Black Karma

by Thatcher Robinson

  Chapter 27

  Lee sat in an armchair looking bored. A Giants game played on the large flat-screen television with the sound turned off. His two security men flanked him with their hands resting inside their jackets. They each had one eye on the door and one eye on the game. They nodded to Bai as she walked into the room.

  “Gentlemen,” she responded to the guards. And, to Lee, “I see you’re up and around.”

  “And ready to get out of here,” he replied. “Nurse Ratched came in a half dozen times last night to wake me up and ask if I was resting comfortably. I’ve had all the recuperation I can stand. I want out.”

  “They’re filling out your discharge papers now. We’ll be leaving soon.”

  “That’s good news.”

  He seemed to want to say more but stopped himself. He looked toward the men standing guard. She got the hint. “Would you gentlemen be so kind as to step out of the room? We’d like a moment in private.”

  The men silently left the room and pulled the door closed behind them.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  “Jason came by to see me last night. He told me what he’d found out about the identity of the tan man.”

  “What else did he have to say?”

  “He’s worried about you. He’s afraid you’ll do something rash.”

  “He worries too much.”

  “He cares about you.”

  She brushed the comment aside with a flick of her hand. “He has his own problems to worry about. He should let me worry about mine.”

  “You seem angry.”

  “I am angry . . . and impatient. That’s my fault. I’ve always wanted more from him than he’s willing or able to give.”

  “What are we talking about?” he asked.

  “I’ve been offered a marriage to Howard Kwan of Kwan Industries. His mother wants me to continue expansion of their thirty-billion-dollar business. I’m toying with the idea.”

  “More important than the money, what do you think of Howard?”

  “I’ve only met him twice. He’s hard to know. From what he’s told me, I’m not sure it really matters what I think of him. The marriage would be more a matter of convenience.”

  “Don’t you think it would be nice to be in love with the person you’re marrying?”

  “Look where love has gotten me!” She stopped to take a breath and look away for a moment, letting her emotions settle. When she continued, her voice softened. “To be honest, I’m not sure what I want anymore.”

  “That’s a pretty cynical perspective. For the sake of argument, let’s say you accept this proposition. Why rush into a marriage?”

  “Howard’s father is in poor health. His parents want to install Howard as CEO before his father passes to ensure a smooth transition of power. His mother, Jade, is chairman of the board. She feels his being married would be a big mark in his favor with the other board members. A marriage would demonstrate he’s settled down and more stable in his personal life.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think when one door opens, another closes.”

  “You’re thinking of closing the door on Jason?”

  “I’m just thinking out loud.”

  He remained quiet.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, Bai. I don’t have an unbiased opinion. Jason’s my friend. Have you talked to the girls about getting married?”

  “No. I’m pretty sure I know how Dan will feel. She loves her father. But this change wouldn’t be just for my benefit. She would be the heir to Kwan Industries. The girls would have their futures ensured.”

  He smiled. “I don’t believe there’s such a thing as an ensured future. Getting shot made that perfectly clear. One moment you’re here and the next . . . gone—finito. The end of life is uncompromising and inevitable. Everyone dies.”

  “Don’t you think it’s better to die rich?”

  “Unhappy people strive for money thinking wealth will solve their problems. That rarely seems to be the case.”

  A muscular-looking blonde nurse backed into the room pulling a wheelchair. Bai and Lee turned to her.

  “Your release papers are processed, Mr. Li. You’re all set to go.”

  Lee stood unsteadily with Bai’s help, still numbed by pain medication. He sat in the wheelchair while the nurse swiveled the foot platforms around before releasing the brakes on the wheels. Bai had already collected Lee’s valuables. There wasn’t any clothing to pack. The police still held it as evidence in the attempted homicide.

  As they exited the room, one of Lee’s bodyguards preceded the wheelchair while the other followed. The procession secured an elevator and descended to the lobby without incident. Bai pulled her car around to the front entrance where the two bodyguards assisted Lee into the passenger seat. She released the security detail and pulled away from the curb with a farewell wave.

  Lee turned to her with a weary smile. “Thanks for breaking me out.”

  “I’m taking you to the summer house in Healdsburg.”

  “I’ll need my things from home—clothes, shaving kit.”

  “Already packed and in the back of the car. I also brought along your lab computer and Wen’s cell phone in case you get bored.”

  “Good thinking. There are a lot of files I haven’t opened yet. It might be interesting to see what other information she sold and to whom she sold it. The tan man could be an agent working for an unhappy customer, or even a victim of data theft bent on revenge.”

  “Maybe,” she said, turning the thought over before changing the subject. “What do you remember about the day you got shot? Where did the tan man go after we split up?”

  He closed his eyes a moment then spoke slowly as if he were pulling one memory out after another. “I followed him over to Montgomery Street. He’d backtracked south a few blocks to the Business District. I held back about a half block to stay out of sight. The sidewalks were pretty congested. That part of town is always busy.”

