by Jay Brandon
“We’ll see about that.” Daniel stood and hauled Khai up. Again he held the gun to Khai’s head, as obviously as he could. They were observed by a few men Daniel could see and many more, he was certain, he could not see. “Tell them to bring her. Tell them in English. Somebody will understand.”
Khai shrugged again. He raised his voice only slightly in the direction of the open front door. “Bring the white woman down here to us.”
They waited. There was no sound of movement. Daniel looked up at the high window, higher than an ordinary second story. Carol and her captor weren’t struggling. He held her close to the open window. The man had a gun too. Carol had one hand outstretched. Daniel was too far away to see her clearly but he imagined the puzzled look in her eyes.
He waited what seemed forever and nothing happened. “You see?” Khai finally said. “They do not follow me blindly. They know letting the woman go will land them all in American prison, or worse. Even for their beloved leader they will not risk that.”
His calm, sardonic tone was maddening. Daniel tried to think. He was within sight of her and everything was unraveling. The lure of irrationality was strong. If not for Carol standing up there, he would have just shot Khai and died with him.
“You’re lying. They’ll do what you say but you told them something else in Vietnamese. That’s what they’re obeying.”
Khai wondered if his father could see his easy smile as the gun was pressed hard against his head. “Even if that were so,” he said, “what difference would it make? I will not let her go.”
“You?” Daniel began in amazement. “But you have no—”
“It would not be safe. I fear your police even more than my men do. I would rather have you shoot me now than fall into their hands.”
Daniel sensed his sincerity. In the face of Khai’s calm, Daniel’s own thoughts jumbled like a kaleidoscope. He started talking, paused, started again.
“I won’t go to the police. You don’t understand, I just want her back. I don’t care about any of the rest of you.” Even he wasn’t sure he meant that. Khai barely acknowledged that he had spoken.
“All right then, let’s go inside. If they won’t bring her down we’ll go up to her.”
“Yes, let us do that,” Khai said agreeably. It was easy to see why. Daniel looked up at the old mansion and imagined its many hallways and doors, the many corners and as many men he would have to pass to make his way up to the second floor. He wouldn’t survive to find the stairs. Even if by some miracle he did, would they casually leave Carol in place, waiting for him to come rescue her?
“Yes,” Khai said, reading his thoughts. “By the time we got there she would be down here, broken on the hard ground. They wouldn’t want to be distracted with her while they set about trying to kill you. And then you would lose your cool and kill me and my men would hurl you down to join your wife in eternity.”
“All your scenarios seem to end that way,” Daniel said. And Khai’s logic was irrefutable. Daniel was beginning to believe their three deaths were both imminent and unavoidable.
“There is one that does not,” said Khai. Daniel made no response, but the Vietnamese continued. “That is for you to walk away.” Daniel snorted derisively. Khai hurried on. “You said you don’t care about turning me over to the police. Was that a lie? If all you want is the return of your wife, this is the only way that may be accomplished. You simply leave. I wait a few days to see if you’re not bullshitting about the police. If we remain undisturbed, I become convinced of your sincerity and release your wife unharmed.”
“You must think I have been driven insane. Leave her with you?” Daniel shifted Khai slightly as he thought he saw a rifle barrel protruding through the open front door of the mansion. Khai let himself be positioned without resistance.
“Will I hurt her, knowing you are free and can bring the police down on me at any moment? I tell you, they scare me to death.”
Daniel didn’t answer. It was unthinkable, it simply could not happen—that he would walk away now, leaving her here. And yet, as he did think it he felt death recede, from all of them.
“Have I asked you for anything?” Khai said quietly. “For one thin dime? I didn’t snatch her for fun. Ask her, she hasn’t been touched. There are plans that have nothing to do with you, Daniel Greer. In a day’s time, two, it will be over anyway. I was already planning to release her.”
“Sure.”
“It’s true. Would I kill her with you still alive in the world, knowing? More important—her father?”
