“Yes,” Chang croaked, his mouth dry as if he’d eaten a bag of sand. “Could I have some water, please?”
“You can drink after I’m gone.” The intruder shifted on the bed, but the knife on his throat didn’t move. “You’re an assassin. What’s your specialty?”
Chang briefly thought about denying it, but he could feel the pressure of the blade increasing slightly, and the intruder said, “Don’t think too hard, just answer the question.”
“Long range,” Chang whispered. “I don’t fare too well in close quarter combat anymore.”
“Well, you hired muscle for the short range. Local guy. Triad?”
“I guess you’re here because of the blind musician?”
“You’re at the wrong side of this blade to ask questions.”
Chang smiled. “I don’t care about your blade.”
“You should.”
“Why? You’re not going to kill me.”
The blade shifted from his throat and his smile died when the tip of the blade touched his right eyelid. He closed his right eye, but the intruder chuckled. “I can gouge out your eyes, closed eyelids or not. Blind snipers don’t get a lot of job offers.”
“Can we just talk, like civilised professionals?”
“Neither of us is civilised, Chang. Just answer my questions. Why are you here?”
“I’m here on behalf of the 14K. If you gouge out my eyes, you’ll have to answer to them.”
The intruder chuckled. “The 14K is more afraid of me than the other way around.”
“I thought so,” Chang replied. “You must be Loki.”
The intruder became still and the room temperature seemed to drop by several degrees.
“We are not adversaries,” Chang whispered. “I know you didn’t kill Tsui Pak Yun, Loki. At least, not directly.”
“His lack of discretion killed him.”
“He was gathering information on the pendant you gave him. You contacted him through that blind musician, didn’t you?”
“His involvement was marginal. So you’re here to find out who killed Yun?”
“I have a good idea already,” Chang said. “I don’t know why yet, but that’s a matter of time.”
“No, it isn’t,” Loki whispered. “I don’t need a sniper running interference, so you better go back where you came from.”
“Or else?”
“Don’t test me, Chang. Turn on your belly, cross your wrists behind your back.”
“We should work together.” Chang turned on his belly, his face away from the intruder. “I’ll split my fee with you.”
A gloved hand pulled a necktie under his crossed wrists and tied them together.
“I work alone,” Loki said. “I don’t need a broken-down junkie sniper messing up my plans.”
“What are your plans?”
“To send the 14K your eyeballs if I see you again after tonight. That’s all you need to know.”
He could hear the assassin move away. The door opened and closed. Chang listened, but he couldn’t hear anything. His wrists were bound tight, but Loki had used a necktie to buy time to get out of the hotel, not to leave him tied up until he was found by the cleaning crew.
Always nice to meet a real pro.
Chang smiled to himself and worked his wrists to loosen the knot. Loki had taken one of his silk ties and put the knot outside the reach of his fingers, so he needed to twist and rub the necktie until the knot slipped within reach. After that it took him some ten minutes to slip his right hand out of the knotted tie. Rubbing his sore wrists, he turned on his bedside table lamp to get a glass of water.
He cursed.
His rifle case was gone, and so were his optics.
-o-
Katla backed the Audi into her garage. Bram cocked his head and said, “What if this Chang put a GPS beacon in his cases? He’d know the location of your garage.”
“The trunk is lined with foil, and I have a frequency jammer over my workbench.”
“So they can’t trace your GPS?”
“Frequency jammers have multiple uses.”
Bram was silent, perhaps hoping for elaboration, but Katla didn’t feel like talking about detonators and explosives. She lifted the cases on her workbench and activated the jammer.
Bram stepped behind her, resting his hands on her hips. “So he’s here to wreak vengeance on the Kau Hong?”
“That’s what he told me.”
He rubbed her arm. “I’m proud of you.”
“Proud?”
“For not killing Chang, when you had the chance.”
Disgust tinged her voice. “He’ll kill himself soon enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Heroin. Plus he’s in close physical contact with his clients.” Katla unsnapped the locks of Chang’s PeliCase. “And they’ll be pissed off that he lost his weapons.”
The long PeliCase contained a disassembled sniper rifle, the parts encased in foam. The other suitcase contained a variety of scopes.
