She roughly straightened her files, not wanting to leave her desk in a mess, and gulped down the remainder of the cold coffee. Then giving the room one final glance, she flicked off the light and headed home.
Chapter 6
Ryan lay on his bed with his right hand pressed firmly against his eyelids in an attempt to keep his eyes from moving under the lids.
His head was pounding so hard that he was convinced that he could feel his brain move underneath his skull. He tried to swallow, but the saliva simply sat underneath his tongue useless against the dehydration. He had no idea what time it was – he didn’t want to know. He just wanted to stay completely still and quiet and let the hangover pass.
Ryan heard a movement, his hearing now acute in the quiet room. He listened again, this time holding his breath with his eyes shut tight against his sweaty palm. There was a rustle of the bed sheet next to him, a deep contented sigh and then even steady breathing.
Suddenly the previous nights events came rushing back. With great effort he moved his head slightly to the left and lifting his fingers opened one eye, immediately regretting the action as his head threatened to explode.
Lily was lying on her back and was looking up at the ceiling with a sleepy smile on her face. She turned in his direction and looked at him.
“Good morning’ she purred, “How are you feeling?”
“Like death warmed up”, Ryan’s hoarse voice croaked the reply. He pressed his temples with his fingertips and watched her for a moment.
Feeling his eyes on her, Lily sat up in bed, pulling the white sheet with her. Her long thick black hair fell onto her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and awake now and she still had her eye make-up on. It had smudged slightly during the night giving her a Bridget Bardot look. Ryan thought that she couldn’t be more beautiful.
Lily twisted her body to face Ryan and planted a playful kiss on his forehead. She then swung her long legs over the edge of the bed and leaving the white sheet behind her stood up gracefully and padded naked into the bathroom.
Ryan lay for a few moments and listened to the mesmerizing sound of the shower, his eyes started to feel heavy and without effort he fell back into a deep sleep.
When Ryan woke up again, the apartment was silent. He stretched his arms and legs slowly, then propped himself up on one arm and checked his bedside clock.
12.03pm
With a groan and a cough, Ryan moved his body like an old man to the edge of the bed. He turned back to look at the ruffled sheets where Lily had been sleeping. Perched on top of one of the pillows was a piece of white paper folded neatly in half. With some effort Ryan stretched across the bed and grabbed the paper with his fingertips. He unfolded it quickly and read the now familiar handwriting.
Dinner tonight? Say 8pm at Cru?
I’ll call you later
L X
Ryan smiled to himself. He had the whole afternoon to get over his hangover. He lay back on the bed and pulled the sheets around him, quickly falling back to sleep.
Chapter 7
Fifteen miles away, a car pulled up outside of the Water Margin Chinese Restaurant on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. At first glance the passenger that stepped out of the black Mercedes-Benz looked unremarkable, his black hair was slicked back neatly against his head. He was dressed in a black suit with a black tie, and looked like so many other Chinese businessmen from the City. The only thing that stood him apart from everyone else was his unusually white skin. If it wasn’t for his dark hair and black eyes, he could easily have been mistaken for an Albino.
In his right hand he held a newspaper. As he approached the entrance of the restaurant he tucked the newspaper under his arm and opened the door.
Once inside, a pretty Chinese hostess was waiting to greet him. She was dressed in a full length pale yellow silk Cheong Sam covered with delicate embroideries of plum blossoms and oriental birds. Her thick black hair was plaited and sat over her right shoulder almost reaching her waist. She gave him a gentle nod of recognition before averting her eyes and motioned for him to follow her.
They walked in silence to the back of the bustling, noisy restaurant and down a narrow corridor with a large fish tank situated against the wall. The décor was dark and ostentatious with red and gold patterned walls. Traditional Chinese artworks, vases and dragon sculptures sat on pedestals lining both sides of the corridor.
The air smelt both perfumed and smoky. The Chinese man could detect the aroma of incense burning in a room somewhere. It’s distinct smell giving the restaurant an air of tradition and mystery.
