“Take away her place setting and Quan Yen’s.” He issued the order to the thin-faced man before he turned to the Chinese girl and said in Cantonese, “Go to the kitchen. Hide in the pantry if need be.” She hurried to do his bidding.
In her weakened state, Jade was no match for the man who held her securely by the wrist as he dragged her into the kitchen. She saw everything in a blur—the cook standing in the center of the room, holding the trap door open, his grease-spattered apron, and his brawny, hairy arms.
“Stop!” She tried to plead with them as she struggled against Burke’s hold. “Let me go.”
As the dark hole in the earth yawned before her, Jade shrank back. A fetid, decaying smell issued from the cellar.
“I’m not going down there without a lamp,” her guard grumbled. “Get me a lantern, Dick.”
With one hand on Jade and the other on the trap door, the bearded man relieved the cook of his burden. She twisted and tugged, trying to wrench free, but he held her as easily as she might hold the stem of a blossom. Finally, tired of her antics, he gave her wrist a vicious twist that nearly drove her to her knees.
The cook returned with a lantern. He held the door open again and handed the light to the bearded man, who growled at Jade. “You can climb down the ladder under your own power or I’ll throw you down.”
He kept hold of her wrist until she turned around and felt with her foot for the top rung of the ladder. Once she had started down, he released her.
The dank, putrid air seemed to cling to her. Jade tried to breathe through her mouth to avoid inhaling the stench. Had the cook used the cellar for garbage? When she was halfway down, the guard above her began his own descent. The lantern cast a bobbing, swaying circle of light around the ladder above her. It danced off the ceiling and walls of the small, square room below.
Jade did not look down. She concentrated on each careful step as she tried to avoid tangling her feet in her skirt hem. Her hands shook and she gripped the rails tighter. Her captor’s heavy boots were on the rung inches above her head. His rapid descent forced her to move faster.
Finally she felt the packed-earth floor beneath her feet and stepped back. The waving lamplight flung their shadows against the four walls. Once the man had reached the bottom of the ladder, he raised the lantern high and swung it to the left. Jade followed his gaze and gasped.
“At least you’ll have company.” His hollow laughter filled the air.
She stared down at an open grave that had been sunk a good four feet beneath the cellar floor. Although the badly decomposed body was unrecognizable, Jade had no doubt as to the identity of the corpse. Li Po, the renowned wizard, lay moldering in the grave. At the foot of the gaping hole in the ground lay an open wooden chest, its contents strewn over the floor. Two embroidered shoes with thick heels lay in juxtaposition to one another. A tall, crumpled hat and a red silk robe lay wadded together near the shoes.
Jade backed away toward the opposite wall. “You can’t leave me here.” She could barely whisper. She shook her head. “Please. Don’t do this.”
“Look, lady, I don’t have a choice. Shut up and get over in the far corner.”
“But—”
“Move!” He raised his hand as if to strike her.
She backed away from him until she felt the cold wall behind her. Pressed against the earthen surface, Jade watched him suspiciously.
“Sit down,” he growled.
She slid down the wall and crouched there.
“Sit!”
She sat on the damp earth and stared across the room at the open pit not far away. A shiver ran down her spine. She closed her eyes and tried to will herself out of this horrible situation.
The lantern rattled as the guard set it on the floor a few feet away. She felt him standing over her and she opened her eyes, only to see that the man had a dishtowel in his hands. He tore it into strips and bound her ankles and wrists. When he reached out with one final strip to gag her, Jade cried out and tried to twist her face away.
There was a sharp sound of boot heels overhead and she recognized Emery Lennox’s voice. “What’re you doing down there? Get it done and get up here!”
Jade continued to shake her head to avoid the gag. Burke backhanded her so hard she fell over on her shoulder. He jerked her upright again and shoved the strip of cloth over her mouth and yanked it into a knot in back.
