by Graeme Hall
After that Emma had been reluctant to leave her hotel room at first, for fear of missing a call, before telling herself she was being ridiculous and she started to go out again. In the end she did miss the call, which came on Thursday afternoon, but he left a message and a home phone number. She rang him that evening and they arranged to meet Friday lunchtime at the same place. It was her last chance before her flight back to Hong Kong. Emma was early, and on this occasion he arrived at the agreed time.
‘Do you mind if we go for a walk?’ he asked. ‘Quite a lot of my colleagues come in here. Somewhere quieter, more private, would be better.’
‘Of course. No problem.’ Emma paid for the tea she’d ordered and they headed to a nearby park. ‘Have you found anything, remembered anything?’
‘I’ll be honest, Miss Janssen, I’m not at all sure I should be talking to you.’
‘Why not?’
‘Tell me, how long have you lived in Hong Kong?’
‘Two years.’
‘And will you stay after the handover?’
‘I don’t know. Why?’
‘Do you think it will be safe then? When China takes over?’
‘I don’t know. I guess so.’ Emma wondered where he was going with this.
‘You’re a Westerner. A gweilo. You’ve got your British passport and I suppose you can just get up and go whenever you like. Whenever you need to. Hong Kong is just a passing phase of your life.’ He paused and looked directly at Emma. ‘Hong Kong was home for me. I was born there. Went to school and university there. My family are still there, so are most of my friends. In a way it is still home for me, I suppose it always will be, but I’ve never been back since I left. Not even when my grandmother died and my parents wanted me to come back for the funeral. They were so angry with me when I said I couldn’t. Do you understand, Miss Janssen?’
‘Yes,’ said Emma, not really sure that she did.
‘Miss Janssen, I need to know whether I can trust you or not.’
‘Trust me? In what way?’
‘Does anybody know you’ve come to see me?’
‘No,’ said Emma. ‘A few friends know I’ve come to Sydney, but I often come here. Nobody knows that this time I was coming to try and find you.’
‘Good. Can we keep it that way?’
‘Sure, no problem,’ said Emma, puzzled.
‘Yes, I remember Cheung Wing-ho, I spoke to him several times. Perhaps you’ve seen the notes I kept of my meetings with him?’
‘Well, just the one interview.’
‘Just one? No that’s not right, I must have interviewed him five or six times. He was insistent that the police had got the wrong man, even when he pleaded guilty.’
‘How could he be so sure?’ asked Emma.
‘He saw the pictures of Chan Wah Man in the papers and knew it wasn’t the man he’d seen driving the car. It’s as simple as that. He went to the police but they weren’t interested. After a while they told him to stop bothering them. They threatened to arrest him for wasting their time.’
‘What about Mr Chan’s lawyers? Did he go to them?’
‘Yes. He told me that he’d tried to speak to the solicitor but he was even less interested than the police. He was just a young legal aid lawyer. I think as far as he was concerned Chan Wah Man had confessed. He’d get his standard fee anyway. It just wasn’t worth his time to follow up.’
They sat down on a bench. Office workers filled the park, enjoying lunch in the sunshine, chatting and laughing. A group of students were playing Frisbee.
‘What about you?’ asked Emma. ‘Did you cover these doubts in a story?’
‘Of course. For a young reporter like me a possible miscarriage of justice was a godsend. A chance to make my name.’
‘So what happened after the story was printed?’
‘That’s simple. It was never printed.’
‘Why on earth not?’ asked Emma.
‘I was given various excuses. At first the news editor was very interested, but then some Cantopop starlet had split from her boyfriend. There was a corruption case involving a local businessman. All sorts of things were considered to be more newsworthy. There was always some excuse as to why there wasn’t space. But I kept pressing for the story and I must have made a nuisance of myself because in the end I was summoned to the office of the editor-in-chief. I don’t think we’d so much as passed the time of day before.’
‘What did he want?’
‘In short I was told to drop the story if I wanted my career to go anywhere.’
