A faint tinny voice replied and she strained to hear.
“Once I have confirmation we receive money.”
Bondarenko. Why had she trusted Adam to find someone to help her? But he’d tried to warn her about Eggen. Where was Eggen? Probably staying in the background, worried she’d recognise him too easily.
“We need to check our account first.”
Someone at H & T must have paid the ransom. A surge of relief made her cry.
“Few minutes. I ring you back.” The man ended the call. “Wang,” he shouted.
Feet pounded on the floor. “Yeah?”
“Check the account.”
“They pay?”
“So he said.”
Wang cheered and his footsteps receded. Kate’s heart raced, the prospect of being released banishing the pain from her limbs. The delay dragged. Something must have happened with the money transfer. Her fears returned. More footsteps.
“We got it?” Bondarenko said.
“Every cent,” Wang said.
Lights flashed in her head and she couldn’t suppress a cry.
“Do you want to do it?”
“Stu said he wants to, after what she did.”
“Is he up to it?”
“Oh yeah.” Wang chuckled. “He wants to make it slow.”
“Make sure the noise isn’t heard outside.”
Kate’s skin turned icy and her insides fluttered.
“You wanna watch?”
“No,” Bondarenko said. “I’ve seen you two at work.”
Kate couldn’t hold back the stream of watery liquid erupting from her throat.
CHAPTER 38
Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
Adam waited in the dark lane, ear pressed against the door of the building Tang had led them to. The fear they’d be too late made him seethe. Where the hell had Tang gone? The Type 77 seemed light and he fought the urge to check the magazine again. Seven shots plus one in the chamber. An identical automatic looked like a toy in Byron’s huge hand. Tang appeared with a sledgehammer and using sign language communicated her intentions. Maybe Byron should do it, he’d smash the door with one swing. But he’d much rather have his friend going in with him.
Byron stepped back, his grin letting Adam know he was ready to roll. The tremor in Adam’s chest stilled. Tang braced herself, grimacing in concentration. Adam and Byron shone their powerful torches at the door and Tang swung the heavy hammer, smashing it into the door just below the lock. With a crunch, the door gave way and slammed open.
Long-ingrained training took over. Adam charged in, ignoring the door as it bounced off the side wall and hit him. His torch beam swept the corridor. Two doors led off it, both on the left and at the end, a staircase. Based on what Tang had observed, they’d taken a gamble, deciding their targets were on the first floor. He ran past the doors and rushed up the stairs.
Byron raced up behind him and Tang brought up the rear. One door faced the stairs and he opened it. Keeping low, he rushed through it. An empty corridor, two doors on the right and one in front of him, fifteen paces away. Light leaked under the door at the end. He approached and a muffled scream froze his blood. It came from the door ahead. He ran forward. Movement came from his right and the first door flew open. A pale face appeared. A man in vest and trousers, the automatic in his hand pointing at Adam. Byron, at Adam’s shoulder, smashed the Type 77 into the man’s forehead.
Blood spattered and the automatic fell from the man’s hand. Byron caught it before it landed. Adam charged on, hitting the flimsy door with his shoulder, splintering it.
Three figures stood at the far end of the room. Two men and Kate. One held her upright while the second held a knife at her neck. Adam shot him three times.
The other man shouted a warning, “I shoot.” He held Kate in front of him, his automatic pointed at her.
“Put the gun down and I let you live,” Adam said, training the barrel at the small part of his head still visible. A difficult shot. Too much to attempt with an unfamiliar weapon.
“You put your gun down or I shoot.”
Byron strolled into the room, arm extended, his aim locked onto the man’s head.
“You stop!”
Byron ignored him and continued until he reached half way across the room. The man had a choice: use Kate to protect himself from Byron or from Adam.
“Let her go and you live,” Byron said.
Kate’s eyes came alive and Adam realised her intention. She bent her knees and dropped. Before the man could pull her back, Adam fired, emptying the magazine into the man’s exposed head. Kate fell and her lifeless captor slumped backwards. Adam rushed forward and knelt at her side.
“Are you hurt?” he said.
“Just get me out of here.” She struggled to her knees and Adam helped her.
Tang rushed in as Byron disarmed the two dead bodies. “Go before police arrive.”
“What are you going to do?” Adam said.
“I am police, I can carry gun.” She held her own pistol to Adam. “Here.”
They swapped weapons and Adam led Kate to the exit.
“How will you explain this?” Byron said.
“Don’t worry. Now go.”
The two of them helped Kate down the stairs, arriving back at the car as sirens sounded in the distance.
Monday 11 June 2001
The station buzzed with the tale of the shoot-out. Jie worried about Tang. She’d taken three lives, even if they were criminals. Jie would see her after his interview with Hòu. The superintendent kept him waiting ten minutes before an assistant ushered him into the office.
“Sit, Inspector,” Hòu said, seeming less angry than Jie expected. “You’ve heard they found the girl?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good work from Rong, following up the lead.”
“I didn’t realise he’d been there.”
“Well no, but his wise decision led to her discovery. Unfortunately, matters escalated before he arrived.”
