Emergency personnel and the police arrived in record time. Ambulance attendants stowed Tommy’s corpse into a body bag, arrow sticking up from the heart, intact. A crime photographer snapped pictures while CSI techs dusted for prints and examined the arrow in the wall. There were two interrogators but, with most of the patrons bribed or incentivized away, those that were left were curiosity seekers, not real witnesses.
All, that is, except for Garret. Two policemen were with him. One conducted the interview, and the other recorded their conversation and took notes.
“Would you please summarize what happened, Mr. Southam?” one of the cops asked.
“Of course, Officer. I was having dinner with Mr. Sung in a private room that our firm reserved. Mr. Sung is involved in the management of this complex, and our firm, Pittman Saunders, is their corporate attorney. Mr. Sung was in a celebratory mood and had a few drinks, quite a bit more than he might normally have.” Garret paused, then continued. “Quite unstable, he knocked the soup over both of us.”
Garret pointed to the stains on his shirt, jacket and pants. “We both had to clean up and left the room. As we left, two arrows came flying. One of them hit Mr. Sung, and the other planted itself into the wall.”
“Can we assume the other arrow was meant for you?” the officer asked.
“No, I don’t think that can be assumed at all.” Garret frowned, as if the thought was foreign to him. “No one knew we were in the room. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision for two business associates who were also longtime friends to share a meal after we just ran into each other at the craps table. But, as you have asked me to speculate, I will do so. There are two possibilities. The first possibility is that we were the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time. In other words, a random act of violence.”
“Do you think that likely?”
“What I think is immaterial. What is important are the facts.”
“Right.” The cop nodded. “You mentioned a second possibility.”
“Yes. The second possibility is that both arrows were meant for Mr. Sung. One was insurance in case the first one missed.”
“So you rule out the possibility that you were a possible target.”
“I’m a lawyer, Officer. And a damned good one. I never rule out any possibility, but let’s go over the facts.” Garret stood a little straighter. “I’m a senior partner specializing in corporate and commercial blue chip clients only. Do your due diligence on our firm, and you will discover an extraordinarily clean record. Pittman Saunders is extremely boring but extremely safe.”
“Why were there four place settings if dinner was only for you and Mr. Sung?”
Garret continued in his monotone with a hint of chastisement. “You don’t know much about the entertainment industry, do you, son? The answer is public relations. Mr. Sung often spontaneously invited patrons, and especially young ladies, to join him. Having structured his contract with the Tiger Complex, I can tell you that part of his job description is to spend $250,000 per month entertaining clients, patrons and any other potential for new business. What we call client development is an entirely normal legal expense. Had you come by, there is a good chance he would have invited you in the interests of maintaining an excellent relationship with our public defenders.” Again, he paused. “I hope we can keep this low key, officers.”
The two officers looked at each other. They nodded, indicating the questions were answered to their mutual satisfaction.
“Thank you, Mr. Southam. We will be in touch if there are any further questions.”
The other police officer turned off the recording device and packed his notes. “I’m good to go.”
The officers started to leave. Garret quickly joined them and discreetly placed an envelope into the bag of the policeman carrying the recording device and another envelope into the hand of the interviewing officer. “Thanks for your understanding,” he said quietly.
“Always glad to be of service to the public, Mr. Southam.”
At the bar a hundred feet away, Olivia and Abby witnessed the whole exchange, including the giving of envelopes to the officers.
Chapter 27
For someone like Chad whose passion in life was to help kids, owning Chad’s Caffeine Emporium was a natural. It could barely squeeze in a dozen people at any time, but that was no big deal to the kids who hung out there killing cops, vampires and dragons in cyberspace or dueling to death with mercenaries and wizards, maybe half a world away, maybe on the computer next to them. They all had smart phones, tablet computers and laptops, but there was something about the camaraderie of being in a place where you could see and be seen that made the cafe a great place to hang.
The gregarious Chad was a natural at it. He got to meet kids, talk to them, find out more and then, if they needed it, found some way to assist. Sometimes, it was helping with homework; sometimes it was parental issues. Sometimes, there were kids like Sam who needed a hand to pull them out of shit before the cesspool dragged them under.
Chad knew because he was one of those kids. The hands that pulled him out were Noah’s parents, Christian teachers who were more concerned about their students’ personal lives than their academics. When Chad and Noah met at the Reids’ school, they got along like oil and water. That was pretty normal—you couldn’t expect everyone to like everybody. However, one day Chad pulled a knife and stabbed Noah because Noah wouldn’t give Chad the T-shirt he was wearing, and that’s when the Reid parents stepped it up.They found out Chad was an orphan and had been living on his own for a couple of years. Some people collected stray animals. The Reids collected stray people, and Chad became part of the Reid household. After that initial rough start, it took a while, but Noah and Chad became soul brothers. It was that kind of brotherly heart-to-heart they were having at the Caffeine Emporium.
The lovestruck, or was it lovesick, Noah sat across from barista Chad, who was preparing cappuccinos for the two of them.
“So? Who is she? Who is this fringe benefit?”
Noah sighed. “A girl who has everything.”