‘He said that?’
‘Well not in those words, of course, but that was what it amounted to.’ Emma could hear the bitterness in Brian’s voice. She took a moment to take in the implications of what he had said. There was none of this in the papers Eric had found in the archives.
‘You were silenced and your notes were destroyed?’ said Emma.
‘So it seems. I’m surprised some of my notes are still around. They must have been overlooked.’
‘Was that why you left Hong Kong?’
‘Not at first, no. Let’s walk on a bit.’ They started walking along a path leading towards a coffee stall. ‘Can I get you something?’ he asked. Emma declined and he bought himself a drink. Emma suspected he had more to say and was gathering his thoughts.
‘Miss Janssen, I know this is important to you, but if you want my advice you should drop this now. Don’t pursue it any further. You said yourself that you can’t bring your brother back.’
‘I’ve told you. I can’t do that. You know that so why are you saying this?’
‘It was only a few years ago but I am much more cynical about the world these days. Then I was young and like most new journalists very idealistic. I was angry. I told my editor that if I couldn’t get my stories printed what was the point of continuing? I said I would quit and take the story somewhere else.’
‘And did you?’
‘I thought about it for a few days. I was torn between my principles and the practical reality that I had a good job at a major newspaper that many of my contemporaries would have killed for. In the end, though, you might say I was given a helping hand in coming to a decision.’
Emma thought he was becoming unnecessarily cryptic.
‘How?’ she asked.
‘I was walking home one night, quite late as I’d been on an evening duty roster, when two men came up behind me. They grabbed my arms and pulled me into an alleyway, forced me against a wall. I thought I was being robbed and hoped it was just money they were after, but it wasn’t a robbery at all. There was another guy in the alleyway waiting for me. He said he wanted to give me some advice. That I should drop a certain story, that I knew the story he meant, and if I didn’t he knew where I lived. They suggested I might want to broaden my horizons and pursue a career abroad.’
‘You were being threatened?’
‘Not just me, my family as well.’
‘Do you know who they were?’
‘No, but they were just paid thugs. The one who spoke did so in a very vulgar rough Cantonese. No doubt they were triad members but it doesn’t really matter who they were, they were just the hired mouthpiece.’
‘Jesus. I’m sorry,’ said Emma. ‘I don’t know what to say. Who do you think put them up to it?’
‘I don’t know, I didn’t want to find out to be honest. But that was when my ideals took second place. I resigned and moved here, and haven’t been back to Hong Kong since.’
They walked on a little way in silence.
‘Tell me more about Cheung Wing-ho,’ said Emma.
‘Don’t you understand what I’ve been saying? Just because you’re a gweilo, it won’t give you any protection.’
‘Please. Tell me about him.’
‘There’s not a lot to say. A decent guy in his fifties. He ran a convenience store in the area.’
‘Do you think he’d talk to me if I found him?’ asked Emma.
Brian stopped and turned
to face her. ‘Not unless you know how to conduct a séance. A few weeks later he fell from a window twenty floors up. They said it was suicide.’
Chapter 14
The swan-shaped pedalo edged away from the jetty and moved out towards the middle of the boating lake. The swan had seen better days. The white paint was peeling and it had lost one eye. The lake was crowded with families and few of them had much control over their direction of travel. The two passengers on this particular bird were trying to keep the vessel in a straight line while watching out for any errant swans that might be heading their way. When they reached a good distance from the edge of the lake they stopped pedalling and let the swan bob and drift, only taking evasive action when a collision seemed possible.
‘Every time we meet you surprise me,’ said Susan. ‘Always a new adventure.’
‘I like to keep things fresh,’ said her companion. ‘So, you wanted to talk? Has something happened? Have you been able to get in to his office?’
‘Not yet no, but I will soon. Leave that to me.’
‘Then what is it?’
‘I wanted to ask you something. I wanted to ask you a favour.’ Susan, nervous, paused, but when he said nothing in reply she was forced to continue. ‘Would it be possible to find out what happened to a child who was adopted during the Great Famine? I say adopted, but sold would be a more accurate description.’