Jie suspected a different truth. “I heard Sergeant Tang killed the kidnappers.”
Hòu’s expression clouded. “A pity, one was English and another Ukrainian, which will be a headache, but at least we have the girl safe and I’m very much hoping her father isn’t dead.”
“What? Rong told the girl he was.”
Hòu shuffled papers on his desk. “That’s what I want you to do, find the girl’s father.”
“What about the murder?”
“Now we know the killer also shot the four officers we can combine the cases. Rong will continue the hunt—”
“What about his link to Quan Liang?”
“I will deal with the paperwork. Now you concentrate on finding the Englishman, and congratulate your Sergeant for discovering the information linking Zhang Ning and Shao Peng. The police in Dongguan are still seeking him for a murder. Duan could be in line for a promotion.”
Jie swallowed the exclamation. “Yes, sir.”
He lit up outside Hòu’s office and shook his head. “Duan an inspector! They say good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk alone.”
A secretary walking past veered to the opposite side of the corridor and he saluted her with his cigarette. As he neared his office, he heard a cacophony coming from the entrance. Junior officers lined the corridor, applauding and whistling approval. Tang walked through them, looking embarrassed.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Jie shouted and waited until silence settled. “You’re behaving worse than kids at a junior school. Now, get back to work.”
The officers dispersed in silence.
“Thank you, sir,” Tang said.
“You got five minutes?”
Jie made sure he closed the door to his office and invited Tang to take a seat. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Tang didn’t look fine.
“What happened last night?”
She told him.
“I can understand why you didn’t call out the cavalry, but if this comes out…”
“I know, sir.”
Jie felt a surge of anger at Rong and his arrogance, but would another course of action have led to the death of the young lady? At least she was safe, but it put Tang in a difficult position.
“I heard Duan discovered vital evidence about Zhang, sir.”
Jie snorted. “The idiot searched a room I told him to.”
“He told me you’re searching for the girl’s father.”
Did the whole station know before he did?
“Can I make a suggestion?”
Jie nodded.
“I know you didn’t agree…” Tang studied her hands, “But I suspect Yuan knows something.”
Jie lit another cigarette. “You may be right, Sergeant. Thank you.”
The staff in the Red Dawn factory seemed forlorn, as if unsure what life held in store for them. Jie stood in the reception, ignoring a puffed-up Duan, and plucked a strand of tobacco from his lip. Low voices told him someone was coming. A resigned expression crossed Yuan’s features before he conjured up a smile.
“Inspector, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
Jie didn’t smile back. “We’re here to talk about Mr Oliver.”
Yuan’s hand flew to his chest. “You’re not here about the murders?”
“Another officer is investigating that case.”
Yuan took a moment to absorb this and gestured toward his office. “Please.”
Jie led the way and they stayed silent until they’d taken seats round a conference table and Yuan had distributed refreshments.
“How are people reacting to the deaths?” Jie said.
“Shock. We’re all dumbfounded. Who would do such a thing?”
“They must be concerned about their futures,” Duan said.
“Yes, but compared to the deaths of two young people…” Yuan shuddered. “We heard the killers decapitated them.”
Duan laughed. “Don’t believe all gossip, the man broke—”
“We’re here to discuss Mr Oliver,” Jie said.
Yuan looked uncomfortable. “I’ve told you all I know, Inspector.”
“Who knew you’d be at The Golden Garter on the Sunday night?”
“My secretary, the colleagues who were with me, but you’ve already questioned them.”
“Nobody else?”
A film of sweat coated Yuan’s upper lip. “I don’t know who else Mr Oliver told.”
Jie slapped the table, making Duan jump. “You told someone else.”
Yuan swallowed. “The owners required an itinerary of where we were going in case they wanted to join us.”
“Is that normal?”
“Sometimes. Mr Oliver was an important customer.”
“So Quan Liang knew where Mr Oliver would be.”
“His wife, Fang Jiao, was the one who asked.”
Jie, realising he should have asked these questions earlier, pressed Yuan, like Tang suggested. Would the couple still be alive if he’d done so? He doubted it. Chances are he’d have been told to drop his investigation. “Do you think they had anything to do with what happened to Mr Oliver?”
“The accident? How, why?” Yuan’s feigned surprise didn’t convince.
“You know it wasn’t an accident. How did you feel? You said you liked Mr Oliver.”
Tears welled in Yuan’s eyes and he examined his fingernails.
“What happened when you discovered the assassin had tried again in hospital?”
Yuan glanced at Duan who leaned forward.
“Sergeant, I’ve left my phone in my jacket. It’s on the back seat of your car.”
Duan hesitated until Jie glared at him. “Yes, sir.”
Yuan stared at the ceiling, waiting until the door slammed. “I guessed they’d decided to kill him. Fang Jiao was a devil. She wouldn’t have stopped until he died. I had to get him out.”
“What did you do?”
“I hired a private ambulance to take him somewhere safe.” He produced a pad and scribbled an address then slid it to Jie.