  He stopped and shook his head as if to jostle a memory. “I saw him go into a high-rise office building south of Jackson Street. By the time I made it to the lobby, he’d disappeared. I remember looking at the registry in the building. None of the business names meant anything to me. I’d lost him, so I walked across the street to a coffee shop where I could keep an eye on the front entrance. He came out of the building about a half hour later. I followed along behind him on the other side of the street. He didn’t appear apprehensive. I felt confident he didn’t know I was tailing him.”

  “Where did he go then?” she asked.

  “He walked back up Leavenworth and around to Sansome. I crossed the street at the light. By the time I reached the corner, he’d disappeared again. Walking up Sansome, I remember a stinging pain in my back as if I’d been burned. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. I vaguely remember dropping to my knees. My chest hurt. Then, nothing.”

  “Do you remember the address of the building where you lost him the first time?”

  “It was 645 Montgomery. The front was faced with polished black granite. The lobby was nice, clean, and done in black granite as well. There wasn’t an information booth inside. A lot of big buildings have receptionists. This one didn’t.”

  “I’ll take another look at the building. I’m curious about who owns it and who leases space.”

  “I can do an Internet search on the building and see what there is to find.” Lee closed his eyes a moment. “Maybe I missed something. The building seemed innocuous. There were security cameras, but nothing out of the ordinary.”

  “Can you remember anything else?”

  “The coffee at the coffee shop was really bad and really expensive. I don’t mind paying more for coffee, but I expect it to be good. When I get time, I’m going back to have a word with the manager.”

  She looked at him and shook her head. “You were almost killed, and you’re worried about a bad cup of coffee?”

  �
�It’s the principle of the matter.”

  “What principle is that?”

  “There’s no excuse for bad coffee.”

  “I wasn’t aware that was a principle.”

  “It’s listed under the code of the ‘righteous bitch.’”

  “I thought that was me.”

  He smiled. “And, so it is, Grasshopper.”

  Bai managed to get Lee situated before leaving Dan in charge of his care. Jia and Alicia returned from riding lessons and greeted him. The encounter was the first time Alicia had met Lee. She acted uncharacteristically shy. Bai left as he kept the girls spellbound by telling stories while high on pain meds. When she last saw him, Lee held court with three beautiful handmaidens in attendance.

  She almost made it out the door before Elizabeth caught up with her.

  “Bai, do you have a minute?”

  “Certainly,” she replied with a smile on her face as she turned in the doorway. “I was just on my way back to the city to run some errands.”

  “We missed you at breakfast. Will you be home in time for dinner around seven?”

  “Yes. I’ll be here. I had a breakfast date with Howard Kwan this morning and didn’t want to wake you.”

  Elizabeth smiled. Her shoulders visibly relaxed. Bai’s date with Howard clearly managed to deflect her concern. As long as Bai kept seeing Howard, Elizabeth appeared content.

  “If something comes up,” Bai added. “I’ll be sure to call. He mentioned something about shopping and getting to know each other better. He thinks I should change the way I dress if I’m to assume the role of a public figure.”

  “Really?” Elizabeth nearly chirped with excitement. “So, Howard is talking about marriage. That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Don’t get too excited. I’m just trying on the notion to see if the idea is a fit. Being his wife means changing my lifestyle and my behavior. I’m not even sure that’s possible.”

  Elizabeth lectured. “You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Did he say anything else?”

  “He didn’t know Dan was Jason’s daughter. He seemed to like the idea Jason wouldn’t be happy with the marriage. His reaction seemed childish. I’d like to avoid turning a marriage with Howard into a defeat for Jason.”

  “That may not be possible,” Elizabeth warned. “If you’re the prize, only one can be the winner.”

  “I’m wondering when I became a prize. I’ll have to give my new status more thought. Maybe there’s a way to leverage being a trophy.”

  “Don’t get carried away. You need to focus and be proactive to make the most of this opportunity.”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “I think a new wardrobe is a wonderful idea, one long overdue. You need to present a more feminine face to the world. I can hardly imagine the impact you’ll have.”

  “The impact will be my butt hitting the floor when I fall off my shoes. I’ve never mastered high heels. I’m not even sure I want to.”

  “We’ll practice,” Elizabeth enthused.

  “Won’t that be fun?”

  The sarcasm seemed lost on Elizabeth, who appeared captivated by the prospect of a feminized Bai. “We should probably hire a makeup consultant. I’ll make some calls. We’ll talk tonight and arrange time in your schedule for a wardrobe consultation. As soon as possible, I’d like to make appointments at the major department stores.”

  She stared at Elizabeth and wondered how she’d inadvertently opened the gateway to hell. From the determined expression on Elizabeth’s face, Bai was about to join the ranks of the well-coifed, whether she wanted to or not.

  Chapter 28

  Bai felt a sense of relief, a feeling of homecoming, as she passed through the bridge tollbooth and entered the city proper. The vineyards and rolling hills of Healdsburg were nice, but she never really felt comfortable amid all the fresh air and wide-open spaces.

  She’d lost Song in traffic and had called to let him know she had a meeting at Sun Yee On’s headquarters. He’d naively agreed to meet her there. She stopped at her building long enough to change clothes and create a disguise. The result was a navy-blue cashmere blazer with matching pants and closed-toe navy flats topped by a beige Hermès raincoat. The outfit made her indistinguishable from thousands of other women in the Business District.