Her head was reeling. Jade tried to focus on the lantern that was just out of reach. Double vision caused her to see two wavering flames where in reality there was only one. Finally, the two flames merged and she gently shook her head to clear it. She blinked and tried to focus. Heavy, rapid footsteps on the ladder alerted her to the fact that the man had left her alone. She silently gave thanks to him for leaving the lamp behind.
The trap door overhead banged shut. Jade jumped. She could not take her eyes off of the open grave on the opposite side of the room. The sight of the blood-red robe haunted her. It was exactly like the one she had worn in her dream. Covered with golden threads, it shimmered in the lamplight as if it was alive. Willing herself not to stare at the grisly remains of the wizard, she told herself that Li Po could do her no harm. The man was dead. All that remained was the empty shell that had housed his soul.
As footsteps thudded overhead, she tried to imagine where Li Po might be now. Was he in a place where souls awaited reincarnation? She hoped he was among an assembly of souls waiting to be reborn. She hoped his spirit was anywhere but here. Jade tried to convince herself that no matter where the wizard’s spirit was now, she was in no danger. A pile of bones and rotting flesh could do her no harm.
But Emery Lennox could, so she concentrated on what might be happening on the floor above her. Had Jason truly come after her? She wondered what excuse Lennox would give him as to where she had gone. Would Jason believe him? Rocking to and fro, she tried to make a noise that would carry to the room above, but only succeeded in hitting her head against the wall and then issuing a muffled, throaty moan.
CERTAIN THAT HE was being watched, J.T. waited on the veranda for Lennox to answer his knock. He tapped his hat against his thigh and glanced over his shoulder at the darkened hills shadowed against the night sky. Footsteps from within sounded on the plank floorboards. He turned his attention to the door, which swung wide to reveal Emery Lennox.
The man was dressed in impeccable navy with gold braid trimming the cuffs. His white shirt was starched, his hair glossed into place with hair oil. He smiled when he recognized Jason, and ushered him into the hallway.
Jason glanced into the room beyond and marveled at the change in the place. He recognized the heavy, dark furniture as Chinese in origin and could just imagine what Jade must have thought when she saw them. He came quickly to the point.
“I’ve come after my wife.”
“I hate to say it, but she left over an hour ago.” Lennox’s face registered concern. “She was terribly tired and complained of a headache, so I sent her on home. Quan Yen has already gone with her new guardian, a missionary from Stockton.”
Jason looked around. The man was believable, the story more than plausible given the way Jade had been feeling; still, Jason bridled at being so smoothly dismissed.
As if he sensed Jason’s hesitation, Lennox said, “Can you stay for a drink?”
Preoccupied, Jason nodded. “That would be great. I’m anxious to see the changes you’ve made here.” As the two of them walked into the central room, Jason added, “I was only out here once, just long enough to walk through the rooms. You’ve really accomplished quite a lot in a short while.”
Lennox paused before a tall teak chest carved with scenes of the Chinese countryside and poured two glasses of whiskey. He handed one to Jason, toasted him, and then bolted his down. Jason nursed his drink, walking around the room, seemingly interested in every detail of
the furnishings. He was aware of movement in the room beyond the dining table. That would be the kitchen, he recalled, and realized Jade could be hidden anywhere. Determined to search the entire place before he left, he turned to Lennox.
“Would you mind showing me everything? I know Jade will want to talk about it all, she’s bound to drive me crazy with it. I really can’t believe the change.”
Carefully, Lennox set his glass on the table. “Of course.” He bowed and waved Jason toward the hallway.
“That old kitchen was a real mess. What have you done there?” Without waiting for Lennox to suggest he go in, Jason rudely opened the kitchen door and stuck his head and shoulders in. A huge man stood over the stove stirring a simmering pot of liquid. He frowned at J.T. and then turned his back to the door. If there was ever a man he’d hesitate to tangle with, Jason knew the cook was that man. He smiled, nodded, and said, “Sorry, just looking.”
