Three Times The Trouble (Corin Hayes Book 3)

by G R Matthews

  The Panels all changed to the same image, a steward in uniform and a bright smile, because in an emergency the first thing I would be doing was smiling. Chunhua reached across to Lijuan’s screen and selected the right language.

  Both girls leaned forward and listened as the steward started telling them how safe submarine travel was. I turned the volume down, leaned back and closed my eyes.

  Chapter 29

  “Your beer, sir,” the steward placed the glass into the recess in the chair arm. “Will that be all?”

  “Yes, thank you,” I answered. He bowed, a little nod of his head, and moved off. The girls already had their drinks and both had chosen small snacks which appeared to be sea vegetables and fish all fried up in a thin batter. They were happily crunching their way through them and whispering to each other in Lijuan’s language. I let them be and tucked into my sandwich.

  The bread, made of processed algae, was soft, bleached white and had the crusts cut off. The ham inside, likewise made of processed algae and flavouring, tasted salty and firm. If nothing else, I would eat well on the trip. I finished off the meal with a long pull on my beer, ice cold and sharp.

  “Lijuan needs the toilet,” Chunhua said.

  “Now?” I was just getting comfortable.

  “Yes, now.”

  I sighed and heaved myself out of the chair. The woman sat across the aisle gave me a small smile and a nod. I smiled back as the two girls extricated themselves and walked down the aisle to the toilets at the far end.

  “Yours?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I said, are they yours?” said the lady who’d nodded at me.

  “What? No. Sorry,” I replied as I sat back down. No point standing up the whole time. No telling how long they’d be. “I’m just their escort.”

  “Is that what you do for a living?” She seemed less interested now that I’d revealed I wasn’t a doctor, scientist, business owner, some other rich fellow, or the girls’ father.

  “No,” I answered. “I’m just doing this as a favour to them and their father.”

  The shine returned to her eyes and her mouth parted slightly. “That is very kind of you.”

  “It’s no trouble really,” I said.

  “Still to go out of your way to take them to their family, and in First Class too, is very kind,” she said.

  “They’re good kids,” I said, and I realised that they were. Even in our short time together, and forgiving the fact that Chunhua had hit me the other night, they had been brave, considerate and calm for most of the time. In a similar situation, I’d have been calling for a change of trousers every ten minutes.

  “What does their family do?” she asked.

  “It’s a family business,” I answered and had a second realisation. I really had no idea what Lijuan’s father did for a living. Security at the Daoist city we’d just left had made it clear they suspected the family of being involved in organised crime. Fuck. There are times when I am really slow. Sio Sam Ong were one of these secret societies the interrogator mentioned and Lijuan’s father was part of another one. I’d just got myself caught in a crime war. Great. Fuck.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Hayes, Corin Hayes,” I answered before realising she hadn’t asked. “Sorry. Yes, I’m fine. Been a long day or two.”

  “Travelling with children can be exhausting. At least, so I am told, Mr Hayes.”

  “Corin. Just Corin. I’m sorry, I missed your name?” I forced a smile back on my face. When the girls got back, we were due a long and hushed conversation.

  “Chrissy Chau,” she said, smiled and waited.

  “Glad to meet you,” I replied and felt she wanted more. I stuck my hand out, which she looked at for a moment and then shook. “You’re going to Nanxun?”

  Of course she is. Idiot. The bloody sub’s destination is Nanxun. Where else would she be going? For my next smooth line I’ll ask if she likes breathing. How I’d ended up getting married is a riddle beyond the skill of Bilbo. That my wife had stayed with me long enough to have and raise a child is a mystery I’ll never have satisfactory answer to. It is not as if I can ask her anymore.

  “Yes,” she said and waited again.

  “You live there?” I said, struggling to find the right question or thing to say. Clearly she wanted something, but I was demonstrating my considerable social skills once again by utterly failing to get the right something out of my mouth.

  “No. I am going for work.”

  “Oh, what is it you do?”

