A Lotus For Miss Quon Part 9

aWell, I know he was a pretty successful business man,a Hambley hedged. aHe hasnat been in trouble as far as I know, He. . .a aI mean what sort of private life did he lead, Lieutenant?a the Inspector interrupted. aIt is only by a manas private life that he should be judged.a Hambley wiped his face again.

aI know nothing of his private life,a he admitted sullenly.

The Inspector was now ready to produce one of several aces his agile mind had created during this conversation.

aYou mentioned that Mr. Jaffe had drawn all his money out of the bank,a he said. aThis withdrawal was done hurriedly and on a Sunday evening and through two hotels since the bank was shut. To you, Mr. Jaffeas action suggested a man in flight. Would you not say, however, that there could be another explanation for his action?a Hambley looked startled. He felt the blood rise to his face.

aYou mean blackmail?a aExactly. I myself would say this is an action of a man under pressure and in need of a large sum of money and when a situation like that arises I always think of blackmail.a Hambley found himself excusing himself.

aI had no reason to think Jaffe was a man who could be blackmailed,a he said slowly. aHave you any good reason to think so?a The Inspector appeared to hesitate.

aYes, unfortunately, Mr. Jaffe was without any doubt a pervert and a degenerate.a Hambley stared at him. aWhat makes you say that?a aThere is a very simple explanation why he wanted to borrow Mr. Wadeas car and I a.s.sure you it had nothing to do with the car being equipped with C.D. plates. For some time now, Mr. Jaffe has been seen by my men trying to pick up girls in his car. For several weeks, he was unsuccessful. It seems to me to be an acceptable theory that, frustrated by his lack of success he might easily have blamed his failure on the smallness of his Dauphine rather than on the decency of the girls he tried to molest. I think Mr. Jaffe borrowed Mr. Wadeas big and rather ostentatious car in the hope of changing his luck. After all he did mention to Mr Wade he wished to use the car for an immoral purpose.a Hambley stubbed out his cigarette.

aIf he was annoying women in the streets,a he said curtly, awhy didnat your men pick him up?a The Inspector lifted his shoulders.

aWe naturally avoid arresting Americans where we can. The girls paid no attention to him. They came to no harm, and there was no official complaint made, so our men sensibly took no action although a report was sent to me.a aThis still doesnat explain where Haum comes into it or why Jaffe was being blackmailed or why he took a gun with him or why he packed a bag. Are you suggesting he got some girl into trouble and decided to make a bolt for it?a aNothing of the kind, Lieutenant. This is a little more complicated than that. You may be surprised to learn that Haum was a h.o.m.os.e.xual.a Hambley stiffened. For Peteas sake! he thought. Whatas coming next?

aI think it had been decided some time ago that Mr. Jaffe should be kidnapped and held to ransom. I think Haum and Dong Ham were planted in Mr. Jaffeas villa for the express purpose of carrying out this kidnapping at the convenient time. However, I think Haum decided to make himself some money on the side. He demanded money from Mr. Jaffe.a Hambley grimaced.

aYou mean Jaffe and the houseboy . . .?a aI think there is no doubt about that,a the Inspector said quietly. aThis man was a degenerate. You will remember Mr. Wade said when he met Mr. Jaffe in the bar of the Majestic hotel he seemed ill at ease and worried? Later, he cashed the two cheques. While he was doing this, I think Haum received a telephone call. He was told to bring Mr. Jaffe to the Bien Hoa road police post. The idea was to kill two birds with one stone. To attack a police post very close to Saigon and while the bandits had men in the vicinity, to kidnap Mr. Jaffe.a aHow the h.e.l.l do you know all this?a Hambley demanded. aHow could Haum force Jaffe to go to the police post?a aI donat know all this as you put it, Lieutenant,a the Inspector said mildly. aI am advancing what seems to me to be a reasonable explanation based on my years of experience with these bandits. I suggest Haum knew Mr. Jaffe owned a gun. I think he took the gun and forced Mr. Jaffe to drive to the police post. The attack was made, but in the confusion, Mr. Jaffe tried to escape. I think he most certainly killed Haum. There are fingerprints on Haumas face and neck. Mr. Jaffe was a very powerful man. He had only to give the boy one good shake to break his neck. I believe Mr. Jaffe was then murdered. My experience tells me that by his attack on Haum, he automatically forfeited his life.