They had made a deal. Khai and Raymond Hecate. Daniel had already thought it. Now he was sure. The fact that Khai even knew her father was a powerful man was confirmation enough for him.
“Picture me in an American slammer,” Khai said. His voice was low, unhearable a few feet away. “Can you believe I fear that? I do not want to die.” He paused. “Do you? Does she?”
“Have them bring her down here,” Daniel said, his same litany, but his tone was weary now. “So I can explain to her.”
“That, no. I can’t allow you to get that close to her.”
“It’s that or die,” Daniel said with renewed heat. “I have to at least talk to her.”
Khai smiled, unseen by Daniel. He spoke in Vietnamese, aiming his voice at the house. This time they heard running footsteps recede in response. They waited, Daniel looking up. The man holding Carol suddenly turned, listened, then disappeared from view, along with Carol. Daniel waited less patiently, picturing her inside that house, filled with these men. Khai seemed to be standing utterly at ease.
The darkness no longer seemed so protective. The house itself was dark on the ground floor. There was no telling what it hid. Daniel felt very visible. His elbow throbbed.
There was a stir by the front door and he could suddenly see Carol’s face. She was very pale, a ghost in the dimness. Unthinkingly he lunged toward her, but stopped when he saw the gun against her throat. Only her face was visible. Someone hidden by the door jamb was holding her fast. Carol looked tattered and drained and beautiful. Obviously no one had explained anything to her. She thought she was about to be released. The joy on her face broke his heart. He had to clear his throat to speak.
“Have they hurt you?”
“No,” she said.
“At all? Anything? If they—”
“No, Daniel. I’m fine. What’s it all about?”
“You see?” Khai said softly. “She has gone completely unmolested.”
“I don’t know,” Daniel answered her question. “But it’ll be over in a day or two.”
“Day or two?” Puzzlement had replaced her happy expression. “Daniel? Aren’t you—”
“You have to stay that much longer.” He had to look away. “Carol, there’s nothing I can do. It’s—”
“But you have him.”
“But they have you. They won’t trade. They’re too afraid I’ll bring the police. But if we wait they’ll let you go.”
He continued to explain. Her face had fallen, but as he talked she nodded once, then again. She was trying to be brave, but he could see tears. Daniel was crying too, silently. He wanted to kill Khai and run toward her, firing wildly into the darkness. But he would only be killing her.
“I’ll call you on the phone,” Daniel said suddenly. “Whenever I like, and if they don’t let you speak to me at once I’ll be down on this house with a thousand cops.”
“Whenever you like,” Khai agreed, accepting this addendum to their bargain.
“This’ll be over in a couple of days.”
“Yes,” she said. “Daniel?”
She wouldn’t say more, there in front of their enemies, but he knew what she was thinking, and said so.
As he watched, her face disappeared, pulled back into the darkness of the house. “Carol?” he called, and her disembodied voice came bade.
“I’m all right.” He thought he heard a sob as well.
To Khai he said harshly, “You�
�re coming with me,” and began walking rapidly backward.
“What do you mean?” Khai sounded perturbed for the first time since he had seen his father in the window.
“They hold her and I’ll hold you. In a few days we can make the exchange.”
Khai dug in his heels. “Oh, no. No trade. If you take me away they’ll assume I’m dead. Someone else will take my place—someone you have no deal with.” Daniel was still trying to pull him. “Daniel Greer! They will kill your wife!”
Daniel stopped pulling. “Believe me, I know,” Khai went on. “You and I understand each other, but no one else in that house will understand. They will be afraid. They will kill her and flee unless I am here to control them.”
Daniel had no energy left. His hands had fallen to his sides. In the strangeness of that foreign stronghold, Khai with his occasional Americanisms of speech seemed like an ally. Daniel gave in to his reasoning.
“See that you do control them then,” he said. His voice gained heat as he continued. “My bargain is with you. If you break it, I will find you wherever you are and kill you. You know that?”
