“All right,” said Cheng Li. “What I’m going to tell you now is quite confidential. Do you understand? You must not breathe a word of this. To anyone.”
“Trust me,” Cate said. “It won’t play well for me if anyone gets to hear about this meeting.”
“I mean anyone,” Cheng Li said. “Including Bart.”
Blushing, Cate injected a note of steel into her voice. “Point taken. Please proceed.”
“The Tiger is not just a regular pirate ship,” said Cheng Li. “And mine is not a typical command. I have had the very great honor of being given a top-level mission from the very highest command within the Pirate Federation.”
Cate was wide-eyed. Good, thought Cheng Li. Thought that would get your attention!
“Ours is to be the first ship of Vampirate assassins,” she continued. “We have been charged with leading attacks on the Vampirates and purging the oceans of their menace for good. Our first target is Sidorio, the monster who slaughtered Commodore Kuo and the two academy students, Zak and Varsha.”
At the mention of the slaughter, Cate dropped her head. “That was terrible,” she said.
“Yes.” Cheng Li nodded. “And make no mistake, worse will follow. Unless we act fast and decisively.”
“Go on,” Cate urged her.
“As I said before, my ship is no ordinary pirate command. We have a higher purpose. And we’re already well on our way to completing our first mission.”
“Congratulations,” Cate said. “But I don’t see where I fit into all this.”
“Think about it,” said Cheng Li, her limpid eyes glowing in the candlelight. “We’re going to be fighting Vampirates. Not regular mortals but demons, monsters. My team has conducted extensive research into their vulnerabilities. We have identified three substances that are poisonous to them.”
Cate leaned forward, clearly fascinated, as Cheng Li continued. “Even now, Connor is in Lantao, collecting a special batch of weapons from Master Yin.”
“Master Yin,” said Cate. “Impressive!”
“I work with only the best, Cate,” said Cheng Li. “That’s the point of this meeting. I’ve got the weapons. I’ve got the support of the Federation. Now what I need is an attack specialist. And not to beat around the bush, we both know you’re the best in the business.”
“You want me to devise a strategy for attacking the Vampirates?” asked Cate, clearly intrigued by the proposition.
“It would be your greatest work to date. Your crowning glory. It would put you right on the radar of the Federation, where you belong. But it’s not simply about glory, Cate. It’s about taking a stand, making a difference. Cleansing the oceans and making them safe for future generations. Can you really content yourself with chumming along with Molucco when a mission like this is calling you?”
It was obvious from her expression that Cate was torn. Cheng Li waited patiently. Had she said enough to convince her former comrade?
Cate shook her head and sighed. “I’m afraid there’s no way Molucco would agree to it.”
“He doesn’t have to,” said Cheng Li.
“I’m not going to break my articles,” Cate said. “It’s a point of principle. I won’t break them. Not even for this.”
“Fair enough,” said Cheng Li. “As I said at the outset, I greatly admire your constancy. But let’s think outside the box, dear. My support comes from the very highest level of the Federation. They can be very persuasive.”
“What do you mean?” Cate asked.
“It’s no secret that you’ve been scrimping and saving all the while you’ve served on the Diablo for your poor mother and sisters. We all know what a worry they are to you. I’d be able to offer you a very significant sum to join my team.”
Cate shook her head. “This isn’t about money.”
“No,” agreed Cheng Li, “it’s about much more than that. But money wouldn’t hurt. It could make your life and your family’s a whole lot more comfortable.”
Once more Cate paused to consider the offer. Then she shook her head. “I appreciate everything you’ve said. I’m flattered. But my answer is no. I made a commitment and I stand by it.” She stood up and stretched out her hand. “I didn’t think I’d say this, but I’ve actually enjoyed seeing you again.”
Cheng Li shook her hand. She was disappointed but determined not to let it show. “You, too, Cate. We really should keep in closer touch.” She smiled. “We girls must stick together.”
At Cate’s request, Cheng Li waited in the booth while she made her way discreetly out of the tavern. She remained paranoid about the two of them being seen together.
