The Son

by Marc Santailler

  Our quarrel had started almost the moment I hung up.

  Jack’s call had come as a terrible shock, though not a total surprise. Ever since my beating I’d known it couldn’t end there. But I had never expected anything so brutal. Even Jack, tough old soldier that he was, had taken it hard. The police had called him in to interpret and go through Quang’s papers and he’d formally identified the body.

  ‘It must have happened in the early evening.’ His voice quivered as he gave me what details he could. ‘A neighbour found him last night. His door had been forced, and he’d been stabbed. It looks as if he put up a fight – there was blood everywhere, everything was upside down–’

  ‘Do they have any idea who did this?’ I asked.

  ‘Not yet. But they’ll be talking to anybody who knew him.’ He paused, as if to weigh his words. ‘Listen,’ he said heavily. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this. They found your name and address among his papers. They’ll probably want to talk to you too. I didn’t tell them I’d introduced you.’

  ‘Thanks. I’ll tell them what I can, of course, but I doubt that’ll help very much. I hardly knew him.’

  ‘Tell me this has nothing to do with what we talked about.’

  ‘I don’t see how it could,’ I said, telling the first of several lies that day. ‘I only asked him some questions. Don’t worry about the connection. He knew Hao’s family in Saigon, I can say that’s how we met.’

  Hao had come in on the tail end of our conversation, straight from bed, and she rushed into my arms when I told her the news. ‘Oh no!’ she cried. ‘He was such a good man! Who could have done such a thing?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ I’d known Quang for less than two weeks but I’d grown to like him a lot in that short time and I felt a great sense of loss. ‘Listen. I need to speak to Eric.’

  She looked at me in alarm.

  ‘What? You don’t think–’

  ‘Of course not! But he may have heard something, through that group of his. And there are things I want to ask him.’ Despite the shock my brain had started to function. ‘Can you ring him, please? I don’t want to call him myself, in case someone else answers the phone.’

  ‘Paul, what is it? Is there something you haven’t told me?’

  ‘I’ll explain. But first we need to get hold of him. There may not be much time. And for God’s sake go and put some clothes on. What would Eric say if he saw us like this.’

  I meant it half in jest, but my tone must have stung her. Her face coloured, a hurt look came into her eyes, before I could say anything she went into her room. When she reappeared she had changed into jeans and a dark sweater, with her hair pulled back from her face and a severe expression. By then I’d also thrown on a few clothes.

  ‘Hao, I’m sorry–’ I began, but she cut me off.

  ‘You’re hiding something, aren’t you, Paul. About Eric and his group.’

  I sighed and nodded.

  ‘Yes. It’s more serious than I said. But I promised Eric I wouldn’t say anything without his permission, and I don’t want to break that promise now. Wait until he gets here. Then you can ask him.’

  ‘Why did you promise him? You knew I was worried about him!’

  ‘Because that was the only way, Hao! Otherwise he wouldn’t have told me a thing! In the meantime we need to get our story straight about Quang.’ I told her what Jack had said, and explained what I wanted her to tell the police when they came. She listened, her face set and angry.

  ‘And don’t tell them about the break-in in my office either. I don’t want Quang or Eric linked to this.’

  ‘Why all these complications? Isn’t that the police’s job, to know about all this?’

  ‘I think there’s more to this than a simple murder. But we’ll talk about that later. Will you please ring him? And don’t mention my name on the phone.’

  We were about to argue again when Eric rang. He was calling from a phone box – sensible lad. He had just heard the news, and wanted to be sure he’d got it right. He fell silent when I confirmed who it was.

  ‘I want to come and see you,’ he said. ‘You know, the things you asked me.’

  ‘You’d better come straightaway. But don’t tell your friends you’re coming to see me. Do you want to talk to your aunt?’

  ‘No. I’ll wait until I get there,’ he said gloomily.

  I passed this on to Hao.

  ‘Don’t be too hard on him,’ I said. ‘The only reason he didn’t tell you was because he knew you’d only worry more.’

  ‘And that’s why you both kept that from me? Aren’t you forgetting he’s also my nephew?’