Our enemies work like that: a life for a life. You must remember also Mr. Jaffe had 8,000 piastres on him . .?

aWhat makes you say that?a Hambley snapped. aIf your theory is right, he drew the money out to give to the boy. Surely the boy would have taken it before forcing Jaffe to drive to the police post?a The Inspector inclined his head. He warned himself to be careful. This young man wasnat quite the fool the Inspector thought he was.

aIt is immaterial, Lieutenant, whether Mr. Jaffe or the boy had the money. One of them had it during the drive because there is no trace of it in the villa. I think Mr. Jaffe retained it when he was threatened with the gun. He could have said he hadnat been able to raise such a sum. I think when the bandits found he had killed Haum and when they searched him and found the money, they killed him. The bandits would divide up the money between themselves before returning to headquarters. If they took Mr. Jaffe back alive, he would tell their leader about the money and the leader would recover it from his men and keep it for himself. It would be more convenient for the bandits for Mr. Jaffe to die. I feel certain that is what happened.a Hambley rubbed his jaw while he stared at the Inspector.

aYou sure have got this b.u.t.toned up havenat you?a he said. aHow about the suitcase and the shaving kit?a aIt was the intention of the Viet Minh to hold Mr. Jaffe to ransom. He would have been well cared for: naturally he would want his shaving things and a change of clothing. No doubt Haum had these packed ready when Mr. Jaffe returned to the villa.a aAnd the girl and the cook?a aThey were waverers, Lieutenant. My converted informant told me that both of them would have become converts but for Haumas influence. Once they knew he was dead, there was nothing to stop them leaving the Viet Minh influence. They were killed no doubt by orders from Hanoi as examples to waverers.a Hambley took off his service cap and ran his fingers through his sweat-damp hair. This little monkey could be right, he was thinking. Itas a fantastic story but it holds together. If Jaffe was a queer we donat want it spread around. It wouldnat look so hot to have all that dirt in the newspapers.

Watching him, the Inspector saw that he had succeeded in switching the Lieutenantas attention and interest into much less dangerous channels. He would have to see the Colonel immediately and report the interview. He only hoped the Colonel would agree and support the story he had manufactured.

Hambley got to his feet. aIall have to report this,a he said.

aOf course,a the Inspector said. aColonel On-dinh-Khuc will send in a confidential report covering all these points I have raised. Your Emba.s.sy can be sure there will be no undesirable publicity given to this unfortunate affair. If it is thought necessary we can produce proof that Mr. Jaffe was a degenerate. The reward in this morningas papers has brought forward a number of people who have had a.s.sociations with Mr. Jaffe and they would be prepared to testify, but I suggest it would be better to let the matter rest where it is. In the meantime you can rely on me to continue my search for Mr. Jaffeas body.a aYeah,a Hambley said. aWell, okay. Be seeing you, Inspector,a and straightening his cap, he shook hands with the Inspector and left.

The Inspector stood for some moments looking through the window until he heard the jeep drive away, then he walked slowly over to the picture on the wall and regarded it. It was fortunate, he thought, that the Lieutenant hadnat thought of taking the picture down. It would have been very awkward if he had found the hole in the wall.

He stepped up to the picture and lifted it slightly, looking under it. The solid wall that met his gaze came as a shock to him. There was no sign that yesterday there had been a hole in the wall. Whoever had repaired the wall had been a highly skilled craftsman.

As he settled the picture back into place, the Inspector remembered that Lam-Thanas brother was an interior decorator.

With a troubled expression in his small black eyes, he left the villa and drove rapidly back to Security Police Headquarters.

II.

Outside the Saigon airport, Blackie Lee sat in his car and picked his teeth with a splinter of bamboo. He was waiting impatiently for the pa.s.sengers from the newly-arrived aircraft from Hong Kong to pa.s.s through the Customs and Immigration barriers.