‘Sold? By the parents?’
‘His mother, yes.’
‘Well, my dear, that’s not something I get asked every day. Before I come to the “why”, what information do you have about this person?’
‘I can get you the name, age, home village and the year.’
‘We’re drifting back to the shore. Let’s move out again.’ They pedalled for a few minutes in silence. ‘You know how incomplete the records are?’
‘Of course, but assuming what I’m looking for is in the records somewhere, do we have the ability to find out?’
‘In principle, yes. Now on to the “why”. Why do you need this information?’
‘If I’m honest, I don’t know that I do. But Kwok-wah would like it and I’d like to be able to give it to him.’
‘Is this his price?’
‘No. He hasn’t asked for it, and anyway, I don’t think I’m going to need to ask him to help. At least no more than he has unwittingly helped already. I’d just like to be able to give this to him.’
‘Is it a family member?’
‘No. It’s the son of the old woman who looks after the building where Kwok-wah lives. He’s very fond of her and knows it would mean a lot to her.’
‘Susan, we’re not talking sentiment here, are we?’
She flinched at his cold tone of voice. ‘Ah, the S-word,’ she said. ‘I know, I shouldn’t have any. I know I’ve no right to ask this.’
‘Let me get this straight. You want me to risk an asset for something like that? Just to get information – which, by the way, may not even exist – for you to give to your young man so he can be kind to an old woman? Without any operational benefit or justification whatsoever? You do realise just how crazy that is? What’s more – how do you plan on giving this information to him? How are you going to explain to him where it came from?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘It’s madness and completely against all the rules. Even this meeting is a quite unnecessary risk. I’m disappointed in you, Susan.’
‘I know I’ve no right to ask. It was just … never mind. Forget I asked. Let’s go back to the shore and pretend we never had this conversation.’ Susan knew he was right in every regard and was embarrassed with herself for even asking. She hoped her faux pas wouldn’t be reported back to her boss. They were silent as they pedalled the swan back to the jetty and returned it to the old man who was in charge of the fleet that afternoon.
‘God, I’m getting as bad as you, young lady,’ said Susan’s companion. ‘This sentiment crap must be contagious. Get me the information on the target, and I’ll think about it. Just think about it, mind, no promises, and only because I’m unaccountably fond of you.’
***
‘She’s after something and it isn’t your dick.’
Kwok-wah was waiting for Susan in the cafeteria and Zhanyuan’s words from their argument still haunted him. The two of them had almost come to blows and probably would have if Li Lao hadn’t intervened. Kwok-wah was angry at the insult, to both himself and Susan, but what nagged at him during the night, what stopped him from sleeping in the early hours, was the question that annoyed him like a persistent mosquito: What if Zhanyuan was right? Kwok-wah couldn’t imagine what Susan saw in him when she must have the pick of admirers back in California. He was flattered, of course he was, but what could she possibly want from him? What did he have that she might be after? Other than an ability to fix laptops, Kwok-wah couldn’t think of anything he had to offer.
Susan arrived and joined Kwok-wah at the table he had chosen. A table in as quiet a corner as was possible in the busy cafeteria. Kwok-wah stood when Susan arrived – he had been well-taught by his parents – and she kissed him on the cheek. They exchanged pleasantries and talked about their studies, but it was soon obvious to Susan that Kwok-wah wasn’t really listening.
‘Of course,’ she said, ‘when the spaceship lands things will be very different.’
‘Yes.’
‘And when ET takes over …’
‘Yes … sorry, what?’
‘Phone home, Kwok-wah, phone home. I knew you weren’t listening to me. What’s the matter? Is something wrong? Something bothering you?’
‘Sorry, Susan – no, nothing’s wrong. Not really. It’s just that one of the guys in my dorm has been talking about us.’
‘Who?’
‘Zhanyuan – I don’t know if you know him.’