  ‘I’m not forgetting anything, Hao! For God’s sake, the whole thing’s happened because I’ve been trying to help him! As you asked, remember? Please have some trust in me!’

  ‘And what about Quang? Did you promise him too?’

  ‘Yes! He found out some things which were disturbing but he was very secretive about them and he made me promise not to tell anyone. He didn’t even tell me everything! Look, you had your chance, Hao, I asked you to come, remember? And you didn’t want to because you were angry with me! So don’t blame me for all this secretiveness!’

  We were still arguing when Eric arrived. He seemed genuinely shaken by Quang’s death. They’d only met briefly in the flat but he’d been impressed by Quang and now he was disturbed by some of the things he’d heard. But before he could say anything Hao took him away into her room, where I soon heard her giving him the rough edge of her tongue. When they re-emerged Eric gave me an accusing glare.

  ‘Why did you have to say anything? You promised–’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry. But a man’s been killed, a very decent man who should still be alive. So let’s stop playing games. Eric, I want you to tell us everything you know, everything that’s happened. Will you do that?’

  He nodded, and we sat in the lounge, with me facing them like a headmaster confronting a couple of wayward students.

  ‘We’re going off on another camp,’ he said. ‘That’s what I wanted to tell you yesterday. Only – I wasn’t quite ready yet.’

  ‘It’s OK. I understand.’ It had taken Quang’s murder to bring him to that point. ‘Tell us about this camp. Where is it? Up at the farm again?’

  ‘Yes. We’re going up on Wednesday, coming back Friday I think.’

  ‘Do you know what it’s about?’

  He nodded again, uncomfortably.

  ‘Come on Eric! This is serious. We’re not going to tell the police, this is just between us. But we need to know what’s going on.’ Hao started to say something but I waved her quiet. ‘So don’t hold out on us, please.’

  ‘OK. We – there’s only a few of us going. We’re not supposed to tell the others. Binh said we’d been specially selected.’

  ‘Who’s Binh?’

  ‘He works in Mr Bach’s office. He’s the one who told me you’d been there.’

  I remembered the hard-looking young man who’d escorted me to Bach’s office. Quang had mentioned him too.

  ‘There was a meeting on Saturday. They talked about someone coming from Vietnam. One of the leaders, someone called Loc. The group’s organising some big demonstrations against him, here and in Canberra. Mr Khanh was there too. Afterwards Binh kept a few of us there. That’s when he told us about the camp. He said it was for special training, not to tell the others because they’d get jealous, we’d been picked because we’re the best. That’s what he said.’

  ‘OK. Thanks, Eric.’

  Hao made to speak again but I held up my hand. She stayed quiet, her lips pressed together.

  ‘First things first. Did you hear anyone mention Quang? Before or after the murder?’

  ‘Not before, no. Someone said all traitors should be eliminated, on Saturday, but that was just talk, you know, the kind of thing they say at these meetings. Only this morning – when we were watching the news, one of them said good riddance. He said that’s one communist gone, at leas
t. He wasn’t a communist, was he Paul?’

  ‘No, he wasn’t. But he knew them, he understood them, which is more than that group will ever do. Was that when you first heard about the murder?’

  ‘Yes. We were watching some programme on TV, and someone said to turn on the news, and there they were talking about it. At first I didn’t know who it was, but then they showed his picture and I recognised him – ‘

  ‘Who said good riddance? Was it Binh?’

  ‘No. He was there too but he didn’t say anything. I think it was Lam. You don’t know him. He was one of those who beat you up.’

  I sat back. ‘Thanks,’ I said again, and stopped to reflect about all this. Hao spoke up.

  ‘Now we must go to the police,’ she said firmly.

  Eric looked up anxiously and I held my hand up again.

  ‘No, wait. I’ve got a better idea, if Eric feels up to it.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘I’d like him to go back first, attend that camp up at the farm, and find out what’s going on. Then come back and tell us about it. After that we can decide whether to go to the police.’

  ‘But why wait?’ she argued. ‘What do you think you’ll learn that way?’

  ‘I’m not sure. But maybe more about what they plan to do to Loc.’