He had already caught sight of his brother, Charlie, as he had left the aircraft. It was a great weight off Blackieas mind that Charlie had answered his SOS so promptly.

Charlie Lee was five years older than his brother: a more serious and ambitious man, but not nearly so well off as Blackie.

The trouble with Charlie, Blackie had often said to Yu-lan, is he wonat get down to a real job of work. Heas always looking for quick, big, easy money. He is always messing around with white elephants hoping that one of his crackbrain schemes will land him into the big money. He is always spoiling his chances by chasing the gold at the foot of a rainbow when he should have opened up a dance hall in Hong Kong the way I wanted him to.

But with a job like this one a" the job of getting the American to Hong Kong a" Blackie could think of no one more likely to find a solution to the problem than Charlie. If Charlie couldnat dream up something, then the American was as good as dead.

He watched Charlie come out of the airport, pause and look around. He thought his brother looked a trifle thinner and a little more shabby than when he had last seen him four months ago.

Charlie spotted the American car and came over; Blackie got out and greeted him. The two men stood in the hot sun and talked for a few minutes. They inquired after each otheras health, then Charlie inquired after Yu-lan who he liked. Neither of them mentioned the urgent cable Blackie had sent asking his brother to drop everything and come at once.

They got into the car and drove without haste back to the club. During the drive, Blackie asked how business was, and Charlie, with a resigned lift of his hands, admitted it wasnat good at the moment. He was having trouble with his team of rickshaw boys. Sooner or later the rickshaw would go: traffic in Hong Kong was becoming increasingly congested and was gradually edging the rickshaw off the streets. The boys knew this. They were demanding higher pay to have something to fall back on when they could no longer work. The four girls Charlie protected were also making trouble. Since the publication of that book about a prost.i.tute in Hong Kong, the American authorities had forbidden all .American sailors in uniform to enter any of the hotels where he girls worked. This ruling had a bad effect on business and to make matters worse the girls were demanding a higher percentage.

Blackie listened, grunting in sympathy from time to time. They were still discussing Charlieas affairs as they climbed the stairs to the club where Yu-lan greeted Charlie affectionately.

Lunch was ready and the three sat down and ate through eight courses of immaculately prepared food. Little was said during the meal and when it was finished the two brothers retired to Blackieas office while Yu-lan went to her room for a siesta. Charlie sat in the most comfortable chair while Blackie sat behind his desk. He offered a cigar which Charlie accepted.

There was a short silence while Charlie lit the cigar, then he said, aThere is something perhaps that I can do for you?a Blackie immediately got down to business. With admirable clarity, he told his brother Jaffeas story. He gave his brother every sc.r.a.p of information he had been able to gather without complicating the facts with his own thoughts or opinions.

Charlie lay back in the armchair and puffed at his cigar, his face expressionless. As Blackie talked, Charlie very quickly realized the danger of this thing. Up to now, neither he nor Blackie had ever touched anything really dangerous: a little opium smuggling of course: several shady currency deals; a certain amount of refugee smuggling into Hong Kong, but nothing where they could find themselves facing an execution squad, and this thing that Blackie was dabbling in could very easily end before the levelled rifles of Security Police.

Charlie had lived for many years in Saigon. He had left when the French had pulled out and President Diem had come to power. He had felt it his duty to provide a bolthole for his young brother in case of need, and he had settled in Hong Kong. But he understood the Vietnamese methods and mentality. He knew they would take the sternest measures against a Chinese if they found out he had helped a fugitive from justice to escape.

Blackie said, aThe American has money. He will pay fifteen thousand U.S. dollars if we can get him out. This is an acceptable sum. I thought five for you and ten for me would be a fair arrangement. What do you think?a aMy life is worth a lot more than five thousand U.S. dollars,a Charlie said quietly.