As they reached the end of the corridor there was a dark wooden door to the left. Here the hostess stopped and knocked once, then swiftly turned and left the Chinese man waiting. The door promptly opened from the inside releasing cigarette smoke into the corridor. The pale Chinese man stepped inside and the door closed behind him, leaving the smoke hanging mid-air momentarily before it rose up to the ceiling and dissolved.
Upon entering the room, the Chinese man observed the large, centrally placed circular table covered with a heavily embroidered red silk cloth, typical in private dining rooms. On top of the cloth was a round piece of glass protecting the fabric from spills and stains. Each chair around the table was upholstered in extravagant jacquard silk fabrics set into intricate wooden carved frames. Along the back wall hung heavy deep red velvet curtains, draped from floor to ceiling and closed, shutting out any daylight. A chandelier was set high above the centre of the table directing the main pool of light into the middle of the room whilst casting ominous shadows into the corners.
Only two people sat at the table facing the Chinese man.
A slim elderly Chinese woman, slightly hunched with age, sat gracefully at the table. Her white hair was pinned up in an extravagant oversized bun, held into place with a single gold pin. She was wearing a dark gold silk jacket with a high mandarin collar and matching long straight silk skirt that touched the floor. She sat on a chair that had been placed parallel to the table making it easier for her to sit. Her walking stick was propped up against the side of her leg. She had light transparent skin, delicately folded with age. Pale blue veins and brown sunspots scattered her features, poorly hidden by her thick make-up. Her left hand was calmly resting in her lap, whilst she leaned with her right arm on the table. She was smoking a cigarette through a long black cigarette holder reminiscent of another time. She had a distinct yellow gold and jade ring on her right index finger and wore a long jade pendant in the shape of a dragon around her neck and dainty jade drop earrings.
A young Chinese woman sat next to her. She was good looking, with long straight black hair that tumbled down her back. She wore very little make-up with just a hint of mascara around her large almond shaped eyes. She wore a simple black dress with a round neck and no sleeves, showing off her lean tanned arms. She wore the same yellow gold and jade ring on her index finger as the elderly woman. Both women exuded an air of confidence and impatience, indicating to the late arrival, that it was time for their meeting to start.
“You’re late ”, the young Chinese woman broke the silence. Her voice was clipped and sharp.
“I had a unavoidable stop to make on the way” the Chinese man spoke softly, promptly pulling out a chair and sitting down across from the two women. He threw his newspaper onto the table allowing it to slide across the glass towards them.
“It didn’t go as planned” he said now motioning to the front page. A large picture of the Asia World Bank dominated the newspaper followed by the headline;
Bank security prevents robbery bid.
“But of course you know that already”, he said with a trace of sarcasm toward the young woman. “We hadn’t anticipated that the security guards would be armed with live rounds, and we’ve since learned that the swipe card that we had been given was void.” He flashed an accusing look toward the young woman. “We can afford to lose one man.” He continued, “He was not important, a simple fool. We can use someone else,
a real worker from the construction company, but this time we’ll ensure that he’s discreet, fast and successful.”
The old woman slowly positioned her long cigarette holder against the ashtray allowing the smoke to twist and spiral upwards instead of putting it out.
“It does not matter if the cat is black or white, Ghost Face, as long as it catches mice.” Her voice was hoarse with age and smoke. She continued, looking directly at him.
“But there is no time to repeat any mistakes. This was an unnecessary error, which has cost us valuable time. If there are strong Generals, Ghost Face, there should be no weak soldiers. A poor selection on your part I believe.” Her crooked gnarled fingers moved across the table to a slim wooden box. Drawing the box closer to her body, she proceeded to gently drum her fingers across it.
Ghost Face, nodded respectfully in the direction of the old woman.
“Understood” he said, his voice now calm. “I will not fail you a second time”.
She turned towards the young Chinese woman sitting next to her.