The cook remained unmoved while J.T. peered around. His eyes went to the closed trap door in the floor of the kitchen. If Lennox had locked Jade downstairs, how could he get to her without outright asking to see the cellar?
He stepped away from the kitchen door and walked back through the dining room. Lennox followed close behind. Jason feigned a gift of gab as he found himself complimenting the changes in the place, the repairs, the furnishings. He had Lennox show him the upper rooms. J.T. asked questions. The captain mumbled replies, to which Jason paid little attention. He was too busy looking for any sign of his wife.
By the time they reached the first floor again, J.T. realized he had better walk outside and alert the others not to come barging in, for it appeared Jade had truly left. There was no sign of her or Quan Yen anywhere.
Holding out his empty whiskey glass, Jason smiled at Lennox. “Thanks for the tour. I’m impressed,” he said, stretching before he shoved his hands into his pockets. He scratched his head and then rubbed the back of his neck. “Wonder why I didn’t pass your carriage on the road?” He said half to himself. “When did you say Jade left?”
His brow wrinkled in thought, Lennox mused, “I guess it was about, oh, say nearly two hours ago.”
“Two hours?”
“Give or take a few minutes.”
“Then she should have been home before I left.”
Lennox shrugged. “Barely. Besides, I told my man to take it slow.”
Jason paced to the chair where he’d tossed his hat. “I hope to God nothing’s happened to her.” He swung on Lennox. “You do know someone’s been trying to harm her, don’t you?”
Lennox nodded. “She told me as much. That’s why I put an extra guard on the carriage.” He drew a gold watch out of his coat pocket and flicked it open. Worry darkened his features. “The carriage should arrive back here within the hour. If it doesn’t—”
“Then someone’s abducted her.” J.T. silently cursed himself and the situation. If Lennox was telling the truth and Jade had left earlier and had been waylaid by the real villain while he, Jason, was here on a wild goose chase, then he had played right into his enemy’s hands.
“What time is it?” he asked Lennox.
“Two minutes shy of eight.”
Jason had two minutes to walk out the door and call off the others. He wished to God he knew what to do. He had stalled long enough. Retrieving his hat, he started to leave. Just as he turned toward the hall, his eye caught a patch of black against the shining hardwood floor beneath the low dragon chair near the fireplace. Without staring at it, he quickly identified the object on the floor as Jade’s black velvet reticule. He had seen it often enough to recognize it; she usually hooked it over her wrist.
He sensed that Lennox spied the bag at the same time, for the captain paused momentarily and placed himself between Jason and the chair. J.T. feigned ignorance of the entire incident. Instead, he tarried near the door that led to the hallway.
“Just one more thing. Captain—” Jason began. It was almost amusing to watch Emery Lennox’s anticipation of his departure. “I was wondering if you happened to find anything down in that old cellar.” He hoped the man was beginning to squirm inside, for unless Jason missed his guess, that’s where Lennox had hidden Jade.
He wanted his wife out of that hole and out fast, but without knowing how many men Lennox had about the place, Jason was hesitant to act alone.
“No,” Lennox said almost absently, “I didn’t find anything down there at all. Why do you ask?”
Jason’s gunbelt rested heavy on his hips. He felt good knowing it was there. He resisted reaching down to finger the weapon hidden beneath his coat. “I just wondered. The day we rode out here, Jade somehow managed to get trapped down there. She hadn’t seen anything of interest, but then, you know women. Like the rest of them, she’s a bit scatterbrained.” He was glad Jade couldn’t hear him now.
Lennox yawned and stepped out into the entry hall. With one hand on the door handle, he made his intentions all too clear to Jason, who dragged his feet as he carefully centered his hat on his head.
Come on, Chang. Jason silently prayed that the men outside were nearing the house. He knew he could take Lennox then and there. He wasn’t so sure about the man in the kitchen. How many others would there be to contend with?
In the end it would not matter. Even if Lennox had an army there to stop him, Jason didn’t intend to leave the house without his wife.