“I will not break it,” Khai said. It was almost pathetic to see how easily the pawnbroker believed him.
They were at the front gate. It wasn’t locked. Daniel pulled it open, leaving Kiai inside. “Remember,” he said, and Khai nodded. Daniel turned and ran, feeling like nothing but a traitor as he left her behind.
Chapter 10
WINDOWS
“Put her on.” With his other hand, the one not holding the phone, Daniel drummed on the countertop. The pain in that arm had dulled to a slow throbbing pulse. Daniel hardly felt it. He looked out his shop window and saw people passing in the street. It took him a moment to realize they were all Vietnamese. He couldn’t spot Khai’s men immediately. The watchers were being more cautious, not standing in one spot and staring. Foot traffic seemed heavier than usual. He wondered what day of the week it was.
When Daniel returned home after leaving Khai’s house his phone had been ringing. They had let him speak to Carol then, and given him Khai’s number so he could call back.
“Daniel?”
“Are you all right?” He spoke hastily, as if they might be cut off. This was the third time he had called that day and the shortest delay yet in bringing her to the phone. Khai had kept his word so far.
“I’m fine. They treat me—They haven’t hurt me at all.”
“Did you have lunch?” “Yes.” Carol almost laughed, but she didn’t elaborate for Daniel. Lunch had been Chef Boyardee Spaghetti-Os.
“If there’s anything you need make them bring it to you. Clean clothes . . .”
“They gave me some. I feel fine now. Daniel—”
“I’ll keep calling you, don’t worry.”
“Just so I know you’re all right.”
“I know. Don’t worry. They don’t want anything from me.”
He could picture Carol nodding as she said, “I hope not.”
“Yes,” he said, and a little space of silence grew. Outside, the bulk of the pedestrian traffic had shifted to his side of the street. A small crowd of strolling Vietnamese passed close to his window. He pictured a similar crowd near Carol, hands reaching, afraid to harm her but curious. He hated them. There was a small sound from the office behind him. Mice.
To say something private over the phone would have been distasteful to them both under these circumstances. Silence was the most intimacy they could share.
“I assume they’re listening on the extension,” Daniel said. Carol made no response, as good as an affirmation. “You’ll be out of there soon, I promise.”
“I know. I’m not afraid, Daniel, I’m really not. Except for you.”
“I’m being very careful.” Among the strollers outside were a pair of young Vietnamese men walking together. One of them glanced inside the pawnshop, and they paused as if they might come in. Daniel’s hand left the countertop. One of the young men pointed at a radio in the window, the other shook his head, and they walked on.
“I know. But you need a partner when you sleep.”
“I have Hamilton Burger.” Daniel smiled. He knew she was smiling too. Let the damned Vietnamese figure out that code name.
“Khai wants to talk to you.”
“All right.”
“Daniel,” She said, and there was another long moment of commingling silences.
“Don’t worry, Carol,” he concluded it lamely. She was gone. It seemed to him that the receiver in his hand even changed weight and temperature ever so slightly when Khai came on the line. The soft sound from within Daniel’s office repeated itself. He turned to look at the open doorway but saw nothing.
“She’s being treated very well,” Khai said. Daniel thought of sarcastic replies but didn’t voice any of them. “How much longer?” he asked.
“Two days. No more than three.”
“I called off the police. I told them she’d never been missing at all. Once I get her back it would be too much trouble for me to report it all again.”
“We have to work out a system so that you get her back and I get—reassurance.”
“If she’s not safe you won’t—”
“Yes, yes. We both understand the threats. No need to repeat them every time we talk.”
Daniel waited. Khai cleared his throat.
“My two men who were following you before you came here have not returned.”
Daniel didn’t answer. They waited in an almost companionable silence. “I don’t believe they are in custody of the police either,” Khai finally said. When there was still no response he added, “Which is fine,” and dropped the subject for good. A minute later they both hung up.