“Lillian,” she allowed herself a small smile, bearing browned old teeth as she spoke her name, “your news?”
“The man that we plan to use for the security access for the main bank entrance and the vault is almost on board”, she replied with confidence. “I don’t see that it is going to be a problem”.
Ghost Face interrupted her thread.
“In case there is a problem” he interjected, “We have something that will ensure that he’ll become a willing participant.”
“And security?” The elderly woman asked. “Are you going to be ready this time?”
“There’s no doubt that security will be a focus for the bank for the next few days. It’s nothing that we can’t handle. All of the new cameras will be in place and operational by next Monday. I have the five men that I need for the job, all experienced, and all trusted members.” Lillian said.
Ghost Face spoke to both women.
“My police contact tells me that they have nothing on the old man, it’s a cold case for them. They have nothing to link him to us and so I feel that we can still proceed with confidence.” He finished.
The old woman continued to drum her fingers on the slim wooden box.
“There can be no more mistakes.” Her voice was calm but firm. “I will not accept failure on any level. Any mishap could be very damaging to our business.”
The old woman stopped drumming her fingers and spoke to them both;
“We don’t need to meet again now until after the event.”
“You can take one of these phones”, She said, as she opened the lid on the wooden box and took out two brand new white mobile phones. She pushed the white phones toward the centre of the table. Continuing, she said, “It is now the only phone from which you can contact me and each other, these, I am told, cannot easily be traced.” “There is one for each of you.”
Lillian reached forwards to take her phone and slipped it immediately into her bag.
“You can now leave”, the elderly woman said to Ghost Face and Lillian as she drew again on her cigarette, and exhaled blue smoke into the air between them, confirming that the meeting had indeed finished.
They looked at each other in silence and nodded. They swiftly collected their belongings and exited the room, leaving the Chinese woman sitting alone at the table.
When she was sure that they had gone, she leaned forward and placed her cigarette against the ashtray.
“You can come out now”, she said.
There was a rustle behind her and from behind the heavy red curtain stepped a Chinese man. He was tanned and sinewy with shoulder length greasy black hair, slicked back and tied into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He wore a plain black t-shirt, denim jeans and black trainers. His forearms were covered in tattoos depicting a tiger on one side and a dragon on the other, both animals wrapping themselves up the full length of his forearms and disappearing into his sleeve. His face was pot marked and scarred and his features motionless. He stood before the elderly woman as silent as he had behind the curtain.
“I don’t trust Ghost Face. I want you to follow him and report back to me. I want to know everything that he does, every move that he makes and every person that he sees. Now go”.
Without saying a single word the man bowed and slipped silently out of the room.
Outside the restaurant Ghost Face lit up a cigarette. The air around him felt humid and sticky. He was distracted. He didn’t like it when things didn’t go to plan and he found working with Lillian insufferable.
He put his hand into his inside pocket and pulled out the new white mobile phone.
He punched in a number and waited.
“Yes” a male voice replied.
“We need to talk”
“OK, tomorrow morning at ten, the usual place.”
Without responding Ghost Face tapped the off button on the screen and slipped it back into his pocket.
Chapter 8
Ryan sat in the restaurant waiting for Lily to arrive. She was late, more than fashionably late. He pushed back the cuff of his shirt and checked his watch again.
He had opted to sit facing the entrance so that he would be aware when Lily arrived, as well as offering him a good view of the other diners.
He shifted in his chair to try to get more comfortable.
To Ryan’s immediate right sat two women in their mid-thirties, very well dressed and clearly close friends. They were leaning towards each other across the small round table in deep conversation, broken only by the occasional raucous laughter and a pause to take a sip from their wine glasses, oblivious to anyone else around them.
