“Is that what you’re doing? Hiding?”
“No. I was brought here.”
“By force?”
She nodded. “Initially yes. But I’ve come to love it here. I was making too much noise in Guangzhou. They wanted me out the way. The virus raged for many months.”
“But you’re OK now?” Julia asked, noticing how lined her face looked.
“I arrived amid chaos and despair. I was ill for a while myself. Very ill. Thanks to control and hygiene measures we contained it. Not before we made some impressive discoveries. I’ve been studying my patients closely. Those who get very ill, those who recover quickly.”
“Then you must come back with me.” Julia drew in a deep breath. “That’s why I’m here. I believe you know Patrick Silverman.”
“Of course,” her voice softened. “A good man. He just doesn’t know it.”
Julia furrowed her brow. Not quite how I would have put it.
“Well,” she continued. “Patrick thinks you could be in danger. He thinks, I believe, that someone is coming for all the Golden Boys. Lee and Chandler have been dealt with. He feels threatened himself, but is well protected. He’s worried about you.”
“This is nonsense, isn’t it? Who would go around bumping off bank staff who worked together a decade ago?”
“Really, I don’t know.” It did sound far-fetched, now Laura put it into words. “Someone who lost a fortune in the crash maybe? Someone who invested a lot of money with Adam Lee?”
“First State banked the Triads,” Laura said with a matter-of-fact shrug.
“So I understand,” Julia narrowed her eyes. “Silverman sent me here to bring you back to safety.”
“Is he paying you?”
Julia hesitated. “Indirectly I guess. His fund’s taken over the title I write most for.”
“I see. It’s kind of you to come, but there’s no question of my returning to London. My work’s here among the Yao. Time is so short. I’ve no interest in travelling the world at the beck of rich men.”
“Ouch,” Julia flinched as if kicked.
“No, no, I didn’t mean to be unkind – but you must understand my patients and my work come first.”
“You said you’ve made some impressive discoveries. What you’ve learnt here might help stave off a wider pandemic. Come back and test your theories. Kathy said originally you came to study the illness because you couldn’t trust the Chinese data. That hasn’t changed has it?”
“Ah Kathy – ”
“Come home. Publish your research on a global stage. That could help save more lives than living here in the mountains.”
Laura looked down at her hands.
“There’s something else,” Julia continued, pulling out her trump card. “Silverman has promised to pay £10 million into a children’s charity if I manage to bring you back. Just like you, children mean a great deal to me. I lost a baby some years ago.”
Julia thought she saw a sympathetic glimmer in Laura’s eyes.
Laura’s gaze wandered again out to the distant mountains. “I had thought – ” she began, but drifted away.
For a brief second Julia thought she was about to say, “I had thought to stay here for the rest of my life.”
No that can’t be right. It would mean staying here for decades, locked away in the mountains. Why would she do that?
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Ziggy.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Hill says there’s a mist coming down the mountain. We need to set off soon.”
“I’m not finished here,” Julia threw him a furious look.
“I’m sorry, Julia, I think we are.” Laura paused, reflecting. “Honestly, I’m not sure they would let me leave.”
“Are you being watched?”
“Not so much now. It might be possible.”
Ziggy cleared his throat. “You have joint Chinese-British citizenship don’t you? I realise the border might be tricky but I have contacts. I’m sure I could get you out.”
Laura sighed – a dark shadow clouding her eyes.
“Perhaps it’s meant to be. Perhaps I’m meant to go back to...” She looked up at Julia and Ziggy.
“Can you return tomorrow? If I can tie things up here tonight, I’ll return with you tomorrow.”
“Is that a promise?”
“I want to be helpful. You can achieve great things with £10 million. If I can get permission from the hospital and the rural medical authority for a short absence...”
“Is there anywhere here we can stay tonight, so we could all go back together in the morning?” Ziggy asked.
“Not really. I’m sorry, you’d better return to Guilin.”
