by Lee Weeks
‘This …’Mann flashed his police badge, ‘usually makes up for the lack of invitation. Tell him I want to see him.’
The gorillas started grunting. The PA put his small hand up for silence. He ushered Mann forward, and Mann grinned at them. ‘All right, boys? Nice suits. I didn’t know they made them in kids’ sizes. Cute!’
‘Follow me, Inspector. I will see if Mr Leung is free.’
They padded along on the thickest pile carpet Mann had ever trodden on. His leather soles sunk into it as he walked and he felt as if he were floating. It was over-the-top plush, with eye-popping décor that left you feeling slightly woozy with its purples and reds – like being inside a womb.
‘Please wait here.’
The PA left him sitting in the lounge area outside CK’s office for ten minutes, then he returned. ‘CK will see you now, Inspector. Follow me.’
As Mann entered, CK was standing by the window, looking out at his panoramic harbour view. He was in his customary Prince Charles pose – his hands clasped behind his back, his body leaning slightly forward, shoulders stiff. He was a slight man, elegantly dressed in a traditional Mandarin-collared dark suit. His luxuriant silver-grey hair was perfectly groomed and just touched the edge of his collar. There was an aura of calm menace about him, simmering just below the surface. Mann could feel it in the way he stood, the practised position of the all-powerful.
CK turned to acknowledge Mann – no smile, just a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. His face looked pale, thought Mann – tired. No, not exactly tired. More like white with anger.
‘Please, make yourself comfortable, Detective Inspector. Do you require some refreshment?’
‘No, I’m fine, thank you.’
CK nodded to his PA, who backed deferentially out of the room.
‘What is it, Inspector? How may I help you?’ He was frosty, curt, as he came back from the window to sit behind his desk, which was empty except for an antique jade dragon placed at his left side and a black phone console on his right.
‘Sorry. I know you’re a busy man, lots of arse-licking to do.’
CK looked up at Mann, shocked for a second, then he smiled – thin-lipped and mirthless.
‘Some of your English idioms don’t translate correctly into Cantonese. We quite enjoy arse-licking, it is thought of as one of life’s pleasures here. We are not so … anal as you British.’
‘That’s handy because you must have blisters on your tongue, the amount of people you’ve had to keep sweet since Chan’s little enterprise got discovered.’
‘If you are referring to Club Sixty-Eight, my son-in-law merely provided a service that others enjoyed. You have nothing on him – nothing that can be proven against him – and you have the case so cleverly wrapped up, with those brothers in jail.’
‘I think the term is stitched up.’
‘Anyway, I have cleared it with your superiors. Chan has been working so hard recently that he is going on holiday for a while. When he returns I will deal with any problems that may have arisen from his…enterprises. Now, if you’ll excuse me …’
‘Are you aware of exactly what type of business your son-in-law was involved in?’
‘It was a complex: nightclub, golf course, film studio and so forth, quite magnificent!’
‘Did you go there?’
‘No, I didn’t. Now, what is your point, Inspector?’
‘I went there. I saw it all: the torture chamber, I saw the Irish hostess laid out on a slab – tortured to death. Sixty-Eight was a prison for sex workers. Films were made there that involved the rape, mutilation and murder of women and children. I saw it and I have evidence.’
No one had mentioned children or torture to CK, and yet he knew it was probably true. He felt a momentary stab of self-recrimination – he knew he should have watched Chan more closely. He should not have let him take such a gamble. To make the films was one thing – to be found out, quite another. Now it appeared that CK would be left to take the blame. Others would think he had authorised it. Chan was impatient to take over as Dragon Head, and now he had influential friends to back him up.
CK rested his elbows on the desk and pressed the tips of his fingers together while he thought. Finally, he looked up. He tried to keep the anger out of his voice.
‘I grow tired of this conversation and of you. I am sure that your superiors will be surprised to learn of your insubordination.’ He reached for the phone.