“Is that why you took his weaponry?”
“No, Bram. Unlike me, he is dependent on his weapons to perform his job. Without them, he has no other choice but to either get new weapons, if his budget allows for that, or quit. Pissing off his employers is just a bonus.”
“I fail to see the bonus in hostilities toward the 14K.”
“It’s not like that. Anything that makes Chang appear incompetent is good for us.”
“I doubt if it will work that way, but maybe you’re right.”
She glanced at his face, but if his remark was sarcastic it didn’t show in his face.
“His rifle looks professional and his scopes are definitely top notch.” Katla leaned against the workbench. “He wants to team up with me.”
“Team up? Like equals?”
“Split the fee and everything. I nixed the proposal, but I can understand his reasons.”
“You don’t want to deal with the 14K,” Bram said. “But if Chang has no interest in Sphinx and simply wants to eradicate the Kau Hong, teaming up would be to your advantage.”
“Still, I work alone. And I don’t want him or anyone else to know who I am.”
Bram rested his chin on her shoulder. “I could mediate.”
Katla laughed and glanced at his face, but he wasn’t smiling. “You’re serious?”
“Why not?”
“Bram, if someone finds out that you represent Loki Enterprises, that would paint a huge target on your back.”
“I think Chang already knows we’re connected. If he didn’t, your visit to his hotel tipped your hand.”
“I don’t think so,” Katla said. “I downplayed your role significantly.”
“Sure. So you don’t think he’ll be coming after me for his stolen rifle? He won’t be able to find you, but I’m not able to hide.”
“You’ll just have to stay with Zeph until I get this all sorted.”
“Why won’t you team up with Chang? Might be less risky than going it alone.”
“Right. I can think of better partners than an old junkie sniper.”
“How old is he?”
“In his sixties, I guess.”
“Former soldier?”
“Probably,” Katla said. “Why do you ask?”
“There are old soldiers and there are bold soldiers, but there are no old bold soldiers. There has to be a good reason that he survived this long.”
“The triads protect him because he’s useful to them. I don’t think he’ll last long if he becomes a burden.”
“He’s twice your age and still useful to them.”
“Just because they gave him an airline ticket doesn’t mean that he’s highly valued by the 14K.”
“I said ‘useful’, not ‘highly valued’, but I don’t think you should dismiss him so easily.”
“You think he could be an asset?”
“I don’t know, but having someone to watch your back might come in handy.”
Katla
pulled his arms around her. “Having a sniper as back-up sounds great, but if he decides to take me out as well...”
“You can do what he can’t and vice versa,” Bram whispered. “And if he’s truly independent, Chang might be a handy asset to have on your back burner. In case you need a sniper on one of your future jobs.”
“Always thinking ahead, aren’t you?”
“It never hurts to have connections. As long as you don’t need to connect in person.”
“I had this discussion with Anouk,” Katla said. “She’s afraid for you to become involved in my business.”
“You told her your business?”
“Corporate troubleshooting, I called it. Anouk figured, if I could get shot, you might be in danger too.”
“Well, yes, that is a possibility. That might happen anyway, regardless of my participation.”
She found a stack of business cards in the scope case. Seemed like Chang represented a company called Tactical Silence Products. Probably just a cover to take his scopes through customs without arousing suspicion, but it looked pretty convincing. No doubt Chang had the credentials to pull it off.
“When I started out in this business, I was my own representative,” Katla said. “I pretended to be Loki’s conduit, meeting clients in person, but the risk is too high, so I stopped meeting clients in person as soon as Loki’s reputation was solid enough.”
“So you don’t want me to mediate for you?”
“Even if you mediate, I’d still have to communicate with Chang directly.”
Bram kissed the nape of her neck. “I’m sure we can find a way.”
“Come, I’ll drop you off at Zeph’s place.” She pocketed one of Chang’s business cards and closed the cases. “I’ll keep the cases in the trunk of the Audi.”
-o-
The sleek BMW sedan halted at the corner of the Spinhuissteeg. Chang turned in his seat and put a hand on Ah Sung’s arm. “You can’t come with me,” he said softly. “You’re too intimidating for this job.”