“It’s a long way to come back.”
“Then don’t,” she shrugged. “We’re all free to choose.”
“If we do come back, will you come with us?” Julia searched Laura’s face for a definite answer.
Laura stood to show them out the door. “Give me a night to get used to the idea.”
JULIA AND ZIGGY returned to the car park – not much more than dirt ground. Hill was waiting.
“Are you busy tomorrow?” Ziggy asked him.
“Not particularly.”
“Could we come back here in the morning?”
“Sure.”
“Then how would you feel about driving us back to the border?”
“Shenzhen border? Long drive,” Hill said.
Ziggy waited.
“I’ll do it. I can’t come further with you.”
“I know,” Ziggy smiled.
THEY NEVER drove to the border. When they arrived at the clinic the next day, Laura had disappeared.
“Some men arrived and she went with them,” the Receptionist said.
Try as they did, neither Ziggy nor Julia could get any more information. Hill tried but added little. “They are afraid. They said some men came and took the good doctor. They think they came from the new development.”
“How did they know we were here?”
“Eyes and ears everywhere. Government officials control the new estate – with the help of Triads. Not the village people.”
“Let’s go down there and find her.”
Ziggy shook his head. “Dear, dear Julia, she will be long gone. China covers nearly 10 million square kilometres, much of it remote and dangerous. She could be anywhere. No, we have to go. Will you take us straight to the station Hill?”
They set off down the mountain. Julia looked across at Ziggy and bit her lip so hard she drew blood. Someone had betrayed her and Laura every inch of the way. All doubt was now removed. The traitor was sitting right in front of her…
CHAPTER 42
Thursday August 26
JULIA STRANGLED HER FURY until they were standing on the platform at Guilin waiting for the train – when she finally she exploded.
“You bastard! You lying treacherous bastard! You’ve been spying on me ever since I left London. Tipping off the authorities every step of the way.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been trying to help speed things up.”
“Speed things up? How does blowing up my investigation – and more importantly putting Laura’s life in danger – speed things up? Many more lives too. With her goes all her discoveries. Just who are you working for?”
He choked out a short laugh. “I’m not working for anyone – just like you.”
The train came. They climbed aboard. With the train in motion, Julia lowered her voice and began again.
“Every step of the way they’ve been waiting for us.”
“I’m not sure who you mean by ‘they’.”
“The police, the authorities. Your bogeymen.”
Ziggy smacked his lips. “Certainly not mine, but I agree with you. Someone has been feeding information about our movements to...” he lifted his palms in apparent frustration.
“It has to be you,” she spat. “No one else had details of our movements. You made all the arran
gements, with your “oh so helpful” drivers. This investigation has been derailed from Day One – by you.”
“Not by me. Take a look in your own mirror. You confided in people about where you were going.”
“No way! Absolutely no way!” Even as the words left her lips, Richard’s face floated into mind.
“You see me as the enemy Julia. You always have. I’m sorry about that. It’s unfair. Poor judgment isn’t something I associate with top journalists. In your case, selective blindness is little short of tragic.”
“How dare you patronise me. Laura’s disappearance is tragic. Your treachery is tragic. I am anything but tragic.”
“As we have nothing useful to say to each other, can I suggest silence,” he reached for his bag, took out his copy of Kipling’s Kim, and started to read.
Selective blindness – me! How dare he! Award-winning journalist, lauded for my acute powers of perception. I haven’t told anyone where we were going or what we were doing. Only Richard. And no, it couldn’t be Richard, it absolutely couldn’t.
AT KOWLOON STATION, they parted with the briefest of nods.
“Good riddance, you creep,” Julia thought heading for the Metro and the return trip to the Pottinger. Back in her room, she threw her coat and bag on the bed, and sat for a moment, still stunned. She looked at her watch. Lunchtime in London.
“Pitcher,” she said, dialling his number.