Ryan passed his gaze across the rest of the large room. She’d chosen well. The restaurant was a well-known hot spot in Hong Kong popular among Thirty-Somethings. A combination of rich dark wooden floors and off white walls with high ceilings gave it an air of sophistication without being too formal. The seating and couches dotted around the restaurant were filled with squashy velvet cushions making it a comfortable and relaxed setting. Black and white framed photographs of old Hong Kong filled the walls with hardly space to spare in between each one, which gave Ryan something to look at whilst he waited. Individual candles on each table glowed softly. In the background a mixture of jazz and lounge music played. He approved, it was all very well chosen.
The waiters all wore the same black Mandarin collar shirts with large black wrap around aprons with the restaurant name embroidered in white into the corner. All were local Chinese with the exception of one convivial red haired woman, who appeared to be keeping ‘front of house’ and greeting everyone upon their arrival with air kisses, hand shakes, and lots of ‘good to see you again” as people entered. Ryan wondered fleetingly if she was the owner.
Just past the entrance, Ryan could see out onto the busy road and into the restaurants on the opposite side of the street. People were walking past quickly and determined, heads down, unaware to the social world surrounding them. Perhaps they were heading home after a long day in the office, or maybe just starting their work. Clusters of people were standing outside on the pavement holding their drinks and smoking. Post-work drinks, he thought. If he looked hard enough he’d probably recognize some people from the bank.
Ryan returned his observations back to the inside of the restaurant. He noticed two men on his left having dinner. The man closest to Ryan was western, with thick blond hair and wore a well-cut suit; he was fixated on what the man sitting opposite him was saying. The man that he was listening to looked Indian. Ryan thought. His complexion was a rich dark olive, his hair thick and black. He was leaning back casually in his chair with one leg crossed over the other at the ankles. He was wearing a black full-length wool coat over a pinstripe suit, which Ryan supposed was more for a look that he must have been trying to achieve rather than for the current temperature. Unable to hear their conversation, Ryan quickly lost interest and looked around again. Other tables held larger groups
of friends and colleagues, people were laughing, talking over one another and having a great time.
One table caught Ryan’s attention. Situated close to the entrance was a table with just one occupant. Ryan continued to study the man sitting there quietly. He was smartly dressed and sat looking out of the window with an open book in his hand. He wasn’t reading. He looked distracted, or in deep thought. He had smooth porcelain-like skin, with the ethereal light of the restaurant highlighting his high cheekbones and sinking almond shaped eyes. His demeanor was one of a man on edge, waiting for someone or something to happen. With the single place setting, it was easy for Ryan to assume that he was alone. After watching him for a few minutes Ryan noticed that his attention was suddenly drawn to the entrance.
Ryan followed his gaze to see Lily walk in. He watched her scan the restaurant, and then finally rest her eyes on him. She smiled and waved and rolled her eyes mouthing ‘sorry’.
Ryan grinned back. Suddenly everything else in the restaurant evaporated. As usual Lily looked stunning. Effortlessly chic in a simple ivory silk tunic shirt and black slim fitting pants and heels. Her long, black glossy hair tumbled onto her shoulders.
As she worked her way between the tables Ryan couldn’t help but noticed that she was receiving admiring glances from every table that she walked past. It made him feel very proud that she was with him and not at all troubled that she was late.
She slid into the chair opposite Ryan, slightly breathless her mouth pouting naturally.
‘Would you like a drink Miss’? A stealth waiter was already standing next to their table armed with a wine list.
“Thank you”, she nodded to Ryan’s almost empty glass, “I’ll have the same, I’m sure it’s very good.”
Ryan smiled, and turned to the waiter, “I’ll also have one more glass. Thanks.”
The waiter thanked them and noiselessly withdrew from the table leaving them alone.
Taking Lily by surprise, Ryan unexpectedly stood up, his chair scraping the wooden floor loudly as he did so, causing a few diners close by to look up to find the source of the noise. He leaned over the table and roughly planted a kiss straight onto Lily’s lips. Ryan promptly sat back down in his chair, grinning at Lily’s stunned expression and felt suddenly very pleased with himself.
Lights Out Page 4