The Sky Might Fall (Harry Vee, PI)

by Michael Young

  She went quiet for a while. Harry stubbed out his cigarillo. He heard her moving and saw the white shape of her vest as she stood up. She felt her way through the darkness, across the room until she reached his chair, and curled up on his lap, resting her head on his chest.

  *

  When Harry woke up, it was already light outside the window. He could smell Mui’s coffee and cigarette. “I let you sleep in this morning,” she said, and got up to make him coffee. “I guess I didn’t need to go upstairs today.”

  They breakfasted and showered, and packed the last of their things. Finally, Harry left the key and a generous amount of money on top of the mini-bar. They slipped out of the motel through the parking garage and Harry put his arm out for a taxi. He told the driver to take them to the fruit market in West Kowloon. Mui looked at him, “I thought we were going to the airport?”

  “Not quite yet.”

  The taxi took them across the city, and dropped them on the edge of the busy fruit market. At this time of day it was filled with a slow moving crush of housewives and pensioners. Harry took Mui to a Starbucks. He gave her a bank note and his bag. “Get yourself a coffee and wait for me here. Sit near the door and be ready to go as soon as I get back.” He watched her way in and join the queue. She looked back at him, nervously, over her shoulder.

  Harry walked off through the market, past the stalls of apples, pears, melons, and other, stranger fruits. On the south side of the market he crossed the street and rounded the corner to Sasaki’s shop. His eyes scanned the street. Parked cars lined both sides, but there were fewer people out walking. Entering the shop he saw Sasaki sat, as before, reading.

  “Mr Greene, welcome back. You’re a little early, but your documents are ready. Come with me.” Harry followed him through to the back office. Sasaki stood by the desk, and gave a polite little cough, like a bellboy waiting for a tip. Harry took a fat envelope from his coat pocket and handed it over.

  “Thank you, Mr Greene,” Sasaki said, flicking through the thick wad of banknotes inside. “I trust I don’t need to count it?” He opened a drawer in the desk, deposited the envelope, and pulled out a British passport, which he gave to Harry. Harry opened the back pages, and found the face of Mui looking back at him, the picture he had taken in the motel room. Anita Greene, sixteen years old.

  “That will take you anywhere you want to go,” said Sasaki. “It’s only a few months old, on account of her age, but she’s been to the mainland a couple of times, and once to Macau. It’s the finest quality you’ll get anywhere. As good as the ones from the embassy.”

  Harry closed the passport and slipped it into his pocket. “I trust your work. Your reputation precedes you.”

  “As does yours.” They heard the jingle of the doorbell from inside the store. Sasaki looked at Harry. “Sorry about this Mr Greene. I have to protect my business, you understand? Mr Huang can bring a lot of pressure to bear.”

  “I understand,” said Harry. An arm brushed aside the curtain, and Steven Chang stood in the doorway.

  Sasaki was astonished. “Who are you? I don’t understand.”

  “You were expecting someone else, perhaps?” Chang grinned. Turning to Harry he said, “Tony Huang was arrested this morning, on suspicion of kidnap and murder. At the same time, police started raiding some of his father’s warehouses, acting on an anonymous tip off and a picture of the girl tied to a chair.” He looked at his watch, “Right about now the police will be finding the schoolgirl porn on his computer. I really have excelled myself this time Harry. Oh by the way, you owe me a lot of money.”

  “Don’t worry, Chang, I’ll wire it when I get to where I’m going.”

  They left Sasaki open mouthed in his store. Chang continued, “And don’t forget to use my alternative account. The last thing I need is Huang tracing this back to me. It won’t take the cops long to figure out that the picture I sent them is fake. His father will probably have him out again tomorrow. Boy are they gonna be pissed…”

  “Don’t worry, that gives me all the time I need.”

  Chang disappeared into the crowds again, “Take it easy, Harry. Good luck, and don’t forget my money.”

  Back at the coffee shop Harry picked up Mui, and they walked to the nearest subway station. He took her to the platform heading north. “But I thought we were going to the airport?”

  “Huang is a little busy this morning, but he’ll still have men watching the airport. We’re taking a slightly longer route.”