He answered at the third ring. “It’s Lois Lane alive and well. Here’s me worrying you might have been mauled by tigers.”
“I feel as though I have been,” she let emotion rush ahead of her, at the welcome sound of his voice.
“Oh dear. Things not going smoothly your end?”
“Smoothly? When did things ever run smoothly?”
“Well, we’re doing much better here. Young Cody’s a find. Clever lad – just wish he would stop saying “cool” all the time. You’ll be interested to hear Silverman’s agreed to an interview this afternoon. With his lawyers present, of course.”
“You’ve arrested him?”
“No, no. He’s not a suspect. Goodness me, your antennae’s knocked off course. Get your compass back girl. But I’d bet my pension he knows more about Adam Lee and Chandler than he’s let on. It’s time he came clean. Any progress on Halamanning?”
“Not really. Warwick Mantel admitted they worked together many years ago. Claims not to have seen him for years. I haven’t finished with Mantel.”
“My sources tell me Halamanning was a regular at a gambling den run by one of the Triads in Limehouse. We’re working on a theory he may have run up big debts.”
“Didn’t pay – so was dispatched as a warning to others?”
“Not sure. Bit too dramatic. Broken legs usually suffice. Met any nice gangsters yourself?”
“I’m told the Triads run everything here. First State banked a number of wealthy Triads. Plenty are angry at losing money in the crash. Baying for blood. Staff have been attacked in the street. Maybe Adam Lee was a proverbial sacrificial lamb.”
“Neat, I suppose. On the other hand, maybe his murder has nothing to do with the crash. How’s the hunt for the missing doctor going?”
“Don’t ask. Found her in a remote outpost in the Guangxi mountains.”
“Clever girl – well done.”
“I talked her into coming home.”
“Even better. She’ll tie up our loose ends.”
“No she won’t. She disappeared.”
“Disappeared!” his voice boomed. “Tut, tut, careless, Julia, careless.”
“No, I wasn’t careless. I was betrayed. Sabotaged. One minute she pretty much agrees to come with me. The next morning she’s gone. Some men came and took her. Everywhere I go, the bogeymen get there first.”
“Bogeymen? Get a grip, Littlehorn. Whatever’s come over you?”
“Remember Ziggy?”
“The Ambassador’s nephew? Yes, Cody told me, he travelled out with you on the plane.”
“I can’t get rid of him. He follows me everywhere. Or rather pre-empts me everywhere. He’s always one step ahead.”
She heard him chuckling at the other end of the line. “Probably fancies you.”
“I’m sure he’s working for someone. Probably the Chinese Government, or if not a Triad – or a Triad in cahoots with the Government.”
“Julia, Julia. What’ve you always told me? If something looks obvious then you’re almost certainly barking up the wrong tree.”
“In this case, there’s no one else.”
His voice turned dark. “There’s always someone else. How many times have you warned me – never trust a journalist. Look at your friend Hopkins. Have you confided in any colleagues? Could anyone else be cheating on you?”
Julia said nothing.
“You’re tired. Get some rest. I’ll call tomorrow and let you know how we get on with Silverman. Anything you want me to ask him?”
London seemed so far away, Julia felt sick with a sad longing.
“Ask him where Chandler went after their lunch in the British Museum,” she said. “And you’re right. I’ll feel better in the morning.”
JULIA WAS CLIMBING into bed when her phone rang. It was Warwick Mantel.
“How was your trip to Guangxi? It’s a beautiful country. Hope it proved fruitful.”
“It’s late and I’m tired. What d’you want Warwick?”
“I’ve some news for you. Can we meet up?”
“I’ll come to the office in the morning.”
“Tonight is better.”
Julia checked the time. “It’s 11pm.”
“The evening’s hardly begun. Have you visited our famous night markets yet? They’ll just be lighting up.”
“Temple Street, right? I’m not crossing over to Kowloon at this time of night.”