‘Before you do that, CK, I think you might like to get a look at these.’ Mann threw the two DVDs onto the desk. ‘I bet you’ll recognise at least one of the people in these films. I only know a few people in the Russian mafia, but you know what? As luck would have it, I remember seeing him the other day. He was with Chan, here to drum up business. Then I saw him again, a few days later – on television – relaxing by a pool. The man has massive damage to his right leg. He stood on a landmine in his terrorist years. Some of the injuries are to the bone. He was lucky not to lose his leg. He takes it for granted, doesn’t even think about it any more. But it’s quite shocking when you see it. It sticks in your mind. So useful for identifying murderers in snuff movies.’ Mann leaned forward in his chair and smiled. ‘I have made copies of each.’
CK stood abruptly. He locked his arms and spread his fingers on the desktop.
‘What is it you want?’
‘I want Chan. I want him brought to justice in some form or another, and I want the witness Georgina – alive.’
‘No court will convict Chan. He is a clever man. He will slide through your net, Inspector.’
‘Not the net I have in mind. I’m not looking to bring him to court.’
CK studied Mann for a few minutes, a curious expression on his face. Mann returned his scrutiny with a hard-man stare. Then CK slowly rose and went back to stand at the window. Mann watched his narrow shoulders rise and fall as he weighed up this new information.
After a few minutes CK turned around. His eyes burned and his mouth betrayed a faint smile.
‘Okay, Inspector Mann. I will play your game for now. But do not cross me – you will not do it more than once. I am not an enemy you should choose. You can have Chan if you can find him, but I have no idea where he is – he was careful not to tell me. The girl may remain alive as long as she remembers nothing of her time in Sixty-Eight. But …’ he paused and stared hard at Mann, the smile still present, ‘if you find Chan, don’t bring him back. I will not allow it to go to court. I will not allow him to stand trial and incriminate others to save his own skin. Of course, I will deny all knowledge of this conversation.’
‘Really? So sentimental, CK? One would think you didn’t like your own son-in-law. Or is it just a trust issue?’
CK had grown tired of the conversation. He sat down at his desk.
Mann stood up. ‘Thanks for your time. Happy viewing. But, before I go, one more thing …’Mann leaned in a few centimetres from CK’s face, ‘tell your friends that their time will come. I will watch and I will wait and I will have justice for those women, in or out of the courtroom. Be sure of it.’
CK smiled at Mann, unfazed.
‘If ever you plan a change of career, Inspector, come and see me. I like a man with integrity.’
‘I thank you, CK, but your brand of integrity will never be mine.’
103
Mann found Li waiting for him in the office. He looked pale and tired. He looked lost. Papers and photos were scattered across his desk. He was staring into the space above them when Mann entered.
‘You should get some rest, Shrimp.’
‘Will you, boss?’
Mann smiled at the young officer. ‘I will get a few hours, after we go and see Confucius. You ready?’
Li jumped to his feet. ‘Ready.’
The hospital was in sleep mode. Voices were hushed, lights turned down. Electronic equipment beeped down the empty corridors. Nurses shuffled on the linoleum.
Mann and Li were shown to Ng’s room by a petite F
ilipina.
‘He is breathing on his own now, but he is still very weak. Just a few minutes with him, okay?’ She opened the door and stepped back to let them in before shuffling her black-stockinged feet back down the corridor to the nurses’ station.
Mann and Li approached Ng’s bed and stood at either side. It was hard to get close to him – he was surrounded by bleeping, blinking machinery. They stood in silence, waiting. Li was the first to speak as he whispered across the bed to Mann:
‘He looks bad, boss.’
Ng’s eyes opened a fraction and flicked from one man to the other. ‘I wasn’t shot in the ear, you know. I can hear.’ He attempted a smile. ‘All right, Genghis? he said to Mann, then turned to Li and winked. ‘How you doin’, Rambo?’
Li grinned, flattered. ‘I’m fine, thanks, Confucius. How are you feeling?’ he asked with a little too much enthusiasm.
‘Great!’ Ng grimaced, rolling his eyes.
Mann smiled, relieved to see his friend on the mend. ‘It’s a good job you’re so fat. The bullet just couldn’t cope with the layers it had to go through.’
