The King of Shanghai (29 page)

( 43 )

They stood at one side of the room. The body was barely visible in the dim light and dust-filled air. Xu leaned against the wall, Ava next to him, her arm hooked through his and her fingers gripping his wrist.

Lam faced them, his hands shaking and his face still contorted. “I gave him a chance to do the right thing. He just couldn’t bring himself to do it,” he said.

“What will you do with the body?” Xu asked, the calmest of the three.

“My men from Guangzhou are nearby. They’ll get him,” Lam said. “And the men are mine, not his.”

“He was so stupid,” Xu said. “But then he was never a man to compromise, and the older he got, the less flexible he became. This was not necessary.”

“No, but it was almost inevitable. You were right about how he would react,” Lam said. “I didn’t completely believe you.”

“When did he tell you?”

“This morning. He went back and forth about doing a deal but every time he thought about you becoming chairman, even for a year, he’d lose control. So he decided to push you hard in this meeting. If you agreed to everything he wanted, he said he’d take the deal and find a way to cut you out. And if you didn’t go along, then . . .”

“This wasn’t our plan,” Ava said.

“Yes, it was,” Lam said. “We took the plan you and I agreed on as far as we could, until Li rejected it and created his own. Then it was time for Plan B.”

“My intention was to broker peace,” Ava snapped. “That was the plan.”

“And we gave it our best shot,” Lam said. “I swear to you, I did everything I could to persuade him. I didn’t want it to come to this any more than you did.”

“The change of meeting location was a signal that Li had a different idea about how to resolve our differences,” Xu said. “And even though I knew what the intent was, I was hoping it would not happen.”

“What if he had agreed to do what you wanted with the chairmanship?”

“I would have been happy to go along with him. But he did not want me to agree. He wanted me dead,” Xu said.

“So pointless.”

“He knew only one way to do things. Maybe it worked twenty years ago, but not now,” Lam said. “If I’d let him do what he wanted, it would have brought death and chaos into everyone’s lives. I couldn’t let that happen to my men. They’re more secure now than they’ve ever been.”

“What will we say about this?” Xu asked, pointing at the body.

“He had a heart attack in Guangzhou.”

“Wasn’t he in contact with the other society leaders who are in Hong Kong for the meeting? We were told he had a dinner with some of them planned for tonight. Won’t they suspect something?” Ava asked.

“He told them he wasn’t sure when he would be arriving, that he wasn’t feeling well. If he had been successful in killing Xu, the plan was to leave here right away and head back to Guangzhou before Xu’s people had a chance to react.”

“Pretending he’d never left?”

“Yeah.”

“How clever.”

“I thought so when I suggested it to him.”

Xu moved away from the wall until he was almost nose to nose with Lam. “Will you go to the meeting tomorrow in his place?”

“No, that would be disrespectful. I’ll return to Guangzhou with the body. But I will take time when I get back to phone his allies and let them know that his health finally failed. I don’t imagine you’ll have any other opposition for the chairmanship.”

“I think not.”

“Then, congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Xu said. He turned to Ava. “Lam will be the new Mountain Master in Guangzhou. You will be happy to know that he will be accepting the deal you proposed about my products.”

“Aside from that,” Lam said, pointing towards the body, “some good things happened this morning. And none of them would have happened without you.”

She shook her head, not sure what to believe.

Xu bent forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. Ava still had her back pressed against the wall. “
Mei mei
, Lam and I seem to have got everything we wanted. Tell us what we can do for you.”

She closed her eyes. “All I want is to go back to my life,” she said softly.

“What makes you think you ever left it?”

COMING SOON
from House of Anansi Press
in February 2016

Read on for a preview of the next thrilling
Ava Lee novel,
The Princeling of Nanjing

( 1 )

It was
early evening when Ava Lee and May Ling Wong exited the elevator on the eleventh floor of the Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai. Ava had arrived in the city that afternoon, and now she and May were going to a reception that was a prelude to the launch of a new clothing line called PÖ. Ava, May, and Ava’s sister-in-law Amanda Yee had financed the creation of PÖ, the brainchild of Clark and Gillian Po, through their Three Sisters investment firm.