  ‘Why should you care so much about this man? Who is he anyway?’

  ‘He’s a deputy premier in the Vietnamese government, and a friend of Quang’s. His full name’s Dang van Loc.’ I told them something of what Quang had told me. ‘It’s alright, Eric. There are good and bad communists, just like everything else, and he’s one of the good ones. If your friends really want to do something for Vietnam they’re picking on the wrong man.’

  ‘But what you’re asking Eric to do is dangerous, Paul! You’re asking him to take risks for someone he knows nothing about–’

  ‘There are no risks. All Eric has to do is act naturally. As he’s been doing. Just don’t tell them about this discussion. If they ask why you came here today tell them you rang your aunt and she asked you to come because she was upset about the murder. You can even say you met Quang here once, and he questioned you about what you were doing and you didn’t like it and didn’t tell him anything. All you have to do is go off to your camp, do what they ask you to do, don’t ask too many questions but keep your eyes and ears open, and above all sound enthusiastic about what they’re doing. Keep on hating the communists for what they did to your father and mother. And when you get back, tell us what happened.’

  ‘You want me to spy for you.’

  ‘Not just for me, Eric. There’s someone in Canberra I want to talk to about this. Someone I trust. He’ll know what to do.’ I looked at Hao. ‘He’s the man you spoke to when you rang Canberra, remember? Believe me, he’s good.’ And to Eric: ‘Actually he knew your father too. He’ll be even more interested when I tell him about you.’

  ‘It’s not fair, Paul!’ Hao burst out. ‘You’re playing on Eric’s feelings! You have no right to ask him to take risks like that for someone he’s never heard of! Eric’s just a child–’

  ‘Eric’s nearly twenty, Hao! He’s not a child any more. Young men like him have been going to war at eighteen!’

  ‘Yes, and getting killed! I won’t have it, Paul! You have no right to tell him what to do!’

  I held up my hands in surrender.

  ‘You’re right. I have no right to tell him or you what to do. But let him decide for himself, Hao. He’s old enough to do that. It’s up to you, Eric. I’m not forcing you. But if you want to help find out who killed Quang, and maybe prevent something worse, this is the way to do it. Talk it over with your aunt. Call me when you’ve decided.’

  I went into my bedroom and stood staring out the window, wondering if I knew what I was doing, whether I wasn’t leading Eric into real danger, as Hao feared. For a moment I was on the point of going back to tell them I’d changed my mind, I agreed with Hao. But then Eric knocked and called me and I went back to the lounge. Hao sat very still with her lips pressed together, and Eric had a worried frown, but when he spoke there was a new firmness to his voice.

  ‘I’ll do it, Paul.’

  I looked at Hao.

  ‘Hao? Is that OK with you?’

  ‘Don’t ask me, Paul! As you say, Eric’s a grown man!’

  ‘Alright. Thanks, Eric. I know you can do it. Just to be safe, you’d better not come back here. If anyone asks, simply say we had an argument and you don’t want to see me any more. Instead, when you have something to tell me, ring your aunt, say you want to see her but you don’t want to come to the flat. She can meet you somewhere and you can tell her and she can pass it on to me. Hao? Would you mind doing that?’

  ‘Whatever you say, Paul!’ she said. ‘You’re the mastermind!’

  ‘Look, it’s not for very long – a couple of times maybe, when you get back from your camp. Meanwhile I’ll talk to this man in Canberra and after that we’ll have a clearer idea what to do. Then maybe we can go to the police.’

  I took Eric through it again, to make sure we both agreed, while his aunt looked on, unhappy but resigned. I left them together then came back as Eric was getting up to leave. I walked with him to the door.

  ‘Are you OK with all this, Eric?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. I can do it, Paul.’

  ‘That’s the spirit. Just don’t do anything foolish, alright? Act natural. You’ll be fine.’

  What I used to tell my sources, when they had doubts. I’d never lost one as a result. There was always a first time.