The truth was, Daniel had forgotten about the Saigon cowboys. Last night he had gone home from Khai’s mansion to an empty house and hadn’t even thought about the three he’d left there. He was preoccupied with his guilt over leaving Carol behind and futile planning to get her out. He returned to that futility now. An hour later he was thinking about calling the mansion again when he saw Thien among the pedestrians outside. Daniel couldn’t tell if the boy was being followed. If he was being watched he appeared unconscious of it. Thien didn’t look back over his shoulder as he crossed the street and opened the pawnshop door.
“You are not disliked in this neighborhood,” he said without preliminaries. “They think it’s curious that you’ve stayed on after all the other American merchants have abandoned the area.”
"I'm the curiosity. I see. And I just don’t have anything they want to buy, is that it?”
“They’re still afraid of making a mistake. Across the street they know they can bargain with the pawnbroker. They don’t know if you run this shop like the shops they know or like Walgreen’s. Walgreen’s won’t haggle. It offends them. They suspect that Walgreen’s will haggle with white people but thinks Vietnamese are stupid enough to pay the asking price without question.”
“I see,” Daniel said again.
“I’m talking, of course, about the immigrants. Americans like me, we know the difference.”
He was sure the boy was making a joke but his face gave no hint of it. If anything, Thien looked more serious than usual this afternoon. Now that he was inside the shop, Daniel saw that he did watch the street outside. Daniel looked out and saw another young Vietnamese, wearing a red nylon jacket, but he wasn’t lounging against a storefront obviously watching as the Saigon cowboys had done.
“I’ll tell you what,” Daniel said. “Why don’t you buy something here and then tell everyone what a great bargain you got after dickering with me over the price?” “You may have a good idea.”
As Thien walked slowly around the shelves Daniel said, “I talked to Khai a little while ago.” Thien had his back to him. He didn’t turn. “He tells me that his two men we talked to in my garage didn’t come back to him.” The boy didn’t appear to have heard him. “I suppose they just ran away,” Daniel added.
“You didn't call the police to take them like I told you to do.”
Thien turned at that. “I thought the police would ask more questions than you could persuasively answer.”
He was damned right about that. Daniel looked at Thien’s sincere little face. He didn’t think he could ask more questions than the Vietnamese boy could persuasively answer. He decided not to pursue it. He hadn’t told Thien what had happened after he’d left him in the garage. The boy hadn’t asked. They casually shared certain knowledge, such as that Carol was still missing and Daniel was in contact with Khai, but they didn’t discuss it. It was not that Daniel discounted Thien’s value as an ally, nor that he thought the boy’s loyalty was torn between Vietnamese and American. But Daniel wanted no partners. Not police, not civilians. He didn’t know yet what he might have to do to free Carol.
Thien continued to move around the shelves and counters, but he wasn’t looking at the merchandise. Daniel liked having him there. The boy assured him he was still alive in the world. Outside the world seemed to go on completely oblivious of him.
“You should go home,” he said. “Your family must need you.”
“Khai’s gangsters are not so contemptuous of you now,” Thien said, not in reply. “They duck around corners now, look.”
Daniel looked but saw no one.
“You know they haven’t made their collections this week? It’s a curiosity in the neighborhood. Are they so busy with you they forgot? Forgot money?” he added for emphasis.
Daniel wondered, as he often had, how Thien knew about such things. It occurred to him that Thien’s own father was a merchant of some kind.
He was looking out the window and this time he did see a young Vietnamese man slip around the corner across the street, glance at Daniel’s shop, and stroll too casually away.
Thien was watching too. Before Daniel could speak the boy said, “I guess I had better go home. I have a spelling test tomorrow.”
He was moving already toward the door. They seemed to have shared a conversation, but in fact they had hardly spoken. And Thien had never looked at him the whole time he’d been in the shop. It was as if he’d been there waiting for a time or a signal.