Chapter Twenty-four
Though the sword be sharp . . .
It will not wound the innocent.
“I’M NOT HERE.”
With her eyes closed tight, Jade whispered the words over and over. “I’m in my room. I’m safe. I’m not here.”
But the cold earth at her back and the smell of death that permeated the air were ominous reminders that she was still captive in the cellar. From beneath shuttered lids she sensed the flickering of the lantern’s light. Her eyelids flew open as she fought to control her mounting panic. The flame leapt and danced although there was no draft in the room. Terror gripped her. The lamp was running out of oil.
Even with her eyes closed she could still see Li Po’s open grave. He had been buried deep beneath the floor of the basement, the earth repacked tightly over his grave until, in the shadowy darkness, she had seen no sign of recent digging. Now, mounds of dirt were banked on the opposite side of the grave, and the defilers’ picks and shovels were still propped in the corner.
She opened her eyes, struggled against her bonds, then groaned aloud. There were worse fates, she was certain, than being trapped underground with a dead man, but at the moment none came to mind. She glanced at the ceiling and prayed that Jason would get away safely. Lennox would surely tell him that she had gone. Hopefully, J.T. would believe him and leave. Above all else, she wanted Jason to be safe. Her only regret was that he might never realize how very deeply she had come to love him, or how much she truly wanted to be a good wife to him.
To keep her mind from concentrating on the ever-dimming lamplight, she tried to picture J.T. at his home in New Mexico.
He once told her the sky was so wide and blue that it seemed to go on forever. She wanted to witness the peace of the desert.
And she longed to know what it would be like to finally set aside the past and dream her own dream.
For so long she had carried Philo Page’s dream in her heart that she had put aside her own chance for happiness. But Jade knew, too, she could never have let her grandfather’s dream die any more than she could have turned aside the hand of fate that led her to Jason.
The binding at her wrists numbed her fingers. She tried twisting her hands to gain some comfort, but nothing happened. The lamplight flared, sputtered, and then died. Jade shut her eyes tightly against the darkness and choked back a scream.
Loud footsteps echoed overhead, faster and more frantic than she had heard them before. Someone
was pounding on wood. She strained forward, her head tilted sharply toward the trap door so that she might hear what was happening in the kitchen above her.
“Open up in the name of the San Francisco Police Department!”
Although the words were muffled, she thought she recognized Jon Chang’s voice.
Jade started screaming against the gag.
AT THE SOUND of the commotion at the back door, Jason smoothly palmed his revolver and drew it on Lennox. He kept the man backed against the wall in the entry hall as they listened to the cook shouting in the kitchen. No more than a moment or two passed before Lieutenant Chang and Tao Ling ran through the dining room and halted in the entry. Jason kept his gun aimed at Lennox as Tao and Jon Chang warily stepped forward. A swift glance at Chang alerted Jason to the fact that the detective was well armed. Tao was not.
“Xavier?” Jason asked.
“In the kitchen, guarding the cook,” Chang said.
Before Jason was able to move, the door behind him swung open. Unwilling to risk wounding J.T., who stood directly in front of him, Chang held his fire. A tall, bearded seaman thrust a shotgun into the small of Jason’s back and warned, “If you know what’s good for you, you and your pig-eyed friend will drop your guns.”
Jason glanced at Chang. Neither of them moved. The man behind Jason nudged him hard with the barrel of his gun. “Do it.”
Jason dropped his gun.
Chang followed suit.
Lennox bent to retrieve Jason’s weapon. “Good work, Burke. Now get over here and hold that gun on all three of them while Miles ties them up.”
Burke forced Jason to cross the room and stand beside Chang and Tao. The smaller man, Miles, his sharp face scowling, slipped into the room behind Burke. “I’ll need some rope, Captain,” he said.
“Then you better damn well go get it!” Lennox blustered. His nervousness apparent, he pointed Jason’s own gun at him while Burke’s shotgun was aimed at Tao and Chang.
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