  By comparison the police visit was almost a relief. It came in the late afternoon, in the shape of Detective-Sergeant Emerson, from Bankstown police station. He was a polite, careful man in his late thirties in a neat brown suit, who didn’t miss very much. By then I’d had a chance to catch up on the news, and rung Vivien in the office to tell her we wouldn’t be coming in. Hao had retreated into her bedroom after Eric left but she came out to meet him and he questioned us in the sitting room, the two of us facing him, an arm’s length apart on the settee.

  ‘What happened to your face, Mr Quinn?’ he asked curiously. ‘You look as if you’ve been in a fight.’

  I gave him a sheepish smile. ‘Just a scrap. I tried to stop a couple of idiots from breaking into my car and they turned on me.’

  ‘Did you report it to the police?’

  ‘No. I managed to fight them off and they didn’t take anything. It hardly seemed worth the trouble. All I got was a few bruises.’

  ‘You should have, you know,’ he said sternly. ‘Incidents like that should always be reported! You look as if you got a good working over.’

  ‘Well, I landed a few punches myself.’

  He eyed me suspiciously, then turned to Hao.

  ‘You’re staying here, are you Mrs Tran?’

  ‘She’s a houseguest,’ I said quickly. She nodded and blushed faintly. ‘She’s visiting from Britain. Mrs Tran and I are old friends, we knew each other in Saigon, a long time ago.’

  ‘Oh, you were in the army then.’

  ‘No, I worked in the embassy, just before the end of the war. In 1975. That’s when we met.’

  He explained that he was making inquiries into the murder of Le Minh Quang, and asked if we knew him. It was the first time I’d heard Quang’s full name. When I asked how he knew that, he said that my name had been among Quang’s papers. I nodded wisely, as if that explained everything. He seemed satisfied with our explanation of how we came to know Quang, but then asked if we knew who his other friends were, or if we knew anyone who might have wanted to harm him. I said no, and then he looked at Hao.

  ‘Mrs Tran?’

  She seemed to hesitate briefly before shaking her head, and he gave her a more probing look.

  ‘Are you sure? Mr Quinn?’ He turned to me again.

  ‘No. I liked him, but I hardly knew him, I don’t know who his friends were.’

  ‘Mrs Tran? You’r
e sure there’s nothing you can think of?’

  This time she was more positive. ‘No, nothing, Sergeant. I’ve only been here a few weeks, I don’t know the Vietnamese community in Sydney very well, apart from my late husband’s relatives, and they had no connection with him.’

  ‘Thank you. And just for the record, can you tell me where you were yesterday afternoon and evening?’

  ‘Certainly. We were here. My daughter was up for the weekend visiting from Melbourne. I drove her back to the airport about five and then came straight back.’

  ‘Anyone else here with you?’

  ‘Only my son – my adopted son,’ Hao cut in firmly before I could speak. ‘He lives in Cabramatta and had come out to see us.’

  ‘What time did he leave?’

  ‘I don’t know exactly. Paul? It would have been about eight, I think. He stayed for dinner.’

  ‘Can you give me his details?’

  ‘Of course.’ She gave him Eric’s name and address. ‘I doubt if he can help you much, Sergeant. I think he met Mr Quang here once, but otherwise they didn’t know each other.’ She spoke with a steady clear voice, and he seemed quietly impressed by her manner and ease in English. I guessed the Vietnamese he met in his job weren’t so articulate.

  ‘Thank you. You’ve been very helpful. Please let me know if you think of anything else that might help us. This is a shocking murder and we want to do everything we can to catch those responsible. And Mr Quinn, next time you get into a scrap like that, please report it at once to the police. We may not be able to catch the culprits straightaway, but at least it helps us with our statistics.’

  ‘You’re right. I’m sorry. If it ever happens again you may be sure I will,’ I said. He looked slightly mollified.

  It was nearly six when he left. The end of a long and dispiriting day. I went into the kitchen to look into the fridge, though I didn’t feel much like eating. Hao was there, standing at the kitchen counter, and I spoke to her back.

  ‘Thanks for backing me up, with that policeman,’ I said. ‘I’m sorry if I was pushing you earlier, when Eric was here. But I really think that’s the best way to do it. It’s alright, Hao. It’ll work out, you’ll see.’