  They headed north to the edge of the subway system. Harry left his phone in a litterbin as they crossed over the border easily to mainland China and took a taxi. Two hours later they were in Shenzhen airport, just in time for a flight to Shanghai. Mui pulled Harry along excitedly as they rushed to the gate, and insisted on sitting by the window, looking out onto the wing of the small plane. As they started to taxi, and the stewardess began the safety demonstration, Harry said to her, “Is this the first time you’ve flown?”

  She looked at him scornfully, “I studied in London for a year, silly. I didn’t go by boat. And I spent a year in San Francisco when I was younger. And I went to Japan, Macau, and Bali.” Harry smiled at her excitement as she ticked off the places she’d been. She hit him on the arm. “Where have you been to then, my well-travelled man?”

  “Oh, I’ve been just about everywhere.”

  “I bet.” She hit him again, and turned back to the window to watch the take-off.

  Another two hours and they were in Shanghai, where Harry bought tickets for Bangkok. They had to wait for the evening flight, so they ate lunch in the airport. Mui dragged Harry through duty-free and bought some accessories, lotion and perfume. She made Harry smell them all and choose the one that suited her best. As usual, Harry bought whisky and cigarillos. She laughed at him. “You are so predictable.” She took him back to the perfume counter and made him buy some for himself, after she had smelled all the men’s fragrances and picked one out for him.

  They ate in the airport again, and boarded the late flight to Bangkok. It was already dark when they took off. Mui watched the lights of Shanghai fade into the distance until all was black outside as they flew south over water. “Harry? Who is this friend of yours?”

  “His name is Jim James. I worked with him when I first came to Hong Kong. He’s well connected, used to be in the CIA. He’s got a lot of useful friends.”

  “What did you two do?”

  “Find things, mostly. Company spies, missing artwork,” he looked at her, “missing people.”

  “Do you really trust him?” she asked.

  “He can help us, and he can keep a secret. Yes, I trust him.”

  She settled back in her seat and turned back to the darkness outside. Soon she was sleeping, her head resting on Harry’s shoulder. He woke her as they taxied in Bangkok airport. She rubbed fists in her eyes. It was still dark outside the window. “I wanted to see Bangkok from the air. Why didn’t you wake me?” Harry ushered her, yawning, through immigration, and left her standing over their bags, smoking outside the airport doors. Once the people from their flight had disappeared, the airport was quiet.

  Twenty minutes later he pulled up alongside her in a hire car. She threw their bags into the back seat and got in beside him, still sleepy. “What time is it?”

  “Nearly three in the morning, Hong Kong time. Two o’clock local.” She nodded and watched through the window as he drove them out from the airport and onto the main freeway that would take them around the edge of the city. Soon, the regular flash of streetlights passing the car gave way to impenetrable dark of the overcast night as they left the city behind. Only their headlights and a few other cars shed light onto the road ahead. Mui’s head rolled over to the side and she was soon asleep.

  *

  When she woke again, it was light outside. The sky was blue and dotted with puffy white clouds. To her right, lush green mountains rose steadily inland. To her left, far below the cliff top they were driving on, the green
-blue sea stretched all the way to the sun, climbing above it. She yawned loudly and stretched her arms. “Where are we going?”

  “South along the coast. It’s still a fair way yet, I’m afraid.”

  Mui looked across at him, “Oh poor Harry. You look so tired.” Harry said nothing. She rubbed her legs. “Ow, my legs are cramping. Can we stop for a bit?”

  Harry pulled over on the edge of the next small town. He watched Mui as she stretched her legs along the cliff top, smoking, with the sea breeze billowing her skirt. They breakfasted on cans of cold coffee and sandwiches that Harry had picked up at the airport, and then they were off again, Harry lighting a cigarillo and winding down the window for the smoke while Mui played with the radio. Finding nothing she liked she turned it off and lit a cigarette, and sat in silence, watching the countryside passing.