  “I’m an actress and singer,” she said, the smile was wider, but the waiting was the same.

  I watched clips. Don’t always remember them. Hangover entertainment is mainly background noise and the rest of the time I spent watching old stuff. New programmes, new music just doesn’t do it for me. I’m a creature of my time, and that was a long time ago now.

  “Haven’t I seen you in…” I let the sentence tail out. A hint that I knew something, that it was on the tip of my tongue, was the best I could do.

  “My latest was a remake of Journey to the West,” she said.

  “Of course,” I said, nodding in a manner I hoped came across as wisely and knowledgeable. To be honest, I’d have settled for anything that didn’t make me look like an idiot. Some hope. “I’ve not seen it yet.”

  She was about to say something else when I was saved from further embarrassment by the return of the girls.

  “Co-rin,” Lijuan said brightly and loudly. The little girl held her hands out to me and I took them unsure what to do next. She kept pushing them towards me.

  “She wants you to smell her hands,” Chunhua said from behind the five year old. “She’s very proud because she washed them without being told and the soap smells like oranges.”

  Dutifully, I sniffed at the young girl’s hands and made an appreciative noise. “Lovely. Very orangey.”

  Lijuan smiled and with a quick snatch freed her hands and wrapped her arms around my neck, giving me a quick squeeze. I patted her on the back and looked up at Chunhua.

  “I think she is beginning to like you,” the teenager said with a shrug.

  A flicker of movement behind her caught my eye.

  Chapter 30

  I leaned further out and gazed past Chunhua. A quick glimpse of a head retreating. Thick, dark hair and olive skin. I couldn’t see the eyes or any facial features, but I marked the seat.

  Chunhua glanced over her shoulder and turned back to me with a questioning look. I shrugged and climbed out of my seat, letting Lijuan and Chunhua through to theirs.

  “Everything all right?” I said as I slid back into my comfortable chair.

  “Yes,” Chunhua replied. “Is something wrong?”

  “This is Chrissy Chau,” I said, extending a hand towards my new friend. “She’s a famous actress.”

  Chunhua leaned out so she could see past me. “It is good to meet you.”

  “And you,” Chrissy replied.

  “I’ve seen some of your song clips,” Chunhua said. “I loved the one you had out last year.” Chunhua hummed a short tune.

  “Thank you,” Chrissy smiled. “Did you enjoy your stay in the Daoist city?”

  I kept the smile on my face as I edged out, into Chrissy’s view, blocking Chunhua off for a moment. “We weren’t there very long. Just a stopover to catch this sub. How did you find the city?”

  “Very quiet. Just what I wanted. Being in the public eye can be very exhausting. The Daoists insist on privacy and time to meditate. I have been there a few times before, whenever things get too hectic. Sometimes in-between clips and songs, I’ll come here to unwind,” she said.

  “They don’t mind?”

  “Who?” She gave me a quizzical look. “The city is open for visitors as long as you have the proper paperwork.”

  “They can’t get many visitors,” I said. I’d been about to mention that it wasn’t on our map when I caught the thought before it left my mouth. “There does
n’t seem much to do.”

  “If you know where to look there is a lot to occupy your time,” she said, “but you are right, it is not for everyone. Where do you normally go on holiday?”

  “I don’t,” I answered truthfully. “I’m usually too busy.”

  “Work can be like that,” she agreed.

  I caught another flash of movement out of the corner of my eye and glanced down the aisle. The occupant of the seat I’d marked earlier was standing up and sliding out of his seat. Asian, dark hair, tall, and heading this way. His eyes met mine and moved on swiftly to Chrissy’s.

  “Miss Chau?” he said as he approached.

  “Hello,” Chrissy answered, looking up at the newcomer.

  “I thought it was you,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of your clips.”

  “Not all of them?” she grinned and cast a sidelong look at me.

  “Not yet,” the man said. “I wonder if you’d autograph my Pad? My daughter is a big fan. She would be so happy to have your autograph.”