Relief and pity mingled in Jie’s heart. He’d have to arrest Yuan, but at least Mr Oliver was safe.
They were still serving breakfast but few people remained in the vast dining room. Harry stood, looking concerned, when he saw her. Kate gave him a confident smile and strode to their table. You can do this. Adam and Byron scrambled to their feet, looking just as worried.
“How are you feeling?” Byron said.
For a split second she wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t. Not until she found Oliver. Blinking away tears, she smiled and said, “Nothing a strong coffee and breakfast won’t cure.”
They made desultory conversation while they ate, each lost in their thoughts. Adam seemed particularly distracted, but he had shot two men. She wondered what had happened to Bondarenko who’d left her to the mercies of his companions.
“How did you find me?” she said.
“Tang got a tip off about the—” Adam’s phone beeped and he checked the screen. “Sorry, it’s Jie.” He listened for a few seconds, and his eyes widened. “We’ll come straight over and thank you, Inspector.” He ended the call, grinning. “Jie’s found your dad. He’s alive.”
Kate stared at him, disbelief and hope paralysing her, until she forced herself to say, “Where is he?”
“A private clinic at a place called Pingyang.”
Byron stood. “What we waiting for?”
The sense of urgency which made every part of Kate’s body tingle seemed to have communicated to Harry and he drove with unaccustomed haste, passing slower vehicles with the horn blaring. Even so, the journey seemed to take forever. They left Wenzhou, going south, following signs for Pingyang.
After forty minutes, they crossed a river and a network of waterways appeared on their left. A strong odour of fish wafted to them. Signs appeared for the town centre and Adam gave directions. High brick walls surrounded the clinic.
They reached the gates to the compound. Inside, a collection of buildings stood among rolling lawns surrounded by trees. Blue and red lights flickered on vehicles in front of the structures.
Two uniformed policemen detached from a group standing at the entrance and signalled them to stop. Harry wound his window down and explained why they were there. One policeman told him to wait while the other spoke into a radio. But Kate couldn’t wait and jumped out of the car.
“Stop,” the officer talking to Harry said.
Kate ignored him and he ran round the front of the car to block her way. She swerved to pass him, but he grabbed her arm.
“You stay!”
“Let her go.” Adam stood beside her, towering over the officer.
The other policeman put his radio away and drew his pistol, pointing it at Adam. “Stop!” he shouted in Mandarin.
The barrel of the pistol wavered. Behind him, the other officers stopped their chatter and focussed on the newcomers with open hostility. The perilousness of their situation hit Kate.
“Please, I just want to see my father.”
The police officer didn’t relent. A shout from the doorway and the tension dissipated. Jie beckoned them and Kate jogged to him.
“Is Dad okay?”
“Please follow me, Miss Kate.”
Kate repeated her question. The smell of disinfectant infused the spotless, whitewashed corridor. The policeman led them through two sets of double doors and into a small ward. He paused outside a closed door with a no-smoking sign and various unreadable symbols on it.
“Mr Oliver is…” he groped for a word.
Kate’s throat closed up and she felt like her body no longer existed.
Jie opened the door and gestured her to enter. A single bed, surrounded by dials and monitors, stood in a small room. In the bed, propped up on pillows, lay a very pale Oliver. Bruises covered his emaciated face. A tube stuck into the back of his left hand and another into the corner of his mouth. The skin on his exposed forearm looked white and paper-thin, showing dark blue veins. A regular hiss mingled with a low beeping coming from a machine behind him.
Kate stared, unable to reconcile this figure with the vital and energetic man she’d known all her life. A sob escaped from her throat and a strong arm held her as she shook with emotion.
CHAPTER 39
Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
Byron sat in the lounge of the Imperial hotel, waiting for Adam to return from making sure Kate was okay. The fact they’d found her father alive had eased her earlier concerns, but his state of health gave her more to worry about. Seeing how ill Oliver looked had shocked Byron; Kate had described a fit and active man. He checked the time again. He’d endured a broken sleep, disturbed by nightmares he couldn’t recall, but guessed involved harm befalling his family. Being eight hours ahead made life frustrating. He’d rung Louisa when they returned from seeing Oliver, reaching her as she gave the girls breakfast. She’d told him not to ring until eleven and not to worry. Easier said than done.
The lift doors opened and Adam strode across the foyer, a troubled expression making him look older than his thirty years.
“How is she?” Byron said.
“Not great. She’s blaming herself for not finding him earlier, and I reckon she hasn’t recovered from what she’s been through at the hands of Zhang and Bondarenko.”
Byron experienced a stab of guilt. “Yeah, I feel bad about putting her onto him.”
“Not your fault.” Adam waved his apology away and sank into the seat opposite. “How were you to know? Hazy vouched for him.”
“I take it she’s not coming down.”
“She’s taken a sedative. I don’t expect to see her before the morning.”
The waitress arrived and Adam ordered a drink. The clock clicked to nineteen-hundred and, retrieving his phone, Byron punched the speed dial button.
“You’re nothing if not predictable.” Louisa laughed.
“Has Theo turned up?”