“I’ll send a car. You can be here in 15 minutes. Shall we say I’ll see you at Midnight. I won’t keep you long. The driver knows where to find me.”
“I’m not sure about this.”
“You won’t regret it.”
CHAPTER 43
Midnight
The Night Markets, Kowloon
JESUS THIS IS MY WORST NIGHTMARE, Julia thought breathing deeply as she followed the driver through the Paifang gates at the opening to the Temple Street Night Market. They had abandoned the car a few streets from the entrance.
Narrow alleyways rammed with stalls piled high with food, butted so close there was barely room to pass. More oriental dishes – noodles, rice, beans and bamboo shoots – spilled out of restaurants at both sides. A rat ran along the top of a line of stalls, jumping from canvas to canvas. Everywhere Chinese lanterns flickered their half-light.
Julia swallowed, a putrid taste rising in her mouth. They walked through the cloying gourmet delights until they came to the tourist market proper. Here more stalls crammed with cheap fakes of designer brands – seedy, shabby and squalid.
Still they walked on, Julia fighting to keep claustrophobia at bay. It was hot, even at this late hour, the air thin. She struggled to breath. Sweat dripped down her neck. Lights, noise, crowds – everything seemed loud and intense. At any moment her vision could go, and she might collapse with a vicious migraine.
When they emerged from the tourist alley, the scenes became weirder still – part circus, part nightclub in the open air. Close to the temple, where Buddhists queued to pray, were fortune tellers, alongside opera singers in traditional Cantonese garb, their painted faces, ugly. Others wore devil masks. Prostitutes lurked in the shadows, near stalls selling sex toys, dildos, vibrators, blow-up dolls and other adult paraphernalia.
Julia was not sorry to move on to yet another food section, this time authentic. Queues, many hours long, snaked at serving hatches. Not for the locals the glitzy fast food reserved for tourists. Here they had to wait patiently. Groups of men sat eating noodles or rice, playing cards, drinking beer, at basic dirty tables straddling the walkway.
Bands of brother
s, plotting, she thought, noticing gold teeth flashing in the darkness. Will some of these be Triads, Julia wondered. Is this where it all begins?
She peered down unlit side-alleys piled high with black rubbish bags, food spilling out. A black shadow flashed behind one. More vermin.
Finally, the driver stopped.
“Down there,” he said, pointing into the dark. She hesitated.
“Go, go,” he repeated, giving her a shove. “He is waiting.”
She started to walk gingerly forward. She shivered as though a spider crawled over her skin. Ahead, nothing but darkness. She tried to switch on her mobile phone. It was dead. Damn.
Hairs on the back of her neck quivered. Was someone skulking up behind her? She turned sharply. But no – no one was there. Or rather she couldn’t see anyone in the shadows. She moved forward again. One step at a time. She thought she heard a footstep grazing the uneven loose dust track, followed by a shimmering sound. She remembered the opera singers in their masks, their silk costumes and synthetic beard – the prostitutes and addicts in similar garb.
It’s only my mind playing tricks, she thought. Just keep going, this must lead somewhere. Mantel can’t be far. He’s waiting for me down this alley.
But the further she walked the darker it became until she could see nothing in the pitch black. So she stretched out a hand, to feel her way forward. But rather than a way out to a brighter path, her hand hit a wall. There was no escape.
Fuck, it’s a dead end, I’m trapped.
At that moment, she sensed a weak light behind her. She turned to see dim Chinese lanterns swaying at the opening to the alley. Screwing up her eyes she detected the silhouette of a weird pageant coming towards her. As the lanterns approached, the dark lifted, and she could make out five giant figures in devil masks and crown, with long vivid beards – orange, purple and yellow. She couldn’t tell if they had come from the circus, the opera or the brothel, but they were terrifying. Sinister eyes gleamed from the masks and painted faces. There was no mistaking the menace in their advance. They held their lanterns with arm stretched out, throwing hideous shadows across
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