  They turned inland and drove through the hills for a few hours, mostly silent with their own thoughts, until they saw the sea come up again to meet them. Finally the road got lower, until they were practically driving on the edge of the beach. It was noon and the sun was hot above them in the clear blue sky. “I think this is it,” said Harry, as they pulled up to a large house overlooking a bright blue bay. Tall white walls faced the road, but as they drove around the other side was open to the sea.

  The house was large and old, but well looked after, two whitewashed storeys with a railing across the top and a veranda opening onto a small garden with grass and flowers, and tall palms marking the seaward boundary. It sat on a short rise above the beach, and fifteen yards away the bare scratchy grass gave way to white sands that ran sharply down to the surf.

  In the garden, a small thin woman in a flower dress was watering the roses. As she saw them approaching, she called out in Thai towards the house. A large American came out onto the veranda.

  “Harry, my boy. I thought you’d never come.”

  “Hello Jim. Nice place you’ve got here. Jim, I’d like you to meet Mui.” Jim James was a big man, wearing big clothes. The little hair he had left was white against dark tanned skin, and his smile was confident and genuine. He enfolded first Harry then Mui in a bear hug, and waved them into the house.

  “Come on, you’re just in time for lunch.” The inside of the house was simple and neat, with pure white walls and large comfortable furniture. Mui was fascinated by the odd but tasteful collection of curiosities around the walls and shelves: African and Asian masks and carvings, a painted ostrich egg, knives and spears carved into animal or other shapes, and decorated with feathers.

  James strode ahead of them into the kitchen, where a big pot of coffee sat on the solid wooden dining table, next to plates of bread, cheese and ham, and a bowl of salad. James spoke to the woman in Thai, and she set about preparing more food from the fridge. “This is Sunisa. She keeps house for me. And this little darling is Anna.” Harry and Mui turned around to see a little girl of six or seven shyly peeking around the doorway. “Come on in honey and have lunch.”

  Sunisa spoke to the girl in Thai, and she came creeping into the room to sit next to James. Jim James talked all through the meal about the local town, Thai politics and all sorts. Harry added a few points, while Mui just helped herself to coffee and food. Anna’s eyes never left the visitors, though she never spoke a word.

  Eventually James stood up and carried his coffee out onto the veranda. Harry lit a cigarillo, and Mui a cigarette. James sat silently in a large wicker chair, looking out to sea. The sun was high overhead, and the air was hot, so Mui was thankful for the light breeze coming off the ocean. She said, “Mr James?”

  “Call me Jim, or Jimmy, as you like.”

  “Jim, I’m so grateful to you for helping us out like this.”

  “Oh, hush now, girl. Harry here owes me a good month of visits, at least. And any friend of Harry’s…”

  Mui sat back happily, and listened to the distant waves. A small fishing boat crawled across the water. She saw Sunisa back working in the garden, with Anna hanging onto her dress and keeping a watchful eye on the strangers.

  Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, and her head jerked up off her chest. She had fallen asleep, and Sunisa was standing over her, gesturing for her to follow. The housekeeper took her inside and upstairs to a small bedroom. The bed was already made, with a pile of soft toys and dolls around the pillow. Mui’s bag was on the floor next to a dressing table, and an old-fashioned, long cotton nightshirt hung over a chair. There was a large built-in wardrobe with white painted wooden slats, and a chest at the base of the bed. Otherwise the room was quite bare.

  Sunisa pulled the curtains shut, and the room became dark. She pointed to the nightdress, said something Mui didn’t understand, and walked out, closing the door behind her. Mui quickly undressed and crawled under the cool cotton sheets, pushing the toys carefully to the side, and slept.

  *

  When she woke the room was still in darkness, but she could see bright sunlight behind the curtains. She sat up and looked about the room. A glass of water was on the dressing table, which she drank gratefully. She opened the curtains. Her window looked out onto the bay. The sun was starting to sink towards the horizon now, and she guessed it was late afternoon. Inspecting the wardrobe, she found a few child-size clothes, which she guessed were the girl’s. The chest was full of blankets and sheets.

  Dressing quickly she tiptoed down the stairs. The house appeared to be empty. Then she heard voices outside. Harry and James were walking in the garden, glasses in their hands. There was no sign of the woman or the child. She skipped over to them, and hugged Harry.