‘Sure, sure. Ha fucking ha.’ Ng grinned. ‘Tell me …?’
‘What?’
‘Something’s going on. I can tell by your face, Mann.’
‘It’s the investigation, Ng. It’s going nowhere. The women were killed by wealthy, high-up, untouchable men. We’ve already been told that the brothers are taking the rap for it – and they were involved, definitely, but they weren’t the ones to kill our women. It’s a big cover-up.’
‘And Chan?’
‘I’ve been warned to leave him alone. The top brass have tied the Super’s hands.’
‘Cut off his balls, more like,’ said Li.
‘Yeah, that’s about the strength of it. Although I did go and see CK personally, took him a present of a couple of films, and I got the distinct impression that he would have loved to have told me where his son-in-law was.’
‘It figures. Not the easiest of relations. Chan has Georgina?’
‘He has her. Insurance, I would say. Just until he feels safe enough to get rid of her. I’m thinking of taking a bit of leave, starting now. I fancy doing some sightseeing. Might even make it to the Philippines. What do you think?’
The nurse reappeared at the door. ‘Time to leave, gentlemen. Your friend is tired.’
‘Okay. Okay.’ Mann started to go. Ng called him back.
‘Mann … try to get him before he leaves Hong Kong. Find him. Find her. Make your peace, Genghis. Remember – a man who commits a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.’
They got outside the hospital.
‘What did he mean by that, boss? A man who commits what mistake?’
Mann smiled and shook his head. ‘I have no idea,’ he said unconvincingly.
‘Where now, boss?’
Mann looked at Li – his face was flushed with energy again. Mann knew Li wasn’t going to settle for Mann telling him to get a few hours’ sleep. They were both alike in that way. The race was on, and although Mann had intended to run it alone …
‘I am taking that leave, Shrimp. I am going to find Chan. I should warn you that I will be working without orders. Actually, I will be working against orders. I have been ordered to allow Chan to escape. You run a big risk if you stay with me tonight, Shrimp. You should think about it. You are at the start of your career.’
‘I have thought about it, boss. It’s not a career I want if there’s no integrity attached. We are supposed to get the bad guys, aren’t we?’
Mann grinned. ‘Yes, we damn well are.’
104
Georgina sat in the back of Chan’s car, feeling sicker than she had ever done in her entire life. Withdrawal had kicked in. Every bone ached. Every muscle hurt. She sweated with the pain. She thrashed around on the back seat while Chan sat in the front next to Stevie Ho, who was driving. Chan was waving his phone around as if it were another hand. Occasionally he turned his head and nodded towards Georgina in the back.
‘She’s my insurance, in case our minister decides to cut a deal.’
‘He won’t do that. He’s a sworn brother.’
‘I made him swear allegiance to the Wo Shing Shing as well. CK could get to him, CK will have a difficult dilemma. I’m his son-in-law, after all. I’m family. I can always insist and prove that everything I did was for the good of the Wo Shing Shing. You must go ahead, Stevie, make the arrangements.’
‘I will. I will wait for you in the Philippines. Negros will be your new home.’
‘Just until the time is right, then I will return. But send someone else to Negros. I need you to track Johnny Mann. He is the only one I fear. He hates me more than anyone else. By now he will know about the death of his girlfriend. He will come looking for me, I’m sure.’
‘Even he wouldn’t risk everything for revenge. All police activity around the case is halted. They’re not looking for you. They’ve decided to let the brothers take it all and let you go.’
‘Kill him anyway.’
‘He’s a policeman – it’s not going to be easy.’
‘If I expected it to be easy I would do it my fucking self! You know Johnny Mann. You worked with him. You’re the best person to kill him. Don’t let your old loyalties get in the way.’
‘I was only in the force for four years, and three of those were undercover. I have no loyalties to anyone but you and the Wo Shing Shing.’
‘Then do as I command. This man has pursued me my whole life. We are opposite sides of the same coin, but he will never admit it. He stands for everything I cannot abide. He spends his whole life in pursuit of justice.’ Chan laughed. ‘Fucking justice! He knows there is no such thing in the world – only greed and disappointment. He sits on my shoulder like my fucking conscience. Kill him.’