“Oh, one of those. Can’t afford, can’t touch, can’t get to first base. I know too many of those.”
“Olivia’s different.”
“You mean she’s not a spoiled rich kid who thinks the world should cater to her every whim?”
“Well... she’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad means not that good.” Chad made perfect sense, but who said love was logical? “Let me guess. She makes Miss America look like yesterday’s breakfast.”
“Well... like I said... she’s not that bad.”
“You shallow bastard,” Chad said disdainfully. “Falling in love with someone just because she’s some good-looking babe? Dangerous, you know what I mean? So, is she part of the secretarial pool or someone who hands out the muffins? Or maybe she operates the elevator?”
Noah sighed. “None of the above. She’s a lawyer. And the boss’s daughter.”
“She’s good-looking and smart. What’s she doing with a slime ball like you? Hey, does she have a sister?”
“Damned if I know.” Noah sighed again. “What can I do to make her see what a wonderful guy I am? That her life is incomplete without me? What kind of present can I get her?”
Chad rolled his eyes. “Gag me. Remember, we had the same problem every Mother’s Day. What can I get you, Mom? And her answer was always the same.” He put on a feminine voice. “Oh, nothing, Son. Just give me your love.” Reverting to his natural voice, he said, “The answer is you don’t get her anything because you can’t ever match up to anything she already has. So if she’s everything you say she is, you gotta think outside the box because you won’t make an impact in a normal way.”
“I’ll get her a dozen roses,” Noah said. “No, two dozen roses.”
“Duh,” Chad scoffed. “Someone like that gets flowers from every guy who has ever hit on her.”
“Mom loved flowers.”
“Mom was the
wife of a missionary teacher who could barely afford the rent, let alone flowers.”
Chad put the cappuccino in front of Noah. Like a true barista artist, he made a design using a combination of foam and coffee. This time, it was a rose. “Sweep her off her feet. Be different. Get her something she would never think of herself.”
“Maybe daisies instead of roses?”
Chad made motions of tearing his hair out. “Hey, you got a picture of this ravishing creature?”
“Yeah, there’s one on the Pittman Saunders website.”
Noah moved to one of the computers and started typing, narrowing his brows with unsettled intensity. “Something’s wrong. I can’t get in. Maybe they got some kind of firewall or something? My password is Reid, but I can’t get in.”
Chad walked over to Noah’s computer and typed r-e-i-d. As the computer displayed Noah’s opening screen, he said, “Bingo.”
“How’d you do that?” Noah said. “I mean, I’m not a computer geek like you, but I think I know how to spell my name.”
Chad grinned. “The light on the CAPS LOCK key is broken. It needs to be replaced.”
“Then why don’t you fix it?” Noah inquired.
“Funds are in serious shortage for this cowboy. Want to lend me some?”
“Gave everything I had to Sam. Wait until I get a paycheck.”
“Hello, Noah,” said an unrecognized voice from behind him.
***
Noah turned to see Chin staring at him. He recognized the man, and the hairs on the back of his neck began to twitch. “You, you’re the one at the airport. The guy chasing down the tiger.”
“You are most observant. Do you like tigers?”
Although there was nothing sinister about the appearance of the Tiger Master, there was something about Chin’s matter-of-fact tone that made Noah shudder. “How do you know who I am? And who are you?”
“My business is to know everything about anybody associated with any of my enterprises. We have mutual acquaintances that I wanted to warn you about. They may not be good for your health. Goodbye, Noah.”
Chin turned and strode to the door.
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
Chin suddenly swung around, sending two martial arts stars rocketing through the air, missing Noah and Chad by millimeters. The stars were sharp enough to slice through two cups. They embedded in the wall and then exploded like fireworks, sending a stream of sparkles throughout the air.
When they’d burned out, and after the smoke subsided, there were two twelve-inch holes in the wall.
“My name is Chin. Chin Chee Fok.” Chin left without further comment.
“What was that about?” asked a freaked-out Chad.
“I have no idea, but he knows who I am, and he knows how to find me, so I think we should just carry on like normal.” Noah inhaled. “Nothing we can do anyway.”
Chad’s eyebrows rose as he glared at his best friend in confused amazement. “After that wacko, you’re still thinking about her? Now?”
“How about a soya latte?”
Chapter 28
Abby was numb. She’d witnessed the killing of her father from an unseen assassin’s arrow; it was devastating. Having her father breathe his painful last breath and hearing him confirmed as a mega-criminal was even more devastating.
But what Olivia was experiencing might be even worse. Garret had lived through an attempt on his life by what must be one of the biggest criminals in the world, and that monstrous act turned her head upside down.
Running through the synapses of her brain was the excruciating knowledge that the blood and tears of crime victims bought her father’s career and all that she had. Personal survival was paramount, yet guilt overwhelmed her. She tried to rationalize it, but her imagination slipped into overtime as she speculated on the possibilities. And it didn’t help that Garret survived the act as if he had no foreknowledge of what transpired. Normality was a sham that was but a hair’s breadth from breaking.
“Stay with us tonight, Abby,” said Garret in all sincerity.