‘Only by reputation. Some of the girls I know have come across him. But what’s he been saying?’
‘Nothing I could repeat in front of you,’ said Kwok-wah. ‘He’s very crude.’
‘I see.’
They were both quiet for a couple of minutes while they picked at their food. It was Susan who broke the silence in the end.
‘Does it bother you? Being talked about?’ she asked.
‘I’m just not used to it, I guess. I’ve never been the subject of gossip before. Mind you, I’ve never known someone as good looking as you before.’
Susan laughed. A genuine unforced laugh that surprised everybody on the neighbouring tables so that they stopped what they were doing and looked at Kwok-wah and Susan.
‘Sorry,’ said Susan when she had calmed down. ‘I didn’t mean to laugh like that, but really … you’re such a charmer. Like they don’t say, flattery will get you everywhere, y’know.’
‘I …’ Kwok-wah began.
‘I think I know what the problem is,’ she said, sparing Kwok-wah the embarrassment of continuing with whatever he was going to say. ‘You shouldn’t run yourself down, y’know? Zhanyuan is just jealous. Like I said, he’s tried it on with a few girls I know and always been turned down because he’s a cocky little so-and-so who’s too full of himself.’
‘Perhaps. Take no notice of me. I’m just being stupid.’ Kwok-wah relaxed, feeling more comfortable than he had been earlier.
‘I think it’s sweet,’ said Susan. ‘Look, I’ve got lectures this afternoon, but why don’t we go do something later? How about that new gelato place we saw on Nanjing Road? Are you going to be in the department this afternoon?’
‘Yes, I expect so.’
‘Good. I’ll come and meet you there after class.’
After lunch Susan sat at the back of the lecture theatre. It was as good a place as any to sit and think. Alarm bells were ringing in her head. She knew who Zhanyuan was and who his father was. She had been worried about him ever since she had discovered he was in Kwok-wah’s dorm. She hoped it was just sexual jealousy but couldn’t rely on that. She had to consider the possibility that time was running out
. She would have to act fast before it was too late.
***
Susan gave the guard on the computer science building one of her most winning smiles. He repulsed her. He was overweight and had a prominent wart just above his upper lip, but she made a point of flirting with him every time she came to the department. Susan needed the guard to feel comfortable letting her into the building; if he made her wait for Kwok-wah to collect her at the entrance, she’d have no other reason to go inside. Her efforts over the weeks had clearly been successful and he waved her past with a gap-toothed smile that was no doubt meant to be endearing but only caused Susan to flinch inwardly. Even from a safe distance she could smell his body odour and his breath. The things she had to do; dating Kwok-wah was a positive joy in comparison.
‘Hi there, handsome,’ she said to Kwok-wah in Cantonese. ‘I’ve been practising,’ she continued in English. ‘I should learn more Cantonese, then we could say what we like and nobody round here would have a clue what we were on about.’
‘Your accent’s good,’ said Kwok-wah when he had recovered his composure. ‘I’m nearly finished, if you just give me a minute or two.’
‘No problem, I need to go to the bathroom anyway.’
‘You know where it is?’
‘Down the corridor then right at the end?’
‘Yes.’
‘Won’t be long.’ Susan slung her bag over her shoulder and headed down the corridor. When she reached the end she checked that nobody was behind her and then turned left. She’d been that way before on a previous visit when she had deliberately got lost looking for the toilet. In fact, over the weeks Susan had explored most of the department while trying to find the bathroom. Anybody more suspicious than Kwok-wah might have thought she had a bladder problem. She counted the number of windows she passed until at the expected point she came to a door that opened on to a stairwell connecting the floors at the back of the building. The number of dead cockroaches on the stairs suggested nobody had been that way recently. She paused for a moment and listened for footsteps. When she heard nothing she skipped down one flight to the first floor where the stairs opened out onto a small landing with two doors. One of the doors had a Fire Escape sign confirming that Susan had found what she was looking for, and she assumed the other door led to a corridor on the first floor matching the one on the floor above.