The PDA appeared in the enforcer’s hand as if by magic. His index finger swiped the keyboard and he showed Chang the screen. ‘I failed to protect you at the hotel. I don’t want to fail you again.’
“You didn’t fail me, Ah Sung. I insisted on staying at the Manor, despite the obvious flaws in the security. I needed to draw out this Loki.”
‘Loki could’ve blinded you. Or worse.’
Chang tilted his head. “And you could’ve stopped Loki?”
‘That’s not the point. I’m supposed to protect you.’
“And kill yourself in the process?”
His finger swiped the keyboard. ‘If necessary, yes.’
“I admire your spirit, Ah Sung.”
‘But you think my loyalty is foolish?’
Chang shook his head. “I’ve known many soldiers like you. Not many generals, though.”
‘If you had told me your plan, I could’ve caught this Loki for you.’
“Now, that would’ve been foolish.” Chang opened the door. “I don’t want Loki scheming to betray me. It’s better if he joins us under his own volition.”
‘So what are we doing here, if we don’t want to force his hand?’
“Sometimes people need persuading.” He pressed a stud on the handle and watched his umbrella unfurl. “And I do want my tools back.”
Whistling under his breath, Chang strolled down the alley to the steps leading up to the ancient door. A Japanese club, but not one listed in the Yellow Pages. Yakuza controlled, probably. Interesting place for a blind man to choose to live. The door featured an old-fashioned iron pull knob for the bell. He pulled it back and heard the muted sound of a brass bell chiming somewhere inside. Whoever was inside wasn’t in a hurry, but Chang was used to waiting, listening to the raindrops pelting his umbrella.
An older Japanese woman opened the door and Chang bowed politely. “Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m looking for Bram Merleyn. I was told he lives here?”
“And you are?”
“I’m Xiao Chang, A&R representative for Blue Note Records. I saw mister Merleyn playing at a club…”
“The Roustabout?”
“Indeed, the Roustabout. I loved the sound of his saxophone. Amazing embouchure and his glissando was masterful.”
The woman clearly didn’t know what he was talking about, but she would get the impression that he liked the blind man’s playing.
“He’s not here,” she said. “I don’t know when he’ll be back.”
“Roy Hargreaves is in town for a series of concerts at Paradiso, and our saxophone player is ill, so we need an urgent replacement. I’d like a face-to-face as soon as possible, maybe take him to Roy to see if Merleyn will work out for these concerts. He’s not otherwise engaged, is he?”
“No, no. He is staying with a friend. Zeph.”
“Do you have an address?”
The woman shook her head. “I believe he has a houseboat, somewhere near Camping Zeeburg. I don’t remember the name. Starts with M, I believe.”
“Can you tell me anything more to narrow down the search?” Chang said. “What kind of houseboat?”
“I really don’t know,” the woman said. “I do know that Zeph has a dog, a Rottweiler. Bram takes care of the dog sometimes, when Zeph is out of town.”
“Thank you very much.”
Chang walked down the front steps again and walked back to the BMW, where Ah Sung immediately popped the passenger door. He tossed the umbrella behind the seats and got in.
“He’s staying with someone on a houseboat near Camping Zeeburg. You know where that is?”
Ah Sung nodded and put the car in gear.
-o-
Feng patted a stool next to his chair and Nicky sat down. “Okay, show me.”
“I found this invoice, from a Robert Kerkwijk.” A PDF appeared on the screen. “Check it for yourself.”
“Advocatenkantoor? He’s a lawyer?”
“Kerkwijk is not just a regular attorney, but he’s also a ‘strafpleiter’, a sort of barrister.” Feng pointed at the reference. “Now look at the reference. BM, a coded entry starting with PV, and a date. I checked the coded entry and the date. PV is a ‘proces verbaal’, a detailed account drawn up by an officer of the law. A Bram Merleyn was arrested for assaulting a panhandler. Sieltjes hired Kerkwijk to represent Merleyn and get him released.”
“So who is this guy?”
Feng smiled. “I checked the PV. Merleyn is a street musician.”
“A street musician?”
