Ned had met Harold on several occasions, both in Hong Kong and in Brisbane. He remembered him as a gentle, cultured man who was a master at tai chi chuan.
“Mr. Pang will see you now,” a tall, soft-spoken receptionist said in a sultry voice. Ned saw that the slit of her skin-tight traditional Chinese dress went clear up to her hipbone. He shivered from the effect, wondering how anyone got much work done with her walking around.
Mr. Pang got up from his massive desk when Ned entered his office. Behind him, through floor-to-ceiling glass, was the entire sweep of the harbor with Kowloon and the new territories in the background.
“Welcome, Mr. Kelly,” Mr. Pang said.
“G’day, Mr. Pang,” Ned said.
“Mr. Charles Lester sends his warmest regyards.”
Mr. Pang bowed, then clapped his hands. Almost immediately the receptionist reappeared with an ancient porcelain tea service.
Soon Ned was relaxing on a long leather couch, balancing one of the priceless cups on his knee. He waited until the receptionist withdrew before speaking.
“Mr. Lester wanted me to thank you for the long and profitable business relationship Fertility, Limited, has enjoyed with the Wing Sin.”
“It has always been a pleasure,” Mr. Pang said.
“As friends, we profit together. It has been a good marriage.”
“Mr. Lester has also asked me to request another favor of the Wing Sin,” Ned said.
“There are a man and woman in Hong Kong who are interfering in our established business relationship.
They must be eliminated.”
“Are these people public figures?” Mr. Pang asked.
“No,” Ned said.
“They are only doctors. One is Australian and one American.”
“If they are not public figures,” Mr. Pang said, “then it will cost only one hundred and fifty thousand Hong Kong dollars.”
“Isn’t that somewhat high for an old business friend?” Ned asked. He felt a twinge of hope; he knew the figure was less than the bonus he had been offered. He was hoping to pick up the difference.
“Such a price only covers expenses,” Mr. Pang said.
Ned nodded.
“It must be done immediately,” he said.
“Then you must go to see the enforcer today,” Mr. Pang said.
“This afternoon Mr. Yip is at the Shanghai Shipping Company’s container facility in Tai Kok Tsui. He will be expecting you.”
Ned bowed. He was relieved. He was also confident. When the Wing Sin promised to do something, it always got done, no matter what.
Bentley pulled the armored Mercedes directly into the receiving dock in the back of the Peninsula Hotel. The early afternoon had passed quickly with the effort of obtaining entry visas for the People’s Republic of China. Bentley had proved invaluable. He’d known exactly where to go and had taken them directly to the China Travel Service office as soon as they left Aberdeen. He’d also known where to go to get the necessary passport-style photographs.
Bentley stopped the car and turned around to face his clients.
“Well,” he said, “what have you decided?” He knew that Marissa still had reservations about going.
Tristan looked at Marissa, “What’s it to be?”
Marissa hesitated. As the business with the visas had progressed, she began to feel better about the venture. After all, they would have the necessary documents. But she still had her doubts.
“Bentley, you’d better wait,” Tristan said.
“It appears that we still haven’t decided.”
“At4FI7t.M Getting out of the car, they walked into the hotel lobby. Tristan went to the front desk and used the safe deposit box to get more money for the captain if they decided to go. While he was occupied, Marissa kept an eye out for the Chinese man who’d attacked them the day before.
After obtaining the money and returning the safe deposit box,
Tristan led Marissa to the elevators. Marissa didn’t relax until the elevator doors closed behind them.
“This tension is driving me crazy,” she admitted.
“I’m not sure I can take too much more of it.”
“Which is another reason to go on the junk,” Tristan said.
“As soon as we find out what this is all about, the better. Then we can get out of this place and let them give it back to China.”