  James said, “I hope you slept well. Sorry about the room, Anna sleeps there sometimes.”

  “I slept great, thank you,” Mui smiled. She took the glass from Harry’s hand and took a sip. Gin and tonic.

  She beamed up at Harry, happy and relaxed. “Did you sleep?”

  “Yes, just not as long as you did.” They returned to the house and Mui sat on the veranda, smoking and watching the boats on the water. The men disappeared inside, until Harry came out with a beer for her. “You look better,” he said as he passed her the bottle.

  “I feel better,” she said. “I feel like I’ve slept for a week. It’s so nice being outside in the sun again.” Harry smiled gently at her, as she lit another cigarette.

  Sunisa had left a spicy chicken stew on the stove for dinner. After they ate, they went on to the balcony. This time, James took out a wooden pipe and started puffing away. The tide was in and the waves, lapping softly along the shore, were closer to the house. Mui took off her shoes and slipped through the garden to the beach. She felt the sand through her toes, looked at the shells along the high tide line, which the sea had nearly reached, and lifted her skirt to paddle in the gentle breakers.

  Behind the house were rolling green hills, and the first stars peered through the coming darkness. Across the low waves, the sun was inching towards the distant horizon. A few minutes later she saw Harry following her from the house. She ran towards him and threw her arms around him, spinning round.

  “You’re a bit happier than before, then?” he said.

  She laughed up at him. “Just for today, I’m forgetting everything. This place is so beautiful. Thank you so much, Harry.”

  Harry smiled, but said nothing. They walked down to the edge of the sea to watch the sun. The last few fishing boats were crawling towards the small village in the centre of the bay. The sea seemed to flame orange as the sun touched it. She put her arm through his and rested her head against him as they watched the sun disappear over the edge of the world, and blackness slowly came across the sky.

  6

  The next morning, Mui woke early. She got up to open the window. The sun was barely up, but the bay sparkled bright blue and was criss-crossed by the wakes of a dozen or more small boats. A strong, sweet breeze came in off the ocean. It made the room smell fresh and clean. She left the window open for the wind and lay back in the bed, with her arm wrapped around the pile
of soft toys, until she heard people moving around downstairs.

  Slipping into some clothes, she went out into the corridor outside her room. The balcony was above the living room, and the smell of bacon and the sounds of movement in the kitchen wafted up to her. Suddenly she was starving. Coming down the stairs she fingered the wooden masks on the wall as she passed them. They looked like gods. Some of them were funny, some scary.

  Through the door to the kitchen she saw Sunisa getting breakfast ready. Anna was sat at the table, playing with a toy. The food didn’t look ready yet, so she went out to the veranda to smoke. A few minutes later Harry came out and sat next to her. They watched the boats through the palm trees for a few minutes. She ground out her stub in the ashtray. He said. “You smoke too much.”

  She looked at him, “You drink too much.”

  Harry sat back in his chair, “Well, life is hard.”

  She laughed, “Tell me about it.” He smiled at her. The colour was back in her cheeks, and the sparkle in her eyes that he had seen in the photograph. She said, “What are we going to do today?”

  “Today? Nothing. We’re going to relax for a while, until we find out what’s happening in Hong Kong.”

  “Good. I want to do exactly nothing, but this time in the open air.” Inside they heard Jim James in the kitchen. Entering, they found the table piled high with plates full of bacon, eggs, pancakes and toast. There was maple syrup and honey, orange juice and coffee. Sunisa and Anna had disappeared. Mui guessed that they had already eaten. She piled her plate high and started eating.

  Jim James talked about the town again, the weather, and sport back in America. He liked to talk. Mui ate until she thought she might burst, listening to him chattering. Harry didn’t say much; he too looked like he hadn’t eaten properly for weeks.

  After breakfast they smoked on the veranda with coffee, then Mui went upstairs and lay back on her bed, enjoying the bloated feeling in her stomach. After a while she went into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower, enjoying a clean bathroom and good products after all the travelling and her time in the motel. In the room she let the breeze from the window dry her, relaxed and happy. Then she put on the dress that Harry had bought.