  “Of course,” Chrissy answered and held out her hand.

  “I’ll just get it,” he answered and turned on the spot. I caught a waft of aftershave and the sight of a small tattoo peeking out from beneath his sleeve. He wasn’t dressed like those in the Daoist city. Another tourist, maybe. I watched him walk back to his seat, noting the creased and rumpled state of his trousers. It looked like he’d slept in them, which would certainly be the case on this voyage.

  “Sorry, Corin,” Chrissy said. “This happens a lot, but not normally in First Class.”

  “I expect they are used to having celebrities on board,” I replied and looked around. “Are there any other famous people here?”

  “A few,” she smiled at me. “Most like their privacy and most passengers respect it. It must be his first time in First Class. It won’t take a moment. Then you can tell me all about you.”

  “Me? I’m not that interesting,” I stammered.

  “It is true, he is not,” Chunhua muttered from the seat next to me. Low enough that I could hear her, but likely not Chrissy.

  The fan was back and handing his Pad to Chrissy who took it with an indulgent glance. “Who am I making this out to?”

  “My daughter’s name is Lijuan,” the man said in strong voice, pitched to carry.

  Two seats down, Lijuan squeaked and she shifted in her seat. Chunhua started speaking in the language they shared.

  “Did I say something wrong?” he said, a look of concern and sincerity entirely missing from his face.

  “No.” I felt my stomach muscles tighten as the man’s eyes flicked from my face to the two girls. He stared at them for an uncomfortable moment.

  “I appear to have upset the little girl,” he said.

  “It was something she ate,” I replied. I forced myself to remain still though the desire to rise from own seat and confront the man was strong.

  “I hope she recovers soon,” he answered, his gaze dropping back to mine, a tiny smile, an arrogant twitch of the lips, on his face.

  “Here you go,” Chrissy said, holding the Pad back out to the man.

  “Thank you, Miss Chau. Perhaps we will have to chance to talk later on in the voyage.” He bowed to her. “And again, my apologies to the little girl.”

  “I appreciate your concern,” I said. “It makes me happy to see that this society makes no secret of its care for young children.”

  His smile froze for a moment before thawing and dripping off his face. He bowed to me, a small duck of his head, but enough.

  “You should see some of the other fans I meet,” Chrissy said. “They can be really weird.”

  I stared at the man’s back as he returned to his seat, he didn’t glance at me once. “Really? How?”

  “There are some that dress up as characters from my films and others who follow me from appearance to appearance. All they want is another autograph, another picture with me. It was really nice at first, when I had just started out. Now it is tiring. That’s why I go to the Daoist city, just to get away.”

  “I can imagine,” I replied. “I found that one creepy enough. I’m not sure I could give up my privacy like that.”

  Forgetting the fact that in my own city I’d been a celebrity for a time. When the trial was going on and with Tyler’s murder before that. Even afterwards there were places I couldn’t show my face. Some through shame and others for the fact that anyone there would go out of their way to smash my face in with whatever weapon came readily to hand.

  Chunhua’s hand tugged my left arm and I turned to look at her. There was a look on her face, I’d seen my wife wear on many occasions, Tyler too; it said we need to talk. “Excuse me a minute, Miss Chau. I just need to check on these two.”

  “Chrissy, and of course.” She gave me a big smile and reached over to pat my hand.

  “Chrissy. Thanks.” Her hand withdrew and small sigh escaped my lips.

  “When you have finished lusting after her,” Chunhua snapped in a whisper.

  “What it is it?” I shuffled round in my seat to face her and lowered my voice.

  “That man,” she started.

  “The fan,” I said, though I knew differently.

  “He knew Lijuan’s name,” she said.

  “His daughter has the same name.” Lying to Chunhua wasn’t easy. For a teenager she had already demonstrated a cold streak of understanding the world about her. I suppose growing up in the criminal underworld did that to you. I wish Tyler had had a little more of that. Maybe she’d still be here. Too trusting by half.