“How did that go?” Sugar Pie asked, popping her head into the booth.
“Not exactly to plan,” said Cheng Li.
“Oh, dear,” said Sugar Pie, collecting Cate’s untouched mug. “Well, there’s no need to rush off. Would you like another pot of tea? Or perhaps something stronger?”
Cheng Li considered, then shook her head. “No,” she said. “No, I had better get back to my ship. It’s all work and no play when you’re the captain!”
Cheng Li collected her katanas and her father’s cutlass from Pieces 08 and then set off along the walkway toward the line of waiting taxi boats. Her favorite jacaranda tree was in bloom, and she paused for a moment to admire its lavender blossoms. They reminded her that to everything there is a season, a ripeness. As she cradled the blossom in her hand, she thought of Cate. The timing was wrong, that was all. When the time was right, her answer would be different. She lifted one of her katanas and sliced off a sprig of flowers, tucking it into her buttonhole. Then she hastened toward the end of the boardwalk, raised her hand, and yelled, “Taxi!”
“Where to, lovely lady?” asked the lead ferryman.
“My ship, the Tiger. It’s moored around the bay,” she said, making herself comfortable.
“No problema!” said the sailor.
Cheng Li stepped into the water taxi, unaware of the second sailor crouching at the back of the boat.
“It’s a beautiful night for a detour,” said a voice behind her. The second sailor’s accent was a world apart from his fellow’s and yet somehow familiar.
“I don’t want a detour,” Cheng Li said. “And I shan’t pay you extra for one. Straight around the bay, thank you very much!”
The first sailor turned and smiled at her, his eyes as dark as hers. “Buenas noches, little lady,” said Johnny.
Irate at his overfamiliarity, Cheng Li turned and found herself looking straight into the face of Jez Stukeley. It was then that she realized she’d stepped into the wrong taxi.
“Long time, no see,” said Stukeley with a grin. “We hear you’ve been taking a sudden interest in Vampirates, so we thought we’d take you out for a spin.”
Cheng Li looked from one face to the other, her heart racing. How on earth was she going to get out of this one?
39
THE INVITATION
“Stop this boat!” Cheng Li commanded, reaching for her twin katanas.
But Stukeley was swift. Before she could unleash the razor-sharp swords, he had caught her arms in a deadlock, forcing her to drop them. “I’ll just keep those safe for the time being,” he said. “Don’t worry, you’ll get them back later… providing you behave.”
Cheng Li frowned. In life, Jez Stukeley had been one of the best and fastest fighters she’d ever seen. Clearly he had carried such talents over into the afterlife or whatever dark place it was he resided in nowadays.
Johnny coughed. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Stukeley said, his voice suddenly more amiable. “Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce my good friend and compadre, Johnny Desperado.”
“You can call me Johnny,” said the good-looking sailor, winking at Cheng Li and doffing his Stetson.
“This here is Cheng Li,” continued Stukeley. “We go back a long way, don’t we?”
His question was left unanswered as Cheng Li glanced around her, quickly assessing her escape optio
ns. They looked decidedly limited. Johnny had expertly ridden the currents, and they were already a long way from the comforting neon halo of Ma Kettle’s. What could she do? Swim for it? It was a considerable distance to the shore. And wouldn’t the Vampirates follow her into the water? In her mind, she remembered hearing somewhere that Vampirates couldn’t swim. But was that true? Hadn’t Lorcan Furey dived into the ocean to save Grace Tempest? She couldn’t afford to take any risks at this point.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked. Even if she felt devoid of options, it was vital that they not sense her fear. Play for time, she told herself. Focus. The answer will come. She thought of John Kuo’s lectures on zanshin. Then she thought of John Kuo’s fate—his mummified corpse sitting in his office chair. This was not much comfort.
“We’re just taking you for a little mystery cruise,” said Johnny.
“I don’t like mysteries,” said Cheng Li. “Or, for that matter, cruises.”
There was a laugh behind her. A familiar laugh. It disconcerted her that Jez Stukeley, a former comrade, was now a vampire and threatening her.