Abby’s troubled eyes avoided Garret’s pointed stare. “Thanks, Mr. Southam, but I want to go home.”
“You’ll be safer with us.”
“Dad, I’ll stay with Abby tonight. Nothing’s going to happen,” said Olivia.
You just don’t want to spend the night at home with me. “Sure, honey. That’s a good idea,” agreed Garret.
Abby clung to Olivia tightly, crying... “I should have suspected something. This morning, I found Daddy with a suitcase full of money. When I asked him about it, he said it was from a casino.”
“Your dad is part owner of more than a dozen casinos. That’s entirely possible,” Olivia consoled her friend.
“Except, Olivia, the armored car service comes by to scoop up the cash every two hours, twenty-four hours a day. And the bills were in foreign currency. He said it was for a deposit.”
Olivia turned from Abby, lashing out at her father. “You’re Tommy’s lawyer. You must know what’s going on.”
Garret focused on the road, trying to hide his exasperation. “Not only was I his lawyer, I was his best friend. And, Abby, if he said he was going to make a deposit, there is no doubt in my mind he made a deposit.” Just not at a bank, he thought.
“You don’t need to lie,” Olivia said calmly. “I saw what happened at Tiger. I saw you bribe the cops. Why didn’t you want them to know Abby and I were there?”
“Protection.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Despite their difficult relationship, this was the first time Olivia swore at her father.
“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
“Dammit, Dad. I’m not eleven years old,” Olivia blurted. “Stop treating me like a child.”
“Knowledge is dangerous. The less you know―or more important, the less anyone thinks you know―the safer you will be.”
“That’s the problem with you. Knowledge is not dangerous; it is power. You think you’re protecting me by hiding things,” said Olivia bitterly.
“No employee speaks to me that way,” growled Garret.
“Is that what you really think of me? Well, I have news for you. I am not your employee; I am your daughter.”
Garret pulled up in front of Tommy’s home and turned to face Olivia.
“As far as Pittman Saunders is concerned, you are an employee, an employee I am responsible for, including deciding what you’re privy to on a need-to-know basis. As your father, who cares infinitely more for you than I care for my own personal well-being, there are things I don’t want you to know about.”
“You have a strange way of demonstrating that. After Mom was killed in the plane accident, you sent me away to boarding school so you almost never had to speak to me.” Olivia’s voice turned icy. “You told me to use Mom’s maiden name of Novak for whatever reason. I never, ever had a cell phone, credit card or Internet account in my own name. It’s like you were ashamed of anyone knowing that I was your daughter. You never told me anything, but I deserve to know.”
“Do you honestly believe that I would do nothing if I thought there was something I could do? The reason I haven’t told you anything is that there is nothing to tell.” He glared at her. “And, as I told you many times before, I am worth a considerable amount of money. The fewer people who know you are my daughter, the better. The last thing you want or need is for someone to kidnap you and demand a ransom.”
Olivia didn’t believe her father, but she helped Abby out of the car.
“Thanks, Mr. Southam. I appreciate all you’re doing,” said Abby.
“There is no need to offer thanks, Abby. Your father was a good man, and he deserves the best.”
Olivia slammed the door, and Garret watched the two women walk to the house that was no longer a home. I wish there were another way, he thought as a tear rolled down his cheek.
***
Olivia and Abby walked through the too-quiet house and enter
ed Abby’s bedroom. You would think that Abby’s favorite color was yellow because curtains, walls, the en suite bathroom and all her blankets were a bright-lemon color. And you would guess that daffodils were her favorite flower, with a fresh bouquet of the flowers on her dresser and a duvet that had the bright-yellow flowers with long trumpet-shaped centers embroidered into it.
Not so. The fateful day that Abby’s mother, Jocelyn, died in the plane accident, Abby was holding a bouquet of daffodils she was going to give her mother. For Abby, daffodils served as a reminder of what could happen to anyone. She took one of the daffodils from her dresser and spoke softly as she reminisced. “We had a tea house when I was little. Every Thursday, Dad gave Chin three thousand dollars. No questions, no discussion. One day, we couldn’t pay.”
“What happened then?”
“He joined them, Olivia. My father joined the gangs.”
“I’ve gone through the file. There is not an undotted i nor an uncrossed t anywhere.”
“Of course not. That’s what Pittman Saunders is for,” Abby murmured. “That’s what your father is for. To hide the things that need to be hidden. As much as I hated my father and as much as I know that he took things to the edge, he was not a criminal. When he said he was very good at his job, he meant he knew what he could get away with and what he couldn’t.”
“Do you really know that, or is that just what you want to believe?” Olivia looked at her friend closely.
“Let me ask you: Who do you think that other arrow was meant for? I don’t think it was for you or me. Was it a backup in case one of the arrows missed? Or was one of them meant for your father, and the marksman missed?”
“I don’t know,” Olivia said. ”And I can’t figure out why an arrow and not a bullet. The arrow was too short to be from a regular hand bow, so it must have been a crossbow. I don’t get that either.”
The Noah Reid Series: Books 1-3: The Noah Reid Action Thriller Series Boxset Page 14