  To complete the disguise, Bai donned a pair of large plastic-rimmed sunglasses and a brown wig, giving her shoulder-length hair. Her reflection in the mirror resembled someone a bit stuffy and bookish. The glasses helped to camouflage her Asian ancestry. With a quick nod in the mirror to bolster her courage, she was on her way.

  Walking to the Business District took about fifteen minutes. When she reached the corner of Montgomery and Clay near the coffee shop where Lee had waited for the tan man, she stopped to watch the flow of traffic on the sidewalk. Most of the buildings did a brisk business. 645 Montgomery didn’t appear to be an exception. People entered and left the building in a steady flow. Perhaps as a consequence of serving bad coffee, very little activity took place at the café across the street.

  She walked toward the coffee shop while looking a little lost. Standing in front of the café, she looked up and down the street before pulling out her cell phone to look at the display. She shook her head and frowned as she thrust her phone back into her coat pocket and marched into the café.

  The man behind the counter smiled at her. “May I help you?”

  “What do you recommend? I have an appointment in a half hour and could use something to perk me up. The audit could take all afternoon. I don’t want to be drowsy.”

  “A double espresso should do the trick as long as you’re not sensitive to caffeine. It’s pretty strong.”

  “That sounds exactly like what I’m looking for.”

  Bai smiled affably while looking around. Small tables rested against the wall on her right. A couple more tables provided a view out of the front window. She was the only customer.

  “That’ll be eight dollars.”

  She paid that and a tip then took a seat at a small table along the back wall where she could see the shop as well as the street. The barista delivered her coffee and returned to his newspaper, ignoring her.

  She noticed a number of oddities as she sipped her coffee. A camera under the front awning pointed out, not in. The blinking red light on the camera faced the street and 645 Montgomery, the building across the way. The cameras inside the café faced the window seats and not the counter, where any kind of dispute would likely occur. More importantly, the café provided the only convenient vantage point from which to watch the entrance of the high-rise across the street.

  She sipped the espresso slowly. Lee had been right about one thing. Their coffee tasted like old cigarette butts. The only customers they could possibly hope to attract would be strangers to the area and anyone wanting to surveil 645 Montgomery.

  She’d seen enough. Taking an alcohol wipe from her pocket she made a show of wiping her hands before surreptitiously wiping her cup to remove prints and DNA. Standing abruptly, she walked toward the front door. Stopping to look back and wave at the camera with her middle finger, she then turned to walk quickly back to Clay Street. Once around the corner, she ducked into the first entryway that provided concealment.

  A man in a suit and trench coat dashed past her while looking furtively about. His eyes locked onto hers as he turned his head and spied her in the doorway. Smiling, she watched as he came to a sudden halt then turned around and walked toward her.

  When he reached the alcove where she stood, he stopped and nodded. “You were expecting me.”

  “I expected someone.”

  He wore a smile that never reached his eyes. “Who are you?”

  “You first.”

  The smile fell away. “That’s not the way it works.”

  With fingers flexed rigid like a spade, her hand shot out to catch him in the throat. The sudden attack took him off guard. He reached inside his jacket with o
ne hand as he gagged for air while grasping his throat with the other hand. She trapped the hand inside his jacket as she pulled him close to knee him savagely in the groin. He dropped to his knees as his face turned purple.

  She knelt next to him on the sidewalk as people gawked. Looking as if she were trying to revive him, she slapped his face with one hand while she slipped her other hand inside his jacket to lift his wallet.

  “Call an ambulance!” she cried as she slipped the wallet into her jacket pocket. Pulling his jacket open and tilting his head back, she could see the shoulder holster and the Glock semiautomatic he’d been reaching for. As the man turned blue and started to lose consciousness, she felt his windpipe and pushed down to compress the sides and open the airway. He immediately drew a deep breath.

  In one fluid motion, she stood and turned to walk away, swallowed by the gathering crowd. She headed back to Chinatown in a tactical retreat. The enemy had been flushed. Now she needed to make a clean getaway.

  She walked home quickly and dropped heavily onto the leather sofa in her living room. Tossing the wallet she’d stolen on the coffee table, she went through its contents and found credit cards under two separate identities: a Thomas Walsh and a Thomas Gregory. Walsh had a key card identifying him as an employee of Hader, Incorporated.

  Hader, she recalled, was the largest private army in the world. The multinational corporation contracted with the United States military and other NATO nations. They specialized in handling missions too politically awkward for legitimate armies to handle. Their ranks were filled with ex-military and cast-offs from clandestine organizations.

  While the government boasted of downsizing the military, the privatization of war had grown at a corresponding pace. Hader had become rich and powerful at the taxpayers’ expense.

  As she sat to think about what to do next, Jason walked in. He wore a black silk suit and a white shirt with a red tie. His apparel bespoke power. She looked at him and couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated—and more than a little attracted.

  “Interesting look,” he said, noting her appearance. “I think I like you better with short hair.”