“Come, come,” said Stukeley. “From what we hear, you love a good mystery, isn’t that right, Johnny?”
Johnny nodded. “We hear you’ve been delving into the unexplained world of Vampirates.”
Cheng Li frowned but said nothing. What was the point in denying it?
“Anyhow,” said Johnny, “we figured, if you’re so interested in Vampirates, why not do you a favor and come pay you a visit?”
“Exactly,” said Stukeley, leaning close behind her, so close that she could feel his breath on her neck. “So here we are. Ready and eager to answer all your questions.”
Saying that, he clambered out from behind her and came to sit down on the seat opposite. Johnny remained standing, his hand on the tiller. “It’s okay, mate,” said Stukeley. “I reckon we can idle here for a bit, don’t you? It’s a beautiful night. And this is a highly picturesque spot, don’t you agree, Mistress Li?”
Cheng Li grimaced, determined to retain some semblance of control. “Actually, it’s Captain Li now,” she said.
“Oh, of course!” Stukeley continued. “I was forgetting myself. I am sorry.”
“That’s quite all right, Jez,” she said. “Things have moved pretty fast since we last met.”
Stukeley nodded. “Indeed they have. For both of us. And, as it goes, no one really calls me Jez any more. I go by the name Stukeley now.”
Cheng Li raised an eyebrow. “As you wish.”
She looked at him properly for the first time. He didn’t look as changed as she might have expected. Paler, certainly. A little thinner perhaps. It was evident in his face. Jez had always been a joker, and his round face and dimples had somehow reinforced that impression, as though he was always thinking back to the last joke or about to launch into the next. Now the cheekbones were sharper and he looked a little more serious. More handsome, too, she noted, somewhat to her surprise. But when she thought about it, they were all rather handsome—Lorcan Furey, Johnny Desperado, and Jez… or rather, Stukeley. In spite of the changes they’d been through, or perhaps because of them, they had a strangely alluring quality. Stop it! She told herself. Stop this crazy thinking! Any more and you’ll go down the same blind alley as Grace Tempest.
“What are you thinking about?” Stukeley asked her.
She looked into his eyes. They were the same twinkly eyes, she noticed with some relief. “I was thinking about us,” she said. “About you and me. Back when we were comrades aboard the Diablo.”
Stukeley frowned.
“What’s wrong?” she said. “Don’t you like to think back to that time?”
He shook his head. “Not really. I’ve moved on. I’m a different person now.”
“Perhaps,” agreed Cheng Li, intrigued at how unsettled he appeared by this line of inquiry. “But don’t you sometimes like to think about your life back then? About Captain Wrathe and your friends Connor and Bart?”
Stukeley looked pained, then closed his eyes. “No!” he said. “Be quiet!” He clamped his hands over his ears.
Johnny leaned forward. “He doesn’t like to talk about those times, or those people,” he said.
Cheng Li nodded. How interesting that he reacted in this way. She filed away the information in case it came in handy later.
They continued drifting in silence for several minutes. They had reached an impasse, floating along on the currents in the middle of the deserted bay.
“I bet I can guess what you’re thinking,” Johnny said after a time.
Cheng Li glanced up. “Go on.”
“Bet you wish you had some of your weaponry on hand.”
Cheng Li frowned, staring at the katanas that Jez still held in his grasp.
Johnny shook his head. “That’s not what I meant,” he said. “I meant the weapons you’ve been developing to attack Vampirates.”
So he knew about that, too. In spite of her best efforts, Cheng Li was starting to feel anxious and gloom-ridden. Clearly, Sidorio knew of her plans and had sent his lieutenants on a nighttime mission to dispose of her. Like they had disposed of Commodore Kuo. Damn it! Her career was just taking off. Why now? But then, she supposed, if you raise the stakes, you raise the danger.
“So you know about my mission,” she said carefully.
Johnny nodded. “Of course. One of your prisoners escaped.”
“Vampirate Two!” Cheng Li exclaimed, her heart sinking. She remembered her words of reassurance to Jacoby. So he got away. He’s only one Vampirate. But of course he had gone to alert Sidorio and the other Vampirates.