They drove to the ferry terminal in Central and parked up. Georgina struggled to get out of the car. She was feeling worse by the minute. Chan was anxious to get undercover. He pulled her out of the back seat and propelled her down the jetty and towards the waiting ferry. They left Stevie Ho at the car.
‘Remember what I said – find him fast.’
He pushed Georgina forward towards the boat. Once inside, he led her towards the back. She sat in a corner and tucked her legs up onto the bench. For the next hour she dozed, flitting in and out of restless sleep. Periodically she opened her eyes and watched Chan. Sometimes he was texting or talking on his phone; other times he was just staring into space. He looked scared, she thought. She peered past him, through the darkened glass to the glistening ocean beyond. Small green islands, dotted with fishing pontoons, came and went. White-rimmed, they sat proud on the water. She lay down on the bench and slipped into a deep sleep. As she drifted deeper the ferry drone was replaced with the sound of laughter. She was spinning in the rain with Ka Lei. She was so happy. Then her hands lost their grip and she was falling; slowly she fell through thickening darkness, as through water; she sank away from the light at the surface until her knees scraped on the bottom of her consciousness and there she found the memory. Hands gripped her throat. She tried to scream but no sound would come. She tried to breathe, but there was no air. Her assailant’s hot breath was on her face, his greedy eyes watching and willing her to die. She tried to fight him but her arms and legs wouldn’t move. She felt herself begin to fade; now she could hardly see his face and she heard Ka Lei laughing again. She awoke with a jolt. Chan was jabbing her with his elbow. He took a packet of tissues from his inside pocket and tore one open.
‘Wipe your face. You look like shit. People are staring at you. Sit up and stay awake now. We are there.’
She sat up and peered through the window.
‘Where?’
Chan stood up and motioned to Georgina to get up from her seat. ‘It doesn’t matter where. We are going to a holiday chalet. It’s not very salubrious, but we won’t be staying there long. Now get up.’
‘I feel so ill.’ Geo
rgina struggled to stand but couldn’t, and sank back onto the seat.
Chan’s patience was becoming stretched. ‘You don’t have to stand for much longer. There’s a nice bed waiting for you. Let’s go.’
‘But …’
Chan leaned in, out of earshot of the handful of other passengers who were gathering at the front of the ferry ready to disembark. He took hold of her arm at the elbow and pulled her to her feet, hissing into her ear:
‘I want no fuss. Do you hear? Get up. Get off this boat without attracting any attention – otherwise, you know those children back at Sixty-Eight? They’ll all be burnt alive. Would you want that?’
Georgina shook her head.
‘I have left instructions. One signal from me that things are not going well, and poof! Up they go! Are you listening to me, Georgina?’
His hand twisted her arm. She flinched and nodded.
‘That’s a good girl. Be nice to Daddy and he’ll be nice to you.’ His mouth turned into a smile but his eyes didn’t. ‘We are going to stay here for a night, then we will be moving on. That’s all you need to know – now look alert!’
Georgina walked down the gangplank and stood reeling in the glare of the sun. Chan steered her straight ahead.
In front of her she saw the long low island of Cheung Chau. Directly opposite the ferry terminal was a dilapidated parade of two-storey buildings with striped awnings in faded colours of green and ochre – all bleached by the sun. Rubber rings and children’s toys spilt out onto the sandy pavement. No high-rise buildings were allowed on the island and no cars – just bikes and walkers – dodging each other on the narrow lanes.
They walked across the tumbledown promenade and down a lane that started opposite the ferry terminal and ran the breadth of the island at its narrowest point. It took them straight to the windsurfing beach, the most popular on the holiday island.
They walked for five minutes at a fast pace. Chan dragged Georgina along. He talked on his phone as he walked. He looked about him nervously. They passed seafood restaurants and bars, market stalls and beach shops. Georgina longed to stop and rest awhile. A woman serving food in one of the restaurants beckoned to her. Georgina wanted to sit down so badly but Chan hurried her away.