Blackie frowned. He was disappointed. He thought his brother would have jumped at such an offer.

aWhat do you mean?a aIt is too dangerous,a Charlie said. aI am sorry, but I cannot consider the matter for a moment; it is much too dangerous.a Blackie understood how to deal with his brother. He took from his pocket the two diamonds that Jaffe had given him.

aThe American is willing to trust me,a he said. aHe has given me these two diamonds. He tells me they are worth a thousand U.S. dollars. They will take care of our immediate expenses. When he reaches Hong Kong, he will pay us fifteen thousand U.S. dollars.a He put the two glittering diamonds on his blotter.

Charlie was an expert in all kinds of precious stones. He had once been a diamond cutter to a jeweller in Saigon, but unfortunately for him he had been caught stealing gold and that had put an end to his career in the jewellery trade.

He picked up the two diamonds and studied them. Then he took a watchmakeras gla.s.s from his pocket and screwed it into his eye and examined the stones very carefully. There was a long pause while Blackie watched him. Finally Charlie took the gla.s.s from his eye and put the diamonds back on the blotter.

As he leaned back in his armchair, he asked, aThe American gave you these stones?a aYes.a aWhere did he get them from?a aFrom Hong Kong. He bought them for a girl, but changed his mind.a aHow much did you say he told you they were worth?a Blackie frowned.

aA thousand U.S. dollars.a aIt would surprise you if I told you they are worth three thousand dollars?a Charlie said.

Blackieas eyes went dull. He slumped down in his chair while he stared at his brother.

aThe American didnat buy these diamonds in Hong Kong,a Charlie went on. aHe was lying to you.a aI donat understand,a Blackie said. aWhy did he give them to me if they are worth so much?a aBecause he doesnat know the value of them, and that means he didnat buy them.a aI donat understand,a Blackie said. aIf he didnat buy them how did he get them?a aHe stole them,a Charlie said. aThis is a very strange coincidence.a He pointed to the diamonds. aSix years ago, I cut those diamonds. Myself. My mark is on them.a aThis is extraordinary,a Blackie said. aYou are quite sure?a aOf course. I can tell you who the owner was of these diamonds. Do you remember General Nguyen Van Tho?a Blackie nodded.

aHe ordered a hundred and twenty diamonds from the firm I worked for and he paid cash for them. It was a secret deal, but I learned he had gone to another dealer and bought fifty much bigger and better stones. In all he bought two million American dollarsa worth of diamonds. He used the Army funds to buy the stones. He planned to leave the country but he left it too late. He was killed by a bomb, and the diamonds were never found. I think the American has found them!a The two men looked at each other. Blackie felt a trickle of sweat run down his face. Two million American dollars!

aOf course!a he said. aJaffe lived in the villa belonging to the Generalas woman! The General must have hidden the stones there and Jaffe found them. Thatas why he murdered his houseboy! The boy must have known Jaffe had found the diamonds!a Charlie continued to puff at his cigar, but his mind was active. Here at last, he was thinking, is the chance I have waited for. Two million dollars! The big money! At last!

aOf course we donat know he has the other diamonds,a Blackie said doubtfully. aHe may have found only these two.a aAnd killed the boy for two diamonds?a Charlie shook his head. aNo: heas found them a" all of them. You can be sure of that.a aI know where he is hiding,a Blackie said, lowering his voice. aIt would be a simple matter to surprise him. I have several men who would take care of him.a Charlie lifted his head to stare at his brother.

aSuppose you got the diamonds?a he said. aWhat would you do with them here?a aWe would take them to Hong Kong,a Blackie said impatiently.

aThe last time I left Saigon, I was searched,a Charlie said gently. aThey would search you too. Both of us are suspect. If we were caught with the diamonds, we would disappear. You realize that, donat you?a aThen what are we going to do?a Blackie said.

aWe are going to do what the American wants. We are going to get him out of the country. Naturally, heall take the diamonds with him. He will take all the risks. We will be in Hong Kong waiting for him. It is then when he arrives in Hong Kong that we take the diamonds from him. Do you agree?a aBut you said just now you wouldnat consider the matter,a Blackie reminded him.