“How many people are we expecting?” Ava asked as they followed the signs directing them to the Palace Suite.

“More than a hundred.”

“Can we get them all into the suite?”

“Maybe not all of them indoors, but there’s a wraparound terrace that can comfortably accommodate two hundred peo-ple. Amanda had a marquee put up outside in case it rains.”

Ava spotted Amanda standing just inside the doorway to the suite, talking to a group of familiar-looking women. “Are those the women I saw working at the old sample factory?” Ava asked.

“Yes, we hired them to work in the new one. Clark invited them. I’m quite sure that they and Clark and Gillian’s friends are the early arrivals,” May said.

“That was considerate.”

“Chi-Tze wasn’t so sure it was a good idea, but she was sensitive enough not to say anything to Clark. He adores those women and they love him to death. They’re also coming to the show tomorrow.”

“How many fashion industry types are you expecting tonight?”

“At last count we had about thirty people from various publications, websites, and social media, and I’d say about twenty who either own major chunks of various retail chains or work for them. There are also some real estate agents who control the malls, in case we decide to go with stand-alone PÖ boutiques.”

“How many of them are your friends?”

“Acquaintances more than friends, but a fair number of them,” May said. “I see Gillian. I’m going to go say hi.”

Ava followed May into the suite. She had taken only a few steps before Amanda was by her side. She noticed the long, thin scar that ran across and just above Amanda’s eyebrow. It was the only physical evidence of the brutal beating she had endured in Borneo. In Ava’s opinion it enhanced rather than detracted from Amanda’s delicate beauty.

“I just got off the phone with Michael,” Amanda said. “He sends his love. He wanted to come, but things are crazy for him and Simon right now.”

Michael Lee was Ava’s half-brother from her father’s first wife, and Simon To was his business partner. “Crazy good or crazy bad?” Ava asked.

“They don’t need you to bail them out of trouble, if that’s what you mean,” Amanda said with a smile.

“That’s kind of what I meant.”

Amanda laughed and then stopped and stared. “With the exception of my wedding, I’ve never seen you in a dress before. You look so damn sexy.”

“It’s a gift from Clark. It was in my room when I arrived.”

“I figured as much, but I only saw the outside of the garment bag. He told me not to peek.”

“This is snug but still very comfortable,” Ava said, pointing to the form-fitting bodice of the black silk crepe dress. Then she moved her hips, and the lower half of the dress floated out around her knees. “I’m not used to wearing clothes this loose — it makes my legs feel completely naked. I have to say, though, I think I could get used to it.”

“Clark said he also left a special message for you.”

It was Ava’s turn to smile. “Inside the dress, just below the neckline, there’s a thin red ribbon with words stitched in gold.”

“What does it say?”

“
Ava Lee has my heart
.”

“He does think the world of you.”

“No more than he thinks of you,” Ava said. “Now, how was he today at the rehearsal?”

“Excited but in control, and still being critical about his designs.”

“You’ve obviously seen them all.”

“Several times, and please don’t ask me for an opinion. I find it impossible to be objective.”

“We’re all eager.”

“None more so than the factory ladies. They’re here to scream and shout, and they’ll do the same tomorrow.”

“Did you meet your friend from
Vogue
?”

“Yes. She’s just sent me a text saying she’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.”

“May has just finished telling me about Lane Crawford.”

“My god, how terrific it would be to get our clothes in there,” Amanda said. “It almost gives me chills thinking about it. Not only are they the leading retailer in Hong Kong, now they have Lane Crawford stores in China and more than fifty Joyce Boutiques across the region. Chi-Tze says they’re the perfect bridge between East and West when it comes to fashion.”

“Evidently a woman who works there knows me.”