  “Don’t be stupid.” The words were laced with barbs that punctured my attempts to protect her and Lijuan.

  “I know.” I shook my head.

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Do?”

  “About him. About the man from Sio Sam Ong.”

  “We don’t know he is from them,” I said, trying to find another explanation and coming up blank. “At present, nothing. While we are still on the sub, he won’t try anything. We’re safe for now.”

  “He might not be alone,” she said, starting to rise and look over the head rest of the chair.

  I put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back into the seat. “That’s possible, but at the moment we are safe. We have two days to decide what to do and remember, we are going to your home city. Lijuan’s dad will be there and I’d expect a few of his friends to be with him. I think we’re safe. If things change we will do something about it. For now, don’t panic and relax.”

  Fine words, but my mind was racing. If they knew we were on this sub, they might try something. A hijacking was a remote possibility. More likely was an attempt when we docked. Risky if Lijuan’s father was there, but we were following a cabled route. Communications with the outside world was possible and easy. They could arrange something now they knew where we were and there was nothing we could do. We might be able to contact Lijuan’s father and see what help we could get. Chunhua would know how to get hold of him. I should have thought of it before, but this was the first time we had access to the communications net.

  “Chunhua,” I leaned in close. “I have an idea.”

  Chapter 31

  We used the panel on Chunhua’s seat. It was in the middle and less likely to be seen. Even my new friend wouldn’t be able to observe it from her seat. Going back to the main menu we scrolled through the options. It should have been easy to spot, it wasn’t and for a very good reason. It didn’t exist.

  “Why isn’t it there?” I muttered.

  “How should I know?” Chunhua replied.

  “It wasn’t a… it doesn’t matter, but it should be there. I’ve never known a passenger sub without a link to the data cable it follows.” I jabbed the panel with my finger, hoping the option would suddenly appear. It didn’t.

  “Maybe it is just my Panel?” she said.

  “Could be a kids setting or something like that,” I agreed. We focused on my Panel and repeated the procedure,
getting the same results. “This is just stupid.”

  “We could try Lijuan’s?” Chunhua offered.

  I leaned out and took a look at the little girl who had found some headphones and was curled up under a blanket, eyes fixed on her panel. “No. If neither of ours has it, hers won’t either. Might be something the Daoist security had put on our Panels?”

  Paranoia was a practised reaction. It was possible, even though I knew I was clutching at straws, that security had made sure we couldn’t get in touch with Lijuan’s father in some effort to keep the infection of crime further away from their city. I’m all for time alone, for a space of my own, but a whole city? One that restricts visitors, which exercises such control over its people that they walk about in silence? It didn’t feel right. I suppose the people could have chosen to live there. It was their preferred way of life. But what about the children? The ones who had no choice but to be raised in that environment. I disliked the idea in the same way I dislike the indoctrination of children into religion. There should be a legal age of consent for that kind of brain fucking.

  I turned to my new friend. “Chrissy, I can’t seem to find the communication system on the Panels.”

  “There isn’t one,” she said, a little twitch of her lips and the hint of a repressed smile sparkled her eyes. “On the way in and out of the Daoist city all communication is switched off. Except the pilot and command crew that is, obviously.”

  “Why?”

  “I like it,” she replied. “It gives you a chance to put the rest of the world away as you come in. All the cares and worries. The constant pestering of messages and requests get relegated to the background. You can still get the news channels and clips, but even those are somewhat restricted to just the important stories.”

  I squinted. The idea of being censored was uncomfortable. “And who decides what’s important?”

  “I don’t know. An AI? The Daoists?” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. The point of the retreat is to leave the world behind and find your way, your Dao. They believe you can’t do that if your attention is fixed on all the things that are outside of you, outside of your control. On the way back, the lack of communications and news gives you a chance to re-acclimatise, to realise you are going back to the world and its pressures. It kind of eases you in.”