“A nobody, Nicky.” Feng’s smile widened. “Now why would a businesswoman worth millions care about a street musician?”
“You dug a little deeper?”
“The guy has no passport, but he has an ID. Every Dutch citizen needs some sort of ID.”
Feng pressed another button. A digital copy of an ID appeared on the screen, a hawk-faced man with long dark hair interspersed with white streaks. His open eyes looked weird. Feng’s finger pointed at a separate note on the ID.
“Blind?” Nicky said. “A blind street musician. Is that why you called Chen?”
“Chen confirmed that, just before Tsui Pak Yun arrived at the Wertheimpark, they saw another blind guy. A tall scarecrow with long dark hair streaked with white.”
Nicky rubbed his mouth. “Friends?”
“Or acquaintances,” Feng said. “Anyway, this is the mystery guy Tsui Pak Yun went to meet at the Wertheimpark.”
Nicky nodded. “And when Bernie goes over to nab Eric’s pendant, Loki shows up.”
“Sieltjes, Merleyn, Loki. I think this blind guy is a sort of mediator. Makes sense, for an assassin who wants to stay anonymous.”
Nicky squeezed his bony shoulder. “Great work, Feng. You found us leverage.”
“Don’t break out the bubbly yet.” Feng pointed at the address on the blind man’s ID. “I ran a check. You won’t like it.”
Another document filled the screen. Nicky frowned and said, “Soci
ety of the Eternal Blossom?”
Feng jabbed the keyboard again and five documents appeared. Feng pointed from one to the other to the next, and halted his finger on a name on the last document he’d opened.
Nicky sighed. “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. The guy lives in a Yakuza club.”
ZEEBURG
Across the narrow strait of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal lies the peninsula of Zeeburg, home to people who prefer to live on the border of Amsterdam society. The first campground that settled here, took the name of the peninsula and was an anarchistic venture, providing hippies flocking to Amsterdam a cheap place to stay. Over the years, Camping Zeeburg evolved from its freewheeling beginnings to an internationally renowned camping for backpackers and other tourists who didn’t mind riding a bicycle for twenty minutes to get to the city center. The muddy meadow—where everyone used to plonk down their tent wherever they wanted—now featured bordered camp spots and multi-coloured rental cabins. The camp store and the café not only attracted camping ground guests, but locals dropped in as well.
Ah Sung parked his BMW in the parking lot opposite from the entrance of Camping Zeeburg and mimicked getting out and looking for the houseboat. While Ah Sung went scouting, Chang waited in the car, loading his cane rifle with a tranquilliser dart. One dart would down an adult human being for a few hours, but he had no idea how it would work with a dog. Especially a tough dog like a Rottweiler.
Ah Sung didn’t smoke, so Chang stepped out of the car and unfolded a small foil package of heroin. Heating the foil with his lighter, Chang held the tube over the bubbling heroin and sucked down the vapour. The heroin coursed through his body, pushing out the damp ache in his bones, enveloping him like a warm fuzzy blanket. He tossed the foil when he was done and got back into the BMW, cranked back the seat and closed his eyes.
When the car door popped, Chang opened his eyes and checked the dashboard clock. Ah Sung had been gone for almost twenty minutes. Chang looked at the mute enforcer, who nodded and motioned for him to follow.
They walked along a grassy embankment for almost three hundred meters before the road sloped up and drew level with the top of the embankment. Ah Sung pointed at an old river barge, painted with red, yellow, and green, and the word MOJO in blue on the stern, the O’s converted into peace symbols. A Rottweiler stood near the gangway, observing them with dark eyes. Chang walked up the gangway, pointed the cane and shot the dog. The dog yelped when the dart punctured its thick coat and the eyes glazed before it toppled over. Ah Sung followed Chang and warily approached the dog while Chang reloaded. While the enforcer took out tie-raps and bound the Rottweiler’s paws and muzzle, Chang walked around the pilothouse. The door was locked from the inside, but it opened outward. Chang took up position behind the door and motioned for Ah Sung to ring the ship’s bell at the bottom of the gangway.
Peccadillo - A Katla Novel (Amsterdam Assassin Series Book 2) Page 24