“A
woman
? Carrie Song is vice-president of merchandising, which is like being God. Chi-Tze and Gillian tried and failed for more than a month to get an appointment to see her or one of her staff. Finally May used a board of directors connection to get in, but even that didn’t go very well until your name was mentioned. All of a sudden there was interest, and then out of the blue one of Ms. Song’s assistants advised us that they’re coming to the launch.”

Ava shrugged. “I have no idea who she is.”

“Maybe you’ll recognize her when you see her face.”

“I hope so.”

“Now why don’t you and May go inside and get a drink and mingle. Gillian and I are on door duty.”

“Let me know when Carrie Song arrives.”

“Count on it.”

“And my friend Xu, if he makes it,” Ava added. “I was told earlier that he might be tied up in a meeting.”

“
Momentai
.”

Ava walked over to May and Gillian, who were deep in conversation. “We should go in,” she said, touching May’s arm.

Ava glanced around the spacious suite and saw about twenty people standing around a grand piano that had a bar set up beside it. Just beyond, a sliding door opened onto a white-tiled terrace, where most of the guests had chosen to congregate around another bar and a table laden with hors d’oeuvres. The sight of it made her stomach rumble, and she realized it had been a while since she’d eaten. She walked out to the terrace and was examining the food when Gillian appeared by her side.

“Carrie Song is here,” she said.

“Where is she?”

“At the door, chatting with Amanda.”

Ava walked back through the suite and looked towards the door. Carrie Song was several inches taller than Amanda and much broader, solidly built, with thick legs and torso. She was what her mother would call “sturdy.” Ava felt embarrassed for using one of Jennie Lee’s code words and banished the thought from her mind.

Song’s hair was pulled back tightly and secured by what looked like a platinum pin set with a row of small red stones. She wore a red silk dress with a high, straight neckline, sleeves that came to the elbow, and a mid-calf hemline. Like the pin, the dress looked to be worth a small fortune. Her eyes were heavily made up and a swath of bright red lipstick gleamed on her lips. Ava searched her memory but didn’t recall ever meeting her before.

Amanda turned towards Ava and smiled. Carrie Song also looked in her direction, and then her eyes blinked in confusion.
I don’t think she knows me either
, Ava thought as she walked towards the door.

“You can’t be Ava Lee,” Song said when Ava reached her.

“I am,” Ava said, extending a hand.

“But you’re far too young.”

“I most certainly am Ava Lee, and I’m not quite as young as you might think.”

“You did work with Uncle Chow?”

“He was my partner, my mentor, and the most important man in my life for more than ten years,” Ava said. Those days of collecting debts now seemed so far away, even though Uncle had been dead for less than a year.

Song shook her head. “It was eight years ago that my family hired you and Uncle. I just assumed then that you were older.”

“I was in my mid-twenties when we became partners. I felt old enough at the time. And the job had a way of accelerating experience.”

“Knowing what you went through with my family, I can understand that.”

“Carrie, you have me at a disadvantage,” Ava said. “Until you tell me your family’s name, I can’t know what we’re speaking about. The name Song means absolutely nothing to me.”

“It’s my married name. My brother is Austin Ma, and my father was Ma Lai.”

“Was?” Ava said, as the faces of the two men appeared in her mind.

“My father died three years ago.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“At least he died with his business, his money, and his pride intact, thanks to you and Uncle,” she said. “And I can’t tell you how many times my brother has said he owes his life to you.”

Ava felt words of protest form in her mouth and then swallowed them. Uncle had always said that false modesty was a ploy used by egotists to gather more praise. “Yes, we did retrieve the money and rescue your brother from his kidnappers. We did as well by them as was possible.”

Carrie became quiet. Amanda, who had been listening to their conversation, edged closer to them. “Perhaps we should move away from the door,” she said. “And neither of you has a drink. We have excellent champagne.”

“Champagne sounds terrific,” Ava said.

“Yes, for me too,” Song said.

“There’s a seating area in the corner of the suite that would give the two of you some privacy if you want to continue this discussion. Why don’t we go there, and I’ll have some drinks brought to you,” Amanda said.