Stukeley smiled at her. There was no trace of humanity, no trace of the Jez she had known. “Your goons had a nasty go at our little friend Babyface, but he managed to put himself together again, find us, and beg for our help.”
“He wanted you to rescue the other two,” Cheng Li said. Of course, when he’d escaped the other Vampirates had still been alive. “Why didn’t you come and rescue them?” she asked.
“If it was up to me,” said Stukeley, “that’s exactly what we’d have done. But the captain had other ideas.”
“Sidorio?” Cheng Li said.
“That’s right. Our captain. Sidorio. King of the Vampirates.”
“The one you’ve got in your targets,” said Johnny.
Cheng Li thought of her meeting with Ahab Black. Her mission. The one that was supposed to bring her glory. Bring in Sidorio, the leader of the renegade Vampirates, the murderer of Porfirio Wrathe, John Kuo, and the others.
“You’re making a mistake,” Stukeley said.
“Taking on the likes of you?” she said.
He shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. Sidorio isn’t the one you should be targeting. It wasn’t Sidorio who killed Commodore Kuo.”
“It wasn’t?” Cheng Li was fascinated. Why were they telling her this? They didn’t seem like the kind of people who’d feel the need to clear the air before they killed you. “Do you want something from me?” she asked, curious.
Stukeley shrugged. “We’re here to share some information with you,” he said. “That’s all.”
Cheng Li’s heart was racing. No longer from fear, but from adrenaline.
“Who did kill Commodore Kuo?” she asked.
“Her name,” said Stukeley, “is Lady Lola Lockwood. Also known as Black Heart.”
“Black Heart!” Cheng Li exclaimed. Of course. She remembered the playing card Commodore Kuo had been holding when they found him in his study. And the other, blood-tinged playing cards Connor had placed on her desk.
“She has a ship called the Vagabond,” said Stukeley. “And she’s about to join Sidorio’s forces.”
“In other words,” Cheng Li said, “your forces.”
Stukeley nodded. “If you like.”
Cheng Li’s mind was racing now, as fast as her heart. “She’s a threat to you.” She was having such a rush, she thought her head might explode.
“You don’t want her to join forces with Sidorio because if she does, she’ll threaten your position.”
“You’re good!” exclaimed Johnny. “One smart little cookie.”
Stukeley raised his hand to silence his partner. “We’re not talking about us. Or what we want. We’re just setting you straight. You were given a mission to kill Sidorio because you all think he killed Commodore Kuo. But that isn’t the case. It was Lady Lockwood. We just thought it was important to set the record straight.”
Cheng Li nodded. “I understand. You have an innate sense of fairness and justice.” She paused to add, almost casually, “And if we were to target Lady Lockwood, you wouldn’t stand in our way.” She decided to chance it still further. “Indeed, perhaps you’d welcome it. Or even help us?”
Stukeley shook his head. “Absolutely not! Like I said before, we’re only here to share some information with you. The thought of us helping you—no, no, I can’t even think about it.” He grinned. “Oh, but we did want to give you something.” He reached into his pockets. “Now where did I put it?” He made a great show of patting every conceivable pocket.
Johnny laughed. “Don’t you remember, hermano? You gave it to me for safekeeping.” He reached into his own jacket pocket and produced an envelope, which he handed to Stukeley to pass on to Cheng Li.
She took the thick vellum envelope in her hands. On it, in immaculate script, was written:
Cheng Li and guests
She raised an eyebrow.
“Why don’t you open it?” Stukeley prompted her.
Excitedly, she turned over the envelope. It was stamped with a wax seal and bore a coat of arms embedded with ribbons. “Very fancy,” she noted.
“You don’t mess around when it’s the wedding of the year,” smirked Stukeley.
“Wedding?” Cheng Li said. It was all coming together. As she drew out the invitation, the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle locked into place. “So Sidorio is marrying Lady Lockwood?”
“Very good, Nancy Drew!” said Stukeley.
Black Heart Page 28