Charlie smiled.

aFor two million American dollars, there is nothing I would not consider. You can tell him we will get him out of the country.a aBut how?a Charlie closed his eyes.

aThat is something I must think about. I am not as young as I used to be. A little sleep now would be beneficial. Will you see I am not disturbed?a Blackie got up and went to the door. He paused. There was a worried expression in his eyes. aThe American wonat part with the diamonds easily,a he said. aHe is a powerfully-built man.a Charlie settled himself comfortably in the chair. aWe canat expect to gain two million dollars without trouble,a he said. aThank you for reminding me. I will take it into consideration.a A few minutes after Blackie had left the office, Charlie began to snore softly.

chapter ten.

I.

The reward of 20,000 piastres for any information concerning Jaffeas last movements before he had been kidnapped led to chaotic scenes outside Security Headquarters.

Inspector NgocLinh had expected this to happen. He knew every shiftless coolie, pousse-pousse boy, street vendor and the like would come rushing forward with their stories, determined to earn the reward.

He knew he and his men would have to sift through hundreds of stories in the hope of gaining one little fact that might prove Jaffe was in hiding and not in the hands of the Viet Minh. The Inspector hoped too to get a lead on the girl Jaffe a.s.sociated with. He gave instructions that no one was to be turned away. Everyone coming forward with information was to be interviewed.

A man who could have told him where Jaffe was hiding knew nothing about the offer of the reward for Yo-Yo had never learned to read and consequently never looked at a newspaper.

While the Inspector was probing and sifting the answers to his questions, Yo-Yo squatted outside the Paradise Club, his dirty, vicious face puckered in a perplexed frown.

He saw Charlie arrive. He had seen Charlie before and knew he lived in Hong Kong. He guessed Charlie had been sent for. He knew then for certain that something of great importance was going on. But how was he to find out what this something could be? He wondered if he should go to the taxi-danceras home and talk to her. He might persuade her to tell him why she had visited the American, but on second thought he saw that if he failed to frighten her into talking he would be in serious trouble with Blackie. The risk was too great.

So he sat in the shade, fidgeting with his yo-yo and waited. Not ten yards from him the food vendor was reading of the reward and wondering craftily what story he could tell the police that would convince them he was the man to receive the reward. He knew Jaffe. He had seen him often going in and out of the club, but he couldnat remember if he had seen him on Sunday night. He vaguely remembered Jaffe had sat in his car outside the club but whether that was on Sat.u.r.day or Sunday, the vendor couldnat make up his mind.

He decided he might as well tell the police it was Sunday. They would be more impressed if he told them it was Sunday because, according to the newspaper, that was the day when Jaffe disappeared. As soon as the lunch hour rush was over, he would go to the police and tell them about seeing Jaffe sitting in his car. Even if he didnat get all the reward, surely they would give him something?

In the American Emba.s.sy, Lieutenant Hambley sat in his office, digging holes in his blotter with a paperknife, a thoughtful, worried expression on his face.

He was waiting for Sam Wade to come in. He had telephoned for him as soon as he had got back to his office. Wade had said he would be along in a few minutes.

When he did come in, Hambley waved him to a chair.

aIave got myself snarled up in this Jaffe affair,a he said. You knew him pretty well, didnat you?a aI guess, but not all that well. We played golf together. He was a h.e.l.l of a fine golfer. I never saw anyone hit a longer ball off the peg.a aWhat sort of guy was he?a aA regular fella. I liked him.a Hambley dug more holes in his blotter.

aHe wasnat a queer, was he?a Wadeas eyes opened wide.

aAre you kidding?a he asked, an edge to his voice. aJaffe a queer? What kind of an idea is that?a aThereas a rumour going around that he was,a Hambley said quietly. aItas said he had an a.s.sociation with his houseboy.a Wade looked disgusted. aThe guy who put that rumour around wants his backside kicked. What does he expect to get out of a foul lie like that?a Hambley looked at Wadeas indignant face with interest. aYouare as sure at that?a he asked.

aYouare d.a.m.n right I am!a Wade said, his face flushed. aWhatas all this about anyway?a Hambley told him of the Inspectoras theory.

aWell, itas a lie,a Wade said. aI know for a fact Jaffe had a regular girl. He never chased women. That story about why he borrowed my car is so much baloney!a aWho was his girl, then?a Hambley asked.

aI donat know. Whatas it matter anyway? I do know she used to visit his place about three times a week. You know how you get to hear these things. My houseboy is always telling me who is sleeping with who. When you play golf with a guy, you get to know the kind of man he is. Jaffe was a sportsman : he was okay. Iam telling you.a aIad like to talk to this girl of his,a Hambley said. aHow can I find her?a Wade rubbed his fat jowels while he thought. aThe most likely one who could tell you is that c.h.i.n.k I slept with on Sunday night: sheas a b.i.t.c.h and a thief,a and he gave Hambley the address.