Ava nodded, pleased with the subtle manner in which Amanda had taken control.

Carrie and Ava settled into chairs separated by a small round table. Amanda waved at a server carrying a tray of champagne flutes. Each of the women took a glass.

“To health,” Ava said.

“Health,” Carrie and Amanda said as one.

“Now I’ll leave you two,” Amanda said.

Carrie Song perched on the edge of her chair and turned sideways so she could face Ava. “When I told my brother I thought I would be meeting you in Shanghai, he became quite excited,” she said. “He said he saw you at Uncle’s funeral but doubts you’d remember him being there.”

“It was an emotional day. The names and faces were a blur.”

“I understand. I was the same at my father’s funeral.”

“But I do remember your brother and father from the case. It was a tough one.”

“I was in my last year of university in the U.K. I didn’t know anything about the problem until it was over. I was really angry when I found out they hadn’t told me about something that important. But father explained, very patiently, that there was nothing I could have done from the U.K., and that my knowing about it would only have caused him and my mother extra stress. He was right, I think.”

“Your father was very calm and thoughtful in the face of considerable adversity. After all, the thieves had most of his money and his son. He showed a lot of bravery. So did your brother.”

“My brother doesn’t feel that way. He says he was so scared when they grabbed him off the street that he wet his pants.”

“That happens to a lot of people, and after the initial shock he carried himself well. I remember speaking to him on the phone when we were negotiating the ransom, and he was in complete control of his emotions.”

“Our family owes you a tremendous debt.”

“We were paid well for what we did.”

Carrie shook her head. “My father went to several organizations for help before he found Uncle and you. None of them would touch us once they found out who’d made off with most of our money, and was holding my brother ransom for the rest of it.”

“Most debt collectors want only the low-hanging fruit. Uncle built our business by taking on jobs that they wouldn’t handle. He liked to think of us as a last resort. It was a bit romantic of him, I always thought, but in some cases it was the truth. And we did have some expertise and contacts that other companies lacked.”

“
Expertise
. You make it sound so academic. My brother said you risked your life to save his.”

“That’s a bit dramatic. The guys guarding him were amateurs.”

“There were three of them, no?”

“I think so.”

“And they had knives, and one had a gun.”

“True, but I had Carlo and Andy — two of Uncle’s men — and Carlo had his own gun.”

“Austin said you were wounded by a knife.”

“It was a small cut on my arm. It looked worse than it was.”

Carrie lifted the glass to her lips and sipped. “No matter how much you want to downplay it, both my brother and I think the Ma family owes you more than the money you were paid.”

“That’s very kind. But I hope you’re not here just because of that.”

“I am.”

“That makes me quite uncomfortable,” Ava said softly. “This new business has to stand on its own merits or it won’t be sustainable.”

“Thank you for saying that,” Carrie said. “I can’t tell you how many invitations we turn down every month. If we accepted even a quarter of them, I’d never be in my office. So my coming here is a bit unusual. But the bottom line is still that we’ll do business only if the clothes meet our standards — and those standards are high.”

“That makes me feel a bit better.”

Carrie smiled. “Good. Now let’s hope the clothes are exceptional.”

“They’re wonderful.”

“Is that dress you’re wearing a PÖ?”

“It is.”

“Then we’re off to a good start.”

Ava saw that Carrie’s glass was empty and looked for a server. Before she could find one, Amanda reappeared.

“Excuse me, but May Ling wants Ava to know that Mr. Xu is here.”

“That’s perfect timing,” Carrie said. “Please go and see your guest. I’m going to mingle for a while and then leave early. I’ll see you at the launch tomorrow.”

“Will we have a chance to talk before you leave?”

“Do you mean after the show?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not something I normally do, but then, coming to Shanghai isn’t either,” Carrie said. “So yes, we can chat.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s still too soon to say that.”

Ava smiled and walked away, feeling satisfied with the way things had gone. She had no doubt that Carrie Song would be fair, and that’s all they could expect.