Hambley reached for his service cap and slapped it on his head. aWell, thanks,a he said, aIall go and see this Chinese girl.a He looked at his watch. It was just after half past twelve. aYou have been a help.a Fifteen minutes later, he was standing outside Ann Fai Wahas front door. He rang the bell and waited. After a two-minute wait, he rang again. He was just deciding that she had gone out, when the front door opened and the girl stood in the doorway, looking at him. Her almond shaped eyes moved over him, taking in the details of his uniform before examining his face.

aHambley: Military Police,a the Lieutenant said, saluting. aMay I come in for a moment?a She stepped back and made a little flicking movement with her long, beautiful fingers. She was wearing a dove-coloured Cheongsam slit either side to halfway up her thighs. Her long shapely legs were bare and the colour of old ivory. He could see the hard points of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s under the grey silk. He didnat think she had on anything under the Cheongsam.

He walked into the sitting room. On the table was the morning newspaper. By it a tray containing a cup and saucer, a coffee pot and a half-empty bottle of Remy Martin brandy.

Ann Fai Wah sat on the arm of a big leather lounging chair and rested her arm along its back. Hambley had difficulty not to stare at her leg as the split skirt parted as she sat down.

aYou want something?a the girl asked, lifting painted eyebrows.

Hambley pulled himself together.

aHave you read the paper yet?a He leaned forward and tapped the headlines that shouted of Jaffeas kidnapping.

aHmmmm.a She nodded, her slim fingers playing with a curl on the side of her neck. aDid you know Jaffe?a She shook her head.

aHe had a girlfriend: a Vietnamese taxi-dancer. Iam trying to find her. Would you know who she is and where she lives?a aPerhaps.a Hambley shifted from one foot to the other. He found the black almond-shaped eyes extremely disconcerting. She was looking him over the way a farmer would examine a prize bull.

aWhat does that mean? Do you know her or donat you?a She leaned forward to pick up a cigarette. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tightened their grey silk covering. She put the cigarette between her heavily made-up lips and looked expectantly at him.

Hambley fumbled for his lighter, found it and had trouble to light it. It irritated him as he lit her cigarette to be aware that he was confused and acting like a teenager.

aWhy do you want to know?a she asked, leaning back and releasing a long stream of tobacco smoke down her nostrils.

aWeare trying to check his last movements up to the time he was kidnapped,a Hambley explained. aWe think his girl could help us.a aIf she could, she would have come forward, wouldnat she?a aNot necessarily. She might not want to get involved.a Ann Fai Wah picked up the newspaper and glanced at it.

aI see thereas a reward. If I told you who she is, will I get the reward?a aYou might. Security Police are paying the reward. Youad have to talk to them.a aI donat want to talk to them. I prefer to talk to you. If you will give me 20,000 piastres, I will tell you who she is.a aSo you know?a Again the painted eyebrows lifted.

aPerhaps.a aI havenat the authority to give you the money,a Hambley said. But Iall put your claim forward through the proper channels. Who is she?a Ann Fai Wah shrugged her shoulders.

aI forget. Iam sorry. Is that all? You must excuse me.a aLook, baby,a Hambley said, suddenly becoming the tough cop, ayou can please yourself about this but you either tell me or Security Police. Youall tell one of us!a Ann Fai Wahas expression didnat change, but her quick shrewd mind warned her of her danger. If this American told Security Police he thought she had information, she would be taken to Headquarters and questioned. She knew what happened to people who were reluctant to talk. She had no intention of having her back lacerated with a bamboo cane.